MLB Bullets Arrives In Cuba

Forty-five years ago, the United States started an opening to the People's Republic of China with "ping-pong diplomacy" after a team of American table tennis players went to China in the spirit of peace and competition. Yesterday, we saw the beginnings of "baseball diplomacy." No matter how you feel about the visit to Cuba, it's hard to argue that it wasn't an historic event, one way or the other. This is one of those times when politics simply can't be separated from baseball. I ask that we not get into a debate over the nature of the Castro regime (which no one argues is not authoritarian and oppressive) and especially not get into a debate over the Obama presidency. Naturally you will be allowed to express your thoughts about what happened yesterday in Havana and what it means to you. But please be civil and do not use language that will inflame opinion rather than enlighten it. I trust you all to be adults. Even the kids among you.

• We might as well start with the words of President Obama who writes that the trip was "something extraordinary." He adds that baseball unites the two countries like nothing else and that baseball has always had the power to break down barriers.
• I can't recommend enough the coverage of the trip by SBNation's DRaysBay.
• I'll single out their story on the emotional reunion between Dayron Varona and his family, whom he hasn't seen in three years.
• As far as the game went, the Rays won 4-1. But the game was pretty secondary to everything else.
• Here's a great photo essay of all that went on surrounding the game.
• President Obama did the wave at the game. Those who think he's the antichrist may have a point. (That's a joke about the wave, folks.)
• Jon Paul Morosi was blown away by the experience of the game. He thinks that Americans and Cubans can both stand proud today.
• The day before the game, Morosi went to La Esquina Caliente ("The Hot Corner") to talk baseball with the locals. He thought it was a fantastic experience that exceeded all his expectations. In a note of personal interest to me, Morosi said that every Cuban fan he talked to wants Cubans currently in MLB to be allowed to represent Cuba in the World Baseball Classic. That would be glorious if it could happen in 2017.
• Marly Rivera went to a different "Peña Deportiva" and had a similar experience. Rivera stresses how, without easy access to the internet, radio or television broadcasts, word-of-mouth is the way baseball fans connect with MLB.
• Now for a contrary view. Dan Le Batard, whose parents fled Castro's Cuba, doesn't feel like this trip is something worth celebrating. It's not that he's against the trip, he says, but that the coverage of the event is ignoring the pain that many Cubans still feel today.
• To drive that point home, a political protester was hauled away during a live ESPN report.
• Rodger Sherman's grandparents also fled Cuba. He understands but disagrees with Le Batard and says that the purpose of the US foreign policy should be to improve the lives of the Cuban people, and a baseball game is a good first step towards doing that. (And he loves Cuban baseball, too.)
• Eric Nusbaum's mother fled Cuba at age five. He praises Cuban baseball culture and adds that punishing the Cuban people by taking away access to baseball doesn't make them any more free.
• Jorge Sedano asks that his fellow Cuban-Americans put aside their pain for the good of the Cuban people and give baseball a chance to change the island. He adds that MLB and the Cuban government (along with the US government) need to work out a system for Cubans to come to America to play baseball without defecting.
• Richard Justice (no Cuban relatives mentioned) says that baseball has the power to make change. Not just in Cuba, but in the US too. He quotes Chris Archer saying "this trip has changed me forever."
• Reds pitcher Raisel Iglesias hopes that one day he'll be able to return to Cuba to play baseball.
• Now on a mercenary note: Brian Costa says that what both MLB and Cubans want out of better relations is money. And players who generate revenue. The big issue here is still the embargo, which can only be lifted by Congress.
• Back stateside, but on a related point, the Spanish-speaking Yankees players appreciate the new mandate that all teams have a full-time translator.
• And on a point related to money, the Nationals are expected to try to sell naming rights to Nationals Park. So we'll have to call it "Dewey, Cheatem and Howe Lobbyist Park" soon.
• More money points. The Padres have moved the location of their retired numbers to a less-prominent place at Petco Park so they can put up another billboard.
• There's a big problem with the California League High Desert Mavericks, who have had their lease to their stadium revoked just a few weeks before the season starts. It's unclear where the Rangers farm team will play, but they will play somewhere this season. They may spend the whole season on the road if the dispute is not settled.
• In a normal day, this story would receive higher billing. But Scott Miller has a profile of the late Tommy Hanson and the family and teammates he left behind.
• The Dodgers offseason just got a little worse as Andre Ethier broke his right tibia on a foul ball and will miss 10 to 14 weeks.
• One bright spot for the Dodgers: they broke up a memorabilia burglary ring at Dodgers Stadium.
• The Cardinals seem pretty tired of being asked about the Cubs this offseason. They do say they're happy to play the role of the underdog this season, however.
• The Angels are counting on a comeback by Tyler Skaggs this year.
• Mike Vorkunov has another story about how the Astros used analytics to build a winning team.
• Jeff Sullivan points out that there is no easy way to beat the shift.
• Ken Rosenthal notes that Jayson Werth's contract is a problem for the Nationals.
• The Giants are talking to Brandon Belt about a long-term extension. Seems like an odd move considering that Buster Posey already plays 40 games a year at first and may have to move their full-time one day.
• David Wright revealed that he'll have to deal with back pain for the rest of his life. Just a reminder that being a professional baseball player isn't always a bed of roses.
• Will Leitch lists the ten oldest players in the game.
• Derek Jeter weighs in on the "bat-flip controversy" by saying that players need to be able to show their personality. Jeter always did when he played--it's just that his personality is pretty vanilla.
• And finally, trying to capitalize on the trend started by the "Fresno Tacos" last season, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs will change their name to the Lehigh Valley Cheesesteaks for one game next season.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster.