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In times when baseball should just be baseball, Pánfilo stirred the pot again. This time, with a congratulatory message to Venezuela that came with a double meaning and an edge included.
His message left little room for interpretation: “Remove Maduro and Venezuela wins the Baseball Classic. Damn, how much we, the Cuban people, need to win the Classic too! Long live a free Cuba!”
Translated from "panfilés" to direct Spanish: first, a regime change is necessary, and only then will victories and celebrations follow. And that is where the joke stops being a joke.
Venezuela has just achieved a historic feat in the World Baseball Classic, sparking celebrations both within and outside the country. However, in the world of Pánfilo—which also reflects the realities of the Cuban streets—the narrative goes beyond the score. It’s not just about winning a championship, but about the circumstances that make such victories possible.
In Cuba, where history, talent, and passion for baseball abound, the question does not target the bullpen or the line up. It points to something much deeper. Because if anything is suggested by the comment, it is that the problem does not lie on the playing field.
Pánfilo didn't directly mention anyone on the Island, but it wasn't necessary. The message carries its own weight, like a ball (or a regime) that no one wants to handle.
In the end, amidst laughter and shared moments, there's a sense that humor remains one of the few spaces where one can express, without fully stating, what many think.
And this time, the hit was long. Too long.
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