2011-2012 Cuban National League
From BR Bullpen
The 2011-2012 Cuban National League was the 51st Cuban Serie Nacional campaign. The league saw the first change in the teams since it went to 16 entries in 1992-1993. The La Habana Province was split in two, replaced by Mayabeque and Artemisa. As a result, the three-time champion La Habana team was replaced by corresponding Mayabeque and Artemisa teams. Rumors originally had been that the Metropolitanos team would be removed, leaving Cuba with one team per province, but the league instead went to an awkward 17-team format. The two expansion teams promptly posted the league's two worst records. There were also many managerial changes, with only six of the 16 managers from 2010-2011 returning after a couple years of stability.
The Mizuno ball 200 was used during the season, while the league continued to implement the controversial "Schiller rule" regarding extra innings play. The pitcher's mound was raised to a height of 15 inches, five more than what is used in Major League Baseball. [1]
The season opened on November 27th, with a rematch of the 2010-2011 finalists. This time, Ciego de Ávila beat Pinar del Rio, 8-4. Vladimir García beat 2010-2011 finals MVP Yosvani Torres while Yoelvis Fiss went 4 for 4 with a 2-run homer.
On March 1, Urmanis Guerra hits the first walk-off grand slam in a game involving the Schiller Rule, taking Maikel Hidalgo deep.
A major record was also broken in March. On March 6th, 43-year-old Enrique Esteban Díaz (already Cuba's all-time steal leader) broke up a no-hitter by Reinier Verano with two outs in the 6th inning to tie Antonio Pacheco with 2,356 career hits. He topped Pacheco a day later with a single off Julio Martinez.
On March 13th, the Schiller Rule took effect in a no-hitter for the first time. 20-year-old Raimar Navarro entered the game with a 12-23 career record for Holguín but overcame eight walks to toss nine no-hit shutout innings. He was matched zero for zero by Frank Madan of Camagüey. Madan finally allowed a run in the 10th thanks to the Schiller Rule. In the bottom of the 10th, Pablo Fernández finished the no-hitter, the third combined no-no in Cuban annals and the first since 1979.
Also in March, José Dariel Abreu homered in six straight games, tying the Cuban mark (last done by Frederich Cepeda 3 years earlier).
On April 3, Alfredo Despaigne took Ian Rendón deep for his 34th home run of the year, reclaiming the home run record he had set three years earlier but which had been broken in 2010-2011 by Abreu and Yoenis Céspedes. Abreu later caught up to him at 35 but Despaigne hit an inside-the-park shot (his only such homer this season) off Alesky Perera on the final day of the season to finish with the record.
One other record that fell was Cuba's single-season save mark. After Duniel Ibarra set a new record with 27 last season, Danni Aguilera matched it this season.
The finals began on May 20 at the historic Estadio Latinoamericano. In a pitcher's duel, both Vladimir García and Odrisamer Despaigne tossed six shutout innings in front of 55,415 fans. In the 7th, Ciego de Ávila loaded the bases against Despaigne. A wild pitch and a passed ball by Lisban Correa scored Yoelvis Fiss and Isaac Martínez. Raúl González then drove in Lisdey Díaz for a 3-0 lead. García also allowed a run in the bottom of the 7th. In the bottom of the 9th, Alexander Malleta scored on a hit by Yasmani Tomas for the Industriales. It was only the third hit allowed by García. That brought up Carlos Tabares, a 38-year-old former Olympian. He was no match for one of Cuba's top hurlers, as Tabares was retired to end it.
Game 2 was delayed a day due to rain. On May 22, Ciego de Ávila romped to a 8-3 win. Starters Ian Rendón (Industriales) and Osmar Carrero (Ciego de Ávila) both struggled, getting knocked out in the 5th, but Yander Guevara tossed 4 1/3 shutout innings of one-hit, no-walk relief for the win while the Industriales bullpen was spotty. DH Isaac Martínez led a balanced attack for the victors, going 2 for 3 with 3 RBI.
Contents |
[edit] Standings
- Bold indicates Zona champion; Italics indicates Serie Nacional champion
West Standings
| Team | Record | GB | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matanzas | 58-38 | -- | Víctor Mesa |
| Industriales | 55-41 | 3 | Lázaro Vargas |
| Cienfuegos | 54-42 | 4 | Iday Abreu |
| Sancti Spíritus | 49-46 | 8.5 | Ruperto Zamora |
| Pinar del Rio | 47-49 | 9 | Alfonso Urquiola |
| Isla de la Juventud | 39-57 | 19 | Armando Johnson |
| Metropolitanos | 38-58 | 20 | Luís Suárez |
| Artemisa | 36-60 | 22 | Esteban Lombillo |
| Mayabeque | 33-63 | 25 | Rigoberto Madera |
East Standings
| Team | Record | GB | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| Villa Clara | 58-38 | -- | Ramón Moré Flaquet |
| Las Tunas | 54-41 | 3.5 | Juan Miguel Gordo |
| Ciego de Ávila | 54-42 | 4 | Roger Machado |
| Granma | 54-42 | 4 | Indalecio Alejandrez |
| Santiago de Cuba | 53-43 | 5 | Alcides Sánchez |
| Guantánamo | 45-49 | 9 | Agustín Lescaille |
| Holguín | 44-52 | 14 | Felicio García |
| Camagüey | 43-53 | 15 | Felipe Sarduy |
Playoffs
- Ciego de Ávila 4, Las Tunas 3
- Granma 4, Villa Clara 3
- Matanzas 4, Sancti Spíritus 3
- Industriales 4, Cienfuegos 1
- Ciego de Ávila 4, Granma 2
- Industriales 4, Matanzas
- Ciego de Ávila vs. Industriales
[edit] All-Star Game
The Juego de las Estrellas (All-Star Game) was held at Estadio Victoria de Girón in Matanzas, Matanzas on February 19, 2012. The Orientales won another close match, 8-7. The winning pitcher was Pablo Fernández, Yoelkis Cruz got the save and Yadier Pedroso took the loss. Yosvany Alarcón and Reutilio Hurtado both homered for the winners, while Yeison Pacheco drove in the winner with a double.
[edit] Leaders
- Bold indicates either wooden bat record or aluminum bat record (1976-1977 to 1998-1999), Italics indicate Serie Nacional record
[edit] Batting
[edit] Pitching
[edit] References
- ↑ http://www.radiohc.cu/ing/news/sports/3948-the-51st-cuban-baseball-championship-begins-on-sunday.html
