I took a quick run into Santo Domingo Tuesday morning to get information about applying for a work visa. You can see the SD skyline from quite a ways off and it was startling to see the layer of smog and haze surrounding the capital contrasting with the blue skies and ocean just a bit further off the coast. I had to go into Boca Chica to get a taxi, so one of the security guards gave me a ride into town on the back of his motorbike. The taxi was actually a van and was WAY too expensive ($40). Some of the players are going into SD on the local bus (gua-gua) this Saturday, so I’ll ride in with them to learn where the bus station is, what the procedure is for paying, etc. I hear that the gua-gua is very cheap, in the neighborhood of a few dollars. Much better than $40!
My first look at Boca Chica was not very impressive. The small part of the city that I saw was pretty run down and seedy-looking. However, I didn’t go all the way to the beach, about which I’ve heard mixed impressions. Some people say it’s not that good; others think it’s beautiful. Those who’ve said it’s not all that great were comparing it to the spectacular beaches of the east coast of the DR, which probably isn’t quite fair to do. From what I’ve read, the east coast has world-class beaches, some of the most beautiful anywhere. I hope to go there over the short Christmas break and stay at one of the all-inclusive resorts for a few days. (Not for long, though–they have world-class prices, too.)
Yesterday, we had a very heavy downpour of rain, so noisy that I had to stop lecturing in the middle of one of my classes. It was a real torrent, but it only lasted about 5 minutes or so.
I’ve made friends with a couple of the Venezuelan players, among others, so I’m learning a bit about that country. One of the pitchers, Jean Paul (JP), didn’t practice yesterday morning because he had a tooth pulled, so Abel wanted me to talk to him for an hour or so, kind of a private tutoring session. A very friendly young man (19 this Saturday), I think he’s one of Abel’s “can’t miss” prospects. We talked about Venezuelan food and about what he can expect when/if he goes to Tampa next year for Spring Training. (BTW, he says he’s got a decent fastball and a good curve, but the change-up is his best pitch.) Some of the higher-ups are here watching these guys, including the Head of Player Development and the Head Scout for the region. More later.