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Official Addison Russell Thread

Gmoney08

By Gmoney08,
in Cubs Minor League Talk

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Gmoney08

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I thought of starting this because he's a main prospect that we are still in the honeymoon phase with. Most of us prospect geeks probably know a decent amount about him, that being said we know way more about our guys that have been Cubs from day one such as Javy, Bryant, and Soler.

 

 

I also figure this thread will have a chance at longer longevity in the Minor League forum because he is a little farther from the MLB squad than the above three.

 

 

Now on to Addison... the more I read and see video of this guy the more I LOVE this guy as a prospect. I think he has high floor combine with a chance to have a pretty high ceiling at a premium position.

 

 

What does everyone think of his power potential? I think most assume its in the 10 to 15 hr range but I've seen a couple scouts suggest he could produce big HR pop in the MLB. He has a huge lower body and powerful core with bat speed that rivals anyone this side of Javy Baez.

Edited by Gmoney08

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Gmoney08 Draft Eligible

Gmoney08

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Also Addison seems like a pretty smart player, nice article I found from the end of last year about him.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/at-shortstop-addison-russell/

 

I asked him what he can do to get better at defense other than reps at the position, and he had an impressive list: “Make sure you’re reading your hops well. Try not to rush things. Just stay on your own timing mechanism. Know who’s running at the plate, when to spit it out, and when to take your time and make a firm throw. Just trying to get reads off the bat.”

 

 

 

Russell also tries to help shepherd the infield crew. Not only does he get prepared based on what pitch is coming, or where the catcher is setting up, he also tries to keep his thirdbaseman in the loop: “If it’s an offspeed pitch and he’s a righty, I give him a little ‘ts ts’ to let him know.” Having heard this from third basemen while researching my piece for The Hardball Times Annual, I was ready for a followup this time: “Can’t the batter hear you?!” Russell laughed. He pointed out that there were all sorts of things happening on the field that you couldn’t hear in the crowd. And that the hitter is focused on other things.

 

It seems a lot to think about, at the plate and in the field. For one, Russell is ready because he’s thinking about his game. But once he’s on the field, he doesn’t see it as thinking. “Whenever you’re in the zone, you’re really not thinking about it, it just comes naturally,” he said of defensive positioning. Sounds like the kind of approach that should make the most of this sturdy young player’s physical attributes. In the big leagues. At shortstop.

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tspain

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Why didn't the Cubs just take Russell with the #7 instead of taking Almora? Interesting to think about. Which would they take today?
Gmoney08 Draft Eligible

Gmoney08

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Why didn't the Cubs just take Russell with the #7 instead of taking Almora? Interesting to think about. Which would they take today?

 

I'm 100% sure knowing what they know now they would take Russell ahead of Almora today. I still like Almora though and I'm a fan of what he has been doing lately.

 

 

As for your question on why? Well their is mistakes on top of mistakes every year in the draft by every team.

 

 

I did read an article about Addison that when they A's took him 12th it was considered a reach and that Russell was expected to go near the end of the 1st round.

 

The reason scouts gave was that he was putting on too much weight for SS. What I found hilarious was that Russell said scouts were thinking he was losing track of his body and just lazy but Russell said the added weight was just from him hitting the weightroom hard. Russell mentioned the added 15 LB's from his JR to SR of high school was all added muscle mass.

Hairyducked Idiot All-Star

Hairyducked Idiot

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Why didn't the Cubs just take Russell with the #7 instead of taking Almora? Interesting to think about. Which would they take today?

 

Because we're kinda meatbally and fell in love with Almora's intangibles.

Gmoney08 Draft Eligible

Gmoney08

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honeymoon face

 

russell's new nickname

 

Ha, meant phase. I dont know why I spelled phase as in face. But, Addison can be honeymoon face..

Gmoney08 Draft Eligible

Gmoney08

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Why didn't the Cubs just take Russell with the #7 instead of taking Almora? Interesting to think about. Which would they take today?

 

Because we're kinda meatbally and fell in love with Almora's intangibles.

 

 

I'm sure the Pirates are kicking themselves a bit more.. they took Mark Appel 8th (obviously didn't sign him) and could have had Russell.

 

 

They got a comp pick in 2013, took Austin Meadow's.

Guest

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Posted
Why didn't the Cubs just take Russell with the #7 instead of taking Almora? Interesting to think about. Which would they take today?

 

Almora was more well thought of on draft day. For example, Baseball America rated Almora the 7th best prospect in the draft and Russell 28th.

jersey cubs fan GOAT

jersey cubs fan

Old-Timey Member
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Why didn't the Cubs just take Russell with the #7 instead of taking Almora? Interesting to think about. Which would they take today?

 

Almora was more well thought of on draft day. For example, Baseball America rated Almora the 7th best prospect in the draft and Russell 28th.

Isn't ba notoriously bad at ranking prospects. At least worse than actual experts?

davell Chicago Cubs

davell

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Posted
Why didn't the Cubs just take Russell with the #7 instead of taking Almora? Interesting to think about. Which would they take today?

 

Almora was more well thought of on draft day. For example, Baseball America rated Almora the 7th best prospect in the draft and Russell 28th.

Isn't ba notoriously bad at ranking prospects. At least worse than actual experts?

 

It's rare to see a large disagreement between BA, Kiley, Law, Crawford- I don't remember anyone having Russell THAT high. I do remember draft day rumors that Oakland was taking Pierce Johnson at 12.

Guest

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Posted
Posted
Why didn't the Cubs just take Russell with the #7 instead of taking Almora? Interesting to think about. Which would they take today?

 

Almora was more well thought of on draft day. For example, Baseball America rated Almora the 7th best prospect in the draft and Russell 28th.

Isn't ba notoriously bad at ranking prospects. At least worse than actual experts?

 

As davell said, their rankings are generally similar to ESPN and BP. Though in this case, there was a sizable difference - BP had Almora at 6 and Russell at 16.

 

Russell was rated a bit lower in the run up to the draft because there were still questions about his ability to stick at shortstop despite losing 20 lbs.

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