Deadspin: el+guapo

Rich Garces Will Never Leave Us

Leitch — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:10:19 EDT

Because the world is a better place when Rich Garces holds a prevalent role in it, we bring you a definitive Rich Garces profile.

It's from Boston magazine, and it tracks the wacky, obese road show that is El Guapo's "comeback." Here's our favorite part:

But after nine innings, the score is tied 6-6. In the 10th, Pride manager Butch Hobson turns to Guapo, even though he's tired from traveling and hasn't thrown off a mound in 10 days. Bullpens in the bush are thin, and the organization, not to mention the fans, is eager to see its new acquisition in action. So in goes Guapo. But he doesn't go alone. He's accompanied by a very important message from the announcer:

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, introducing...El Guapo! El Guapo is brought to you by the New Hampshire Business Resource Center in Concord. If you have any questions about any aspect of doing business in the state of New Hampshire, visit nheconomy.com. That's nheconomy.com."

All Major League Baseball players, eventually, will be introduced by their personal corporate sponsor. We're surprised it hasn't happened already.

El Guapo Rides Again [Boston Magazine]

You Could Be Rich Garces' BFF

Leitch — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 16:15:28 EDT

You want a gift that keeps on giving? The Boston Globe is currently running what might be the greatest contest since "Whack J.D. Drew Day."

You, too, could totally be Rich Garces' best friend for a day.

Enter below to win a chance to take batting practice thrown by "El Guapo" himself, enjoy a pre-game meal with Rich Garces at the stadium, and watch the game with three guests of your choice.

"The El Guapo Experience" grand prize includes:
Four (4) tickets to the Saturday, August 4th Nashua Pride vs. Brockton Rox game at Holman Stadium in Nashua, NH
A chance to take batting practice thrown by "El Guapo" before the game (subject to availability)
A pre-game meal with Rich Garces at the stadium

A pregame meal and batting practice off El Guapo. This, friends, is the good life.

Best Contest Ever [The Smittblog]

The Return Of El Guapo

Leitch — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 11:45:14 EST

The Nashua Pride minor league baseball team is renowned, like any great minor league team, for its desperate promotions to bring people to the ballpark. (Last year they signed Oil Can Boyd ... well, before he was hit with stalking charges.) Well, this year, they've come up with the best promotion yet: They're bringing back El Guapo!

Garces told The Nashua Telegraph on Tuesday that he's down to about 235 pounds, which is about 15 pounds lighter than his listed playing weight with the Red Sox, who released him in 2002 after he struggled with an ERA of 7.59 in 21 innings of work. He attempted a comeback in 2005 and signed a minor-league contract, but was released that October.

We're going to hope he's flat lying about the weight loss, because that will be no fun whatsoever. Garces says he felt — here we go — "disrespected" by former manager Grady Little when he left Boston and claims to be throwing 95-mph-plus these days. We hope he recognizes that the key to his employment is not his fastball, but his weight, and gets back down to business.

Hide The Women And Children, Nashua: El Guapo's Coming To Town! [One More Dying Quail]