Cuban Players Defectors

[Agente Libre]

Originally Posted by Cubano100%

Agente, this is what I think.

If you compare Alexei's number in Cuba with other defectors (Escobar, Betancourt), his numbers are way better. He should do well in AA, AAA and MLB. Maybe MLB teams want to sign the next Mr. Universe, but there are players in MLB that are not physical specimens. Here there are a few of them C. Counsel, J. Pierre, D. Eckstein, S. Taguchi, etc.

Right, but at what position? And for how many guaranteed dollars upfront?

I'm sure every MLB team would be thrilled to sign Ramirez. I'm not saying otherwise. But when his agent is asking for Hideki Matsui dollars, or more, for a 26-year-old player with no clear position, it's not a surprise that most teams are saying, "No, thanks."

[Cubano100%]

He is asking for Kaz Matsui, Shinjo, Taguchi dollars. He can play CF, LF and
2B. I am sure if a team has an emergency at SS in a given game, he can cover there too. Wouldn't you love to have a guy who can play several positions at least as an utlity?

The scouts are saying he is good defensively at CF. MLB wants cheap labor with the Cubans not now but always through the history of the game.


What are the Marlins doing?

They do not have a CF for years and now if they move Dan Uggla to 3B won't have a 2B either. This is the perfect market for Cubans.

West coast teams always go for Mexican and Japanese players because it makes sense for them. I can't stand this Marlins. They are going to fill another AA/AAA team and sell it as an MLB team.

[Cubano100%]

By the way, former big leaguer Ariel Prieto was quoted in the book Confesiones Mas Alla del Dugout that the Japanese league has a policy of not signing Cuban defectors. I am with him on this claim. It is beyond my believe that Cuban hitters are paid pennies by MLB teams (Michel Abreu, Barbaro Canizares, Amaury Cazanas, etc) and they hit well in AA and AAA. If AAA players go to Japan and increase their power numbers, Cubans hitters that have done well in AAA should do well in Japan. Besides, a Cuban player in Japan should increase ratings due to our rivalry in international competitions. Therefore, a Japanese team could come with a 1 million offer to a Cuban player receiving pennies from MLB and go across continents.


Japan policy is reminiscing of MLB policy toward Cubans a few years back.

[Agente Libre]

Originally Posted by Cubano100%

He is asking for Kaz Matsui, Shinjo, Taguchi dollars. He can play CF, LF and
2B. I am sure if a team has an emergency at SS in a given game, he can cover there too. Wouldn't you love to have a guy who can play several positions at least as an utlity?

From what his agent has been saying, they are asking for Hideki/Kaz Matsui money. As for Shinjo and Taguchi, they signed for much, much less than that; maybe $3 million for Shinjo and $1 or $2 million for Taguchi.

As for your discussion of Ramirez's ability, that's precisely why MLB teams are not going crazy for Ramirez: No team is ever going to invest millions and millions of upfront, guaranteed dollars in a player who has no clear position. Utility players in MLB usually make $1 or $2 million per year on a one-year contract; not $7 million per year for three or four years.

The scouts are saying he is good defensively at CF. MLB wants cheap labor with the Cubans not now but always through the history of the game.

MLB teams certainly want "cheap labor," but we don't even know what teams are offering Ramirez, so it's too early to bash them. The bottom line is, the guy is 26 years old, he's frail, and he has no clear position.

They do not have a CF for years and now if they move Dan Uggla to 3B won't have a 2B either. This is the perfect market for Cubans.

It depends on the player. For some, it could be good, but for others, the whole Cuban-player-in-Miami might be too overwhelming.

I can't stand this Marlins. They are going to fill another AA/AAA team and sell it as an MLB team.

Ha ha ... No argument there. Jeffrey Loria is one of the worst owners in MLB history. He should be in prison for all the revenue-sharing money he steals from his team.

Originally Posted by Cubano100%

By the way, former big leaguer Ariel Prieto was quoted in the book Confesiones Mas Alla del Dugout that the Japanese league has a policy of not signing Cuban defectors. ...

This is true. Japanese teams will not sign Cuban defectors under any circumstances. I believe the Japanese Leagues and/or the government of Japan has an agreement(s) with Cuba about this. It's shameful, but no one ever says anything about it.

[Cubano100%]

Texas Rangers signed LHP Yennier Sardinas to a minor league contract. Sardinas was a poor hitter in Cuba and now is trying to make it as a pitcher. These are his numbers as a hitter in Cuba.

Series	AB	H	AVE	2B	3B	HR	SLU	RBI	BB	K	Fielding AVE
3	66	14	212	0	 0	1	 258	2	 3	27	989

[Cubano100%]

Agente:

Alexei Ramirez is a good CF. Already, some scouts have said they were impress by his defensive abilities in CF.

[Mischa]

Originally Posted by Cubano100%

If AAA players go to Japan and increase their power numbers,

That's quite incorrect. Many AAA players do far worse in Japan. See Mitch Jones, Andy Green, Adam Hyzdu or any of the other busts who pass Japan through every year.

[J.P]

Originally Posted by Agente Libre

This is true. Japanese teams will not sign Cuban defectors under any circumstances. I believe the Japanese Leagues and/or the government of Japan has an agreement(s) with Cuba about this. It's shameful, but no one ever says anything about it.

I remember Agente brought this up long time ago.

[Cubano100%]

Originally Posted by Mischa

That's quite incorrect. Many AAA players do far worse in Japan. See Mitch Jones, Andy Green, Adam Hyzdu or any of the other busts who pass Japan through every year.

Lets research this topic. The following players have increased their power numbers going from AAA to Japan.

2007 Japanese team rosters

Gregory Mark LaRocca
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...-larocca.shtml


Alex Cabrera
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...-Cabrera.shtml

Karl Derrick Rhodes
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...l-Rhodes.shtml


Alex Ochoa
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...ex-Ochoa.shtml


Super veteran Damon Hollins maintained his power numbers http://<br /> http://www.thebasebal...-Hollins.shtml

Tyrone Woods
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...-Woods-1.shtml

Jose Ortiz
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...se-Ortiz.shtml

Benny Agbayani
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...Agbayani.shtml

Jose Fernandez
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...ernandez.shtml


Jose Lopez and Rich Short played in Japan in 2007 too. Short did not do bad.

Japanese in AAA

Kaz Matsui was a slugger in Japan. How about in AAA?
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...o-Matsui.shtml

Norihiro Nakamura lost power coming to AAA from Japan.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...Nakamura.shtml

[Agente Libre]

Originally Posted by Cubano100%

Texas Rangers signed LHP Yennier Sardinas to a minor league contract. ...

Man, that guy defected almost FOUR years ago and hasn't, to my knowledge, played anywhere since 2005. Last I heard, he was screwing around as a reggaeton singer in Miami.

(That said, he does have a strong arm, although he also has an injury history that's probably the reason he hasn't played in several years.)

Originally Posted by Cubano100%

Agente:

Alexei Ramirez is a good CF. Already, some scouts have said they were impress by his defensive abilities in CF.

Again, no argument from me that Ramirez is a very good player. The only argument is how much money to guarantee a very skinny, if not frail, 26-year-old who probably won't have much power in MLB.

[Cubano100%]

These numbers are easy to beat for Alexi Ramirez.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...ck-Punto.shtml

He made this:
2007 Salary: $1,800,000

[Agente Libre]

In other news, the New York Daily News, in a one- or two-sentence note, reported that Michel Abreu's papers are finally in order and he can resume playing pro ball in 2008.

[J.P]

Hopes not too late for him

[Agente Libre]

Originally Posted by Agente Libre

This is true. Japanese teams will not sign Cuban defectors under any circumstances. I believe the Japanese Leagues and/or the government of Japan has an agreement(s) with Cuba about this. It's shameful, but no one ever says anything about it.

I was just going through some old emails and found this sentence in an email from an official of a Japanese team in response to my inquiry about signing Cuban defectors:

The general policy is that [the] application should be accompanied by the approval of the Cuban government if he is still [a] Cuban national.

Simply stated, the Japanese Leagues don't recognize a Cuban's right to emigrate from Cuba. It's shameful.

[Dalkowski110]

"In other news, the New York Daily News, in a one- or two-sentence note, reported that Michel Abreu's papers are finally in order and he can resume playing pro ball in 2008."

Hey, trying to keep you guys abreast of where Abreu stands in the Mets org. In still other news, Omar Minaya shortly afterward announced that Abreu would likely NOT be ready for the 2008 season (he named him along with Juan Padilla, Duaner Sanchez, and I think Fernando Martinez). I'm not sure what this means, although judging from what I know of the two pitchers (Padilla was non-tendered but will likely be brought back on a Minor League contract), it means due to mitigating factors, he'll either be kept at the same Minor League level and not moved up at the beginning of the season OR start the season in short-season A or rookie ball. Padilla will probably be the AAA closer due to his having missed 2 full years due to injury. F-Mart would probably stay in Binghamton or drop to St. Lucie due to his hand injury/the Mets being careful with him. Since Abreu missed a full year, despite playing in extended ST, they may want to reacclamate him to Minor League pitching (at Savannah or St. Lucie) and then move him up mid-season.

[Cubano100%]

Fausto Alvarez wins MVP-Award at Dutch Baseball Gala

http://www.mister-baseball.com/faust...baseball-gala/

[Cubano100%]

ESPN Deportes is reporting that the Chicago White Sox has reached an agreement with Alexei Ramirez pending the physical. The following teams showed interest in Ramirez:
Boston, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Cubs, Medias White Sox, Mets, Yankees, Minnesota and Oakland.

He will be competing for a roster spot during Spring Training.

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news...bei&type=story

[Cubano100%]

Ramirez
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news...=.jsp&c_id=cws

[James Baldwin]

Hi Cubano100%,

Do you have a link to Alexi's career stats in Cuba? I have only been able to gather limited stats on him from '07. Thank you in advance.

[Cubano100%]

Originally Posted by James Baldwin

Hi Cubano100%,

Do you have a link to Alexi's career stats in Cuba? I have only been able to gather limited stats on him from '07. Thank you in advance.

I do not have a link but I have the stats:

 Series  AB    H  AVE 2B  3B HR  RBI BB   K Total Bases SB  CS
 7       2820 827 334 134 26 90  397 267 281  1283     41  32

[PLowry]

Before the IBAF "modernized" their website, you could gain access to an orange page through "Results" where you could find all box scores of all World Cups, starting in 1984, with the exception of 1986, whose box scores were not included.

I was creating the evolution of records for length of game in a World Cup, when they changed the website. I had finished 1984 in Cuba and 1988 in Italy, and was just beginning to do 1990 when they changed the website.

Now I can't find a way to find the old website's orange sheet. There MUST be a way. Does anyone know how to do it?

Thank you.

Phil Lowry

EVOLUTION OF WORLD CUP RECORDS FOR LONGEST TIME OF GAME

1984 WORLD CUP IN CUBA

2:42 – NEW WORLD CUP, WORLD CUP 9-INNING, AND CUBAN WORLD CUP 9-INNING RECORDS – Estadio Habana, Havana, Cuba – 10/14/1984 – Netherlands Antilles 13 Nicaragua 9 – 5,000 fans - finished at 4:42 PM.

3:40 – NEW WORLD CUP, WORLD CUP 11-INNING, AND CUBAN WORLD CUP 11-INNING RECORDS – Estadio Habana, Havana, Cuba – 10/14/1984 – Puerto Rico 3 Venezuela 2 in 11 innings – 5,000 fans - finished at 5:40 PM – conflicting record because the Netherlands Antilles vs. Nicaragua game is shown in the same stadium at the same time.

2:56 – NEW WORLD CUP 9-INNING AND CUBAN WORLD CUP 9-INNING RECORDS – Estadio Habana, Havana, Cuba – 10/14/1984 – Cuba 6 Italy 5 – 55,000 fans - finished at 11:56 PM.

3:05 – NEW WORLD CUP 12-INNING AND CUBAN WORLD CUP 12-INNING RECORDS – Estadio Santiago, Santiago, Cuba – 10/15/1984 – Dominican 1 South Korea 0 in 12 innings – finished at 4:35 PM.

3:01 – NEW WORLD CUP 9-INNING AND CUBAN WORLD CUP 9-INNING RECORDS – Estadio Habana, Havana, Cuba – 10/16/1984 – Italy 4 Puerto Rico 2 – 6000 fans - finished at 4:31 PM.

3:09 – NEW WORLD CUP 9-INNING AND CUBAN WORLD CUP 9-INNING RECORDS – Estadio Habana, Havana, Cuba – 10/16/1984 – Cuba 13 Venezuela 0 – 35,000 fans - finished at 11:39 PM.

2:30 – NEW WORLD CUP 8-INNING AND CUBAN WORLD CUP 8-INNING RECORDS – Estadio Santiago, Santiago, Cuba – 10/19/1984 – Taiwan 12 Dominican 2 in 8 innings – finished at 6:00 PM.

2:11 – NEW WORLD CUP 7-INNING AND CUBAN WORLD CUP 7-INNING RECORDS – Estadio Habana, Havana, Cuba – 10/19/1984 – Cuba 10 Nicaragua 0 in 7 innings – 35,000 fans - finished at 10:41 PM.

4:06 – NEW WORLD CUP, WORLD CUP 10-INNING, AND CUBAN WORLD CUP 10-INNING RECORDS – Estadio Habana, Havana, Cuba – 10/20/1984 – Netherlands Antilles 20 Italy 19 in 10 innings – 12,000 fans - finished at 5:36 PM.

1986 WORLD CUP NOT AVAILABLE ON ORANGE SHEET IN OLD IBAF WEBSITE

1988 WORLD CUP IN ITALY

2:02 – NEW ITALIAN WORLD CUP 7-INNING RECORD – Firenze, Italy – 8/23/1988 – Italy 10 Spain 0 in 7 innings – finished at 6:47 PM.

2:12 – NEW ITALIAN WORLD CUP 7-INNING RECORD – Bologna, Italy – 8/24/1988 – Puerto Rico 12 Netherlands 0 in 7 innings – finished at 6:12 PM.

2:30 – EQUALED WORLD CUP 7-INNING RECORD; NEW ITALIAN WORLD CUP 7-INNING RECORD – Grosseto, Italy – 8/24/1988 – USA 28 Spain 0 in 7 innings – finished at 6:30 PM.

2:35 – NEW WORLD CUP 7-INNING AND ITALIAN WORLD CUP 7-INNING RECORDS – Firenze, Italy – 8/24/1988 – Taiwan 14 Canada 2 in 7 innings – finished at 6:35 PM.

3:10 – NEW WORLD CUP 9-INNING AND ITALIAN WORLD CUP 9-INNING RECORDS – Bologna, Italy – 8/24/1988 – Japan 7 Nicaragua 0 – finished at 12:10 AM in the early morning of 8/25.

3:30 – NEW WORLD CUP 9-INNING AND ITALIAN WORLD CUP 9-INNING RECORDS – Grosseto, Italy – 8/25/1988 – Puerto Rico 5 Taiwan 3 – finished at 7:30 PM.

3:49 – NEW WORLD CUP 11-INNING AND ITALIAN WORLD CUP 11-INNING RECORDS - 8/26/1988 – Rimini, Italy – South Korea 2 Italy 1 in 11 innings – finished at 12:49 AM in the early morning of 8/28.

3:37 – NEW WORLD CUP 9-INNING AND ITALIAN WORLD CUP 9-INNING RECORDS – Firenze, Italy – 8/27/1988 – Puerto Rico 4 Japan 1 – finished at 12:37 AM in the early morning of 8/28.

3:36 – NEW ITALIAN WORLD CUP 10-INNING RECORD - 8/28/1988 – Reggio Emilia, Italy – Canada 7 Puerto Rico 4 in 10 innings – finished at 7:36 PM.

2:55 – NEW WORLD CUP 7-INNING AND ITALIAN WORLD CUP 7-INNING RECORDS – Reggio Emilia, Italy – 8/28/1988 – USA 15 Netherlands Antilles 5 in 7 innings – finished at 11:55 PM.

2:38 – NEW WORLD CUP 8-INNING AND ITALIAN WORLD CUP 8-INNING RECORDS – Parma, Italy – 8/29/1988 – Cuba 7 Puerto Rico 6 in 8 innings – finished at 11:38 PM.

2:55 – EQUALED WORLD CUP 7-INNING AND ITALIAN WORLD CUP 7-INNING RECORDS – Torino, Italy – 9/4/1988 – Taiwan 12 Japan 1 in 7 innings – finished at 11:55 PM.

3:40 – NEW WORLD CUP 9-INNING AND ITALIAN WORLD CUP 9-INNING RECORDS – Novara, Italy – 9/4/1988 – Canada 9 Nicaragua 7 – finished at 12:40 AM in the early morning of 9/5.

4:09 – NEW WORLD CUP, WORLD CUP 9-INNING, AND ITALIAN WORLD CUP 9-INNING RECORDS – Parma, Italy – 9/6/1988 – USA 6 Taiwan 3 – finished at 1:09 AM in the early morning of 9/7.

[Dalkowski110]

The Mets have signed left-handed pitcher Saydel Beltran to a Minor League contract. With Eddie Camacho being bumped up to AAA and Ryan Cullen's status in limbo, he has a pretty good shot at being the primary lefty reliever in AA ball (Kevin Tomasiewicz is NOT an impressive pitcher and will likely stay in St. Lucie).

[Mijail in Africa]

Hi to everybody,
I am a cuban fan who lives in South Africa and love reading all your coments.
Maybe someone can tell me what happened to B. Canizares, he was playing in Mexico and doing very well. Suddenly he is not in any roster.
Also worried about Maels Rodriguez who was suppose to pitch in the nicaraguan league but so far not a single news.
Just before I say bye, I want to mention Yobal Duenas, he was suppose to do something at least in the minors, but was dumped from the mexican league while was doing great and never again holded a bat in his hands.
All this guys from Pinar del Rio need to go for guts lessons at Orlando el duque Hernandez academy.
dont you think so
jejejejejeejejejejeejejejejejeje
see you soon guys

[Agente Libre]

Hey Mijail ... Unfortunately, all of the players you mentioned left Cuba past their prime. Duenas has to be in his mid to late 30s now, so he's too old to have a meaningful pro career. The same is true for Canizares, who not only defected late, but then wasted two or three years before his U.S. career started.

As for Maels, he suffered at least two serious injuries before he left Cuba (shoulder and back), and it's highly unlikely he'll pitch in MLB. Every six months he announces another "comeback," but then he disappears again. If he was really healthy, he would at least be pitching in a winter league or a U.S. independent league, but he hasn't pitched anywhere in years. In fact, I don't believe he has pitched a single professional inning since he defected in October 2003.

[Mijail in Africa]

Hi, Agente
I agree with you about yobal, maels, but I am not sure about canizares, I think that he is still young enough you should give him at least the benefit of the doubt, look at Fausto Alvarez, yeah,yeah
the doutch league is very weak but he still surprised us all.........
Canizares is younger than 30, that is for sure, so he still has at least 5 years more to surprise us.
Wait and you will see, I also hope a lot from Alexei Ramirez, he is young, very fast, he is got power, even though his muscle volume is far less than it could be and he was given a golden opportunity just after defecting.
VIVA EL BEISBOL CUBANO dentro y fuera de Cuba.