Starlin Castro's Error Tracker (2013 Edition!)

dabynsky · Apr 6, 2013

X-Factor said:
What do you perceive his strengths on defense to be? He has plus range, I know...but then?

He has a very strong throwing arm as well which allows him to make plays that very few SS's are capable.

MRubio52 · Apr 6, 2013

X-Factor said:
What do you perceive his strengths on defense to be? He has plus range, I know...but then?

Really strong arm, good transfer from glove to hand, nice footwork to the ball. Fluid fielding motions. He can pick it.

The issues come with the feet, the inconstant arm slot, and the mental lapses. Dunno if he can fix all those over the long term.

HI THIS IS JI-

MRubio52 · Apr 6, 2013

He's also ballsy and takes risks to get to balls, which I like but it's a dual edged sword.

HI THIS IS JI-

dabynsky · Apr 6, 2013

And, if I may so bold as to speak for Roobs here, our position on keeping Castro at SS is based on what the situation is right now. The Cubs might develop a really good defensive SS that can hit, and then Castro should be moved. Castro could lose a step or two of range if he feels out more or just as he gets older. And if and when that happens the argument to move him is becoming a lot more persuasive. The bottomline for me is that there is no better place to put him right now and no true upgrade available at the position. I expect that at some point that might change, but I think that is a conversation that is several seasons down the road if I had to guess.

MRubio52 · Apr 6, 2013

dabynsky said:
And, if I may so bold as to speak for Roobs here, our position on keeping Castro at SS is based on what the situation is right now. The Cubs might develop a really good defensive SS that can hit, and then Castro should be moved. Castro could lose a step or two of range if he feels out more or just as he gets older. And if and when that happens the argument to move him is becoming a lot more persuasive. The bottomline for me is that there is no better place to put him right now and no true upgrade available at the position. I expect that at some point that might change, but I think that is a conversation that is several seasons down the road if I had to guess.

That's correct, and by then the likely spot would be 3B.

HI THIS IS JI-

X · Apr 6, 2013

dabynsky said:
He has a very strong throwing arm as well which allows him to make plays that very few SS's are capable.

MRubio52 said:
Really strong arm, good transfer from glove to hand, nice footwork to the ball. Fluid fielding motions. He can pick it.

The issues come with the feet, the inconstant arm slot, and the mental lapses. Dunno if he can fix all those over the long term.

HI THIS IS JI-

You both say he has a strong arm, and I agree, but how good is a strong arm is 1 out of every 20 throws goes to the stands?

MRubio52 · Apr 6, 2013

X-Factor said:
You both say he has a strong arm, and I agree, but how good is a strong arm is 1 out of every 20 throws goes to the stands?

He doesn't sail throws that often. He is either wide or low due to the arm slot.

HI THIS IS JI-

MRubio52 · Apr 6, 2013

And he makes a throwing error once every 45 chances.

HI THIS IS JI-

X · Apr 6, 2013

MRubio52 said:
And he makes a throwing error once every 45 chances.

HI THIS IS JI-

Where does that rank Vs. other SSs?

MRubio52 · Apr 6, 2013

X-Factor said:
Where does that rank Vs. other SSs?

HI THIS IS JI-

MRubio52 · Apr 6, 2013

X-Factor said:
Where does that rank Vs. other SSs?

Gonna have to run the numbers but I can't imagine it's a top number.

HI THIS IS JI-

MRubio52 · Apr 6, 2013

Alexei Ramirez in 2012: 1/48
Jose Reyes in 2012: 1/43
Jeter in 1997 (age 23 season): 1/36

HI THIS IS JI-

X · Apr 6, 2013

MRubio52 said:
Alexei Ramirez in 2012: 1/48
Jose Reyes in 2012: 1/43
Jeter in 1997 (age 23 season): 1/36

HI THIS IS JI-

Good research, but that still didn't tell me where he ranked. :lol:

MRubio52 · Apr 6, 2013

Let's reset this and look at other SS's at age 23 on all assists and all throwing errors:
Jeter: Age 23 season: 1997. Assists: 454. Throwing Errors: 10.
Garciaparra: Age 23 season: 1997. Assists: 453. Throwing Errors: 11 (Garciaparra would make 25 errors the next year).
Alex Rodriguez: Age 23 season: 1999. Assists: 382. Throwing Errors: 1 (Man he was fucking good).
Cal Ripken Jr.: Age 23 season: 1984. Assists: 579 (!). Throwing Erros: 3 (Cal Ripken...man. It's important to note that this was before the K explosion and range numbers are a bit higher pre 1996).

So I mean the arm is strong and the accuracy isn't awful IMO. Jeter and Nomar were sloppier defenders in their youth, A Rod was sloppy before he just got it and it all clicked, and Cal Ripken was a demigod obviously.

It's on overstated position IMO.