The Herald from Rock Hill, South Carolina • B4

4B SUNDAY FEBRUARY 9 2020Sports HERALDONLINE.COM to Rico drifts through a darker time. Hours earlier, the island celebrated the end of January like it was New Eve. Fireworks exploded over the capital city once the clock struck midnight, flipping to Feb- ruary and leaving behind a month that felt like a year marked by a relentless series of anxiety-inducing earthquakes and sub- sequent protests against the government for its response to the crisis. The anger peaked when residents discovered a warehouse full of unused emergency supplies in Ponce, a city on the south- ern part of the island hit hard by the temblors. The aid had piled up in the building after Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico in September 2017.

Resi- dents, already skeptical of the local government, became outraged again, calling for the resignation of Gov. Wanda Vazquez, whose tenure began in July after Ricardo Rossello resigned from the posi- tion. Not even their beloved baseball figures were immune from the scourge. Beltran and Cora were rising stars in the MLB managerial ranks until Jan. 13, when MLB re- leased the results of its investigation into allega- tions that the Houston Astros broke rules to steal signs during a season that resulted in their defeating the Dodgers in the World Series.

The two were front and apparel and opinion was not lost on Ortega. It rep- resents the complicated feelings for him and other proud Puerto Ricans. The situation is impossible to appraise without a hint of bias. On one hand, Beltran and Cora, by all accounts, knowingly broke the rules. On the other, Cora and Beltran are two of their own.

Many Puerto Ricans believe they were unfairly blamed and the reaction is overblown. What about the others involved? Steal- ing signs always has been part of the game. Why the uproar? Leniency is a virtue when defending one of your own. Puerto love for their countrymen resonat- ed at the ballpark on the first night of the six-team tournament. Middle-aged men, grayer and rounder than their fabled time together a quarter-century ago, slowly strolled onto the field one by one to roars, whistles and the sounds of vuvuzelas piercing the gooey humidity.

Roberto Alomar. Carlos Delgado. Juan Gonzalez. Bernie Williams. Carlos Baerga.

Ruben Sierra. Roberto Hernandez. They were a who of Puer- to Rican baseball royalty, squeezed into red, white and blue jerseys for a commemoration 25 years after they starred on Puer- to and rammed through the competition for a Carib- bean Series title. It was a refreshing and nostalgic moment as Puer- SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO The fan in the white Carlos Beltran jersey took gulps from his plastic cup of Medalla Light the omnipresent locally brewed, low-cost lager as he waited in line at a cash- only stand serving fried delights. A mass of people rushed around him through the Hiram Bith- orn Stadium concourse minutes before the hosts the Santurce Cangrejeros, winners of Puerto winter league confronted the Tomateros from Culia- can, champion, on the second day of the Caribbean Series last week.

Ricardo favor- ite player ever is Beltran, a Puerto Rican who starred in the major leagues for two decades. At one point, Beltran was the best play- er on favorite team, the New York Mets. But Ortega sugar- coat his feelings on the prominent roles Major League Baseball deter- mined Beltran and Alex Cora, another beloved Puerto Rican baseball man, played in the Hous- ton illegal sign- stealing en route to win- ning the World Series in 2017. a Orte- ga, 44, said. a stain to the name of baseball, the name of Puerto Rico.

a shame. I think it had to get to that point. They had the talent to The disconnect between center in the nine-page report outlining the As- illegal tactics. Cora, the bench coach in 2017, was described as the mastermind. Beltran, then in the 20th and final season of his decorated playing career, was the only player men- tioned at all.

Neither man was punished directly, but the fallout was swift. Within days, the Boston Red Sox dismissed Cora as manager while MLB con- tinued conducting an investigation into the 2018 Red Sox, who beat the Dodgers to win the World Series. Later in the month, the Mets let Beltran go as manager after hiring him in November. The turn of events stunned Puerto Ricans. a combination of emotions and reactions, between upset and frustra- tion, said Edwin Rodriguez, the first Puerto Rico-born manager in major league history.

was a combination of everything. It hurt me a Rodriguez, manager of the Florida Marlins for 163 games during 2010 and 2011, had spoken to Cora a day earlier. He has known the Cora family for decades. He considers Alex Cora a good friend and is worried Cora never will get another big league managerial job no matter how severe punish- ment is once the league releases the results of the Red Sox probe. On top of that, the gene- sis of the scandal former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers going public in November irks Rodriguez, who is entering his second season as manager of the San Diego Triple-A affiliate and managed Puerto Rico in the past two editions of the World Baseball Classic.

it bothered him so much that they were cheating, why not say something when pitchers put on pine tar and other substances on the ball, including Rodriguez said. he say it? If it bothers him so much, he knows people are using steroids, why he say it? If so bothered for well-being, look, put all the cards on the table. It bothers me because he was very selective and he was a coward to say it. If going to throw out that situation, throw it all Rodriguez insisted he believe Cora and troubles will inhibit Puerto Ricans from rising to managerial posi- tions in the future. One Puerto Rico-born manager remains in the majors the Toronto Blue Charlie Montoyo.

Dave Martinez, who is of Puerto Rican descent, manages the Washington Nationals. Lino Rivera is a Puerto Rican striving to reach that pinnacle. The 53- year-old has managed teams in the Puerto Rican, Mexican and Dominican leagues since 2004, win- ning championships in each country. This winter, he led the Dominican Toros del Este to the Caribbean Series in his homeland. He fielded a question about the scandal after his first game in the tournament.

The question was met with groans and eye rolls from media members wary of the sensitive topic. Rivera explained he was proud of the men and believed the situation was little He called Cora an extraordin- ary human being. Then he joked that he put up a gigantic screen be- hind the dugout to execute the sign-stealing oper- ation. situation is un- fortunate, same as Bel- but you have to live with Rivera said. message is to have your mind clear, your head held high.

Me, as a Puerto Rican, as a Latino, as a person in baseball, always support The rambunctious Ozzie Guillen, out of baseball since a bumpy one-year managerial tenure with the Miami Marlins in 2012, was on the island to watch his 28-year-old son, Ozney, manage Colombia in the tournament. Guil- len, the first Latino man- ager to win a World Series when he led the Chicago White Sox to the title in 2005, took to the podium and did not hold back. Guillen, a Venezuelan native, referred to Cora as another son; older brother, Joey, was Guil- bench coach in Chi- cago and Miami. He main- tained Cora and actions were unaccep- table, but insisted they took the fall for a problem that extends well beyond them. He emphasized they deserve second chances.

agree with what (Cora) did, but we make him a Guil- len said. remember what Alex Cora did for this country and you have to feel proud. Not because of what he did now unfortunate but I hope that his black cloud passes This past week, the Caribbean Series became a timely outlet in the storm. Every day fans flocked to the ballpark to root for their own. Jose Cruz of the inland city of Cidra was one.

The 50- year-old drove an hour from his home to watch Puerto Rico face Mexico. His sister had been cre- mated hours earlier. had the Cruz said. goes Cruz said he believe Beltran lost his job. He said both men became scapegoats for a far-reaching problem and he questioned motives.

TNS file photo Alex Cora, right, and Carlos Beltran played for the Mets during 2009. Major League Baseball determined Cora, a bench coach, and Beltran, a player, were major figures in the Houston illegal sign-stealing in the championship season of 2017. MLB Puerto Ricans conflicted over reported actions of countrymen Beltran, Cora BY JORGE CASTILLO Los Angeles Times keeping the Astros on track to become the first team to win 100 or more games in four straight seasons. He also will try to steady a core branded as villains by players and fans in other cities. got to go forward and make sure that it happen Baker said.

certainly is not going to happen on my watch here, and I foresee it happening ever again because this has been an embarrassment for a lot of punishment was delayed by Manfred pend- ing investigation into the Red Sox, which could conclude this week. turmoil extended to the trade market, with a deal that would send former MVP Mookie Betts and former Cy Young Award winner David Price to the Los Angeles Dodg- ers as part of a three-team trade involving Minneso- ta. The delay in the deal being finalized prompted criticism from the association, still smarting over the grievance loss of Chicago Cubs third base- man Kris Bryant, who unsuccessfully claimed the team violated the labor contract by delaying his big league debut until the day his free-agent eligi- bility would be delayed a year. trade value increased with arbitrator Mark decision, because acquiring teams can be certain he cannot go free for two more sea- sons. The cost of top free agents was never more vivid than this offseason.

Players who switched teams included pitcher Gerrit Cole ($324 million from the Yankees), third baseman Anthony Rendon ($245 million from the Angels), right-hander Zack Wheeler ($118 million from the Phillies), third baseman Josh Donaldson ($92 million from the Twins) and left-hander Madison Bumgarner ($85 million from the Dia- mondbacks). Right-hander Stephen Strasburg became a free agent shortly after win- ning the World Series MVP award, then stayed with the Nationals for $245 million. On the December day he signed with the Yan- kees, Cole thanked pio- neering player Curt Flood, former union head Marvin Miller and others who fought to gain free agency and then to preserve it. so important that players know the other sacrifices that players made in order to keep the integrity of the game where it Cole said. All those big bucks and pre-Christmas deals con- trasted with the slow mar- kets of the prior two off- seasons.

Spending fol- lowed fourth straight attendance drop, to 68.5 million, down from 73.8 million in 2015. a more competitive environment. More teams are trying to New York Mets general manag- er Brodie Van Wagenen said. Washington will raise the championship flag for the first time in franchise history and will try to become the first repeat winner since the Yankees from 1998-2000. The previous longest stretch was between the 1977-78 Yankees and the 1992-93 Blue Jays.

Houston will go for its third AL pennant in four seasons, and the Yankees will try to reach the Series for the first time since 2009 following their first decade since the 1910s without a World Series appearance. can all look each other in the eyes and know, when it counts, we can all count on each Nationals ace Max Scherzer said, a bunch of Champions always be- lieve that. But it worked out for any one them in two decades. FROM PAGE 1B TRAINING NBA Through Friday EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Pct GB Toronto 38 14 .731 Boston 36 15 .706 Philadelphia 32 21 .604 Brooklyn 23 27 .460 14 New York 16 36 .308 22 Southeast Pct GB Miami 34 17 .667 Orlando 22 30 .423 Washington 18 32 .360 Charlotte 16 35 .314 18 Atlanta 14 39 .264 21 Central Pct GB Milwaukee 44 7 .863 Indiana 31 21 .596 Chicago 19 34 .358 26 Detroit 19 35 .352 Cleveland 13 39 .250 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Pct GB Houston 33 19 .635 Dallas 31 21 .596 2 Memphis 26 26 .500 7 San Antonio 22 29 .431 New Orleans 21 31 .404 12 Northwest Pct GB Denver 36 16 .692 Utah 33 18 .647 Oklahoma City 32 20 .615 4 Portland 24 29 .453 Minnesota 15 35 .300 20 Pacific Pct GB L.A. Lakers 38 12 .760 L.A.

Clippers 36 15 .706 Phoenix 21 31 .404 18 Sacramento 20 31 .392 Golden State 12 40 .231 27 NHL Through Friday EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic GP OT Pts GF GA Boston 55 33 10 12 78 183 138 Tampa Bay 54 34 15 5 73 196 149 Toronto 55 29 19 7 65 199 185 Florida 53 29 18 6 64 190 178 Montreal 56 26 23 7 59 175 172 Buffalo 55 24 23 8 56 157 173 Ottawa 54 18 25 11 47 145 183 Detroit 56 13 39 4 30 115 212 Metropolitan GP OT Pts GF GA Washington 54 36 13 5 77 197 160 Pittsburgh 53 33 15 5 71 178 146 Columbus 55 30 16 9 69 146 135 N.Y. Islanders 52 31 15 6 68 155 142 Carolina 54 31 20 3 65 174 148 Philadelphia 54 29 18 7 65 170 162 N.Y. Rangers 53 26 23 4 56 173 172 New Jersey 53 19 24 10 48 146 190 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central GP OT Pts GF GA St. Louis 55 32 15 8 72 176 157 Colorado 52 30 16 6 66 192 151 Dallas 54 30 19 5 65 144 139 Nashville 53 26 20 7 59 174 174 Winnipeg 55 27 23 5 59 163 168 Minnesota 54 26 22 6 58 167 178 Chicago 54 25 21 8 58 161 168 Pacific GP OT Pts GF GA Vancouver 55 30 20 5 65 179 167 Vegas 56 28 21 7 63 177 168 Edmonton 54 28 20 6 62 173 171 Arizona 56 27 22 7 61 158 153 Calgary 55 27 22 6 60 149 169 San Jose 55 24 27 4 52 145 181 Anaheim 55 22 26 7 51 143 171 Los Angeles 55 19 31 5 43 136 176.