2009 Arizona Fall League

[Sever82]

I dont know about you guys but i'm starting to feel like i'd rather trade Vitters than Castro. I think i would hold onto Castro at all cost.

 

Found this article from last year very interesting, looks like his prediction so far is true:

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081014&content_id=468878&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp

 

Also, if Vitters and Castro continue to progress, shouldn't the cubs think about Trading DLee either this upcoming season or this offseason? I mean it would be a huge gamble to bet on Castro and Vitters being up in 2011 but if they do and you move Ramirez to First, that would be a nice infield.

[Guest]

10/19: Mesa lost 8-1 Box Score

 

2B S. Castro 1/4

3B J. Vitters 0/4, 2 E (3, fielding, fielding)

 

OVERALL:

 

Starlin Castro 8/18, 1 2B, 1 BB, 0 K, 1/1 SB - .444/.474/.500/.974

Welington Castillo 2/7, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 E - .286/.375/.714/1.089

Josh Vitters 5/15, 1 2B, 1 BB, 0 K, 0/2 SB, 3 E - .333/.375/.400/.775

Andrew Cashner 2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 2-2 GO-FO, 13.50 EA

John Gaub 2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 2-1 GO-FO, 9.00 ERA

Blake Parker 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1-2 GO-FO, 0.00 ERA

James Russell 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 4-3 GO-FO, 4.50 ERA

[RedFlash]

Also, if Vitters and Castro continue to progress, shouldn't the cubs think about Trading DLee either this upcoming season or this offseason? I mean it would be a huge gamble to bet on Castro and Vitters being up in 2011 but if they do and you move Ramirez to First, that would be a nice infield.

 

2010 as of right now is Lee's last yr on his contract. I wonder if the Cubs will have Vitters play some first base in 2010?

[Sever82]

I dont think the Cubs will let Dlee walk without getting something in return. If the Cubs are out of it next year, i can see them trading both Ramirez and Lee since Ramirez has said that if they dont compete next year, he'll have to consider going elsewhere.

[Ryno12]

Castro playing SS today. He is 1/1 with a run scored in the first. His hit was a ground ball single on the first pitch he saw.

[Ryno12]

Castro now 2/2, once again singling on the first pitch. However, he saw 3 pitches in the 2nd inning prior to the runner on 1st getting thrown out attempting to steal 2nd, which ended the inning.

[Ryno12]

Castro now 3/3 with 2R and 1 RBI. Another ground ball single, this one of the 3rd pitch of the AB.

[CUBZ99]

Castro now 3/3 with 2R and 1 RBI. Another ground ball single, this one of the 3rd pitch of the AB.

 

Now if he could just get an extra base hit or two (I know I'm greedy).

[craig]

Castro seems to have a lot of profile overlap with Neifi and Theriot.

 

Like Neifi in that he is a good defender, doesn't strike out, consistently tries to hit the first strike up the middle, no IsoD or IsoP.

 

Like Theriot in that he doesn't K and hits for contact; unlike Theriot in that he hits with even less power, doesn't walk, but on the positive side has more defensive range.

 

It's theoretically possible that someday he will hit with more power, given his age. But a lot of guys who are no-HR hitters when they are 19 are no-HR guys when they are 27, too.

[Ryno12]

Castro with another single, now 4/4. Extra bases would be nice, but I'll take a singles hitter as long as he keeps his batting average above .500.

[Rob]

Castro seems to have a lot of profile overlap with Neifi and Theriot.

 

Like Neifi in that he is a good defender, doesn't strike out, consistently tries to hit the first strike up the middle, no IsoD or IsoP.

 

Like Theriot in that he doesn't K and hits for contact; unlike Theriot in that he hits with even less power, doesn't walk, but on the positive side has more defensive range.

 

It's theoretically possible that someday he will hit with more power, given his age. But a lot of guys who are no-HR hitters when they are 19 are no-HR guys when they are 27, too.

 

Castro does a much better job of staying back on the ball than Theriot does. I have no reason to doubt he'll end up with better power.

[TruffleShuffle]

yeah castro is 19 years old and weighs 160 lbs, he has plenty of time to develop better power. the comp i keep coming back to is edgar renteria, who in his prime was good for about 35 doubles and 10-15 hr a year. i think castro can hit with that type of power.

 

imo he's our best prospect by a pretty good margin.

[Guest]

10/20: Mesa lost 14-10 Box Score

 

SS S. Castro 4/5, 2 R, RBI

 

OVERALL:

 

Starlin Castro 12/23, 1 2B, 1 BB, 0 K, 1/1 SB - .522/.542/.565/1.107

Welington Castillo 2/7, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 E - .286/.375/.714/1.089

Josh Vitters 5/15, 1 2B, 1 BB, 0 K, 0/2 SB, 3 E - .333/.375/.400/.775

Andrew Cashner 2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 2-2 GO-FO, 13.50 EA

John Gaub 2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 2-1 GO-FO, 9.00 ERA

Blake Parker 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1-2 GO-FO, 0.00 ERA

James Russell 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 4-3 GO-FO, 4.50 ERA

[TruffleShuffle]

it's pretty hilarious for a guy with a .020 IsoD and .043 IsoP to have an OPS of 1.107.

[bubblesdachimp]

yeah castro is 19 years old and weighs 160 lbs, he has plenty of time to develop better power. the comp i keep coming back to is edgar renteria, who in his prime was good for about 35 doubles and 10-15 hr a year. i think castro can hit with that type of power.

 

imo he's our best prospect by a pretty good margin.

 

+ 1 I think he will develop more power and i think he is by far our best prospect

[A-Cal]

i think you guys are selling low on vitters

[CUBZ99]

i think you guys are selling low on vitters

 

The upside of Vitters is definitely better and if Vitters can duplicate his Peoria numbers at higher levels he could be something special. But, Castro is sure making things interesting and I could definitely see some publications listing Castro as the Cubs #1 prospect after this year.

[illiniguy]

i think you guys are selling low on vitters

I agree. While excited about Castro, until I see some power, I gotta go with Vitters.

[craig]

yeah castro is 19 years old and weighs 160 lbs, he has plenty of time to develop better power. the comp i keep coming back to is edgar renteria, who in his prime was good for about 35 doubles and 10-15 hr a year. i think castro can hit with that type of power.

 

imo he's our best prospect by a pretty good margin.

 

I agree that those things are true (he's 19 and not big), and those projected increased in power are very, very possible. And I fully agree that he's our best prospect.

 

But Gathright, Fuld, Joe Girardi, Neifi, and Izturis were all 19 once, too, with the possibility of growing into more power with time. But they never did.

 

Castro might grow into Renteria power. Or he might not. How good will he be if he doesn't?

 

It would be foolish to assume he won't grow into some power. But it might also be foolish to be too certain that he will.

 

Time will tell, as always.

[davell]

What do we see Vitters' upside as being?

[Rob]

What do we see Vitters' upside as being?

 

Aramis Ramirez, though I don't see him developing the patience Aramis has in the last few years.

[Outshined_One]

What do we see Vitters' upside as being?

 

Aramis Ramirez, though I don't see him developing the patience Aramis has in the last few years.

 

I agree. He's a guy with a lot of natural tools, namely his contact ability and power, but he has a "relaxed" reputation and needs to work on his patience and defense, much like A-Ram did early in his career. Whether he reaches that ceiling is anyone's guess, but I really like what I've seen from him. I still think he's the #1 prospect in the Cubs' system, even with Castro's success.

[Serge]

What do we see Vitters' upside as being?

 

I saw someone, Jim Callis I believe, say that his power and contact are poth potential 70's, so if that's true then the sky's pretty much the limit.

[TruffleShuffle]

yeah castro is 19 years old and weighs 160 lbs, he has plenty of time to develop better power. the comp i keep coming back to is edgar renteria, who in his prime was good for about 35 doubles and 10-15 hr a year. i think castro can hit with that type of power.

 

imo he's our best prospect by a pretty good margin.

 

I agree that those things are true (he's 19 and not big), and those projected increased in power are very, very possible. And I fully agree that he's our best prospect.

 

But Gathright, Fuld, Joe Girardi, Neifi, and Izturis were all 19 once, too, with the possibility of growing into more power with time. But they never did.

 

Castro might grow into Renteria power. Or he might not. How good will he be if he doesn't?

 

It would be foolish to assume he won't grow into some power. But it might also be foolish to be too certain that he will.

 

Time will tell, as always.

 

right but couldn't one also argue that it might be foolish to assume that vitters will learn how to take a walk and play defense?

[JeffH]

What do we see Vitters' upside as being?

 

Ryan Braun is a good (realistic) "best case" scenario for Vitters.

 

Hits for a high average with very good power. What little patience he has comes from his power and pitchers fearing him, not from good strike zone judgement or willingness to work deep counts.

 

Poor defender at 3B, will have to move to LF or 1B.