Castro

[Guest]

I'd say Lake is a "depleted bench in 15 inning game" MI.

[Clem Fandango]

Lake hasn't played MI in nearly 2-3 years, but I'd rather see Russell move to SS and Lake play 2nd over Castro + Russell. Russell has been bad enough at the plate but that was to be expected and at least his defense is stellar. Lake can't be any worse than Castro,

 

He sure as hell can be. A corner OF playing 2B sounds like a recipe for disaster. Especially one that has 600 PA of mediocrity at the plate. Figuring out AAA at 25 doesn't mean you changed anything for the better at the major league level, let alone mask what would be undoubtedly awful defense.

 

I was referring to overall value, not defense. Even then the MI suggestion was just that, a suggestion. Only spitballing. but Lake has more professional games as a SS than any other position, and was moved off the spot because of Castro, IIRC, and the team attempted to convert him into a Zobrist-like super utility guy. He's athletic enough to handle multiple positions. Can he handle them well? Probably not.

 

The Cubs just need to do whatever they need to to get Castro's bat out of the lineup, and I only brought up Lake in the first place because he's the only guy in AAA right now hitting worth a damn that would be considered for a callup to help with the offensive swoon because Baez is on the DL.

 

But until we figure out someone to replace Castro's bat in the lineup, whoever it may be, we'll keep having to trot this out there every day:

 

http://i.imgur.com/wRKpzWT.png

http://i.imgur.com/bxDXU70.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/fua555z.png

[Ding Dong Johnson]

He's also putting up a 13.2 BB%, a .494 SLG%, .170 ISO, and a .402 wOBA

 

Lake is swinging the bat really well right now, he's the best AAA option at the moment. Castro is hot garbage.

He isn't a SS. They'd be better off moving Russell to SS and Schwarber to 2B with this line of thinking.

I'm intrigued...

[jersey cubs fan]

I was referring to overall value, not defense.

 

I too am referring to overall value. Defense is part of overall value. Even if Lake outhits Castro the rest of the way (not a guarantee), he will be a worse defender and the overall value could easily be less than just sticking with a still crappy Castro.

 

Even then the MI suggestion was just that, a suggestion. Only spitballing. but Lake has more professional games as a SS than any other position, and was moved off the spot because of Castro, IIRC, and the team attempted to convert him into a Zobrist-like super utility guy. He's athletic enough to handle multiple positions. Can he handle them well? Probably not.

 

I cannot imagine they moved him off of SS "because of Castro". If a guy can play SS, he is inherently more valuable than the same guy playing LF. He began his pro career at SS but was moved around to other positions almost from the beginning.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I thought Lake was moved off SS because he wasn't any good defensively.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I thought Lake was moved off SS because he wasn't any good defensively.

 

And then moved out of the infield entirely for the same reason.

[jersey cubs fan]

I thought Lake was moved off SS because he wasn't any good defensively.

 

And then moved out of the infield entirely for the same reason.

Was he not moved off of 3B because of Ian Stewart?

[Banedon]

I thought Lake was moved off SS because he wasn't any good defensively.

 

He was intimidated by living up to the legacy of Ryan Theriot.

[Guest]

The Cubs just need to do whatever they need to to get Castro's bat out of the lineup, and I only brought up Lake in the first place because he's the only guy in AAA right now hitting worth a damn that would be considered for a callup to help with the offensive swoon because Baez is on the DL.

 

The point is that unless they do a complete 180 on Alcantara(and he starts hitting at AAA) or Baez gets healthy, the only true alternative to playing Castro everyday is Herrera. Sure there's some probability that Herrera might be better over a short stretch, but it's a move with no upside that bottoms out Castro's trade value, all for the (some might say slim) chance that Herrera nets a couple run improvement over whatever Castro gives you ROS. There are no other real options to playing Castro.

[Cubswin11]

I still think they should convert Lake to a pitcher given how good of an arm he has

[treebird]

The Cubs just need to do whatever they need to to get Castro's bat out of the lineup, and I only brought up Lake in the first place because he's the only guy in AAA right now hitting worth a damn that would be considered for a callup to help with the offensive swoon because Baez is on the DL.

 

The point is that unless they do a complete 180 on Alcantara(and he starts hitting at AAA) or Baez gets healthy, the only true alternative to playing Castro everyday is Herrera. Sure there's some probability that Herrera might be better over a short stretch, but it's a move with no upside that bottoms out Castro's trade value, all for the (some might say slim) chance that Herrera nets a couple run improvement over whatever Castro gives you ROS. There are no other real options to playing Castro.

 

i agree that there are no internal options right now, but i think i'm past worrying about castro's trade value at this point.

[BigSlick]

I have no idea what the minors look like right now. Are there any potential 2B other than Baez that are of replacement level available? Because I'm fully in favor of "Move Russell to SS (an immediate boost in defensive value if nothing else) and find Anything to put in 2B"

 

I also recognize that this wont happen

[Cubswin11]

I have no idea what the minors look like right now. Are there any potential 2B other than Baez that are of replacement level available? Because I'm fully in favor of "Move Russell to SS (an immediate boost in defensive value if nothing else) and find Anything to put in 2B"

 

I also recognize that this wont happen

I know he's been really good at 2B but I don't think it's a given Russell is a definitive boost defensively at SS over Castro

[sneakypower]

The Cubs just need to do whatever they need to to get Castro's bat out of the lineup, and I only brought up Lake in the first place because he's the only guy in AAA right now hitting worth a damn that would be considered for a callup to help with the offensive swoon because Baez is on the DL.

 

The point is that unless they do a complete 180 on Alcantara(and he starts hitting at AAA) or Baez gets healthy, the only true alternative to playing Castro everyday is Herrera. Sure there's some probability that Herrera might be better over a short stretch, but it's a move with no upside that bottoms out Castro's trade value, all for the (some might say slim) chance that Herrera nets a couple run improvement over whatever Castro gives you ROS. There are no other real options to playing Castro.

who'd have ever thought that the MI logjam would devolve into a place where advocating the .269 wOBA of Jon Herrera gain PT is a semi-defensible position

 

-Castro emulating geriatric-state Omar Infante

-Baez busting a finger

-Alcantara stagnating/regressing

-LaStella died

 

pretty sad state of affairs

[Guest]

Fwiw Fangraphs is projecting him to play the remainder of the season as a 700 OPS 0.8 WAR player which if held true would put him basically replacement level for the year. He's in a real bad slump lately so I hold out hope this isn't the real Starlin.

[Guest]

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/32442/castro-its-not-me

[Liam Neeson]

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/32442/castro-its-not-me

 

 

God that cut-off article title would make Dave Kaplan proud.

[sontensei]

Castro is the best cubs SS besides ernie ever he will get hot and go like .330 the rest of the way ! and he is a future hall of famer. just give the guy a break he just had a baby

[Gilby]

Bold Prediction: Castro will be a Padre by August 1.

 

The Padres' infield is such a disaster (true, that's also the word that would describe Castro's season) that I could see them having interest in Castro, as well as a guy like Villanueva. Castro for Shields as the main deal, and use Villanueva to have the Padres eat some of the money owed to Shields and get a mid level prospect from the Padres also.

Edited July 21, 2015 by Gilby

[Cubswin11]

Bold Prediction: Castro will be a Padre by August 1.

 

The Padres' infield is such a disaster (true, that's also the word that would describe Castro's season) that I could see them having interest in Castro, as well as a guy like Villanueva. Castro for Shields as the main deal, and use Villanueva to have the Padres eat some of the money owed to Shields and get a lower level prospect from the Padres also.

And then what? Herrera everyday?

[Gilby]

Bold Prediction: Castro will be a Padre by August 1.

 

The Padres' infield is such a disaster (true, that's also the word that would describe Castro's season) that I could see them having interest in Castro, as well as a guy like Villanueva. Castro for Shields as the main deal, and use Villanueva to have the Padres eat some of the money owed to Shields and get a lower level prospect from the Padres also.

And then what? Herrera everyday?

 

Herrera and Alcantara until La Stella and Baez return, or trade for Zobrist or something.

 

I'm not anti-Castro, and if we keep him, I'd continue to run him out there on the hopes he breaks out and because Herrera and Alcantara don't excite me one bit. But if we're being honest with ourselves, losing 2015 Castro and playing Herrera and Alcantara doesn't make us worse.

[sontensei]

Bold Prediction: Castro will be a Padre by August 1.

 

The Padres' infield is such a disaster (true, that's also the word that would describe Castro's season) that I could see them having interest in Castro, as well as a guy like Villanueva. Castro for Shields as the main deal, and use Villanueva to have the Padres eat some of the money owed to Shields and get a lower level prospect from the Padres also.

And then what? Herrera everyday?

 

shields? no thanks!

Herrera for a couple weeks till Baez is ready though if Castro was given a few weeks off to hang with his baby or traded. Look at the numbers im so very sad to say it because starlin is the man but Herrera's slash line is better this year ....

 

Herrera

.264/.345/.626 .289 BABIP

 

Castro

.241/.311/.586 .277 BABIP

[Deeg]

Just bear in mind, Castro over the last three months has had a worse OPS than Baez did last year with his 40% K-rate and .150 BA. It's not as if it's any great risk not having him in the lineup until Baez or LaStella could be ready to play. He's been among the very worst hitters in all of baseball this season.

 

The problem, of course, is that it makes absolutely no sense to trade a guy in that position - you'll get minimum value back. But how can you keep playing him when you're trying to get into the postseason? I think the answer is to promote Baez as soon as gets his timing back, play Russell at SS and Baez at 2B 90% of the time, and keep Castro around as a bench player. Maybe in the offseason the stink of his performance this season will be easier to dismiss as an aberration than it is when we're right in the middle of it, and you can get a bit more in trade.

[sontensei]

Just bear in mind, Castro over the last three months has had a worse OPS than Baez did last year with his 40% K-rate and .150 BA. It's not as if it's any great risk not having him in the lineup until Baez or LaStella could be ready to play. He's been among the very worst hitters in all of baseball this season.

 

The problem, of course, is that it makes absolutely no sense to trade a guy in that position - you'll get minimum value back. But how can you keep playing him when you're trying to get into the postseason? I think the answer is to promote Baez as soon as gets his timing back, play Russell at SS and Baez at 2B 90% of the time, and keep Castro around as a bench player. Maybe in the offseason the stink of his performance this season will be easier to dismiss as an aberration than it is when we're right in the middle of it, and you can get a bit more in trade.

 

I like that idea, even to take it a step further, since there is a very low chance that the cubs can pick up a bat, why not consider have KB doing some LF Coghlan doing a little CF (against pitchers he crushed in the past only) and look at the splits and have Castro play vs. pitchers he has a fantastic track record against only. On those Days Baez can slide to 3b.

[Deeg]

Just bear in mind, Castro over the last three months has had a worse OPS than Baez did last year with his 40% K-rate and .150 BA. It's not as if it's any great risk not having him in the lineup until Baez or LaStella could be ready to play. He's been among the very worst hitters in all of baseball this season.

 

The problem, of course, is that it makes absolutely no sense to trade a guy in that position - you'll get minimum value back. But how can you keep playing him when you're trying to get into the postseason? I think the answer is to promote Baez as soon as gets his timing back, play Russell at SS and Baez at 2B 90% of the time, and keep Castro around as a bench player. Maybe in the offseason the stink of his performance this season will be easier to dismiss as an aberration than it is when we're right in the middle of it, and you can get a bit more in trade.

 

I like that idea, even to take it a step further, since there is a very low chance that the cubs can pick up a bat, why not consider have KB doing some LF Coghlan doing a little CF (against pitchers he crushed in the past only) and look at the splits and have Castro play vs. pitchers he has a fantastic track record against only. On those Days Baez can slide to 3b.

 

I think there's some merit to that idea, but if I were to do so I'd probably play Bryant in CF and Coghlan in left. I think with very little repitition Bryant would actually be a better CF than Coghlan if he isn't already. In fact, you could even play Bryant in CF against RHP if Fowler continues to struggle from the left side, with Baez at 3B on those days.