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Henry Urrutia (DFA)


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I think we will fish or cut bait with Urrutia after this season is over. He had injury issues last year and so I don't judge him too harshly on that. The year before he hit well in the minors but it didn't translate too well to the majors. I expect he'll see some time in Baltimore this year if he hits well down in Norfolk, and we'll see if he's a better player than he was in 2013.

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I think we will fish or cut bait with Urrutia after this season is over. He had injury issues last year and so I don't judge him too harshly on that. The year before he hit well in the minors but it didn't translate too well to the majors. I expect he'll see some time in Baltimore this year if he hits well down in Norfolk, and we'll see if he's a better player than he was in 2013.

I hope I get to see more of him as well, but I don't know if he'll get playing time in the majors with all the depth in front of him. Seeing him with the O's might mean we're out of playoff contention. Lough, De Aza, Snider, Jones, and Pearce are ahead of him, not to mention Alvarez, Reimold, and Parmelee. To me that means at least two guys have to struggle or get hurt for him to get a real chance, and even then he might have limited AB's.

Nice to have the depth in the system, but I agree that I think this is his final year with our team unless something major changes.

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Can someone who has seen him play defense enlighten us as to how bad he is as a defender? I keep hearing this as a reason he can't play in the bigs. Is it that bad?

http://nypost.com/2015/03/23/are-dbacks-in-denial-about-68-5m-phenom-or-are-harsh-scouts-wrong/

I am a bit of a Hank fan. I think he could play a solid corner outfield with a bit of Kirby help.

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Can someone who has seen him play defense enlighten us as to how bad he is as a defender? I keep hearing this as a reason he can't play in the bigs. Is it that bad?
http://nypost.com/2015/03/23/are-dbacks-in-denial-about-68-5m-phenom-or-are-harsh-scouts-wrong/

I am a bit of a Hank fan. I think he could play a solid corner outfield with a bit of Kirby help.

I think a lot of this has been overblown based on a few chances at the ML level. His AA manager, Gary Kendall had him for the longest stretch at Bowie and he said he played a "solid" RF.

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http://nypost.com/2015/03/23/are-dbacks-in-denial-about-68-5m-phenom-or-are-harsh-scouts-wrong/

I am a bit of a Hank fan. I think he could play a solid corner outfield with a bit of Kirby help.

Maybe, I am not feeling and I like the guy, I hope he improves, but to me, he is going to be either a 4A player, or a starter on a non playoff contender.

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I think a lot of this has been overblown based on a few chances at the ML level. His AA manager, Gary Kendall had him for the longest stretch at Bowie and he said he played a "solid" RF.

This deserves to be repeated. Kendall probably has a better idea than anyone about Urrutia's defense. Not like it's a glowing endorsement, but it is an endorsement, nonetheless.

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This deserves to be repeated. Kendall probably has a better idea than anyone about Urrutia's defense. Not like it's a glowing endorsement, but it is an endorsement, nonetheless.

Why did Buck say this:

Showalter believes Urrutia's defense is improving as well.

"He's working hard at it," Showalter said. "I challenged him to have the same work ethic he had here down there."

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Why did Buck say this:

If you are not working hard to improve your defense, you're not trying hard enough. There is room for improvement for nearly every major and minor league player.

Sounds like Buck was complimenting Urrutia on hard work that has paid off.

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If you are not working hard to improve your defense, you're not trying hard enough. There is room for improvement for nearly every major and minor league player.

Sounds like Buck was complimenting Urrutia on hard work that has paid off.

" I challenged him to work as hard there as he has here."

To me, I read this, he hasn't worked as hard in the minors like he has been and I want him to keep it up.

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" I challenged him to work as hard there as he has here."

To me, I read this, he hasn't worked as hard in the minors like he has been and I want him to keep it up.

I guess it's a matter of interpretation. It's like that sometimes with Buck: we can read things into his statements whether or not he intended them.

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" I challenged him to work as hard there as he has here."

Showalter believes Urrutia's defense is improving as well.

"He's working hard at it," Showalter said. "I challenged him to have the same work ethic he had here down there."

To me, I read this, he hasn't worked as hard in the minors like he has been and I want him to keep it up.

Seems like you're limiting this to Urrutia when it's clear Buck was talking about any player regardless of what level you play. I interpret it as, "There's always room for improvement, no matter who you are."

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Seems like you're limiting this to Urrutia when it's clear Buck was talking about any player regardless of what level you play. I interpret it as, "There's always room for improvement, no matter who you are."

Sorry, if I am taking Buck out of content.

But, did he say keep up the good work that he has done down there and up here?

He made a point of telling him to keep doing the good work there that he did up here, it might be subtle, but that's how Buck works.

Again, maybe it's just me.

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Sorry, if I am taking Buck out of content.

But, did he say keep up the good work that he has done down there and up here?

He made a point of telling him to keep doing the good work there that he did up here, it might be subtle, but that's how Buck works.

Again, maybe it's just me.

I think the key part of what Buck said is the part you didn't bold. If you include it as one statement, it seems that Buck is saying that Urrutia is maintaining the same work ethic. If you cut out the first part of the statement, it sounds negative. The full context is immensely important.

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I hope I get to see more of him as well, but I don't know if he'll get playing time in the majors with all the depth in front of him. Seeing him with the O's might mean we're out of playoff contention. Lough, De Aza, Snider, Jones, and Pearce are ahead of him, not to mention Alvarez, Reimold, and Parmelee. To me that means at least two guys have to struggle or get hurt for him to get a real chance, and even then he might have limited AB's.

Nice to have the depth in the system, but I agree that I think this is his final year with our team unless something major changes.

Well, with de aza and possibly Pearce gone after this season, Urrutia and Alvarez could both be in consideration for bigger roles in 2016, even with limited at bats at the ML level in 2015.

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