Manuel Antun, president of the Estrellas Orientales, one of the teams that play in the Dominican Professional Winter Ball Baseball Championship, said that it is not true that the Dominican Professional Baseball League has accepted the Puerto Plata Dolphins team to play in this year’s championship that starts in October. He says no new team can be admitted without a feasibility study, and this has not been carried out. Daniel Aquino, spokesman for the Escogido, said that the press misinterpreted Minister of Sports Cesar Cedeño’s comments. He said that for the Dolphins to be admitted, an eighth team needs to be admitted. It is speculated that this could be the Cafetaleros of Baní, a possible southwestern franchise. News commentator Rafael Calderon of El Siglo, says, "I think it would be easier to thread a needle with an elephant than for the Dolphins and the Cafetaleros to play in the 2001-2002 season."
