Here is the Barranquilla installment in the series about my travels through the Colombian Winter League.

Barranquilla, Colombia is a coastal city that is the home of the Barranquilla Caimanes (Alligators) – this is the team that I worked for as the hitting coach during the 2010 season.  Although the Barranquilla team has been very successful, winning the league’s past 3 championships, the city is much more well known as the birthplace of 2010 World Series MVP, Edgar Renteria…and let’s not forget Shakira!

Barranquilla Caimanes team shot at a pre-season press conference

Check below for more photos and a video from inside the ballpark

Here is a video look at Estadio Tomas Arrieta – the home of the Caimanes:

The stadium was a little old, but I think the biggest issue from the fans’ standpoint was the lack of a covered area in the stands.  Due the the frequency of the rain, it is easy to understand this concern.  But from what I could tell, there are plans to build a new stadium in the city – one that is nice enough to help the Colombian league participate in the Carribean World Series.  This would be huge in terms of getting Colombia on the map with the other major Carribean Winter Leagues.

Our team itself was very good.  We finished with a record of 20-11, which left us with a 2 game lead in the shortened season.  The field staff was great, and we had a lot of talent on the field, including several AA and AAA players.

The gallery below has several more shots from inside and outside of the stadium, as well as a couple from the city.  There wasn’t a time in the city where I didn’t feel safe, and it was easy to get around in the cabs (although the style of driving and traffic “rules” are another story!), especially after getting to know a couple drivers who were always outside of our hotel.  Even though there were severe weather issues all over the country, we didn’t run into any major problems in our part of town.  It would flood almost every time it rained, but nothing that was threatening – check out the picture with the waves in the street:

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