But suppose the best plan for freeing the Cuban people appeared to enrich Castro, enhance his stature and give him political bragging rights. Would it be a good trade?

Most non-Cuban Americans would accept a strategy to free Cuba, even if it didn't destroy Castro.

Most Americans of Cuban descent wouldn't, arguing that the only  way to help Cuba is to hurt Castro. That may be true.

But what if it isn't? What if there is a way to sow the seeds for the collapse of the Cuban regime right under Castro's nose?

This is the real issue regarding the Baltimore Orioles' controversial March 28 exhibition game in Havana against the Cuban national team, and a visit by the Cuban team to Baltimore on May 3.

The idea of any U.S. interest giving legitimacy -- not to mention money -- to a Cuban institution outrages many anti-Castro Cuban expatriates in Miami.

To mitigate those concerns, the American delegation that negotiated the Havana game insisted that any proceeds not go to the Cuban government. The Cubans promise they won't -- but then, money was never Castro's primary motivation.

For Castro -- an enthusiastic baseball fan -- a game against a major-league team is a certain status builder.

El comandante  will surely crow about luring the Orioles to his shores. He'll contend that fielding competitive players proves life isn't so bad on his island, contrary to exile pronouncements.

And he probably considers the very fact of the Orioles playing in Havana a delicious slap in the face to his detractors in Miami.

He's right about that: The game reveals the limits of Miami Cubans' ability to steer U.S. policy.

But the games still may work in favor of the exiles' ultimate goal.

Any contact between Cuba and the United States is, from Castro's standpoint, a bargain with the capitalist devil. His ego may experience a quick high -- but anything that brings the temptations of capitalism closer to the average Cuban can only threaten Castro's failed socialist experiment.

Let the people see the fine suits the Orioles players wear. Let them marvel at the state-of-the-art equipment that broadcasters will bring. Let them hear stories of the United States from people who love it and prosper within it.

Most of all, let them see that we in the States aren't intimidated by anything Castro has created. Not his puny revolution or its vacuous promises -- not when we can show off what we've built with capitalism, democracy and individual freedom.

Castro is aware of the danger. The announcement Monday that four dissidents were convicted of sedition is meant as a message to all that he's not losing control.

I have grown increasingly disenchanted with the U.S. embargo of Cuba. It is wrongly focused: It seeks (but fails) to hurt Castro. This nation's policy should focus on propelling the Cuban people toward freedom.

Our best weapon is, and always has been, capitalism. We should show it off to, not hide it from, the Cuban people.

As for the games themselves, we already know Cuba has major-league-quality ballplayers. The World Series successes of the Hernandez brothers, defectors Livan of the Marlins and Orlando of the Yankees, prove it. The Cubans will play well.

But the real contest isn't one or two games. The championship of human rights is at stake -- and that's a World Series we aren't about to lose.

The games with the Baltimore Orioles may momentarily lift Fidel Castro -- but onto a wave that promises to eventually sweep him away.