Re: Starlin Castro promoted (!)

[soapy]

Upon further review: the Cubs are currently getting a line of .262/.310/.346 from 2B so I guess Castro is a decent bet to at least match that.

 

There's a tremendously good chance that he doesn't in the first year.

 

Definitely a chance, yes. But I'd bet he does.

[bushwoodcc]

This is a panic move by a horribly run organization. The second panic move of the year by this team and it's not even 50 games into the season.

[Tim M]

He's too good for AA. I would've liked to see how he handled AAA for a couple of weeks but I don't have a huge problem with this. Kinda surprised that they would move Theriot when he's been playing well. Anyways, I'm excited to see what the kid can do.

[Guest]

Upon further review: the Cubs are currently getting a line of .262/.310/.346 from 2B so I guess Castro is a decent bet to at least match that.

 

There's a tremendously good chance that he doesn't in the first year.

 

Tremendously good chance he doesn't match a .650 OPS? Castro is very young and still has things to work on, but his skillset doesn't lend itself to a learning curve that makes him worthless with the bat as he develops.

[Sammy Sofa]

He's too good for AA. I would've liked to see how he handled AAA for a couple of weeks but I don't have a huge problem with this. Kinda surprised that they would move Theriot when he's been playing well. Anyways, I'm excited to see what the kid can do.

 

Why are you surprised that they would move Theriot? He still starts, and it's not like he's a SS to begin with.

[Sever82]

This is a panic move by a horribly run organization. The second panic move of the year by this team and it's not even 50 games into the season.

 

It is somewhat of a panic move but with the way he was playing, he was probably going to be called up in June. Not sure that moving him to AAA for a month or so would've done him much good. I think with Jaramillo, it'll definitely be a good experience for him. Is it a panic move? Yes, is it a bad move? No, prospects are there to improve the roster. If anything i hope this eleviates some of the pressure off of Ramirez and lets him focus. Castro didnt seem to break under the pressure of spring training when so many people were talking about him.

[Sammy Sofa]

Upon further review: the Cubs are currently getting a line of .262/.310/.346 from 2B so I guess Castro is a decent bet to at least match that.

 

There's a tremendously good chance that he doesn't in the first year.

 

Tremendously good chance he doesn't match a .650 OPS? Castro is very young and still has things to work on, but his skillset doesn't lend itself to a learning curve that makes him worthless with the bat as he develops.

 

I'd be very surprised if he tops out past a .700 OPS in his first year.

[bushwoodcc]

He's too good for AA. I would've liked to see how he handled AAA for a couple of weeks but I don't have a huge problem with this. Kinda surprised that they would move Theriot when he's been playing well. Anyways, I'm excited to see what the kid can do.

 

Why are you surprised that they would move Theriot? He still starts, and it's not like he's a SS to begin with.

 

 

No kidding. I don't understand why people are shocked that Theriot would move to 2B? He's never had the arm or range for SS. If anything, the middle infield defense will be more respectable now.

[scarey]

He's too good for AA. I would've liked to see how he handled AAA for a couple of weeks but I don't have a huge problem with this. Kinda surprised that they would move Theriot when he's been playing well. Anyways, I'm excited to see what the kid can do.

 

There's very little difference between AA and AAA these days. AAA tends to be filled with Hoffpauir, Scales, and Mathes types while AA tends to have more of the up and coming prospects.

 

Also, everyone that's worried about him being rushed missed the boat when the kid was rushed through the lower minors and hit AA last year. He's handled quick increases in competition very well up to this point. There's a huge difference between a 19 year old in AA and a 20 year old in MLB, but I personally think he'll make adjustments like he has in the past and be able to hold his own.

[KaiserCesar]

He's too good for AA. I would've liked to see how he handled AAA for a couple of weeks but I don't have a huge problem with this. Kinda surprised that they would move Theriot when he's been playing well. Anyways, I'm excited to see what the kid can do.

 

Why are you surprised that they would move Theriot? He still starts, and it's not like he's a SS to begin with.

 

Theriot's also got a .400 BABIP this year compared to a career .324. He can do his .300/.360/.380 thing pretty consistently, he's just not going to be overwhelmingly good without getting lucky.

[Guest]

Upon further review: the Cubs are currently getting a line of .262/.310/.346 from 2B so I guess Castro is a decent bet to at least match that.

 

There's a tremendously good chance that he doesn't in the first year.

 

Tremendously good chance he doesn't match a .650 OPS? Castro is very young and still has things to work on, but his skillset doesn't lend itself to a learning curve that makes him worthless with the bat as he develops.

 

I'd be very surprised if he tops out past a .700 OPS in his first year.

 

That's a good bit different than "tremendously good chance he doesn't at least put up a .650 OPS". Personally, if he plays every day from here on out, I bet he closes the season north of a .700 OPS.

[Old Style]

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand I am excited to see him get a chance with the big boys. On the other hand I worry that the Cubs are going to ruin yet another "can't miss" prospect by bringing him up too early and not giving him a legitimate opportunity.

[nick23]

Please tell me there's no way Lou puts Castro at 2B to begin with. Like he did when Cedeno was getting playing time. Edited May 7, 2010 by nick23

[jersey cubs fan]

700 might be a good over/under, but I'd push it closer to 710, assuming he actually gets a chance to play.

 

But that's completely different from underperforming the previously mentioned 650.

[UMFan83]

If he puts up a .700 OPS with much better range/overall defense than Theriot, I am perfectly fine with the move.

[KingCubsFan]

So when Castro goes .270/.325/.350 this year, are the Cubs going to give him the Pie treatment and waste him too?

[KaiserCesar]

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand I am excited to see him get a chance with the big boys. On the other hand I worry that the Cubs are going to ruin yet another "can't miss" prospect by bringing him up too early and not giving him a legitimate opportunity.

 

I'd say the one the Castro has going for him that a lot of others haven't is a very low K rate (something like 10% this year and not much higher over his career). Compare that with Pie (19%) and Patterson (19%). Castro might not walk a lot yet, but he has been able to put the bat on the ball so far in his career

[Sammy Sofa]

700 might be a good over/under, but I'd push it closer to 710, assuming he actually gets a chance to play.

 

But that's completely different from underperforming the previously mentioned 650.

 

Sure it is, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's only hovering around .650. I'm not saying the guy is a bust, but it's not a stretch to assume he'll struggle being this young on a team this bad with a manager this incompetent. If he struggles his first year, oh well.

 

Though if Theriot moves to 2B, it still just remains a glaring hole that needs to be improved.

[Sever82]

So when Castro goes .270/.325/.350 this year, are the Cubs going to give him the Pie treatment and waste him too?

 

If he goes .270/.325/.350 at age 20, i highly doubt the cubs will give him the Pie Treatment. He's being brought up knowing how raw he is at age 20, i doubt the cubs are bringing him up on a short leash. They know this kid still needs time to develop. I think the Cubs have the right hitting coach in place with Jaramillo and the right vets around him.

[scarey]

Elvis Andrus put up a .702 OPS last year in his first year. I would encourage people to keep expectations there.

[jaxxradio]

A very deperate move by a very desperate organization..he should have been sent to Triple-A to gauge his progress against more seasoned players.

[Guest]

Ugh, approximately 2 months at AA and he's called up? Lou better keep playing him.

 

I think .700 OPS is a good goal. UMFan, better range than Theriot? Yeah. I don't know if he's ready to actually play better D though.

 

And for whatever reason, the Cubs also promoted Vitters to AA.

[Sammy Sofa]

So when Castro goes .270/.325/.350 this year, are the Cubs going to give him the Pie treatment and waste him too?

 

If he goes .270/.325/.350 at age 20, i highly doubt the cubs will give him the Pie Treatment. He's being brought up knowing how raw he is at age 20, i doubt the cubs are bringing him up on a short leash.

 

Pie got the Pie Treatment when he was only 22.

[KaiserCesar]

Dave Kaplan confirms on Twitter and says Tracy to minors

 

 

I have confirmed that Starlin Castro will be called up today. He will start at short with Theriot at 2nd. Castro hits 8th. Tracy to minors.

[scarey]

A very deperate move by a very desperate organization..he should have been sent to Triple-A to gauge his progress against more seasoned players.

 

Sending him to AAA does nothing :roll: