One will never reach the top until one is fully qualified to handle the responsibilities of one's aspirations.

What does it take to hit a 95 miles per hour pitch off Johan Santana throw?

One must have an excellent eye for the ball and one must believe in one's own ability to make contact with it.  It is a fact that I always refer to the past when I give advice to my players since experience cannot be bought in the supermarket, and as it was the case, when I was a baseball player in my native country, Venezuela, I faced many good throwers and I often came on top for I had a keen eye for the ball and I always made sure that I made good contact with it.  Manuel Sarmiento of Caguas, Magallanes and Cincinnati, comes to mind since he always came second when I batted against him. However, discipline and persistence always win the day and they must always be at the forefront of everything one does since games are won or lost by either observing or neglecting those two items of behaviour on the field of playing. Indeed, I have been brought up with a very strong pattern that I am not to get too big for my boots and therefore my ambitions are moderate, in spite of that I believe that it is okay to have a dream. Nevertheless, one must believe in oneself and work hard towards making that dream into reality and I can assure anyone it is achievable but it can only be made possible by one's enterprise and resolution. Although, the signs seem right only one would know if it feels right for it is one who must take the time to make sure that things are right since one of the major causes of failure is the inability to follow good advice. Patience, simplicity and ardent interest in one's goals often do best before discomposure, for all that, one needs to be ruthless with distractions since lack of concentration is a primary factor for not taking the time to set one's goals in the right direction. Indeed, one would never be able to express one's ability to perform at the big stage, namely, Major League Baseball, until one's priorities become the order of the day. I say all this because experience has shown me that when an opportunity knocks at one's door one must be ready to take center stage in order to pursuit one's desire and perform before a global audience. Certainly, one must remember that in the game of success the winner takes it all and even though entertainment is part of the game of baseball a good performance must be delivered time, time, time and time again for the field of playing is one's stage to enact one's skills and enhance one's reputation in the game of baseball.     

P. Figueras

Head coach

Figueras Baseball Academy

A point about Venezuela and a reason as good as any to visit this land of contrasts! You can sing and dance while soaring at a great height in the sky!  And take the long view below you and fill yourself with wonder! Fascinating and illuminating stuff, isn't it?

Snow capped peaks, endless white sandy beaches, sky high waterfalls, rich alluvial soils and plenty of sunshine are all found in Venezuela. Come and celebrate our passion for life and take advantage of our benign weather. You will not be disappointed. 

P.Figueras

"Simon, Simon, gracias te doy por la patria y la nacion , por tu filosofia y  por toda la valentia que pusistes al servicio de la emancipacion. Hombres como tu son pocos mas lamentablemente no nacen todos los dias"

P.Figueras

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2532311321/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luehzis6e-w