The Starlin Castro thread.

[SouthSideRyan]

What do you find odd? And why is it odd?

 

People were mocking Theriot for his lack of power, and yet are praising Castro for his ability to put the bat on the ball. I know the age difference, makes it more impressive on Castro behalf, but essentially Castro has been Theriot with better defense since his first game.

 

Better defense, better plate discipline, and 4 times the ISO.

 

And 10 years younger

 

And he probably doesn't wear stupid Affliction shirts.

[SouthSideRyan]

What do you find odd? And why is it odd?

 

People were mocking Theriot for his lack of power, and yet are praising Castro for his ability to put the bat on the ball. I know the age difference, makes it more impressive on Castro behalf, but essentially Castro has been Theriot with better defense since his first game.

 

Better defense, better plate discipline, and 4 times the ISO.

 

And 10 years younger

 

And he probably doesn't wear stupid Affliction shirts.

 

Or name his son Houston.

[treebird]

Better defense, better plate discipline, and 4 times the ISO.

 

And 10 years younger

 

And he probably doesn't wear stupid Affliction shirts.

 

Or name his son Houston.

 

and ssr doesn't own a boys medium starlin castro shersey

[JonJayCutler]

At the age of 20, Hanley Ramirez had just 1 homer in 239 ABs for A+ Sarasota in 2004. I'm NOT saying Castro is the next Hanley, but it's just something to think about.

[ScrubMD]

At the age of 20 I was putting up Castro-esque numbers in a church softball league (fast pitch, non of that [expletive] show pitch [expletive]). I was also happy that Juan Pierre was a member of the Chicago Cubs.

 

So if Castro follows my development, in four years he won't be playing sports anymore and he'll be hooked on meth.

[RedFlash]

Good lord, you people are hell hounds.

[inari]

What does that mean?

[Fred Hornkohl]

I'm very concerned about his power. If a player doesn't show much ability for XBH in his first 36 at bats as a 20 year old .... it may never show up.

 

We were similarly concerned about your ability to make quality posts on NSBB at the age of 20..... but look how well that turned out !!! :wink:

 

so you're saying castro is going to be a HOFer

 

imb, you're a legend in your own mind !! :wink:

[Rob]

Whether the outcome is substantially different this year or not (in terms of ISO), it's hard to watch Castro and Theriot hit and not see a huge difference in the way the ball comes off the bat. The results bear that out too. Take a look at Theriot's HRs (2006-2009)

 

http://www.hittrackeronline.com/parks/Theriot_Ryan_2006_scatter.jpg

http://www.hittrackeronline.com/parks/Theriot_Ryan_2007_scatter.jpg

http://www.hittrackeronline.com/parks/Theriot_Ryan_2008_scatter.jpg

http://www.hittrackeronline.com/parks/Theriot_Ryan_2009_scatter.jpg

 

Ryan Theriot basically has to pull the ball to generate any power at all, with 12 of his 14 career HR going to left field. Only 2 were hit to center, and he has managed zero opposite field HR in over 2000 PA... this despite the fact that his approach has him putting the ball in opposite field most of the time.

 

Castro put one over the RF stands in his first PA.

 

Do we expect him to showcase usable power in his first ML season at age 20? No. And nobody should. But just because he isn't showing it like you might like in the early going doesn't mean it's anything to be concerned about.

[DiamondMind]

And he probably doesn't wear stupid Affliction shirts.

 

This made me lol.

[Pushfrog98]

Question:

does anybody at the game hold up a "Castrometer" similar to the beloved "shawnometer"

 

no, because Castro is young and good and the Shawon-o-meter was to make fun of Dunston for being old and bad

I seem to remember the Shawon-o-meter being up in his early 20's. He WAS bad though, but had one heck of an arm.

[Ryno is God 23]

It is silly to worry about Castro's power right now. He is a 20 year old kid that has a few years of filling out to do. I don't think we will truly know what we have power wise with him for two more years, at least.

[MWV]

The power will come.

Meanwhile, that throw from the hole last night was breathtaking. Both feet on the grass in short left.

Best case scenario is 1st and 3rd with two out if Theriot is playing.

[Sammy Sofa]

For those that missed it, witness the cannon:

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=8152465&topic_id=8878834&c_id=chc

[dew1679666265]

That was a terrific play. Maybe I'm too used to Theriot there, but I thought that was a hit all the way.

[javy knows my name]

I was trying to think of the last Cubs SS to have an arm like that. Nomar maybe? Otherwise, I'm not sure

[bukie]

I was trying to think of the last Cubs SS to have an arm like that. Nomar maybe? Otherwise, I'm not sure

Shawon had a cannon.

[javy knows my name]

I was trying to think of the last Cubs SS to have an arm like that. Nomar maybe? Otherwise, I'm not sure

Shawon had a cannon.

My dad said that, too. Yeah, I was too young to really know that.

[Derwood]

I was trying to think of the last Cubs SS to have an arm like that. Nomar maybe? Otherwise, I'm not sure

Shawon had a cannon.

 

yeah, he could throw it 100mph into the 1st base side stands

[Soul]

I was trying to think of the last Cubs SS to have an arm like that. Nomar maybe? Otherwise, I'm not sure

Shawon had a cannon.

 

yeah, he could throw it 100mph into the 1st base side stands

 

He'd have gotten it there. Probably 10 feet over Lee's head, but it would have gotten there.

[cubfan]

I was trying to think of the last Cubs SS to have an arm like that. Nomar maybe? Otherwise, I'm not sure

Shawon had a cannon.

 

yeah, he could throw it 100mph into the 1st base side stands

 

I was very young at the time, but I remember someone telling me that the Cubs drafted the best available arm but he happened to be a SS instead of a pitcher.

[Magnetic Curses]

I was trying to think of the last Cubs SS to have an arm like that. Nomar maybe? Otherwise, I'm not sure

Shawon had a cannon.

 

yeah, he could throw it 100mph into the 1st base side stands

 

I was very young at the time, but I remember someone telling me that the Cubs drafted the best available arm but he happened to be a SS instead of a pitcher.

 

nothing available about it. everyone was available at the time shawon was picked.

 

he would also needlessly take about 8 steps before throwing it so he could show his arm off on a routine play. grace never had the balls to tell him.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Wait, the S-o-meter was sarcastic? I did not know that.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Wait, the S-o-meter was sarcastic?

no

[jersey cubs fan]

Wait, the S-o-meter was sarcastic?

no

 

How was it not? It was made when he was hitting like .200.