WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL D - NICARAGUA VS PUERTO RICO

March 11, 2023

Sandor Guido

LoanDepot Park

Team Nicaragua

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Good morning. Sandor, how is the team feeling for today's game now, with Erasmo, Jonathan, and the team for this very important debut of Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic?

SANDOR GUIDO: Well, the guys are focused, happy. We're ready to start of the game and to go out on the field and compete, enjoy the game, and see what happens during the game.

Q. What do you expect from this challenge, Nicaragua versus Puerto Rico, considering that the Boricua team has played at this level in all the editions of the World Baseball Classic?

SANDOR GUIDO: It's going to be a challenging game. Complicated one and tough for us. A game that we have to be perfect in order to try to win. We recognize the quality of the Puerto Rico team with many talented players playing in the Majors, high-quality players.

So we'll try to go out and compete, try to win the game thinking that we can obtain that win, and that's the most important thing. To be positive, to have this positive and winning mindset, and we expect to receive the support of the Nicaraguan fans here in Miami. It could help give our guys a push.

It's the first Classic for us and we can do big things for today.

Q. What does Nicaragua have to do to be happy, satisfied and say, I did my job?

SANDOR GUIDO: What makes you happy? Winning. That's what makes me happy, but I'm already happy because we are here. We are going to go out to have fun. We played two practice games against good MLB teams, and we can use that talent and to use the players of the MLB playing here in the states, and we will continue fighting in each game.

Q. Talking about the excitement of the players and they're happy. How are feeling being in the hotel together and the family that you developed here for this Classic?

SANDOR GUIDO: We are relaxed. That's the most important thing. There is no pressure. We have nothing to lose. Nicaragua is the underdog for this pool, so we are already in fifth place before the start of the tournament. So our mission is to go up in that ranking and do our best.

Q. What has been the biggest challenge that has happened in Nicaragua for this process in the World Classic?

SANDOR GUIDO: Until now nothing because we haven't played any game. The most difficult thing has been being together. We are now a group, and so far so good. We have worked a lot doing our best with some restrictions, okay, but we are a team that is going to make a lot of effort.

We tried to take it one step at a time and it will add up. It's going to be great for Nicaragua.

Q. So was it an easy process to put together or build the team?

SANDOR GUIDO: No, it was not that easy because we have very good players. We have a few playing in the Big Leagues. We had to choose those players. We knew that the ones playing in the MLB were already on the team, but it's more complicated in Nicaragua with different situations in our country.

Sometimes the fans and the media consider different situations, but this was a decision of the coaching staff. We selected these players. I'm happy with the ones that are on the team because they are the ones that we selected, and so far they are doing a very good job.

Q. Considering the restrictions imposed by the MLB teams, have you considered how you are going to use, for example, Jonathan Loaisiga for a specific game? Have you discussed that how you are going to manage with the coaching staff, especially the pitching?

SANDOR GUIDO: That's the most important thing, trying to manage the pitching according to the restrictions imposed by the organizations. They said that Jonathan was entitled to only 50 pitches, but we have good news. We can use him more. So if we are leading the game, we are going to take advantage of that, and we recognize his quality as a pitcher. That's the most important thing for us.

The most important thing actually is that they are willing to help our team. They have this mindset, you know, that we can compete.

For Nicaragua, we have to think first about Puerto Rico. Then about Israel, then in Dominican Republic. We're going to play one game at a time, and that's what we are trying to do. Now we are thinking in Puerto Rico for today.

Q. Once they say "play ball" on the field, what would be the key so that Nicaragua has a very good game and get the win?

SANDOR GUIDO: The key will be mandated by the game. The key is good defense, good pitching, good fundamentals. Small ball for us for Nicaragua is the most important thing. We don't have to compare our strengths with the other teams.

You know, that small ball of ours is what we're going to do: Bunting, stealing bases, unexpected plays. That's what we are going to do, to play the ball we play in Nicaragua because. The Big League teams have played with us in Nicaragua, and this is a moment that we have to live. We have to appreciate it. We know that we want to show the talent that we have in Nicaragua.