Juan Gonzalez a potential Cub?

[ittoxx]

A local newspaper in Puerto Rico had some information that the Cubs was evaluating the physical condition of Igor here in the island.

 

 

 

http://www.endi.com/2006/02/19/Deportes/370737.asp?category=Deportes&title=Bajo+evaluacion+Igor&artdate=2006/02/19

[don_kessinger_was_good]

If true, smart move on the Cubs' part. Low risk, potential high reward. I, along with others, have championed the logic of bringing back Sammy, though we all know that will never happen for myriad reasons. Igor, if at all healthy, accomplishes the same purpose. We need a RH batting, power hitter off the bench, that can play the OF, and on occasion sub for JJ against lefty starters. Juan Gone would be perfect.

 

How ironic would it be if he stays healthy and bumps JJ from a starting role? You give Gonzalez $500K (KC gave him just $600K last time around), and combined with Jones that is still just $7.5MM for RF. Sit JJ's butt if Igor is healthy and can contribute, financially we're still ahead.

[wade]

Good call by Vance if they give him an invite.

[Mark Priors Calves]

We've seen Hendry usually only going the pitching route with the "low risk/high reward", but I don't see any reason why that can't be extended to a hitter. Besides with Marquis Grissom potential getting the 4th/5th OF spot, the team can definitely do better. Edited February 19, 2006 by Mark Prior's Calves

[UK1679666180]

I'd rather see Hidalgo as I think he's younger with a better chance of staying healthy and more productive, but I have no problem with the move. I think Gonzalez is just wound too tight, his injury history isn't one of fluke injuries.

[Balsa]

We need a platoon with JJ. At this point, I'm past caring who that is, as long as we get one.

[FergieJ31]

We need a platoon with JJ. At this point, I'm past caring who that is, as long as we get one.

 

My thought exactly. Juan Gone, Hidalgo, Sammy -- whatever -- just get him on board now.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

At this point, Big Bird is a viable option in RF. Anything but Jones.

[Stu]

Sounds like he's got the right attitude at least (translation mine):

 

"You have be realistic. They aren't going to make big offers for players such as us (speaking of himself and Sammy, parentheses mine) We have to accept the realiity that the market for us is not what it was before because of our ages."

 

 

Unlike Sammy though, Igor probably needs the money because of all the alimony he's paying to different women. It seems like every week he comes up in the headlines in a different mess with a different woman. Still, it could be a nice signing if he shows flashes of Igor in his prime.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Well heck, let's sign Igor **AND** Sammy....nothing like 1000 lifetime big league homers on the bench. Can we dump Mabry and get Raffy, too??

:pig:

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

A local newspaper in Puerto Rico had some information that the Cubs was evaluating the physical condition of Igor here in the island.

 

 

 

http://www.endi.com/2006/02/19/Deportes/370737.asp?category=Deportes&title=Bajo+evaluacion+Igor&artdate=2006/02/19

 

This would be a nice move by the Cubs. As was mentioned earlier, I'd prefer Hidalgo. He's younger and better on the defensive end, but either could be a nice low risk move.

[Illini Iceman]

A local newspaper in Puerto Rico had some information that the Cubs was evaluating the physical condition of Igor here in the island.

 

 

 

http://www.endi.com/2006/02/19/Deportes/370737.asp?category=Deportes&title=Bajo+evaluacion+Igor&artdate=2006/02/19

 

This would be a nice move by the Cubs. As was mentioned earlier, I'd prefer Hidalgo. He's younger and better on the defensive end, but either could be a nice low risk move.

 

As long as the opening day OF is not Jones, Pierre and Gonzalez.

[Neuby]

what does the article say?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Well, here's a rough translation:

 

Los Cachorros de Chicago estuvieron la semana pasada evaluando la condición física del toletero Juan ‘Igor’ González, como antesala a una posible contratación.

 

El guardabosque vegabajeño explicó que la evaluación estuvo a cargo de Carmelo Martínez, dirigente de liga menor de los Cachorros.

 

 

The Cubs of Chicago were last week evaluating the physical condition of the toletero Juan ‘Igor' González, like prelude to a possible contracting.The forest ranger vegabajeño explained that the evaluation was in charge of Carmel Martínez, leader of league less than the Cubs.

 

“Los Cachorros enviaron a Carmelo Martínez a observarme y mayormente lo que querían era verme correr. Hice unos cuantos ‘swings’ y corrí las bases. Carmelo quedó muy satisfecho. Todavía no hay una oferta porque ellos primero querían verme”, dijo González a El Nuevo Día luego de participar en la inauguración de las Pequeñas Ligas en Cataño.

 

González, quien practica diariamente en el parque de Toa Baja, sostuvo además que los campeones mundiales Medias Blancas de Chicago y los Medias Rojas de Boston también han mostrado interés en sus servicios.

 

 

“The Cubs sent to Carmel Martínez to observe me and especially what wanted was to see me to run. I did a few ‘swings' and I ran the bases. Carmel remained very satisfied. Still there is not an offering because they first wanted to see me”, said González to The New Day after participating in the inauguration of the Small Leagues in Cataño.

 

González, who practices daily in the park of Toa Low, maintained besides that the champions world White Averages of Chicago and the Red Averages of Boston have also shown interest in their services.

 

 

 

 

En caso de firmar con los Cachorros, González, de 36 años, estaría jugando por primera vez en su carrera en la Liga Nacional y no tendría el beneficio de ser el bateador designado.

 

“Si tengo que ir a la Liga Nacional, lo haré. Con eso no hay ningún problema. Estoy en la mejor condición de mi vida y ellos sabrán que tiempo de juego darme”, agregó González a quien diversos problemas físicos lo han limitado a apenas 186 partidos en las pasadas cuatro temporadas. El año pasado tuvo una seria lesión en el ‘hamstring’ y sólo consumió un turno ofensivo en toda la campaña jugando para los Indios de Cleveland.

 

In case to sign with the Cubs, González, of 36 years, would be playing for the first time in its career in the National League and would not have the benefit of being the batter appointed.

 

“If I have to go the National League, I will do it. With that there is no problem. I am in the best condition of my life and they will know that time of play to give me”, added González to whom diverse physical problems have limited it to barely 186 parties in the past four seasons. Last year had a serious wound in the ‘hamstring' and only consumed an offensive shift in all the campaign playing for the Indians of Cleveland.

 

Precisamente, con esa novena González entendía que iba a regresar tras una promesa del gerente general Mark Shapiro. Sin embargo, recientemente el equipo anunció que el boricua no estaba en sus planes.

 

“Yo hablé personalmente cara a cara con el gerente (Shapiro) y me dijo que iba a tener una invitación para este año. Yo siempre digo que la palabra de un hombre vale más que nada. Si no me iban a invitar era mejor que me lo dijeran desde el principio pero ya eso pasó”.

 

González, máximo jonronero boricua en las Mayores, aceptó que está atravesando por un momento crítico en su carrera al igual que el estelar toletero dominicano Sammy Sosa, quien rechazó una oferta de los Nacionales de Washington de $500,000 por una temporada y, alegadamente, está considerando retirarse.

 

 

Exactly, with that ninth González understood that was going to return after a promise of the general manager Mark Shapiro. Nevertheless, recently the team announced that the boricua was not in its plans.

 

“I spoke personally face to face with the manager (Shapiro) and told me that was going to have an invitation for this year. I always say that the word of a man is worth most of all. If me did not they be going to invite was better than me they told it since the principle but already that passed”.

 

González, maximum jonronero boricua in the Greater, accepted that is crossing for a critical moment in its career al the same as the stellar one toletero Dominican Sammy Dull, who rejected an offering of the National of Washington of $500,000 by a season and, alegadamente, is considering to be withdrawn.

 

 

Hay que ser realistas. A jugadores como nosotros ya no nos van a dar ofertas grandes. Tenemos que aceptar la realidad de que el mercado para nosotros no está como antes por la edad. Además él viene de una temporada mala y yo no he jugado. Sammy es un gran pelotero que ha trabajado muy duro y yo puedo dar fe de ello. A pesar de la situación del corcho y las alegaciones de uso de esteroides, ha tenido una brillante carrera. Si el decide retirarse hay que respetar su decisión. A mí en este momento no me importa el dinero. Yo lo que quiero es jugar y lograr unas metas. Si no aparece un contrato estaré tranquilo y contento porque llegué a donde quería y logré muchas cosas que no pensaba en mi vida que las iba a lograr”, expresó González.

 

Por otro lado, sobre la decisión del campo corto Felipe López de no asistir al Clásico Mundial de Béisbol, González manifestó “según vayan pasando los días muchos peloteros van a decir que no van a jugar por temor a lesionarse y que después la organización se lo reproche. Si está el aval de Major League Baseball no hay porqué decir que no, pero esas son decisiones personales de cada jugador y hay que respetarlas. Nuestro equipo sigue estando muy bien. Como yo siempre he dicho, todos los que están ahí son grandesligas y son buenos. En los papeles cualquiera gana pero donde se decide es en el terreno de juego”.

 

Aunque González aún no ha sido oficialmente incluido en el roster de 30 jugadores, se anticipa que estará viendo acción en el Clásico.

 

Abre la temporada de Pequeñas Ligas

 

AYER FUE inaugurada la temporada 2006 de las Pequeñas Ligas de Cataño en el parque de Bay View.

 

En el torneo participarán más de 30 equipos en diversas categorías entre las edades de 5 a 16 años. El torneo se extiende hasta el verano y servirá de antesala a la Serie Mundial Willie Mays que se celebrará del 26 al 30 de julio en Cataño.

 

El estelar grandesligas Juan ‘Igor’ González tuvo a su cargo hacer el lanzamiento de honor en la ceremonia inaugural.

 

Figuras como Guillermo Montañez, Mako Oliveras y Carlos Baerga, entre otros, han sido producto de las Pequeñas Ligas de este municipio.

 

One must be realists. To players as we no longer are going to give us large offerings. We have to accept the reality that the market for us is not as before by the age. Besides he comes from a bad season and I have not played. Sammy is a great ballplayer that has worked very hard and I I can give faith of it. In spite of the situation of the cork and the steroids use allegations, has had a brilliant career. If the it decides to be withdrawn one must respect its decision. To me at this time it does not matter to me the money. I what want is to play and to achieve some goals. If not a contract appears I will be tranquil and happy because I arrived at where wanted and I achieved many things that did not think about my life that was going to achieve them”, expressed González.

 

On the other hand, on the decision of the short field Felipe López of attend not al Classical World of Baseball, González declared “they as go passing the days many ballplayers are going to say that they are not going to play for fear to be injured and that later the organization themselves it reproach. If it is the guarantee of Major League Baseball there is not reason to say not, but those are personal decisions of each player and one must respect them. Our team continues being very well. As I have always said, all the ones that are there are grandesligas and they are good. In the roles any desire but where is decided is in the land of play”.

 

Although González not yet officially has been included in the roster of 30 players, is anticipated that will be seeing action in the Classic.

 

It opens the season of Small Leagues

 

YESTERDAY it was inaugurated the season 2006 of the Small Leagues of Cataño in the park of Bay View.

 

In the tournament they will participate more than 30 teams in diverse categories among the ages from 5 to 16 years. The tournament extends to the summer and will serve of prelude to the World Series Willie Mays that will be celebrated of the 26 al 30 of July in Cataño.

 

The stellar one grandesligas Juan ‘Igor' González had to its charge to do the launch of honor in the inaugural ceremony.

 

You figure as Guillermo Montañez, Mako Olive-growing and Carlos Baerga, among others, they have been product of the Small Leagues of this municipality.

 

 

That's a rough translation of the article.

[Balsa]

All hail freetranslations.com :lol:

 

I love the parts it gets wrong.

 

scout = forest ranger

White Sox = White Averages

Sammy Sosa = Sammy Dull

designated hitter = batter appointed

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I like the fact that his physical condition limited him to 186 parties the last four seasons.

[Fred Hornkohl]

I like the fact that his physical condition limited him to 186 parties the last four seasons.

 

Oy !! Such a year I should have !!

[Neuby]

I would love to Juan gone invited to spring training. As weak as the Cubs oufield is they are gonna need as much power off the bench as possible.

[Warpticon]

Mmmmm, carmel Martinez.

[Tim]

I, too, would prefer the Cubs to simply sign Hidalgo.

[Soul]

I'll take just about any help at this point. Bring him in. Or someone else. Anybody.

 

Start holding tryouts. Gotta be someone out there.

[bdutts]

Why all the Richard Hidalgo love? His last two years have been pretty bad overall and his stats against lefties (which is what I assume everyone wants him for) have gotten worse in each of the last two years.

[Tim]

Why all the Richard Hidalgo love? His last two years have been pretty bad overall and his stats against lefties (which is what I assume everyone wants him for) have gotten worse in each of the last two years.

How are Hidalgo's numbers the past two years when compared with Gonzalez'?

[bdutts]

Why all the Richard Hidalgo love? His last two years have been pretty bad overall and his stats against lefties (which is what I assume everyone wants him for) have gotten worse in each of the last two years.

How are Hidalgo's numbers the past two years when compared with Gonzalez'?

 

Don't know. I don't advocate signing either one. Why do you want the Cubs to sign Hidalgo?

[Tim]

Why all the Richard Hidalgo love? His last two years have been pretty bad overall and his stats against lefties (which is what I assume everyone wants him for) have gotten worse in each of the last two years.

How are Hidalgo's numbers the past two years when compared with Gonzalez'?

 

Don't know. I don't advocate signing either one. Why do you want the Cubs to sign Hidalgo?

Well, I'm not really amped up about it one way or another. But if I have to choose between them, I'd choose Hidalgo because he's closer to his previous levels of performance, he provides great defense and doesn't have the lousy rep in the clubhouse (as opposed to Juan "If I ain't startin', I ain't goin' Gonzalez).