First impressions of Luis Robert consistent with hype
We all acknowledged that Luis Robert was going to be the biggest story of the White Sox’ minicamp for hitters, so it stands to reason that we should see what’s actually coming of it.
Jose Abreu : Yoan Moncada :: Yoan Moncada : Luis Robert
Having just experienced the most jarring parts of the sudden shift from local Cuban pro to MLB prospect who’s incredibly wealthy and just as hyped, Moncada has taken it upon himself to show Robert the ropes.
How close are they? It would be easier to list out the elements of Robert’s transition to the United States that Moncada is not overseeing.
“He’s the one who is picking me up in the morning, driving me to the ballpark, guiding me through the complex, during the workout,” Robert said through Russo. “If we have to hit, or if we have to go to the gym, or if we have to eat breakfast, he’s the one who is telling me what we have to do. When we’re driving, he’s always talking to me about things that I need to learn and I need to do during this experience here in the U.S. and during the season, my first one. Absolutely I’m just excited to ask them, not just Yoan but also Abreu for advice and just grasp whatever they have for me.”
Hey, they go back a long way:
Luis Robert and Yoan Moncada have been friends since their teens years in Cuba. White Sox first basemen Jose Abreu, who is also from Cuba, was among the many to help Moncada adjust to life in the US. Moncada is doing the same for Robert. #WhiteSox pic.twitter.com/lUtohrTP77
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) January 16, 2018
James Fegan notes similarities between the two beyond their common homeland, like selfie-centered Instagram accounts belying a reticence that’s a natural byproduct of needing everything in a new country translated. One thing that might make Robert’s transition a little easier than the others? His parents and sister joined him in the Dominican Republic.
The talent is evident
Eric Longenhagen hung out at the White Sox’ minicamp on Tuesday, and Josh asked him about what he saw:
Josh Nelson: Saw your tweet from the White Sox hitters camp. Who impresses you the most from that group?
Eric A Longenhagen: It was Robert and it wasn’t close. Hit balls out to all fields during BP, more raw pop than anyone else taking BP on that field including Burger and Sheets
That looks like the lone third-party observation of Robert so far, and it lines up with the way various White Sox personnel have reacted. Winston-Salem hitting coach Charlie Poe — who might be working with Robert come April — came away impressed by Robert’s abilities. Allen Thomas, the White Sox’ strength and conditioning coordinator, might not need to work with him ever (“He’s chiseled.”)
Then there’s Robert’s peers. Zack Collins called Robert’s swing “pretty great,” and Yeyson Yrizarri provided the commentary for his batting practice:
More loud sounds from Robert. He says he still hasn’t gotten the rhythm he had at the plate back in Serie Nacional yet. pic.twitter.com/MN3OTkRItE
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) January 16, 2018
He faces an uphill battle with his surname
During his introductory press conference, Robert said that he and everybody in Cuba pronounces his last name without the last letter, as in “Robber,” but acknowledged the predominant pronunciation outside the country brings the “t” back in (and I’m guilty of that).
This might end up being an Alexei Ramirez situation — everybody said Alex-ee, he said Alice-Say — because his closest reps aren’t helping.
Talked with #WhiteSox Luis Robert's uncle and agent today. Very nice men, gave the final word on his last name:
"Robert": with a hard-t, just like it's spelled.@billazbbphotog and I – both persnickety about things like correct pronunciation – both satisfied with the result
— Kim C (@Cu_As) January 17, 2018
The other big part of minicamp
Besides Robert’s landing, health updates are the most valuable part of the spring training sneak preview.
With Charlie Tilson experiencing no setbacks — yet — from regular action during the second half of the Arizona Fall League, Ryan Cordell took over as the organization’s biggest mystery man in terms of his availability. He’s feasibly a candidate for a fourth outfielder/utility job at some point in the 2018 season, but back problems kept him from ever playing in 2017 after the White Sox acquired him from Milwaukee for Anthony Swarzak.
We should see more of him, even if that’s not saying much.
Ryan Cordell has been back to full activity since Dec. 1. Suffered a minor fracture to his T1 vertebrae but says every doctor he spoke to projected no issues going forward. He’s happy to get an early start to the season after a long layoff
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) January 17, 2018
Maybe it’ll go back to being pronounced ‘robber’ after he gets up to the majors and starts stealing bases and base hits.
So impressed with Yoan.
Irrational exuberance for Robert is currently impossible for me to avoid. Every person that sees him comes back saying he has more of a certain tool (now heard speed, power and arm) than they thought.
Green grass, sunshine, crack of the bat. LOVE IT
That’s baseball, baby!
Jim (and/or Josh), any plans on covering possible OF permutations to start the year at Kann, W-S and Birmingham? (in article or on the Pod)
Looking over OF prospects, things look crowded. Not sure how they keep someone from losing out.
I’ll be there in a little over a month. Can’t wait. Does anyone know how to find out when the minor leaguers play actual games.
Me likey.
When does baseball start?????
(Rhetorical question, so don’t you all start posting “pitchers and catchers report on…”)
I’m still on team roh-BEAR, but sadly accept that Luis and his family must have final say.
This is how I’ve been saying it in my head too
First time I saw it I thought it was that too. The real question is what’ll his nickname be
“lourob”
oh no
“Lu-Bob” has been making the rounds.
In the spirit of the Missile and Tank, the ICBM. It’s fast, packs a wallop, and has incredible range
Yes! That’s what he reminds me of. A Ro-Bear Berbil. Now maybe I’ll finish that SHOP TALK comparing White Sox to Thundercats. I was stuck on Benetti as Snarf.
Benetti so is Snarf. How have I never seen it before?
That’s the french pronunciation
Eager to see how Len Kasper intentionally butchers Robert’s name.
Is he known for that?
Alex “Ah-vill-la” springs to mind
I think that’s how it’s actually pronounced. I heard him discussing this in a radio interview; when his grandfather played they pronounced it that way (correctly), but at some point people started mispronouncing it.
Ávila is a beautiful medieval walled city in central Spain, about 100 miles northwest of Madrid. The last name comes from the city and should be pronounced with the accent on the first “a” and not on the “i” as it’s usually mispronounced over there.
Just like Pujols, which is a surname of Catalan origins and should be pronounced “pooyols”, with the accent on the last syllable, and not “pooholes”, with the accent on the first one, as I have always heard it.
Just my meaningless 2 cents as Spaniard…
https://goo.gl/images/1TzRoC
#TeamRohBear
Dan Hayes to @TheAthleticMIN. DER TWAINNNNN
Dan Hayes was a little too “gosh and golly” for my taste, but I’m glad that he landed on his feet.
Guessing that tone comes with the White Sox having an ownership stake in his platform. I’ll be checking in on his Twins coverage to compare.
Yep, Glad he’s working. Glad he’s not here.
He’s no Jen Lada, that’s for sure.
But the real question is, do the Twins have a Dan/ny Hayes anywhere in their system? I think it’s the only way he’ll feel at home.
Not sure if anyone else has seen this: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjwjcbmkOLYAhVdHGMKHb0KAf8QFgg8MAM&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbssports.com%2Fmlb%2Fnews%2Fwhy-the-white-sox-should-absolutely-trade-for-the-marlins-home-run-sculpture%2F&usg=AOvVaw0XJyLc583jZQ0es4UxlCmy
But I, for one, think it would be glorious
If it will shoot out fireworks then let’s do it.
The thematic fit is questionable but why the hell not.
Just get Shedd to slap a sign near it.
Might make more sense for the Bears, if only because of the closer proximity.
Having a good look at it, I think it goes on the concourse and retrofitted into the world’s most glorious skeeball machine. $1 a ball. Just imagine the lines.
I could loop the video at the top for a good hour just for the sound.
Finally had the time to find you all. It’s been a tough couple of weeks without my morning read. Glad no one has been piked!
The debate over pronouncing Robert with “the hard t” or without the “hard t” doesn’t quite capture the issue here. To say “Robber” is to pronounce a Spanish* name in sloppy Anglo-American English dialect. Without the trilled Rs, I would think that would sound terrible to a Spanish speaker. (Two local streets are Arguello and Cabrillo, pronounced “arguelo” and “cabrilo” and it drives me nuts.)
I’m guessing the confusion comes in because the trilled R sounds a bit like Rober-with-a-t at the end and that creates some of the discrepancy where his uncle says to pronounce the T but Luis says don’t pronounce it?
My solution: learn how to trill your damn r’s, people.
*I mean, by convention, because Cuban society is Spanish speaking. I don’t know the etymology.
I am ashamed of my inability to roll or trill R’s.
at least you can say “Kin – tana” instead of “Kwin – tana”
I remember a lot of people saying Javier Vaz-kwez.
My grandpa used to extol the virtues of “tor-till-ee-a” chips.
If not for Samardzija taking up all the nautical puns, we could have had Quintanamo Bay as his fan section and everyone there could have worn masks of Quint from Jaws.
I still wish there could have been the “Quintana No-Decision Zone” for people who can’t decide where to sit.
Nah…Quintana beats the Shark any day.
So a Cuban friend of mine put it very simply,
It’s “Roberto” without the last “o” (still roll the first R though).
If the biggest problem with Robert is how to pronounce his name, then he should be a heck of a player.