Author Topic: Cuban 3B (Read 6825 times)

JimR · « **on:** July 15, 2016, 03:17:21 pm »

We signed him. Now what?

Jacksonian · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2016, 03:20:47 pm »

Quote from: JimR on July 15, 2016, 03:17:21 pm

We signed him. Now what?

Pray

JimR · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2016, 03:21:47 pm »

Quote from: Jacksonian on July 15, 2016, 03:20:47 pm

Pray

Can he pitch?

Jacksonian · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2016, 03:26:21 pm »

Quote from: JimR on July 15, 2016, 03:21:47 pm

Can he pitch?

If he can hit then they'll have more prospect options to deal for a pitcher.

juliogotay · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:07:24 pm »

How good is this dude supposed to be? Any ML comps come to mind?

roadrunner · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:11:25 pm »

This makes Reed, Moran, and Tucker even more expendable. Deal them for pitching help.

I love that Luhnow added without subtracting any prospects. Can't wait to watch this guy hit.

Jacksonian · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:13:16 pm »

Quote from: roadrunner on July 15, 2016, 04:11:25 pm

Can't wait to watch this guy hit.

I just hope he can.

DVauthrin · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:14:17 pm »

Quote from: JimR on July 15, 2016, 03:17:21 pm

We signed him. Now what?

Opens up a lot of possibilities for this season, if he earns a MLB 25 man spot quickly and proves he can hit at the big league level You could slide Bregman to LF, create a platoon in CF with Rasmus and either Gomez or Marisnick, and split 1B/3B/DH at bats between Gurriel, Valbuena and Marwin for example. And that doesn't factor in Gattis and if the light goes on for Reed at the big league level.

roadrunner · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:18:03 pm »

Quote from: Jacksonian on July 15, 2016, 04:13:16 pm

I just hope he can.

I have been wanting a Cuban for too long. I keep envisioning Abreu and Cespedes...probably more optimistic than I should be.

JimR · « **Reply #9 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:19:51 pm »

Quote from: roadrunner on July 15, 2016, 04:11:25 pm

This makes Reed, Moran, and Tucker even more expendable. Deal them for pitching help.

I love that Luhnow added without subtracting any prospects. Can't wait to watch this guy hit.

Not so fast on Reed.

Jacksonian · « **Reply #10 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:20:18 pm »

Quote from: DVauthrin on July 15, 2016, 04:14:17 pm

Opens up a lot of possibilities for this season, if he earns a MLB 25 man spot quickly and proves he can hit at the big league level You could slide Bregman to LF, create a platoon in CF with Rasmus and either Gomez or Marisnick, and split 1B/3B/DH at bats between Gurriel, Valbuena and Marwin for example. And that doesn't factor in Gattis and if the light goes on for Reed at the big league level.

Wow that's over thought.

If he can hit and play 3b then it's entirely possible we won't see Bregman until September barring injury to someone already on the team. Gomez won't be platooned. The only other real big club consequence would be Reed not on the team. However, I will give you the possibility of Bregman in LF. Therefore the Fresno lineup watch should be in full force.

moriartp · « **Reply #11 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:20:26 pm »

Quote from: Jacksonian on July 15, 2016, 04:13:16 pm

I just hope he can.

Yep. I really like the signing on paper, but he has to show something before the team starts making big deals around him (eg Bregman). Let's wait a bit to see how this all goes.

Also, please don't anyone construe the above as an endorsement of ever trading Bregman.

homer · « **Reply #12 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:23:03 pm »

Quote from: Jacksonian on July 15, 2016, 04:20:18 pm

Wow that's over thought.

If he can hit and play 3b then it's entirely possible we won't see Bregman until September barring injury to someone already on the team. Gomez won't be platooned. The only other real big club consequence would be Reed not on the team. However, I will give you the possibility of Bregman in LF. Therefore the Fresno lineup watch should be in full force.

Who is the DH?

Jacksonian · « **Reply #13 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:23:59 pm »

Quote from: homer on July 15, 2016, 04:23:03 pm

Who is the DH?

In no article or conversation that I've heard of has Luhnow or Hinch mentioned removing Gattis from basically full-time DH duties.

homer · « **Reply #14 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:26:00 pm »

Quote from: Jacksonian on July 15, 2016, 04:23:59 pm

In no article or conversation that I've heard of has Luhnow or Hinch mentioned removing Gattis from basically full-time DH duties.

Understood. Having the second catcher at DH is a problematic configuration. Especially in playoffs. I would assume they are trying to remedy that.

Jacksonian · « **Reply #15 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:26:44 pm »

Quote from: homer on July 15, 2016, 04:26:00 pm

Understood. Having the second catcher at DH is a problematic configuration. Especially in playoffs. I would assume they are trying to remedy that.

Why do assume that? This seems to have been quite deliberate.

homer · « **Reply #16 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:30:09 pm »

Quote from: Jacksonian on July 15, 2016, 04:26:44 pm

Why do assume that? This seems to have been quite deliberate.

We saw the potential issue the other day when they lifted Castro for a pinch runner. Hitting the pitcher in a game that mattered would be quite a disadvantage.

roadrunner · « **Reply #17 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:30:28 pm »

Quote from: JimR on July 15, 2016, 04:19:51 pm

Not so fast on Reed.

The 2nd Wild Card has made more teams buyers and therefore raised the price for MLB-level assets at the deadline. The Red Sox just traded the #15 prospect in all of baseball for a middle of the rotation pitcher.

I don't think a package of Colin Moran and Preston Tucker (or something similar) will get us anything of significant value in this market.

DVauthrin · « **Reply #18 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:37:38 pm »

Quote from: Jacksonian on July 15, 2016, 04:20:18 pm

Wow that's over thought.

If he can hit and play 3b then it's entirely possible we won't see Bregman until September barring injury to someone already on the team. Gomez won't be platooned. The only other real big club consequence would be Reed not on the team. However, I will give you the possibility of Bregman in LF. Therefore the Fresno lineup watch should be in full force.

I don't see it as that much of a reach, provided Gurriel hits. Bregman's minor league numbers are ridiculous, to the point I don't think it's much of a stretch to think he can outperform Gomez offensively very quickly. He's hitting at a different level than Reed was when he was called up. And Rasmus and Gomez or Marisnick would make a good platoon in center. I would agree that it would be far more likely they trade or DFA Gomez and platoon Rasmus and Marisnick in CF if Gurriel and Bregman can take solidify 3b/LF, moving Valbuena to 1B.

Furthermore, Bregman doesn't have anything left to prove at the minor league level offensively. I can't see them waiting until September to call him up. And, with Gurriel needing 3 weeks of minor league seasoning, I suspect we'll see Bregman before Gurriel anyway.

juliogotay · « **Reply #19 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:40:44 pm »

Quote from: JimR on July 15, 2016, 04:19:51 pm

Not so fast on Reed.

Yes. No reason to believe he can't play at this level yet. I'm confident he can be force.

Jacksonian · « **Reply #20 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:49:15 pm »

Does anyone know where Gurriel is? Work visa's a what-not.

MusicMan · « **Reply #21 on:** July 15, 2016, 04:49:31 pm »

Quote from: juliogotay on July 15, 2016, 04:07:24 pm

How good is this dude supposed to be? Any ML comps come to mind?

I've seen David Wright circa 2014.

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BUWebguy · « **Reply #22 on:** July 15, 2016, 05:01:24 pm »

Quote from: juliogotay on July 15, 2016, 04:07:24 pm

How good is this dude supposed to be? Any ML comps come to mind?

MLB.com describes him as a more fluid and athletic Jeff Kent.

hostros7 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 15, 2016, 05:06:13 pm »

These MLB comps are baseball titillating.

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Lefty · « **Reply #24 on:** July 15, 2016, 05:24:40 pm »

Quote from: Jacksonian on July 15, 2016, 04:49:15 pm

Does anyone know where Gurriel is? Work visa's a what-not.

Berman tweeted about the Astros introducing him Saturday in Houston, whether that's tomorrow or next week is unclear, but I assume that means there are no visa snafus to work out.

https://twitter.com/MarkBermanFox26/status/754069186557513728

JimR · « **Reply #25 on:** July 15, 2016, 05:25:14 pm »

Quote from: juliogotay on July 15, 2016, 04:40:44 pm

Yes. No reason to believe he can't play at this level yet. I'm confident he can be force.

They rushed him up. This is a mulligan.

chuck · « **Reply #26 on:** July 15, 2016, 11:39:19 pm »

El coño este hit fucking .500 last year. Now, the Cuban league isn't the big leagues, but high school hitters are routinely drafted in the top five or ten picks who don't hit anywhere near .500 in high school.

My conclusion is that this guy is most likely a lunatic who will hit anyone, any time.

At the very least this will be a fascinating experiment.

drew corleone · « **Reply #27 on:** July 16, 2016, 01:33:12 am »

Quote from: JimR on July 15, 2016, 04:19:51 pm

Not so fast on Reed.

But if it comes to it would you rather package Reed or Bregman for a starter?

JimR · « **Reply #28 on:** July 16, 2016, 07:21:50 am »

Quote from: drew corleone on July 16, 2016, 01:33:12 am

But if it comes to it would you rather package Reed or Bregman for a starter?

Reed for sure.

Reuben · « **Reply #29 on:** July 16, 2016, 07:53:36 am »

Quote from: chuck on July 15, 2016, 11:39:19 pm

El coño este hit fucking .500 last year. Now, the Cuban league isn't the big leagues, but high school hitters are routinely drafted in the top five or ten picks who don't hit anywhere near .500 in high school.

My conclusion is that this guy is most likely a lunatic who will hit anyone, any time.

At the very least this will be a fascinating experiment.

I tend to lean this way too, although he played in Japan a couple years ago and "only" hit .305 there. Perhaps he had an injury or personal shit that affected him then, which he's now over. Let's hope.

drew corleone · « **Reply #30 on:** July 16, 2016, 09:25:26 am »

Quote from: JimR on July 16, 2016, 07:21:50 am

Reed for sure.

I agree. I am equally intrigued, excited, and uneasy about these next two weeks.

MusicMan · « **Reply #31 on:** July 16, 2016, 11:38:28 am »

Quote from: drew corleone on July 16, 2016, 09:25:26 am

I agree. I am equally intrigued, excited, and uneasy about these next two weeks.

Astros or politics?

Oh, you said excited.

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toddthebod · « **Reply #32 on:** July 16, 2016, 09:13:40 pm »

If the Astros trade Reed, who are they going to play at first next season? Valbuena isn't coming back. Marwin? No thank you. Singleton? I don't think so.

Don't trade Reed. Don't trade Bregman.

The pitching has been pretty good so far. There's no reason to "give up the farm" to get a middle of the rotation pitcher.

JimR · « **Reply #33 on:** July 18, 2016, 08:57:49 am »

Quote from: toddthebod on July 16, 2016, 09:13:40 pm

If the Astros trade Reed, who are they going to play at first next season? Valbuena isn't coming back. Marwin? No thank you. Singleton? I don't think so.

Don't trade Reed. Don't trade Bregman.

The pitching has been pretty good so far. There's no reason to "give up the farm" to get a middle of the rotation pitcher.

Marwin is excellent anywhere he plays, including 1B.

MusicMan · « **Reply #34 on:** July 20, 2016, 11:54:03 am »

From Rosenthal's notes column:

The Astros, by the way, loved what they heard about Gurriel’s makeup, and believe that at 32 he could serve as a role model for the team’s core offensive players, all of whom are 26 or younger.

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MrKnuckleball · « **Reply #35 on:** July 20, 2016, 09:54:10 pm »

Quote from: JimR on July 15, 2016, 03:17:21 pm

We signed him. Now what?

I heard on 790 today that he hasn't played in about 10 months. After he gets here how long do you think it will take him to hit his stride? 10 months seems like a while but maybe I'm wrong.

juliogotay · « **Reply #36 on:** July 20, 2016, 10:02:50 pm »

Quote from: MrKnuckleball on July 20, 2016, 09:54:10 pm

I heard on 790 today that he hasn't played in about 10 months. After he gets here how long do you think it will take him to hit his stride? 10 months seems like a while but maybe I'm wrong.

I've heard as late as Sept. 1.

MrKnuckleball · « **Reply #37 on:** July 20, 2016, 10:09:16 pm »

Quote from: juliogotay on July 20, 2016, 10:02:50 pm

I've heard as late as Sept. 1.

Wow. Well we will see soon.