Valentine vs Castro

[Banedon]

If you watched the game last night, you saw Bobby Valentine spend about half an inning laying into Castro. Even though about three times Valentine said he didn't wanna beat Castro up, that's exactly what he did. Things that Valentine criticized Castro for.

 

1) Facing away from the batter as the pitch was thrown.

2) Pulling out sunflower seeds from his back pocket as the pitch was thrown

3) Taking his glove off between pitches

4) Looking down all the time

 

The first one was obviously a pretty fair criticism. The others were up for debate, especially as they praised Barney, but showed him doing similar stuff.

 

"The sunflower seed thing, guys stay loose with sunflower seeds," he said.

 

Quade added he would talk to his coaches and "call Bobby, see what he saw."

 

Bobby called Castro the most talented player on the team a number of times, but was clearly irritated. Figured it was fodder for discussion.

[UMFan83]

Im sure he's likely overreacting although Quades response is rather strange.

[Mark Priors Calves]

It's a matter of time until Castro is cast as another lazy, unclutch Latino player by the media.

[Joe_Cub]

I took it as ripping Quade because he also talked about how Castro's mental lapses seem to happen over and over without anyone mentioning it to him (camera also lingered on Aramis and Pena). Valentine was all over how he would handle Castro differently.

 

Valentine's opening campaign round 2 for Cubs manager?

[Guest]

If you watched the game last night, you saw Bobby Valentine spend about half an inning laying into Castro. Even though about three times Valentine said he didn't wanna beat Castro up, that's exactly what he did. Things that Valentine criticized Castro for.

 

1) Facing away from the batter as the pitch was thrown.

2) Pulling out sunflower seeds from his back pocket as the pitch was thrown

3) Taking his glove off between pitches

4) Looking down all the time

 

The first one was obviously a pretty fair criticism. The others were up for debate, especially as they praised Barney, but showed him doing similar stuff.

 

"The sunflower seed thing, guys stay loose with sunflower seeds," he said.

 

Quade added he would talk to his coaches and "call Bobby, see what he saw."

 

Bobby called Castro the most talented player on the team a number of times, but was clearly irritated. Figured it was fodder for discussion.

Some of the criticism is well-founded. You've got a young shortstop who makes a lot of errors who is clearly not 100% focused out there. It is a pretty easy leap to conclude that the lack of focus is a contributor. I'm not sure if that's the case, but it is certainly worth noting.

 

However, the crew was over the top with the whole thing. Valentine went on a fairly lengthy rant for a TV broadcast about what was going on. Their attempt to contrast with Barney was fairly ridiculous when Barney was also taking his glove off between pitches.

 

On a total side note...spitting the seeds didn't put Castro in the best light out there. Especially when one would stick to his lip and just sit there for a bit.

[Banedon]

On a total side note...spitting the seeds didn't put Castro in the best light out there. Especially when one would stick to his lip and just sit there for a bit.

 

It could well be that I've just never paid that close of attention (I know I haven't this year...least baseball I've ever watched), but I'm not sure I've seen guys eating/spitting seeds while playing the field before. In the dugout, sure. But that was just a weird sight.

[UMFan83]

I guess I just dont see how eating sunflower seeds on the field has anything to do with anything.

[Old Style]

On a total side note...spitting the seeds didn't put Castro in the best light out there. Especially when one would stick to his lip and just sit there for a bit.

 

It could well be that I've just never paid that close of attention (I know I haven't this year...least baseball I've ever watched), but I'm not sure I've seen guys eating/spitting seeds while playing the field before. In the dugout, sure. But that was just a weird sight.

It's not uncommon at all. Hell, I used to do it in HS. Just throw a handful of seeds in my cheek right before taking the field. It's really no different that chewing tobacco or gum. Now if you're digging into your back pocket for more while the pitcher is in the windup, then there is an issue.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I can't remember the last time I watched a game where people in the field didn't have seeds in their mouths.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I can't remember the last time I watched a game where people in the field didn't have seeds in their mouths.

 

It's either that or chaw.

[Pushfrog98]

I guess I just dont see how eating sunflower seeds on the field has anything to do with anything.

Well, it's a safety hazard for starters... oh wait... he's not 3. Nevermind.

[UMFan83]

If Aramis Ramirez wasn't setting an example with his extreme laziness, Castro wouldn't be pulling this bush league crap.

[Banedon]

I can't remember the last time I watched a game where people in the field didn't have seeds in their mouths.

 

It's either that or chaw.

 

That I've seen plenty. I guess I've just been oblivious to the seeds while they're on the field.

[davearm2]

I don't care about the seeds. I don't care about the taking the glove off either. Those things don't correlate with not paying attention or not having your head in the game or whatever.

 

But if you're caught on camera with your back to the plate kicking dirt around while a pitch is being thrown, then you deserve a big helping of criticism.

[SouthSideRyan]

I don't care about the seeds. I don't care about the taking the glove off either. Those things don't correlate with not paying attention or not having your head in the game or whatever.

 

But if you're caught on camera with your back to the plate kicking dirt around while a pitch is being thrown, then you deserve a big helping of criticism.

 

Yep, seemingly once they pointed it out and went with the picture in picture they were going to pick on anything they could to develop the storyline. Having his back to the plate was pretty damn inexcusable.

[OleMissCub]

Umm...taking your glove off in between pitches? I swear it's like Bobby never played ball himself. What a stupid thing to criticize someone for. That's about as dumb as criticizing a player for moving around in between pitches.

[OleMissCub]

I don't care about the seeds. I don't care about the taking the glove off either. Those things don't correlate with not paying attention or not having your head in the game or whatever.

 

But if you're caught on camera with your back to the plate kicking dirt around while a pitch is being thrown, then you deserve a big helping of criticism.

 

Yep, seemingly once they pointed it out and went with the picture in picture they were going to pick on anything they could to develop the storyline. Having his back to the plate was pretty damn inexcusable.

 

Wow...yeah that would be an issue. That's pretty weird.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking your glove off between pitches, especially if there are no runners on. I didn't see the entire game so I missed him turning around, but I have now seen the highlights and can't believe it happened. I have no clue what was going through his head there.

[Little Slide Rooter]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with taking your glove off between pitches, especially if there are no runners on. I didn't see the entire game so I missed him turning around, but I have now seen the highlights and can't believe it happened. I have no clue what was going through his head there.

 

roosters fighting to the death.

[Sammy Sofa]

Chimichangas and siestas and not running out a pop fly.

[UMFan83]

I don't care about the seeds. I don't care about the taking the glove off either. Those things don't correlate with not paying attention or not having your head in the game or whatever.

 

But if you're caught on camera with your back to the plate kicking dirt around while a pitch is being thrown, then you deserve a big helping of criticism.

 

Yep, seemingly once they pointed it out and went with the picture in picture they were going to pick on anything they could to develop the storyline. Having his back to the plate was pretty damn inexcusable.

 

How often do you think that happens though? I am assuming not very often because it would have already been identified and fixed immediately with a benching or some other discipline. I'm not saying its ok that he did that, because its not, but I doubt its an ongoing issue, as I'm sure Castro knows he's not going to play long in the bigs if his back is to the batter while a pitch is thrown.

 

That said, I can understand if one feels that Castro absent mindedly doing that is a sign that his head is not in the game at all times, because that is the kind of mistake that should simply never happen.

[SouthSideRyan]

I doubt it's happened often, because you'd have think he'd have been burned on it by now if he's constantly turning his back while a pitch is being thrown.

[pitchcs]

Actually saw the whole thing last night and am 50/50 on how it played out.

 

Tim's got it right in that Bobby V pointing out Castro "isn't always 100% focused" is the real issue here. Not taking his glove off or chewing seeds. They were certainly over the top in pointing out all those little things but I'm chalking that up to ESPN being what they are.

 

I think the best thing they talked about during that segment was the possibility of a veteran SS being around to work with Starlin on what it means to play 162 games of winning baseball year in and year out. Right now, I just don't think he knows; and how should he? The fact is that this will be his, along with 1-2 other players', team going forward and he will be counted on to be a leader.

 

Just for example, I guarantee you that if someone like Derek Jeter, Omar Vizquel, Barry Larkin, Ozzie Smith, etc. were to sit down with Starlin and watch video of him playing the field they would tell him many of the same things that Bobby V was talking about as far as his pitch-to-pitch, inning-to-inning focus is concerned. Just being into every pitch, anticipating where the ball will be hit, communicating with the infield. He even said that right now Starlin just enjoys hitting much more than he does fielding and someone needs to point out how much of an impact he could actually make there as well. I had no problem with Bobby V pointing out this part of his play, but the other stuff was just fodder.

Edited August 22, 2011 by pitchcs

[SouthSideRyan]

He had Alan Trammell for 4 and a half months last year.

[Guest]

The Cubs and Castro could do a lot worse than to have Valentine as their manager next year. He's known for being really, really, good with younger ballplayers/teams. The problem is that as players age they get tired of listening to him teaching/preaching.