Bjarkman with Freddie Cepeda (Haarlem, 2008)
"Peter Bjarkman is doing for Cuban baseball what Ry Cooder has done for Cuban music ..."—Joseph Arbena, on-line review for Arete: Sports Literature Association Journal (December 16, 2007)
Free-lance author Peter C. Bjarkman has been branded as the "Peter Gammons and Bill James of Cuban baseball" and is the leading internet commentator on the Cuban national pastime. Bjarkman has been observing baseball in Cuba (with over 30 trips to the island) and trailing the Cuban national team to major international tournaments since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Follow his weekly reports and anaylsis through each of these Cuban and USA website links:
LINKS TO BJARKMAN'S CUBAN BASEBALL COMMENTARY
Cuban National Series #48 (2008-2009)
Champion: Habana Province Vaqueros
Habana Province Cowboys, 2009 Cuban Champions
Championship Finals: Habana Province over Villa Clara (4-1 in Games)
Occidental League Semifinals: Habana Province over Pinar del Río (4-2 in Games)
Oriental League Semifinals: Villa Clara over Ciego de Avila (4-1 in Games)
Occidental Quarterfinals: Habana Province over Isla de la Juventud (4-1 in Games)
Occidental Quarterfinals: Pinar del Río over Sancti Spíritus (4-1 in Games)
Oriental Quarterfinals: Ciego de Avila over Holguín (4-0 in Games)
Oriental Quarterfinals: Villa Clara over Santiago de Cuba (4-3 in Games)
LIGA OCCIDENTAL (Western Division) Final Standings
Bjarkman's pre-season Occidental League pennant predictions: (1) Pinar del Río (2) Sancti Spíritus (3) Habana Province (4) Industriales (5) Metros (6) Matanzas (7) Isla de la Juventud (8) Cienfuegos. National Series sub-champion and Division champion: Pinar del Río
Habana Province (Vaqueros / "Cowboys") 57-33 .633 (---)
Pinar del Río (Vegueros / "Tobacco Growers") 54-36 .600 (3.0 GB)
Sancti Spíritus (Gallos / "Roosters") 48-42 .533 (9.0 GB)
Isla de la Juventud (Pineros / "Pine Cutters") 43-47 .478 (14.0 GB)
Matanzas (Cocodrillos / "Crocodiles") 39-51 .433 (18.0 GB)
Industriales (Leones / "Lions") 37-53 .411 (20.0 GB)
Cienfuegos (Elefantes / "Elephants") 34-56 .378 (23.0 GB)
Metropolitanos (Guerreros / "Warriors") 33-57 .367(24.0 GB)
LIGA ORIENTAL (Eastern Division) Final Standings
Bjarkman's pre-season Oriental League predictions: (1) Santiago de Cuba (2) Villa Clara (3) Las Tunas (4) Ciego de Avila (5) Granma (6) Guantanamo (7) Holguín (8) Camagüey. National Series champion (three-peat) and Division champion: Santiago de Cuba
Ciego de Avila (Tigres / "Tigers") 64-26 .711 (---)
Santiago de Cuba (Avispas / "Wasps") 57-33 .633 (7.0 GB)
Villa Clara (Naranjas / "Orangemen") 53-37 .589 (11.0 GB)
Holguín (Perros / "Dogs") 47-43 .522 (17.0 GB)
Guantánamo (Indios / "Indians") 43-47 .478 (21.0 GB)
Camagüey (Tinajones / "Potters") 41-49 .456 (23.0 GB)
Las Tunas (Magos / "Wizards") 36-54 .400 (28.0 GB)
Granma (Alazanes / "Stallions") 34-56 .378 (30.0 GB)
Despaigne-Enríquez-Pedroso-Cerce
HR: Alfredo Despaigne (Granma) 32* (*new league record)
RBI: Alfredo Despaigne (Granma) 97
Batting Average: Michel Enríquez (Isla de la Juventud) .401
Base Hits: Yoilan Cerce (Guantánamo) 135
Slugging Average: Alfredo Despaigne (Granma) .756
ERA: Yadier Pedroso (Habana Province) 1.91 (113.0 inn)
Wins: Yunieski Maya (Pinar dei Río) 13-4
SO: Aroldis Chapman (Holguín) 130
Saves: Vladimir García (Ciego de Avila) 25
W-L: Valeri García (Ciego de Avila) 11-1 (.917 Pct.)
Maya-Chapman-Vladimir García-Valeri GarcíaCuban League National Series #48 All-Star Ballot
I have the honor of being one of only two journalists outside of the island of Cuba to cast an official ballot (one of 30 total ballots) in selecting the year-end Cuban League all-stars, plus MVP and ROY selections. The other non-Cuba resident invited to vote in the official Cuban press poll is my colleague Ray Otero at www.baseballdecuba.com. Below is the ballot I cast in this year’s post-season elections.
Cuban League 2009 All-Star Selections
Catcher: Rolando Meriño (Santiago de Cuba)
First Base: Leslie Anderson (Camagüey)
Second Base: Yolian Cercé (Guantánamo)
Third Base: Yulieski Gourriel (Sancti Spíritus)
Shortstop: Aledmis Díaz (Villa Clara)
Outfielder: Frederich Cepeda (Sancti Spíritus)
Outfielder: Alfredo Despaigne (Granma)
Outfielder: Yoennis Céspedes (Granma)
DH: Yenier Bello (Sancti Spíritus)
Utility Man: Yoandy Galobo (Matanzas)
Pitcher (Right Hander): Yunieski Maya (Pinar del Río)
Pitcher (Left Hander): Maikel Folich (Ciego de Avila)
Pitcher (Reliever): Vladimir García (Ciego de Avila)
Cuba League 2009 All-Defensive Team (Golden Gloves)
Catcher: Rolando Meriño (Santiago de Cuba)
First Base: Leslie Anderson (Camagüey)
Second Base: Mario Vega (Ciego de Avila)
Third Base: Yulieski Gourriel (Sancti Spíritus)
Shortstop: Yorbis Borroto (Ciego de Avila)
Outfielder: Ruby Silva (Habana Province)
Outfielder: Jorge Padrón (Pinar del Río)
Outfielder: Leonys Martin (Villa Clara)
Pitcher: Ismel Jiménez (Sancti Spíritus)
Rookie of the Year (Top Three Selections)
First Place (3 points): Dennis Laza (OF) (Habana Province)
Second Place (2 points): Ramon Lunar (OF) (Villa Clara)
Third Place (1 point): Aledmis Díaz (SS) (Villa Clara)
Most Valuable Player (Top Three Selections)
First Place (3 points): Yadier Pedroso (P) (Habana Province)
Second Place (2 points): Yorelvis Charles (IF) (Ciego de Avila)
Third Place (1 point): Yulieski Gourriel (IF) (Sancti Spíritus)
Post-Season MVP and ROY (2009 Playoffs)
Most Valuable Player: Miguel Alfredo González (P) (Habana Province)
Top Rookie: Ramon Lunar(OF) (Villa Clara)
Manager of the Year
Esteban Lombillo (Habana Province)
With Mark Rucker (Guanabacoa, December 1999)
Rotterdam World Port Tournament with Victor Mesa
Bjarkman with Pinar slugger Yosvany Peraza (2008)
