Sal Fasano Just Needs One More Day
Sal Fasano is the definition of a journeyman. Nine teams. He's a backup catcher. That's all he is. Sadly, he's not playing in the bigs. Normally, I might not care about that. I do now. Fasano's son has a rare heart condition. Playing in the minors,he gets the minor league health plan. It might be good, but it certainley doesn't cover all the surgeries. If Fasano retired, like he wanted to, he wouldn't be able to afford health insurance. So he decided to try and make it back. He just needed one more day in the bigs.
Fasano, currently with the Rockies Triple-A organization, just needs one more day. He doesn't have to play. That one day will get him a year of the major league health plan. His son's next operation will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Fasano's don't know if the minor league plan will cover all of it.
If there was ever a story to frame the health care reform debate, it's this one. Fasano wanted to retire. But, because of medical reasons, he couldn't.
"It's often hard to get out of bed... hard to want to go to the field," says Fasano who batted .236 with four home runs in 61 games. "This year I made 12,000 per month before taxes, and my wife is home with the kids, serving as a mother and a father. You can't help but question your sanity. You're driven by one thing-- hope."
Hope is all he has. Hope that someone in the Rockies organization will realize his plight, and grant him one more day. Hope that a national health plan can be passed, so he doesn't have to worry about this. Hope that his son gets better.
I'd like everyone reading to start a "Call up Sal Fasano" campaign. Call into Colorado radio shows. Write to the Rockies. Anything to get Fasano called up, for one game, for one minute, for one second. For one day. He deserves it. His son deserves it.
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September 28th, 2009 - 13:58
Jeremy,
Thanks for bringing this to your reader’s attention. I read this story today and it hit hard. I hope it get the attention of those who need to see it, for Santo’s sake. Well done. Call Up Sal Fasano.
Megan
October 4th, 2009 - 15:55
Jeremy,
Just read this … is there an update? did he get called up? does he still have that awesome mustache?
oh crud, watching the jets game on dvr-delay. sanchez just threw a pick. never commenting on your blog again.
jh