Yulieski Gurriel agrees to 5/$47M deal with the Astros

I'm fine with timing; it was the idea that timing = performance, which it really doesn't. A lot of fans were hand-wringing 1/14, as if a 3/5 night erases it.

If he's making good contact and doesn't look overwhelmed, I don't think they give two flips about his numbers.

 

Without seeing him, the best indication that his timing isn't yet there is probably his K%. He's got 11 Ks in 42 PAs (including 6 in 19 in Corpus). This is a guy that had 3 Ks in 224 PAs in the Cuban league in 2015, and 40 in in 260 in Japan.

 

He was training and was already in fantastic shape. There is no way to simulate professional pitching without facing professional pitching, not sure how you expected him to get game swings without being under contract?

 

Maybe Lourdes just asked him to visit all of our minor league parks to make sure they are nice enough for him to play in next season.

 

Im excited about him but I think we are probably are gonna be at the front of the line to sign his brother who could be a great add to our young core. Got a feeling his brother was part of the his talks with the Stros.

 

People have unrealistic expectations for Gurriel this season. He hasn't played at any level remotely close to the majors before in his life. He hasn't faced in game pitching in close to a year and when he played his last year in Cuba, the talent was watered down because of defections. He is adjusting to a new culture, life style and league. Some really talented players would never adjust at 32 years old. Some would need a season in AAA.... However we are expecting him to contribute after 50-60 at bats in the minors?

 

The Astros FO thinks that or at least did at one time.

 

Interesting they promoted him to AAA...seems like you would have him figure it in AA before making ANY type of promoting

 

He's not the first ever international player who's had to face this sort of adjustment.

The good ones do have the ability to make this sort of adjustment... Judging by what they paid him, they do expect him to get there... Eventually.

 

How can you say anybody has truly figured out any level... If they're spending less than 2 weeks there?

Maybe Bregman suggested that the pitching in AAA is a better spring-board (literally) to getting a promotion (not necessarily instant MLB success...)

 

Agree fully

What is crappy is how Luhnow lied to the fan base about Gurriel being this years "big acquisition", to offset his lack of deadline moves, other than relieving Crane of Feldmans salary in a dump trade

 

Hard to argue against their "system" of getting these guys developed and ready

I mean just look at how well our hitting prospects do when they get here, Luhnow has that part figured out for sure

Wait.....

 

But they all *mash* in AA and AAA, while in Houston anyone not named Altuve or Correa disappears. (slight hyperbole intended)

Is that on the system or on the ML hitting coach? Am I the only who misses John Mallee?

 

.... and Jose Altuve never ever played at AAA!

 

Not really... its just on the vast difference between MLB and any other minor league level.

Its why some teams don't bother much with AAA, as most of the plus pitching talent has already been promoted, and its littered with journeyman and 5th-6th starter-types.

I understand their rationale on paper... and a lot of it is based on what they perceived to have worked in St. Louis... but they should always be open to re-visiting their approach based on the recent and current trends.

 

Honest question, has there ever been an international signing of a 32 year old that hadn't played professional baseball for roughly 1.5 years? I try and keep up with all things baseball related, and no one comes to mind (maybe from the pitching side El Duque, but I think we'd all agree that it is not really comparable for Gurriel's situation).

With that being said, I think Gurriel is actually the first ever international player who has had to face this sort of adjustment.

 

So you're of the belief Luhnow knew Gurriel would struggle making the adjustment and flat-out lied about it?

The expectation was made prior to him ever putting on a uniform; things can change once balls are live. He's either rustier than they realized, having a tougher transition, or... (please don't be true), past his prime. But to accuse Luhnow of willfully lying is just silly.

 

ML hitting coaches are not there to teach people to hit or make people into good hitters. They are there to identify small flaws or make minor tweaks when people go into slumps, but these players should be swinging and playing exactly like they did in AA and AAA - that's what made them successful. An MLB hitting coach who has never worked with a player that just got called up shouldn't be messing with anything he does.

 

ETA on when he will be up to the big club?

 

I'm sure there is communication between levels. If there is something a guy needs to continue working on at the MLB level, I'm sure the MLB hitting coach is aware of it.