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Yahoo! By
JOHN SEVIGNY, Associated Press Writer. Thu , 9:54 PM ET
SALTILLO, Mexico (AP) - Amid rumors that they had defected, two members of
the Cuban baseball team, including top pitcher Jose Contreras, didn't show for
Thursday's game against Venezuela in the Americas Series tournament.
The two had permission to travel to Mexico City for personal trips, team
spokesman Roberto Pacheco said. He added that if they did not return by
Saturday, he would call Cuban officials to request sanctions against them.
Contreras and coach Miguel Valdez have not been seen since Cuba's 6-0
victory over the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night.
During Thursday's game, Cuban officials threw several photographers out of
the bullpen. Afterward, Cuban players raced to a bus, dodging dozens of
reporters.
Earlier, Pacheco said he had no information about Contreras defecting.
"I saw him yesterday or the night before and he was talking about his
family and very happy," Pacheco said. "My understanding is that he
went to Mexico City on a personal mission. If he actually intended to go to
Texas, that's something he only shared with his soul."
Mexican immigration agent Marco Antonio Perez entered the Cuban bullpen to
check the players' visas during the game Thursday. Later, he said a coach told
him two team members were gone, but he could not confirm if they had defected.
Contreras, who turns 31 in December, caught the attention of major league
scouts with his performance against the Baltimore Orioles in an exhibition game
at Havana in 1999.
Pitching in relief, the 6-foot-4 right-hander allowed two hits in eight
shutout innings against the Orioles' best players. He struck out 10, including
Albert Belle twice.
Contreras frequently has been allowed to travel outside Cuba with teams. He
was on the All-Star roster for the return trip to Baltimore in 1999 and has
pitched in Taiwan.
This year, Contreras was 13-4 and led the Cuban league with a 1.76 ERA. He
has excelled in international tournaments, winning his last seven decisions
against top worldwide competition.
Several players defected from Cuba in the 1990s and some went on to star in
the major leagues.
Orlando Hernandez pitched in Game 2 of the AL playoffs Tuesday for the New
York Yankees against Anaheim. His half-brother, Livan Hernandez, is scheduled to
pitch Game 4 Sunday for the San Francisco Giants against Atlanta in the NL
playoffs. | 
