Classic: Puerto Rico and Molina aim for the top step of the podium

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Yadier Molina hasn’t taken a break after ending a successful 19-year career as a major league catcher.

As soon as his St. Louis Cardinals were eliminated in the playoffs, the Puerto Rican packed his bags for Venezuela to lead that country’s winter league side Navegantes del Magallanes. He managed to take them to the round robin stage, one step away from the final.

His first experience as a manager confirmed his fighting courage. He was sent off in three games during part of the season in November.

“It was weird,” said current Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora.

Cora just met Molina at Camp Puerto Rico on the eve of the World Baseball Classic.

At 40, Molina returns to a cave to command a team as a pilot, this time a Puerto Rican side claiming the top spot after reaching the Clásico final in its two previous editions.

He barely retired from playing baseball for five months. You miss ?

“Not at all,” the nine-time Golden Glove winner and two-time World Series champion with the Cardinals replied emphatically.

“I have already succeeded in this task. I am happy. I don’t miss being a player very much,” added Molina. “My mind is focused on being a coach. I have already turned this page and we are trying here to help these young people to bring us a championship, the gold medal”.

Molina understands the magnitude the Classic has for Puerto Rico. He was a player in the first four editions, from 2006 – at the dawn of his third season in the majors.

“Every time he talks, you listen to him,” said infielder and outfielder Kiké Hernández. “We are in good hands.”

Without having the same number of shining stars as other opponents, the Puerto Ricans exceeded expectations with their second-place finishes in 2013 and 2017, losing in the final to the Dominican Republic and the United States, respectively.

The hallmark of these teams was their good harmony – with players who agreed to give up their usual positions to form a full formation – and the practice of baseball’s many fundamentals.

However, controversy rocked the team last year.

Eduardo Pérez, currently a commentator for ESPN, had been named crew chief to replace Cora and began looking for a new driver. As a result, Pérez tendered his resignation last September due to disagreements with the Puerto Rican federation over the appointment of the manager – the leaders had favored Molina.

Puerto Ricans want to replicate as much as possible what worked for them six years ago.

As at that time, the team dyed their hair blond, including the pilot. “It had to be like that. I would be in trouble if I didn’t,” Molina said.

Puerto Rico will play Miami in the first round and will face Venezuela, Nicaragua, Israel and the Dominicans.

The roster has captain and shortstop Francisco Lindor as its bulwark, surrounded by Javier Báez, Hernández, Eddie Rosario and Christian Vázquez.

There were two major losses, when infielder Carlos Correa waived the call because his wife was due to give birth. José Miranda, another infielder and Correa’s teammate on the Minnesota Twins, was ruled out with injury.

The fragility of the team lies in its starting rotation, with Marcus Stroman and José Berríos as the only reliable cards.

But Molina hopes to mitigate that with a powerful bullpen, in which brothers Edwin and Alexis Díaz stand out, closer to the Mets and Reds, respectively. Edwin led the Majors in 2022 with 17.1 strikeouts in nine innings.

In a change of sides, Stroman decided to move to Puerto Rico due to his mother’s roots, Adlin. The Chicago Cubs pitcher was the Puerto Ricans’ hangman when he opened for the United States in 2017 and pitched six scoreless innings to an 8-0 victory.

“This is a team that has everything to do something special,” Stroman said. “I just want to contribute in any way I can.”