When things seem to be at their worst, and believe me, with the extremely contagious coronavirus running rampant around the entire world there is absolutely nothing worse, there is only one person who, with just the sound of his voice, can make things seem less dire, even if only slightly. That person is, of course, Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully.

On Sunday afternoon, the 92-year-old longtime voice of the Dodgers graciously and humbly gave LA Times writer Bill Plaschke a near five-minute telephone interview that absolutely positively could not have come at a better time, with Scully’s home town of New York and current residence of Los Angeles in complete lockdown due to the deadly COVID-19 virus.

“We’re like everybody else, we’re hunkered down,” Scully told Plaschke during his unrehearsed and heartfelt four-minute and fifty-eight-second-long recorded statement. “But for me, I’ve been hunkered down ever since we hung things up at the end of ‘16, I’m very accustomed to being at home … it’s that old line if it wasn’t for doctor appointments we wouldn’t have a social life at all.”

As he so often does and in a way that only he can, Scully found the good in even the worst possible situation.

“A lot of people will look at it, it might bring them closer to their faith, they might pray a little harder, a little longer, there might be other good things to come out of it,” he said. “And certainly, I think people are especially jumping at the opportunity to help each other, I believe that’s true, so that’s kind of heartwarming, with all of it, it brings out some goodness in people, and that’s terrific, that’s terrific.”

Scully also shared his tremendous respect and appreciation for all of the first responders who are on the front line against the most devastating health crisis to hit our planet in centuries.

“All those first responders, people putting their lives on the lines, and we’re cheering that they’ll score a touchdown or hit a home run, whatever phrase you want to use,” said Scully. “So I’m sure there’s a lot of praying going on and I’m all for it.”

Scully concluded his much-needed interview with some much-needed optimism; again, in a way that only he can.

“If baseball starts up, we’ve got this thing beat, and we can go about our lives, baseball is not a bad thermometer,” he said. “When baseball begins, whenever that is, that will be a sure sign that the country is slowly getting back on its feet.

“We’re not going to have a full season because this thing is burning up days like an express train,” Scully added. “But somewhere along the line, I hope and pray that baseball will start up. That will be so wonderful, that will be a rainbow after the storm, that, yeah, things are going to get better.”

Thanks, Vin, we needed that.

  *  *  *  *  *  *