What are the scouts saying about the free agent cubans?

[caulfield12]

Cubano, if you'd like to speak in spanish I'm in my fourth year of learning spanish and can try to help translate to the other posters.

 

Also, what's the word on Viciedo? By this I mean how does he play? I saw a little about his fielding, but what about his offense? Does he project to be a big leaguer soon?

 

Yo tambien.

 

Vivi en Colombia para un ano con mucha chicas bonitas, en Armenia, pero solo visite Cartagena y Baranquilla al norte.

Edited October 9, 2008 by caulfield12

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

I think the players will be influenced by the agent... who happens to have a great relationship with the Sox.

 

And I think they will be highly influenced by Alexei's situation.... the fact the Sox gave him a chance to play at the major league level right away.

 

Add in that the Sox already have Cuban players on the team to help ease the new guys transition.

 

I think it adds up to us being a serious contender for these guys.

I think the Sox make a serious run at Viciedo. The best guys available in trade for 3B - Beltre and Figgins - are one year commitments. Fields, if he gets a shot, is probably only going to have one season to prove himself, and if he can't prove himself in '09 he's done. By signing Viciedo it adds competition in ST and also gives the Sox a possible longterm option ready for 2010. Considering Viciedo's agent and all the Cubans the Sox have added since 2004, plus the presence of a Spanish-speaking manager, the fit here is just too perfect.

[Cubano]

Cubano, if you'd like to speak in spanish I'm in my fourth year of learning spanish and can try to help translate to the other posters.

 

Also, what's the word on Viciedo? By this I mean how does he play? I saw a little about his fielding, but what about his offense? Does he project to be a big leaguer soon?

 

Thank, Jake. I can post in English. Somedays you wake up and can't speak it or write it and other days I can be better than presient Bush.

 

[Jake]

Yo tambien.

 

Vivi en Colombia para un ano con mucha chicas bonitas, en Armenia, pero solo visite Cartagena y Baranquilla al norte.

 

Me gustaria ver los otros Soxtalkers sienten confudido porque usamos espanol. No uso espanol nunca en mi vida normalmente, pero quiero usarlo ahora para ayudar Cubano.

[HuskyCaucasian]

I'll combine a couple of thoughts here. Alexie's great success this year might be a draw to Cuban's. Combine that with the comment made earlier that we have a Spanish speaking manager and we are in good shape to land some good talent if we want it. Not that it's the deal breaker, but it gives us a leg up I think.

[Jake]

Thank, Jake. I can post in English. Somedays you wake up and can't speak it or write it and other days I can be better than presient Bush.

 

That's not saying much.

[caulfield12]

Machine translation of Spanish from articulos originales son teribles!

 

The funny thing is that I haven't really used it for 3 years now, but I am teaching Spanish to a Thai/Chinese girl here in Thailand who's taking an on-line course from Canada.

 

I learned it for 3 years in high school and two semesters at University of Iowa (then didn't use it for quite some time), but there's no substitute for living in a Spanish speaking country for 6-12 months.

[HuskyCaucasian]

Add in that the Sox already have Cuban players on the team to help ease the new guys transition.

 

I think it adds up to us being a serious contender for these guys.

I think if managed properly, we could be the Cuban version of what the Mariners were to Japan a few years back. While they didnt land all the great players, they looked there first.

 

Probably just a pipe dream since the BoSox and Yanks have lots of more money to throw around.

[Cubano]

The thing about me is that I think faster than I type. I make the mistakes. Then, I realize I made them after I have published my comment.

[Jake]

The thing about me is that I think faster than I type. I make the mistakes. Then, I realize I made them after I have published my comment.

 

As I try to speak spanish, I'm more limited by lack of vocabulary than anything else. I understand enough grammar to communicate clearly, but oftentimes don't know enough spanish words to describe what I'm trying to talk about. It is easier on the internet when a dictionary is available.

[Cubano]

As I try to speak spanish, I'm more limited by lack of vocabulary than anything else. I understand enough grammar to communicate clearly, but oftentimes don't know enough spanish words to describe what I'm trying to talk about. It is easier on the internet when a dictionary is available.

 

Watch Fox baseball in Spanish! Watch Spanish cartoons!

 

Press audio button

http://www.123teachme.com/learn_spanish/spanish_alphabet

Edited October 10, 2008 by Cubano

[southsider2k5]

I'll combine a couple of thoughts here. Alexie's great success this year might be a draw to Cuban's. Combine that with the comment made earlier that we have a Spanish speaking manager and we are in good shape to land some good talent if we want it. Not that it's the deal breaker, but it gives us a leg up I think.

 

And I would imagine for people who are not familiar with a country having a couple of countrymen praise a certian organization would help a lot. You know Contreras and Ramirez are going to rave about the Sox. Contreras especially should have good things to say after his nightmare in NYC.

[Cubano]

And I would imagine for people who are not familiar with a country having a couple of countrymen praise a certian organization would help a lot. You know Contreras and Ramirez are going to rave about the Sox. Contreras especially should have good things to say after his nightmare in NYC.

 

 

Don't forget the Cuban Comet Minoso!

 

Why this guy is not in the HOF?

[knightni]

Don't forget the Cuban Comet Minoso!

 

Why this guy is not in the HOF?

Where are you living now, Cubano?

 

You should come to a game and see Minoso's statue.

[Cubano]

Where are you living now, Cubano?

 

You should come to a game and see Minoso's statue.

 

 

I live in the Washington D.C. metro area. I go to the Orioles and Nats games. I root for the Nats because the Senators had a long history with cubans players. I also have several minor league teams around. I watch MLB through Direct TV MLB package and I watch cuban baseball with another dish. I can say I am lucky.

 

The Cuban Senators

http://espn.go.com/page2/wash/s/2002/0311/1349361.html

 

 

 

Do you guys think cuban baseball players deserve to live like this?

Look at this house:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/26/sports/b...all/26cuba.html

 

 

 

How about those Havana Cubans?

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/hi...p100.jsp?idx=92

http://www.cubanball.com/minorlg.html

 

 

 

 

History of Cuban baseball

This is a very good site. The guy that mantains it is from my home state.

http://www.cubanball.com/timeline.html

 

 

 

Martin Dihigo

The greatest cuban player of all time is Martin Dihigo. He could not play in the Majors because he was black.

 

“He was the greatest all-around player I know. I say he was the best player of all-time, black or white. He could do it all.”

 

— Buck Leonard

 

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/d...playerId=492563

 

 

Cristóbal Torriente

A left-handed power hitter who excelled in both his native Cuba as well as the Negro leagues, Cristóbal Torriente starred as a center fielder for the Chicago American Giants from 1918 to 1925, leading the club to three consecutive Negro National League titles (1920 to 1922). The notorious bad-ball hitter excelled in the field as well, teaming in Chicago with Jelly Gardner and Dave Malarcher to form one of the best defensive outfields in history. Perhaps Torriente's greatest acclaim came in Cuba during the winter of 1920, when, as a member of the Almendares club, he outplayed Babe Ruth, barnstorming with the New York Giants, in a nine-game series.

 

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/d...playerId=506640

 

 

José Méndez

Pitcher José Méndez was likely the first internationally-known Cuban baseball star. The dark-complexioned Méndez, nicknamed Black Diamond, was noted for his blazing fastball and sharp curve. John McGraw and Pop Lloyd raved about Méndez's skill on the mound. The author of a 10-inning perfect game as a member of the Cuban Stars in 1909, his career spanned from 1908 to 1926. As a player-manager with the Kansas City Monarchs, he led the Negro National League team to three consecutive pennants, from 1923 to 1925.

 

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/d...playerId=506634

 

 

Atanasio Perez

Atanasio Tony Pérez Rigal was a fixture on Cincinnati's Big Red Machine clubs of the 1970s. A native Cuban, he left a job in a Havana sugar cane factory to sign with the Reds' organization. In 1967 he notched the first of seven 100-RBI campaigns, concluding his career with 1,652 RBI over 23 major league seasons. Respected for his clutch hitting, he belted three home runs in the 1975 World Series, including a key two-run shot in Game Seven, one of two World Championships he earned.

 

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/d...playerId=120404

 

 

Alejandro Pompez

The son of Cuban immigrants, Alejandro Pompez owned the Cuban Stars of the Eastern Colored League, and later the New York Cubans of the Negro National League. Following the demise of the Negro leagues, Pompez was hired as a scout for the New York and San Francisco Giants, where for 25 years he worked to open the door for Caribbean players to enter the major leagues. He helped sign future stars such as Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal and the Alou brothers. His expertise on African-American baseball history was confirmed in 1971 when he was asked to serve on the Hall of Fame's Committee on Negro Leagues.

 

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/d...playerId=506635

 

 

 

 

 

Minnie Minoso and Luis Tiant should be in the HOF.

[ILMOU]

I live in the Washington D.C. metro area. I go to the Orioles and Nats games. I root for the Nats because the Senators had a long history with cubans players. I also have several minor league teams around. I watch MLB through Direct TV MLB package and I watch cuban baseball with another dish. I can say I am lucky.

 

The Cuban Senators

http://espn.go.com/page2/wash/s/2002/0311/1349361.html

 

 

 

Do you guys think cuban baseball players deserve to live like this?

Look at this house:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/26/sports/b...all/26cuba.html

 

 

 

How about those Havana Cubans?

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/hi...p100.jsp?idx=92

http://www.cubanball.com/minorlg.html

 

 

 

 

History of Cuban baseball

This is a very good site. The guy that mantains it is from my home state.

http://www.cubanball.com/timeline.html

 

 

 

Martin Dihigo

The greatest cuban player of all time is Martin Dihigo. He could not play in the Majors because he was black.

 

“He was the greatest all-around player I know. I say he was the best player of all-time, black or white. He could do it all.”

 

— Buck Leonard

 

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/d...playerId=492563

 

 

Cristóbal Torriente

A left-handed power hitter who excelled in both his native Cuba as well as the Negro leagues, Cristóbal Torriente starred as a center fielder for the Chicago American Giants from 1918 to 1925, leading the club to three consecutive Negro National League titles (1920 to 1922). The notorious bad-ball hitter excelled in the field as well, teaming in Chicago with Jelly Gardner and Dave Malarcher to form one of the best defensive outfields in history. Perhaps Torriente's greatest acclaim came in Cuba during the winter of 1920, when, as a member of the Almendares club, he outplayed Babe Ruth, barnstorming with the New York Giants, in a nine-game series.

 

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/d...playerId=506640

 

 

José Méndez

Pitcher José Méndez was likely the first internationally-known Cuban baseball star. The dark-complexioned Méndez, nicknamed Black Diamond, was noted for his blazing fastball and sharp curve. John McGraw and Pop Lloyd raved about Méndez's skill on the mound. The author of a 10-inning perfect game as a member of the Cuban Stars in 1909, his career spanned from 1908 to 1926. As a player-manager with the Kansas City Monarchs, he led the Negro National League team to three consecutive pennants, from 1923 to 1925.

 

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/d...playerId=506634

 

 

Atanasio Perez

Atanasio Tony Pérez Rigal was a fixture on Cincinnati's Big Red Machine clubs of the 1970s. A native Cuban, he left a job in a Havana sugar cane factory to sign with the Reds' organization. In 1967 he notched the first of seven 100-RBI campaigns, concluding his career with 1,652 RBI over 23 major league seasons. Respected for his clutch hitting, he belted three home runs in the 1975 World Series, including a key two-run shot in Game Seven, one of two World Championships he earned.

 

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/d...playerId=120404

 

 

Alejandro Pompez

The son of Cuban immigrants, Alejandro Pompez owned the Cuban Stars of the Eastern Colored League, and later the New York Cubans of the Negro National League. Following the demise of the Negro leagues, Pompez was hired as a scout for the New York and San Francisco Giants, where for 25 years he worked to open the door for Caribbean players to enter the major leagues. He helped sign future stars such as Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal and the Alou brothers. His expertise on African-American baseball history was confirmed in 1971 when he was asked to serve on the Hall of Fame's Committee on Negro Leagues.

 

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/d...playerId=506635

 

 

 

 

 

Minnie Minoso and Luis Tiant should be in the HOF.

Thanks for all the info, Cubano. Great stuff.