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Playoff baseball in an autumnal Windy City By Phil Meyers
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s baseball’s playoff races go from a steady simmer to full-on boil, Chicago glowingly sits right in the midst of Fall Classic possibilities. Clearly the Cubs assume better position than their heated rivals—the White Sox, wrapping-up a much-coveted number one seed in the National League, as they iced home field throughout the Senior Circuit’s competition at New York this past week. Certainly, the North Siders arrived at their cat bird seat’s status much differently this season from last, for year-long dominance prevailed over a “back-in” qualification as NL Central champions in 2007. Conversely, Chicago’s American League entry—the Pale Hose—find their club quite like the Baby Bruins did a campaign ago, limping toward the finish line, only hoping enough gas will be left in the tank until that burst of adrenaline occurs from high profile post-season competition. Though important to note—going into the 2008 charge, the White Sox were selected by more than a majority of prognosticators to finish the season third at best, lagging marginally behind combatants Cleveland and heavy favorites Detroit in the League’s Central Division—Chicago has shown its metal. Thus, for almost all season, the South Siders have fought at the AL Central’s pinnacle, fending off an appropriately dubbed “Piranha”—more commonly known as the Minnesota Twins, another Junior Circuit entry with little, to no expectations coming into this summer. With that, and the excitement of playoff fever spanning our city from both sides of town for possibly the entire month of October, it becomes a perfect time to explore what Chicago expectations might emerge as Major League Baseball’s annual tournament plays out—further eyeing the competition lying ahead of the town’s dual paths to— dare it be said—a World Series. The Cubbies notably feature a very deep and balanced offensive attack—one through eight in the order—threatening pitchers for remarkable scoring totals on a daily basis. No matter whether it’s often eighth placed hitter Mark DeRosa batting admirably right before the pitcher, or a rookie catcher named Geovany Soto, who is odds on favorite to take home the National League’s top freshman prize, Chicago boasts not one easy out in the order. Moreover, Wrigley’s sluggers can interchange its complementary position players without missing a beat, featuring mere “winners” in Jim Edmonds and Reed Johnson in the outfield, and middle infield super-subs Ronnie Cedeno and Mike Fontenot to boot. Not to be overlooked, Cubs’ pitching also possesses an arsenal on the mound with a more than competent regular season rotation, expected to feature righties Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden, Ryan Dempster, and lefty Ted Lilly. Thus, the aforementioned have no question been the strengths of the team; though, possible internal road-blocks certainly appear. First, Derek Lee hasn’t had his usual offensive campaign in terms of hitting when the chips are down. He will be vital in late-inning situations to produce when opposing managers match-up batter-for-batter with enemy bullpens. The Cubs cannot be giving away late inning outs, especially with Lee (who led the league hitting into double-plays) at the plate. Similar concerns apply with a perennial “white-hot, or not” Alfonso Soriano, a left-fielder who can carry a team on his back for extended periods of time, and at others resemble a player who is completely lost. Likely, hot corner-man Aramis Ramirez will show production, as he has routinely been an even-keel contributor regardless of pressure or game situation. In any case, Chicago has been a team for
many seasons that have struggled against pitchers that are able to work “vertically” in the strike zone, changing batter’s eye-lines with pitches such as fast balls up and splitters and sinkers down. As a result, the Cubs may struggle against applicable moundsmen. Atop the hill, the Cubbies have further fears. One, emotional Carlos Zambrano battles himself as much as contending line-ups. If he gets off to a bad start in any given game, internal demons may bemoan the Venezuelan pitcher. Two, Rich Harden’s walk totals and pitch counts regularly reach astronomical numbers way too early inningswise, not allowing the Canadian to help his team much past the fifth inning of contests. Three, Ryan Dempster has seen un-proportionate success from home (exemplarily) to away (middling) competition. If as seemingly planned, Dempster will start in the National League Division Series Game Three; one that will be on the road. Ugh, watch out! The starting staff worst-case scenario leads to the Cubs’ Achilles heel, that being middle-inning relief—for if Zambrano, Harden, Dempster, and a very inconsistent big-game pitcher Ted Lilly falter, the likes of a brutally ineffective Bobby Howry and others become a possible equivalent of hitting off a tee. Neither Howry, nor his middle and long mates have shown enough to manager Lou Pinella, where the Tampa native can feel comfortable in bridging the gap from starter to late-inning situations. That said, if Chicago gets solid starting pitching, set-up man Carlos Marmol and closer Kerry Wood are a good bet to put any given game in the win column. Best case, the Cubs face the Dodgers in round one of the playoffs, a match-up that fits nicely into Chicago’s team make-up. Los Angeles isn’t one of the top offenses, and no pitcher is dominant enough, outside the oft injured Brad Penny, to cause fears for the team. What wouldn’t be the best, however, is for the Cubs to draw the Phillies or Mets off the bat, assuming those opponents have their respective rotations set, as Philadelphia’s Cole Hammels and New York’s Johan Santana will give Chicago fits. Neither would be desired to face twice in a short, five-game series. Further, both clubs have daunting lineups and small parks which the Cubs might find themselves in unwanted slug-fests. Finally of note, they cannot play Milwaukee—if they are Wild Card winners—in the first series due to sharing the same division. On the flip side, the South Siders’ playoff possibilities are tenuous at best, faltering down the stretch, with the White Sox most glaringly dropping its series against the Twins last week. Should the “Hit Men” qualify for post-season play, however, nothing says that the club’s run will necessarily cease with an opening round exit. Before one writes off this organization, be reminded that last year the Colorado Rockies made a mad dash from the outskirts of nomadic performance to gain entry not only into the playoff tournament, but the World Series in ultimate fashion. In fact, if Chicago does enter October baseball, they have a greater than average shot to move deeper into the foray. Without getting ahead of the situation at hand, nonetheless, one must first examine the strengths, weaknesses, and chances of the White Sox escaping the AL Central initially. Chicago for the last decade has greatly relied upon the home run to generate offense, with this year being no exception. Again the club has surpassed the 200 home run total as a team, more significantly with
long-ball tallies generally and dramatically down around the majors. In support of this fact, is the occurrence that no single American Leaguer will reach, nor surpass the 40 dinger plateau—a statement unthinkable just a few seasons ago. Thus, the White Sox ability to bash more readily than their opponents will serve the franchise greatly. Thankfully, designated hitter Jim Thome has turned up his hitting volume for the second half of the season, as has right fielder Jermaine Dye—and to a run production extent, Nick Swisher has too. American League rookie extraordinaire Alexei Ramirez has turned in a tremendous season, notching three grand slams for a team that easily sets the pace in that area. Unfortunately, first baseman Paul Konerko has had a poor season for the most part, along with battling injuries that have cost the right-handed bomber various amounts of playing time. He will be vital if Chicago has any thoughts in another “Don’t Stop Believing” campaign that concludes with the same White Sox’ result as 2005. Ken Griffey Jr., hasn’t provided much production since his acquisition just before the trade deadline, and none is realistically expected from him hereon out either. Glaringly, the biggest setback was losing left fielder and strong MVP candidate Carlos Quentin to a surgically repaired broken wrist weeks ago—one
“... the excitement of playoff fever spanning our city from both sides of town for possibly the entire month of October ...”
injured while frustratingly hitting himself with a bat out of anger. There is speculation Quentin may by chance have playoff hopes, though any expectation of like is very optimistic, assuming that if the White Sox are to continue, it would have to be without their All-Star outfielder imported from this Diamondbacks this past off-season. Starting pitching is a further question for the team located at the corner of 35th and Shields, with the Sox sporting question marks at all possible rotation slots in terms of playoff expectations. Incumbent staff ace, Mark Buehrle has turned in another average to sub-par year—a second consecutive— considering what his, and the team’s expectations are of the lefty. Right-handed veteran Javier Vazquez has been known not to stepup during baseball contests in the lime-light, most recently in evidence at the Metrodome versus the Twins last week; that despite challenges from manager Ozzie Guillen to show up when the chips are down. John Denks has been stellar at times, though lately has shown to be quite hittable as well. Only Gavin Floyd has been constant for the most part from season’s start to end, winning twothirds of his decisions. Not to mention, 2005 playoff hero and Cuban defector, Jose Contreras, has been lost for the season due to a ruptured Achilles late in the summer. A questionable rotation, along with a bullpen that desperately needs quality starts to take the game to set-up men Scott Linebrink and Matt Thornton, along with closer Bobby Jenks, makes this pennant drive an up-hill battle—one exponentially more difficult than in 2005. Conceding the above, don’t just yet count out the White Sox if they outlast Minnesota
Please see MEYERS continued on page 3
Ronnie Woo Woo shows off his new line of clothing as the Chicago Cubs celebrate their post-season berth with “Postseason Rally 2008” celebration in Daley Plaza in Chicago, Tuesday September 20, 2008. BELOW LEFT: The skyline of Chicago supporting the Chicago Cubs and Sox in their quest for the 2008 MLB championship.
Publisher, lead photographer & Editor in Chief Warren Wimmer Contributing Writers Andrea Beaver Dustin Beutin Bert Beiswanger Jesse Brasher Jerome Cusson Charlie Danoff Creighton Hart Dennis Hobein Eli Kaberon Jon Kerr David Lister Brian Livingston Phil Meyers Anthony Ray Nick Shears D.K Wilson
Contributing Photographers Dennis Wierzbicki Michael DiNovo PUBLISHED BY: The Chicago Sports Review The Chicago Sports Review is published biweekly and can be found at Chicagoland White Hens & 7-Elevens The Chicago Sports Review is not responsible for display advertisement, advertising articles and their contents. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. For questions or comments contact: THE CHICAGO SPORTS REVIEW 13520 St. Mary Circle, Orland Park, IL 60462 708.403.3285 office | 708.774.4464 cell | 708.460.8949 fax To read more great sports articles visit chicagosportsreview.net
The Cubbies faithful
rally CSR Photos
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Warren Wimmer
Jim Belushi performs ‘Sweet Home Chicago’ as the Chicagoans celebrate the Cubs post-season berth with “Postseason Rally 2008.”
MEYERS: First time in more than one hundred years both Chicago baseball teams make playoffs continued from page
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for baseball’s final playoff spot. Guillen has done perhaps his best job in the Chicago dugout since taking the skipper’s job, amazingly blowing by the favored Tigers and Indians who were favored out of the gate. This team has a lot of fight: players with experience from the 2005 squad, the sharpness of catcher A.J. Pierzynski leading the cause,
and an ability to post a “crooked” scoreboard number in any inning via the multi-run homer. The way things are positioned; Chicago would draw its best chance at first round success versus the Tampa Bay Rays, who are young and vastly inexperienced come playoff time, only finishing higher than last once (during its ten year history) other than in 2008. Further, the Rays lack a potent of-
fence, and sport many pitchers that have tremendously greater production when pitching at home at Tropicana Field. (i.e. James Shields, for example). If the White Sox are to bypass Tampa, two old rival “friends” potentially await in Boston and Los Angeles, for the Red Sox and Angels were Chicago’s opponents four short seasons ago during the South Siders’ march to their first championship since
1917. Maybe that’s a telling omen? In any case, this city will no doubt be anticipating a situation where both organizations enter the post-season since 1906, a year where the White Sox bested the Cubs in the World Series. Will history repeat itself 102 years later? Remember, this is Chicago were talking about!
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ABOVE: Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski (12) blocks the plate against a charging Minnesota Twins right fielder Michael Cuddyer (5) after Pierzynski took a two hop throw from Ken Griffey Jr during play at U.S. Cellular Field.
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher John Danks and Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski (lower left) share a moment after the White Sox defeated the Twins in a tiebreaker game to clinch the AL Central Division title at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago Tuesday September 30, 2008.
SOX STAY SERIES alive for
White Sox Ken Griffey Jr. swings away during play at U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago where the Chicago White Sox won the AL Central Division Crown by defeating the Twins 1-0 in a tiebreaker game
CSR Photos
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Warren Wimmer
LEFT: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher John Danks, left, and Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynsk walk across the field prior to the start play at U.S. Cellular Field. White Sox closer Bobby Jenks reacts to winning the division title.
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Junior settles in with White Sox and reflects on upbringing by
Angie Wiatrowski
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Tony Kanaan (11), Helio Castroneves (3) and Ryan Briscoe (6) Team Penske IndyCar compte in the Indy Car Series PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 at ChicagoLand Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Sunday Sept. 7, 2008.
CSR Photos
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Warren Wimmer
ABOVE: Danica Patrick readies for practice runs before the Peak Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 IndyCar race at ChicagoLand Speedway in Joliet, Ill. LEFT: Right front tire men wait for their cars to enter the pit during a yellow flag.
Indy and NASCAR: A fan addresses a more relaxed racing atmosphere
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By Andrea Beaver
he weekend of September 6 & 7 was the first Indy car race I covered as a member of the press. So what did this self professed NASCAR fanatic think of it? Interesting. Interesting on many levels. I knew this would be a more relaxed atmosphere just by the reported number of people that normally attend these races. Less people, less crowds to fight so that made for a more easy going atmosphere al-
most everywhere I went. That also applied to the press in attendance. I can see how the press that cover the NASCAR series regularly can be more “stressed.” Let’s face it 36 races starting in February every year and ending in November pretty much every weekend without a break, that makes my day job in transportation seem easy! Not to say that it’s an easy job covering the Indy Racing League but you have to admit that fewer races and not
Chase for the Sprint Cup 2008 by
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Andrea Beaver
he official Chase for the Sprint Cup has begun. Kyle Busch has an 80 point lead over the other eleven drivers in the chase. He’s won 8 Cup races this year so far and even his staunchest critics agree that he can drive the wheels off anything he climbs into. So is the Chase over before it has begun? Is it Kyle Busch’s to loose? Let’s face it anyone could have a chance at The Cup but only if Busch has a huge run of bad luck. Racing is a sport as much about luck as it is talent. There is no question, especially after this year, how talented Kyle Busch is. His luck has tended toward, when not winning the race, top 5’s and top 10’s.
But there have been races peppered throughout this season where Busch finished 15th or worse. Get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time and Kyle Busch could be pursuing everyone else. Both Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart have been known to have serious late season surges. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon have the Hendrick organization behind them. Now that Clint Boyer has secured a place in the chase he could be hungrier than ever for a championship. And no one can count Carl Edwards out at ANY time. What some would call a boring season could easily turn into one of the more exciting ends NASCAR has seen in some time. Is the 2008 Chase for the Sprint Cup Kyle Busch’s to loose? I can’t wait to find out.
having to be on the road each and every week can help one’s mood and attitude. The place I have seen the biggest and most interesting difference in IRL racing and NASCAR is the fact that we (the press) are almost allowed to be “right on top” of the drivers in pre race events. I walked the grid on Saturday waiting and watching qualifying and watched photographers literally put cameras in driver’s faces and snapping pictures as the driver was strapping into their
car. Now don’t get me wrong, I loved the fact that I could get closer to these drivers to take pictures and get the story, but putting a camera inches from a drivers face even surprised me! Maybe it’s the fact that IRL is “competing” with it’s cousin NASCAR so more is tolerated. Maybe that’s the way it’s always been. I don’t know if I’ll ever know for sure. But it made for some interesting differences in my opinion.
ou’ve got ‘nervous’ written all over your face. Wouldn’t you if you were standing in front of one of the most prolific home run hitters in baseball history? Any baseball lover would look like a fish out of water standing next to White Sox outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. For Griffey, however, he just doesn’t understand the hype. To him, he’s no different from anybody else. Griffey grew up around baseball, hanging out in the clubhouse while his father, Ken Griffey Sr. played for the Cincinnati Reds. Being a professional athlete’s son however, was hard for Griffey. He said, “People have this misconception about athletes and their kids, that they’re spoiled, they’re this, they’re that. But in my household, I’d ask for things and get it two years later. You had to work for it, it’s not just owed to you.” Griffey attended Archbishop Moeller high school where he played baseball and football. While he liked football, Griffey said he just didn’t see it going much further. “I was the little guy in football,” he said, “As a junior I was only 143lbs. Besides, I liked baseball better.” After high school, in 1987 Griffey was selected with the first overall pick of the amateur draft by the Seattle Mariners. He led the American League in home runs for four seasons (1994, 1997, 1998, and 1999). He was also voted the A.L MVP in 1997 and maintained a .297 batting average. Griffey was also a frequent participant in the All-Star Game during the 1990s. He was awarded Gold Gloves for his outfield performance from 1990-1999. Griffey said his greatest accomplishment was being able to play with his dad. In 1990 and 1991 Griffey and his father became the first son and father to play on the same team at the same time. Along with being his father and teammate, Griffey said his father is also his role model. “He was always there,” Griffey said, “from Cincinnati, to New York, To Atlanta, he was always just a couple hours away.” In 2000, Griffey was traded to the Cin-
cinnati Reds as a request to be closer to his family in his hometown. Griffey spent the next eight seasons with the Reds, climbing up the all time homerun ladder at 608, now 609. But that’s not what Griffey likes to focus on. He said, “I just try to get base hits and if they go out, they go out. I was fortunate enough to hit a few. I don’t get upset over not hitting a homerun. If I can get a guy in on first and third, and just keep the train moving that’s more important.” On July 31, 2008 Griffey was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Nick Masset and Danny Richar. Griffey was nervous coming to Chicago but definitely started to settle down, hitting is first homerun with the White Sox on August 20, 2008. No matter what team he ends up on, the fan base is still there, which is a little weird to Griffey. “I don’t consider myself a role model,” he said, “I just try to do the right thing and that’s not being a role model, that’s being a good citizen. With the kids, I can’t do a whole lot for other people’s kids. I can’t take them to the movies or show them the love, I have to do it for my kids.” Griffey and his wife Melissa have three kids, George Kenneth III (‘Trey’), daughter Taryn Kennedy, and adopted son Tevin Kendall. Griffey makes sure he doesn’t spoil his kids like the public may think children of professional athletes are. Well, “except for the girl” he said, “If she’s not happy nobody in the house is happy. She’s 12 and has me wrapped around her finger.” Being a professional baseball player, a husband, a father, and a role model (whether he thinks so or not), Griffey has a lot on his plate, and can be very superstitious. When asked about his superstitions, he just laughed and said, “We could be here all day.” But just to name a few, He walks to the plate the same way, does the same thing at home plate, drives the car the same way to the park, but if he doesn’t get a hit he’ll drive a different way. If he has a couple bad games, he’ll even send the car home and get a new one. He said, “Not a whole new car, I have another car at home just waiting to come up.”
CSR Photo
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Warren Wimmer
Ken Griffey Jr. smiles and gesters to Sox bench after singling to right field and driving a run during a game against the Seattle Mariners in this file photo.
Griffey said he also feels like selling everything when he’s on a bad streak and he also makes sure he doesn’t touch other people’s equipment. No matter what the superstitions are, they just might be working. Griffey is now tied with Sammy Sosa for the fifth spot on the top 500 major League
home run hitters, has a career 1,765 RBI, 498 doubles, 1,604 runs, an on base percentage of .373 and currently holds a batting average of .244. Griffey may consider himself just another average guy, but just looking at his baseball stats, he’s a little more than average.
Adjusting to life in the Bigs
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by
Brett Garamella
e sits in silence at his locker with his feet up, hands on head and eyes closed. No one is near him as he eventually opens his eyes. After putting a shirt over his skinny torso, Alexei Ramirez begins inspecting his custom-made bats, oblivious to most of his teammates at the far end of the locker room watching ESPN and playing cards. Moments earlier Ramirez struck out in the ninth inning as the White Sox lost the first game of a doubleheader. Indeed, Ramirez has much to think about. Above his locker is a small Cuban flag with the words CUBA POR SIEMPRE or Cuba Forever. Below the flag are autographed photos of him and White Sox pitcher Jose Contreras. Growing up they played together for two seasons for their hometown team Pinar del Río in Cuba before defecting to the United States. Contreras is a veteran player on the disabled list and near retirement. Ramirez, however, is
nearing the end of his first season as the White Sox’s starting second baseman. This is his first year in the United States. I wait until he finishes inspecting his bats in solitude. Then I introduce myself and show him photos I had taken while visiting Cuba. Ramirez smiles when he sees the baseball stadium in his hometown. He immediately recognizes a baseball coach in another photo. With a population of about 125,000, Pinar del Río is about 105 miles southwest of Havana. It is surrounded by the world’s best tobacco farming and is known for its pastel-colored, neoclassical buildings with decorative art nouveau frontages. To say its people are friendly and hospitable is an understatement. Like most of Cuba, this bodes well for its two largest economic industries, cigars and tourism. Foreigners, however, prefer relaxing along the beaches or gazing at the beautiful scenery in the nearby town, Viñales. This is why Pinar del Río doesn’t have much going on other than baseball.
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(773) C-O-P-I-E-R-S
CSR Photo
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Warren Wimmer
Chicago White Sox second baseman Alexei Ramirez breaks his bat during play against the Detroit Tigers in this file photo
And so here begins Ramirez’s story. He tells me about how he began playing baseball at age 7. His mom didn’t want him playing because she thought he was too small, but his first coach convinced her otherwise. Ramirez soon was given the nickname Pirineo, or little kid, from a close friend because he was always the smallest player on the field. Off the field he didn’t have any hobbies, and so baseball consumed much of his free time. His single-mindedness paid off. By age 21, Ramirez batted .342 in his first full season in Cuba’s professional league. Fully grown he earned a new nickname, “the Cuban Missile” because of his combination of power and speed. At the 2006 World Baseball Championships, Ramirez batted .375, attracting scouts attention in the process. In 2007 he led Cuba’s pro league with
20 homeruns in 89 games. It was obvious his skills had outgrown Cuba. He also had experience playing shortstop and centerfield. It was his family life, however, that would soon change his baseball career. By September 2007, he had married a Dominican named Mildred, who got her medical degree in Cuba, and they had two children. At that time Ramirez, 25, obtained a tourist visa to visit her family. Once in the Dominican Republic he applied for residency. In the D.R. he began trying out for Major League Baseball teams as a free agent. On Dec. 21, 2007 he signed a four-year contract with the White Sox for $4.75 million. Sometimes Ramirez thinks about how much his life has changed. How he spent Please see GARAMELLA continued on page 8
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CSR Photo
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Warren Wimmer
Chicago Blackhawks left wing #10 Patrick Sharp delivers the ceremonial first pitch with a hockey stick to White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle (not pictured) prior to the start of game U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago Tuesday September 9. 2008.
GARAMELLA: Cuban native takes it all in stride while starting at second continued from page
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seven years traveling to games in the same bus that ordinary Cubans use when traveling to other towns. How he made less than a hundred dollars per month playing the same game that he now is paid millions to play despite being unable to talk to most of his teammates (he doesn’t speak English). How in many ways at 6’3”, 185 pounds he is still a skinny baseball player. “Being here for me has been a 180-degree change,” Ramirez says. “The mannerisms of the people are very different and the people here think different than the people in my country.” White Sox manager and Venezuelan native Ozzie Guillén can relate. “The Big Leagues are a big adjustment,” Guillén says. “It is just everything for him -- country, cities, weather, food. He is doing real well. On the field is the easy part because he has friends here. When he is off the field, you worry about this the most. But I think this kid has done great and had a good year.” Ramirez says he has spent a lot more time studying pitchers in the United States than he had in Cuba. His statistics are not much different than in Cuba. Among White Sox starters, he has the highest batting average (.296) while hitting 20 homeruns (tying a MLB rookie record with 3 grand slams). “Whatever point of view you look at it, baseball is baseball,” says Ramirez about the comparisons between professional baseball in Cuba and MLB. “The biggest differences are that the players are more experienced
here, it is more consecrated, and they put more thought into it…. Latino baseball is a lot more heated (emotional might be a better English translation).” In the clubhouse Ramirez seems a lot more reserved than many of his Latino teammates. When he isn’t playing baseball he is with his wife and three children. He enjoys eating at different Latin restaurants or taking his children to the park. The rest of his family is in Cuba and he calls home as much as he can. He takes each day as it comes, he says, and doesn’t outline his goals. When mentioned of returning to Cuba, he says he eventually would like to, but he made me promise I wouldn’t talk about anything political. Thus, even in America he abides by Cuba’s unspoken rules to keep quiet about taboo subjects such as defecting and politics. Beyond politics, Ramirez will have plenty to think about. White Sox shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who grew up in Cartagena, Colombia, says culture was the most difficult adjustment he faced playing baseball in America. “It’s a different culture,” Cabrera says. “I think Latinos bring a passion to the game, and make it more interesting.” Much of that passion comes from the fact that Latinos don’t have the exposure or option of playing other sports. In addition, it is a year-round sport in the Caribbean and children are playing outside rather than watching television or playing video games. For some, their lives will change overnight just like Alexei Ramirez.