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Q.  Could Rusney Castillo help the Mariners this year?

A.  He could, yes.  It's feasible that he could.

The last three Cubans to sign big-money deals all slugged .500 in the major leagues as rookies, zero (0) minor league play required.

• Cespedes was #10 in the MVP voting as a rookie, 0 minors AB's
• Puig has a career OPS+ of 160 (!!), no minors AB's whaaaaatsoever
• Jose Abreu is slugging .619 (!) right now.  No minor league prep, of course.

The Japanese and Cuban leagues are isolated, like the Negro League was, and the quality goes up and down.  Used to be, there were hitters like Ichiro and Godzilla in Japan.  Now, apparently none.  But Cuba .... wow.  Are they on one whale of an uptick.

There was no 90-game league adjustment required, either, as there wasn't for Mojo's dude McGehee.  Is it the "trickstering" that you face in Japan and Cuba?

.......

Here is a Baseball America article that flatly states --- > there are MLB orgs interested in "signing Castillo quickly to help them down the stretch."  I guess he'd need thirty games in Minnesota first?

You know, Kendrys Morales went to the majors midseason with no "rehab" time.  These "see ball hit ball" players sometimes do that.  I wouldn't even rule out Castillo insisting on a contract that has him playing in the majors 5 days after signing.

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Q.  What do you mean, "big money signing"?

A.  Well ... the White Sox gave Dayan Viciedo a much more humble contract -- similar to a mid-1st round draftee contract, maybe? -- and Viciedo spent a good amount of time in the minors.

Sometimes it is very appropriate to just ask, "What do the scouts say?"  

If 10 MLB teams agree that a certain Cuban is worth 4 years, $10M, then probably the guy is a draft pick.  If 10 MLB teams agree that a certain Cuban is worth $68M, then probably the guy is a cleanup hitter.

.......

You realize sabermetricians have zero (0) to say about high school players, but scouts can tell the difference between a Byron Buxton and a 10th-round pick.  Give them credit.

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Q.  What is Dr. D's scouting report on the hitting?

A.  As far as the template goes, he reminds me of Eric Davis:

• Somewhat disorganized, "super loose" setup
• Drops into readiness at release
• Extremely "sudden" swing
• See ball, Hit ball reaction-based success (Yogi:  how can you think and hit at the same time)
• Pops back up out of his stance instantly; it seems like he's "hitting" for about 0.7 seconds

One thing you love, love, love about him in this template, is that he has virtually no stride.  You can see the "suddenness" of his explosion at the 0:12 and 0:24 points of this Baseball America video.

Go to the 3:20 mark and you get a side shot of his swing.  He easily gets on top of a high fastball, driving it over the wall with ease.  He's got a firm front side, gets the barrel quickly onto a very long arc, like Eric Davis, like ARod.

I don't know why the scouts say his swing gets long.  To me, it looks long after contact, short before (which is good).  Probably they could explain their observation.

Dr. D really digs the bat launch.  And the whole "see ball hit ball" template as Castillo works it.  

Maybe it's just that he's ready for a breather, from all the Mariners rookies who run through checklists in their heads every pitch.

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Q.  He will have gap power, or Cespedes power?

A.  You go off Cuban stats and you think "gap power."  You go off the video and it looks like Cespedes power.  :: shrug ::  Mojician had a brilliant quip:  What a great idea.  Bring him into Safeco and SEE whether he hits the ball over the fence.

Puts me in the mood for some Zen.

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Q.  Speed?

A.  Go to the 1:15 mark on the BBA video and you tell me.

Can't imagine why he wouldn't be in CF.

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Q.  Could he play SS, like his handlers claim he could?

A.  We go through this each time.... obviously it's "cool" to be skeptical of playing him at a tougher position, implies that you "get" baseball.

The BaseballHQ guide actually pictures him more as an infielder than an outfielder.  ... I'm witchoo, probably 80-90% chance he's in center, but fellow Cuban Alexei Ramirez came over as a combo OF/SS.

:: shrug ::  It would be a lot to ask, for Castillo to jump into the turbulent waters of MLB midseason and play his tougher position at the same time.

But at the least, his ability to back up at 3B/2B/SS sounds pretty bubbly to Dr. D.

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Q.  How pleased would SSI be, if the Mariners won the bidding?

A.  Well, the Mariners' statement would be that they just added a Jacoby Ellsbury-level center fielder, at the least.

In center field, with his speed, it ain't going to take much for Castillo to produce 3-4 WAR.  Upside?  You tell me ...

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Q.  Optimistic or pessimistic that the M's will spend the money?

A.  Matty says the M's are one of 4 teams to work him out privately ... seems to me this is the kind of signing that the suits favor - might even be able to (internally) put some of the money into a non-payroll category.  

Dr. D is not as pessimistic as usual.  :- )

Cheers,

Jeff