PHOENIX -- Yasmany Tomas' 25-minute drive west to Chase Field from his home in suburbs begins around five hours before pitch and starts with a phone call to Havana, Cuba, two minutes into the ride.
Tomas says he's usually silent for the first 30 seconds of the call.
"Yasme," the voice on the other end of the line often says, "I'm glad you called. Today will be better than yesterday. Tomorrow will be better than today. Don't worry, Yasmito, everything is going to be OK. You just need to be more patient at the plate.