Angel Villalona a suspect in a murder investigation (no, no joke)
by BruteSentiment on Sep 20, 2009 1:20 PM PDT
305 comments
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=txgiantsvillalonasuspe&prov=st&type=lgns
This is the definition of bad news with the Giants system. Villalona's been out with an injury since mid-season, but I would've expected him to be somewhere with the team, even now, before instructional league began.
I'll do my best to stay on this, and see what I can find out.
Horrible news for the Giants' system after San Jose just took their third title in five years.
This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.
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I’m wondering if any of this is related to his frustrating season. Either way, it’s horrible for the family of the victim, and for Villalona, as he’s likely fucked up his life at an early age.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Sep 20, 2009 1:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I might have expected this from Kevin Frandsen.....
but jokes aside, this fucking sucks, from a baseball standpoint and a real world standpoint
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
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Official McPokeMaster
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by GrahamCrakalaka on Sep 20, 2009 1:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
My thoughts exactly.
Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...
by Smoke on the Water on Sep 20, 2009 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1 million
Just had to explain to my family why my face looks frozen in shock. “But… he’s a minor leaguer? You know the minor leaguers?”
Welcome to the big leagues, son! Proud McCoven parent of future rookie of the year, Gerald "Buster" Posey and RL mom to future HOFer Henry! ;)
by GiantsFanInExile on Sep 20, 2009 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
IIRC, Juan Uribe was accused of attempted murder a couple years ago.
He claimed it was extortion and the charges were eventually dropped.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
by Bhaakon on Sep 20, 2009 1:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
did he turn himself in for it?
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Adopted Father: Tyler Graham
Official McPokeMaster
Registered Velezbian and supporter of Fredemption
by GrahamCrakalaka on Sep 20, 2009 1:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Was thinking the same thing
From Juan Uribe’s Wikipedia page:
In October 2006, Uribe was alleged to have been involved in a shooting in his native Dominican Republic. Despite claims from a district attorney that there was no firm evidence that Uribe was involved in the incident, a judge decided to press forward with the case. Although a defense motion to bar him from leaving the country was rejected, it was ruled on January 5, 2007, that Uribe must appear before a court on the 15 and the 30 of every month until the case is resolved. Uribe, who had denied any involvement in the case, had suggested that he may not play baseball until the legal proceedings are concluded. He was confident that he would win in court and would be free for spring training. 10 It was reported on February 22, 2007, on SportsCenter that Uribe would no longer have to appear in court on those dates. The following day his name was cleared of any involvement with the shooting.
Now, there’s a big difference with a shooting where the victim dies, and we don’t know the details in this case. But I’m wondering whether DR pro baseball players are especially susceptible to extortion when they’re home, given their high-profile status.
I’m assuming Villalona’s innocence until proven guilty, but it sure sounds bad.
"If you want to walk, watch a mailman."--Shawon Dunston
"If you want to bunt, bake a cake."--Bruce Bochy
by Kitspool on Sep 20, 2009 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd imagine that they are more prone to extortion
And that they’re probably more justified in carrying a gun than, say, Plexico Burriss in a NY night club.
I doubt we’ll ever know the details of this particular case, though. Angel isn’t a big enough celebrity.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
by Bhaakon on Sep 20, 2009 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Then there was the Urbina attempted murder thing, where he attacked two guys with a machete and poured gasoline on one of them. IIRC, he’s still in jail for that.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Sep 20, 2009 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
To be fair his mother had been kidnapped for over a year or something and he suspected that people who worked for him had been involved in kidnapping her for ransom IIRC.
by Hobbes2d on Sep 20, 2009 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh yeah, I understand why he went apeshit. It’s just still like whoa, to me.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Sep 20, 2009 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was just stopping by on McC during the break and this Fanpost floored me. Of course we don’t have all the details, but it’s hard not to assume the worst. I do feel bad for the affected members but damn, stupid decisions must have been involved all around.
You want to see a walk? Then go watch the mailman.
by SeeingStars on Sep 20, 2009 1:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
W
T
F
This is hugely tragic and depressing if it’s true.
Bengie: Like an Aurilia kidney stone, slow-moving and tough to get out.
by juanboy on Sep 20, 2009 1:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't even know what to say
Well, let’s hope for the best
by dprodigy19 on Sep 20, 2009 1:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
what the fffffffffuck
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
by jponry on Sep 20, 2009 1:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I know I’m a small fish in the media sea…but I’ll do what I can to stay on top of this issue. I’ve already contacted a few media people, although I imagine that Andy Baggarly will be able to get better comments from people higher in the organization.
"The knowledge of the game is inversely proportional to the price of the seat." ---Bill Veeck. •Now you can follow SFDugout.com on Twitter and Facebook!•
by BruteSentiment on Sep 20, 2009 1:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
whaaaaaaaaaaat
Chris Dominguez: Bringing dingerz back to The Bay (In a while)
SCIENCE
by CB30 on Sep 20, 2009 1:56 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
This doesn’t look like it’s going to end well, for anyone involved.
by GiantsTribe on Sep 20, 2009 1:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
don't worry guys, we'll have his rights when he's 39 and gets out.
by HOLDEMUPwuzzBANNED on Sep 20, 2009 2:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
PERFECT!
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Adopted Father: Tyler Graham
Official McPokeMaster
Registered Velezbian and supporter of Fredemption
by GrahamCrakalaka on Sep 20, 2009 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Then we can send him to low a ball. He should be ready for the bigs by age 45.
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa
And celebrating the achievements of others' adoptees, Joey Martinez and Nate Schierholtz
by raisingcain on Sep 20, 2009 3:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Holy shit
This is pretty crazy news. I’m not sure how extortion would work in this case, but hopefully he didn’t do anything.
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at a position to be determined.
@#$% Juan Uribe. Dios es grande.
by marcello on Sep 20, 2009 2:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
sad
just a sad situation in general
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
by SoFa King Mike on Sep 20, 2009 2:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Why wasn’t he in the San Jose dugout celebrating with his teammates?
by wilriv21 on Sep 20, 2009 2:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Man, Lincecum just doesn’t have it today. Not sure if it’s the heat or something else, but this is really depressing.
"If you want to walk, watch a mailman."--Shawon Dunston
"If you want to bunt, bake a cake."--Bruce Bochy
by Kitspool on Sep 20, 2009 2:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Gah
Wrong thread.
"If you want to walk, watch a mailman."--Shawon Dunston
"If you want to bunt, bake a cake."--Bruce Bochy
by Kitspool on Sep 20, 2009 2:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Looks like the right thread to me.
/general sigh
--
Long ago they came west over the mountains, and I have rooted for them years uncounted; and together through many ages of this world we have fought the long defeat.
by shanghaijim on Sep 20, 2009 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
do you think this will effect where he is ranked on the offseason top 100 lists?
by FluLikeSymptoms on Sep 20, 2009 2:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m not sure if you were being sarcastic or not, but it would have to. There’s now a pretty significant chance he never plays baseball again. The risk involved with him panning out just skyrocketed, even if it’s not for baseball reasons.
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at a position to be determined.
@#$% Juan Uribe. Dios es grande.
by marcello on Sep 20, 2009 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dang
Very nice of you to not sarchasm me.
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at a position to be determined.
@#$% Juan Uribe. Dios es grande.
by marcello on Sep 20, 2009 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was going to talk to one of my writers about exactly that, but I figured it’d be too soon to really be able to look at that.
"The knowledge of the game is inversely proportional to the price of the seat." ---Bill Veeck. •Now you can follow SFDugout.com on Twitter and Facebook!•
by BruteSentiment on Sep 20, 2009 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I absolutely think it will effect that. If he’s found guilty and jailed, he won’t play. If/when I am assigned to write a prospect report on Villalona for the upcoming season, it’s going to be a major factor.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Sep 20, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah… that whole jail thing is a pretty major factor.
by zuma420 on Sep 20, 2009 9:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Props if you get a jailhouse interview.
Ya know...ignorance really IS bliss.
Well - I do , anyway.
by victor frankenstein on Sep 21, 2009 5:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
this is bad
Lott's Prayer: Almost as many words as the Lord's Prayer, but the Lord wouldn't recognize any of them.
by Nosetackle Supreme on Sep 20, 2009 2:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I know Uribe has been mentioned in this thread, but have there been any other situations comparable to this?
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by Scottsdale on Sep 20, 2009 3:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Ty Cobb killed a man
I don’t know if he was still playing at the time.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
by Bhaakon on Sep 20, 2009 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There’s Ambirorix Burgos, a former prospect for the Royals and Mets. He was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend in September 2008; somehow, in early October he was indicted in the DR of the hit-and-run deaths of two women. He was convicted of the former this past spring, I’m not aware of any resolution from the latter.
"The knowledge of the game is inversely proportional to the price of the seat." ---Bill Veeck. •Now you can follow SFDugout.com on Twitter and Facebook!•
by BruteSentiment on Sep 20, 2009 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I keep thinking about the “shot in the chest, exited through the neck” part of the story and thinking… how does that happen exactly? Height difference? One dude on the ground? A struggle?
by Merope on Sep 20, 2009 3:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Where did you see that?
"The knowledge of the game is inversely proportional to the price of the seat." ---Bill Veeck. •Now you can follow SFDugout.com on Twitter and Facebook!•
by BruteSentiment on Sep 20, 2009 3:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
it was in the story someone posted in the GDT that was written in Spanish.
by Merope on Sep 20, 2009 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
“El fallecido es Mario Félix de Jesús Velete, quien recibió un disparó en el pecho que salió por el cuello, según el parte policial.”
Loosely translated… The deceased is Mario Félix de Jesús Velete who received (took, suffered…) a shot in the chest that exited through the neck according to police.
by Merope on Sep 20, 2009 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pehaps the shooter was knocked to the ground. If that reporting is correct, there is no way the shot was fired from a “normal position.”
We’ll just have to wait and see. I’m not familiar with D.R. law, so I’m uncertain of what exact burden of proof is necessary to prove self-defense. Still, I have a hard time that Angel went and shot someone in cold blood.
This is very concerning though and either way prayers to the deceased family.
by Wonderful Terrific Monds on Sep 20, 2009 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bullets do strange things when they ricochet off of bones
Especially light ones like handgun bullets. Now, if the guy had instead been shot with an 1861 Springfield rifled musket, he’d just have a huge hole in his ribcage.
On the other hand, you’d really have some explaining to do if you were carrying one of those things around.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Sep 20, 2009 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly this. Bullets don’t always exit in the same place where they entered.
by Hobbes2d on Sep 20, 2009 5:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I suppose that’s true.
I have a hard time believing that Angel went to a bar on a saturday night to kill a man in cold blood. He’s probably not too bright, but I think he’d be smarter than that. This seems like a reaction/spontaneous type of thing. I just hope self-defense was the reason rather than machismo and stupidity.
by Wonderful Terrific Monds on Sep 20, 2009 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
obviously, we don’t know an incredible amount about his personal life. was this some feud, retaliation, bad decisions, or a combination of multiple things? when you just don’t know that much, it’s pretty hard to make judgments and all we can do is speculate
by sfoakbay on Sep 20, 2009 9:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Booze doesn't exit in the same place it entered. Well , sometimes.
But then you generally feel (if not smell) better…
Hey , just trying to lighten the mood , sheesh…
Ya know...ignorance really IS bliss.
Well - I do , anyway.
by victor frankenstein on Sep 21, 2009 5:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Statement from the Giants
“The Giants were disappointed to learn that there was an incident in the Dominican Republic last night in which an individual was killed and one of our minor league prospects, Angel Villalona, may have been involved. We will monitor the situation closely and trust that the judicial process in the Dominican Republic will resolve the matter promptly and fairly. "
Man, I’m glad I heard about this before I received this e-mail. That would have been an all-time WTF.
by Grant on Sep 20, 2009 3:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm disappointed...
…that you got this in an email and I didn’t. And I did send in a request for a statement!
"The knowledge of the game is inversely proportional to the price of the seat." ---Bill Veeck. •Now you can follow SFDugout.com on Twitter and Facebook!•
by BruteSentiment on Sep 20, 2009 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
/puts thumb on nose, wiggles fingers, and makes spitting sounds
by Grant on Sep 20, 2009 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Grant now clearly in bed with the mainstream media, while Brute maintains his principles as a lonely outcast gallantly pursuing truth, justice, and the American way.
"The part of the roster where most of the money is spent, though, is on free agents and guys acquired through trade — guys Sabean did play a big role in acquiring. And they are not good. When you get 2/5 of a pitching rotation for free, you would think you could do better with $76 million than to field the league’s worst offense."
-Taliesin September, 2009
by Lyle on Sep 20, 2009 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Grant is to Fox News as Brute is to NPR?
by Hoist That Rag on Sep 20, 2009 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Grant is a right-winger?
If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding.
by SFGuy on Sep 20, 2009 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Grant with newfound rage.
"The dreams ain't broken down here now, they're walking with a limp" --TW
by bgunn on Sep 20, 2009 7:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
His “Honk if you love Bill O’Reilly!” bumpersticker would lead me to believe so.
by Hoist That Rag on Sep 20, 2009 7:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was going to happily type “Death Panels,” but the timing doesn’t seem right for some reason…
by Bay Area Sports Guy on Sep 20, 2009 11:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Disappointed? WTF? You’re disappointed with the outcome of this game. I understand the need for a canned corporate statement, but come on— as you say, it could be an all-time WTF.
by ho-hum baby on Sep 20, 2009 3:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Will killing a man be taken into consideration by HOF voters?
by khenderson on Sep 20, 2009 3:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
not if the person murdered was a dodgers fan.
Proud father of Dallas Mcpherson. If you have any information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for the kidnapping of my son please contact me immediately. Reward if found!
by The Thrill on Sep 20, 2009 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
too bad he wasn’t a September callup and Bochy never used him and he got angry and……
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
by rxmeister on Sep 20, 2009 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow, this is unbelievable
Wall-E for Best Picture 2008
2009: The return of Los Galacticos!
by Useful_Idiot on Sep 20, 2009 4:10 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh my god. What a goat fuck.
Still backing Notgardo, wheresoever he may wander. (Don't forget to wriiiite!)
by tk on Sep 20, 2009 4:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I’ll have to pull out my rusty Spanish and see what’s on the DR sites.
There is upside I can see to this if he didn’t do it – the kid may grow up in one heck of a hurry, which he’s been in bad need of. Otherwise, just awful.
Brett Pill - .302/.359/.849 at the graveyard for hitters known as Dodd, .996 fielding percentage led all EL 1B (so much for his 'defensive issues' that someone posted'), probably should have been EL MVP (finished 2nd to Cleveland's top prospect), and nary a staff mention on MCC outside of Minor Lines and almost no fanposts!
by HaroldS on Sep 20, 2009 4:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Uh, shit.
GROUGTHINK ALERT
The first Chester Arthur fanboy ever.
by groug on Sep 20, 2009 4:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
holy. fucking. shit
His name's Clayton, not Danny.
by walkoff baltimore chop on Sep 20, 2009 4:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
If you read Spanish...
Here’s another link. I guess you can also use one of those translator dealies, but I’ve learned they are not always entirely accurate.
by Merope on Sep 20, 2009 4:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Definitely not that accurate...but it kinda works.
THE ROMANA. "The Angel Villalona baseball player was involved in an incident at a brewery here in which he killed a 25-year-old who reportedly discussed with the athlete, moments before.
Villalona, 20 years old, belonging to all Eastern Sugar and formerly of San Francisco Giants, according to the versions collected from witnesses who were there argued with Jesus Mario Felix Valete, 25, in establishing Tony D’supersolid.
The National Police informed through his spokesman, Colonel Adrian Urbaez then initiated the discussion between them, several gunshots were heard inside the establishment, where DeJesus was killed Valete.
But police spokesman said he was trying to establish whether it was the guy who did the shooting that blinded the young life in a case that has provoked many comments in this city. Villalona was expected on Sunday morning at the Regional Command East of the National Police in La Romana for investigation in relation to the event.
by Anticon23 on Sep 20, 2009 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tony D'supersolid??
Still backing Notgardo, wheresoever he may wander. (Don't forget to wriiiite!)
by tk on Sep 20, 2009 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If I ever get a fake ID from Hawaii, I’m using that since McLovin’s taken.
"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.
by Goofus on Sep 20, 2009 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Y'know...
…I would LOVE to see you folk in action at a funeral.
The corpse would probably guffaw.
Ya know...ignorance really IS bliss.
Well - I do , anyway.
by victor frankenstein on Sep 21, 2009 6:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
As poorly translated as it is the “versions collected from witnesses who were there” line seems to indicate that it’s going to turn out to be pretty clear that he did do this. Furthermore, the fact that he waited 12 hours to turn himself in makes me doubt that this was self defense.
Wisconsin: Famous for dairy, Ryan Rohlinger and not much else.
by Scottsdale on Sep 20, 2009 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe its messed up from translation but
“formerly of San Francisco Giants” could actually kind of turn out to be true (in the sense that if he goes to jail, may not be able to come back to the org and play at a high level again)
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa
And celebrating the achievements of others' adoptees, Joey Martinez and Nate Schierholtz
by raisingcain on Sep 20, 2009 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A more accurate translation
Sent my attempt to a Spanish lit grad student friend. Didn’t do too badly, but wanted to make sure I had it right, since it unfortunately isn’t much comfort.
My baseball observation is that if they fall completely out of it and get around to waiving Bocock for the 40 man space, it wouldn’t shock me to see Pill called up and play an awful lot that last week. Not that a week is enough to figure out if he can hit big league pitching for anyone but Sabean and Bochy, but if this ends up proceeding they’re going to have to make a very tough decision reevaluating what they’re willing to give up for the 1B position and you’ll need that data point ASAP.
“Angel Villalona appears involved in an incident that leaves one (young) man dead
The Giants’ athlete argued with Mario Feliz de Jesus Valete in bar, it is said for passionate motives
Baseball player Angel Villalona appeared to be involved in an incident in a Dominican Republic bar that resulted in the death of a 25-year-old man who reportedly argued with the athlete just moments before.
Villalona, 20-years-old, who was affiliated with the Azucareros del Este group (winter league team?) and who played for the San Francisco Giants, argued with Mario Féliz de Jesús Valete, 25-years-old, in the establishment D’Tony Superfría, according to witnesses’ accounts.
National Police spokesman, Col. Adrián Ubraez, said that after the fight began between the two men, multiple gunshots were heard inside the establishment, which resulted in De Jesús Valete’s death.
Nevertheless, the police spokesman said the investigation centered on determining if it was the ballplayer who fired the gun that took the young man’s life. The case has provoked many commentaries in this city. Villalona was due to appear this Sunday morning for questioning about his involvement in the incident at the Eastern regional command office of the La Romana National Police."
Brett Pill - .302/.359/.849 at the graveyard for hitters known as Dodd, .996 fielding percentage led all EL 1B (so much for his 'defensive issues' that someone posted'), probably should have been EL MVP (finished 2nd to Cleveland's top prospect), and nary a staff mention on MCC outside of Minor Lines and almost no fanposts!
by HaroldS on Sep 20, 2009 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Hmmm. Fight over a girl? “it is said for passionate motives”
I wonder how similar law enforcement is there to here. If they were so sure it was Angel that fired the gun, it seems weird that they would wait for him to turn himself in 12 hours later, rather than just go and arrest him. Or rather than “due to appear this Sunday morning for questioning”
by m34josh on Sep 20, 2009 5:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
maybe, but passionate could also mean very emotional, in a high levels of anger sort of way
by Merope on Sep 20, 2009 5:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hard to tell. They’re just pulling the old Spanish grammar trick of never making it a person’s fault specifically, which screws up the implications. Intense argument, pride, woman, who knows – don’t read too much into it.
Brett Pill - .302/.359/.849 at the graveyard for hitters known as Dodd, .996 fielding percentage led all EL 1B (so much for his 'defensive issues' that someone posted'), probably should have been EL MVP (finished 2nd to Cleveland's top prospect), and nary a staff mention on MCC outside of Minor Lines and almost no fanposts!
by HaroldS on Sep 20, 2009 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can confirm that the Azucareros are the Winter League team that Villalona is affiliated with.
"The knowledge of the game is inversely proportional to the price of the seat." ---Bill Veeck. •Now you can follow SFDugout.com on Twitter and Facebook!•
by BruteSentiment on Sep 20, 2009 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is encouraging on all counts.
With malice towards the Dodgers
by heimy25 on Sep 20, 2009 5:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
WHAT THE FUCK?
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, deserved all-star and hacker extraordinaire
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
by bondslegend on Sep 20, 2009 4:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Well we know he didn't kill him with a machete or bat...
he would have swung and missed…
too soon?
In all seriousness, this is terrible, and if he is in fact involved with a murder I’m glad he was caught and will be brought to justice. If it turns out this was all just exploitation of a newly rich young man, then I hope he can rebound from this and have a successful career
by NeifiChicken on Sep 20, 2009 4:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
too soon?
Si’
"The dreams ain't broken down here now, they're walking with a limp" --TW
by bgunn on Sep 20, 2009 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This was certainly unexpected
Billy Ripken is not a fuck face
by Karlifornia on Sep 20, 2009 5:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
maybe we can
trade him for Milton Bradley this offseason…
by Hoist That Rag on Sep 20, 2009 5:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
VILLALONA FOR ADRIAN GONZALEZ
GIT R DUN
With malice towards the Dodgers
by heimy25 on Sep 20, 2009 5:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I can’t believe there’s someone by this username.
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
by Natto on Sep 20, 2009 5:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There’s also Brian Bokake …
Still backing Notgardo, wheresoever he may wander. (Don't forget to wriiiite!)
by tk on Sep 20, 2009 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
My name is topical though… yeah, it’s still kinda gross.
Rafael Rodriguez: #8 on our list, tearing up Scottsdale, and has been alive long enough to see the Warriors make the playoffs once.
by BrianBokake on Sep 20, 2009 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Still less disgusting than natto.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
by Bhaakon on Sep 20, 2009 6:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Incorrect
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
by Natto on Sep 20, 2009 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
c'mon
Natto’s like bukkake and soybeans combined.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
by Bhaakon on Sep 20, 2009 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It does look that way
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Sep 21, 2009 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for using a header so I could hide the image.
Very much appreciated.
by kaliber on Sep 20, 2009 7:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You need Firefox with AdBlockPlus. You could block any image.
If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding.
by SFGuy on Sep 20, 2009 7:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I do have that, but I felt a thank you was still in order.
by kaliber on Sep 20, 2009 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Correct
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Sep 20, 2009 8:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
that looks delicious
my ’puter is not equipped with scratch n sniff images.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Nobody puts Bengie in a corner!
by natteringnabob on Sep 20, 2009 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You have to supply your own on the side.
It’s difficult , man , but I tell ya – it’s worth every penny.
Ya know...ignorance really IS bliss.
Well - I do , anyway.
by victor frankenstein on Sep 21, 2009 6:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well this makes for an upsetting end to a dismal day.
by taliesin on Sep 20, 2009 5:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
uh, bukkake.
you do know what it means, right?
"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw
by squid92 on Sep 20, 2009 5:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm always kind of surprised that
a) such in-depth porn references seem to be understood by everyone around here, and
b) “everyone” includes me
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Sep 21, 2009 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
you obviously don’t know what + reply means
by FluLikeSymptoms on Sep 20, 2009 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think he ever really did.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Kevin Frandsen, come back!
by WalrusMan on Sep 20, 2009 11:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Introduce him to everything.
And I mean everything…
Ya know...ignorance really IS bliss.
Well - I do , anyway.
by victor frankenstein on Sep 21, 2009 6:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
WHAT?!
Jesse Foppert: I Still Believe. Maybe a little less now.
"I've come to the conclusion that the two most important things in life are good friends and a good bullpen." ~Bob Lemon,
by AndYourBirdCanSing on Sep 20, 2009 5:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
C’mon, it’s the DR. Just let Neukum know which judge he has to buy off.
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
by rotorueter on Sep 20, 2009 5:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
my wife is from the Dominican Republic, and she agrees with you. She said if he’s guilty he’ll still go to jail, but if he pays the right people he’ll be out quickly. Even so, why would the Giants’ want a player that murdered somebody?
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
by rxmeister on Sep 20, 2009 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
why would the Giants’ want a player that murdered somebody?
have you seen our offense the last couple years?
by FluLikeSymptoms on Sep 20, 2009 7:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why wouldn’t they want someone that murdered somebody… clubhouse chemistry.
by zuma420 on Sep 20, 2009 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Without being too insensitive to Angel or anyone else, have you seen his offense the last couple years?
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Kevin Frandsen, come back!
by WalrusMan on Sep 20, 2009 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tusk but fair.
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Sep 21, 2009 12:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jim Rice Factor
Pitchers will fear him so much he’ll be a lock for the HOF.
Proud father of Juan Carlos Perez. Think Albert Pujols at a position to be determined.
@#$% Juan Uribe. Dios es grande.
by marcello on Sep 20, 2009 10:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
when the giants gave him 2.1 million to be their hitman.
This was not what they had in mind. I hope he did not have trouble with the translation. By hit we meant power hitting for extra-bases, not spraying bullet shells into somebody. However, this is the DR, and their justice is not the same as our justice. Juan Marichal and Felipe Alou will get to the bottom of this, and report to Neukom what the latest scoup is. Hopefully, Angel was not the Devil in this case, and was not the trigger man. Perhaps a Villalona groupie, defended his honor? Who knows. Only time will tell. In South America, Central America, Hispaniola and the West Indies, even more likely to see an extortion plot than in the U.S.
by bradleybear on Sep 20, 2009 6:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
needs more puns
With malice towards the Dodgers
by heimy25 on Sep 20, 2009 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bradleybear = William Rivera
I see you now!
Ya know...ignorance really IS bliss.
Well - I do , anyway.
by victor frankenstein on Sep 21, 2009 6:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Holy fucking shit. I think swearing is more than called for in this thread.
No, really, I have updated my blog this year: http://skaldheim.livejournal.com/tag/baseball
by Skaldheim on Sep 20, 2009 6:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Marichal hit Roseboro over the head!
He was back in 3 weaks, just long enough for the giants to not win the pennant.
by bradleybear on Sep 20, 2009 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
More of the curse on the giants.
There is obviously a curse placed on the giants when they moved to SF. The curse must be removed. Even with some of the greatest players of all time, the Gmen have not won a freakin WS since 1954. They won when IKE was the Pres, how about they win when Obama is the Pres. When we sign young players, we should take them to the shooting range.
by bradleybear on Sep 20, 2009 6:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
wtf
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
by Natto on Sep 20, 2009 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
is that a confused wtf
cause i’m confused as f
by i wish we were good on Sep 20, 2009 6:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I too have no idea what the hell that meant
With malice towards the Dodgers
by heimy25 on Sep 20, 2009 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm guessing...
… http://www.cracked.com/article_17209_insane-sports-stories-that-will-make-you-believe-in-curses.html
The Giants-related one is first…but the others are amazing as heck to read, too.
"The knowledge of the game is inversely proportional to the price of the seat." ---Bill Veeck. •Now you can follow SFDugout.com on Twitter and Facebook!•
by BruteSentiment on Sep 20, 2009 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ley me have a crack at it.
…
…
…noop , I got nothin’…
Ya know...ignorance really IS bliss.
Well - I do , anyway.
by victor frankenstein on Sep 21, 2009 6:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It is.
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
by Natto on Sep 20, 2009 6:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great to finally see the author of sfgiantstoday.com around here.
by ryanmiles on Sep 20, 2009 8:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who?
Bradley?
"The part of the roster where most of the money is spent, though, is on free agents and guys acquired through trade — guys Sabean did play a big role in acquiring. And they are not good. When you get 2/5 of a pitching rotation for free, you would think you could do better with $76 million than to field the league’s worst offense."
-Taliesin September, 2009
by Lyle on Sep 21, 2009 6:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damnit.
Should’ve dealt him + Alderson + Barnes for Victor Martinez.
Damnit.
by i wish we were good on Sep 20, 2009 6:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I guess "Shotgun" Cain is gonna have to find a new nickname
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Adopted Father: Tyler Graham
Official McPokeMaster
Registered Velezbian and supporter of Fredemption
by GrahamCrakalaka on Sep 20, 2009 6:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I must say I’m not a fan of the jokes being made.
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
by Natto on Sep 20, 2009 6:52 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
word.
"The dreams ain't broken down here now, they're walking with a limp" --TW
by bgunn on Sep 20, 2009 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not either…but I understand the need for gallows humor, as a way of reacting and dealing with this news. When it comes to this, I’ve certainly seen much more inappropriate stuff posted on the ‘blogs’ on the Chronicle and Mercury site…
"The knowledge of the game is inversely proportional to the price of the seat." ---Bill Veeck. •Now you can follow SFDugout.com on Twitter and Facebook!•
by BruteSentiment on Sep 20, 2009 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but I expect better from our people.
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
by Natto on Sep 20, 2009 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Better than SF Gate comments anyway.
I know you nerds know NOTHING about the real game of baseball, or any other athletic endeavor requiring teamwork under physical stress.
Mr. F! | comics | art | Nattowear | Unofficial McImage Directory
by Natto on Sep 20, 2009 7:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If we were SF Gate commentators
It’d be more along the lines of, “Thank god, one less worthless (generic slur) for the world to worry about/take our food/whatever.” Said without irony.
I think gallows humor is a pretty big step up from that.
by Alex_Lewis on Sep 20, 2009 8:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by an SFGate editor.
by Bay Area Sports Guy on Sep 20, 2009 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
But still got thumbs up’d 10x more than thumbs down’d.
by speckops on Sep 21, 2009 7:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
IAWTC
His name's Clayton, not Danny.
by walkoff baltimore chop on Sep 20, 2009 11:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
well fuck
Still defending Rich Aurilia, and the Niners' classic unis
by wjackalope on Sep 20, 2009 6:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
AnVil Drops Hammer
Film at 5:30 and 10.
Fred Lewis can stand under my umbrella.
31 May 2007, 21:38 EST - the last time Matteh's career W-L wasn't below .500
We are at war with Los Angeles. We have always been at war with Los Angeles.
Lowering the Quality of Internet Discourse Since 1985™
by S.F. Giangst on Sep 20, 2009 6:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
RIP the guy who died
I ain’t going to cry over Angel until it starts to look like he was innocent.
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Sep 21, 2009 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
...........
………..The Niners are 2-0!
The very bad man traded my son...So now I'd like you all to meet my new son, Ryan "Aaron" Garko...Dammit it's just not the same!
by boonitez on Sep 20, 2009 7:15 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
This is so surreal.
I want him to be innocent, but if he’s guilty, I hope justice is served.
"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.
by Goofus on Sep 20, 2009 7:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
He turned himself in. What innocence could you possibly be hoping for?
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Sep 20, 2009 9:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not siding one way or another, but I’m sure if the po-po were out looking for you, you should turn yourself in whether or not you’re innocent or guilty.
by i wish we were good on Sep 20, 2009 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
^exactly… he’s rich enough to be able to run if he wanted to… he’s turning himself in – it might be a good sign?
Hopefully?
Pretty please?
by zuma420 on Sep 20, 2009 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
People DO turn themselves in to cooperate , you know.
Ya know...ignorance really IS bliss.
Well - I do , anyway.
by victor frankenstein on Sep 21, 2009 6:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Honestly: To clear up an issue regarding self-defense. I don’t know if it is or not, but it is a possibility with the information we know.
"The knowledge of the game is inversely proportional to the price of the seat." ---Bill Veeck. •Now you can follow SFDugout.com on Twitter and Facebook!•
by BruteSentiment on Sep 20, 2009 11:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't get this.
When wanted by police, only guilty people turn themselves in? What do innocent people do, create a new identity and flee the country?
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK
by Josh from Hollywood on Sep 21, 2009 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I feel like Obi Wan. “You were the chosen one!”
"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.
by Goofus on Sep 20, 2009 7:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
"No, there is another."
"The part of the roster where most of the money is spent, though, is on free agents and guys acquired through trade — guys Sabean did play a big role in acquiring. And they are not good. When you get 2/5 of a pitching rotation for free, you would think you could do better with $76 million than to field the league’s worst offense."
-Taliesin September, 2009
by Lyle on Sep 21, 2009 7:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
There better be, otherwise the galaxy is in big trouble.
by speckops on Sep 21, 2009 7:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Those are two different movies!
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Sep 21, 2009 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Neal before Zod?
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Sep 21, 2009 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
As bad as this news makes me feel...
Purely as a baseball fan, I’d be much more disappointed if it was the same story, only Neal was subbed in for Villalona.
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK
by Josh from Hollywood on Sep 21, 2009 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't even know what to say.
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
by shikantaza on Sep 20, 2009 7:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I guess
Pablo won’t be blocking any prospects if he plays 1st base now..
:’(
by i wish we were good on Sep 20, 2009 7:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Was that always your sig?
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Sep 21, 2009 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Awww
Dang
Rafael Rodriguez: #8 on our list, tearing up Scottsdale, and has been alive long enough to see the Warriors make the playoffs once.
by BrianBokake on Sep 20, 2009 7:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
innocent until proven guilty
by sadison bummedgarner on Sep 20, 2009 8:07 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
That is a *legal* presumption for use in the legal system... not true in the rest of reality.
A guy who turns himself in is not innocent, and it is willfully dishonest to pretend he is innocent of the homicide. He might well be not guilty of murder, as this might or might not have had the requisite premeditation (1st degree) or the needed reckless disregard for human life (2nd degree), and merely be manslaughter rather than murder. Or it might even turn out to be self-defense. But innocent? A courtroom rule does not require that those of us outside the courtroom be naive.
Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit... Maybe.
by Mayor of 311 on Sep 20, 2009 9:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not so
A guy who turns himself in may do so because he is wanted for questioning, not because he is guilty of anything.
by campanari on Sep 20, 2009 9:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Which in fact is what happened
Only thing new in the ESPNDeportes interview by Rojas/ Google translation is that the cops were searching for him from Saturday night to take him into custody.
Even if he ends up having a good reason for this and gets out of this mess, the character issues involved here are huge.
Brett Pill - .302/.359/.849 at the graveyard for hitters known as Dodd, .996 fielding percentage led all EL 1B (so much for his 'defensive issues' that someone posted'), probably should have been EL MVP (finished 2nd to Cleveland's top prospect), and nary a staff mention on MCC outside of Minor Lines and almost no fanposts!
by HaroldS on Sep 20, 2009 10:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
True
I’d say we can be 80% certain that Angel’s days as a Giants prospect are over. If he somehow rehabilitates himself after this (and I understand that if he’s innocent, that’s maybe not the right term to use, but as far as perception goes, it’s accurate), there will have to be a team that is willing to take him, and knowing the Giants, it won’t be them.
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Sep 21, 2009 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think its fair to judge his character issues on this. The DR is much different than the US and I think there are more factors to look at.
In a vacuum, a man shooting another man, of course is horrible, but there are more things to consider
With malice towards the Dodgers
by heimy25 on Sep 21, 2009 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
In a vacuum,a man shooting another man, of course is horrible
That’s just how I see it. I understand that places and cultures are different, but I think every culture has a basic understanding of “thou shalt not kill”.
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Sep 21, 2009 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, let’s get all the facts in first. Self defense is a viable excuse.
El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."
by ResDog on Sep 21, 2009 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
With the caveat that in a dangerous place, some folks will still choose to not carry guns. Theoretically, I’m one of them, although I haven’t had that tested.
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Sep 21, 2009 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
this
On 5/7, the best part of waking is up LOLDGERS in my cup.
by GameSix on Sep 21, 2009 8:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Realities of Justice in Crappy Places
There are any number of reasons why a person in his position, guilty or innocent, might wait and then turn himself in, especially given the level of corruption in the police departments and judiciaries in the Banana Republic shitholes of the Caribbean, Central America, South-East Asia, etc.
Rich boy with a high profile in a poor nation of crooked cops? First thing I’d do is call my agent and wait for him to find a competent high-profile defense attorney, preferable one with pull and connections, and with a fixer on his staff. That would take time to happen and then more time until the pathetic despot in charge of the police station can be bothered to sober up and climb off his mistress. Then you need to negotiate the terms of surrender.
The last thing you ever want to do in this situation is to run and hide, and that’s almost certainly the message that was conveyed to AnVil. Too much danger of committing suicide if you do because cops in countries like this don’t hesitate to plant evidence. Nor to do what ever is required to maintain their image whether constructed as “macho” or “face”.
If you want things to go easy, you follow the local forms… You pay the gift, the backhander, the tea money, a case of good whiskey, whatever it takes, and you breeze through the system. Or you play hard and the system grinds you down, maybe you get to stew for a year before you even get a bail hearing. By doing it this way AnVil either gets a speedy trial, or in a couple of days handshakes all around on the steps of City Hall with the mayor, chief of police and the press in attendance and it was all a big misunderstanding.
Fred Lewis can stand under my umbrella.
31 May 2007, 21:38 EST - the last time Matteh's career W-L wasn't below .500
We are at war with Los Angeles. We have always been at war with Los Angeles.
Lowering the Quality of Internet Discourse Since 1985™
by S.F. Giangst on Sep 20, 2009 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
While I’d disagree with some of this, I’d agree with the point about not turning yourself in until you had an attorney – whatever else he might have done, that was smart. The DR authorities didn’t appreciate it, though. Yet another article (from another legit newspaper – nothing else new besides this) implies that he was more or less on the lam for 12 hours.
He is not a popular kid down there right now. This OpEd pretty much calls out rich bonus babies like him as thugs that crush the heart of the community when they should be model citizens, and this one calls them arrogant and uneducated (and has a great line about the first thing most of them do after signing is to buy a Glock and an SUV.)
Brett Pill - .302/.359/.849 at the graveyard for hitters known as Dodd, .996 fielding percentage led all EL 1B (so much for his 'defensive issues' that someone posted'), probably should have been EL MVP (finished 2nd to Cleveland's top prospect), and nary a staff mention on MCC outside of Minor Lines and almost no fanposts!
by HaroldS on Sep 21, 2009 12:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
by the way, how do you know he’s rich? He’s a kid who was given a 2 million dollar signing bonus. Now he’s playing for a minor league salary. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s already spent every dollar. For his sake, I hope he hasn’t, because he’s going to need it.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
by rxmeister on Sep 21, 2009 6:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, it certainly does imply that he was rich at one point. Pretty sure even a $100,000 signing bonus qualifies as rich down there.
by speckops on Sep 21, 2009 7:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, let's put it this way
He’s either rich, stupid or the world’s most dedicated philanthropist.
It’d take me at least 20 years to go through $2M. Actually, given that you can get a decent rate of return off that money by investing it, you can probably live off it permanently.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Sep 21, 2009 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
How much of the bonus that he actually got is a good question. This is a good story on the bonus skimming that took place until recently.
More importantly, in general a kid from the Dominican will give up anywhere between 10-50% of the bonus to the buscones. This is a very, very good older article (and series if you click the pictures – why ESPN made this so hard to access is annoying) on how the system works.
My suspicion is that since the Alous took an interest in this kid from early on that he probably did better than most navigating the system and has quite a bit left, but regardless when you make $500 or $700 a month anyone with 50 grand in the bank is considered rich. That would be the majority of ballplayers, which is why the OpEds are coming down on him and his type.
Brett Pill - .302/.359/.849 at the graveyard for hitters known as Dodd, .996 fielding percentage led all EL 1B (so much for his 'defensive issues' that someone posted'), probably should have been EL MVP (finished 2nd to Cleveland's top prospect), and nary a staff mention on MCC outside of Minor Lines and almost no fanposts!
by HaroldS on Sep 21, 2009 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Very interesting and enlightening article. Might I add disgusting as well?
by flyonthewall on Sep 21, 2009 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for giving us a thumbnail sketch of how things work there; context is too often downplayed or ignored.
by boogalou on Sep 21, 2009 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh . what do you know?
(ducks entire airborne legal library)
Ya know...ignorance really IS bliss.
Well - I do , anyway.
by victor frankenstein on Sep 21, 2009 6:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is a serious issue
A man has died. That comes first. Baseball is important, but not that important.
I think I join all Giants fans in hoping that truth and justice are found and done, with complete and utter disregard to how this affects the Giant’s future.
I choose to watch the Giants try to score runs. Not because it is easy, but because it is hard.
by GiantPain on Sep 20, 2009 8:27 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I completely agree.
"If you want to walk, watch a mailman."--Shawon Dunston
"If you want to bunt, bake a cake."--Bruce Bochy
by Kitspool on Sep 20, 2009 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Peas and rice. I won’t even make the joke about the Bonds trial that I thought of making. This is terrible.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Sep 20, 2009 8:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow.
This… what? Wow, I mean… huh? What? Seriously?
Status: Feels so broke up. Wants to go home. || Still boycotting Johnsonville and Giants souvenirs or ballpark foods for repossessing my K Wall in right field.
by GiantBrass on Sep 20, 2009 8:50 PM PDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Seriously what the fuck? What. The. Fuck.
Status: Feels so broke up. Wants to go home. || Still boycotting Johnsonville and Giants souvenirs or ballpark foods for repossessing my K Wall in right field.
by GiantBrass on Sep 20, 2009 8:51 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Speechless.
Just can’t think right after hearing this.
"I FEEL A LOT OF HAPPY!" - Juan Uribe
FREE BUSTER POSEY
by djp4cal on Sep 20, 2009 9:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I heard this on Urban's postgame show
and he had the gall to say before doing the scoreboard roundup that there was “terrible news” to share later in the segment… then blathered on and on about the Reds’ great victory, Kevin Correia and Walker pitching wins, ad infinitum, then came out with this at the end.
Thanks a pile, mister radio journalist. You suck, and so does this story. It’s nice to think this is an elaborate traffic ticket scam by the DR po-pos, but the dead kid on the floor makes that look a bit unlikely to me although I don’t know anything about their legal system.
Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti. "I treat Timmy differently from most pitchers: I leave him alone."
Nobody puts Bengie in a corner!
by natteringnabob on Sep 20, 2009 9:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Looking worse and worse.
Today’s paper/
Translation via google.
Its mostly a rehash with the majority of new stuff being on other DR types who’ve been involved in stuff – I’d forgotten about Cedeno’s gun going off and accidentally killing his girlfriend – but basically:
1. Headline now changes to he killed a youth, rather than is suspected. Article states that according to the DR cop, reports compiled at the scene indicate Villalona was the one firing the gun.
2. They don’t know all the facts yet, but initial investigation indicates the “passionate argument” was over a VIP seat at the center of this place.
3. He surrendered to the cops with a lawyer in tow.
Ugh.
Brett Pill - .302/.359/.849 at the graveyard for hitters known as Dodd, .996 fielding percentage led all EL 1B (so much for his 'defensive issues' that someone posted'), probably should have been EL MVP (finished 2nd to Cleveland's top prospect), and nary a staff mention on MCC outside of Minor Lines and almost no fanposts!
by HaroldS on Sep 20, 2009 9:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That's pretty depressing...
Not that there’s any good reason to kill someone (self-defense scenarios withstanding), but if this is legit, ruining your life over a seat is really sad.
You want to see a walk? Then go watch the mailman.
by SeeingStars on Sep 20, 2009 9:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yup
especially with that bright a future
#1 threat to America: Pandas
Also, Tim Lincecum
Adopted Father: Tyler Graham
Official McPokeMaster
Registered Velezbian and supporter of Fredemption
by GrahamCrakalaka on Sep 20, 2009 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sad and disgusting. Ugh.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Sep 20, 2009 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damn. Just, damn.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Sep 20, 2009 10:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If thats all true, he’s got some major issues, both character-wise and with the law.
by i wish we were good on Sep 20, 2009 10:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And we thought the weight was a serious issue. If this is true, he make Milton Bradley look like Randy Winn.
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK
by Josh from Hollywood on Sep 21, 2009 12:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not saying this is total BS at all, but do we know this is a legit paper? I read the sports papers from Italy because of my favorite soccer team and a lot of the stuff they write about is total crap. Like I said, I’m not denying any of this stuff, just kinda curious of the actually legitimacy of the publication.
"I FEEL A LOT OF HAPPY!" - Juan Uribe
FREE BUSTER POSEY
by djp4cal on Sep 20, 2009 10:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is a good point. There are issues of credibility in media abroad. I’m not going to immediately discredit this paper and its reporting, but this issue will hang in the back of my mind.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Sep 20, 2009 10:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know you are working to change this, but:
There are issues of credibility in media abroad
"The dreams ain't broken down here now, they're walking with a limp" --TW
by bgunn on Sep 21, 2009 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
true
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Sep 21, 2009 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
+ they don't even get his age right..
not brushing off the report completely, just taking issue with its credibility I guess
by i wish we were good on Sep 20, 2009 10:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
to be fair, we could have his age wrong
Proud adoptive daddy for the Big Unit, who is currently teaching Madison Bumgarner the art of being intimidating.
by Speedforthewin on Sep 20, 2009 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. First rule of journalism is to get the facts right.
"I FEEL A LOT OF HAPPY!" - Juan Uribe
FREE BUSTER POSEY
by djp4cal on Sep 20, 2009 10:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A youth at a bar?
A youth instead of a man who was 25 years old?
There is a lot about this story that doesn’t quite add up yet. Lets wait and see what news comes in the next days/weeks/months
With malice towards the Dodgers
by heimy25 on Sep 20, 2009 11:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Youth is a vague term. i know some people who still call 30 a ‘youth’.
"The knowledge of the game is inversely proportional to the price of the seat." ---Bill Veeck. •Now you can follow SFDugout.com on Twitter and Facebook!•
by BruteSentiment on Sep 20, 2009 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
true true
With malice towards the Dodgers
by heimy25 on Sep 20, 2009 11:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I do.
(three months from 50 here.)
Ya know...ignorance really IS bliss.
Well - I do , anyway.
by victor frankenstein on Sep 21, 2009 6:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Perspective is an interesting thing, Vic.
"The part of the roster where most of the money is spent, though, is on free agents and guys acquired through trade — guys Sabean did play a big role in acquiring. And they are not good. When you get 2/5 of a pitching rotation for free, you would think you could do better with $76 million than to field the league’s worst offense."
-Taliesin September, 2009
by Lyle on Sep 21, 2009 7:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s just a cultural term for someone of that age in different parts of the Spanish speaking world, just like “Daddy” Villalona has odd connotations up here but is perfectly acceptable down there. Wouldn’t read more into it than that.
Brett Pill - .302/.359/.849 at the graveyard for hitters known as Dodd, .996 fielding percentage led all EL 1B (so much for his 'defensive issues' that someone posted'), probably should have been EL MVP (finished 2nd to Cleveland's top prospect), and nary a staff mention on MCC outside of Minor Lines and almost no fanposts!
by HaroldS on Sep 20, 2009 11:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Anyone ever losing their life over something as trivial as a seat is absolutely tragic.
Cooler heads must prevail when guns are in play.
by Wonderful Terrific Monds on Sep 21, 2009 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Guns should never be in play.
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Sep 21, 2009 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I received this news as a text update from the SFGiants Twitter. I was floored. I called my Marlins fan friend who immediately made comparisons to the Urbina situation. As a fan part of me wants to believe that the allegations are just that, but none of us can be sure. If they are true, It is indeed sad that a 19 year old with a bright future may have thrown it away in an instant. In any case, this is a sad, sad situation.
Proud adoptive daddy for the Big Unit, who is currently teaching Madison Bumgarner the art of being intimidating.
by Speedforthewin on Sep 20, 2009 9:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
it really sucks. I didn’t even watch the Giants game today(Go Niners), so I hopped on SFGate after the game and checked for the Giants article and right under it there was the headline, ‘Giants prospect Villalona suspected of murder’. It doesn’t get much more clear cut than that.
by i wish we were good on Sep 20, 2009 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah. Villalona was forgotten for the second half of the season, he wasn’t mentioned around here much…until this. wow.
Proud adoptive daddy for the Big Unit, who is currently teaching Madison Bumgarner the art of being intimidating.
by Speedforthewin on Sep 20, 2009 10:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought our Angel Villalona was only 19 years old
by wilriv21 on Sep 20, 2009 10:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Thing is, I really can’t believe its actually been 3 years since we signed him. To me, it really feels like he’s still 17 or something.
by i wish we were good on Sep 20, 2009 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And one more update - the first words from Villalona: he's innocent.
My Spanish is rusty and my first hand knowledge of the region even more so, so I can’t vouch for the paper’s legitimacy (and my friends aren’t DR experts either) – I’m just a messenger here. However, I’d point out the ESPNDeportes article about the case had the same comment about the argument being over a VIP seat, so I think it’s safe to assume it’s not terribly far off the mark so far.
However, we do have a DR paper I know is legit, Listin Diario, now picking the story up and confirming large parts of it here. I can’t get the google translation link to work easily, so just plug it into one of the ones I’ve posted before if you’re interested.
More notable than the details about the lawyer and the pathology report is what “Daddy” Villalona (hey, at least we got his preferred nickname) had to say:
“Villalona, nativo de aquí y pertenece a los Toros del Este, expresó escuetamente a la prensa que "era inocente" del hecho que se le imputa.”
Villalona, a La Romana native and player for los Toros del Este, briefly told the press that "[he was] innocent" of the accusations of which he was charged.
I’ll keep an eye out for more stuff.
Brett Pill - .302/.359/.849 at the graveyard for hitters known as Dodd, .996 fielding percentage led all EL 1B (so much for his 'defensive issues' that someone posted'), probably should have been EL MVP (finished 2nd to Cleveland's top prospect), and nary a staff mention on MCC outside of Minor Lines and almost no fanposts!
by HaroldS on Sep 20, 2009 11:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
thank you for this and for keeping us updated with news links
With malice towards the Dodgers
by heimy25 on Sep 20, 2009 11:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for the updates Harold.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Kevin Frandsen, come back!
by WalrusMan on Sep 20, 2009 11:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Keep information coming. I like when we get stuff from legit papers in the DR.
"I FEEL A LOT OF HAPPY!" - Juan Uribe
FREE BUSTER POSEY
by djp4cal on Sep 20, 2009 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I appreciate the updates as well, but let’s face it, everyone in prison says they’re innocent.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
by rxmeister on Sep 21, 2009 6:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, thank you.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Sep 21, 2009 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I appreciate the updates as well.
by Wonderful Terrific Monds on Sep 21, 2009 9:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Muy bueno. Muchas gracias.
"We're in this thing!" My adopted Giant: "Raptor Jesus" Guzman, "Sweet Jesus" Guzman and Jesus H. Guzman.
by Goofus on Sep 21, 2009 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This sucks.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
Kevin Frandsen, come back!
by WalrusMan on Sep 20, 2009 11:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
all of this has inspired me to watch “Sugar”
With malice towards the Dodgers
by heimy25 on Sep 20, 2009 11:31 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That movie was so sad.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006. Bringing you all your California League and New York-Penn League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Sep 21, 2009 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
This is…wow. I’m gonna wait a bit before jettisoning him as my adopted Giant. We’ll see what happens. Unbelievable.
The baseball Satanist
by thehavenot on Sep 20, 2009 11:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m sure most of you already know this but in case anyone is wondering why a 19 year old is doing at a bar, the legal drinking age in DR is 18.
If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding.
by SFGuy on Sep 20, 2009 11:53 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
or so I've read.
If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding.
by SFGuy on Sep 20, 2009 11:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
From article on MLB.com...
Fellow Dominican Waldis Joaquin pointed out that in his country, people occasionally shoot first and answer questions later if they’re being hassled by a group. “Maybe if you have five people in one fight, you don’t want to leave, and if you have a gun, you fire it,” Joaquin said.
Hmmmm – interesting country.
by flyonthewall on Sep 21, 2009 12:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Mercury News mentions him too:
Joaquin, 22, said he owns a gun in the Dominican but that it never leaves his house. He said it’s not uncommon for arguments there to escalate into gunfire.
by m34josh on Sep 21, 2009 2:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I mentioned this before. Everyone has guns over there, and I mean everyone. My wife and I bought a house over there as a winter home for when we retire, and after reading countless stories about shootings over there I finally told her there’s no way we’re ever going to live there. We’re renting it out now, and we’re eventually going to sell it. They fire their guns over there just to fire their guns sometimes. I read a few months ago about an innocent child being shot dead because some morons were celebrating a holiday by firing their guns into the air.
No Edgar, it's not your fault, it's the fault of the idiot that plays you
by rxmeister on Sep 21, 2009 6:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do we know if the victim was armed?
by Wonderful Terrific Monds on Sep 21, 2009 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wuh?
El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."
by ResDog on Sep 21, 2009 8:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I think this has all been a big misunderstanding
Villalona Charged with Murder
Giants prospect Angel Villalona turned himself in yesterday after being charged by local police with murdering left handed pitching. A warrant was issued for Villalona back in 2008, when he hit .316 against lefties for Low Class A Augusta. If convicted he could face a sentence of ten years hard labor in the Dominican Republic, which takes its baseball very seriously. Villalona’s attorney Raul De Jesus is confident his client will not serve jail time, citing his 2009 numbers against left handers as proof of his innocence.
The news of Villalona’s arrest sent shockwaves throughout the Dominican Republic, which is still in turmoil over the arrest of national icon Felipe Alou. Several warrants were issued for Alou earlier this year for butchering English, and although no charges have been filed, he is considered a person of interest in the butchering of the Dominican Republic’s ’09 World Baseball Classic team.
I like cats. Wings is the greatest show of all time.
Tyler Graham is my favorite San Jose Giant because he has smart balls.
by Norm Median on Sep 21, 2009 8:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Here is something you can't understand...
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
by SoFa King Mike on Sep 21, 2009 9:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
A thoughtful blog post from one of Villalona’s minor league teammates.
It's my blarg! Quick Pitch
And I tweet (more often than I blarg).
by can of corn on Sep 21, 2009 10:00 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
Thank you for posting this
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Sep 21, 2009 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow that is really impressive and thoughtful. It is remarkably well-written. I am totally blown away that this was written by a minor-league ball player. This kid has a future if baseball does not work out. Thanks for sharing!
by capn on Sep 21, 2009 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, there's a small streak of silver lining
I didn’t know beforehand how eloquent and thoughtful Broshuis is.
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Sep 21, 2009 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Broshuis
GB is awesome – as a person and a ball player. Unfortunately, certain teams would rather pay millions for a kid with a horrible background and hold their hand year after year. He goes home for what, one week, and this happens?
by flyonthewall on Sep 21, 2009 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
huh?
On 5/7, the best part of waking is up LOLDGERS in my cup.
by GameSix on Sep 21, 2009 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
you better clarify what you mean by “questionable background”.
Please hit better, Randy Winn.
by oldjacket on Sep 21, 2009 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
er, horrible background?
Please hit better, Randy Winn.
by oldjacket on Sep 21, 2009 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think it needs clarification, if you’ve been reading the main MCC comments/articles on how bad it is in the DR and, specifically, the town that Villalona was from (the same city the incident took place). That is what was meant by “horrible background”. In VERY poor taste to make references regarding other players and how this will effect them or their future. So please, don’t “lose your shit” over it.
by flyonthewall on Sep 21, 2009 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
so no team should ever sign anybody from the Dominican Republic?
by FluLikeSymptoms on Sep 21, 2009 11:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Stupid questions don’t warrant a reply. Get over it and move on over to the other thread where the actual information is.
by flyonthewall on Sep 22, 2009 12:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
it’s great to have your wisdom and insight around here
by FluLikeSymptoms on Sep 22, 2009 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously
All people from countries with high crime rates should never be given any money, no matter how good they are at whatever it is they do. You should take the money you were planning to give them, and instead give it to people who are pretty mediocre at what they do, but are “awesome”, and, more importantly, don’t come from places with high crime rates.
That’s science.
HA HA HA LOOK AT ME I'M ALL HAPPY AND STUFF NO REALLY CAN WE STOP WITH THE COOKYMAN IS SAD JOKES?
:-) :-) :-)
by Cookyman on Sep 22, 2009 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
hell, we shouldn’t stop at just other countries. Thomas Neal is a from Inglewood, have you had a look at their crime rate?
by FluLikeSymptoms on Sep 22, 2009 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brett Pill never would have done something like this.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"AT LAST I AM A PARENTS." - Buster
by jponry on Sep 21, 2009 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
seriously, if this gets related back to “Why doesn’t Brett Pill get more love as prospect?” I’m going to lose my shit.
Please hit better, Randy Winn.
by oldjacket on Sep 21, 2009 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve read him a couple of time when linked from here and always enjoy the thoughtful writing.
Thanks for the linkage.
"The dreams ain't broken down here now, they're walking with a limp" --TW
by bgunn on Sep 21, 2009 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
WTF
Through I’d just throw another one on the pile. I will dispense with all the obligatory caveats and avoid the interesting discussion of the role of humor in all of this and just make four comments:
1) This reminds me a lot of the Ray Lewis story. Ray may or may not have been directly involved in the killing, but the bottom line was that he was hanging with the wrong people at the wrong place. It took the another human being’s death for him to recognize how stupid he was for even thinking about risking throwing his life away. Ray has now become a pretty stellar citizen and spends a lot of time talking to young kids. He is a great reminder that people like him (and Angel) are the exception. He reminds kids that the average age most young men in these communities live to is about 23 and that he got a ticket out and was tremendously lucky to ever have the chance to walk away let alone achieve what he has. He was even luckier to have the second chance and hopefully Angel will too and will make the most of it.
2) I spent some time in the DR after college. We rented a jeep and had a local guy drive us all over the island. One afternoon, we tried to go to San Pedro de Macoris and were stopped just outside town by a couple of hairy looking dudes in uniforms armed with AK47s. I don’t speak Spanish but after speaking with them for about 8 seconds, our guide told us to turn the car around and we just left. The streets of the town were littered with garbage and the whole appearance was rather apocalyptic. It was straight out of Mad Max. At the time, I was living in East Baltimore and this was a place where people routinely walked into the emergency room with gunshot wounds (often fatal). The clerk in the ER would alert us to the impending arrival of any serious trauma by announcing "Delta Trauma by ambulance/air in 5 minutes…". These walk-ins would be announced by, "Delta Trauma by foot, now!" Anyway, the bottom line is that anyone who has watched the Wire will know that Baltimore is a nasty place with murder rates that are absurd especially among young Black men. But if you spend any time there, it is not that scary a place. My time in the DR was entirely different. Some of these towns are horrifying and have a frightening and lawless vibe to them. To this day, I have never been so scared in my life.
3) Murder carries a maximum sentence of only 20 years?
4) Totally unrelated and out of place, but I saw AnVil play a few times this spring in San Jose. He hit the ball harder than almost anyone I have ever seen play.
by capn on Sep 21, 2009 10:09 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Your point #2 really gets at socio-economic issues
the DR may be “worse than Baltimore” because the difference in socio economics between the wealthy (i.e. ballplayers, etc.) and the poor is SOOOOOOO vast. We citizens of wealthier countries forget that from time to time.
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
by hairball on Sep 21, 2009 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are probably right. I was trying not to get too deep in the weeds but hoped to make some casual observations – all very anecdotal!
by capn on Sep 21, 2009 11:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The kid was already guilty of poor plate discipline. This weekend only compounds matters.
by biff pocoroba on Sep 21, 2009 10:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
His defense was misdemeanor-worthy at times.
by eJACKulator on Sep 21, 2009 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL. Wow. Apparently I’m one of the few who finds this story so ridiculous it’s funny? Ok then…
by Missing Barry on Sep 21, 2009 10:22 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
No you are not the only one. This is way overblown.
by eJACKulator on Sep 21, 2009 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s a murder. It’s not overblown.
Context, people. More context is good. Less context is bad. If you're willing to be reductive, then you're willing to be wrong.
by howtheyscored on Sep 21, 2009 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
U R 5
Tommy Joseph is the Dingerzball Wizard
by SoFa King Mike on Sep 21, 2009 10:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't find it funny.
It’s true that, as commented upthread, people are murdered all the time. And you know what? That sucks. It sucks for the victim, their family, their friends, and their community. Most of the time it sucks for the perpetrator too, whose lives are far worsened as a result of their actions, and for the perpetrator’s family and friends.
We can’t possibly allow ourselves to feel the impact of all those human lives ended prematurely. If you did you’d never be able to get out of bed in the morning. We turn them into statistics because that’s the only way to deal with it.
But one out of a thousand is thrown into relief for some reason, because it involves someone famous, or someone we know. It’s no more or less a tragedy than the nine hundred ninety nine before it, but circumstances bring it to the forefront, make it personal rather than statistical. We now know Mario Felix de Jesus Valete is the name of one young man murdered in the Dominican Republic. To laugh at his death is, at the very least, highly inappropriate.
Meet my new son: Sundrendy Windster, on the Curacao-SF express (via Arizona).
by EliminateMe on Sep 21, 2009 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is the best post in the entire thread.
by eJACKulator on Sep 21, 2009 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think the story is humorous, but I understand that people sometimes use humor when they can’t express other emotions they have going on. Both sides should go to time-out for a few minutes and think about that.
Or I’ll give you something to cry about.
El Presidente Larry Baer's epitaph
"Nothing important ever happened without me."
by ResDog on Sep 21, 2009 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think the story is humorous
Hey, that’s fine with me. Unlike someone else in this thread, I’m not here to argue the point or make you see my view or anything. We all have our own way of looking at it. As I said, I find this so absurd it’s funny, and you find it a tradgedy, which is understandable. Just expressing my view over here, no more, no less.
by Missing Barry on Sep 21, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m sorry, but there is a limit to what “It’s just my opinion” can justify. Let’s see:
-one young man is dead, leaving friends and family behind
-another young man may have just ruined his bright future over some stupid argument
-the team we root for may have just lost a big investment and one of the top hopes for producing the first good hitter from its system in a while
Yes, the story sounds absurd, completely unbelievable, but that doesn’t make it funny. I really find it disrespectful to laugh it off. And I know, as you said, you’re not trying to convince other people of your opinion, but there just isn’t much room for interpretation. For everyone, it’s just a really fucked up situation.
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa
by raisingcain on Sep 26, 2009 11:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can see why you think that, and that’s fine. I’m just not too worried about a messed up situation I’m so far removed from – if I concerned myself with all the screwed up things that happen in the world (which this is obviously one of) that are this far removed from my life, I’d probably be pretty depressed. You may take that as a callus way of looking at things….but oh well, that’s your right to feel that way. What it comes down to is I don’t feel any connection to these people simply because he’s a Giants prospect. Hell, I’ve never even seen Villalona play. I guess that’s all I really have to say about the subject…
by Missing Barry on Sep 29, 2009 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ok, feeling completely removed/distanced from the situation is fine with me. Thinking it’s funny is different.
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa
by raisingcain on Sep 29, 2009 8:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
And just to be clear, the fact that someone died obviously isn’t funny. It’s the fact that it’s a situation I don’t feel any connection to and looking at it simply from a Giants perspective it’s a ridiculous thing to have happen to the organization.
by Missing Barry on Sep 29, 2009 8:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
not funny...
The reason we all pay any attention at all to these kids is that they represent the great power of all things possibile. We all love to discover things, and Angel was a startling discovery. Aside from the very real sadness of this and any other meaningless death, this is sad because of the loss of that possibility (or at least threatened loss).
by capn on Sep 21, 2009 11:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
OT: 2011 Free Agents
We better get Bay, Holliday, or Crawford this offseason, cause 2011 free agent outfielders are nooo good.
OR hope that Neal is Real
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/09/2011-mlb-free-agents.html
With malice towards the Dodgers
by heimy25 on Sep 21, 2009 9:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Hard to put into words
I could say it’s SHOCKING, but when I saw the headline, I just somehow knew a Giants prospect would be involved, even before clicking on the link. Maybe it’s from being a longtime Giants fan and follower of the minor league system. I know there are no curses in baseball but sometimes it sure seems that way.
It is certainly SAD, but sad is also when the best pitching prospect in baseball, one with a supposed “fresh arm” after being a late convert to pitching comes down with an elbow injury and is one of the seemingly few who never recovers from TJ surgery.
It is also SOBERING, but that is the feeling one gets when your minor league system is consistently ranked last or near last among all systems year after year.
One could be BITTER in a way over losing a top prospect, but that is better used to describe the feelings after you lose your first round draft pick because of the antics of an agent.
One could even be a little ENVIOUS that it did not happen to another team’s star prospect, but that better describes the feeling seeing your bitter rival’s minor league system continuously produce stars while you wait years and years for even one league average player to come out of your system or when your GM continuously gets reamed in trades involving your minor leaguers.
The feeling I have now is really almost indescribable, but if I really try I would use HEARTBREAKING, because my heart aches for the young victim and his family, the young player who in all likelihood has lost his dream, the team that has lost a prospect and a big chunk of its investment, and the fans who have lost their hope.
by baseballjunkie on Sep 22, 2009 7:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Holy Shit.
Good thing we got Alderson instead.
Say hello to the Bad Guy!
by Pirates4Life on Sep 22, 2009 12:12 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Doubt the trade would’ve been made if the Pirates had asked for AnVil
RIP | anVil | 9-19-2009 | dude had potential.
by i wish we were good on Sep 22, 2009 5:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Take a pass on Freddie Sanchez and use that money to sign Angel Sano
by wilriv21 on Sep 22, 2009 12:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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