Team Venezuela has assembled an impressive brain trust for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, but actual preparation might have to wait a minute. With retired legends Miguel Cabrera, Víctor Martínez, and Johan Santana now serving on the coaching staff, the reunion has quickly turned into a nostalgia festival instead of a training camp. Cabrera is the team’s hitting coach, Santana the pitching coach, and Martínez an assistant manager for the tournament staff—but before drills can even start, the old teammates keep drifting into stories, jokes, and memories from their playing days together. For the current roster trying to get ready for pool play, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Team Venezuela’s biggest challenge might not be the competition… it’s getting the old guys to stop having fun long enough to run practice.
*** Now chatting in #WBCPoolD ***
ThisLittleMiggy: ok boys
serious meeting today
we got dominican republic, netherlands, israel, nicaragua
very tough pool
ShopVMart: yes yes very tough
but first… coffee break
YouDontMessWithTheJohan: i like this strategy already
*** AcunaMatata has entered the chat ***
AcunaMatata: coach we trying to review scouting report
ThisLittleMiggy: scouting report say one thing
ThisLittleMiggy: hit ball hard
ShopVMart: preferably where nobody standing
AcunaMatata: ok but like… pitchers? tendencies?
ThisLittleMiggy: yes tendency is… they throw ball
you hit ball
baseball solved
*** ArraezSunshine has entered the chat ***
ArraezSunshine: this meeting feels like lunch
YouDontMessWithTheJohan: speaking of lunch
who steal my arepa
ThisLittleMiggy: was not me
ShopVMart: miggy you have crumbs on jersey
ThisLittleMiggy: evidence is circumstantial
*** SlamminSalvy has entered the chat ***
SlamminSalvy: ok guys we have game tomorrow
ThisLittleMiggy: perfect
we practice one important drill
ShopVMart: yes morale very important
YouDontMessWithTheJohan: also pitching important
but mostly morale
AcunaMatata: coach i just want to confirm the game plan
ThisLittleMiggy: yes
we score more runs than other team
ShopVMart: very advanced analytics
YouDontMessWithTheJohan: sabermetrics baby
*** pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth has entered the chat ***
pr0FF3ss0r_F4rnsw0rth: wait THIS is the coaching staff???
they’re running a world baseball classic team like a backyard barbecue
ThisLittleMiggy: barbecue is good team chemistry
YouDontMessWithTheJohan: also bullpen snacks
*** WORDUPTHOME has entered the chat ***
WORDUPTHOME: HEY GUYS THIS IS JI
JIM THOME
I LOVE THIS ENERGY
BASEBALL IS BEST WHEN YOU PLAY WITH JOY
OLD JIMBO SAYS THIS TEAM GOT GOOD VIBES
ThisLittleMiggy: thank you jim
ShopVMart: you also invited to barbecue
YouDontMessWithTheJohan: bring ribs
*** MLB_NewsBot has entered the chat ***
MLB_NewsBot: Team Venezuela opens WBC pool play in Miami with high expectations.
Coaching staff includes Miguel Cabrera, Johan Santana, and Victor Martinez.
Players report dugout morale “suspiciously relaxed.”
*** AcunaMatata has left to actually practice ***
*** ArraezSunshine has left to hit 47 singles in batting practice ***
*** ThisLittleMiggy has left to guard the arepas ***
*** ShopVMart has left to start the barbecue grill ***
*** YouDontMessWithTheJohan has left to throw bullpen while laughing ***
