30 games gone

[rocket]

samardzija not just being a competent starting pitcher, but an excellent one, is my favorite story of the year so far.

 

i'm happy lahair is doing well, but you know rizzo is still the long term answer at first.

[BeerHere]

Errors don't really matter for him because of his incredible range. Announcers like to use that to try to make him out to be lazy and lacking focus, but he gets to balls many other shortstops don't. His defense has been excellent.

I'm too lazy to look it up, and I'm playing devil's advocate here, but aren't the majority of his errors of his throwing?

[BeerHere]

Errors don't really matter for him because of his incredible range. Announcers like to use that to try to make him out to be lazy and lacking focus, but he gets to balls many other shortstops don't. His defense has been excellent.

I'm too lazy to look it up, and I'm playing devil's advocate here, but aren't the majority of his errors of his throwing?

 

Just to make a point before people jump all over me....I love Castro. Love the kid. But I do think OP has a point, I'd like to see a little more patience out of him and there areas of him game that could use some work. Again, I'm thrilled he's a Cubbie. I'm glad he's here and shocked quite frankly that he came through the system.

[BeerHere]

samardzija not just being a competent starting pitcher, but an excellent one, is my favorite story of the year so far.

 

i'm happy lahair is doing well, but you know rizzo is still the long term answer at first.

Agreed on both points. LaHair is probably going to the outfield next year when Soriano is traded or benched.

[davell]

Keith Law just said Samardzija's emergence is easily the biggest story of the baseball season for him. Looks at him as a likely 3 going forward.

[Guest]

Keith Law just said Samardzija's emergence is easily the biggest story of the baseball season for him. Looks at him as a likely 3 going forward.

From my rotation preview article during the offseason:

 

Internal High Ceiling:

 

It is fair to say that 2011 was Jeff Samardzija’s breakthrough season. Not only was he able to stick in the majors all season long, but he ended up the season as a heck of a reliever. He had a 1.26 ERA over the past two months of the season. He struck out a lot of hitters all year long, but dramatically reduced his walk rate as the season went along (9.39 – 5.52 – 4.70 – 3.86 – 3.38 – 3.55). He mixes four pitches that all showed as above average offerings in 2011 (fastball, slider, split finger, cut fastball). He also has been relatively injury-free throughout his career and has a body type that seems fitted for a starter’s workload. It is safe to say that Samardzija represents a high-potential starter if he can continue his progress and hold his velocity and command deep into games. The risk with Jeff is that the switch to the rotation causes him to regress and give up the progress he made this season. It also opens up a hole at the back end of the bullpen that will need to be addressed.

I only wish I had been even more bold in my prediction.

[El Duderino]

Errors don't really matter for him because of his incredible range. Announcers like to use that to try to make him out to be lazy and lacking focus, but he gets to balls many other shortstops don't. His defense has been excellent.

I'm too lazy to look it up, and I'm playing devil's advocate here, but aren't the majority of his errors of his throwing?

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4579&position=SS#fielding

 

he has 34 fielding errors compared to 30 throwing errors in his career, which kind of shocks me. I thought he had way more throwing.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The great:

Starlin Castro

Bryan LaHair

Matt Garza

Jeff Samardzjia

Ryan Dempster

Anthony Rizzo

 

The Good

Paul Maholm

James Russell

 

Various shades of gray

Rafael Dolis-needs to stop giving BBs

Tony Campana-needs to start taking BBs

David DeJesus-"does things right"

Brett Jackson(mostly)

Various minor league relievers

 

Pleasant Surprises

Sean Camp

Michael Bowden

Steve Clevenger

Joe Mather-guess we could do worse from a 25th man

 

Staying Patient

Geovany Soto

Ian Stewart

Josh Vitters

 

The bad

Chris Volstad-"inning of doom" or not.

Kerry Wood

Carlos Marmol

 

still here?

Reed Johnson

Jeff Baker

 

Is what it is

Alfonso Soriano

[Beer Kaese]

I knew I'd take heat on Castro, whom I called the best position player the Cubs have produced since Mark Grace. It's just, to me, he's not Vladamir Guerrero and needs walks to boost his OPS. He's my favorite player.

 

See you all in 30 games.

[SouthSideRyan]

I knew I'd take heat on Castro, whom I called the best position player the Cubs have produced since Mark Grace. It's just, to me, he's not Vladamir Guerrero and needs walks to boost his OPS. He's my favorite player.

 

See you all in 30 games.

 

lol, since Mark Grace. Starlin fucked careers like Mark Grace's in prison. Try Ernie Banks.

[Beer Kaese]

I knew I'd take heat on Castro, whom I called the best position player the Cubs have produced since Mark Grace. It's just, to me, he's not Vladamir Guerrero and needs walks to boost his OPS. He's my favorite player.

 

See you all in 30 games.

 

lol, since Mark Grace. Starlin [expletive] careers like Mark Grace's in prison. Try Ernie Banks.

 

You were either drunk when you posted this or you lack communication skills. I'm guessing you're a Sox fan.

[Magnetic Curses]

I knew I'd take heat on Castro, whom I called the best position player the Cubs have produced since Mark Grace. It's just, to me, he's not Vladamir Guerrero and needs walks to boost his OPS. He's my favorite player.

 

See you all in 30 games.

 

lol, since Mark Grace. Starlin [expletive] careers like Mark Grace's in prison. Try Ernie Banks.

 

You were either drunk when you posted this or you lack communication skills. I'm guessing you're a Sox fan.

 

yeah!

[Guest]

I knew I'd take heat on Castro, whom I called the best position player the Cubs have produced since Mark Grace. It's just, to me, he's not Vladamir Guerrero and needs walks to boost his OPS. He's my favorite player.

 

See you all in 30 games.

 

lol, since Mark Grace. Starlin [expletive] careers like Mark Grace's in prison. Try Ernie Banks.

 

You were either drunk when you posted this or you lack communication skills. I'm guessing you're a Sox fan.

 

 

Good guess!

[XZero771679666304]

I knew I'd take heat on Castro, whom I called the best position player the Cubs have produced since Mark Grace. It's just, to me, he's not Vladamir Guerrero and needs walks to boost his OPS. He's my favorite player.

 

See you all in 30 games.

 

lol, since Mark Grace. Starlin [expletive] careers like Mark Grace's in prison. Try Ernie Banks.

 

You were either drunk when you posted this or you lack communication skills. I'm guessing you're a Sox fan.

 

 

Good guess!

 

Plus I'm pretty sure SSR came home one day and found Mark Grace acting out the Kama Sutra with his mom.

[TruffleShuffle]

campana is fun as hell. i know he may be a 4th/5th outfielder long term, but it's fun to watch him get on base and then run wild. he'll be interesting if he can keep his K rate down and walk a little more.

 

samardzija has been really good, though i still have to wonder what would have happened if they'd stuck with him as a starter instead of yanking him around so much.

[Guest]

campana is fun as hell. i know he may be a 4th/5th outfielder long term, but it's fun to watch him get on base and then run wild. he'll be interesting if he can keep his K rate down and walk a little more.

 

Yeah. It's pretty nice that once he reaches second, he's going to score on pretty much any hit to the outfield. The two today he didn't even draw a throw on the first and the throw got cut off on the second because it was going to be way late.

[Yeti]

I knew I'd take heat on Castro, whom I called the best position player the Cubs have produced since Mark Grace. It's just, to me, he's not Vladamir Guerrero and needs walks to boost his OPS. He's my favorite player.

 

See you all in 30 games.

 

lol, since Mark Grace. Starlin [expletive] careers like Mark Grace's in prison. Try Ernie Banks.

 

You were either drunk when you posted this or you lack communication skills. I'm guessing you're a Sox fan.

 

 

Good guess!

 

Plus I'm pretty sure SSR came home one day and found Mark Grace acting out the Kama Sutra with his mom.

that wasnt Grace, it was me...although, truth be told, i let him believe it was Grace for a very long time

[Banedon]

I knew I'd take heat on Castro, whom I called the best position player the Cubs have produced since Mark Grace. It's just, to me, he's not Vladamir Guerrero and needs walks to boost his OPS. He's my favorite player.

 

See you all in 30 games.

 

lol, since Mark Grace. Starlin [expletive] careers like Mark Grace's in prison. Try Ernie Banks.

 

You were either drunk when you posted this or you lack communication skills. I'm guessing you're a Sox fan.

 

Well crap. I'd have banned him 37,500 posts ago if I'd realized that!

[Little Slide Rooter]

I knew I'd take heat on Castro, whom I called the best position player the Cubs have produced since Mark Grace. It's just, to me, he's not Vladamir Guerrero and needs walks to boost his OPS. He's my favorite player.

 

See you all in 30 games.

 

lol, since Mark Grace. Starlin [expletive] careers like Mark Grace's in prison. Try Ernie Banks.

 

You were either drunk when you posted this or you lack communication skills. I'm guessing you're a Sox fan.

 

Well crap. I'd have banned him 37,500 posts ago if I'd realized that!

 

I'm still getting over the shock of learning that Starlin Castro is not Vladamir Guerrero. I thought that it was like a Nyjer Morgan/T. Plush type of thing.