If a sport is always welcome in Cuba, it’s baseball

It's a passion of the people, a national pride, even though their international performance has plummeted in recent decades.

But now that the National Series is returning for its 64th season, new hopes, dreams, and predictions are coming to life, and no one doubts that in today's opening game against Guantánamo at the Cándido González Stadium in Camagüey, the stands will be packed in a show of unconditional love for the Toros team.

Several months after the end of the 63rd season, the start of the main sporting event will capture the interest of Camagüey fans, who maintain hopes for a substantial change in the performance of the province's national team, now with a new coach, former Olympian Viyo Odelín.

Improving on last season's 13th place finish doesn't seem very difficult, although the goal goes beyond a simple change: the team wants to qualify for the next round of the top eight, a valid aspiration, but one that isn't without real obstacles.

It's well known that pitching, according to experts, represents 70 percent of the team's chances of winning, and it's precisely in this area where there are noticeable gaps, despite having veterans on the roster, like José Ramón Rodríguez, Rodolfo Sorís, and Dariel Góngora, who is expected to join in the next few days because he's finalizing a contract in Italy.

Despite the path being fraught with setbacks, optimism reigns among the players, including veteran Yordanis Samón, who recognizes the decisive role of the offense as the main pillar of success.

Despite the management's reluctance to reveal a possible roster for this debut, it's clear how the lineup will be assembled, as there are no significant changes compared to previous moments.

The offensive structure is known, and perhaps the few doubts lie in the catcher position, second base, and designated hitter, as there are options of similar quality in these roles.

For five days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday), the Toros and Indios will face each other, a consecutive extension of challenges that will test the pitching staffs of both teams.

Although the eastern visitors (who were swept 5-0 in the previous series) are not among the strongest teams, the opponent should never be underestimated; therefore, each game must be approached with the required focus.

The games start at 2:00 p.m. (Text: Gilberto Rodríguez Rivero/Radio Cadena Agramonte Contributor) (Photo: Archive)