Cubs welch on promise to Brandon Belt

by mtk52983 on Jun 10, 2006 7:47 AM EDT

http://www.lufkindailynews.com/sports/content/sports/highschools/belt.html

According to the article, the Cubs promised Belt and his family that they would take him sometime during the 6th-9th rounds and that Chicago would pay him a bonus commensurate with a sandwich round pick. Because of this, Belt passed up a chance to go to the Astros for 2nd Round money. In the end, Rounds 6-9 passed and Chicago had not selected Belt

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Teams lie

It's never too early for a baseball player to learn the essential truth of dealing with baseball teams. They lie. Big freakin' surprise. If his "advisor" didn't know this then he is incompetent.

by BobS on Jun 10, 2006 7:57 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, well

we have to take 100 years of futility out on someone.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Jun 10, 2006 11:46 AM EDT reply actions

is it

Impossible that Belt or his advisor is lying?

God rested one day out of 7, Felix rests 4 out of 5.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Jun 10, 2006 12:26 PM EDT reply actions

Certainly a possiblity

Assuming it's true (my money is on that it is), the next question is why? Unless they intentionally sought to screw him (unlikely) I'm guessing there were players in those rounds that unexpectedly fell to them. For example, the Red Sox can tell Place that they are selecting him at #27 or #28 but all bets are off if Miller and Hochevar are there and each are willing to accept slot money. The Cubs loss, is the Sox gain. I know their fans are very excited to have him as a draftee and hope he will sign.

To Cubs fans, I'm not as familiar with the player but Lansford, Celvenger, Muldowny and Andersen (taken in this rounds) don't see anything too special to me. Did the Cubs get great value in these rounds or did they drop the ball on passing on Belt?

by mg050369 on Jun 10, 2006 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Sure

And if i recall correctly hes supposed to have a strong commitment to Texas so his advisor could be saying to the team that picked him "look, we expected supplemental round money. We get that or hes playing for Augie next year"

by nms on Jun 10, 2006 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Aggies

They're Aggies, not Augies. not really a big deal and not something Iw ould point out if I wasn't friend with an Aggie.

God rested one day out of 7, Felix rests 4 out of 5.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Jun 10, 2006 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

No

I know Texas A&M is the Aggies. I thought he was a Texas commit (as in UT-Austin) and would be playing for AUGIE as in Augie Garrido (the coach)

by nms on Jun 10, 2006 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

mea culpa

God rested one day out of 7, Felix rests 4 out of 5.

by CrimsonLiederhosen on Jun 10, 2006 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Good for the Red Sox

I am glad the lied and let him slip.

Hopefully he holds a grudge and makes them pay for not taking him

by jbg3004 on Jun 10, 2006 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

Sounds like mismanagement of the situation

A smarter move would've been to tell the Cubs to draft him by the 7th round, then go to the Astros and tell them that if he's on the board in round 8 that he'll sign for second round money. Would've forced Chicago's hand while preserving the offer from the Astros. As it is, Belt and his advisor basically put all their chips on the assumption that the Cubs wouldn't suddenly change their mind about spending supplemental first round money on him.

The Astros are generally very good about fixing up these sorts of offers to prize prospects from Texas.

I have a feeling that the Red Sox are going to elicit a collective groan out of the commissioner's office by signing most if not all of the "tough signs" that they drafted. They might take a pass on LaPorta, but at the same time I think he's probably a solid guy to take a gamble on.

by mrkupe on Jun 10, 2006 3:29 PM EDT reply actions

I hope

They do. largely because i'm a Sox fan, but also because I'd really like to see a more solid slotting system set up. Rub the flaws in everyone's face so they HAVE to fix it.