Posted on 06/22/2004 4:24:41 PM PDT by NYCVirago
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Jose Contreras' family defected from Cuba this week, and the New York Yankees pitcher left the team Tuesday and traveled to Miami to reunite with his wife and two daughters.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Barbara Gonzalez said she did not know details on how the family got out of Cuba.
``It's spectacular news,'' Yankees manager Joe Torre said before Tuesday night's game at Baltimore.
Wife Miriam, 11-year-old Naylan and 3-year-old Naylenis were put in ICE custody by the border patrol early Tuesday and released from its control around 4 p.m., she said.
After being examined by Miami-Dade County medical officials, the family left with Contreras' agent, Jaime Torres, around 6:40 p.m.
``I have spoken to Jose. Needless to say, he was very happy,'' Torres said. ``His family has been separated for more than a year and a half. This is their dream come true.''
Contreras was expected to arrive in Miami late Tuesday, Torres said.
Contreras, the former star on Cuba's national team, defected in 2002. Nicaragua twice granted Contreras' family visas, but the Cuban government denied permission for his relatives to leave the island.
In late 2002, Contreras' family was informed that it would have to wait five years for a document required to leave.
While Contreras kept in contact with his family, the separation was often mentioned as a reason the ace pitcher might have struggled since reaching the majors.
Contreras is 4-3 with a 6.18 ERA in 11 starts this year, and was sent back to the minors earlier in the season. He is expected to make his next start Saturday at Yankee Stadium against the New York Mets.
``We all need so much support in this game, and a lot of comes from people outside the park,'' Torre said. ``He had really his home and four walls, so it's tough to go home and not think about bad things that have happened or good things that may turn bad.
``The fact that he has been going home to that empty room, that empty apartment, probably is one of the toughest things someone can do,'' he said.
AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.
Ping -- Contreras' family is finally free!
Hm... and I think he's available in my fantasy league....
Its time for the empire to put the fear back into the R.S. nation.
The Contreras family is lucky Bill Clinton and Janet Reno are not still in office. Janet would already be planning the midnight raid.
Funny, I'm watching the Yankee game even as I write this, and they haven't mentioned it at all. I hope it's not BS.
Go Jankees!
Getting Randy Johnson would do the trick.
(Damn, Mussina just gave up a 3-run HR to Tejada to tie the game).
Another chink in the slave state wall.
This is my fave post of the day so far!
It's for real -- I heard Joe Torre talk about it on the pregame radio show.
The way Contreras has been pitching he and his family might want to escape NYC too. :)
Grin...
Funny -- I was just thinking about when we Yankee Fans might finally be freed of the services of Contreras and his 6.18 ERA ;-)
Don't make me put on the game. I don't need the ogita...
Thank God Clinton is no longer in office. If he were, these people would be arrested and sent right back to that hell hole of Castro's.
Can you say Hidekai Irabu??? :0
Jeter just hit a 3-run HR to make it 6 -3 Yanks. Three 3-run HR's in an inning and a half...... (A-Rod had one earlier).
People just wanna be free...
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