SPORTS: José Fernández, pitcher, cuban baseball star. (born Santa Clara) ** José Fernández, pitcher, estrella cubana del baseball.

7069952José D. Fernández (born July 31, 1992) is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He bats and throws right-handed. He made his MLB debut in the 2013 season.

Fernández grew up in Santa Clara, Cuba. His stepfather, Ramon Jimenez, defected from Cuba in 2005, settling in Tampa, Florida. José attempted to defect unsuccessfully three times, with each failed defection attempt followed by a prison term.

José and his mother and sister defected in 2008. On that successful attempt, José’s mother fell overboard when the boat hit turbulent waters, and José had to dive into the water to save his mother’s life.

When in US he enrolled at Braulio Alonso High School in Tampa, Florida, and was selected by the Marlins in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Fernández made his MLB debut with the Marlins on April 7, 2013. He was named to the 2013 MLB All-Star Game and won the National League (NL) Rookie of the Month Award in July and August. After the season, he won the NL Rookie of the Year Award, and finished third in Cy Young Award balloting.

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Knowing Orlando Chinea, a coach who had trained some of Cuba’s top pitchers before he defected from Cuba, lived in the area, Jimenez had his son train with Chinea. He attended Braulio Alonso High School in Tampa, Florida. Playing on the high school baseball team, Fernández was part of the Florida Class 6A state champions in his sophomore and senior seasons. As a senior, Fernández pitched to a 13–1 win–loss record with a 2.35 earned run average (ERA) and 134 strikeouts. He also threw two no-hitters.

Professional career.
Draft and minor leagues.

The Florida Marlins drafted him in the first round, with the 14th overall selection, of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft. Fernández signed with the Marlins, receiving a $2 million signing bonus. After he signed with the Marlins, he was assigned to the Jamestown Jammers of the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League.

Fernández pitching for the Jupiter Hammerheads in 2012. Pitching for the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the Class A South Atlantic League (SAL) to start the 2012 season, Fernández threw the first six innings of a combined no-hitter. He was twice named the SAL pitcher of the week. Fernández was named to appear in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game. During the season, he was promoted to the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League. He finished the 2012 season with a 14–1 win-loss record, a 1.75 ERA, and 158 strikeouts in 134 innings pitched at Greensboro and Jupiter. He was named the Marlins’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

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Miami Marlins (2013-present).
2013 season: Rookie of the Year.

Prior to the 2013 season, he was ranked as the Marlins’ best prospect and fifth best prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America. The Marlins invited Fernández to spring training, but sent him to minor league camp before the season began. However, they chose to add Fernández to the 25-man Opening Day roster, due in part to injuries to Nathan Eovaldi and Henderson Alvarez. Also, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria hoped that promoting Fernández would buy him goodwill with the fans, following a fire sale the previous offseason. He was planned to be limited to approximately 150 to 170 innings during the 2013 season in order to protect his development.

The Marlins scheduled his major league debut on April 7, against the New York Mets. In his MLB debut, Fernández pitched five innings, allowing one run on three hits with eight strikeouts. He became the seventh pitcher under the age of 21 to record at least eight strikeouts in his MLB debut since 1916. He impressed in his second start. Despite a rough outing against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 27, Rays’ manager Joe Maddon took to Twitter soon after watching Fernández pitch, saying, “Jose Fernandez might be the best young pitcher I’ve ever seen, at that age. I believe he will go far.”

On July 6, 2013, Fernández was selected to represent the Miami Marlins for the National League All Star team. He pitched a perfect 6th inning in the 2013 All-Star Game in which he struck out Dustin Pedroia, induced Miguel Cabrera to pop up for a flyout and struck Chris Davis out. With this performance Fernandez is one of only three pitchers in the history of the All-Star Game who struck out two batters prior to their 21st birthday for their All-Star debut, the other two being Dwight Gooden and Bob Feller.

MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Miami Marlins

Against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 28, Fernández recorded 13 strikeouts, earning the 3–2 victory. With Fernández’s 14 strikeout performance against the Cleveland Indians on August 3, 2013, he became just the sixth pitcher since 2000 to strike out 13 or more batters in consecutive games. He established the Marlins’ rookie record for most strikeouts in one game. On the heels of his performance in July 2013, Fernández was named the Rookie of the Month for the National League, leading all qualified rookie pitchers in the ERA category. He followed up his July month with a tremendous August, in which he compiled a 1.15 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched, which resulted him in receiving a consecutive Rookie of the Month for the month of August 2013.

Fernandez’s rookie season has been considered historic as his 4.2 Wins Above Replacement places him in the Top 10 player seasons among those under 21 years old since 1900. Fernandez’s Adjusted ERA+ of 174 on the season also places him in the Top 10 all-time for pitchers under the age of 21, and is only the fourth pitcher to record this feat in the past 100 years. His strikeout rate is the highest in his league, pacing the National League at 9.81 strikeouts per nine innings.

On September 11, 2013, Fernandez hit his first career home run off of Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Minor. After crossing home plate, Fernandez was confronted by Brian McCann which then led to a bench-clearing fracas.

At the time after his last start of his rookie season, Fernandez was in the top 10 of many pitching statistics in the National League, including sixth in strikeouts (187), first in Strikeouts per nine innings (9.75) and hits allowed per nine innings (5.759), second in ERA (2.19) and Adjusted ERA+, and third in rWAR (6.3).

Fernandez won the Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award and the Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award in the National League. He came in third place in the Cy Young Award voting behind Adam Wainwright and winner Clayton Kershaw.

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2014 season.

Fernández started his sophomore campaign as the Opening Day starter for the Marlins, making him the youngest opening day starting pitcher since Dwight Gooden in 1986. Fernández recorded nine strikeouts while walking none, and joining Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton, Ferguson Jenkins, Walter Johnson, and Cy Young as the only pitchers to do so on Opening Day. On May 12, Fernandez was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a right elbow sprain. An MRI revealed that the elbow had a torn UCL, which prematurely ended Fernandez’s 2014 season. He underwent Tommy John surgery on May 16. He made 8 starts going 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 2014.

Personal.

Fernández considers his grandmother, Olga, the “love of [his] life”. After six years apart, Olga and José were reunited in Miami after the 2013 season.

Agencies/Various/Wiki/InternetPhotos/youtube/thecubanhistory.com
The Cuban History, Hollywood.
Arnoldo Varona, Editor.

CUBAN ADMINISTRATION admits “the system is worn-out”. ** Admite la administración cubana que “el sistema esta agotado”.

Cuba-Mar-2011-0661ADMITE LA ADMINISTRACION CUBANA “EL SISTEMA ESTA AGOTADO”.

La privatización sigue su curso en Cuba. Ahora le toca a la gastronomía y a los servicios técnicos y personales. La enorme –y a todas luces ineficiente– maquinaria empresarial socialista continúa desmontándose con el fin de preservar el régimen que alguna vez la impuso como única forma de gestión económica.

Los trabajadores por cuenta propia se ven atareados desde bien temprano hasta que el sol se pone. Nadie llega tarde, pues quién sabe cuántos clientes se pueden perder por no tenerlo todo dispuesto a la hora de abrir, que es casi sagrada. Tampoco se quejan por muy fatigosa que sea la jornada, sino todo lo contrario. Cuanto más trabajan, más dinero hacen. Sienten que vale la pena esforzarse para sí mismos y no para algún tipo de “emulación socialista”. En su mayoría, estos trabajadores son, por contraste, la prueba viviente de la ineficiencia estatal para administrar una empresa.

El sector privado sigue ganando terreno en la economía nacional, como lo demuestra la intervención de altos funcionarios de varios ministerios –Comercio Interior, Finanzas y Precios, Trabajo y Seguridad Social– en el programa televisivo Mesa Redonda del pasado martes. Los panelistas afirmaron que se está trabajando en la conformación de las normas jurídicas para extender la gestión no estatal a todas las unidades gastronómicas y de servicios del país.

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Esto significa que el Estado dejará de administrar directamente cafeterías, bares y restaurantes. Los únicos servicios que se mantendrán son los relacionados con “programas priorizados”, entre los que se cuenta el de ahorro energético.

El proceso, que empezó en 2009 con el arrendamiento de instalaciones estatales a barberías y peluquerías privadas, se extendió en 2012 de manera experimental a la gastronomía.

El objetivo de estos cambios, según fuentes oficiales, fue incrementar la calidad de los servicios, diversificar ofertas y proteger al consumidor. Indiscutiblemente, al menos los dos primeros aspectos se han conseguido.

Se han extendido los servicios y la productividad de las cooperativas supera varias veces la de las empresas estatales.

Desde que surgieron las cooperativas no agropecuarias y proliferaron los privados, aquellos establecimientos que antes administraba el Estado hoy “funcionan mejor”. La afirmación viene de los entrevistados por la televisión nacional que reconocen que “hay algunos servicios donde el sistema estatal está agotado”. Si bien los precios en algunos renglones han subido, también se han extendido los servicios, y la productividad de las cooperativas supera varias veces la de las empresas estatales.

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La apertura hacia el sector privado también tiene como objetivo esencial la absorción de una gran masa laboral en paro. El Gobierno de Raúl Castro ha modificado o eliminado las empresas que no son rentables, dejando una gran cantidad de trabajadores en la calle. Los desempleados, llamados oficialmente “trabajadores disponibles”, presuntamente migrarían al sector privado.

El traspaso de funciones hará que el Estado se desentienda directamente de unos 134.000 empleados en un plazo que en principio se ha fijado para dos años y medio. A los asalariados se les entregará su expediente laboral y a quienes “no se quieran acoger” a los nuevos modelos de gestión se les aplicará un proceso de “disponibilidad”.

Aproximadamente un 20% del total de trabajadores han sido definidos como “indirectos” y corresponderá a la nueva empresa no estatal decidir cómo “administrar más eficientemente sus recursos”. En otras palabras, varios podrían perder su empleo. Pero todavía se espera que “más de 100.000 trabajadores de la gastronomía y los servicios pasen a la condición de trabajador por cuenta propia o cooperativista”

Los altos funcionarios que comparecieron en la televisión aseguran que “se trabaja” en definir un sistema de abastecimiento para las cooperativas no agropecuarias que surgirán al amparo de esta nueva política, calificada de “abarcadora”. Como es habitual, no han tardado en fijar los límites formales de las transformaciones, al asegurar que “se mantiene la propiedad social sobre los medios fundamentales de producción” y que la propiedad de los establecimientos arrendados es “intransferible” a los particulares. Tampoco se permitirá el resurgimiento de las tiendas de ropa y calzado, cuya clausura hace pocos meses habría dejado sin empleo a alrededor de 20.000 privados, según algunos analistas.

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Del mismo modo, las autoridades afirman que se le debe cerrar el espacio a la espontaneidad y la improvisación. La creación de cooperativas deberá estar en armonía con los intereses del Estado, encargado de negociar las funciones de las nuevas empresas.

Una insistencia en mantener el status Quo de un sistema ya obsoleto y agotado reconocido en todo el mundo por los mismos “países socialistas”. (AV)

Agencies/DDC/Victor A.Gonzalez/internetPhotos/www.thecubanhistory.com
The Cuban History, Hollywood.
Arnoldo Varona, Editor.

CUBA PHOTOS.
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CUBAN ADMINISTRATION ADMITS “THE SYSTEM IS WORN-OUT”.

Privatisation goes on in Cuba. Now comes to food and the technical and personal services. The huge-and all lights inefficiently socialist continues dismounting machinery business in order to preserve the regime that once prevailed as the only form of economic management.

The self-employed are busy from early until the sun sets. No late, because who knows how many customers can be lost by not having everything ready at the time of opening, which is almost sacred. Nor complain about it very tiring day, but quite the opposite. The more you work, the more money they make. They feel it is worth striving for themselves and not for some “socialist emulation”. Most of these workers are, by contrast, living proof state inefficiency to manage a company.

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The private sector continues to gain ground in the national economy, as evidenced by the intervention of senior officials from various ministries -Trade Interior, Finance and Prices, Labour and Social Security on the television program Roundtable Tuesday. The panelists said they are working on the creation of legal rules to extend the non-state management to all dining and service units in the country.

This means that the state would no longer directly manage cafes, bars and restaurants. The only services that remain are related to “priority programs”, among which the energy-saving features.

The process, which began in 2009 with the lease of state facilities to private salons and barber, was extended in 2012 on an experimental basis to gastronomy.

The aim of these changes, officials said, was to increase the quality of services, diversifying deals and consumer protection. Arguably, at least the first two aspects have been achieved.

Services have expanded and productivity of cooperatives is several times that of SOEs.

Since non-agricultural cooperatives emerged and proliferated private establishments that previously managed the State today “work better”. The claim comes from national television interviewed by recognizing that “there are some services where the state system is exhausted.” While prices have risen in some categories, have also been extended services, and productivity of cooperatives is several times that of SOEs.

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The opening to the private sector also has as its aim absorption of a large labor force unemployed. The government of Raul Castro has modified or deleted the companies that are not profitable, leaving a large number of workers on the street. The unemployed, officially called “workers available,” presumably migrate to the private sector.

The transfer of functions will cause the State to shirk directly about 134,000 employees in a period which was originally set for two and a half years. A employees will be given your employment record and who “do not want to receive” the new management models will apply a process of “availability”.

Approximately 20% of all workers have been defined as “indirect” and will correspond to the new state company not decide how to “manage their resources more efficiently.” In other words, many could lose their jobs. But he still hopes that “more than 100,000 workers in the food and services to pass the status of worker or self-employed cooperative”

Senior officials who appeared on television say “working” to define a supply system for non-agricultural cooperatives that arise under this new policy, described as “comprehensive.” As usual, they are quick to set formal limits of change, to ensure that “public ownership of the basic means of production remains” and that the ownership of the leased premises is “transferable” to individuals. The resurgence of clothing and footwear, which closed a few months ago would have left without employment to about 20,000 private, some analysts also not be allowed.

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Similarly, the authorities claim that you must close the room for spontaneity and improvisation. The creation of cooperatives should be in harmony with the interests of the State, to negotiate the functions of the new companies.

An insistence on maintaining the status quo of an obsolete and exhausted system recognized worldwide for the same “socialist countries”. (AV)

Agencies/DDC/Victor A.Gonzalez/internetPhotos/www.thecubanhistory.com
The Cuban History, Hollywood.
Arnoldo Varona, Editor.

Chucho Valdés, musician, bandleader, composer. (born in Havana) ** Chucho Valdés, músico, director, compositor.

images (9)Jesús Valdés Rodríguez, better known as Chucho Valdés was born in Quivican, Havana on October 9, 1941, is a Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger whose career spans over 50 years. An original member of the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna, in 1973 he founded the group Irakere, one of Cuba’s best-known Latin jazz bands. Both his father, Bebo Valdés, and his son, Chuchito, are pianists as well. He has won five Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards.

Chucho Valdés’s first recorded sessions as a leader took place in late January, 1964 in the Areíto Studios of Havana (former Panart studios) owned by the newly formed EGREM. These early sessions included Paquito D’Rivera on alto saxophone and clarinet, Alberto Giral on trombone, Julio Vento on flute, Carlos Emilio Morales on guitar, Kike Hernández on double bass, Emilio del Monte on drums and Óscar Valdés Jr. on congas. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, these would be the members of his jazz combo, whose lineup would often change, sometimes including bassists Cachaíto and later Carlos del Puerto, and drummers Guillermo Barreto and later Enrique Plá.

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In 1967, Chucho and his bandmates became founding members of Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna, together with many other well-known Cuban musicians. This all-star big band would back singers such as Elena Burke and Omara Portuondo. In 1973, Chucho along with other members of the Orquesta Cubana de Música Moderna founded Irakere, and ensemble that bridged songo and Afro-Cuban jazz. He would simultaneously continue his solo career, eventually signing with Blue Note Records, which allowed him to get international exposure. As a result, Chucho’s work has received universal critical acclaim from the media, winning five Grammy awards.

Chucho’s father, Bebo, who attained a legendary status as the pianist and director the Tropicana Club orchestra and Orquesta Sabor de Cuba, fled Cuba in 1960, and did not record music again until the 1990s. In the late 1990s, Chucho decided to focus on his solo career, and his son Chuchito replaced him as the pianist/director of Irakere. Chucho and Bebo occasionally played together until the latter’s death in 2013. Since 2010, Chucho performs with a backing band known as The Afro-Cuban Messengers.

Awards and honors.

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Chucho has won five Grammy awards: in 1978 for the album Live at Newport by Irakere; in 1998 for his contribution to the CD Havana by Roy Hargrove’s band Crisol (formed in 1997), with two songs – “Mr. Bruce” and “Mambo para Roy” – written by Chucho; in 2003 for his album Live at the Village Vanguard; in 2009 for his collaboration with his father, Juntos Para Siempre; and in 2011 for his album Chucho’s Steps.

On October 16, 2006, Chucho Valdés was nominated Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Solo discography.
Albums.

1964: Jazz nocturno (Areito)
1964: Guapachá en La Habana (Areito) – with Guapachá
1970: Chucho Valdés (Areito)
1972: Jazz batá (Areito)
1976: Piano I (Areito)
1981: Tema de Chaka (Areito)
1986: Invitación (Areito)
1988: Lucumi (Messidor)
1988: Straight Ahead (Jazz House) – with Arturo Sandoval
1991: Solo Piano (Blue Note)
1998: Bele Bele en la Habana (Blue Note)

1999: Briyumba Palo Congo (Blue Note)
1999: Live (RMM)
2000: Live at the Village Vanguard (Blue Note)
2001: Solo: Live in New York (Blue Note)
2002: Canciones inéditas (EGREM)
2002: Fantasía Cubana: Variations on Classical Themes (Blue Note)
2003: New Conceptions (Blue Note)
2005: Cancionero cubano (EGREM)
2008: Canto a Dios (Comanche)
2008: Tumi Sessions (Tumi)
2008: Juntos para siempre (Sony) – with Bebo Valdés
2010: Chucho’s Steps (Four Quarters)
2013: Border-Free (Comanche)

EPs.
1964: Por la libre (Areito)
1964: No me digan na (Areito) – with Guapachá.

Agencies/Various/Wiki/InternetPhotos/youtube/thecubanhistory.com
The Cuban History, Hollywood.
Arnoldo Varona, Editor.