31/05/2021 - 05/06/2021

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Tokyo 2020 Olympic Baseball Americas Qualifier - Official Payoff

Group B managers discuss challenges, strategy for Americas Olympic baseball qualifier

Group B managers discuss challenges, strategy for Americas Olympic baseball qualifier
30/05/2021
Group B managers Jose Alguacil (Venezuela), Jair Fernandez (Colombia), Armando Ferrer (Cuba) and Ernie Whitt (Canada) attended the virtual press conference on Sunday, 30 May.

Group B of the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier is set to launch tomorrow at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, with the first two games of the group play. In the opener, world No. 9 Venezuela will take on No. 7 Cuba, while No. 12 Canada and No. 14 Colombia will close the day in West Palm Beach. During a virtual press conference held on Sunday, the managers welcomed questions from the media.

Venezuela v Cuba

Venezuela and Cuba, the top ranked nations in Group B, will lock horns tomorrow, Monday, 31 May, in the first game of Group B competition. And both managers have the same strategy in mind: to go one game at a time.

“I have all my pitchers available in the bullpen, and the strategy will depend on how the game is developing,” reflected Jose Alguacil. “Everyone knows the Cuban National Team players, they have played in Mexico, Venezuela, and we have our reports based on this previous experience."

“I don’t have a fixed pitching rotation for the tournament,” said Armando Ferrer, the Cuban manager. “If I need to use my second starter tomorrow (day 1), I will do it. So we have three names in mind, but all of them can participate in tomorrow’s match.”

The start of the game is set for 1 pm.

Colombia v Canada

Colombia and Canada, who met for the last time at the 2019 Pan American Games, a game Canada won 10-3, will open their way to Tokyo 2020 in West Palm Beach.

“Our team is doing well, we’re healthy, we have an older group,” said Ernie Whitt, manager of the Canadian National Baseball Tem. “It’s always a challenge to go to the Olympics, I think. It’s every childhood dream to be able to go, compete at the Olympics and represent your country. Our challenges are probably similar to a lot of the other teams that are participating here.”

“We have a great group of guys. They are looking good, looking healthy, and we’re looking forward to the competition,” said Jair Fernandez, Colombia’s manager, who also announced Erling Moreno as the starter for tomorrow’s opener. “A young arm with good pitches,” the manager said of Moreno.

First pitch is at 7 pm, at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

Baseball Americas Qualifier