can we talk about Starlin Castro?

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

so I guess that light bulb turned back off for a lot of people

 

Makeup is a real thing, and I don't think Starlin Castro has the makeup of The Ideal #3 hitter. I'm not an extremist one way or another...I've watched too much baseball to not appreciate SOME of the world of intangibles. The Yankees even buy that stuff and they (might) have been ahead of pretty much every franchise when it comes to statistical analysis back in the 80's. There's probably

 

I could totally be wrong on Castro as a #3 hitter, but this is something I totally buy until I'm totally wrong. I wonder if being in the three hole is what's affected his already not ideal patience at the plate...Maybe or maybe not.

[mul21]

As to your real point: That's fine, I understand that. I don't care. There's a difference between saying he profiles better as a number two hitter and claiming that hitting third is actually harming his performance or his development.

 

What if one is saying both?

 

I've tried to make it abundantly clear that I don't think Castro hitting third is somehow critically damaging his approach or setting him up for failure in the long run; my reasons for not wanting him hitting third rest primarily in that I don't think he profiles ideally as a #3 hitter and the Cubs are, despite how good he is, selling themselves short if they want to try and shoehorn him in to that role. My concerns about how the traditional expectations of a #3 hitter might be playing to the more detrimental aspects of his approach at the plate are effectively just window dressing; they're not the main reasons I don't want him hitting there, but they are a reason down the spectrum. Now, I'm not saying this is a sure thing; I could easily be completely wrong and hitting #3 has absolutely nothing with some of the things we're seeing so far this year. Ultimately it's just another reason for me to toss on the heap of reasons why I'd rather see him hitting #2 or even leading off.

 

Yes, this. He's trying to be a run producer instead of maximizing the possibility of getting on base. I don't think it's hurting his development at all, just repressing some of his OBP potential for the moment because he's pressing a bit.

[Guest]

Okay, I'm sensing a ton of frustration with Starlin's aggressiveness and lack of walks in game threads and other threads, and as a result, I'm getting the feeling that some NSBB posters think this season has been a disappointment thus far for Castro. Don't get me wrong, I get a weird amount of happiness when he takes a walk and would absolutely love to see him do it more. However, don't let that frustration get in the way of realizing what he has done this season.

 

He has improved his base stealing and is on pace for over 40. Despite the low OBP, his OPS currently stands at .770. The biggest story, though, is his play defensively. He has been a plus defender at SS this season, and is on pace for a 4+ WAR season. At age 22 (!!!). All of this is still very exciting.

 

He's actually on pace for 5+ fWAR (5.4 if he played all 162, as he has played 48/48 so far).

[Hairyducked Idiot]

This is pretty much what I hoped for out of this season from Castro.

 

He's maintaining his offensive levels from previous years, which I was a tiny bit skeptical about, but I guess I just have to accept that his natural BABIP is in the .345 range. But his defense has made a huge leap forward.

[Guest]

This is pretty much what I hoped for out of this season from Castro.

 

He's maintaining his offensive levels from previous years, which I was a tiny bit skeptical about, but I guess I just have to accept that his natural BABIP is in the .345 range. But his defense has made a huge leap forward.

 

I wonder how much of it is real improvement and how much is simply the boost from positioning. Clearly it's some combination of both...just not sure how much.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

This is pretty much what I hoped for out of this season from Castro.

 

He's maintaining his offensive levels from previous years, which I was a tiny bit skeptical about, but I guess I just have to accept that his natural BABIP is in the .345 range. But his defense has made a huge leap forward.

 

I wonder how much of it is real improvement and how much is simply the boost from positioning. Clearly it's some combination of both...just not sure how much.

 

Either one can be reasonably expected to stick around moving forward, so it's fine to just be happy with it.

[KingCubsFan]

This is pretty much what I hoped for out of this season from Castro.

 

He's maintaining his offensive levels from previous years, which I was a tiny bit skeptical about, but I guess I just have to accept that his natural BABIP is in the .345 range. But his defense has made a huge leap forward.

 

I wonder how much of it is real improvement and how much is simply the boost from positioning. Clearly it's some combination of both...just not sure how much.

Does it matter? (Outside of errant throws, which Sveum can only do so much about)

[Guest]

This is pretty much what I hoped for out of this season from Castro.

 

He's maintaining his offensive levels from previous years, which I was a tiny bit skeptical about, but I guess I just have to accept that his natural BABIP is in the .345 range. But his defense has made a huge leap forward.

 

I wonder how much of it is real improvement and how much is simply the boost from positioning. Clearly it's some combination of both...just not sure how much.

Does it matter? (Outside of errant throws, which Sveum can only do so much about)

 

Not that much. Doesn't stop me from wondering.

[Guest]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/starlin-castro-and-the-odd-stat-of-the-day/

[Tracer Bullet]

Castro's obp is .322? Ugh.

[sneakypower]

Castro has 1 BB and 29 K in his past 41 G (176 PA)

 

still hitting .306/.307/.447 for that stretch, though; he really does have an other-worldly hit tool

[UMFan83]

I wouldnt be surprised if we found out that Starlin was taking advice from Dusty behind our backs.

[Cubswin11]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/starlin-castro-and-the-odd-stat-of-the-day/

Ozzie Guillen, ladies and gentlemen =D>

[El Duderino]

I wouldnt be surprised if we found out that Starlin was taking advice from Dusty behind our backs.

 

Can't walk across the plate, dude.

[Sammy Sofa]

Castro has 1 BB and 29 K in his past 41 G (176 PA)

 

http://media.comicbookmovie.com/images/users/gallerypictures/16857L.jpg

[UMFan83]

Make that 2 in his last 42!

[bukie]

Yep, he just increased his walk rate by 25%.

[SouthSideRyan]

I wouldnt be surprised if we found out that Starlin was taking advice from Dusty behind our backs.

 

I'd be pretty surprised by that.

[woodchip2153]

Castro has the most knockdowns according to BIS. link

 

Not sure what this tells us, if it tells us anything.

[Guest]

Castro has the most knockdowns according to BIS. link

 

Not sure what this tells us, if it tells us anything.

 

And the Cubs are second in the majors

[ConstableRabbit]

ESPN had a "if you could start your team with one guy who would it be?" mock draft today. Starlin went 9th (picked by Aaron Boone).

 

Why Boone picked Castro: "A 22-year-old shortstop already coming off a 200-hit season. I think the power will come soon, along with improved defense. I think .320, with 20-plus HRs, 90-plus RBIs and runs and 30-plus SBs will become his norm over the next decade.”

 

In the accompanying chat, Kevin Goldstein had this to say: I agree with everything Aaron says about Castro offensively. Defense, not so much. I predict he'll be a third baseman during the last half of this ten year period, and the stolen bases will dwindle.

 

I thought that was interesting given the variety of opinions on his defensive development.

[mul21]

ESPN had a "if you could start your team with one guy who would it be?" mock draft today. Starlin went 9th (picked by Aaron Boone).

 

Why Boone picked Castro: "A 22-year-old shortstop already coming off a 200-hit season. I think the power will come soon, along with improved defense. I think .320, with 20-plus HRs, 90-plus RBIs and runs and 30-plus SBs will become his norm over the next decade.”

 

In the accompanying chat, Kevin Goldstein had this to say: I agree with everything Aaron says about Castro offensively. Defense, not so much. I predict he'll be a third baseman during the last half of this ten year period, and the stolen bases will dwindle.

 

I thought that was interesting given the variety of opinions on his defensive development.

 

And Sutcliffe picked Shark at #26.

[SouthSideRyan]

ESPN had a "if you could start your team with one guy who would it be?" mock draft today. Starlin went 9th (picked by Aaron Boone).

 

Why Boone picked Castro: "A 22-year-old shortstop already coming off a 200-hit season. I think the power will come soon, along with improved defense. I think .320, with 20-plus HRs, 90-plus RBIs and runs and 30-plus SBs will become his norm over the next decade.”

 

In the accompanying chat, Kevin Goldstein had this to say: I agree with everything Aaron says about Castro offensively. Defense, not so much. I predict he'll be a third baseman during the last half of this ten year period, and the stolen bases will dwindle.

 

I thought that was interesting given the variety of opinions on his defensive development.

 

Ahead of Betances? Maybe we can rob the Yankees blind and trade them 1 for 1 then.

[sneakypower]

ESPN had a "if you could start your team with one guy who would it be?" mock draft today. Starlin went 9th (picked by Aaron Boone).

 

Why Boone picked Castro: "A 22-year-old shortstop already coming off a 200-hit season. I think the power will come soon, along with improved defense. I think .320, with 20-plus HRs, 90-plus RBIs and runs and 30-plus SBs will become his norm over the next decade.”

 

In the accompanying chat, Kevin Goldstein had this to say: I agree with everything Aaron says about Castro offensively. Defense, not so much. I predict he'll be a third baseman during the last half of this ten year period, and the stolen bases will dwindle.

 

I thought that was interesting given the variety of opinions on his defensive development.

interesting...i'd love to hear Goldstein's explanation as to why a 22-year-old with the best speed score amongst SS and current 3rd-best range rating will inevitably need to move off the position

 

i do like his bold prediction that Castro's 50-steal pace is probably not predictive/sustainable

[El Duderino]

ESPN had a "if you could start your team with one guy who would it be?" mock draft today. Starlin went 9th (picked by Aaron Boone).

 

Why Boone picked Castro: "A 22-year-old shortstop already coming off a 200-hit season. I think the power will come soon, along with improved defense. I think .320, with 20-plus HRs, 90-plus RBIs and runs and 30-plus SBs will become his norm over the next decade.”

 

In the accompanying chat, Kevin Goldstein had this to say: I agree with everything Aaron says about Castro offensively. Defense, not so much. I predict he'll be a third baseman during the last half of this ten year period, and the stolen bases will dwindle.

 

I thought that was interesting given the variety of opinions on his defensive development.

interesting...i'd love to hear Goldstein's explanation as to why a 22-year-old with the best speed score amongst SS and current 3rd-best range rating will inevitably need to move off the position

 

i do like his bold prediction that Castro's 50-steal pace is probably not predictive/sustainable

 

Goldstein hates defensive metrics.