8/27 Cubs (Turner) @ Reds (Latos) 6:10 pm CT CSN

[Janelle-Alexis]

Soler's big grin as he went back to the dugout made me smile as much as the HR itself did. He seems really likable and always looks like he's having a lot of fun with his opportunity as a professional athlete. It's really going to bum me out one day when he gets accused of not playing the game the right way for not legging out an infield hit in the 8th inning of a 9 - 2 game.

[ScrubMD]

Soler's HR was one of the greatest moments of my life.

 

Baez hitting it 403ft was one of the worst moments of my life.

 

Anyone giving Castro [expletive] for making a mental mistake a week after a car full of his loved ones died is a piece of [expletive].

[MWV]

Anyone giving Castro [expletive] for making a mental mistake a week after a car full of his loved ones died is a piece of [expletive].

 

No [expletive] [expletive]. I find it really unnerving that many of the same meatball, anti-saber types who relish pointing out that "the game is played by men, not robots", will immediately recant when players behave like men, and not robots. Then those players are weak, undisciplined and worthy of contempt.

 

Lost in all this spurious Castro condemnation is the fact that Soler hit a HR with his first swing in MLB tonight. Baez drove in 2 with a double, K'd only once and damn near took Chapman deep in the 9th. The Cubs fell from 13 below .500 to 14 below? Who [expletive] cares?

Tonight was a good night. Frustrating at times, sure, but a good night.

[Warren Brusstar]

Noted meatball Len Kaspar considers Castro's repeated lack of hustle a "terrible habit".

 

@@LenKasper: Look I like Starlin. His terrible habit has to change. But he's played for Lou/Quade/Sveum/Renteria. At some pt it's just on the player, no?

 

The over-the-top need here to be ABOVEITALL and the SABR-IEST non-meatball ever is maddening. Are people even watching the games? The complaints about Castro's repeated failure to hustle isn't the OMG HE SHOULD SPRINT ON GROUNDERS TO THE PITCHER nonsense. He repeatedly costs the Cubs bases by not running balls that matter.

 

Kaplan is a douche, but don't reject his point simply because he's an idiot.

[PrimeTime]

Anyone giving Castro [expletive] for making a mental mistake a week after a car full of his loved ones died is a piece of [expletive].

 

No [expletive] [expletive]. I find it really unnerving that many of the same meatball, anti-saber types who relish pointing out that "the game is played by men, not robots", will immediately recant when players behave like men, and not robots. Then those players are weak, undisciplined and worthy of contempt.

 

Lost in all this spurious Castro condemnation is the fact that Soler hit a HR with his first swing in MLB tonight. Baez drove in 2 with a double, K'd only once and damn near took Chapman deep in the 9th. The Cubs fell from 13 below .500 to 14 below? Who [expletive] cares?

Tonight was a good night. Frustrating at times, sure, but a good night.

 

I love both of these posts.. If this ever happened to Barney or Theriot in the field or at the plate like Castro tonight, the media and everyone would not give a flying [expletive] or just completely brush it off..Somehow he's always the whipping boy. Who knows what he was going through mentally after something traumatic like that? He could have just zoned, spaced out,or just some kind of small mental lapse that hits you at a certain moment and then your like " Oh [expletive]!" and refocus. One week is nothing after losing multiple close people/relatives who just tragically passed. It takes a bit more time to get back to reality, adjust mentally, and get past the grieving and emotions. I been through some similar events, so I can feel for the guy. One week is nothing, cut the guy some [expletive] slack. Anyways, it's not like the team rolled over. Soler had a great debut and Baez was a couple feet away from taking a dominant closer yard for a go ahead 3 run shot. Once Baez adjust, he will be a monster. I can't wait until Bryant joins this party lineup next year ...So [expletive] exciting.

Edited August 28, 2014 by PrimeTime

[MWV]

Are people even watching the games?

Nope. None of us. Not ever.

[Felix Leiter]

Poor Starlin. This will all be addressed when Addison Russell is deemed ready to play SS for the big club. Starlin will be offered for a top of the rotation pitcher or an impressive package of almost ready minor leaguers. Other teams will overlook these mental lapses and failing to hustle episodes. They will look at an All-Star SS with pop. It will be a good deal for both teams.

[Sammy Sofa]

apparently a reds guy

 

i guess that explains this

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/26975/error-filled-tilt-made-worse-by-starlin-castros-baserunning-blunder

 

From the comments:

 

I was very impressed, Cub fans, with Jorge Soler's maturity and patience at the plate. Something that Javier Baez and Starlin Castro need to do, period. Every time Castro makes an error and is deservedly criticized, the RACE card is played in his defense. Castro deserves the criticism! He is a POOR role model ! Two more mental miscues against the Reds. In his home run trot after hitting a 400 foot SINGLE! Losing a cousin is NOT a viable excuse for being cocky. Is apologies are getting old and he's sending the wrong messages to Alcantara, Baez, Soler and Watkins. Lou Piniella would've taken Castro's head off last night. He's a 4-year All-Star 3 times. Castro disrespects the game!! There is no reason why any Latino, black or white player can be a "dog" on the field. Renteria is losing respect of his team with the double standards! Castro has GOT to be traded.

 

The whole thing couldn't be more condescending (you were impressed with Soler's "maturity" because of a single game of AB's?), it inexplicably includes Watkins like anyone gives a [expletive], and it just regurgitates Kaplan's ramblings that the younger players are apparently the mental equivalent of babies who are just going to blindly follow whatever worst example they see to the hilt instead of, y'know, BEING THE TALENTED BASEBALL PLAYERS THEY ARE.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

He repeatedly costs the Cubs bases by not running balls that matter.

 

Exactly how often has this happened? Most of his rep in the past has been for mental errors on defense.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

He repeatedly costs the Cubs bases by not running balls that matter.

 

Repeatedly? Please find me all of the long singles that would have been doubles if he hadn't wasted time admiring them.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/spraycharts.aspx?playerid=4579&position=SS&type=battedball&pid2=4579&ss1=2014&se1=2014&ss2=2014&se2=2014&cht1=hangtime&cht2=hittype&vs1=ALL&vs2=ALL

[Hairyducked Idiot]

That loss does not bother me. That was not a bad loss.

 

Other than a small fear that maybe Turner has Edwin Jackson Disease.

Turner is 23 vs EJax 30...I'm a little more patient with JT

 

That's why it's a small fear. But the whole time he was in the game we were hyping about his stuff and how awesome he looked while two or three baserunners got on every inning.

[USSoccer]

Before Starlin, Kaplan had a hard-on for ripping Ramirez for the same kind of stuff. And he hated Sammy and contributed to the pitchfork and torch brigade running him out of town and scrubbing him from the history of the franchise like he was some Poltiburo member from 1947.

 

At some point its a pattern.

[Guest]

Noted meatball Len Kaspar considers Castro's repeated lack of hustle a "terrible habit".

 

@@LenKasper: Look I like Starlin. His terrible habit has to change. But he's played for Lou/Quade/Sveum/Renteria. At some pt it's just on the player, no?

 

LOL yeah, um, this was covered. Are people even reading the thread? And, for the record, lack of hustle is not the bad habit Len was referring to anyway:

 

Len Kasper @LenKasper · 10h

The other thing is this -- I am willing to live w/it to an extent. I don't think he "lacks hustle." I really don't. It's mental gaffes.

 

The over-the-top need here to be ABOVEITALL and the SABR-IEST non-meatball ever is maddening.

 

The need to not be an idiot is maddening? Nobody is saying Castro didn't screw up. People are wondering why other players who screw up pretty often (and hell, Castro hasn't even done it much lately) don't get this type of uproar.

 

Are people even watching the games?

No, of course not. Just a bunch of dorks who look at spreadsheets and have no interest in watching the games.

 

The complaints about Castro's repeated failure to hustle isn't the OMG HE SHOULD SPRINT ON GROUNDERS TO THE PITCHER nonsense. He repeatedly costs the Cubs bases by not running balls that matter.

 

Kaplan is a douche, but don't reject his point simply because he's an idiot.

 

Nobody is rejecting his point because he's an idiot. People are criticizing his laughable outrage (which he doesn't seem to show for other players) over this incident and the shitstorm he has caused . It just so happens that said outrage is a product of him being a moron.

[RammyFanny]

Marty Brennamen was just on Kap and Haugh and ripped Castro harder than Kaplan. I feel like they're screening calls so it seems like everyone agrees with Kaplan but it's probably just the Cubs.comers that call in there.

[Guest]

Marty Brennamen was just on Kap and Haugh and ripped Castro harder than Kaplan. I feel like they're screening calls so it seems like everyone agrees with Kaplan but it's probably just the Cubs.comers that call in there.

 

Nobody smart is going to be listening to that show

[Warren Brusstar]

No, David. The ratio of Casto mental mistakes/lazy plays to those of every player on the team is about 10 to 1.

[jersey cubs fan]

No, David. The ratio of Casto mental mistakes/lazy plays to those of every player on the team is about 10 to 1.

 

well as long as you have data to back you up......

[Guest]

No, David. The ratio of Casto mental mistakes/lazy plays to those of every player on the team is about 10 to 1.

This is exactly the kind of hyperbole that is making many here pissed off.

[Cubswin11]

No, David. The ratio of Casto mental mistakes/lazy plays to those of every player on the team is about 10 to 1.

Kaplan, is that you?

[Guest]

No, David. The ratio of Casto mental mistakes/lazy plays to those of every player on the team is about 10 to 1.

 

 

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha you are a moron

[RammyFanny]

No, David. The ratio of Casto mental mistakes/lazy plays to those of every player on the team is about 10 to 1.

Coghlans up there.

 

How often would you say Castro makes one of these giant mental mistakes? Once every 10 games? 15? Considering all of the other awesomeness he provides, who gives a [expletive]?

[Guest]

No, David. The ratio of Casto mental mistakes/lazy plays to those of every player on the team is about 10 to 1.

 

 

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha you are a moron

plz make fun of the post instead. You've been around long enough to know better

[sneakypower]

Noted meatball Len Kaspar considers Castro's repeated lack of hustle a "terrible habit".

 

@@LenKasper: Look I like Starlin. His terrible habit has to change. But he's played for Lou/Quade/Sveum/Renteria. At some pt it's just on the player, no?

 

The over-the-top need here to be ABOVEITALL and the SABR-IEST non-meatball ever is maddening. Are people even watching the games? The complaints about Castro's repeated failure to hustle isn't the OMG HE SHOULD SPRINT ON GROUNDERS TO THE PITCHER nonsense. He repeatedly costs the Cubs bases by not running balls that matter.

 

Kaplan is a douche, but don't reject his point simply because he's an idiot.

i don't disagree with much of this, particularly the bolded, but that is something that's quantifiable* and even with those habits he's still quantifiably a very good player, so what's the problem here? it's not even one of those dumb issues we had with Soriano/Ramirez where you start bringing in a player's salary into the discussion and argue they should be held to a higher standard

 

*per UBR, he's cost the club less than 2 runs with his baserunning

[CubInOK]

No, David. The ratio of Casto mental mistakes/lazy plays to those of every player on the team is about 10 to 1.

This post is so bad I'm not even sure it's serious.

[jersey cubs fan]

Noted meatball Len Kaspar considers Castro's repeated lack of hustle a "terrible habit".

 

@@LenKasper: Look I like Starlin. His terrible habit has to change. But he's played for Lou/Quade/Sveum/Renteria. At some pt it's just on the player, no?

 

The over-the-top need here to be ABOVEITALL and the SABR-IEST non-meatball ever is maddening. Are people even watching the games? The complaints about Castro's repeated failure to hustle isn't the OMG HE SHOULD SPRINT ON GROUNDERS TO THE PITCHER nonsense. He repeatedly costs the Cubs bases by not running balls that matter.

 

Kaplan is a douche, but don't reject his point simply because he's an idiot.

i don't disagree with much of this, particularly the bolded, but that is something that's quantifiable* and even with those habits he's still quantifiably a very good player, so what's the problem here? it's not even one of those dumb issues we had with Soriano/Ramirez where you start bringing in a player's salary into the discussion and argue they should be held to a higher standard

 

*per UBR, he's cost the club less than 2 runs with his baserunning

 

but len kasper thought Castro should be held to a higher standard, whatever that meant.

 

You should disagree with the "repeatedly" phrasing.