Blast from the past

[Quakers]

I found this in BA

 

Among the other July surprises:

 

• Montanez, 26, was the third overall pick in the 2000 draft by the Cubs, and he’s getting called up today, joining the Orioles in Anaheim for their series against the Angels. Eastern League managers have mentioned during recent Best Tools and Top 20 Prospects calls that Montanez is the EL’s top hitter—"I don’t know that I’d call him a prospect because of his age," one manager said, "but he shouldn’t be in this league. He’s probably the best player in the league." Now riding a 19-game hitting streak, Montanez is hitting .335/.385/.601 with 32 doubles and 26 homers, leading the EL in the triple crown categories (97 RBIs) while leading the EL in hits (151) and runs (90) by 20, as well as slugging.

 

 

Is this for real?

[Little Slide Rooter]

He'll be the next Carlos Quentin/Josh Hamilton. Guaranteed.

[davearm2]

He'll be the next Carlos Quentin/Josh Hamilton. Guaranteed.

Yes, just another in a long line of hitters that went on to great things in MLB after escaping the Cubs' farm system. :roll:

[UMFan83]

Holy hell. I thought he was retiring after getting released. I didn't even know he was in the minors anymore. That sucks :(

[TheHawk]

Wow, I hope he fails.

[bannor10]

Good for the Kid....Making it to the show after a lot of struggles through our system is agreat thing...MAybe we should look at our development program, or perhaps the kid is just a late bloomer and is finally showing something. He always had good tools he just couldn't make contact. congrats Luis

[NCCubFan]

Wow, I hope he fails.

Why? It's not like any success he has will hurt the Cubs (interleague play is over for this year, and the Orioles won't be playing the Cubs in the World Series). I think it would be a good story.

[MarmolMan]

Wow, I can't believe this. I always used to create him in baseball video games and made him amazing, but then he sucked crazy style in real life.

[chopsx9]

oh my granny goodness! I have about 1,000 Montanez rookie cards currently worth about 12cents from my short and ill fated venture into dealing baseball cards... GO MAN GO!!

 

Seriously though I am surprised he is only 26, thought he'd be older - he could still have a decent career if he can take advantage of this opportunity.

[TheHawk]

Wow, I hope he fails.

Why? It's not like any success he has will hurt the Cubs (interleague play is over for this year, and the Orioles won't be playing the Cubs in the World Series). I think it would be a good story.

 

Maybe I hold a grudge because of his unreached expectations.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

oh my granny goodness! I have about 1,000 Montanez rookie cards currently worth about 12cents from my short and ill fated venture into dealing baseball cards... GO MAN GO!!

 

Seriously though I am surprised he is only 26, thought he'd be older - he could still have a decent career if he can take advantage of this opportunity.

 

I have a Luis Montanez signed baseball.

[RammyFanny]

1st AB:

 

3rd L Montanez homered to center off of E. Santana.

[chopsx9]

...and his first error!!

[chopsx9]

...and his first error!!

[YearofDaCubs]

oh my granny goodness! I have about 1,000 Montanez rookie cards currently worth about 12cents from my short and ill fated venture into dealing baseball cards... GO MAN GO!!

 

Seriously though I am surprised he is only 26, thought he'd be older - he could still have a decent career if he can take advantage of this opportunity.

 

I have a Luis Montanez signed baseball.

Good thing you saved it. It might be worth a lot of money soon. :)

[rrudd2]

2 for 2...

 

Good for him. Glad he made it to the show.

[NCCubFan]

Wow, I hope he fails.

Why? It's not like any success he has will hurt the Cubs (interleague play is over for this year, and the Orioles won't be playing the Cubs in the World Series). I think it would be a good story.

 

Maybe I hold a grudge because of his unreached expectations.

I'm not sure how much of that is his fault and how much is the Cubs' development personnel. I think it's some of each.

[karenmac]

glad to see Luis get a shot. I'm wondering what % of the orioles system is ex-cubs...I can't tell if Luis doing well is a failure of the Cub development system, the Orioles being desparate for help at the big leagues.

[Little Slide Rooter]

through 10 games played and 24 ABs, Lous line is .375/.375/.542 with 1 home run. Not bad, although the fact that his avg. and obp are exactly the same suggests that hes not the most patient hitter on the planet, but who knows, after all the Orioles digging through our old garbage, maybe they've finally found something.

[TruffleShuffle]

i'd say that they should let him play every day since they're not going anywhere, but markakis should play every day, adam jones needs to keep playing since he's young and promising, luke scott is raking and aubrey huff is playing too well as the DH to be benched. they probably should've gotten something for huff at the trade deadline, though.