Jose Julio Ruiz

[dickay]

Whenever you hire somebody, no matter where, you need to know their age and authenicate that. Regardless where they are from....and that is most likely exactly what MLB front offices do with a player whether he is from California, Canada, the D.R. or Cuba....it doesn't make a difference.

Just because it has happened in the past doesn't mean it is going to be the nature of every player that comes up.

Again, you brought up his age, no one else did, and thus far, El-duque is the only Cuban born MLB player to have his age be incorrect that we know of. Just skimming the rest of that list, those are all D.R. players.

you do realize that there are only what, 15 or so Cubans in MLB if that many? You realize that most of them come to MLB through DR, and that some of them even list their birthplace as in the DR (hence the doctored names etc. that was detailed in the article). Of course the percentage of DR players is going to be much much higher than Cubas, as they have far higher numbers of players.

there are other cubans either caught or suspected of lying about their age. Chapman was one mentioned. deny baez, Livan Hernandez and Jose Contreras are three I can think of off the top of my head. Danny almonte was cuban wasn't he?

Really, the point is that to use the 99% were DR as a reason to think Cubans shouldn't be questioned also is rediculous. Cuban should be even more eyebrow raising as we have such little access to documentation if any. The numbers are skewed because the discrepency between the amount of DR vs. cubans and other latin countries (PR not included) in general.

and finally, to think that MLB teams look at a kid born in Wichita Ka with the same level of scrutiny as they do with a cuban defector is absurd. you may wish to believe they don't stereotype all you want, but the fact of the matter is that there is A MUCH HIGHER POTENTIAL that the Latin kid has fraudulent paperwork than the kid from Kansas, and all MLB teams will more closely look at that. Thats all i've said from the beginning of this mess. Get off your high horses.

[HoustonGM]

there are other cubans either caught or suspected of lying about their age. Chapman was one mentioned.

Without evidence, solely because he's from Latin America...much like what happened in the first reply to this thread.

deny baez, Livan Hernandez and Jose Contreras are three I can think of off the top of my head.

The only thing I can find on any of them is a Yahoo! Answers thread on Jose Contreras.

Danny almonte was cuban wasn't he?

No, Dominican.

Really, the point is that to use the 99% were DR as a reason to think Cubans shouldn't be questioned also is rediculous. Cuban should be even more eyebrow raising as we have such little access to documentation if any. The numbers are skewed because the discrepency between the amount of DR vs. cubans and other latin countries (PR not included) in general.

There's also the issue of how Cuban records (and most other places in Latin America) are much more accurate and easier to verify than Dominican records.

and finally, to think that MLB teams look at a kid born in Wichita Ka with the same level of scrutiny as they do with a cuban defector is absurd. you may wish to believe they don't stereotype all you want, but the fact of the matter is that there is A MUCH HIGHER POTENTIAL that the Latin kid has fraudulent paperwork than the kid from Kansas, and all MLB teams will more closely look at that. Thats all i've said from the beginning of this mess. Get off your high horses.

Yes, there is a higher potential, hence, the process to confirm the age and identity is more involved...

And no, "There's a higher potential of a Latin American kid having a fraudulent birthdate than an American kid" is not all you've said. You said you'd guess that this guy is 5 years older than his listed age. The higher potential is not a reason to automatically "guess" that every Latin American is older than his listed age.

[Rexington]

If someone in uruguay or deep in the congo assumes all white people eat caviar, wear tophats and use monocles.

You don't!?! Holy ****!!

[Jeffy25]

that and the whole, ya know, having to defect if you are from Cuba.

Correct me if I am wrong, but D.R. players don't have to defect do they?

[200tang]

Okay..ignoring all the e-drama from you pansies. Ruiz looks like a 1B but just looking at the numbers he might want to try out 3B when he comes over because he's a good runner.

Last year he put up a slash line of .305/.408/.467 in 52 games before he disappeared and ended up in Miami.

He looks like a prototypical righty masher (.338 BA v RHP) but with speed (32 SB, 9 CS - First in the league).

In the 47 (2008) Cuban season, José Julio Ruíz finished 23rd in average with 341. He hit 21 doubles and 11 HR driving 69 runs. He also walked 44 times and struck out 49. He finished first in AB with 429, 3rd in Runs with 83, first in hits with 126, 8th in total bases with 182. Despite being a first baseman, José Julio finished first in stolen bases with 32 and second in caught stealing with 9. José Julio also finished 10th in RBI with 69.

From that alone it makes me think you're looking at another Joey Votto 1B but possibly more athletic.

[dps]

There's also the issue of how Cuban records (and most other places in Latin America) are much more accurate and easier to verify than Dominican records.

Are they? I don't doubt that they are more accurate, but given the state of Cuban/American relations, aren't they pretty hard to access?

In the not-too-distant past, even US records were spotty. Universal registration of births in the US only dates to 1933. Lots of American players in the old days lied about their ages. Luke Appling, for example, was listed early in his career as being born in 1911, but when he went into the Army during WWII, it came out that he was actually 2 years older than that. This actually lead to more confusion about his real age--a reporter would read that he was 2 years older than his listed age, look up Applings date of birth, find the real year of 1909, and then write that Appling was actually born in 1907. Then another reporter, knowing that Appling was too years older than his listed age, would see the year 1907 given as his birth year, and write that Appling was actually born in 1905. It got to the point that some reports claimed that Appling was born as early as 1897.

There were also unintentional erros. Typos in records happen, and other things can cause problems. Dummy Hoy had an incorrect date of birth listed during for a long time. In his first professional tryout, the manager went down the line of guys trying out and asked each of them their age. Since Hoy was deaf-mute, the manager didn't ask him, but just guessed and guessed wrong. Hoy didn't bother to correct the error for a long time.

And of course, a lot of guy just didn't know when they were born. Most famously, perhaps, Satchel Paige had no idea what his date of birth actually was.

[HoustonGM]

Are they? I don't doubt that they are more accurate, but given the state of Cuban/American relations, aren't they pretty hard to access?

I can't say for sure on their ease of access, but they are definitely more accurate.