can we talk about Starlin Castro?

[SouthSideRyan]

Haha Rosenbloom's new take is that someone in the FO "got" to Sveum to prevent Castro's benching.

 

Sveum probably believes those Egg Council creeps too.

[Yeti]

mmmm eggs!!!

[javy knows my name]

Haha Rosenbloom's new take is that someone in the FO "got" to Sveum to prevent Castro's benching.

 

Without any context, I really don't see how that's far-fetched.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Haha Rosenbloom's new take is that someone in the FO "got" to Sveum to prevent Castro's benching.

 

He did go from this is the last straw and if he keeps making these kind of mistakes we're going to stop playing him to you don't bench a guy like Castro over plays like that rather quickly.

[Tracer Bullet]

[Sammy Sofa]

I like how the benching crowd seems to think that that's the only way he could possibly understand or learn that he made a mistake. It really does just speak to how little they think of him that they seemingly think it's impossible for him to learn via the coaches talking to him, or film, or practice or whatever. No, the only way is for him to be benched and publicly shamed. You get people here who think the charges of racism against Kaplan and co. is a bit much, but I think this just speaks to how it's so ingrained; they act like Castro is a basically a dog that has to get whacked on the nose with a newspaper to learn.

[El Duderino]

I like how the benching crowd seems to think that that's the only way he could possibly understand or learn that he made a mistake. It really does just speak to how little they think of him that they seemingly think it's impossible for him to learn via the coaches talking to him, or film, or practice or whatever. No, the only way is for him to be benched and publicly shamed. You get people here who think the charges of racism against Kaplan and co. is a bit much, but I think this just speaks to how it's so ingrained; they act like Castro is a basically a dog that has to get whacked on the nose with a newspaper to learn.

 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a315/Matt_2108/thehairwins.jpg

[bigkid66]

Somewhat disappointed in Castro's year so far. I was hoping to see more growth offensively. His OPS is 5th on the team and only slightly above Barney's (.756 vs .745). His 6/41 BB/K numbers are not encouraging. I'm still hoping for a superstar but I'm worried we'll only get above average.

[Sosa21MVP]

Somewhat disappointed in Castro's year so far. I was hoping to see more growth offensively. His OPS is 5th on the team and only slightly above Barney's (.756 vs .745). His 6/41 BB/K numbers are not encouraging. I'm still hoping for a superstar but I'm worried we'll only get above average.

 

Or maybe he is pressing since he knows the rest of the lineup is piece of [expletive]? Plausible theory imo.

[Sammy Sofa]

Or maybe he's 22.

[DrCub]

Or maybe he's 22.

 

 

Not buying it. Superstars cannot make mistakes.

[KingCubsFan]

Or maybe he's 22.

The lack of improvement in plate patience is a bit disappointing, though. His BB:K ratio was 29:71 in 463 at bats his first year, then 35:96 in his second year. He's currently on pace for 17 walks and 119 strikeouts. And his slugging has remained the same. I think he's definitely pressing, but the lack of improvement in certain areas is a bit disappointing given his finish last year.

[SouthSideRyan]

Or maybe he's 22.

 

More like 32. You know how those people are.

[17 Seconds]

he doesn't have to walk to be awesome

[jersey cubs fan]

he doesn't have to walk to be awesome

 

He doesn't have to, but it will be a lot easier, and more awesome, if he does.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

You guys are overthinking it. The walks are a tiny bit down, but I'm not even sure it's big enough not to just attribute it to variance.

 

Last year: 307/341/432

This year: 310/324/432

 

Pretty much the exact same player.

[SouthSideRyan]

You guys are overthinking it. The walks are a tiny bit down, but I'm not even sure it's big enough not to just attribute it to variance.

 

Last year: 307/341/432

This year: 310/324/432

 

Pretty much the exact same player.

 

I wasn't expecting pretty much the same player this year. There's still time though.

[KingCubsFan]

You guys are overthinking it. The walks are a tiny bit down, but I'm not even sure it's big enough not to just attribute it to variance.

 

Last year: 307/341/432

This year: 310/324/432

 

Pretty much the exact same player.

Agreed, pretty much the same (although the walk rate is cut in half). I was just hoping that the improvements made in August and September would carry over.

[Guest]

You guys are overthinking it. The walks are a tiny bit down, but I'm not even sure it's big enough not to just attribute it to variance.

 

Last year: 307/341/432

This year: 310/324/432

 

Pretty much the exact same player.

 

In terms of hitting, sure.

[treebird]

he's about the same player offensively, yes, but i think like a third of the board (including ssr 3 million times) said he was going to hit 20 home runs this year. there's still time to improve, but the fact that we've seen either no improvement or slight regression is disappointing.

 

the defensive improvements are obviously a completely different story.

[imb]

You guys are overthinking it. The walks are a tiny bit down, but I'm not even sure it's big enough not to just attribute it to variance.

 

Last year: 307/341/432

This year: 310/324/432

 

Pretty much the exact same player.

 

I wasn't expecting pretty much the same player this year. There's still time though.

 

he's gonna go on a 3-week hit binge soon and be up in the .330s. This is totally unsubstantiated, but it seems like he's a guy that will go 1-for-4 over and over and over and then put together a bunch of 3-hit games in a row.

[sneakypower]

stumbled upon this the other day (from last october)

 

Dan Szymborski:

Going through Castro's Prime:

 

Year BA/OBP/SLG WAR

2012 301/343/432 3.5

2013 308/352/464 4.4

2014 310/356/475 4.8

2015 311/359/479 5.0

2016 310/359/487 5.2

2017 309/360/483 5.1

2018 304/357/479 4.8

2019 304/357/479 4.7

2020 302/354/471 4.3

2021 300/351/466 3.9

 

ZiPS likes Castro.

 

Going down Castro's comp list:

 

Derek Jeter

Robin Yount

George Brett

Paul Molitor

Hanley Ramirez

Steve Sax

Alan Trammell

Garry Templeton

Troy Tulowitzki

Carney Lansford

Zoilo Versalles

Roberto Alomar

Jim Fregosi

Adrian Beltre

Edgar Renteria

Chris Speier

Cecil Travis

Robinson Cano

Joe Thurston

Buddy Bell

Lou Boudreau

[El Duderino]

Was just perusing Starlin's fangraphs page, and his o-swing% is nearly 10 points higher this year. Poo.

[Guest]

I really don't like this. I realize it's no big deal and he is likely to develop patience over time, especially if/when the power comes, but I still hate reading this.

 

Castro worked with new hitting coach James Rowson Thursday, but won't change his aggressive approach.

 

"I don't have to change," he said. "The walks and those kinds of things, they're coming. I try to be more patient, but right now, the pitchers are throwing strikes. That's all I can do, swing the bat. If the pitcher doesn't throw strikes, I don't swing. A lot of guys are (first-pitch hitters), and the hitting coach, he likes that. He said if you know your pitch, swing, even if it's the first pitch."

 

It needs to be drilled into his head that not all strikes are good pitches to hit and that his odds at getting them are much better a few balls into the count.

[CyHawk_Cub]

I really don't like this. I realize it's no big deal and he is likely to develop patience over time, especially if/when the power comes, but I still hate reading this.

 

Castro worked with new hitting coach James Rowson Thursday, but won't change his aggressive approach.

 

"I don't have to change," he said. "The walks and those kinds of things, they're coming. I try to be more patient, but right now, the pitchers are throwing strikes. That's all I can do, swing the bat. If the pitcher doesn't throw strikes, I don't swing. A lot of guys are (first-pitch hitters), and the hitting coach, he likes that. He said if you know your pitch, swing, even if it's the first pitch."

 

It needs to be drilled into his head that not all strikes are good pitches to hit and that his odds at getting them are much better a few balls into the count.

 

What I hate most about those comments is that it'll provide even more ammo for the meatballs already making negative comments about Starlin all over the interwebs. Now it's also gonna be "You know, THOSE people are sooo stubborn & unwilling to change. Just look at how long it took Soriano to use a lighter bat!!!"

 

ETA: I have very little doubt he's gonna mature as a person & as a player & become what most people here think he can become as a player. He's 22. I'd like to see him improve WRT plate discipline sooner rather than later. I'm just not all concerned about it at this point.