Castro

[Tyrant]

[expletive] castro is so dumb. im completely over him

 

I realize he's talented and can get better but it really seems like he's ruined. He probably isn't, it just looks so bleak.

[Gilby]

Of all the things to get mad at him for this season, we're deciding to freak out over his insane range on fly balls? Clearly, he just didn't hear Soriano. There have been plenty of times the last three seasons where Soriano has let up and allowed Castro get to catch anything he can get to, so Starlin was probably expecting more of the same.

 

I get his season has been super disappointing and frustrating, but it's also disappointing to see some of the fans' responses to it. It can be hard when we follow this guy everyday, but I'll bet a lot of Cubs fans look at Elvis Andrus and say, "81 games in his age 24 season doesn't change much, considering what he's accomplished at a very young age." Granted, he's providing more value in other places, but the point stands. Let's all take it easy..

[Bryants Disco Ball]

I'm not speaking for anyone else, but why would anyone have a problem with Starlin this season?

 

So far he's gone 11-for-36 (.305 avg.) with a home run, two runs scored, a double and two walks in the first eight games.

[Clem Fandango]

I'm not speaking for anyone else, but why would anyone have a problem with Starlin this season?

 

So far he's gone 11-for-36 (.305 avg.) with a home run, two runs scored, a double and two walks in the first last eight games.

 

FTFY

[Sammy Sofa]

This guy gets jokes.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

This guy gets jokes.

:D

[Sammy Sofa]

Of all the things to get mad at him for this season, we're deciding to freak out over his insane range on fly balls? Clearly, he just didn't hear Soriano. There have been plenty of times the last three seasons where Soriano has let up and allowed Castro get to catch anything he can get to, so Starlin was probably expecting more of the same.

 

I get his season has been super disappointing and frustrating, but it's also disappointing to see some of the fans' responses to it. It can be hard when we follow this guy everyday, but I'll bet a lot of Cubs fans look at Elvis Andrus and say, "81 games in his age 24 season doesn't change much, considering what he's accomplished at a very young age." Granted, he's providing more value in other places, but the point stands. Let's all take it easy..

 

http://cdn.fd.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Hot-Fuzz-head-slide-gif.gif

[Castros trade value]

Good read here on Castro by Jon Greenberg of ESPN Chicago.

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/9457448/starlin-castro-struggling-fourth-season-chicago-cubs

 

 

Going into Sunday's 4-3 series finale win over Pittsburgh, Castro was tied for last in position player WAR (Wins Above Replacement) in all of baseball with a -1.3 WAR (FanGraphs) and a -1.6 (Baseball Reference).

 

"There's no on-base and there's no slugging," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said before Sunday's game. "And this year he's striking out a lot. He's not just struggling, he's striking out a lot."

 

More than 18 percent of his at-bats (going into Sunday's game) -- nearly four percent more than his previous worst season -- have resulted in strikeouts. When he does hit the ball, his BABIP (batting average balls in play) is .279, well below his career average of .325.

 

How bad has Castro been at hitting fastballs? According to FanGraphs, when you look at 100 fastballs thrown to him (wFA/C), Castro is producing -1.82 runs compared to average. In layman's terms, that's bad.

 

[Guest]

2013 All-Collapse All-Stars

 

Shortstop: Starlin Castro, Cubs, age 23

 

Well now, age 23 sure is rather young for this squad. The next-youngest guys here are 28 years old. Yeah, but if you’re going to put a 23-year-old on team, Castro is one to put on.

 

First, whereas most 23-year-old players have virtually no track record to draw on, Castro has been a starter since mid-2010 and appeared in over 500 games. He’s a two-time All-Star who led the league in hits in 2011.

 

Oh, yeah, and he has completely, utterly cratered this year. He’s played in nearly every game this year and has a .234 batting average, four home runs, and 14 walks (versus 68 strikeouts). Over the last seven weeks, he’s hit barely .180 with a .221 on-base percentage and .249 slugging percentage. That’s pretty good ... for a pitcher, but not for anyone else. And that’s not even counting all his mental errors on the bases and miscues in the field.

 

Remember how Keppinger was tied for the honor of worst player in baseball at 1.6 wins under replacement? Castro is the guy he is tied with. A man who made the All-Star team at age 21 and 22 is the worst offensive player in baseball at age 23. Yes, that’s a collapse. (At any rate, there is no definitely deserving shortstop around age 30 to include on the team.)

 

This is a guy who led the NL in hits at age 21. When Castro came up, optimists said he could be the next Robin Yount, and pessimists feared he’d just turn into the next Garry Templeton. He could still end up being either one of those two. But for now, Castro would need to improve significantly in order live up to the pessimistic projection.

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/2013-all-collapse-all-stars/

[Sammy Sofa]

The waves and waves of prospects will just wash these memories away!

[Guest]

The waves and waves of prospects will just wash these memories away!

 

If you're going to be trite and snarky, would it be too much to ask that it actually be directly in response to something someone said?

[jersey cubs fan]

The waves and waves of prospects will just wash these memories away!

 

If you're going to be trite and snarky, would it be too much to ask that it actually be directly in response to something someone said?

 

Looks to me like that was in direct response to the article about how much Castro sucks now.

[Careless]

If anyone has a drug that can make me forget he exists until he's good again or forever if he's broken, give me a price.

[jersey cubs fan]

If anyone has a drug that can make me forget he exists until he's good again or forever if he's broken, give me a price.

 

 

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130511175431/arresteddevelopment/images/thumb/1/15/3x03_Michael.png/310px-3x03_Michael.png

[Guest]

nice

[Guest]

this is getting bothersome.

[Sammy Sofa]

The waves and waves of prospects will just wash these memories away!

 

If you're going to be trite and snarky, would it be too much to ask that it actually be directly in response to something someone said?

 

Looks to me like that was in direct response to the article about how much Castro sucks now.

 

Yes. It was an obnoxious article ending basically with a threat/hope/whatever that his time here may be short if he doesn't shape up. It was terrible all around.

[Guest]

To me he is clearly broken. I think he was trying to follow The Cub Way and become more patient (which is a good thing) but it seems to me it's really messed with every aspect of his batting. I don't think it helps much to have your manager disparage you in the press every chance he gets either. The sooner Dale is gone the better off he may be. That guy is a dick.

[Guest]

@sahadevsharma Sveum on Castro: "He has the leg lift, but now I think he’s using the leg lift for the purpose it’s meant to be. He’s getting on..." (more)

 

@sahadevsharma More Sveum on Castro: "... his back side and the other knee he’s getting over his back foot, he’s not front forward." (more)

 

@sahadevsharma More Sveum on Castro: "So it gives you the ability to use your hands and get to fastball when you do that."

 

@sahadevsharma Sveum on Castro/leg lift: "They lift their leg, but a lot of times they’re not really loading on their back side. If their knee never..."

 

@sahadevsharma Sveum continued on Castro/leg lift: "...gets to over their back toe, your hands end up in front of your back foot and you end up in a..."

 

@sahadevsharma Sveum on leg lift: "very weak position to hit. Castro’s getting in a much stronger position to hit with his knee getting over his back foot"

 

@sahadevsharma Castro: "I’ve been looking for FBs every time & try to hit the ball other way. Stay closed, I know I can hit it to every part of the field."

 

@sahadevsharma Castro: I was late to the FB. After my adjustment, I just look for FB. If you’re looking for a SL, you can only hit it if it’s hanging. more

 

‏@sahadevsharma Castro: If you look for fastballs, you can hit the breaking balls that are strikes.

 

@sahadevsharma Castro said it's tough when the 'thing that's supposed to happen doesn't happen.' Said it was frustrating, but he's working through it

 

@sahadevsharma Castro: (Sveum) talked to me, everybody (did) & tried to help. It worked. I listened to everybody, took the best for me & put it in the game

[Sammy Sofa]

If Castro hasn't turned it around I promise to devour WSR alive.

[Guest]

@BenBadler Nice to see what happens when Starlin Castro has his timing down with his front leg.

 

@BenBadler Varies from swing to swing. Happens when you have that leg kick. RT @Demarrer2790 Does his timing look back to you?

 

@BenBadler Sure. All pre-pitch movement that affects timing RT @sitrick2 Sveum's been talking about a hitch in his load...think leg kick bigger issue?

 

@BenBadler Castro's been beat in the zone this year more than you'd expect for someone with his bat speed, path and hand-eye. Pre-pitch is key.

[abuck1220]

can we be mildly encouraged by castro's .308/.368/.500 july?

[bukie]

I will be. Your mileage may vary.

[Guest]

His low point of the season(save for a couple 0-fers in the first week) was a .582 OPS the day before he sat for a game. Since that day off, he's at .303/.346/.487 in 81 PA with 3 HR and 11 K. We've also had people who would know like Badler and Sveum talking separately about how he's gotten his timing back mechanically. This needs to continue(pretty much indefinitely), but I'm very encouraged that he's pulled out of that two month haze he was in(268 PA, .209/.254/.277, 51 K).

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

can we be mildly encouraged by castro's .308/.368/.500 july?

 

Absolutely.