Midseason/Middle Infield Inquiry
by Howie S on Mar 14, 2010 11:20 PM CDT
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Ok, So here's the scenario: It's two weeks after All Star Break, Castro has been lighting it up in Triple-A, Both Fontenot and Baker are either/or hurt or under performing, and Theriot has been well, solid Theriot of days past. I'm assuming Lou calls up the prodigy, and moves Theriot to 2nd. How is Theriot's defense at 2nd, and are there any more viable options than Castro at SS and Theriot at 2nd in this situation?
What do you think?
(And condolence's to Al if this has been discussed as many times as signing Smoltz as a starter. ha.)
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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It's really hard to give a response to your question.
No one knows how the season will pan out. Who knows how teams will be doing performance wise. Who knows how the economy will affect a teams willingness to be sellers. However, I will say that Castro probably gets called up at some point in ’10.
Yes this topic has been discussed at length and you will probably get flamed for posting a new fanpost.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
How many different ways does this need to be discussed?
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 15, 2010 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions
Under the scenario you present
Castro would be up and Theriot moved over to second, where I assume he’d be fine, since his biggest weakness as a SS is his pop-gun arm.
But that’s just one of a lot of things that could happen.
Here's the deal.
Major league teams in general don’t work that way. I doubt Castro is called up under that kind of scenario; more likely, he stays in the minor leagues till September unless there’s a rash of injuries.
I note in your scenario, you didn’t mention at all how the TEAM is doing.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Right now...
…Castro is a better defender than Theriot, but the question comes in as to how Castro will respond to major league pitching on a consistant basis.
I would agree he likely won’t be brought up in June or July to replace Theriot – unless he is either hurt or is just struggling quite a bit.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
In what way don't MLB teams work that way?
Al, I am not sure what you mean by that.
Given the defined set of parameters – Theriot performing, Fontenot and Baker not performing, and Castro “lighting up AAA” Howie S’s proposal seems like the very logical way to proceed.
If your argument is that this proposal has simply too many moving parts to be considered particularly likely, fine, but I don’t knwo that I see it as all that far-fetched. In fact, Lou said earlier in the spring that given an injury to Theriot Castro could likely be called up, I don’t know that this is really all that different.
Eamus Ursuli!
You're looking at it via the lens of individual player performances.
If those scenarios happen, would it matter at all if the team was, say, eight games in first place? Why would you disrupt a winning team just because a couple of players are underperforming?
It will take a lot more than that to put Castro in the major leagues before September.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
We're Signing Smoltz!!???!!!???
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by digitalbenjamin on Mar 15, 2010 8:24 AM CDT reply actions
it might be more likely that Darwin Barney would get called up, if they don’t think Castro is ready. Theriot is a fine defensive 2B, I hear, but he doesn’t really have the bat for it…
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
And somewhere, Andres Blanco silently weeps....
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Mar 15, 2010 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions
I like Blanco, but I don’t think he can be a starter.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 15, 2010 8:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, plus he's out of options if memory serves...
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Mar 16, 2010 4:51 AM CDT up reply actions
Castro gets called up to play everyday only. If they need a utility player, its Barney.
I think if the Cubs tank and Castro is playing fine in AAA he needs to come up and move Theriot over to 2b.
logical
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Mar 15, 2010 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions
I think Castro looks great so far
but as a 19 year old kid (OK he turns 20 next week) who has never played above AA and only appeared on the radar
LAST year, I am starting to think someone with photoshop skills should rework the infamous DeRosa with a lamb shot and insert Castro.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
I was sort of thinking the same thing.
I was also thinking that someone should photoshop his face on Fidel’s.
Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.
Granted Hanley Ramirez was a yr and half older and on the Marlins
But he never played above AA ball before assuming an opening day leadoff/leader/savior of a Franchise and in his 1800 career at bats in the minors he only hit 32 homers and pretty much eclipsed that in his rookie year.
I am not saying Castro will be Hanley Ramirez, but I think he’s a can’t miss prospect and should be playing w the real club if he plays well in AAA in April, and we can bring him up in May.
To be fair
Hanley also assumed those duties for a team with 18 fans covered occasionally by one reporter (dramatizing… a little) – as opposed to the glare of the Chicago spotlight.
Yes
But to be fair, he was also the savior of the franchise and opposing teams focused on stopping him and he was still expected to produce while Starlin has a lot of good players around him and would really have to play really good D, and any offense over .250 would be a bonus but yes the media/spotlight might be rough on him.
National Media
True that the local media wasn’t bright, but there was certainly some of the Red Sox obsessive-compulsiveness of the media watching his development.
Eamus Ursuli!
I don't think "condolences" is quite the word you're looking for there.
In any case, um, yeah – I guess that’s possible depending on a variety of factors. If it happens, you get credit.
No one hopes this will happen ...
but I can see a scenario where the Cubs struggle in April and May and really aren’t even in the Wild Card hunt. This happens if the bullpen really sucks (which, frankly, is possible) and if Lilly doesn’t return soon enough and Z and Wells struggle. At that point, I think moves start happening, and the Cubs will ask some of their veterans to waive NTCs.
In that situation, I can see Castro getting called up before September, regardless of who gets hurt. Hell, it might happen because Theriot gets traded.
this.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Mar 15, 2010 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Theriot gets traded.
That doesn’t need to wait for the Cubs to struggle, as far as I’m concerned. Trade him now.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 15, 2010 8:32 PM CDT up reply actions
THERIOT FOR ADAM LIND
GET IT DONE
"The roar from the crowd really fired me up," Burish said. "In warmups there were a lot of signs. One said 'Burish, my grandma is pregnant.' I don't know what that means. I skated by it and said, 'it's not mine.' "
by jesus christos on Mar 15, 2010 8:54 PM CDT up reply actions
This from the guy who worships Soriano
Double Clutch Vs Hop. At least Theriot is reliable
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Mar 15, 2010 8:55 PM CDT up reply actions
reliable?
as in he will reliably dive and miss a lot of grounders up the left side of the field?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 18, 2010 7:27 PM CDT up reply actions
Eh, that's a bit rich.
The Cubs need a starting shortstop so Castro can continue his development, and that starting shortstop is Ryan Theriot.
eh.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Mar 18, 2010 7:27 PM CDT up reply actions
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
(breaths)
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
You cannot trade Castro Blocker……he just got that nickname, you have to hold onto him for a little longer still
Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Castro Blocker Fan Club
I look at...
…who’s on the market, and wonder if Alexi Casillas is really worth a damn.
"With Chance on first, and Evers on third,
Great things from the Cubs will soon be heard."
The man is fast as heck
Joey Gathright 2.0?
"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." ~ Bill Veeck
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