July 2 International Signing Period

[Benihana]

New rules this year somewhat level the playing field. I'd love to see the Reds pick up one of these top 20 guys- particularly if they happen to play SS. It seems as though the international field is the best place to mine for SS in the last few years.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...2/2613623.html

1. Franklin Barreto, ss/cf, Venezuela
2. Luis Torrens, c, Venezuela (video)
3. Jose Mujica, rhp, Venezuela (video)
4. Alexander Palma, of, Venezuela (video)
5. Gustavo Cabrera, of, Dominican Republic (video)
6. Jose Castillo, lhp, Venezuela (video)
7. Luiz Gohara, lhp, Brazil
8. Carlos Belen, 3b, Dominican Republic (video)
9. Luis Castro, ss, Venezuela
10. Wendell Rijo, ss, Dominican Republic (video)
11. Amed Rosario, ss, Dominican Republic (video)
12. Amaurys Minier, ss, Dominican Republic (video)
13. Richard Urena, ss, Dominican Republic (video)
14. David Rodriguez, c, Venezuela (video)
15. Deivi Grullon, c, Dominican Republic (video)
16. Julio de la Cruz, 3b, Dominican Republic (video)
17. Jose Almonte, rhp, Dominican Republic
18. Sergio Alcantara, ss, Dominican Republic
19. Frandy de la Rosa, ss, Dominican Republic (video)
20. Jose Pujols, of, Dominican Republic (video)

Wendell Rijo just sounds like a Red.

[lollipopcurve]

The only guy I've seen the Reds mentioned with so far is Urena.

[corkedbat]

A ton of Venezuelan and Dominican kifs grow up dreaming of being the nex5 great SS and a lot of youth teams will put their best athletes at SS. Once they get into professsional organizations and start to fill out though, they often move to other positions (although more than a few stay at short too).

[Benihana]

Not much activity from the Reds so far. Most of the top names coming off the board this morning. Toronto and Pittsburgh are most notably active.

[Superdude]

Not much activity from the Reds so far. Most of the top names coming off the board this morning. Toronto and Pittsburgh are most notably active.

Between Rodriguez, Duran, Arias, Guillon, etc., we've had a pretty dry run with international signings recently. Maybe Bob's a little gun shy at this point.

[texasdave]

1. Franklin Barreto, ss/cf, Venezuela BLUE JAYS
2. Luis Torrens, c, Venezuela (video) YANKEES
3. Jose Mujica, rhp, Venezuela (video) RAYS
4. Alexander Palma, of, Venezuela (video)
5. Gustavo Cabrera, of, Dominican Republic (video) GIANTS
6. Jose Castillo, lhp, Venezuela (video)
7. Luiz Gohara, lhp, Brazil
8. Carlos Belen, 3b, Dominican Republic (video) PADRES
9. Luis Castro, ss, Venezuela BLUE JAYS
10. Wendell Rijo, ss, Dominican Republic (video)
11. Amed Rosario, ss, Dominican Republic (video) METS
12. Amaurys Minier, ss, Dominican Republic (video) TWINS
13. Richard Urena, ss, Dominican Republic (video)
14. David Rodriguez, c, Venezuela (video)
15. Deivi Grullon, c, Dominican Republic (video) PHILLIES
16. Julio de la Cruz, 3b, Dominican Republic (video) PIRATES
17. Jose Almonte, rhp, Dominican Republic RED SOX
18. Sergio Alcantara, ss, Dominican Republic
19. Frandy de la Rosa, ss, Dominican Republic (video) CUBS
20. Jose Pujols, of, Dominican Republic (video) PHILLIES

[Vottomatic]

1. Franklin Barreto, ss/cf, Venezuela BLUE JAYS
2. Luis Torrens, c, Venezuela (video) YANKEES
3. Jose Mujica, rhp, Venezuela (video) RAYS
4. Alexander Palma, of, Venezuela (video)
5. Gustavo Cabrera, of, Dominican Republic (video) GIANTS
6. Jose Castillo, lhp, Venezuela (video)
7. Luiz Gohara, lhp, Brazil
8. Carlos Belen, 3b, Dominican Republic (video) PADRES
9. Luis Castro, ss, Venezuela BLUE JAYS
10. Wendell Rijo, ss, Dominican Republic (video)
11. Amed Rosario, ss, Dominican Republic (video) METS
12. Amaurys Minier, ss, Dominican Republic (video) TWINS
13. Richard Urena, ss, Dominican Republic (video)
14. David Rodriguez, c, Venezuela (video)
15. Deivi Grullon, c, Dominican Republic (video) PHILLIES
16. Julio de la Cruz, 3b, Dominican Republic (video) PIRATES
17. Jose Almonte, rhp, Dominican Republic RED SOX
18. Sergio Alcantara, ss, Dominican Republic
19. Frandy de la Rosa, ss, Dominican Republic (video) CUBS
20. Jose Pujols, of, Dominican Republic (video) PHILLIES

I'd take my chances with Jose Pujols. He's got the name.

Just kidding.

Oh, and I see Danny Almonte's brother is available too.

[dougdirt]

Let's note that some of those guys aren't yet eligible to sign. You can't sign until you are 16 and not everyone is 16 yet (if you turn 16 before September, you are eligible to sign in this years signing period).

[Benihana]

Would love to get one of the Dominican SS or Venezuelan pitchers.

[texasdave]

Not many Brazilian ballplayers.

[lollipopcurve]

Cueto was not a big name, not was Corcino or HRod or Torreyes. A lot of mega-dollar guys disappoint, and much cheaper guys surprise.

[texasdave]

Cueto was not a big name, not was Corcino or HRod or Torreyes. A lot of mega-dollar guys disappoint, and much cheaper guys surprise.

Speaking of Torreyes, it looks as if he is finally remembering how to hit.

April - .630
May - .382
June - .923

OPSes they are.

[dougdirt]

Speaking of Torreyes, it looks as if he is finally remembering how to hit.

April - .630
May - .382
June - .923

OPSes they are.

More like his BABIP is finally starting to normalize.

He has as many walks as strikeouts, he has all season long. He didn't forget how to hit, the baseball luck Gods decided sticking him in the FSL wasn't enough, they also took luck from him.

[texasdave]

More like his BABIP is finally starting to normalize.

He has as many walks as strikeouts, he has all season long. He didn't forget how to hit, the baseball luck Gods decided sticking him in the FSL wasn't enough, they also took luck from him.

Only 1 strikeout in May so, yeah, he wasn't getting very hit lucky. But he seems to be hitting the ball harder.

If you use SLG-BA for ISO (I saw three different ISO formulas )

April - .094
May - .055
June - .193

In any case, I am glad to see him rolling along again. Viva El Raton!

[Patrick Bateman]

More like his BABIP is finally starting to normalize.

He has as many walks as strikeouts, he has all season long. He didn't forget how to hit, the baseball luck Gods decided sticking him in the FSL wasn't enough, they also took luck from him.

If a guy is 100% reliant on his BAPIP to the point that he OPS's .500 for two months on A ball, then that really is not a valid excuse.

It's a sign that the guy has zero power, and zero ability to find first base without getting a hit.

His BAPIP will get better, but I think the signs are on the wall that he doesn't have a significant number of skills at the plate that he is going to be a major asste at the plate as he moves up. It more than likely shows that last year was the fluke, not this year.