Always faithful to his blues, one of the greatest catchers of all time in Cuban baseball, Pedro Medina, is confident that “Industriales can take command and be among the eight classified, which is the first thing that must be done within the National Series.
For the “hero of Edmonton”, it is important “that Industriales is on top of the ball, because depending on how Industriales goes, it is how the ball goes”. However, his inevitable love for the jersey with which he won several championships does not prevent him from recognizing that the 16 teams participating in the current National Series “are very even.”
«You see that anyone wins or loses, because there are no big differences between the teams, the quality is there, so when the series goes on, the players get much better and we will have the opportunity to see very talented athletes.
«Industrials, as always, remains, tries to give a great show for a large audience such as the Latin American one, for which we are always grateful. I, who am no longer here, thank the public for always being there, because at a certain moment, the parents of those who go to the stadium today were the ones who were with me at that time.
—How much has changed, for better or for worse, from that time to this?
—Comparing times is very difficult, because each person is their time. But the ball is one and you must keep it with the people you have at all times, and you have to find a way for the players to advance a little more every day. Before, as it was played at night, it was much easier to practice in the mornings.
“Now, with this situation that it is played in the afternoon, it prevents you a little from ironing out some mistakes that you are making in the game as such.
“On the other hand, there are many more opportunities: first, transportation is much better than it was a while ago, places to rest are much better than years ago, implements are also much better, and many more things that give you the privilege of having more possibilities to be better every day».
“And what remains constant?”
—At all times, you, as an athlete, can develop with the effort you make daily. You have to practice the ball daily; If you don’t train like that, you don’t get results.
—You were talking to me just now about the public. We have finally been able to return to the stands of the stadiums…
-In this series the public has overflowed again in the stadiums, and this gives you a great vitality and a strength to do things better, because you play for that public that is witnessing you.
—What does Pedro Medina do at the moment?
—I was in the Institute for 32 years. Now I collaborate with the National Commission as technical commissioner within the National Series. Always close to the ball.
—What is your message to the new generations?
—That they dedicate themselves, that they be better every day and put their hearts into the sport.
