Pablo Sandoval had his debut for the Navegantes de Magallanes of the LVBP (the Venezuelan professional league) on Friday, November 27th.  He was playing first base (a possible sign of things to come?) and he definitely has slimmed down a bit, he is still as much of a panda as before but it looks like what they had him doing in Arizona and SF sure has helped.  Pablo has said that the Giants expect him to lose 2 pounds per week or he will have to stop playing and return to his workout regimen in San Francisco.  He is wearing number 17 and even ran out an infield hit.  He said that one of his goals is to win the Venezuelan league with Magallanes, for those who don't know is one of the two most popular teams in Venezuela, along with the Leones de Caracas and is the team who plays their games in the same state as Pablo was born and grew up.  His brother is still around to push him and he is apparently going to be bringing his own food to the stadium on a daily basis to keep up his routine.  He is also starting "Operación Panda" to help young Venezuelans with limited resources and is gearing up for a special project in hospitals in his hometown of Puerto Cabello.  He ends the article by saying that he is in good shape physically and has a full tank.  His team is currently at the top of the league and will definitely be making the playoffs at which point they will see how much more playing he can do in Venezuela before he returns to San Francisco.  He will be alternating between 1st and DH for his stay here in Venezuela.  So far he is batting .500 and just went three for four in his last game yesterday.  I will try to keep some useful info up to keep track of Sandoval's winter festivities.

The article I am dragging this from is in Spanish but for those of you who want to read it...

http://www.lvbp.com/scripts/home/noticias.asp?codnotc=229

http://www.beisblog.net/blog/?p=6508

via www.lvbp.com

Since I assume I am the only member currently living in Venezuela I figured I would take some time to update everyone on the Giants that are down here playing winter league.  Brett Pill arrived off the plane and has just been named player of the week after only 21 plate appearances with two doubles and two homeruns and a batting average of .429 with the Bravos de Margarita.  John Bowker came with him, but apparently he wants to leave because he is worried about the insecurity in Venezuela, which as I white guy in Venezuela I can tell you is certainly an issue, although they are playing their home games in Margarita, which is a beach resort.  As for Pill, he might just be taking advantage of some weak pitching, but overall the quality of play is quite high.  He beat out Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies for the honor.  Pill tearing up Venezuela is the link although its in Spanish, but it does have a nice picture of him at the plate.  I posted a fanshot of another shot of him.  Also, our dear Kung Fu Panda Pablo Sandoval, my halloween costume ;-) they don´t know the panda mask as well down here as in San Francisco, is set to start at the end of this week with Magallanes and Jesus Guzman is having an up and down season with the Leones of Caracas in his designated hitter role, some two homer games and some 0-5 games.  All and all it looks like the Giants down here are getting some good preparation, especially since most of them are on the 40 man roster. 

via www.lvbp.com