Cubano

QUOTE (SoxFan101 @ Aug 10, 2009 -> 10:23 AM) So no chance he signs on with a team in the off-season? How come he didnt go with the same agent all the other Cuban players are seemingly going with? Chapman is sort of kidnapped in Spain. If he goes to the D.R., many more agents will try to lure him away from this rookie agent. He hired a bodyguard to keep people away. I hope he knows about the MLB rules for Cubans. He needs to get a third country residency or come to the USA and wait for the 2010 Draft. If he can establish residency en a third country he will sign in the off-season? Spain is not that great for immigrants and without contacts in Spain, things are more difficult.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Aug 9, 2009 -> 12:41 PM) ESPN has a really good piece up about him. Kid wants to compete. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4381376 I can not stand this Bud Selig guy. Nobody talks about the policies MLB has against Cubans. Chapman has even a passport and Bud Selig does no declare him a free agent. His agent is a rookie. He will be stuck in Europe and this guy for a while. Where is Scott Boras or Alan Nero?

The need to fire the new owners. They should not kept the former GM that did not do Jack for us. I forgot his damm name.

It is troubling to me how American writers keep posting wrong info. I have posted so many times that Viciedo played RF in Cuba too.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jul 13, 2009 -> 07:28 AM) No I'm with you completely. He is 20 years old, in a foreign country that speaks another language, away from everything he is a familiar with and playing in AA. He is hitting .260 and has almost 50 RBI at the break. Yeah, I'd love to see his power numbers better but come on. How can this be construed as upsetting? Most 20 year olds are playing in college, rookie or low-A ball at this point in their careers. Viciedo was selected as an all-star in AA. I'm very content with how he has done this year. Obviously I expect an improvement next year but if he needs all year in the minors again that's fine. If he comes up in 2011 we still get him for 4 years. He needs to be brought up in September to taste the big leagues. KW should say to him after that call up: Kid if you like to be in the big leagues you need to produce and work hard. He needs to be sent to AFL this year. The only question I had about Viciedo is this rumor of not working hard from Cuba and now the USA. It is troubling to me.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jul 12, 2009 -> 10:42 AM) They had to have expected more for the $10M they gave him. The idea that he's out of shape and a neutral observer like Goldstein labeled him very disappointing is troubling to say the least. I agree. He better get his butt in shape. You may be not become a great layer because your skills are not great, but it is unacceptable to be out of shape. His K rate is 5.54 per AB. That is not that bad.

How many questionable stories have come out of the NY Times?

Of course, he is not 26. I think the NY Times started this crap. I can not stand that newspaper. The Yanks and Mets probably will make a run at Chapman. Is somebody in NY trying to decrease his market value?

It is official. The Cubs were outbid. http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/2009/...-ex-habana.html

I smell the following: Viciedo going to 1B or the White Sox signing Santiago de Cuba Wasps 1B Jose Julio Ruiz. The Sox won't compete for LHP Aroldis Chapman, but KW may fly under the radar after the blooshed for Chapman and grab this talented youngster to play 1B for the South Side of Chicago.

He hit 300 in his last season in Cuba. He won't hit for power. He is a contact hitter. I think he can hit more than Rey Ordonez, but not as good with the glove like Ordonez was.

That is a lots of money. Alexei should be shaking his head. http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/2009/...-ss2b-jose.html

Contreras may be the link to Chapman. http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/2009/...ed-aroldis.html

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 12:01 PM) If he's 21, how in the hell would Contreras be able to guarantee he throws that hard? He would've been about 15 when Contreras got out of Cuba. You can see in this WBC video that he hits 100 MPH. http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/2009/...during-wbc.html

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 12:49 PM) Someone on this board said this before, I don't remember who it was. The same rules apply for signed players either through the amateur draft or international market. Once you are signed, you falls into the labor agreement.

QUOTE (beautox @ Jul 2, 2009 -> 07:27 PM) i know its hypothetical but no way he gets $50. but with our payroll coming down and this depressed market there is no reason not to go out and get all this young elite talent. LHP Noel Argüelles LHP Aroldis Chapman SS José Iglesias I would love to hear some ML comparisons for these players. I've heard Orlando Cabrera / Ryan Theriot for Iglesias I think he will approach 50 even in this economic enviroment. Contreras got 32 from the Yanks for 4 years and was much older.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 05:55 AM) Read at another site that the NY times is reporting that Chapman is 26? That is not true. The NY Times is not my favorite newspaper. Too many questionable articles. If Chapman is 26, he would had played in Cuba for more than 4 years throwing 102 MPH. How many Cuban pitchers throw 100 MPH? We had only one, Chapman. He left. We had Mael Rodriguez, but he defected with some injury. Tommy Lasorda loved Mael after seeing him in the Sydney Olympics. Mael could only hit 88 MPH in the USA. He never signed a por contract and had surgery with that famoius guy in Alabama, Dr. James Andrew.

QUOTE (Stocking @ Jul 3, 2009 -> 04:32 AM) From Trib: Extra innings: Jose Contreras and Ramirez concurred with scouting reports on 21-year-old Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman,the top Cuban prospect who defected while in the Netherlands during a tournament. "He throws 103 miles per hour," said Ramirez, who maintains Pedro Lazo is the best pitcher in Cuba. I hope Torres becomes his agent. Cubano, what the scoop on Lazo? Lazo said he is retiring. He was on of the Pinar del Rio Skyscrappers alongside Contreras. He is old.

LHP Noel Arguelles may be another less expensive option but Chapman sweetakes may increase his value. He can hit 94 and is a year or two younger. I do not remember now.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jul 1, 2009 -> 08:49 PM) Defecting from Cuba doesn't seem as hard as it once was. Players now want out even more so than in the past. Before president Clinton, Cubans could come by boat straight to the USA. A few took advantage of that. Now, they have opened their eyes and leaving. The good thing is that young talent is leaving now unlike in the past where players in their 30's or close to it left. I think they finally got it. If you want to play in MLB and make some cash, come young.

QUOTE (chisoxfan09 @ Jul 2, 2009 -> 11:44 AM) Remember guys, Cuban ball players routinely have to give up their passports to the government officials that accompany them for such risks. That means for him to set up residancy in whichever country he will do it in is going to be a bit complicated. On top of that the US government will have to clear him to enter the country. This could take until next ST to accomplish. I think for this guy it won't take long. This is why: 1. It looks like the guy helping him know what he is doing. 2. Chapman has the name and pedigree. 3. Owners will influence Selig to declare him a free agent soon. He can sell tickets.

Nobody beats Cubano regarding Cuban players defection news. Ha, ha, ha. I wish the Nats sign him to join forces with our number one pick in the draft.

Remember, he started in Cuban ball when he was 18. He has improved his control. I do not think security in the Nederlands was tight because nobody had defected there and it is in Europe. The same thing in tournaments in Asia.

He will demand a lot of George Washington $$$$$$$$$$. http://cubanballplayers.blogspot.com/2009/...ted-during.html

Have you heard about Héctor Lombard? He just won the Bellator championships. He defected in the Sidney Olympics after meeting a British woman. He was about to sign with UFC but visa problems prevented him from doing so. I do not follow the sport to much so I can comment a lot. He has won PRIDE, DEEP and Cage Fighting champiosnhips in Australia. His record is 20-2.