In Cuba's National Baseball Series, not only are the behaviors of players, team officials, and umpires under scrutiny, but the actions of the National Commission and Federation also deserve public examination due to their lack of transparency regarding various incidents that have marred the "spectacle."
The controversy surrounding the presence of a fake umpire at the game between Pinar del Río and Matanzas at the Capitán San Luis Stadium continues to make headlines. In a recent press conference, after initially claiming that the information was false, new measures were announced against those involved.
The commission has now decided to expel umpire Ricardo Campanioni Arrechea, along with the assistant scorer, the umpire supervisor, and the technical commissioner from the competition. Additionally, the head umpire, Janet Moreno Mendinueta, is barred from participating in two subseries of the competition.
Ongoing Investigations and Reactions
An analysis by the sports page Por La Goma, which has been closely following these cases, noted that within the planning of the game, there were "problems and they agreed to give a false name." "Campanioni had told the truth and was later instructed to say that his profile was hacked," the report claims.
Previously, the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation had denied the presence of a fake umpire, stating on their X account that "it has not happened and will not happen, although some insist on claiming otherwise, intentionally lacking the most basic sense of ethics."
However, on Monday, April 29th, they contradicted this conclusion, admitting that "a false name was provided to the press and local amplification without knowing its origin, which was never from a Baseball Official (Umpire Commissioner or Game Commissioner)," as reported by sports journalist Carlos Hernández Luján on his Facebook profile. Hernández Luján confirmed that the matter is under investigation to identify who provided the false name and for what purpose.
Another topic addressed in the recent press conference was the case of pitcher Jonathan Carbó, 26, who abandoned a contract with the Italian League under the supervision of the INDER. As a result, he was dishonorably expelled from the competitive baseball system. Despite this measure, Carbó has arrived in the Dominican Republic with the intention of signing with the Major Leagues.
FAQs on the Fake Umpire Incident in Cuba's National Baseball Series
The fake umpire incident has generated numerous questions and concerns among baseball fans and the general public. Below are some frequently asked questions and their answers to provide clarity on this issue.
What exactly happened with the fake umpire in the National Baseball Series?
The controversy began when a fake umpire was reported to be present at a game between Pinar del Río and Matanzas. Initially, the Cuban Baseball Federation denied these claims, but later admitted that a false name was provided to the press.
Who has been punished due to this incident?
The umpire Ricardo Campanioni Arrechea, the assistant scorer, the umpire supervisor, and the technical commissioner have been expelled. Janet Moreno Mendinueta, the head umpire, is barred from participating in two subseries.
What was the response of the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation?
The Federation initially denied the incident, claiming it was false information. Later, they admitted that a false name had been provided to the press, but not by any baseball official.
What happened with pitcher Jonathan Carbó?
Jonathan Carbó, who abandoned a contract with the Italian League, was dishonorably expelled from the competitive baseball system by INDER. Despite this, he has gone to the Dominican Republic aiming to sign with the Major Leagues.