Cuba And South Korea Clash For Gold

CHINA - They’re baaaack.

The reigning Olympic baseball champions from Cuba will be looking to claim their fourth gold medal when skipper Antonio Pacheco’s squad battles unbeaten South Korea on Saturday night. And, it’s no surprise.

The star-studded Cuban lineup features a cast of Major League-caliber players led by Alexei Bell, the 2007-08 Cuban National Series Most Valuable Player. The 5′9″ slugger possesses extraordinary bat speed and has been compared by some scouts to the late Kirby Puckett.

The Santiago de Cuba outfielder, who three-run blast against the Americans on Friday propelled Cuba into the title game, also understands that this might be Cuba’s last chance to win the Olympic gold.

“It’s very important for us to leave a good image,” said Bell after beating the USA 10-2. “This medal means a lot to our people. It could be the last medal.”

Even with more and more young boys playing the sport across the globe, the International Olympic Committee and the controversial Jack Rogue has dropped baseball from the 2012 London Games.

The Cubans will enter the gold medal game as the favorites based on their track record on the international stage. However, the Koreans are not just undefeated, South Korea manager Kyung-moon Kim has a very, very good team built around strong pitching.

Perhaps the biggest surprise during the Olympic tournament has been the rise of Asian baseball. Even though Taiwan had a disappointing fifth-place finish and Japanese skipper Senichi Hoshino’s roster selections were dubious at best - the gap between Asia and Europe is growing wider while the gap between Asia and the America’s is much smaller these days. And, if MLB keeps an interest in China, Asia will have four baseball heavyweights in years to come.

I like Cuba’s big-game experience and following the Cuban National Series this past season on BaseballdeCuba.com made me a fan of players like Bell, Alfredo Despaigne, Pedro L. Lazo and Jonder Martinez. But, as a coach who built his teams around a potent offense due to a lack of a true ace pitcher, I like South Korea’s chances of beating Cuba…again.

It’s never smart to bet against Cuba in an international baseball tournament and it would not be a big surprise if the best hitting squad in these Olympics cracks a few more long balls. Still - I like South Korea to win the gold.

Marvin Moore writes about international baseball. Contact him at mjmoore@baseballdeworld.com