Vincente Padilla was unceremoniously dumped by the Texas Rangers in August despite the fact that he was a (reasonably) dependable starter on a contending team that is always desperate for pitching. His teammates and the organization were tired of his antics and decided they were better off without him, even though they didn’t have an adequate replacement.
Of course, he signed on with the Dodgers and then seemingly rejuvenated his career by going 4-0 with an ERA of 3.2o and pitching very efficiently (besides game5 of the NLCS) in the post-season. Back home now in his native Nicaragua there are several conflicting reports but what is certain is that Padilla was shot in the leg.
One report states that he was at a firing range and his bodyguard accidentally shot Padilla in the league when trying to fix Padilla’s gun. Another says that Padilla was hurt in a “hunting accident” and that is how is leg was grazed with the bullet.
Regardless, it was just an example of the extremely hairy-armed Padilla being Plaxico. The injury shouldn’t be a problem by spring training but may make Padilla’s free agency a bit more interesting.
[LA Times]
Spring training received an extra bit of greatness on Friday when two of the greatest athletes of all time, Muhammad Ali and Wayne Gretzky, came by to watch some of the game between the Royals and Dodgers. Unfortunately, we’ve grown accustomed to seeing Ali not as the world knew him as an athlete but now more a victim of his Parkinson’s.
The Slanch Report 
Recent Comments