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Yahoo! Tue Nov 5, 2002.
HAVANA, 5 (AP) - The Chunichi Dragons of Japan, playing with youngsters
instead of stars, promised Tuesday to put up a fight when the team plays the
first of two friendlies against a Cuban all-star team Wednesday.
Dragons team manager Hisashi Yamada announced that left-handed pitcher
Takashi Ogasawara would open Wednesday night's game at Havana's Latinoamericano
stadium. A second game will be played at the same stadium on Thursday.
"He's short and he has good control even though he doesn't have much
experience," Yamada said.
The Dragons practiced Tuesday afternoon at the Latinoamericano stadium,
which can hold 50,000 spectators.
"The more experienced players are resting while the younger ones are
getting experience for the next season," Yamada said, explaining why he
brought such a young group.
The visiting team recently finished the season in third place in Japan's
Central League.
Yamada said the Dragons would no longer be using Cuban player Omar Linares,
who played with the Japanese team on contract during the past season.
Linares, long considered one of Cuba's best amateur baseball players, batted
.186 during his first professional season. | 
