Ismel Jimenez is one of the main pitchers of the Cuban baseball team today. The news of his desertion was quickly spread in the social net works and baseball websites, but Ismel Jimenez himself- pitcher from Sancti Spiritus Team and also member of the Cuban Team- refuted this lie with his presence during the training with his team at Jose Antonio Huelga Stadium, the president of the Cuban Baseball Federation, Higinio Velez declared to Trabajadores Newspaper.
We tried to contact the main figure of Sancti Spiritus Team, but it was impossible, because he was training with his team on Tuesday, October 2, but we will try to get in touch with him later. There were rumours going in the web and on the streets that he had left Cuba and was living in the Dominican Republic to sign a contract with the Great Leagues.
Trabajadores Newspaper shows part of the interview done by Escambray Newspaper to the pitcher.
Ismel Jimenez: “I am not thinking about the million dollars, I play for my people, the love to my family, and that is better than the million dollars the world can pay.”
He practices throwing to be in good shape for the National Competition and at the same time he is trying to calm down. He was shocked with the news spread by website www.baseballdecuba.com that reads: Ismael leaves Cuba for better future in the Great Leagues.
“I knew about the news by a journalist from Sancti Spiritus who knocked at door early in the morning, telling me a website was saying I was in the Dominican Republic. I was really surprised. I was drinking coffee, but later I started laughing. Elsa, from where have they invented that news?, he asks, but at the same time he answers.”
“I think it is a tall tale from someone who does it with a double intention, with the idea to destabilize, and annoy someone’s life, the life of a person who has devoted himself to do the right thing, a sincerely revolutionary person like me, since I was very young.”
“My dreams have been to help my team and represent Cuba for several years in different events since I was very young. I have done it so far, and I will keep on doing it.”
“The fact is that some other baseball players have deserted, but I have nothing to do with it. Every one has its own way of thinking.”
Right at the doors of the next Baseball Series, Jimenez focus his attention to the future.
“I always set myself challenges and I tell my coaches. I want to win 12 games, and above all, classify, which is not my personal goal but the whole team’s. I also want to keep the average won-lost for good (107-42). This will take time, but I would like to retire from baseball being the best in that department.”
“Not every body believes Sancti Spiritus could classify this year.”
“We lack important figures, but there is a group of young athletes who are pushing, mainly pitchers. They are a complement of great figures like Eriel, Cepeda , Mendoza, Monteagudo. But I neither think about great baseball players nor great figures, I think about union. That’s our strength.
Going back to the false news, he said he will demonstrate the contrary to the Cuban people opening the first game on November 3, doing his best on the field vs Guantanamo, so that the Cocks can classify.
