Along with the historical, political and socioeconomic occurrences unfolding throughout our country, March 11, 2020 will forever be ingrained on our global calendar. 

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a “pandemic” therefore putting our entire planet on high alert.

Sadly, our world – in every facet – has dramatically changed.

Thousands have passed away, and more than six million have become infected in the U.S. with this potentially fatal virus. Within our own borders, humanity is desperately yearning for racial harmony and an upcoming 2020 presidential election is poised to be like no other one.  Plus, can/will/should our educational institutions open for students in the fall semester?

And yes, baseball – America’s Pastime – and every other professional, collegiate and high school sport will forever have a vastly different look. 

We’ve already heard a glossary of new terms such as social distancing, asymptomatic, PPE (personal protective equipment) and even “flattening the curve.”

But after a 132-day hiatus and minus rabid fans inside the ballparks, Major League Baseball finally returned for a 60-game season. With every imaginable health-related protocol set in place, will the 2020 season be marred with players testing positive for the coronavirus?

Since that infamous March date, professional athletes, coaches and essential staff members have adapted to being six feet apart, wearing a protective mask and participating in Zoom press conferences with the media. Until scientists discover a critical vaccine, interacting with one another will have to pause indefinitely.

Similar to the popular phrase, “Just Google it,” Zoom and webinars have become a part of our telecommunication vernacular.

Although Zoom was founded in 2011, the usage skyrocketed for everyone at the onset of this global pandemic, including for Edwin Rodríguez, the current skipper of the El Paso Chihuahuas, (a Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres) in El Paso, Texas. Unfortunately for the entire minor leagues system, he was notified that the 2020 season was canceled.

Yet, during this unexpected upheaval, he wanted to still effectively communicate with his coaching staff, players and even envisioned a rather unique idea for visitors to his own website.

One Webinar At A Time

Like the millions who were under quarantined and lockdown in their respective homes, Rodríguez, 60, who made his big league debut with the New York Yankees in 1982, has worn a multitude of different caps throughout his 40 years in baseball: a scout, minor league manager on every level, the first Puerto Rican manager in Major League Baseball history and the World Baseball Classic skipper representing Team Puerto Rico in 2013 and 2017 where both teams reached the finals in consecutive tournaments.

But when I asked about the idea behind the webinars, Rodríguez pointed out that he’s been doing some form of video conferencing for close to three years and credits his lovely wife Mayra for her tireless support and guidance.

“For many years, I’ve organized meetings with local coaches throughout the island. I would take a two-hour drive to Mayagüez (a western municipality in Puerto Rico) and other towns to meet them but then I realized I needed to find a different approach,” said Rodríguez over the phone.

He added: “I started to do some research on the Internet and organized remote meetings, so when we were hit with the pandemic, I had a lot of time on my hand. From something bad, I believe something good [for minor league players, coaches, parents and children] came out of this.”

Prior to conducting his free webinars, Rodríguez reached out to various coaches and former players to gauge their interest. The reaction was immediately positive. He began to promote his newest educational platform on social media and via his official website www.HitBoricua.net. Guests were invited to register for a particular webinar that focused on pitching, hitting, fielding and the psychological factors on being a professional athlete.

Once the webinars began, the feedback was incredible and literally went viral.

“The response was international. I had representatives from the sports industry in Mexico, various towns throughout Puerto Rico, USA, Australia, Venezuela, Columbia, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, and a week later, I had people from Cuba who invited me to one of their webinars. I wrote about five pages of notes [laughter].”

For Edwin and his webinar presenters, these educational teleconferences provided a much-needed distraction from this global outbreak. They allowed for a two-hour “feel-good moment” for the registered guests who while listening to the speakers would type comments such as “great week for learning” and “here with my 12-year-old wanting to learn how to prepare to pitch 200 innings.”

But there was even one heartfelt comment that spoke volumes about the organizer of the HitBoricua webinars who took a short break from his laptop to speak to school children on his native island.

The guest wrote, “Thank you, Edwin for your inspirational message at our virtual graduation.”

As a voracious reader, the San Diego Padres Triple-A skipper is always taking meticulous notes and enjoys being a teacher. He even delivered a straightforward message on his own webinar for an aspiring, young ballplayer who watched the webinar with his father and a minor leaguer who saw his 2020 season canceled indefinitely.

“My first message is to respect the game and the coaches who put in the time. Everything starts there and, of course, be yourself. If you’re at this level, you’re a professional and you should act like one. With those abilities, hopefully you’ll play in the big leagues,” Rodríguez stated matter-of-factly.

Having former ballplayers participate in the webinars, Rodríguez felt strongly the viewers could relate to those superstars who had successful careers.

He concluded, “Having a Baseball Hall of Famer like Ivan ‘Pudge’ Rodríguez who said, ‘I don’t compete with anybody. I compete with myself’ is priceless. With Alex Cora, [Carlos] Delgado, [Carlos] Beltrán, [Omar] Vizquel and other speakers who spoke about their own experiences was excellent. I always say play the game one pitch at a time.”

“The Game Is Speaking To You”

Over the course of Edwin’s 19 webinars, one of the featured presenters was a 48-year-old former Puerto Rican player who was quite excited to be a part of these video conferences.

Born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, a municipality located in the northwestern tip of the island, Carlos Delgado was considered one of the most feared sluggers with the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Mets. Not only was he a two-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger Award winner but he also holds the all-time Major League Baseball home runs record (473) among Puerto Rican players.

But of all the accolades, there’s possibly one award Delgado received in 2006 that certainly has a distinct place in the home of this happily married father of two children.

Presented annually by Major League Baseball, the Roberto Clemente Award is given to the deserving player who best reflects the philanthropic efforts of this legendary right fielder who tragically died while on a humanitarian mission on New Year’s Eve 1972.

And that Clemente happened to be his fellow countryman, he was quite moved to receive this extraordinary honor considering a few days before Clemente’s tragic passing, he actually conducted a baseball clinic for numerous children in Delgado’s hometown in 1972.

How apropos for Delgado to participate in a webinar geared not only towards minor league players, coaches and parents, but also to the children who love the game of baseball.

“When Edwin started promoting the webinars on social media, I thought it was a good idea,” commented Delgado via phone from his hometown in Puerto Rico. “I listened to the first two and thought they were phenomenal.”

For his particular webinar on hitting, Delgado was prepared with his detailed notes and wanted his audience to understand the individuality of a player’s swing.

“I wanted to make sure everyone could understand whether you were a 12-year-old or a professional player. I wanted to make it simple enough so that people understand the basics. Hitting is so unique to the player. If you can make your swing work, that’s perfect.”

As for hitting, there was a unique catchphrase he heard during his childhood in Puerto Rico that continued to play a huge part throughout the course of his 17 seasons – la maseta del bate – which translates to the “barrel of the bat.”

“As a hitter, you’re always looking for things to make yourself better. I’ve always said, ‘Pay attention to the game. The game will tell you what to do.’ There were times when I was sitting on the bench and guys were playing around. I would say, ‘Shut up and give us three hours, so we can concentrate,’” Delgado said while describing his recollections inside the dugout.

“If you wait until you’re set in the batter’s box to see what the pitcher is throwing, you’re already late. When you develop a winning culture, the players will follow and pay attention to details.”

When asked by Edwin Rodríguez, the webinar moderator, to share his personal approach to hitting, Delgado’s response was rather revealing to the 281 viewers.

“I learned in my career to simplify things in order to execute better.”

But for this former all-star player who was quite articulate on a variety of different topics, he also approaches parenting in a similar fashion.

“I want to be fair. I don’t want to impose something because I say so. Never minimize your child’s opinion. My wife and I want to provide structure, discipline and always be a great communicator.”

Delgado once again reminded me, “Remember, the game [even life] is talking to you…listen.”

Division-II – The Big Leagues

Before he was traded to the Oakland Athletics, Austin Allen, a 26-year-old catcher, was one of Edwin’s former players on the 2019 El Paso Chihuahuas team. He shared a rather interesting story on how a simple conversation with his favorite manager changed his approach at the plate.

“I was hitting .230 before the conclusion of the first half of the season. I walked into Edwin’s office, and I figured there was nothing for me to lose. He was working with some other guys. I said, ‘I want to hit with you.’ We did a front toss and a few other drills,” Allen who shared his thoughts on what occurred that day in El Paso.

He continued: “It was the game before the All-Star break, and I hit a homer to right-center field. I had never felt that ‘feel’ before. It was an ‘Aha!’ moment. I got to the dugout, and he said, ‘That’s exactly what we are working on.’ It wasn’t the result but the feeling and that swing.”

Although Allen didn’t have an opportunity to catch one of Edwin’s webinars, his former skipper knew how much he would appreciate speaking to one of his baseball idols from his hometown in Missouri.

“Yadier Molina is a legend in St. Louis. He was rehabbing in Memphis, and I had the opportunity to speak with him. What I will always remember from our discussion is how he said being a catcher you’re the eyes and voice of the team. You have to come in everyday to work, carry the pitching staff and believe in your pitchers. I will never forget his words.”

Similar to Delgado’s hitting and parental advice, Allen believes the supportive ‘father-figure’ advice he received from his former manager is the main reason why Allen can now say he is a Major League Baseball player with Oakland Athletics.

Immediately, I asked Allen if he switched roles and was a veteran manager what guidance would he impart to a minor league player who also happens to be his own son? 

He replied confidently, “Believe in yourself when no one else is. I’m a prime example. I wasn’t highly recruited, went to a small Division-II school in Florida, and I got labeled as a guy who can’t catch. I believed in myself every single day. And now, I’m getting the opportunity to play inside a big league’s stadium. That’s what I would tell the player and my son. Have fun and love the game of baseball.”

And before hanging up the phone, Allen chimed in eagerly, “Edwin is one of the best managers I’ve played for. I will tell that to anyone.” •