Bill Smith, the Minnesota Twins assistant general manager, said in a recent interview with Sports Headliners that the team’s baseball operation in politically stormy Venezuela is okay. The Twins built a baseball academy there in 1995 and have been developing players during the presidency of Hugo Chavez who first took office in 1998. Recently elected to a third term, Chavez seems to be working on a lifetime appointment while making international headlines comparing American President George Bush with the devil and moving his country toward socialism.
Last week news reports from the controversial South American country reported Chavez wants state control of power and telecommunications companies, and the Central Bank. The country’s constitution will be changed as Venezuela becomes a socialist nation under a dictator who admires Cuba and Iran. Chavez is encouraging leftist alliances in Latin America where his friends include Cuba’s Fidel Castro and Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega who returned to power after more than a 15 year absence.
The Twins and other major league baseball teams interested in signing Venezuelan players can’t count on the past to be sure of their future in that country. More than 45 years ago a cigar smoking, baseball lover named Fidel Castro shut down Cuba to American business including baseball. Chavez, like Castro, is a former baseball player and presumably loves the game. Here’s the catch: he doesn’t love the American government and he’s promoting anti-American feelings in Latin America. Another Chavez pal, Evo Morales of Bolivia, is nationalizing key sectors in that country.
The Twins Venezuela Baseball Academy is located in Bejuma, a small town in the northern and central state of Carabobo. The academy includes a 3,000 square foot dormitory and clubhouse built in 2000. Players live and sleep at the academy during its prime months of operation from April through August. Staff includes full and part time workers (scouts, cooks, a trainer, etc.) “We have a very, very nice set-up down there,” said Smith, who has responsibility for the academy.
The most notable academy products are pitcher Juan Rincon, still with the Twins, and former Twins second baseman Luis Rivas. Smith said the Twins currently have 19 players who have been at the academy that will be coming to the United States this year, including five on the major league roster. The five are pitchers Rincon, Jose Mijares, Oswaldo Sosa, infielder Luis Rodriguez, and outfielder Alex Romero.
Smith said “there is no question” the Twins consider the academy a success and want to continue it indefinitely. The facility has helped the team develop a positive reputation in Latin America and develop players. “When Terry Ryan became general manager after the 1994 season one of his main objectives was to get more competitive in Latin America,” Smith said. “You don’t have to look too far to figure out that some of best players in the game are coming from Venezuela and the Dominican Republic (where the Twins also have an academy). …It’s been important for us to be active down there. …”
While declining to provide a financial figure as to the investment in academy operations, Smith said the Twins have done more than spend money on themselves in Venezuela. They have been good corporate citizens rebuilding baseball fields and providing equipment to Little Leaguers.
Smith said the Twins haven’t experienced problems with the Chavez administration. How does he gauge Chavez’s attitude toward baseball and the Twins academy? “I know there is a lot that’s been written and I know there are some very serious issues facing Venezuela,” he answered. “I can only speak personally and tell you that the Minnesota Twins have had nothing but great experiences in Venezuela. I know they (the Venezuelans) have got political issues. They are very serious. We are very concerned about our American players we send down there. We’re concerned about our native Venezuelan players that live down there and their families and we’re concerned obviously about staff members that live and work down there.”
Smith said the Seattle Mariners “15 or 20 minutes from where we are” experienced a robbery. Unknown individuals broke into the Mariners’ academy, holding victims at gun point and robbing them.
While Smith acknowledges there have been “unfortunate incidents,” he insists the Twins, including with players they send to participate in the Venezuelan Winter League, have been safe. When he hears concerns, he refers parents or agents to players who have already been to the country and had safe experiences. Still, Venezuela is a country with a changing social environment and a president who gives Americans reason for trepidation.
