By Tom Tracy - Florida Catholic
Photographer: TOM TRACY | FC
Professional baseball pitcher Steven Francis "Paco" Rodríguez volunteers at a Catholic Charities community food distribution at Centro Hispano Católico in Miami April 30, 2020. A Cuban-American, Rodríguez has played major league baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles among other teams. His mother, Gladys Palacios, is senior director of Child Development Services for Catholic Charities Miami.
Photographer: TOM TRACY | FC
Professional baseball pitcher Steven Francis "Paco" Rodríguez poses with his mother, Gladys Palacios, senior director of Child Development Services for Catholic Charities Miami. He volunteered at a Catholic Charities community food distribution at Centro Hispano Católico in Miami April 30, 2020. A Cuban-American, Rodríguez has played major league baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles among other teams.
MIAMI | The great COVID-19 lockdown of 2020 has thrown everyone into the same sea of uncertainty.
That includes the world of professional sports, such as baseball, which should be in full swing but remains on lockdown as the country recons with a deadly pandemic now on track to claiming more than 100,000 American lives by late summer.
“Guys really want to get out and play,” said Steven Francis "Paco" Rodríguez, a pitcher who has played major league baseball for the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles.
The Miami native and Cuban-American lent his athletic prowess and hustle at a Catholic Charities community food distribution held at Centro Hispano Católico in Wynwood April 30, 2020. (Click here for story.)
“It’s tough but there is a sense of relief that we are doing this for the community,” Rodríguez said of the stay-at-home guidelines that have closed most businesses and entertainment venues, including sports stadiums.
His mother is Gladys Palacios, senior director of Child Development Services for the Miami’s Catholic Charities. In the past, the younger Rodriquez also volunteered at a recovery-walk fundraiser for Miami’s St. Luke Center, a Catholic Charities residence for alcohol and substance abuse treatment.
“I try to do that every time I am in town. Any time I can help I am happy to,” said the University of Florida alumnus. “I am happy to give some muscle to putting the boxes in the car. I touched base with everybody as they passed by and said ‘hello.’”
Photographer: TOM TRACY | FC
Professional baseball pitcher Steven Francis "Paco" Rodríguez volunteers at a Catholic Charities community food distribution at Centro Hispano Católico in Miami April 30, 2020. A Cuban-American, Rodríguez has played major league baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles among other teams. His mother, Gladys Palacios, is senior director of Child Development Services for Catholic Charities Miami.
Rodriquez added that he is hopeful recent talks between Major League Baseball and the Baseball Players Association will result in the season getting underway this summer.
MLB officials reportedly hope to start a truncated season in July, playing games in their home cities but with no fans. The postseason might last through Thanksgiving weekend in order to reach at least 100 games.
“We want to be at least able to have TV games for people to watch and have something to look forward to,” Rodriquez said, noting that the biggest obstacle to social distancing in baseball is the clubhouse.
A free agent who has played in both major and minor leagues, he said he is not sure exactly when and where he will next play himself.
“I am going through the process and seeing if anyone needs any help. With everything going on things are at a standstill in minor league baseball and major league baseball so it is just a waiting game,” he said.
Playing with no fans present for one season — while disappointing and financially harmful for the sport — isn’t the end of the world, he added.
“It would be tough,” Rodríguez said, but “it brings back the sandlot type of feel of just being out there competing with your buddies.”
Someone else who is anxious to see baseball resume play is none other than the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who grew up rooting for the Yankees and is now a Washington Nationals fan. He has said he relishes the day when he can just go to a baseball game again.
“I don’t think there’s any place that I relax more than sitting in Nats Park and watching my now world champion Nats play a game,” Fauci told the New York Times recently.
