If you have been a baseball fan all of your life, it's a lot of fun to be at the Premier12. You may happen to share a lift (sharing lifts is common day practice at the huge Splendor hotel in Taichung, considering it's organized n 2 different buildings and well over 20 floors) with Andruw Jones. The child that is inside me (and hopefully will never leave me) still wonders something like "How cool I am taller than someone who actually led the National League in home runs".
Mister Jones looks like he reads through my eyes and gives me a casual look, before joining Team Kingdom of the Netherlands for lunch.
Italy and The Kingdom share the same hotel and have meals just close to one another.
I personally feel the old rivalry is part of history. I mean: third millenium baseball is played by the pros, who simply do their best. And on November 12, the best according to Kingdom of the Netherlands was much better then the best provided by Team Italy. That's sport: you may end up losing by a lot of runs, but there's always tomorrow.
And tomorrow, from Team Italy's point of you (technically it's today, but I believe I made myself understood) is Canada and Ernie Whitt, another Big Laguer. Mister Whitt has been managing Canada forever and suffered a couple of painful losses against Italy: one in Toronto's Rogers Centre in 2009 World Baseball Classic. Another in Phoenix in 2013 World Baseball Classic.
In 2013 the game ended on the mercy rule. So Mister Whitt was mercied by Italy just like Italy was mercied by The Kingdom. You see? It happens.
I am just wondering if Mister Whitt and his coach Larry Walker (more Big League history...) are planning on revenge. I attach a picture of Mike Brito and Fernando Valenzuela, credited John Soo Hoo
Amongst the various charachters you can observe during the WBSC Premier12, one of the most fascinating is Mike Brito, the manager for Team Mexico.
Born in 1934 in Cuba, he still makes the dugout in his uniform and eats a full breakfast, eggs included.
He played in the Washington Senators farm system (as High as Triple A) before a career ending injury and then began scouting. He moved to Los Angeles in 1968 and became a full time scout for the Dodgers in 1978.
His injury had ended his pro career, but wouldn't stop him from playing adult baseball. During a game in 1977, a pitcher called Bobby Castillo struck him out (on a 3-2 count) on a screw ball. He asked this Castillo to teach him the screwball and he happened to master it. He then transferred his knowledge to a young left handed mexican pitcher he had signed for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Fernando Valenzuela made his debut in the Bigs before his 20th birthday and went on to become the legendary El Toro when he won his first 8 straight decisions. The next season he dominated the National League: Cy Young Award, Rookie of the Year, strike out leader and even Silver Slugger Award.
Mike Brito did not only sign Valenzuela. As Ron Cervenka wrote on the website , this man "has the Midas Touch". These are some of his signings: Ismael Valdez, Karim Garcia, Antonio Osuna, Juan Castro, Dennys Reyes...and the latest is Yasiel Puig.
Brito was inducted in the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
Wouldn't it be enough to retire and being Mike Brito, honored in his seat at Dodgers stadium?
"When you love this game, you never get tired" says the 81 year old.
So, you'll forgive me if I admit I cannot help not rooting for his Mexico.
