Pablo Sandoval: Not JUST a Panda
You know, we were all like, does the world really need another Panda post? And then we were all like, what the hell kind of question is that? Of COURSE the world needs more Panda. If the world had more Panda, we probably wouldn’t have wars and meth wouldn’t exist and Africa would have water wells in every damn town.
The point of this post, mere hours away from the deadline to VOTE FOR PABLO, is to help you get to know the Panda better. So you can differentiate him from this guy running for Encinitas office on a “pick up your trash” platform or this chihuahua.
Here it is, your official get to know Pablo post. Enjoy.
- He was born in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, also home to the great Ronny Cedeno and the greater Carlos Zambrano.
- Puerto Cabello was recently at the center of the dispute between President Hugo Chavez and the opposition Podemos party. Two newspapers in the Panda’s hometown took anti-Chavez stances and were raided by Socialist goons. “…the invaders threatened journalists, telling them to get out of town ‘because we know who you are and where you live.’” And then the journalists called Panda to see if they could live with him by the Bay.
- Pablo once swung at what he thought was a pitch but was actually a pickoff to first*. *Not true. But he does swing liberally and attributes it to garage ball with his brother. The brother would pitch wadded-up tape balls to Pablo, who would have to hit it out of the garage for a home run.
- The official word on the Panda nickname: Barry Zito assigned it last year after Panda jumped over a catcher on a play at home plate, because it resembled Jack Black in Kung Fu Panda.
- In previously covered material, he saw ghosts in Milwaukee and got his teeth knocked out.
- He’s pretty much the best homegrown Giants hitter since Matt Williams.
- Last year, Bengie Molina said he would treat Sandoval “like a son.” Does that make this year puberty?
- He has 2,610 fans on Facebook, and his page includes some sweet photos of young Pablo in Venezuela. His interests are listed as “Raking, mashing, & hittin ‘em where they aint.”
Which is hopefully what he’ll do in the All-Star Game. Vote Pablo!
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By Peter on Thursday, July 9th, 2009 at 10:30 am.
Tags: San Francisco Giants