Posted on 04/17/2002 1:36:50 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Carlos Hernandez laughed heartily at his countrymen's chants each time outfielder Endy Chavez went to the plate for Venezuela in the Caribbean World Series this winter in Caracas. It seemed cute and clever, but definitely not a prelude to a coup.
Whether the host Venezuelans were playing Mexico, Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic, it didn't matter. The fans saved their greatest scorn for their own president, Hugo Chavez, a man many consider Latin America's next Fidel Castro.
"Endy, si!" the fans cried out. "Chavez, no!" In other words: Endy, yes. Chavez, no.
Those ballpark chants have resonated lately for Hernandez, Richard Hidalgo and many of their fellow Venezuelans in the major leagues. Since a coalition of business and military leaders temporarily removed Chavez from power late Thursday night, Venezuelan ballplayers have been on the phone constantly to check on their families. Some have considered whether they should bring their families to the United States, especially after Chavez regained power in a predawn ceremony Sunday.
"I'm worried about the situation in my country," said Hernandez, the Astros' rookie lefthander. "I called them every day to see what's happening."
At least 12 people were killed during political violence last Thursday in Venezuela, and anti-Chavez forces accuse the president of sending armed thugs to attack protesters calling for his resignation in Caracas. At least 40 have been killed, and more than 100 have been injured in clashes since Thursday.
Many Venezuelan ballplayers and some major-league officials celebrated when Chavez was ousted by a group of military and business leaders. Their joy was replaced with concern by Saturday night, and it didn't get any better once Chavez officially resumed his presidency Sunday morning.
"I've said for a long time that this guy might try to be the next Fidel Castro," said Peter Greenberg, who represents Hidalgo, Hernandez, Bobby Abreu, Edgardo Alfonzo, Roger Cedeño and most of the top Venezuelans in the majors. "My players say, `Don't worry. He loves baseball. He won't mess with the baseball players.' Then I remind them that Fidel loves baseball, too."
If Chavez becomes a dictator, as many in baseball and President Bush's administration fear, there's no telling if Major League Baseball will be able to maintain baseball academies there.
The political unrest in Venezuela has touched baseball on many fronts, especially the Astros, whose Venezuelan baseball academy is considered the model. The Astros' academy is in Guacara, 2 1/2 hours away from the turmoil in Caracas. Ironically, though, it is on land owned by the chemical company Venoco. Pedro Carmona, the man who served as leader of the interim government after temporarily overthrowing Chavez, is the president of Venoco.
Carmona was released from jail Monday. Chavez surely hasn't forgotten, though, that Carmona dismantled the National Assembly, fired the ministers of the Supreme Court and arrested high-level government officials during the nearly 48 hours Chavez was out of power and under military control.
Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. will monitor the situation in Venezuela, but he is not choosing political sides on the matter publicly. Instead, he offers empathy for his Venezuelan players.
"That is beyond what we can fathom in America with our government," McLane said Monday from Lisbon, Portugal. "You can really feel for the concern and anxiety they are going through. When I talk to Carlos, he tells me he just talked to his family. And I know that Richard's wife is there with his little boy."
The Astros' academy in Venezuela has 31 players -- 22 Venezuelans, four Panamanians, three Nicaraguans and two Colombians.
"We were one of the first ones in there, and everybody thought that was not smart," McLane said. "These are high-quality people, and there is not a more sincere, quality person than Richard Hidalgo or Carlos Hernandez."
At this point, McLane doesn't anticipate abandoning the academy, which opened in 1989 and has produced 16 major-leaguers, including Hidalgo, Hernandez, Seattle shortstop Carlos Guillen and Mariners ace Freddy Garcia, Abreu of the Phillies, and Melvin Mora of the Orioles.
Andres Reiner, Astros special assistant to the general manager, has seen many teams come and go since he opened the academy and signed its first player, catcher Raul Chavez, on Jan. 10, 1990.
"Today there are approximately 13 academies in Venezuela and 18 organizations that will take part in the Venezuelan summer league," Reiner said. "All 30 organizations are scouting Venezuela and signing players, but some send the players to their Dominican academies."
Astros assistant general manager Tim Purpura, the farm director, travels to Venezuela twice a year. He would not be surprised to see teams pull their academies out of Venezuela if the political climate continues to deteriorate. Some organizations began cooling on Venezuela soon after Chavez was elected in 1998.
"Some of the teams are starting to shy away from there," Purpura said. "I think there are a lot of American companies shying away from the country because of the political unrest."
Whether for business sense or other reasons, Reiner has seen three teams leave Venezuela recently.
The Astros, Dodgers, Red Sox, Phillies, Padres, Rangers, Mets, Indians, Rockies, Mariners, Pirates, Orioles, Reds and Twins are considered the major players in Venezuela, which is quickly gaining on the Dominican as the largest producer of foreign major-leaguers.
As of opening day, 38 major-league players were born in Venezuela, 73 were from the Dominican, and 39 were from Puerto Rico. Only eight of the 30 teams did not have a Venezuelan on the 25-man roster on opening day.
"Within the last five to 10 years, it's grown a lot," Greenberg said. "Probably within the next 10 to 15 years, Venezuelans will catch up to the Dominicans in the major leagues."
The Astros' academy has produced many stars, but Venezuela has a rich baseball history. Long before Andres Galarraga, Omar Vizquel, and Ozzie Guillen made their marks over the last 12 years, shortstop Luis Aparicio set the standard on his way to the Hall of Fame.
Aparicio spent 18 seasons with the White Sox, Orioles and Red Sox from 1956 to 1973, leading the American League in stolen bases nine times and fielding percentage eight times. Alfonzo, Hidalgo, Abreu, Vizquel, Garcia, and Red Sox closer Ugueth Urbina are some of the biggest young stars now.
"The thing that impresses me about Venezuelan players is that the majority of the ones that are here are stars," Purpura said. "You look at Hidalgo. You look at Guillen, Abreu and Freddy Garcia. These guys are stars."
For Hidalgo, Hernandez and many of their countrymen playing here, there are bigger things than baseball on their minds these days.
"They have to do something to get Chavez out," said a Venezuelan slugger who requested anonymity. "It's time for a change. Venezuela is a country with a lot of wealth, a lot of oil, so it doesn't deserve to be how it is."
For now, the Venezuelans will continue calling home for updates. Some Venezuelans like Wilson Alvarez, Cedeño, Vizquel and Alfonzo live in the United States all year. Others like Hidalgo and Hernandez head back in the offseason to play winter ball.
Soccer might be the preferred sport in South America as a whole, but baseball is king in Venezuela. The fans can be ruthless there, which is why the Dominican Republic squad almost left this past Caribbean World Series in protest after fans almost attacked star outfielder Vladimir Guerrero.
"If you can play in Venezuela, you can play in New York," Alfonzo has said while explaining his clutch play for the Mets.
Venezuelan fans aren't above throwing objects or hurling insults at players, but nobody is laughing at the fans' favorite chant this past winter.
"I'd laugh every time they'd say it because I didn't have anything against the president or the people," said Endy Chavez, who plays for Montreal's Class AAA affiliate in Ottawa. "I was surprised that happened in the Caribbean Series. It was funny when they'd say, `Endy, si! Chavez, no! Endy, si! Chavez, no!' They expressed what they felt.
"It was something I didn't expect. The guys on the team would say, `They like you, but you have to change your name. During the Caribbean World Series, there were also some (political) problems. I knew things were not good in Venezuela."
Much to the dismay of Hernandez and Hidalgo, the climate has worsened. Greenberg has been on the phone constantly with his clients, exchanging information and checking on families.
Yakult Swallows first baseman Roberto Petagine, who became the second player at the Astros' Venezuelan academy when he signed in February 1990, has expressed his concern from Japan. The former Japan League Most Valuable Player is from Caracas, so the protests are especially concerning to him.
Hidalgo's family is in Valencia, about 2 1/2 hours away in the north-central part of the country. Hernandez's family is also from that region, but he realizes the problems in Caracas could spread throughout the country.
"I don't know what the solution is with the president," Hernandez said. "Truly, it'd be very different and sad if I knew I wouldn't be able to visit my country again."
It would appear, once they've been aroused they act. I hope their call to arms will succeed.
While the U.S. celebrated its independence earlier this month, Oropesa's party was Thursday - nine years and a day after he defected, six years to the day after his family was permitted to leave Cuba. Oropesa reunited with them on a wet day in Costa Rica on July 11, 1996. "We were crying for an hour," Oropesa said. "We didn't talk. Nothing. "That day was the first day I saw my son. Every day when I wake up, I give thanks to God and this country. This country is the best in the world. They gave me freedom for me and for my family." ***
I venture to say that the majority of native-born US citizens do not have this level of appreciation for our freedom.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.