scouting in the Pacific Rim again.

[Brian]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070316&content_id=1845505&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

Hopefully we get some good prospects signed.

 

First guy he signed is an Aussie that didn't know who Ryne Sandberg is or what Wrigley Field is.

 

Wilson got a head start by signing 17-year-old right-handed pitcher Ryan Searle of Australia, who is working out in the Cubs Minor League camp now in Mesa. He will stay in Arizona for extended Spring Training.

 

"He's pretty green, but he's got some ability," Wilson said.

 

"I had no idea," Searle said. "I knew Chicago. I didn't know what field it was until I looked it up on the Internet. Then I looked at my chewing gum packet. Oh yeah, Wrigley."

 

 

A little about the Australian baseball.

"In Australia, we play 20 games a season, and one game a week for about five months," he said. "Here, they said they play 100 something games. Wow. In Australia, we train once a week for two hours, and there's an optional training session for another two hours. Then the game on weekends. That's the extent of our season."

[Drew Doughty]

Sounds like we picked a real winner.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I like that we're out there looking to find talent anywhere it may be. I don't have a problem if a kid from Australia doesn't know much about MLB. I just want him to be able to play it.

[BigbadB]

2 hours of practice a week and 20 games a year is kind of hard to scout talent, don't ya think? Actually, put me down as being interested in filling that scouting position. 5 hours a week of scouting and umpteen hours a week sightseeing and just taking in Australia. :cheers:

 

I hope this kid at least opted for the extra 2 hours of weekly training.

[KaiserCesar]

Could it be that he was pretty much only the pitcher on his teams, so he really pitched 20 games or so which isn't all that bad?

[b_wiggy_66]

Talk about a "raw" player