2008 International Signings - Page 4 - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

Superdude · 10-14-2008, 12:42 AM

Duran is so big!

OnBaseMachine · 10-14-2008, 12:13 PM

According to someone who knows Juan Carlos Sulbaran over on the Doug's website, Sulbaran's fastball was peaking at 95 mph against Team Cuba during the Olympics. I'm liking this kid more and more each day. Apparently Sulbaran threw 4 innings of one hit shutout ball in his first Instructional League start. This same guy says Sulbaran will be pitching for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic in March.

OnBaseMachine · 10-14-2008, 01:31 PM

This same guy on Doug's site says Neftali Soto has really stood out in Instructional League. This guy is a Curacao coach, he really knows his stuff. He thinks Soto is one of the top 10 prospects in all of baseball. He also says Oscar Castro has been impressive.

Orenda · 10-14-2008, 02:55 PM

where did Sulbaran come from?

Grande Donkey · 10-14-2008, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by summerplight

where did Sulbaran come from?

Took him late in the draft and threw quite a bit of money at him so he would sign.

OnBaseMachine · 10-14-2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by summerplight

where did Sulbaran come from?

He was drafted in the 30th round and signed for $500,000. He was viewed as possibly a second/third round talent but fell because many didn't expect him to sign. It turns out his dad is a huge Reds fan and that played a big role in him signing. He's originally from Curacao and has only been in the United States for a short time IIRC. His fastball is reportedly up in the 91-95 mph range now with great movement, plus he throws a good curveball, and his changeup is his best pitch according to the poster on Doug's website.

Mario-Rijo · 10-15-2008, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

This same guy on Doug's site says Neftali Soto has really stood out in Instructional League. This guy is a Curacao coach, he really knows his stuff. He thinks Soto is one of the top 10 prospects in all of baseball. He also says Oscar Castro has been impressive.

And I agree with him, the kid get's overlooked a bit for sure. However that secret has already started to creep out from under the proverbial door. Low A managers were very impressed with him and I'm sure that info traveled fast up the chain. I still say he has the best potential of anyone in our minor league system including Alonso.

New Fever · 10-17-2008, 11:48 AM

Baseball America is having an International Chat at 2 (ET) we should ask a ton of Reds questions.

OnBaseMachine · 10-17-2008, 02:40 PM

Ben Badler (from BA) says Ismael Guillon switched buscones and is now looking for a bonus of at least $1 million, which is significantly higher than the $500,000 to $700,000 he was expected to get. He's still unsigned according to Badler.

OnBaseMachine · 10-17-2008, 03:11 PM

Badler thinks the Reds will continue to have a strong presence in Latin America in the following years.

OnBaseMachine · 10-17-2008, 04:02 PM

Someone asked a question about where Juan Duran and Yorman Rodriguez will begin next season. Badler says the DSL is a possibility, but he thinks both will spend 2009 in extended spring training, then play the season in the GCL, where they'll be two of the youngest players in the league.

New Fever · 10-17-2008, 04:16 PM

I found this answer interesting.

Q: Kyle from Middletown asks:
Do you think it is worth the risk for the Reds to invest 2 million dollars in such raw talents? Have their investments made up for their lack of a second rounder in your opinion?

A: Ben Badler: I talk about evaluating players on an individual basis to break it down on a more granular level, but sometimes you do have to judge these investments in the aggregate. So if Duran or Yorman Rodriguez doesn't work out, does that make them bad signings? Maybe, maybe not. If, for example, neither of those guys turn into big leaguers but Junior Arias turns into a perennial all-star shortstop, I'd say it's worth all the money the Reds invested in Latin America this year. It's a little bit like poker. Who cares if you lose 95 percent of the hands you're dealt if at the end of the day you're walking away with more money than you came into the game with? And maybe now's not a great time for a financial analogy, but would you yell at your broker and complain about the individual stocks in the mutual fund that are losing money when the fund itself is up and beating the market? Probably not. It's easy to sit back and point to the ones who missed, but if you hit on at least one of these guys... cha-ching!

New Fever · 10-17-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

Ben Badler (from BA) says Ismael Guillon switched buscones and is now looking for a bonus of at least $1 million, which is significantly higher than the $500,000 to $700,000 he was expected to get. He's still unsigned according to Badler.

In the answer about Guillon I interpreted his answer to mean that Red offered at least $800,000 and maybe more. It also seemed as if they were still raising their offer because he said that he may not be unsigned for long.

OnBaseMachine · 10-23-2008, 09:10 PM

According to a poster over on Doug's site, lefty Ismael Guillon signed with the Reds. According to the poster, Guillon turned down more money from the Mets and Braves to sign with the Reds because he's close with Yorman Rodriguez. If so, that makes the Reds International class even better. Guillon was ranked as the 13th best prospect available. Along with being a good pitching prospect Guillon is also considered a good hitting prospect with lots of power.

TOBTTReds · 10-23-2008, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

According to someone who knows Juan Carlos Sulbaran over on the Doug's website, Sulbaran's fastball was peaking at 95 mph against Team Cuba during the Olympics.

Not to be a downer, but from a source I have, JCS was sitting at 90 in Fall Instructs.

10-14-2008, 12:42 AM	#46
Superdude Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2,431	Re: 2008 International Signings Duran is so big!

10-14-2008, 12:13 PM	#47
OnBaseMachine Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 34,659	Re: 2008 International Signings According to someone who knows Juan Carlos Sulbaran over on the Doug's website, Sulbaran's fastball was peaking at 95 mph against Team Cuba during the Olympics. I'm liking this kid more and more each day. Apparently Sulbaran threw 4 innings of one hit shutout ball in his first Instructional League start. This same guy says Sulbaran will be pitching for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic in March. __________________ I miss Adam Dunn.

10-14-2008, 01:31 PM	#48
OnBaseMachine Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 34,659	Re: 2008 International Signings This same guy on Doug's site says Neftali Soto has really stood out in Instructional League. This guy is a Curacao coach, he really knows his stuff. He thinks Soto is one of the top 10 prospects in all of baseball. He also says Oscar Castro has been impressive. __________________ I miss Adam Dunn.

10-14-2008, 02:55 PM	#49
Orenda Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Zihuatanejo Posts: 944	Re: 2008 International Signings where did Sulbaran come from?

10-17-2008, 11:48 AM	#53
New Fever Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Memphis Posts: 754	Re: 2008 International Signings Baseball America is having an International Chat at 2 (ET) we should ask a ton of Reds questions.

10-17-2008, 02:40 PM	#54
OnBaseMachine Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 34,659	Re: 2008 International Signings Ben Badler (from BA) says Ismael Guillon switched buscones and is now looking for a bonus of at least $1 million, which is significantly higher than the $500,000 to $700,000 he was expected to get. He's still unsigned according to Badler. __________________ I miss Adam Dunn.

10-17-2008, 03:11 PM	#55
OnBaseMachine Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 34,659	Re: 2008 International Signings Badler thinks the Reds will continue to have a strong presence in Latin America in the following years. __________________ I miss Adam Dunn.

10-17-2008, 04:02 PM	#56
OnBaseMachine Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 34,659	Re: 2008 International Signings Someone asked a question about where Juan Duran and Yorman Rodriguez will begin next season. Badler says the DSL is a possibility, but he thinks both will spend 2009 in extended spring training, then play the season in the GCL, where they'll be two of the youngest players in the league. __________________ I miss Adam Dunn.

10-17-2008, 04:16 PM	#57
New Fever Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Memphis Posts: 754	Re: 2008 International Signings I found this answer interesting. Q: Kyle from Middletown asks: Do you think it is worth the risk for the Reds to invest 2 million dollars in such raw talents? Have their investments made up for their lack of a second rounder in your opinion? A: Ben Badler: I talk about evaluating players on an individual basis to break it down on a more granular level, but sometimes you do have to judge these investments in the aggregate. So if Duran or Yorman Rodriguez doesn't work out, does that make them bad signings? Maybe, maybe not. If, for example, neither of those guys turn into big leaguers but Junior Arias turns into a perennial all-star shortstop, I'd say it's worth all the money the Reds invested in Latin America this year. It's a little bit like poker. Who cares if you lose 95 percent of the hands you're dealt if at the end of the day you're walking away with more money than you came into the game with? And maybe now's not a great time for a financial analogy, but would you yell at your broker and complain about the individual stocks in the mutual fund that are losing money when the fund itself is up and beating the market? Probably not. It's easy to sit back and point to the ones who missed, but if you hit on at least one of these guys... cha-ching!

10-23-2008, 09:10 PM	#59
OnBaseMachine Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 34,659	Re: 2008 International Signings According to a poster over on Doug's site, lefty Ismael Guillon signed with the Reds. According to the poster, Guillon turned down more money from the Mets and Braves to sign with the Reds because he's close with Yorman Rodriguez. If so, that makes the Reds International class even better. Guillon was ranked as the 13th best prospect available. Along with being a good pitching prospect Guillon is also considered a good hitting prospect with lots of power. __________________ I miss Adam Dunn.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode