Happy birthday, Brandon Villafuerte

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 17, 2008 2:45 PM CST Comment 12 comments

Happy birthday to Brandon Villafuerte, who turns 33 today.

Villafuerte was a 66th round draft pick of the Mets back in the days when the draft lasted as many rounds as people wanted to keep drafting players, and was traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Texas Rangers after the 2000 season in the big Matt Perisho trade.

Villafuerte spent one year in the Ranger system, getting a cup of coffee and then leaving as a minor league free agent after the 2001 season. He went to San Diego, posted a 1.41 ERA in 2002 out of the bullpen, and prompted a meltdown from people who claimed that the Rangers let another quality pitcher go for nothing.

Then he stopped pitching that well, and hasn't been in the majors since 2004, although he put up a not terrible 3.50 ERA last season in Albuquerque.

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Always got a kick out of his pronunciation, for some reason.

Vill-uh-fur-tee

by Jamey Newberg on Dec 17, 2008 3:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

hmm, how about...

Vee-Ah-fwherr-tay?

Stability is key, and JD is a Beast.
Jindal - 2012

by Longhorn on Dec 17, 2008 4:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's terrible.

by brettgardner on Dec 17, 2008 7:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And you think Armando Galarraga

is the next Villafuerte?

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Dec 17, 2008 4:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

There must be some kind of polarity karma

About being in the Rangers’ system, then having a good year in San Diego, then moving toward obscurity. Gotta check the magnetic drift differential between DFW and San Diego, or the solar energy, or maybe the ozone exposure level, or all three ………….

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Dec 17, 2008 4:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget ...

El Niño

by shroomer on Dec 17, 2008 5:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This Happy Birthday crap

is getting rather annoying.

Just kidding

by cowpoke on Dec 18, 2008 12:07 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

think positive!!!

some day their is bound to be some former ranger ~~you~~ u actually give a damn about.

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Dec 18, 2008 1:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

there?

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Dec 18, 2008 1:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They're?

mormons stole me and held me against my will with Oklahoma beer and 12+ hour work days.

by Jayslick on Dec 18, 2008 1:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

who are you

I’m not sure I know you

lol

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Dec 18, 2008 8:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

x

this went down around the time I was really into the Rangers minor leagues, religiously reading the daily NMLR. I stopped a few years later when the Newberg board melted down for various reasons and I discovered Adam’s blog.

My interest has shifted from the minors to sabermetrics anyways.

Anyways, yeah. Matt Perisho FTW

by alon91 on Dec 18, 2008 3:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs