October 18, 201312 yr Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes.
October 18, 201312 yr http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2...l-puig/2651131/ OAKLAND, Calif. — Yoenis Cespedes can't think right away of a major leaguer who compares to Jose Dariel Abreu, his former national squad teammate and the latest baseball star to defect from Cuba. But as the Oakland Athletics outfielder and Home Run Derby champion describes Abreu, the image of American League MVP Miguel Cabrera comes to mind. Like Cabrera, Abreu was a shortstop as a youngster before outgrowing the position and moving to third base and the outfield, eventually landing at first base (Cabrera is now back at third). And like Cabrera, Abreu can spray line drives and majestic blasts to all fields. FTW: Abreu has hit like Ted Williams in Cuba "If he had just a tad more speed, he would be a complete player,'' said Cespedes, pointing out Abreu runs well for his size but is not a burner. "Of the five tools, he's got four. He's a good fielder and he can hit for average and power.'' Abreu, a power-hitting first baseman who was a teammate of Yasiel Puig on the Cienfuegos team, is believed to be in Haiti as he begins the process of making himself available to major league teams. Once he establishes residency outside the United States, is declared a free agent by MLB and cleared by the Office of Foreign Assets Control – which may take months – Abreu is expected to be the object of a bidding war perhaps unlike any other previously seen for a Cuban player. TRAGEDY: Braves fan's death a cautionary tale The biggest contract signed by a Cuban defector so far is the seven-year, $42 million deal Puig got from the Los Angeles Dodgers. "Along with Cespedes, he's the biggest name to leave Cuba,'' said Cuban baseball expert and author Peter Bjarkman. "He must look at what Puig got and think, 'He was just a young prospect. I'm a superstar.''' Abreu, 26, twice came close to winning the triple crown in the Cuban National Series, a feat never accomplished in the league's half-century history. The season after Cespedes set a league record with 33 home runs, Abreu blasted 35. OUT OF BASEBALL AGAIN: Manny Ramirez released from Rangers "So you can imagine what kind of hitter he is,'' Cespedes said. Abreu was the starting first baseman and fifth-place hitter for the Cuban national team and batted .360 with three homers and nine RBI in six games during this year's World Baseball Classic. Even though he's listed as 6-2 and 258 pounds in the WBC roster, Cespedes and Bjarkman say Abreu is closer to 6-4 or 6-5, and athletic. "If Puig is built like a linebacker, Abreu looks like a tight end,'' Bjarkman said. "He's got as much potential as anybody to come out of Cuba.'' Edited October 18, 201312 yr by scs787
October 18, 201312 yr QUOTE (scs787 @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 12:23 PM) http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2...l-puig/2651131/ Nice article but to follow correct Mania Thread protocol, the quote box should never be used for articles.
October 18, 201312 yr QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 12:33 PM) Nice article but to follow correct Mania Thread protocol, the quote box should never be used for articles. And italicized....Rookie mistake, I fixed it.
October 18, 201312 yr QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 12:16 PM) Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Those look like weak pop-ups off the bat. Dear god I hadn't actually seen his power. If he has a good eye, he'll have a nice career.
October 18, 201312 yr QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 12:16 PM) Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Needs more gif's.
October 18, 201312 yr QUOTE (bmags @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 12:19 PM) Dude slams baseballs and gives a look like it ain't nothin. Yeah, he knew he got them off of teh bat too.
October 18, 201312 yr Oh my lord that 3rd HR video is disgusting. Such a terrifying sound off the bat and had an Adam Dunn-like flight path.
October 18, 201312 yr Abreu has blah, blah, blah in common with Barry Bonds, Arod, Babe Ruth, and a snickers bar.
October 18, 201312 yr Pretty impressive that each those HRs Wite posted were to a different part of the field.
October 18, 201312 yr QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 12:08 PM) *awaits caulfield post about Puig* "...He's no Maurice Gartrell..." Caulfield12
October 18, 201312 yr Does he wear number 79 for the White Sox? Or is it retired for a dead bullpen catcher too? Edited October 18, 201312 yr by JPN366
October 18, 201312 yr QUOTE (JPN366 @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 01:50 PM) "...He's no Maurice Gartrell..." Caulfield12 Oh god
October 18, 201312 yr QUOTE (JPN366 @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 01:50 PM) "...He's no Maurice Gartrell..." Caulfield12 He's no Gerardo Parra, that's for sure.
October 18, 201312 yr QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 01:59 PM) He's no Gerardo Parra, that's for sure. And he is no Grady Sizemo... oh wait wrong thread.
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