Cuban baseball team remains highly secured

Posted on Wed, Mar. 08, 2006

Cuban baseball team remains highly secured

HIGHLY SECURED

The Cuban team worked out under a blazing sun -- and a stepped-up
security presence -- Tuesday morning with about a half-dozen armed
police officers positioned on the artificial turf at San Juan's Hiram
Bithorn Stadium.

Although the field was open to media members during practice for the
other three teams in Pool C, only photographers were allowed on the
playing surface for much of Cuba's workout. Print reporters eventually
were invited at the end of batting practice, but the interviews with
three players and Cuban manager Higinio Velez were orchestrated, and
political questions, writers were told, could not be answered.

One reporter tried anyway, asking about the possibility of defections.

That drew a quick rebuke from Pedro Cabrera, Cuba's press official.

''Our athlete can answer the question, but to answer the question would
be to politicize an event that we want predominantly to be about
sports,'' Cabrera said. ``We ask the people of the press to respect
this. Don't put this on the players, who have other objectives here.''

Cabrera then turned to outfielder/DH Osmani Urrutia, who answered.

''I think the team that's representing our country is going to do so
with dignity, and we will leave here with our dignity,'' he said. ``We
will never betray our commander [Fidel Castro].''

A-ROD BOOED

You want to see international solidarity? Just let Alex Rodriguez come
to the plate.

Both Mexican and U.S. fans let baseball's highest-paid player have it.

The loudest sound of the day was reserved for A-Rod, who was booed every
time he stepped to the plate.

And when he was lifted for a pinch-runner in the sixth inning, he was
greeted with more boos as he ran from first to the third-base dugout.

''Rocket was making fun of me,'' Rodriguez said of his teammate, Roger
Clemens. He said: `Did you decline to play for the Mexican team, too?'

``I can't help that. It will never change. Actually, I've got two people
who like me -- my wife and my baby girl.''

GETTING ACCUSTOMED

Marlins ace Dontrelle Willis, who starts today for the U.S. team, said
he liked working with Boston catcher Jason Varitek and said he expects
no problems.

''I'm no Pedro Martinez, so it shouldn't be too hard to catch me,''
Willis said.

Willis said he was going to play all out and not worry about getting
injured. Of course, if the Marlins' ace sustained an injury, it would be
devastating to this year's young team.

''I'm not that good to be turning it on and off, '' he said. ``My
feeling is that every time I get to go out there I pour my heart and
soul into it, [whether] it be a USA uniform or a Marlins uniform. So if
I get a chance to make a play by diving in the dugout, I'm going to do
that. Everybody has been calling me, and my manager has been telling me
to be safe, and they're praying for me. But you know when you're
Dontrelle Willis, he's going to go out there and do whatever he can to
help his club win.''

-- KEVIN BAXTER,

MIKE PHILLIPS

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/special_packages/interactive/14043759.htm