Last I heard he was going to be put in jail for 2 months while the prosecution gathered their case against him. Any updates from anyone since that??

Also, apparently he showed up to court in a bulletproof vest... What a guy.

Anyone think we'll ever see him in a Giants uni?

It's probably a good idea to wear a bullet proof vest anywhere in the DR

So much for escaping a run down nation to come live the American dream.

Does seem fishy that we haven't heard any updates.

Why? The kid is in jail for two months before the trial starts.
Not much to update.

But I will give you one anyway:

Angel has killed 4,106 flies and 14,863 cockroaches in his cell.

He has gotten used to the moldy rice and watery soup.

He knows which guards to bribe, and which ones not to.

He's learned to grip the soap firmly when in the shower, but not too tightly or it pops out anyway.

More news later.

LOL That probably is the only update.

And IMO he's done, career over.

Even if by some miracle (Bribe) he's found not guilty it'll be years from now and then it would take at least a year or 2 to get back in professional form if he hasn't suffered too badly from inadequate food and medical care lack of excercise etc.

He should have stayed out of the DR.

I agree. I think he's done either way.

But more so because even if he gets off, everybody will assume it's another O.J. type acquittal and he'll be forever tagged as a cold blooded killer.

Just bad luck for the Giants, losing the top power hitting prospect in an organization desperate for power.

It is really unfortunate for him, his family and what might have been. A real waste.

It's a often recurring theme in sports, where young guys, often from impoverished or rough backgrounds, hitting it big, and finding great difficulty in staying on the straight and narrow.

I know someone who worked with a sports agency that tried to support their clients by offering them basic classes in financial matters, how to save and protect their money for the future, also physical security and staying out of conflicts -- but at the end of the day, it's very heady, and often very dangerous, to be suddenly successful, rich, and famous in your neighborhood.

"I agree. I think he's done either way."

You're kidding, right? You know, of course, that Juan Uribe was once charged with the same crime in the DR, also that there are newspaper quotes from eyewitnesses who say they were with Angel and he didn't do it?

I'm not saying he's home free or anything, but if he is acquitted, or charges are dropped, or he gets off for any other reason, he's going to be just fine. No way this is like OJ in any way shape or form. Nobody in the U.S. gives a darn about what might have happened in the DR. The whole incident will be forgotten by opening day 2010 and Angel will make it or not make it based on his talent.

As for deconditioning, he's only 19 years old, for crying out loud. It won't take that long to get reconditioned. Besides, conditioning has never been a big part of Angel's game anyway!

Even as I wrote "he should have stayed out of the DR" (Dominican Republic) I knew it was simplistic and maybe too harsh. It's the place he knows as home. As sad and dangerous as the DR is.

I hope you are right.

I hope you're right too.

i would be incredibly shocked if this was a fair trial.

one of two things will happen. He will be convicted on the fact of who he is, with the authorities wanting to make a statement, or he will walk on the fact of who he is and what he has done in the area.

I doubt that the "eye witness'" will have much weight on the case. The owner of the bar was his Uncle and he said that he was with Angel when the gun shots went off and that Angel had nothing to do with it. The other eye witness, the victim's brother (who is part of a family that is known to not get along with the Villalona's for decades) says that he saw Angels pull the trigger. The verdict will be he said / she said.

Honestly, if he walks, I think we will see him with this organization again and we will play it off as a wrong place/wrong time situation. I am sure they will be very strict with him and most likely have him stay in the US for Winter Ball and Instuactional camps. I would not be upset if Pablo was there to help him out while they both were on the same diet and exercise plan.

I still have hope, but there is no way to tell what is goingto happen. Hopefully this is all figured out in time for Spring Training and the aligning of players to the minor league teams. I doubt there would be Visa issues if he was found not guilty. If he is found guilty, then he will never step foot in America again.

Selfishly, I hope he didn't do it and I hope it is a open and closed case, or the guilty man comes forward. Thats in my Giants Future of the Organization Bias.

Come on guys, let's get real...

1) I'm guessing he didn't pull the trigger
2) It doesn't matter if he did or not...He'll pay his "fee" and be back in the US having learned a lesson
3)...and in the meantime, pushups and situps all day won't hurt his cause.

There is a new thread started with an update.
Doesn't sound promising, you might want to read up on it.

There's a new Villalona update thread. It seems there might be new info.
I think your reference to Uribe's charges in the DR were anecdotal evidence that things might go well for Villalona. Only time will tell but I'd wager the Giants aren't presently considering him in there long term plans.

Angel is currently out on bail:

www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/11/odds-ends-cubs-podsednik-giants.html