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Spicing Up Spring Training: Angel Villalona Got His Visa!

Posted in Uncategorized by Flavor on February 8, 2013

Spring training for the Giants is probably not going to see too many surprises with pretty much every player role already set. That’s why it will be fun to follow the progress of still-young Angel Villalona who apparently has slimmed down enough to vaguely resemble a professional athlete and get his visa. Remember that last year? I can’t recall the exact wording but the reason giving by the people who issue visas in the DR, was that there was no way they were gonna issue him a work visa to be a pro baseball player as they had scientifically determined that he could not possibly be a professional athlete due to all of his fatness. Like I said, the official wording was a bit different but that’s how I recall it……

He played in the Dominican Summer league and hit to a line of .303/.430/.497 with 7 big flies in 44 games. Not sure what he’s been doing since then, he must not have been able to get down to Venezuela to play in their winter league.

But he’s put his settled murder case behind him as well as a country mile of cleaned dinner plates and he’s headed back to the USA to play ball for the Giants. Likely, this will be an underwhelming story, maybe his inclusion on the spring team had something to do with the 5 million dollar lawsuit he was going to sue the Giants for (breach of contract) before the two sides reportedly settled.

I’m anxious to get a good look at this fella and will start praying now that he and Pablo aren’t bad influences on each other in line at the lunch spread……..

 

42 comments

42 Responses

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  1. Nipper said, on February 8, 2013 at 6:50 am

    If he can hit everything will be forgiven.

  2. Bozo said, on February 8, 2013 at 7:09 am

    Trade bait?

    • dirtnrocksnomo said, on February 8, 2013 at 7:14 am

      Platoon for Belt 🙂

  3. Alleykat said, on February 8, 2013 at 7:48 am

    Angel in the Outfield?:-)

  4. chipower9 said, on February 8, 2013 at 8:15 am

    I have not read any scouting reports on him in some time, but those that I have read said this kid can flat out hit. Will be interesting to see if he has anything left. The Giants really don’t have anyone tearing it up at 1st base in the minors…would not be surprised to see him start in San Jose, and if he still has his stroke, move up the ranks. Another guy who I hope to get a glimpse of while in Scottsdale.

    • Flavor said, on February 8, 2013 at 8:38 am

      see if you can get a pic of him. I’m assuming you’ve got some sort of landscape/wide angle view on your camera 🙂

      • chipower9 said, on February 8, 2013 at 9:58 am

        Ha! Might need the landscape mode if his butt hasn’t dropped any of the LBs…

  5. salty said, on February 8, 2013 at 8:50 am

    I just wish the kid the best whether he hits or not. Going to be rough road ahead.

    • chipower9 said, on February 8, 2013 at 9:59 am

      Yeah, I wonder how much (if any) of the signing bonus coin he has left.

  6. twinfan1 said, on February 8, 2013 at 9:43 am

    I’m having a hard time finding any pictures or video of him in the DSL, or anything at all recently.So I have no idea what shape he’s in. I think I’ve seen that the DSL is about the level of the Rookie league so his numbers are good but hardly awe inspiring. But keeping in mind how long it had been since he’d played, I think it’s encouraging. I have no idea whether this is a “for real” look see or not. It’s something to watch though. Will look forward to Chi’s reports.

  7. xoot said, on February 8, 2013 at 10:47 am

    Villalona’s wikipedia page has fn. links to a couple of Baggarly’s old merc blog entries about the shooting, the jail time, the court proceedings, etc. Those quick pieces by Baggs are about the best I’ve seen on the topic. The prosecutor pursued the case for a while after the $139,000 payoff to the victim’s family. But rumors about witnesses changing stories floated around.

    Unless he develops into a star, the cloud over his head is always going to be the most notable thing about him. My guess is it goes something likes this: DHing for the AAA’s in a year or two and then moving on to Japan. But we’ll see, If he does develop, his tale will be an interesting one.

  8. twinfan1 said, on February 8, 2013 at 11:04 am

    As you know, the payoff can be for more than one reason. Is that what you’re alluding to about the witnesses? If he was innocent, $139,000 was a small price to pay to make a bogus “eye witness” or two go away.

  9. twinfan1 said, on February 8, 2013 at 12:32 pm

    It’s the family payoff that I was referring to- there *were* plenty of witnesses the night of the shooting but only one extremely wealthy celebrity. And yeah, who knows whether witnesses who originallly lied were recipients of some of the payoff ? As I recall the first reports it was two group of friends involved, each with opposing statements of what went down…
    Juan Uribe paid off a farmer who accused Juan of shooting him.
    “Uribe maintained his innocence, suggesting he was falsely accused because he is well known in his native Dominican Republic. He said messengers were sent to his house demanding more than $900,000 before the figure dropped to below $10,000.”
    He eventually paid (allegedly) 25,500..,
    But in any case I certainly would afford those two the benefit of the doubt more than I would Ray Lewis, who recently told the families that he settled with that they should know he couldn’t have done it because God would never have allowed Ray his success if he was a bad man..

    • xoot said, on February 8, 2013 at 12:49 pm

      Maybe the voice of jesus told him to rip open those old wounds and rub in a lot of salt.

  10. Alleykat said, on February 8, 2013 at 12:39 pm

    Wow…Timmy cut off all his locks!!!
    Now he looks like KD Lang..

    • pawliekokonuts said, on February 8, 2013 at 12:57 pm

      can he sing like her?

  11. pawliekokonuts said, on February 8, 2013 at 1:00 pm

    Angel Villalona has such a musical name. Should be in opera. Or politics. Movies. Maybe even baseball.

  12. salty said, on February 8, 2013 at 1:12 pm

    Angel of mystery. Nothing about this strange tale is clear.

  13. DJLoo said, on February 8, 2013 at 2:10 pm

    I’ve heard Villalona kills lefthanders…

    • pawliekokonuts said, on February 8, 2013 at 4:11 pm

      See, this proves we need Loo here. Five words. Pithy. Economical. Acerbic. Sick. Funny.

      • DJLoo said, on February 8, 2013 at 5:26 pm

        Too bad we couldn’t meet up at Finnerty’s, PK. Maybe in September if you come down for “Giant week”

      • DJLoo said, on February 8, 2013 at 5:41 pm

        Maybe see the division clincher in person…

  14. chipower9 said, on February 8, 2013 at 2:13 pm

    Here’s the latest picture of k.d. lan…er, I mean Timmy…

    http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_22550512/giants-tim-lincecum-shows-off-new-haircut

    • DJLoo said, on February 8, 2013 at 2:20 pm

      Big mistake.

      • chipower9 said, on February 8, 2013 at 2:22 pm

        Cutting the hair? Why’s that Loo? Samson syndrome?

      • DJLoo said, on February 8, 2013 at 5:32 pm

        I don’t know, Chi. It’s like he ain’t him now. Remember yje picture of him celebrating on the field in 2010? How cool is the hair? Imagine Wilson clean shaven? Or Slash without the top-hat?

    • twinfan1 said, on February 8, 2013 at 3:50 pm

      Thanks for the link, Chi. I almost forgot I have library books due on Monday…

  15. chipower9 said, on February 8, 2013 at 2:48 pm

    This kind of sums up the way I thought the pen would be used this coming year. Romo getting most of the save opportunities, but also getting a breather here and there.

    http://blog.sfgate.com/giants/2013/02/08/bochy-sergio-romo-will-be-sf-giants-opening-day-closer-but/

  16. DJLoo said, on February 8, 2013 at 6:12 pm

    Well gotta get some rest. Should clear about $700 shoveling snow tomorrow with the other neighborhood kids. Belmont opens in 11 weeks…

  17. paulinasia said, on February 8, 2013 at 7:36 pm

    Yo, Steve, if you’re Flapping around today, tell me again when you will arrive in Bangkok. paulherethere@yahoo.com

  18. paulinasia said, on February 8, 2013 at 8:45 pm

    And Timmy’s haircut makes Yahoo’s top news story …

  19. Macdog said, on February 8, 2013 at 8:58 pm

    Timmy sorta looks like Clark Kent. Maybe he’ll change back to the long-haired Freak once he puts on his Giants uniform.

  20. dirtnrocksnomo said, on February 8, 2013 at 9:04 pm

    I was thinking he looks like Rachel Maddow

    • blade3colorado said, on February 8, 2013 at 9:26 pm

      Too funny Dirt. I am in love with Rachel Maddow. She rocks. I guess I will have to reevaluate that in lieu of what you said about Timmeh 🙂

      By the by, I have a new post on my blog. First one in Oz land. This place is expensive. Waaaaay expensive.

      • paulinasia said, on February 8, 2013 at 9:28 pm

        Steve, when will you arrive in Bangkok?

  21. blade3colorado said, on February 8, 2013 at 9:28 pm

    Paulinasia, I answered your question on my blog. I will be in Thailand on the 21st. If you need my itinerary again. Let me know. I am staying at the Sheraton in Bangkok the night after I arrive for 5 days.

    • blade3colorado said, on February 8, 2013 at 9:29 pm

      Hold on a sec and I will find out the exact place I am staying.

  22. blade3colorado said, on February 8, 2013 at 9:28 pm

    LOL. You read my mind Paul.

  23. blade3colorado said, on February 8, 2013 at 9:31 pm

    Royal Orchid Sheraton from the 22nd to the 26th. No idea where I am staying on the 21st when I arrive, so if you have an idea – I am all ears. Preferably mid range and clean.

  24. paulinasia said, on February 8, 2013 at 9:33 pm

    I’ll go post on your blog…

    • blade3colorado said, on February 8, 2013 at 9:40 pm

      I responded.


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