Angels sign Cuban IFer Roberto Baldoquin

[Angel Oracle]

When do we trade Rondon him for a rental

Fixed.

[Angel Oracle]

I got nothing for a nickname that wasn't already mentioned on here.

[HaloMilliVanilli]

My view just from the video, the kid looks darn good going to his right and coming in on the ball.  Beautifully smooth transition from glove to hand.  Very graceful, athletic.  Stacked. I could see him at 2B, 3B or SS.  I couldn't really take much from his swing really other than to say he looks good in BP.  Great load, compact swing, swings through the ball rather than to it, finishes with his hands high which anyone from the Tony Gwynn school of hitting will tell you it's a good thing.  But again, that really doesn't tell us much at all.  

 

In short, he looks good in practice, hope he looks just as good in the game. 

 

Anyone else take anything away from that video?

I saw glimpses of potential "grit".  Would need to see more footage to be certain....I'ma guess 70+ on the "grit" scale.

[Tyler]

My view just from the video, the kid looks darn good going to his right and coming in on the ball.  Beautifully smooth transition from glove to hand.  Very graceful, athletic.  Stacked. I could see him at 2B, 3B or SS.  I couldn't really take much from his swing really other than to say he looks good in BP.  Great load, compact swing, swings through the ball rather than to it, finishes with his hands high which anyone from the Tony Gwynn school of hitting will tell you it's a good thing.  But again, that really doesn't tell us much at all.  

 

In short, he looks good in practice, hope he looks just as good in the game. 

 

Anyone else take anything away from that video?

 

Just watched it. Jean Segura-esque. Wish we could have seen him run the bases. But looks alot like Segura minus a step-or-two.

Edited November 5, 2014 by Shane

[TroutCron]

If he ends up with limited range we can call him Roberto Mannequin.

[ten ocho recon scout]

Season over... This signing means no Vlady Jr. next year.

im sure theres roughly 38 more where those came from

[Hollyw00d]

We signed the Cuban Willie Mays Hayes

[Second Base]

Just watched it. Jean Segura-esque. Wish we could have seen him run the bases. But looks alot like Segura minus a step-or-two.

I'm surprised you saw a Segura in him. This guy is so much more fluid in his motions and is much stronger (or so it appears) on his top half than Jean was. Of course Jean had tree trunks for legs.

[Tyler]

The flashy defense, ability to go the other way, some pop, quick release. Same height, and with the 8MM he'll be able to eat his way to the 20 or so pound difference Segura has on him. Still like Segura's arm and footspeed more though.

[Angels_Make_Me_Drink]

We'll also find out his name is really Robertos and not Roberto

That drew a legitimate LOL.

[Brent Maguire]

They also thought they found the right guys in Pujols, CJ, Hamilton, GMJ, Wells.

Lol touche. 

[Glen]

When he takes strike three looking we can call him Mannequin.

[Blarg]

If he ends up with limited range we can call him Roberto Mannequin.

 

When he takes strike three looking we can call him Mannequin.

 

I'm calling Baldodash on both of your statements.

[Glen]

Damn,I missed TC's post.

[19HALO71]

My view just from the video, the kid looks darn good going to his right and coming in on the ball.  Beautifully smooth transition from glove to hand.  Very graceful, athletic.  Stacked. I could see him at 2B, 3B or SS.  I couldn't really take much from his swing really other than to say he looks good in BP.  Great load, compact swing, swings through the ball rather than to it, finishes with his hands high which anyone from the Tony Gwynn school of hitting will tell you it's a good thing.  But again, that really doesn't tell us much at all.  

 

In short, he looks good in practice, hope he looks just as good in the game. 

 

Anyone else take anything away from that video?

I like how he wasn't trying to pull everything. I would say that 95% of his hits went from center to right. Seems to me like a power alley type hitter.

[laagamer]

Well he looks at least 1-2 years away.

[UndertheHalo]

I completely missed this.  He definitely has warning track power.

[Chuck]

Dude is jacked but has warning track power

GJDM

He hit quite a few over the fence too.

[Blarg]

Well he looks at least 1-2 years away.

He will be if the DR won't let him out of the country to sign a contract.

[ten ocho recon scout]

Too bad hamilton cant have visa issues getting back to california

[Hollyw00d]

Is this guy a 2B prospect? Doesn't seem like he has the arm for shortstop.

Also needs to level out his swing, all those medium-deep fly balls aren't gonna cut it in mlb

[Second Base]

Anyone else refs that Ben Badler piece on Baldoquin? That'll deflate you. Part timer in Cuba, mediocre numbers, was big news when he defected. Badler wonders what the Angels see that no one else saw and if it really took 14 million for him if other teams weren't as interested.

[Docwaukee]

It's not really fair to judge a guy based on one short video, but I will anyway.  

 

he seems pretty athletic.  I agree that what stands out is his arm being pretty weak.  Other than that, who the hell knows.  

[Adam]

an MLB exec I know told me this:

 

not a big impact guy, but can be a solid Major League piece -- with where this market is going it's a relatively small investment albeit with some risk.  I'm mixed on it; he won't be a superstar and could just end up sucking so who knows.  Cubans are a total crapshoot.

[Stradling]

Translation:

Cubans are good in the playoffs.

Edited November 9, 2014 by Stradling