Past stars lead Venezuelan team at Caribbean Series

MIAMI -- As part of their march to their first Venezuelan League championship since 1986, the Tiburones de La Guaira -- Venezuela’s representative in this week’s Caribbean Series in Miami -- underwent a series of changes in the dugout, as Ozzie Guillen took over as manager for Edgardo Alfonzo and Carlos Zambrano assumed the role of pitching coach.

In addition to Zambrano on the coaching staff, Endy Chavez has been the club’s first-base coach since the beginning of the winter ball season. It’s his first full campaign as an instructor in his home country after Minor League coaching stints in the Mets and Nationals systems.

“It’s been incredible,” said Chavez, who played 13 Major League seasons as an outfielder. “It was really good to be here the whole year with all these guys on Tiburones de la Guaira and to see that hunger, that desire and that level of competition from the guys on the field, with the purpose of being champions. I really enjoyed it.”

For Chavez, it’s his third Caribbean Series, but first as a coach after having represented Venezuela on two occasions as an active player. After the tournament, he’ll move on to Tecos de los Dos Laredos of the Mexican Baseball League as their hitting coach for the 2024 season.

Chavez is also thrilled to share coaching duties with Zambrano, one of his old friends in baseball.

“It’s a great experience, especially when you get to do it with one of the guys you’ve known for years,” Chavez said. “It brings back a lot of memories.”

Zambrano -- a winner of 132 games in a 12-year Major League career -- has taken on his role on Venezuela’s club with considerably less experience. But, upon his arrival mid-season amidst the club’s coaching shakeup, the team’s pitching showed marked improvement.

“Carlos is a guy to be admired,” said former Major League reliever Silvino Bracho, who is currently reinforcing the Tiburones in Miami. “He gives us support and confidence and talks to us about his experience. We take on our roles that he gives us with a lot of responsibility.

“It’s impossible not to admire him. He was someone I watched since I was a little kid and to have him as a coach now, with the chance to have him give us his confidence, is a wonderful thing.”

Another voice of experience in the Venezuela dugout is Wilson Ramos. A veteran of 12 seasons as a Major League catcher, Ramos -- a two-time All-Star and receiver of three no-hitters -- revealed at the Caribbean Series that he’d like to go into coaching when he officially retires.

“It’s something I’d love to do,” said Ramos, currently a free agent. “I know how to play baseball. I’ve learned a lot, and I know I can really help the young guys get the best out of themselves and move forward in this game.”

In the meantime, Ramos and the Tiburones club are trying to bring Venezuela its first Caribbean Series crown since 2009, when the Tigres de Aragua -- with Ramos in tow -- won the championship at Mexicali.

“There’s a lot of baseball blood in this Venezuela dugout,” Ramos said. “You can learn a lot from every one of them, because they’ve lived and played a lot of ball. You’ve always got to have your ears open, to listen to them and learn more about baseball.”