IST: Cubs @ San Diego

[JZsportsfan]

The Cubs need to move Castro.

I don't care if they swap him with Russell or trade him away, but his defense isn't going to improve. He has had 5 years to get a feel for the position and he still misplays the basic of plays.

Russell was one of the best defensive players in the minors, I doubt he would make the same mental mistakes Castro has been, and it has cost us a couple games already this season

 

[Parade_Rain]

Castro is not prepared to play 2B. He's also a vet and the manager is on record as saying he is the SS for the season. Maddon isn't going to be flipping them. That's counterproductive and is the opposite of building confidence.

 

[beckdawg]

Castro is not prepared to play 2B. He's also a vet and the manager is on record as saying he is the SS for the season. Maddon isn't going to be flipping them. That's counterproductive and is the opposite of building confidence.

Can't imagine them making this sort of move during the season. Wouldn't shock me if they consider it next offseason though.

 

[Boobaby1]

^^^this.

Sustained success is what they want. There is no need to panic and trade away too much for a pitcher this season.

Panic button? You will be surprised at teams that are willing to just let someone go to get out from a contract if they are not in it. Especially if they are going to lose them to free agency anyways.

Harang or Kazmir for starters. How would these guys pull a ton of talent out of the system when you know the A's won't be able to sign Kazmir, and Harang is 37?

I would gladly take Kazmir bucking Hammel for the number three spot in the rotation, and pushing everyone else back a notch.

Plus they are tied to nothing but the remaining salary this year.

 

[CSF77]

Can't imagine them making this sort of move during the season. Wouldn't shock me if they consider it next offseason though.

Best SS on team (AAA): Russell
Best 2B flip coin on Alcantara or Baez. Someone will have to debate that one.

Castro is just the incumbent. He is ok and IMO has been a all star due to the lack of impact SS's in the league. He has gotten by with a knack to be able to hit pitches out of the strike zone for singles. He has never taken walks or many pitches either. Dude has many holes in his game and his SO rate has gotten worse. I expected more out of him by this point. Rizzo steped up his game faster and is the same age. He has far surpassed Castro and is in the MVP convo right now. His game is complete. Very few holes. That is what you expect from your star players. Not a regression.

Right now Bryant is the 2nd best player on the team. Castro is becoming more and more irrelevant and IMO they need to sell before his value goes backwards.

 

[CSF77]

Panic button? You will be surprised at teams that are willing to just let someone go to get out from a contract if they are not in it. Especially if they are going to lose them to free agency anyways.

Harang or Kazmir for starters. How would these guys pull a ton of talent out of the system when you know the A's won't be able to sign Kazmir, and Harang is 37?

I would gladly take Kazmir bucking Hammel for the number three spot in the rotation, and pushing everyone else back a notch.

Plus they are tied to nothing but the remaining salary this year.

I would prefer a longer term commitment. The natural trade partner for the Cubs is the Mets. Phills are another. I wouldn't give up either Baez or Russell right now. Thing is you would have to trade Castro to a play off contender wanting a SS. Stroes..no, LAA: Aybar and Giavotella. Maybe here. They have Andrew Heaney in AAA. (I wouldn't do it if I'm the halos..Castro is not a major UPG for a top 100 LH pitching prospect.

Kaz makes sense as a place holder if they are aiming for Price this off season.

 

[SilenceS]

My head hurts. Like really really hurts after reading some of these post's.

 

[SilenceS]

Im just going to say this to put some of this in perspective.

Castro has seen 3.88 Pitcher Per Plate Appearance. That is good for 33rd in the NL and 1st for SS.

Starlin Castro is 18th in majors in FP%. Around average

His K rate is 1% higher. His walk rate is down just like every start of the season. He will be where he usually is by the end.

Addison Russell fielding percentage is at a robust .958. Good for one of the worst in the league

Addison Russell is striking out at over a 16% more clip then Castro.

Castro is batting .280 with runners in scoring position

Castro batted .325 in April and slumped to .197 in May.

3 weeks ago mlb had an article asking if Castro is the next best SS in the league.

People make me laugh at the complete misconceptions on him. I swear he must have fucked everyone in Chicago's woman.

 

[SilenceS]

The Cubs need to move Castro.

I don't care if they swap him with Russell or trade him away, but his defense isn't going to improve. He has had 5 years to get a feel for the position and he still misplays the basic of plays.

Russell was one of the best defensive players in the minors, I doubt he would make the same mental mistakes Castro has been, and it has cost us a couple games already this season[/QUOTE]

No, no he wasnt. I do not know where people get this. They are a vast majority of opinions on Russell but some still dont think he could stick at short. He couldnt hold Lindor jock on defense. Russell has the ability to be an above average defender and some dont know if that will be at short.

 

[CSF77]

Addison Russell fielding percentage is at a robust .958. Good for one of the worst in the league

playing 2B.

Addison Russell is striking out at over a 16% more clip then Castro.

(rookie)

His K rate is 1% higher. His walk rate is down just like every start of the season. He will be where he usually is by the end.

Break it down:

ISO: .078. Hitting #4. Career AVG: .123. Career low for him.
BABIP: .317. career avg: .325. So he is a tick behind here.
OPS+: 77. Career avg: 99.
BB% 4.3 Career 5.1% Now I don't care if he is a tick below his avg. My issue is he is even at 5% in the first place. Thus I was hoping he would close some holes in his game.
SO%: 19.6% Career AVG: 15.8% 2013 the year he got flamed 18.3%.

I don't get it with him. But just looking at his SO% and his ISO vs his career avg's it causes me to pause. And I can care less where he stands vs other SS's. What matters is if he is improving or regressing as a player. Not how he stacks up vs the Jones'

 

[SilenceS]

playing 2B.

(rookie)


Break it down:

ISO: .078. Hitting #4. Career AVG: .123. Career low for him.
BABIP: .317. career avg: .325. So he is a tick behind here.
OPS+: 77. Career avg: 99.
BB% 4.3 Career 5.1% Now I don't care if he is a tick below his avg. My issue is he is even at 5% in the first place. Thus I was hoping he would close some holes in his game.
SO%: 19.6% Career AVG: 15.8% 2013 the year he got flamed 18.3%.

I don't get it with him. But just looking at his SO% and his ISO vs his career avg's it causes me to pause. And I can care less where he stands vs other SS's. What matters is if he is improving or regressing as a player. Not how he stacks up vs the Jones'

He isnt regressing. He has had a bad month.

 

[beckdawg]

No, no he wasnt. I do not know where people get this. They are a vast majority of opinions on Russell but some still dont think he could stick at short. He couldnt hold Lindor jock on defense. Russell has the ability to be an above average defender and some dont know if that will be at short.

He definitely wasn't "one of the best." He's graded as above average by those that like him at SS. Those that don't like him though from what I've read feel it's more a case of his body will out grow the position rather than lack of skill. I think most are in consensus that he's a decent defender it's just some feel that if he carries too much weight he's not going to have the same kind of range and as such might be better at 3B.

 

[CSF77]

He isnt regressing. He has had a bad month.

Well he had a strong month in Apr. That is why you look at the AVG's. Even his wOBA is at .284. His worst year .280.

Look I thought he got past 2013 and blamed the dill weed (don't remind me his crome dome name as I don't want to remember it) manager. 2014 he put up a .341 wOBA. That was a career high for him. ISO: .146. Career high again. Right now both are hitting low marks.

Like I said I don't get it with him. Is he getting worried with Russell at 2B and Baez lighting up AAA?

All I can say is he needs to get on track because those 2 will take his job if he plays at this level. That is a good. Competition brings out the best and worst in players.

 

[chibears55]

I would be cautious with Hamels. He is 31and logged a lot of innings for the Phils. I have watched him a decent amount this year and he has not been great. His ERA is good but his peripherals are high and his walks are up. No doubt he is a good pitcher, but I get leary of two 31 year old lefties with the amount of innings him and Lester have logged. You are looking around taking on 80 million dollars for him.

I agree with this. .

Sure it would be nice to have him this year and next if the cubs are making a serious run for the championship, but beyond that i have my doubts with him..

 

[chibears55]

My head hurts. Like really really hurts after reading some of these post's.

Lmao. .. Starlin Castro
the guy can spin on his head making plays for a month and hit .300 and everybody loves him, but as soon as he makes an error or two and slumps a bit, he a mental case and needs to be moved. .lol


Put away the trade Castro or move castro to 2B until the off season when they will know better if they have someone who can replace him there everyday. .

Right now both Russell and Baez are still question marks with potential. .. be ashame to trade away a pretty good player in castro now and have both Russell and baez shit the bed...

 

[Parade_Rain]

It doesn't matter how he ranks against other SS? That makes no sense. A SS doesn't get compared to a 1B or LF. That just isn't the way it works. He is of each of the best SS in the game right now and he doesn't even throw interceptions like Cutler. The dislike for him is really bizarre, IMHO.

 

[CSF77]

It doesn't matter how he ranks against other SS? That makes no sense. A SS doesn't get compared to a 1B or LF. That just isn't the way it works. He is of each of the best SS in the game right now and he doesn't even throw interceptions like Cutler. The dislike for him is really bizarre, IMHO.

Dude I compared him to himself. That is a true gauge of where he is at. Right now he is running some of his worst production. Last year was his best year by far. Year before was the all time worst. And right now he is closer to that guy than the 2014 guy.

Sure it has only been 2 months. BA: Apr: .325 May: .197. wOBA: .331 APR. May: .232 ISO: APR: .084 May: .070 K%: Apr: 15.1% May: 24.7% BABIP: Apr: .368 May: .250

This slump is very bad. Even then his BABIP was a absurd .368 in APR. ISO has been nul. Reason why I liked hitting #6 in Apr. He was driving in pick up runs.

Come to think of that when did his numbers dip? Around the time Bryant went to the 2 hole and Soler dropped? Would make sense as Bryant and Rizzo was on base at a high clip at that point. Castro was getting many RBI opportunists at that point. Bryant moving up gave the RBI boost to Rizzo.

Regardless it doesn't even look like the same guy with those splits.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Dude I compared him to himself. That is a true gauge of where he is at. Right now he is running some of his worst production. Last year was his best year by far. Year before was the all time worst. And right now he is closer to that guy than the 2014 guy.

Sure it has only been 2 months. BA: Apr: .325 May: .197. wOBA: .331 APR. May: .232 ISO: APR: .084 May: .070 K%: Apr: 15.1% May: 24.7% BABIP: Apr: .368 May: .250

This slump is very bad. Even then his BABIP was a absurd .368 in APR. ISO has been nul. Reason why I liked hitting #6 in Apr. He was driving in pick up runs.

Come to think of that when did his numbers dip? Around the time Bryant went to the 2 hole and Soler dropped? Would make sense as Bryant and Rizzo was on base at a high clip at that point. Castro was getting many RBI opportunists at that point. Bryant moving up gave the RBI boost to Rizzo.

Regardless it doesn't even look like the same guy with those splits.

Remember Castro was on a big streak later when he had the season ending injury. So you are comparing whole seasons to 6 weeks . There just isn't anything to see here, imho.

 

[Parade_Rain]

Last year March/April he hit .308. May? .248.

 

[CSF77]

Last year March/April he hit .308. May? .248.

2014 (yes I looked at these numbers also)
BA: Apr: .308 May down to .248 BABIP: .322 down to ..276. So he saw a dip here but not a vast on like this year.
ISO last year: Apr: .163 May: .174.
SO%: 11.9 up tp 16%
BB% went up? Strange 4.6 to 6.8. intersting.

IDK last year just looking at his ISO he was still hitting for more power but his BABIP took a .05 hit. Thus his BA dropped .05.

June he went back up and "Jul his ISO dropped to .038. Another strange thing June SO% peaked at 24% but his BABIP also peaked .368. ISO also peaked at .213.

Wonder if he was trying to hit for power then. Think he was hitting #4 at that point and needed to be a RBI guy. Thus his SO% went up. Would make sense.