Castro

[DiamondMind]

He's just never going to be a high OBP guy. I don't care. Let him post a 320 OBP if he's matching that with a 450 SLG and better defense. Also he's STILL just a kid.

[Guest]

http://www.bleachernation.com/2014/04/28/fun-with-starlin-castros-big-day-and-his-suddenly-great-numbers/

 

.448 SLG, 111 OPS+, .335 wOBA, 111 wRC+.

[bukie]

Castro and Rizzo leading the team in LD% so far this year, which is encouraging, except for the whole "the rest of the team can't hit line drives often".

[neely crenshaw]

Last year 6 shortstops posted above a .320 ob% and only 1 posted above .300 average or an .800 ops.

 

If Castro can make a run at .300, he should post at least .330 ob% but certainly that .320 range with a .750 ops very possible, which all would put him near the top at SS.

 

As the club puts more offense around him, he doesn't need to anything more than his norm. Right now he and Rizzo have to carry the offense.

Really its just nice to watch Castro and not feel like he has no chance like the end of last season.

[DiamondMind]

I barely even want to have conversations about Castros perceived shortcomings anymore. He is still 24! At 28 this kids going to be a total monster. We'd be complete fools to ever let him out of our control.

[Sammy Sofa]

Unless it's for Stanton.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I barely even want to have conversations about Castros perceived shortcomings anymore. He is still 24! At 28 this kids going to be a total monster. We'd be complete fools to ever let him out of our control.

 

At 28 he'll be on the decline. Shortstops peak early.

[bukie]

I barely even want to have conversations about Castros perceived shortcomings anymore. He is still 24! At 28 this kids going to be a total monster. We'd be complete fools to ever let him out of our control.

 

At 28 he'll be on the decline. Shortstops peak early.

Mostly because the best hitting shortstops get moved off shortstop by then.

[Soul]

Castro had 1,200 PA's worth of .340-ish OBP. Why shouldn't we expect him to get back to that level? It's not like he only did it for half a season. It was his rookie year (125 games) + his full 2nd season.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Castro had 1,200 PA's worth of .340-ish OBP. Why shouldn't we expect him to get back to that level? It's not like he only did it for half a season. It was his rookie year (125 games) + his full 2nd season.

 

Because he has a whole bunch of PAs since then with less than that, and because those came with an unusually high BABIP.

[gscool89]

I barely even want to have conversations about Castros perceived shortcomings anymore. He is still 24! At 28 this kids going to be a total monster. We'd be complete fools to ever let him out of our control.

 

At 28 he'll be on the decline. Shortstops peak early.

Don't let Troy Tulowitzki know

[imb]

Good to see Castro's strikeout rate back down

[Soul]

Castro had 1,200 PA's worth of .340-ish OBP. Why shouldn't we expect him to get back to that level? It's not like he only did it for half a season. It was his rookie year (125 games) + his full 2nd season.

 

Because he has a whole bunch of PAs since then with less than that, and because those came with an unusually high BABIP.

 

Yeah, but we have reason to suspect that a good portion of the PA's that came after were under a manager/coaching staff who were making changes to his approach -- which has since been abandoned.

[XZero771679666304]

Good to see Castro's strikeout rate back down

 

If he maintains this rate, it'd be the lowest of his career. His LD% is also a few points above his previous career best. He's hit into some bad luck over the past several games, too.

 

No idea if he can maintain any of this, but it's encouraging.

[Guest]

Good to see Castro's strikeout rate back down

 

If he maintains this rate, it'd be the lowest of his career. His LD% is also a few points above his previous career best. He's hit into some bad luck over the past several games, too.

 

No idea if he can maintain any of this, but it's encouraging.

 

If he maintains this, it's like we're getting a near best case scenario because it really seems like he's been working into hitters counts pretty often (which could be a result of what he was trying to learn last year) and crushing the ball after that. Not many walks, but yeah.

[Guest]

Castro, Castillo, and Rizzo are on pace for 12 WAR between them, that's very nearly the best case scenario for the "core" hitters. Hopefully it keeps up, the peripherals are encouraging for Castro and Rizzo, and they're not not encouraging for Castillo either.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Castro, Castillo, and Rizzo are on pace for 12 WAR between them, that's very nearly the best case scenario for the "core" hitters. Hopefully it keeps up, the peripherals are encouraging for Castro and Rizzo, and they're not not encouraging for Castillo either.

 

Much like Castro, 750 PAs of .340+ BAIP just don't sell me that Castillo can do that forever. I still expect a .300-.310 OBP from him long-term.

 

But Rizzo is a beast and Castro has me excited again.

[sneakypower]

Castro, Castillo, and Rizzo are on pace for 12 WAR between them, that's very nearly the best case scenario for the "core" hitters. Hopefully it keeps up, the peripherals are encouraging for Castro and Rizzo, and they're not not encouraging for Castillo either.

i was prepared to rip on Castillo's poor framing (-1.6 runs added by count, 3rd worst) here and resulting inflated WAR, but then i saw BP actually also thinks he's been the best catcher in baseball (+2.4 runs) at preventing past balls & wild pitches:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/sortable/index.php?cid=1667631

[imb]

BP actually also thinks he's been the best catcher in baseball (+2.4 runs) at preventing past balls

 

where the [expletive] was this guy during marmol's reign

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I'm pretty sure Castillo is one of the best blockers in baseball. His pitch framing still sucks though. Makes me pine for Geo a little.

[apete6]

I'm pretty sure Castillo is one of the best blockers in baseball. His pitch framing still sucks though. Makes me pine for Geo a little.

 

He was number 2 in overall runs saved last year.

[Guest]

I'm pretty sure Castillo is one of the best blockers in baseball. His pitch framing still sucks though. Makes me pine for Geo a little.

 

He was number 2 in overall runs saved last year.

but he can't frame a pitch and that's mythically bad, or something.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Framing pitches having an effect on games is hardly a myth. BP has done some incredible studies on it that I'm too lazy to link.

[ConstableRabbit]

Castro, Castillo, and Rizzo are on pace for 12 WAR between them, that's very nearly the best case scenario for the "core" hitters. Hopefully it keeps up, the peripherals are encouraging for Castro and Rizzo, and they're not not encouraging for Castillo either.

i was prepared to rip on Castillo's poor framing (-1.6 runs added by count, 3rd worst) here and resulting inflated WAR, but then i saw BP actually also thinks he's been the best catcher in baseball (+2.4 runs) at preventing past balls & wild pitches:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/sortable/index.php?cid=1667631

Thoughts on how he affects future balls?

[sneakypower]

wouldn't you like to know