Castro

[KingCubsFan]

all of this makes me so sad that we have 3 massive black holes in the OF (i guess that's being harsh on lake even if he is striking out 38% of the time)

 

can't you idiots at least luck into average or something

 

It's always something. That's why as awesome as Castro and Rizzo are being, I can't get excited about 2015. We'll fix the outfield and break something else, like we always do.

They could always do what Jesse Rogers suggested today and move Baez, Bryant and Castro to the outfield immediately.

 

what in the ever loving [expletive] hahahahahahaha

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/24103/cubs-outfield-plan-need-an-overhaul

 

Enjoy. My favorite part is that he says Kris Bryant should be moved off third because of Mike Olt, but then immediately turns around and suggests Baez or Castro should play third.

[Guest]

Unless the belief Baez is going to go down as one of the greatest power-hitting shortstops of all time he needs to move from shortstop as well.

 

Jesse Rogers got paid to write this sentence, it was the opening sentence of a paragraph.

[RammyFanny]

The whole thing reads like a fourth graders essay.

Give new manager Rick Renteria something to do -- like when he was animatedly teaching Lake the finer points of defense on Saturday during batting practice -- but the Cubs could quickly change the outlook in their outfield if they started moving some pieces around. That way 2015 or more likely 2016 might not only be about developing but maybe it starts to be about winning.

[imb]

The whole thing reads like a fourth graders essay.

Give new manager Rick Renteria something to do -- like when he was animatedly teaching Lake the finer points of defense on Saturday during batting practice -- but the Cubs could quickly change the outlook in their outfield if they started moving some pieces around. That way 2015 or more likely 2016 might not only be about developing but maybe it starts to be about winning.

 

Next thing you know its about derek jeters Gatorade deal

[Guest]

"Go or No Go?"

 

by Bill Simpson

[abuck1220]

we're overlooking this gem...

 

On all balls hit to his left and right he's plus-16, on balls hit straight at him he's minus-27 for his career.

 

I mean, who knows that those numbers are, but one has a - in front of it and one has a +, so case closed.

[Guest]

we're overlooking this gem...

 

On all balls hit to his left and right he's plus-16, on balls hit straight at him he's minus-27 for his career.

 

I mean, who knows that those numbers are, but one has a - in front of it and one has a +, so case closed.

 

Even better, that comes immediately after he says Castro needs to move off SS because he "doesn't see the ball well off the bat", and those numbers are supporting evidence. Because if you can't pick up the ball you'll definitely be way better on balls you have to track down laterally, right? Did Parks ghost-write this part?

 

I feel like sportswriting takedowns have gotten a bit stale, but this is truly a masterpiece of incoherent thought.

[abuck1220]

BUT HE'S MINUS 27. 27!

[jersey cubs fan]

I feel like sportswriting takedowns have gotten a bit stale, but this is truly a masterpiece of incoherent thought.

 

That is only because so much of it is all so repetitively terrible.

[neely crenshaw]

I don't think looking at Castro's career stats will fully show how is playing now or in the future. Obviously if there is no improvement, they are relevant. Not sure that what he did at 20-21 correlates.

 

Now that being said, I could see him become a center fielder also. He gets a tremendous jump on pop ups, and certainly it would allow more focus on his offense.

However, they aren't going to move him for Baez at least without some type of huge improvement. Baez is the exact same type of SS (great plays but has lapses, mental mistakes, etc), but not as good overall. I'm not sure we have anyone in the system that matches what Castro can do, or potentially can do.

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't think looking at Castro's career stats will fully show how is playing now or in the future. Obviously if there is no improvement, they are relevant. Not sure that what he did at 20-21 correlates.

 

okay

[North]

Castro has been fun to watch this year.

 

There are two stats that allow us to predict whether or not a player can walk at a specific rate. The first one is o-zone swing %, and the second one is first pitch strike %. Both have R correlations of 0.7 and R^2 of almost 0.5. So they are fairly predictive of if a batter will walk.

 

Castro's rates on both of those stats are better this year, with first pitch strike being significantly lower.

 

I think Castro can walk greater than 5%, and I think his ability to drive the ball further will only heighten his value. He's been great this year.

[treebird]

Castro has been fun to watch this year.

 

There are two stats that allow us to predict whether or not a player can walk at a specific rate. The first one is o-zone swing %, and the second one is first pitch strike %. Both have R correlations of 0.7 and R^2 of almost 0.5. So they are fairly predictive of if a batter will walk.

 

Castro's rates on both of those stats are better this year, with first pitch strike being significantly lower.

 

I think Castro can walk greater than 5%, and I think his ability to drive the ball further will only heighten his value. He's been great this year.

 

http://i.imgur.com/VluuOLv.gif

[Guest]

Fun fact: Castro is 4 HR away from his career high of 14 and 16 doubles away from his career high of 36.

 

On pace for 23 HR and 51 doubles.

[Sammy Sofa]

It's been a joy to watch him play.

 

And Rizzo is Rizzoin'.

 

Olt busted, but hey, Valbuena has stepped up, so I guess the minimum has been accomplished for me to have hope for 2015.

[Guest]

the doubles thing is actually a bit misleading because he's only on pace for 2 triples and had a career high of 12 in 2012 (when he had 29 doubles).

[Sammy Sofa]

OH GOD KAPLAN IS RIGHT HE'S LAZY AND BROWN.

[SouthSideRyan]

The whole thing reads like a fourth graders essay.

Give new manager Rick Renteria something to do -- like when he was animatedly teaching Lake the finer points of defense on Saturday during batting practice -- but the Cubs could quickly change the outlook in their outfield if they started moving some pieces around. That way 2015 or more likely 2016 might not only be about developing but maybe it starts to be about winning.

 

Next thing you know its about derek jeters Gatorade deal

 

Hahahahahahaha I just got this

[DiamondMind]

Possible stupid question here - Does Reneteria have anything to do with this? How much impact does a manager have to do with a young player? Is it even possible to quantify the difference between Sveum and Renteria?

 

Regardless, Castro looks more comfortable, and more in control this year. Still boggles my mind he's 24. I will [expletive] fire bomb the Cubs if we ever trade him.

[Sammy Sofa]

Trade him for Stanton. DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT.

[Guest]

The whole thing reads like a fourth graders essay.

Give new manager Rick Renteria something to do -- like when he was animatedly teaching Lake the finer points of defense on Saturday during batting practice -- but the Cubs could quickly change the outlook in their outfield if they started moving some pieces around. That way 2015 or more likely 2016 might not only be about developing but maybe it starts to be about winning.

 

Next thing you know its about derek jeters Gatorade deal

 

Hahahahahahaha I just got this

 

help me out

[jersey cubs fan]

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales · 31m

Castro has more home runs this season (13) than errors (12).

[SouthSideRyan]

The whole thing reads like a fourth graders essay.

Give new manager Rick Renteria something to do -- like when he was animatedly teaching Lake the finer points of defense on Saturday during batting practice -- but the Cubs could quickly change the outlook in their outfield if they started moving some pieces around. That way 2015 or more likely 2016 might not only be about developing but maybe it starts to be about winning.

 

Next thing you know its about derek jeters Gatorade deal

 

Hahahahahahaha I just got this

 

help me out

 

Collegiate Cub

[Guest]

John Arguello ‏@CubsDen 1m1 minute ago Phoenix, AZ

Way early and SSS applies, but looking at RZR (precursor to UZR) and Starlin Castro is currently 3rd among shortstops in baseball.

 

 

one of the few times I'll c/p an arguello tweet and not be ridiculing something

[Cubswin11]

I'm very happy that the FO is coming out and saying he's our SS long term. He's the best option for the job, imo, when taking all factors into account (he's shown improvement every year, allows Russell to bulk up a little by moving to 2B, etc.)