Castro

[Sammy Sofa]

I really hope he's able to keep up some momentum despite the change in scenery; he really seemed to have figured something out once he was moved off of SS and was just such a blast to watch for the last 2+ months of the season. Good Starlin was always one of the most fun players to watch for me.

[weis21]

I really hope he's able to keep up some momentum despite the change in scenery; he really seemed to have figured something out once he was moved off of SS and was just such a blast to watch for the last 2+ months of the season. Good Starlin was always one of the most fun players to watch for me.

you should have spoilered this just in case derwood came across it. this post is going to enrage him

[Liam Neeson]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9Ljl4Z67jk

[Derwood]

I really hope he's able to keep up some momentum despite the change in scenery; he really seemed to have figured something out once he was moved off of SS and was just such a blast to watch for the last 2+ months of the season. Good Starlin was always one of the most fun players to watch for me.

you should have spoilered this just in case derwood came across it. this post is going to enrage him

 

 

You guys are [expletive] weird

[imb]

i would be extremely pleased if Castro reaches his full potential in New York, regardless of what happens here.

[UMFan83]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9Ljl4Z67jk

 

Watching that first clip with Pat and Ron reminded me that Starlin was the last current Cub that Ron ever saw play for the Cubs.

[Sammy Sofa]

i would be extremely pleased if Castro reaches his full potential in New York, regardless of what happens here.

 

Definitely. Being the AL makes it even easier to root for that. I hope the Yankees have many, many years of never going to the WS with an awesome Starlin Castro kicking ass.

[Derwood]

I hope he starts giving out gift baskets

[Guest]

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/12/12/levine-starlin-castro-says-goodbye-to-chicago/

 

“I was really sad when they told me I was traded,” Castro said. “This was the team that gave me my opportunity when I was 16 years old. Yes I was very sad. Now I think I have an opportunity to go to New York and continue to play for the Yankees who wanted me.”

 

The book closed on the Castro – Cub era on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Dominican native was traded to the Yankees for pitcher Adam Warren. Castro, who signed a seven-year $60 million contract after 2012, has $37 million left on his deal that runs through 2019. A three-time All Star, Castro lost his shortstop job to Addison Russell on August 7 after seeing his batting average dip into the .230s.

 

After being told he was being replaced by manager Joe Maddon, Castro felt he was finished as a player.

“When they told me I wasn’t the shortstop, they said I wasn’t the second baseman either,” he said in the interview on “Inside the Clubhouse.” “They said I was not going to play at all. I was hurt and it was very bad for me but I did not want to be a bad teammate (and complain). Being a good teammate and the team is what it is all about.”

 

Castro, to his credit, worked hard with infield coach Gary Jones and hitting coach John Mallee to regain his skills and reinvent himself. Eventually he won the second base job, hitting .344 from that point on and a MLB leading .409 in September.

 

“I was not going to be the bad guy,” Castro related. “I came to the ballpark to work hard on my baseball and conditioning every day. Gary and John, all the coaches helped me a lot. I gave special thanks to Manny Ramirez who was great. I took every opportunity they gave me after that. That is what happened the last two months. I stayed focused, held my head up and took advantage of each chance I had. I showed everyone the player I am those last two months.”

 

Castro did just that helping his team win 97 games and get past Pittsburgh and St Louis in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Castro has more hits than any middle infielder in baseball since breaking in with six hits in his first big league game on May 7 2010. His 919 big league hits put him on pace for 3,000.

 

“I did not think I would be traded,” he said. “This is a business. I showed what kind of player and teammate I am. I was surprised, but I leave Chicago with my head up and mind strong. Whatever happens, happens. I want to thank all of the fans and the Chicago Cub organization. The fans always supported me no matter what. The Cub organization is a great organization. They gave me a chance to be a major league player which was a great thing for me and my family.”

[weis21]

I hope he starts giving out gift baskets

he actually sent me one today. the card read "thanks for your continued support. it would seem easy to like a super-likable player who's been a part of an - at times -terrible cubs franchise over these past 9 years. but, some fans don't i guess. as you heard on my radio interview today on the score, regardless of how harsh fans were at times, I truly feel the cubs fan base is the best. "

 

did you not get yours?

[George Hayduke]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9Ljl4Z67jk

 

Watching that first clip with Pat and Ron reminded me that Starlin was the last current Cub that Ron ever saw play for the Cubs.

That clip of Castro tossing the ball to Theriot made me double take, too. Felt like those two played in totally different Cubs eras, but I guess there was the one half year of overlap.

[Sammy Sofa]

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

[Guest]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9Ljl4Z67jk

 

Watching that first clip with Pat and Ron reminded me that Starlin was the last current Cub that Ron ever saw play for the Cubs.

That clip of Castro tossing the ball to Theriot made me double take, too. Felt like those two played in totally different Cubs eras, but I guess there was the one half year of overlap.

 

that was when theriot said he'd have to come take his job or whatever

[Sammy Sofa]

that was when theriot said he'd have to come take his job or whatever

 

There will never be a Cub I detest more than that little turd.

[Tracer Bullet]

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/12/12/levine-starlin-castro-says-goodbye-to-chicago/

 

“I was really sad when they told me I was traded,” Castro said. “This was the team that gave me my opportunity when I was 16 years old. Yes I was very sad. Now I think I have an opportunity to go to New York and continue to play for the Yankees who wanted me.”

 

The book closed on the Castro – Cub era on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Dominican native was traded to the Yankees for pitcher Adam Warren. Castro, who signed a seven-year $60 million contract after 2012, has $37 million left on his deal that runs through 2019. A three-time All Star, Castro lost his shortstop job to Addison Russell on August 7 after seeing his batting average dip into the .230s.

 

After being told he was being replaced by manager Joe Maddon, Castro felt he was finished as a player.

“When they told me I wasn’t the shortstop, they said I wasn’t the second baseman either,” he said in the interview on “Inside the Clubhouse.” “They said I was not going to play at all. I was hurt and it was very bad for me but I did not want to be a bad teammate (and complain). Being a good teammate and the team is what it is all about.”

 

Castro, to his credit, worked hard with infield coach Gary Jones and hitting coach John Mallee to regain his skills and reinvent himself. Eventually he won the second base job, hitting .344 from that point on and a MLB leading .409 in September.

 

“I was not going to be the bad guy,” Castro related. “I came to the ballpark to work hard on my baseball and conditioning every day. Gary and John, all the coaches helped me a lot. I gave special thanks to Manny Ramirez who was great. I took every opportunity they gave me after that. That is what happened the last two months. I stayed focused, held my head up and took advantage of each chance I had. I showed everyone the player I am those last two months.”

 

Castro did just that helping his team win 97 games and get past Pittsburgh and St Louis in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Castro has more hits than any middle infielder in baseball since breaking in with six hits in his first big league game on May 7 2010. His 919 big league hits put him on pace for 3,000.

 

“I did not think I would be traded,” he said. “This is a business. I showed what kind of player and teammate I am. I was surprised, but I leave Chicago with my head up and mind strong. Whatever happens, happens. I want to thank all of the fans and the Chicago Cub organization. The fans always supported me no matter what. The Cub organization is a great organization. They gave me a chance to be a major league player which was a great thing for me and my family.”

 

As a dad, I'm thrilled that he's my son's favorite player.

[BCVM22]

In case anyone was curious, Starlin will be wearing jersey no. 14 with the Yankees.

[Guest]

In case anyone was curious, Starlin will be wearing jersey no. 14 with the Yankees.

I was wondering how that would work out. I believe 14 and 18 were the only numbers in the teens that were not either in use or retired.

[ConstableRabbit]

Kinda cool that he got Ernie's number.

[sweetpeteman]

In case anyone was curious, Starlin will be wearing jersey no. 14 with the Yankees.

I was wondering how that would work out. I believe 14 and 18 were the only numbers in the teens that were not either in use or retired.

 

14 was the only one, 18 is Didi Gregorius.

 

EDIT: Actually, 17 will be available. Ryan hasn't been included in the trade yet and is still listed on the Yankees roster (mlb.com). I wonder if this has to do with 40-man rule stuff.

[Felix Leiter]

Lou Piniella also wore '14' with the Yankees, so there's that. Interestingly '4' was only worn by Lou Gehrig and yet '3' was worn by others besides Babe Ruth, until 1948--years after Ruth retired.