Baseball Toaster: Dodger Thoughts : Cruz's Brother Is Missing

Cruz's Brother Is Missing

2006-05-31 07:21

by Jon Weisman

Jose Javier Cruz, the brother of Dodger outfielder Jose Cruz, Jr., has been reported missing, according to Eric Hanson and Robert Crowe of the Houston Chronicle. Jose Javier Cruz has not been seen since his truck was found on fire May 20 and last talked to family members the day before.

Comments

2006-05-31 07:55:50

1. Eric Enders

That sucks. Best wishes to Cheo and Cheito. I hope they find him although from the article it sounds pretty unlikely.

2006-05-31 08:15:22

2. Gen3Blue

It sounds like there is more to the story than is being reported. Unfortunate in any case.

On a brighter note for LA outfield depth, looking at Vero Beach it appears both X.Paul and J. Hoffman are starting to hit a bit. Also Dewitt is doing respectably although the same can't be said for Denker.

2006-05-31 08:41:35

3. Eric Enders

Off topic: It looks like we have some good Dodger fans in Cuba. I got an interesting letter in the mail the other day. It was addressed to "SABR, Cleveland OH USA (Please, to delivery Eric Enders."

"Dear Mr. Eric Enders:

My greetings and respect for you. It is written for you a Cuban man. I am 39 years old and I am Assistant editor and sports commentator in the CMHS Radio Caibarien.

I am also the most loyal fan from the Major League Baseball and Los Angeles Dodgers (now with the Cuban Danys Baez) in Cuba since 1986, which I have heard about on the foreign radio, beacause the professional baseball is not broadcasted here in my country and there is not any publications or videos in this regard.

The last month I was the most happy man of the world watching the games of the first World Baseball Classic, with the second place of the Cuban team. ...

Sincerely yours,
Ibrahim Rojas
MLB I live for this. GOD BLESS AMERICA."

In the letter he asks for some MLB materials and publications to be sent to him because that stuff is unavailable in Cuba. I'm going to send him some stuff I have around the house, but I thought I'd post this here in case any of you have any Dodger publications that you care to send him -- programs, old media guides, VHS tapes of games, whatever.

If you want to send him something, his address is

Ibrahim Rojas
Calle Alonso #1910
Caibarien, VC 52610
Cuba

You can send stuff to Cuba via the US Postal Service just like you can to any other country. Interestingly, his letter was postmarked from Cuba on May 24th and took only six days to get to me in New York State. That's quicker than mail I get from California sometimes.

2006-05-31 08:48:41

4. Eric Enders

Also, some background info on the above. The reason this request came to me is because I visited Cuba in 2001 and 2003 with a group of Canadian SABR members. We went to a bunch of baseball games and met and talked with a lot of great fans. I didn't meet Mr. Rojas in particular, but my name was probably passed on to him by one of the Cuban fans who remembered me.

One of the coolest things about going to Cuba was hanging out at "La Esquina Caliente," the section of Havana's Central Park which is set aside for baseball discussion. People hang out there and just discuss and argue about baseball all day. We took a lot of publications and MLB materials with us to give those guys, and they just ate it up and were extremely grateful. We also took a bunch of equipment like baseballs, old gloves, and baseball cards to give to the kids at the Cuban baseball academies.

2006-05-31 08:53:04

5. Eric Enders

More off-topic goodness: Roy Campanella is soon to appear on a (rather appropriately denominated) 39 cent stamp.

http://www.usps.com/communications/news/stamps/2005/sr05_054.htm

Scroll 3/4 of the way down.

2006-05-31 08:54:34

6. Bob Timmermann

A Mel Ott stamp! I know what will be on all the correspondence in the Vin Scully household.

2006-05-31 08:57:39

7. Bob Timmermann

One of the stamps listed coming out is part of a 40-stamp set called "Wonders of America: Land of Superlatives"

Here's the description of one of them:

Largest Land Mammal: American Bison
American bison typically reach 7 to 11 feet in length and weigh 900 to 2,200 pounds. They feed primarily on grasses and can run nearly 30 miles an hour. Full-grown bulls stand 6 feet or more at the shoulder.

Use that to send your fan mail to Matt Kemp.

2006-05-31 08:59:51

8. unmoderated

man, i would love to go to cuba and talk baseball all day.

maybe i'll talk my fiancee into going there for our honeymoon.

2006-05-31 08:59:58

9. Eric Enders

"Full-grown bulls stand 6 feet or more at the shoulder... and can run nearly 30 miles an hour"

Is there any doubt now that this is the appropriate nickname?

2006-05-31 09:02:29

10. Bob Timmermann

8
If you're a U.S. citizen, you're going to have to do some finagling to get there.

2006-05-31 09:02:48

11. Eric Enders

8
I went with these guys and highly recommend them. Kit Krieger is a great guy despite being a Giants fan. He's been to Cuba about 30 times and knows all the ins and outs.

http://www.cubaballtours.com/

2006-05-31 09:04:20

12. unmoderated

can't i just fly out of canada?

2006-05-31 09:04:51

13. Eric Enders

10
I think Kit has a Treasury Department license for his trips now, so it's all legal.

He didn't have a license when I went, but I was going as a journalist so I didn't have any problems.

2006-05-31 09:07:41

14. Jon Weisman

8 - I predict that about five minutes after you propose that idea, you'll be lucky to have a honeymoon.

2006-05-31 09:07:59

15. Eric Enders

Going to Cuba is not a crime, but a civil offense punishable only by fine. It is very possible to go through Canada without a license, but you're taking a risk of getting fined when you get back. However, even if you don't have a license it's pretty easy to go and return without the treasury cops being the wiser.

2006-05-31 09:13:14

16. Bob Timmermann

14
Maybe he's going to marry a Cuban.

Of course, if that were the case, I don't know if she would want to go back.

Personally, I think a much finer baseball honeymoon would be going to St. Louis or Kansas City.

Preferably in mid-August.

2006-05-31 09:43:04

17. unmoderated

are you kidding? she made me stay up late to watch the cubans during the WBC, and here favorite all-time player is sill El Duque.

plus, she's a communist.

2006-05-31 09:51:40

18. Eric Enders

[In Michael Richards voice]
Well, if she says no you could always go by yourself and bring her back some Cubans.

2006-05-31 10:01:57

19. Jon Weisman

17 - Oh, well, in that case, "Bon voyage!"

2006-05-31 10:05:03

20. GoBears

plus, she's a communist

Wow, you don't find too many of those these days. Old school gal, eh?

2006-05-31 10:15:50

21. DXMachina

15. However, even if you don't have a license it's pretty easy to go and return without the treasury cops being the wiser.

Well, at least until you announce it on the internet. :)

2006-05-31 13:07:52

22. Uncle Miltie

I would love to go to Cuba too. I really doubt any of my friends or family members would want to go though.

2006-05-31 14:17:00

23. elan cohen

speaking of old media guides, does anyone in here have a copy of dodger media guides from say 89-95. for the longest time i wanted to see what the minor league stats of bill bene (dodger 1st round flameout of 88) look like