Castro criticizes Cuban players who leave for majors

HAVANA -- President Fidel Castro criticized Cuban baseball players who have left the country for multimillion-dollar contracts in the major leagues, saying the island always finds better players to replace them.

During a five-hour appearance on state television Wednesday, Castro remarked on those players "who cannot resist the millions of the major leagues" and acknowledged that baseball "is the sport in which we have been beaten the most" when it comes to defections.

Still, the 79-year-old leader insisted Cuban baseball has always survived the losses.

"When one leaves, another 10 better players emerge," he said.

Mario Dorizas