Sure it may seem way too early to be talking baseball. It feels like it was just a few weeks ago that the BoSox beat the Curse. I know pitchers and catchers don’t officially report to spring training for another couple of weeks – Feb. 17 to be exact.
But around these parts, and in this column, it’s never too early to talk about the Grand Old Game. Sure, neither the Giants nor the A’s made the postseason last year, the first time in a long time that happened. But when the alternative is the 49ers, Raiders and, gulp, the Warriors, anything about baseball is preferrable.
Besides, the Morgan Hill Pony Baseball League is holding its tryouts this Saturday, and the Gilroy and Hoillister Little Leagues have already held theirs.
And, there’s always the proverbial Hot Stove League gossip to chat about.
There are a few particularly interesting developments along those lines from the local perspective.
Namely, a pair of Live Oak High grads – Brandon Villafuerte, who signed with the Giants, and Rey Sanchez, who joins the Yankees.
Villafuerte, a right-handed reliever, is coming off a nightmare season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. After starting the season in the minors, Villafuerte got a midseason call-up, after the Diamonbacks had already started a season-long slide. He got into just six games with the big club, and while his ERA was a respectable 4.05, he went 0-3 with one of the most pathetic clubs in the majors. Villafuerte said the atmosphere in the D-back clubhouse was miserable.
With the Giants, the 29-year-old should have a much better shot at success.
First of all, the Giants bullpen will need plenty of arms, especially given the average-at-best starting rotation and Manager Felipe Alou’s tendency to use his relievers early and often. Sure, Villafuerte might start another season in Triple A, but he’s almost a sure bet to get a call-up sooner rather than later.
Second, when he does get that call-up, he can only be helped by the Giants’ improved defense, which includes one of the best pitching staff handlers in the big leagues – new catcher Mike Matheny.
Finally, Villafuerte’s tendency to give up the long ball (he gave up two dingers in six games last season) shouldn’t be as much of a liability in SBC Park. (Keep the ball low and outside, Brandon, and make ’em hit it to right-center.)
After bouncing around from Detroit to Texas to San Diego to Arizona in the past five seasons, Villafuerte’s looking for a more permanent home. Why not one close to home?
When it comes to perseverance, the local product could heed the example of fellow Acorn alum Sanchez, who just signed a one-year deal with the Evil Empire worth a reported $600,000. The middle infielder, who played at Live Oak in the mid-1980’s while visiting Morgan Hill as an exchange student from his native Puerto Rico, has fashioned a lengthy career out of just-sticking-at-it.
Since being drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 13th round of the 1986 amateur draft, then making his Major League debut with the Chicago Cubs in 1991, the 37-year-old Sanchez has played for nine teams (this will be his second go-round with the Yanks) in a 14-year big league career. Despite a reputation as a light hitter – he has just 15 home runs in his career – Sanchez has persisted.
And, it’s paid off. While he’s never made the huge money, Sanchez has earned as much as $2.3 million per year during his career. Pretty good money no matter how you slice it.
After all, as the saying goes, if you can pick it, you can play. Sanchez can pick it, he’s found his niche and he’s riding it as long as he can.
Jim Johnson is the Morgan Hill Times’ Sports Editor. He can be reached by phone at (408) 779-4106 ext. 203 or by e-mail at jj******@*************es.com
