The population of Red Sox Nation includes the patrons at the tropical, open-air La Base sports bar, where young partiers croon merengue tunes on the karaoke machine and the Caribbean Sea churns just outside.
But, for the last few weeks, the focus of most customers has been on the playoff action broadcast inside. They are especially enamored with the boys from Boston, considered the island’s most popular team, thanks to a string of Dominican superstars.
Ruben Rodriguez, a muscular 30-year-old soldier, has been at the bar all season to cheer on his Red Sox. He has never been to Massachusetts. He can’t tell you much about the Green Monster or the broken Curse of the Bambino.
But, since Dominican slugger David Ortiz helped lead the team to a title in 2004, Rodriguez has been on board the bandwagon. Rodriguez, who could give Big Papi a run for his money in the biceps department, lines up the ice-cold Presidente beers and tries to will the Red Sox to victory.
“If God wants it,” he says, “they will be champions again.”
In the Dominican Republic, the passion bubbles over. Fans here choose sides based on which countryman is their favorite player.
Even though Lake Erie is a long way from Dominican beaches, Cleveland has its backers, thanks to up-and-comers Fausto Carmona and Jhonny Peralta. Carmona has become a pillar of the team’s starting rotation while shortstop Peralta has delivered key hits during the American League Championship Series.
The Colorado Rockies are not really on the radar here, but youngster Ubaldo Jimenez of Nagua has provided an unexpected boost to the starting staff.
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The island nation of 9.4 million residents has become the top foreign producer of major-league talent. The nation has its own professional league and native sons often return from the majors to play a few weeks in the winter for teams such as the Licey Tigers and the Escogido Lions.
Huascar Rodriguez, the owner of the La Base sports bar and no relation to the Red Sox fan at the bar, said the major leagues create more of a buzz than the Dominican Winter League ever does. He said Dominican fans are baseball connoisseurs and appreciate the high level of play in the U.S.
Sammy Sosa gave the Cubs a boost in popularity, “even though he had his little problems. That’s part of the package and he still represents Chicago for many,” Rodriguez said. Alfonso Soriano is another popular player on the island, he said.
But the Red Sox have become the island’s most popular team, thanks to former pitcher Pedro Martinez, a Dominican favorite who led them to a World Series title. The addition of Ortiz and All-Star Manny Ramirez only cemented their appeal.
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