Cubs sign shortstop Lee Hak-ju

[Post Count Padder]

As far as his age goes, Koreans start counting at 1 from birth instead of 0 like we do (1 for first year, not for one year old), so if a Korean tells you he is 18, that should translate to 17 yo for us.

 

If that's the case and he's actually 17, that's pretty darn cool. :thumbsup:

I'd have to agree.

[Vanilla Ice]

As far as his age goes, Koreans start counting at 1 from birth instead of 0 like we do (1 for first year, not for one year old), so if a Korean tells you he is 18, that should translate to 17 yo for us.

 

If that's the case and he's actually 17, that's pretty darn cool. :thumbsup:

I'd have to agree.

I am fairly skeptical that nobody in the Cubs organization or any of the writers has realized this, so I would guess that he is 18

[RammyFanny]

Is there any other numbers of other players we can compare his mentioned speed to first with?

[Guest]

Is there any other numbers of other players we can compare his mentioned speed to first with?

 

Aaron Shinsano said (in 1908's original post) Lee is "right around 4 seconds" from home to first. The average big league lefty is 4.2 seconds from home to first.

[RammyFanny]

Is there any other numbers of other players we can compare his mentioned speed to first with?

 

Aaron Shinsano said (in 1908's original post) Lee is "right around 4 seconds" from home to first. The average big league lefty is 4.2 seconds from home to first.

So nothing too out of the ordinary?

 

The article made him sound Jose Reyes fast..

[CuseCubFan69]

As far as his age goes, Koreans start counting at 1 from birth instead of 0 like we do (1 for first year, not for one year old), so if a Korean tells you he is 18, that should translate to 17 yo for us.

 

In the Dominican you're actually 20 and claim to be 4 years younger.

[Guest]

Is there any other numbers of other players we can compare his mentioned speed to first with?

 

Aaron Shinsano said (in 1908's original post) Lee is "right around 4 seconds" from home to first. The average big league lefty is 4.2 seconds from home to first.

So nothing too out of the ordinary?

 

The article made him sound Jose Reyes fast..

 

Certainly not Jose Reyes speed and someone can correct me on this but I believe a lefty at 4.0 seconds to first is a 70 on the 20-80 scale.

[UK1679666180]

Is there any other numbers of other players we can compare his mentioned speed to first with?

 

Aaron Shinsano said (in 1908's original post) Lee is "right around 4 seconds" from home to first. The average big league lefty is 4.2 seconds from home to first.

So nothing too out of the ordinary?

 

The article made him sound Jose Reyes fast..

 

Certainly not Jose Reyes speed and someone can correct me on this but I believe a lefty at 4.0 seconds to first is a 70 on the 20-80 scale.

 

3.91-4.00-70 runner

4.01-4.10-60 runner

[Guest]

Thanks, Ping.

 

And 0.1 second slower for righties?

[UK1679666180]

You're correct.

 

4.01-4.10-70 runner

4.11-4.20-60 runner

 

(RH'ers)

[rawaction]

What the heck do you have to do to be an 80 runner?

 

For the record, I was timed in the 4.1s in high school, and I thought I could fly. I can't imagine somebody a whole .2 seconds faster.

[UK1679666180]

80 runner is better than 3.8 from the left side and 3.9 from the right.

[Brett]

Peak speed comes around 21 or so, right? So by then, he'll clearly be getting to first in like 2.5.

[illiniguy]

80 runner is better than 3.8 from the left side and 3.9 from the right.

Are there any active 80 runners?

[CuseCubFan69]

Is there any other numbers of other players we can compare his mentioned speed to first with?

 

Aaron Shinsano said (in 1908's original post) Lee is "right around 4 seconds" from home to first. The average big league lefty is 4.2 seconds from home to first.

So nothing too out of the ordinary?

 

The article made him sound Jose Reyes fast..

 

Certainly not Jose Reyes speed and someone can correct me on this but I believe a lefty at 4.0 seconds to first is a 70 on the 20-80 scale.

 

3.91-4.00-70 runner

4.01-4.10-60 runner

 

Is that an NBA ref 4.0 or real time 4.0?

[UK1679666180]

80 runner is better than 3.8 from the left side and 3.9 from the right.

Are there any active 80 runners?

 

Nook Logan, Joey Gathright.

 

Taveras is prob. the fastest runner, but since he is right-handed, he doesn't get the same advantage.

 

Taveras was clocked 3.56 on a bunt from the right side.

[CyHawk_Cub]

80 runner is better than 3.8 from the left side and 3.9 from the right.

Are there any active 80 runners?

 

Nook Logan, Joey Gathright.

 

Taveras is prob. the fastest runner, but since he is right-handed, he doesn't get the same advantage.

Taveras was clocked 3.56 on a bunt from the right side.

 

:eek: :eek:

 

I'm curious to see how Lee fills out once he has been in the States for a few years. At his height, and w/ a different diet + plain ol' physical maturity, I'm doubting he'll retain the 4.0 speed....

[BigbadB]

What about Michael Bourn?

[CuseCubFan69]

80 runner is better than 3.8 from the left side and 3.9 from the right.

Are there any active 80 runners?

 

Nook Logan, Joey Gathright.

 

Taveras is prob. the fastest runner, but since he is right-handed, he doesn't get the same advantage.

 

Taveras was clocked 3.56 on a bunt from the right side.

 

Somebody who is that fast and can throw like he does has got to be a rare find.

[ctcf]

So when should we expect him to hit the minors?

[Guest]

So when should we expect him to hit the minors?

 

According to the original post, he'll be in the Australian Baseball Academy this summer (along with Aussie pitchers Adam Spencer and Cody Hams) and will be somewhere state-side next year.

[Electron Blue]

Korean power

Hitting long balls o'er the fence

Flash of speed to first

 

Oh, that's Hak-ju, not Haiku

 

Heh. Sorry.

Clever. Your second verse has 8 syllables though

 

D'oh!

 

Syllables were wrong.

Now "o'er" is said more quickly.

I've fixed this for you.

[UK1679666180]

What about Michael Bourn?

 

Bourn isn't as fast as Taveras.

[sweetpeteman]

if he's 6'2" and more than 170 lbs, there may end up being issues with him staying at shortstop.

 

 

Not nearly as much as there might have used to be. Many SS are now around that or above:

 

(Listed as)

Jeter: 6-3 195

ARod: 6-3 225 (He should be a SS)

Tulo: 6-3 205

Tejada: 5-9 225

Renteria: 6-1 200

Peralta: 6-1 210

[Guest]

http://cubs.scout.com/2/758396.html

 

Notes for those who can't read it, all this info is from assistant to the GM Paul Weaver, who apparently was a key in the signing:

 

• Lee is 18, 6'3", 175 lbs
  
• "very good athlete," "above-average speed, a better than average arm, very good agility, nice hands"
  
• Should lead off, steal a lot of bases and play SS in the big leagues.
  
• Financial terms of contract not disclosed.
  
• Doesn't schedule from HS till February.
  
• Might play a little in the Australian Baseball Academy this summer [Note: I've read he'll play for 2 weeks]. Might come to fall instructs if he can get out of school.

 

“Through the Tribune Company and Jim (Hendry), Crane (Kenney) and Randy (Bush), they want to put an emphasis on expanding our market overseas, particularly the Asian market,” Weaver said.

 

Weaver noted that the Cubs already have a strong presence on the Latin American stage and have also increased their scouting efforts in Europe with the signings of RHP Alex Maestri (Italy) in 2006 and INF Dwayne Kemp (the Netherlands) in October of last year. “We’re trying to be more active internationally,” said Weaver.