Starlin Castro Called Up?
by Schwa on May 7, 2010 9:15 AM CDT
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ESPN Deportes is reporting that Starlin Castro has been called up by the Cubs and will be with the team for the upcoming series vs. the Reds.
Well... I didn't think this was going to happen so soon, I guess Hendry just felt this team needed a spark. I wish they kept him in the minors for at least another month, but if the organization thinks he's ready, I can't say that I won't be excited to watch him. I'm assuming this moves Theriot to second. That creates a 3 headed monster of Theriot/Fontenot/Baker. I'm curious how Lou is going to handle shuffling 5 outfielders and 4 middle infielders. Does Castro bat second?
Edit: Here's the original tweet by Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes
Confirmation from Dave Kaplan: Linkage
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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Kodak to Cincinnati?
Well, If it’s true, I don’t know if Castro if flying from Knoxville to Northern Kentucky or if he’s driving from Kodak to Cincinnati. Kodak to Cincinnati is only about a 4.5 hour drive.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
He wouldn't drive.
If true, they would fly him.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Either Way
He’s got plenty of time to get to Cincy for tonight’s game, if he has been called up. I brought it up because there have been many times when players have been called up from Memphis to St. Louis and have actually driven the 290 miles up interstate 55 instead of flying. Kodak to Cincinnati is a comparable distance to Memphis to St. Louis.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
Knowing Lou's masterful management style
Castro will ride the pine tonight
The 2010 Randy Hundley Fantasy Camp ruled!!!!
I planted a GPS tracker on Castro during Srping Training
I will report his movements if he approaches Cincinnati.
"They come to see me strike out, hit a home run, or run into a fence. I try to accommodate them at least one way every game." - Gorman Thomas
by RiskyBusiness on May 7, 2010 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Surprising Move, If True
Theriot is hitting the ball well at shortstop. Fontenot seems to be doing well enough at second base. Why bring Castro up now? How much playing time would he get now in Chicago?
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
Theriot has hit fine. He needs to move to 2nd base though.
"I'm not much of a chemistry guy, you know. Chemistry to me is a pinch-hit double with the bases loaded"--Jim Frey, Chicago Tribune, 1985.
Fontenot
He hasn’t hit for any power this season. I didn’t expect any real power out of him anyway. He’s hitting .296. I’ve been satisfied with Fontenot so far. He’s not great, but what do you expect?
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
For Now
I’d rather have Theriot at SS and Fontenot at 2B than the Castro – Theriot combination. Good grief! It’s not as if Castro is going to be an old man over the hill in April 2011, if that’s when he takes over as the full-time shortstop. Why is there the rush on Castro?
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
I love how if you Google 'Starlin Castro'
the first hit is a Sun-Times article titled:
Hendry: Don’t expect Starlin Castro any time soon
Apparently for Jim, ‘soon’ means under 5 days.
Follow me on Twitter: @brandonrifkin
Oh and two more Minor League notes:
Cashner got bumped to AAA, Vitters to AA. Moving day for the elite Cubs prospects.
Follow me on Twitter: @brandonrifkin
Just heard this too...
Someday we'll go all the way...
by CubsBullsBears on May 7, 2010 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions
Panic Move 2.0
I think Starlin can probably handle the big leagues and is going to be fine, but if they allowed him to be super 2 because they think this team can contend this year…. they’re idiots
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by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 9:32 AM CDT reply actions 3 recs
Speaking of a panic move, is it possible Hendry is doing this to quickly take the focus off the Pirates sweep?
Fans: “Damn, we just got swept by the Pirates. I think I’m ready to give up-”
Hendry: “Hey! Look over here! It’s Starlin Castro! I just flew him in on a rainbow! Tickets still available!”
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i don't care why they're doing it
if he’s super 2 eligible now, its stupid
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by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions
That just affects his arb timetable. It doesn't accelerate his FA clock.
If he’s eligible for arb after his 2nd year, and he’s so awesome that he gets decent $$ one year earlier, well, I guess Hendry will have to be a little less cavalier with throwing millions at the Nadys and Grabows of the world.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
...
I guess Hendry will have to be a little less cavalier with throwing millions at the Nadys and Grabows of the world.
You say this like it’s almost a bad thing…
Follow me on Twitter: @brandonrifkin
Obviously, I don't think that Hendry will be in charge in 3 years.
I am also not sure that the super-2 rule will still exist. There’s going to be a new CBA by then, and it sure sounds like the teams are going to fight like hell for an NBA-style draft-slotting system. I’d expect the entire 6-years-cost-control system is going to be rewritten.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Miles just said on ESPN 1000
that it is extremely unlikely that he makes super 2 unless he plays 140 games in his first year apparently.
its not a certainty either way
we’ll basically have to wait until the end of the year
3 more weeks and it could’ve been a certainty
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by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions
I think that Miles is wrong here
Super 2 is calculated on MLB service time IIRC, not games played in. Doesn’t matter if he sits. If he’s on the MLB roster, the time counts.
The Super 2 cutoff has historically been between 2 years 135 days and 2 years 130 days. Calling up Castro today will give him 2 years 150 days by the end of the year if he doesn’t go down. It is possible that he doesn’t qualify, but I would be very surprised.
"Manny Trillo is coming in to pinch run. You know, for a lot of teams, you would pinch run for Manny Trillo." - Harry Caray
Probably more...
…to try and keep his job, and hoping it provides a spark.
Hendry must know another year with a 140+ mil payroll and no playoffs means he is most likely out in trouble, and he isn’t going to let the club get to far behind the 8 ball without trying just about anything.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Agree 100%
I think I speak for everyone here when I say, "Wait, what the hell are you talking about?"
Eh. We can afford Super-2s. As long as the free agency year is pushed back, I'm fine with it.
If he’s so awesome in his first couple of years that he gets big $$ in arbitration one year earlier, well, that’s a pretty sweet problem to have. I guess we just give him Grabow’s money or something.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
sure we can afford it
but there’s no point to it
theriot and fontenot/baker have been fine. The team isn’t contending this year. Just wait 3 weeks….
we can afford to throw 3 million dollars down a drain, but that doesn’t mean we should do it
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by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions
Remember that by the time Castro will be eligible for arb...
… a lot of the big contracts the Cubs have now will be off the books.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
And if he's arb-eligible AND good after 2 years, well, sweet.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
i understand we can afford it
not saying it will impact our ability to retain him
i’m simply saying there’s no upside to it and only downside so why not be patient and just wait 3 more weeks
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by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions
It's only one year.
Maybe Hendry — or a new GM if there is one — would sign Castro to a longer term deal, if he’s that good, like other teams have done with their young players.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
if true, more proof
that the Cubs are simply grasping at straws right now in trying to figure out how to actually win ballgames.
There really seems to be no set direction, plan or strategy at the moment.
Hendry has put this team in a position with basically zero payroll flexibility and essentially had a non-existent offseason because of the MB fiasco that he created. He’s made it so that the Cubs really can’t trade anyone who might bring something decent back due to inflated contracts.
Start Colvin with the big club and give him limited playing time, slowing his progress and now possibly promoting Castro w/o an everyday position available to him.
This club is flailing and got swept by a team that hasn’t had a winning record in 16 seasons.
The Cubs start this year is almost as embarrassing as the 0-14 start.
by ScottT on May 7, 2010 9:33 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Itchy Trigger Finger on Castro?
Wow! If Theriot and Fontenot were both doing badly, I could see calling up Castro. This possible move would be an overreaction to how the team is playing.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
Absolutely - this organization seems to have ADD.
For the last two years, they’ve been remaking their roster over and over again, trying to remedy some perceived deficiency that caused them to lose the prior season. Now, with all of the money gone, they are into the “throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks” phase.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
They better not "Colvin" him...
Put Castro at short, Theriot at 2nd, and just keep them there.
Someday we'll go all the way...
by CubsBullsBears on May 7, 2010 9:34 AM CDT reply actions 4 recs
Did what?
Put him at SS and Theriot at 2B? That, I believe, is the longterm plan.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Should Be 2011 Plan
Is Fontenot doing that poorly in 2010 that there is this need to rush Castro to the majors? Let Fontenot finish 2010 as the primary second baseman and move Theriot over there in 2011 to make room for Castro at short.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
Colvin
is being handled perfectly by Lou. He is getting AB’s against pitchers he can hit and is doing very well. I blame Lou for alot but he has juggled our OF just about perfect so far.
by CalCalender on May 7, 2010 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Colvin has had one at-bat this week.
You don’t think he could have handled Charlie Morton?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
our starting OF all have
monster seasons so far. Its hard to give the kid starts when Fukudome, Soriano and Byrd are all crushing the ball.
I really like what Lou has done so far because I think at this point in his career Colvin would be overmatched as an everyday guy.
True enough, but...
… when the guy sits for a week, you really think he’ll be able to continue?
I’d have started him vs. Morton, since he wouldn’t have started vs. the LHP Maholm or Burres.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Nowhere near enough
It’s clear that the higher the salary the more playing time there is.
There isn’t that issue at 1901 W. Madison St (10% of a salary-capped payroll riding the bench 97% of the time in the playoffs).
Just win the next game...!
What are you talking about?
You do realize that Soriano, Byrd and Fukudome are all out-performing Colvin so far. Zambrano got sent to the bullpen. If those other guys were struggling, I suspect that Colvin would be getting more ABs.
by JSB on May 7, 2010 3:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Who is more important to this team's future?
More to the point, did Fukudome, Byrd and Soriano put up those awesome Aprils by playing every day?
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 7, 2010 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions
I have no issue with Byrd
But Soriano (though I’m happy with his AZ series) won’t go too much longer w/o reverting to his old-self. As much as I like Domer than man, it seems like his abilities were far over-estimated by his reviewers.
Before Sori got hot, IMO Colvin didn’t get as many games as it sounded he would get when Lou said the kid would start 2-3 days a week.
My point is playing the hot hand. The Cubs are not doing that enough; contrary to this (watch tonight at 8:30 pm on Versus), the ’Hawks are…
Just win the next game...!
If they dont do this it would be insanity...
….you dont call him up in this Hail Mary fashion to play part time.
Don't play with my emotions man
Seriously.
"I don't know what the big deal about Crackerjack is"
by theGraceyslumpbuster on May 7, 2010 9:35 AM CDT reply actions
Al
what are your thoughts on this? Personally, if the kid is ready then he is ready but with the Cubs doing other things like the Z move that indicate they are desperate and grasping for straws then I get a little less excited about it.
I'll post on the front page if/when it is confirmed.
I’ve said over and over that I don’t think he’s ready — but if so, maybe he can inject a little spark into this lifeless team.
This team is too good to be playing like this. Maybe that’s what they need.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Me and you have disagreed on him being ready
a couple of times. I guess we will find out soon, huh?
2010 is OUR year.
I know
its hard to hear but its still a young season. Remember 07 folks we were 9 games back in June before things evened out.
True.
Maybe this is the wakeup call the Cubs need.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
At some point, we need not just a wakeup call
but an Ambien for the Cardinals. We can be sparked and woken and all that, but at some point, the Cardinals have to fall back.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Yes, to the team widely regarded as the best in the NL
While we lost three to the team widely regarded as the worst.
Things can turn around. I was here in 07 as well. It can happen.
This just feels different.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
True, but obviously you see the difference in the quality of opponents.
Follow me on Twitter: @brandonrifkin
I seem to remember a few moves in 2007.
It’s not as if the team just sat back and waited for things to get better. They traded the starting SS and C, and called up Marmol in mid-may for a pretty prime bullpen role.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
at what point
do you realize the team isn’t “too good”
i’d agree they’re better than this, but “too good to be playing like this???” It’s an 85 win team MAX, all the projection systems had them in the high 70’s/low 80’s
at what point does reality set in?
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by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions
teams
can outperform projects, you know that. In fact here are a few guys currently doing so
Soto
Theriot
Fukudome
Soriano
Byrd
Colvin
Silva
Gorzelanny
Marmol
now alot of these guys will regress but a few look to have established new performance baselines.
all those guys are out-performing projections
and the team is 13-16 with one of the easiest opening schedules in all of baseball
how is this not a sign?
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by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 9:47 AM CDT up reply actions
Because many good teams have had bad starts like this, or worse.
And maybe some of us would like to have a bit of optimism, instead of being smug and say “I knew I was right”, before the results are final.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
why is it smug or pessimistic?
why isn’t it realistic?
that’s what i don’t understand. Anything not the most optimistic opinion in the world is considered pessimistic
i’m asking… AT WHAT POINT do you stop and reassess your expectations?
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by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
I personally find unbridled optimism as smug and obnoxious as
unbridled pessimism.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Really?
You must not be much fun to be around.
To answer DCF’s question — not yet. Too early.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
that's actually not answering the question at all
that’s just delaying an answer
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by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions
No, it IS answering the question.
My answer is, “it’s too early to reassess”.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
the question was
at what point
not is it too early?
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by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions
You're asking for math again.
The answer is, “not now”.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
i'm asking for a date
or a time in the season (40 games in?)
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by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm not going to do that, because each season is different.
Example: In 2004, the Cardinals were running away with the division early. By June it was pretty obvious the Cubs were only in contention for the wild card.
This year has not taken shape yet. You cannot set a specific date, because each season has its own dynamics. If the Cubs win four in a row, they’re over .500 again and probably back in second place. This team has already won four in a row once, and has another three-game streak, so that’s very doable.
Ask me again at the end of May and MAYBE I’ll have an answer.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
All it takes is a Big Gulp and Jimmy John's sandwich to get to his heart.
Or so I hear.
Follow me on Twitter: @brandonrifkin
OK, here's Worf's date
More than 6 games out by the end of June and you have to start looking at trades for prospects.
As for the Wild Card, the NL is just loaded. The NL East is going to be a dogfight and every team in the West except Arizona has potential. No way the Wild Card comes from the Central.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
The 2007 Cubs were eight games out at the end of June.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Yeah, well, I would have been wrong
But I don’t recall the 2007 Cards being as scary at the 2010 model. I also don’t remember the rest of the NL being so stacked.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Is the rest of the league really "stacked" though?
11 teams are within four games of .500. That doesn’t sound “stacked” to me.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
At this time of the season in 2007
the Brewers didn’t exactly look like chopped liver either.
While I agree in your general assessment of the red-birds, the Cubs have to think first of themselves.
This is a good move in foresight but we will have to wait to see if it pans out; and if he’s played enough too.
Just win the next game...!
In 2007 there was alot of change going on...
I believe that team was excited to see where Lou could take them. I agree that i think this team has given up on Lou.
I don’t believe the two teams can be compared, other than record-wise. The teams record isn’t the only story of what’s going on.
Also, i believe it was Milwaukee that was playing hot this time in 07?
by RMRZisMYmanCRUSH on May 7, 2010 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Given up on Lou?
That’s too bad, as I’m sure he is probably an impossible guy to play for.
Maybe Hendry can take a poll of all the players to see who they want to be manager, and that will assure the team will be in “lock step” with who is in charge – at least until they give up on that guy as well.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
This happens in sports
… alot. Sarcasm doesn’t change that fact.
I still feel that 07 and 10 beginnings, though similar in record, are not similar in pattern.
by RMRZisMYmanCRUSH on May 7, 2010 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions
It does happen...
…but not nearly as much with quality organizations, because they make it clear who is running the show.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
Agreed
I think another thing those organizations have is a better long term picture for the athletes. The same disciplines and fundamentals that are trained throughout the minors are actually used with the major leauge club.
The Twins come to mind… my second favorite team.
And yeah, the manager needs to be great with the younger players.
by RMRZisMYmanCRUSH on May 7, 2010 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions
shocking
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 May 7, 2010 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions
+1
There’s plenty of the attitude around here that if you think the Cubs are done before they’re mathematically eliminated, you’re just a pessimist, full of negativity.
’It’s only been 10 games’
’It’s only been 20 games’
’We’re not even a third the way through the season’
’It’s not even the All-Star Break yet’
…
Follow me on Twitter: @brandonrifkin
It's not even Labor Day!
Put it this way
Saying, “30 games out with 31 to play! We’ve still got a shot” is just as obnoxious as “Swept in April! When do the Bears start?”
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Who's advocating that?
Still busy fighting strawmen, I see.
I never travel far without a little Big Star. R.I.P Alex
by Josh Timmers on May 7, 2010 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions
You're pretty optimistic about the Bears, I see.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Come on - embrace the Martz Era.
If we’re going down, we’re going down swinging. It’s going to be crazy fun on offense.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 7, 2010 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Right after they get another
OG
FB
DT
DE &
DB
If I want to watch crazy fun offencive football (and winning football), I’ll go watch the Chicago Rush at AllState Arena. Actually I already do. They’re a good team…again!
Just win the next game...!
many MORE bad teams have had starts like this
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by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 9:52 AM CDT up reply actions
True.
But to believe it cannot turn around ignores the many that have turned it around in the past.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
i'm not ignoring it
i’m using basic probabilities
over time about 15-20% of teams like this turn it around
80-85% continue to go on being mediocre
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by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Sorry.
I like to think baseball is more than mathematics.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
That's why they're probabilities and not sure things.
Some of us prefer to reasonably expect one likely outcome while rooting hard for another.
Follow me on Twitter: @brandonrifkin
baseball can be summerized (postly)
with mathematics. Where it gets dicey is when people try to use math to predict baseball. It’s why I don’t put much stock in saber-metrics; simply too many intangibles that cannot be put into an equation.
Sure you can use the law of averages and apply the 15-20% rule referenced above and sometimes its a safe bet. But too many other factors can influence things. Things like say a dugout/clubhouse “fight” or the (staged IMHO) ungluing of a manager a day after said “fight”.
Just win the next game...!
it's not
a great sign but my non stat side thinks they will start winning fairly soon. We wont ever catch StL but we will be in the wildcard hunt all year I think.
Now if I could just get Lou to put our 2nd best pitcher back in the starting rotation….
Starting pitching, notwithstanding last night, has not been the issue.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Just because
something is good doesnt mean you shouldnt make it better.
I'd rather fix the things that are bad first.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Not sure about 85 wins max.
I think this team is between an 80-85 win team, but I can see a scenario where they win a few more games. Projection systems are nice for giving a good idea of what to expect, but it is not unusual for teams to out-perform or underperform the projections by a significant amount.
by JSB on May 7, 2010 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Certainly.
However, what we’ve seen is, 20% into the season, the team is actually underperforming their middling projections — and people are still calling it “pessimism” to posit that the team might not exceed its projections.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 7, 2010 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't agree with one thing
A team is what its record says it is. Maybe it gets better and “evens out” as Cal says later. That does happen.
But on May 7, the team is 3 games under .500. That spells not good.
Maybe Castro’s move provides a spark or whatever, but I’m not much of a believer in sparks.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
it def is not good
and losing 2 of 3 to washington or getting swept by the pirates is terrible but is still very very early in the season.
I agree and I remember 2007
And plenty of World Series winning teams have had sweeps by last place teams in their seasons. I’ll even go so far as to say the Nationals are going to be friskier than anyone gives them credit for.
And I’ve got no stats, to back this one up, Cal.
But this one just feels different. I hope I’m wrong. I’ll let you yell at me for an entire thread if I am.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Correct.
And I don’t think the Nats are that bad a team. They have also won series vs. the Rockies, Dodgers, Marlins & Braves, all teams expected to contend.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
to me this
season feels exactly like 2007 did early on. You sometimes get the feeling that there is no spark with the team and you can almost predict after 1-2 innings the days when they wont score more than 2-3 runs. But that can change and SP is the trump card in a long grind of a season. If our SP stays as solid as it has been eventually we will start to see more W’s.
Also, it really hurts having an absolute black hole in key spots like Aramis has been. I have complete faith its just a slump that will go away but its been a very very bleak one.
You and I don't often agree, but I think you're right on here.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Maybe it's the Zambrano thing
Maybe it’s that we’ve seen Lou’s tricks at this point.
Maybe it’s the slow realization that the Cardinals have once again put a chokehold on the division and the rest of the NL is just stacked as far as the wild card.
But you are right in the Aramis thing. There are few things more soul-sucking than watching a team struggle at the plate.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
from the guy
who railed on the Nats all offseason and when i said they’d be closer to .500 than one of the worst teams in the league dismissed it…
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by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions
OK, I admit I was wrong.
Will you admit your math is wrong if the Cubs turn it around?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
i never have a problem admitting when i was wrong
i was wrong about the dempster contract
i was wrong about Marmol’s arm being likely to fall off
follow me on twitter for fantasy sports analysis @http://twitter.com/DrewDinkmeyer or get the full analysis at www.fantistics.com
by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions
sure
and let me know when you’re ready on Grabow as well :)
follow me on twitter for fantasy sports analysis @http://twitter.com/DrewDinkmeyer or get the full analysis at www.fantistics.com
by DartmouthCubsFan on May 7, 2010 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions
Another thing
if he is here he needs to play every single day. And if he doesnt hit .400 right out of the gate he still needs to play every single day. The Cubs better not screw this up.
by CalCalender on May 7, 2010 9:42 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
If I had a dollar for every time the Cubs screwed something up,
I’d own the team.
Follow me on Twitter: @brandonrifkin
How do they make room on the roster for Castro?
Is someone going on the DL or being traded or released?
Good question.
The most likely scenarios involve Baker or Tracy.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
That would leave the Cubs with four outfielders.
Won’t happen.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
CONFIRMATION RECEIVED on one of the reports today.
Josh Vitters is definitely going to Double-A, along with Marwin Gonzalez. Ryan Flaherty is going to Daytona (he’s off to a bad start at Tennessee).
Note, that is a two-for-one… there would have to be another roster move at Double-A, which gives more credence to the Castro report.
Still working on confirmation of that.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Vitters
in AA should be interesting to watch.
Like that Move
It’s about time that we see what he can do against AA pitching. I don’t feel as if this is a rushed promotion.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
May as well.
It’s not like he’s dominating at Daytona, but if he’s going to stay on the “top prospect” path, we need to push him a little.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
No he's not dominating.
But he is playing better in Daytona than he was last year. I would like to see some more power in him, though.
2010 is OUR year.
He was pretty lousy at Daytona last year, though.
Yes, this has been an improvement.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Not Panic Time Yet, But...
I am beginning to wonder if Vitters is all that he is cracked up to be. Sure, I know he’s far too young to proclaim him as a bust. Soto was a lot older than Vitters is now before Soto finally broke out. I agree that if he is truly a "top prospect’ that he needs to be able to do well at AA at this point. Hopefully, he’ll do better at Tennessee than he did at Daytona.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
Vitters is 20 years old, and...
… off to a decent start at Daytona. This is a huge move for him — if he succeeds, he’ll be back on the fast track.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Big Move to AA
I believe this is where we’ll see if he has the potential to be a long-time major leaguer. I can see him in Tennessee for the rest of this season and even the start of 2011 because he would only be 21 years old then. If he doesn’t make it to Chicago until 2012, he would still only be 22 years old.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
He hasnt done poorly in Daytona this year.
He is batting just shy of .300 and has shown better plate discipline. He is taking the steps where improvement was needed.
I expect his power will start to develop a bit more in AA. We may see some struggles at first, but by the end of the year I think he will solidify himself as a top 50-100 prospect again.
Well, I dunno Al,
Didn’t Cashner get called up to AAA? Wouldn’t that be a roster move?
2010 is OUR year.
Yes, but...
… it could correspond with a move FROM AAA to AA.
It appears that Chad Tracy is going to Iowa, via a tweet from David Kaplan.
When all of this is confirmed, I will make a front page post.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Someone is going to have to leave
Iowa if Cashner is going up and Tracy is going down.
I’m wondering if Sam Fuld gets released. Just kidding. Actually, Micah Hoffpauir will probably end up on the DL or something and Marcos Mateo sent down to IA.
I never travel far without a little Big Star. R.I.P Alex
by Josh Timmers on May 7, 2010 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Mateo down
to TN, of course.
I never travel far without a little Big Star. R.I.P Alex
by Josh Timmers on May 7, 2010 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions
I think this is a very bad time to bring him up...
…especially if this is the “start” of some bad losing habits for the team… I’m all for bringing the kids up, but it’s NOT a good idea to take him from a hot AA team and put him right into a culture of losing… that’s not going to help him develop into a player with a winning attitude.
I know everyone needs to learn how to lose, but I just don’t think this is the right time. Sure, maybe he’ll be a spark or whatever, but Lou clearly doesn’t want to play the young kids, so why have him sitting on the bench? He can watch the games just fine from Tennessee on TV and get 3-5 at-bats per day while doing so.
What is a horse shoe? What does a horse shoe do? Are there any horse socks? Is anybody listening to me?
He's not coming up to ride pine.
He’s starting tonight, batting 8th. I bet he starts at minimum 5 games a week.
Follow me on Twitter: @brandonrifkin
So is Theriot moving to 2B then?
What is a horse shoe? What does a horse shoe do? Are there any horse socks? Is anybody listening to me?
Well I hope this works, in that case.
What is a horse shoe? What does a horse shoe do? Are there any horse socks? Is anybody listening to me?
How does a team reverse "a culture of losing"
if they do not bring in new people?
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 May 7, 2010 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions
By playing better maybe?
I don’t know, I just know I wouldn’t want to start my big league career right now…
What is a horse shoe? What does a horse shoe do? Are there any horse socks? Is anybody listening to me?
What might get them to start playing better?
Infusion of new blood sometimes does the trick. At some point you have to try someone new and stop assuming that underperforming players will suddenly start performing better.
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 May 7, 2010 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions
Oh boy
They’re going to ruin him by calling him up too soon.
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
The better move would have been to can Lou Piniella
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
the two moves do not have to be mutually exclusive
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 May 7, 2010 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions
start printing them playoff tickets
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
More confirmation?
http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/05/castro-likely-to-join-cubs-in-cincinnati.html
"A waist is a terrible thing to mind." - Terry 'Fat Tub of Goo' Forster
by eths on May 7, 2010 10:41 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Wow and you people thought dumping Nady on the DL
and bringing up someone from AAA was a unnecessary change.
Yep pure panic and Lou is not good with kids either but I am guessing he is under orders on this.
So anyone really believe they would have done this if they had NOT been swept by the Pirates?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
Only barely, compared to "Zambrano to middle relief".
If Wells had dropped last night’s stinkbomb in the first week of the season, would he be the one banished to middle relief?
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 7, 2010 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Smells like a panic move
but I will give the kid a chance to perform. He may end up suprising me.
"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will
Avatar provided courtesy of AndrewJStone.
Don't Think Castro Will Be Devastated If...
he comes up to the majors and is overmatched by big league pitching initially and has to be sent back down. I hope I’m wrong and Castro will do well at the big league level in 2010. If he doesn’t, I don’t think he’ll be scarred for life.
Shawon Dunston got sent back to Iowa in 1985 after starting the season with the big club. Dunston was in the majors for an extremely long time after getting called back up later that season. Good luck, Starlin!
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
To Reiterate
I think Castro is going to be a fine major league shortstop for a long time. I just think this is a little soon to bring him up to Chicago.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
That was a different regime.
These are the guys who sent Pie back to the minors when he didn’t produce, and then shipped him off to Baltimore in a series of moves designed to land Aaron Heilman.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 7, 2010 3:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Really looking forward to seeing Castro every day
but I’m trying to make myself not expect anything from him. Hendry/Lou if you ruin Castro’s development so help me…
Castro up now =
Cubs still playing in October!
...
(This story was produced by BCPDnewservice. Our motto: If you don’t like this story then suck it!)
by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on May 7, 2010 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm okay with this move
It was long anticipated. I really didn’t think Super Two status was going to impact the Castro decision that much. If they thought he was ready, they were likely to pull the trigger. Now, I would’ve preferred him coming up at a later date, preferably when the team was going well, so that he wasn’t viewed as a “savior”, but the reality is, if the team was doing well, he wouldn’t get called up.
Look, it’s not a great move. The ideal would have been to give him more seasoning. That said, the reports out of Tennessee have been very positive thsi year. He’s shown a good eye, isn’t a wild hacker (both in line with past reports). He’s shown burgeoning power. The defense is fairly clean. Again, he might not be a “10 year guy” at short, but I feel confident that he can handle short for at least, say, his arb eligible years. He has a good work ethic by most accounts, and by all indications, has a good head on his shoulder.
I’m not that concerned that failure will damage him mentally. I think he can handle it. The issue now comes down to how the Cubs handle him. This has to be a long term experiment. That is, this can’t be Samardzija being jerked from the pen to rotation, to the bigs and back, and so forth (not putting all the blame on development, obviously, Jeff has some responsibility on his own growth). Short of it is, it would probably would take something catastrophic to bench him. Furthermore, he should get the bulk of SS time, with Theriot getting a game or two a week at short and the rest at 2nd.
The other big issue is where you bat him. Ideally, I would prefer that it’s not the 8 hole, but they might simply opt to go that route as a safe measure. He might be a consideration for the 2 spot, as his skillset works there with his plate coverage, ability to put the ball in play, but do you stick a kid in the 2 spot when your middle isn’t exactly going strong? Probably not.
To be honest, I’m more bothered with the Vitters move than I am with this, and even then, Vitters had shown enough progress to justify a move to Tennessee at some point soon. The Cashner move was the easiest no brainer. He’s elevated himself into a legit, TOR pitching prospect.
we're trading cashner for their left fielder!!!
I love Marian Hossa and Patrick Kane in totally manly ways. Kinda.
5/7/10 VIVA EL COMANDANTE
by jesus christos on May 7, 2010 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions
This is Lou's version of trading Michael Barrett
The message is very simple: If you can’t score runs against the worst pitching staff in MLB, I’ll start playing the kids.
I don’t think Castro is here to stay for the entire rest of the season, unless he goes completely insanely hot. But one has to wonder if they think that Ramirez has some sort of injury, or if he’s just done a George Bell on them.
Hopefully Castro will just bat 8th for a while.
It's a simple question, Doctor: would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs??
Really cause Theriot wasn't hitting?
Can’t see how this sends a message to Ramirez & Lee
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on May 7, 2010 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Right cause Lee & A-Ram
are worried Vitters & LaHair are going to take their jobs?
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on May 7, 2010 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Trading Barrett...
…IMO, was one of the best moves the Cubs have made for years.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
I never believed that a catcher's defense could have that massive of an effect. He made me a believer.
Michael Barrett was an artist behind the dish. He worked in game-losing defensive plays the way another artist may have worked with oils or marble. I saw things in 2006 and the first couple of months of 2007 that I had never seen before, or since.
I don’t even care if Kyler Burke ever makes the 40-man roster. It was just gratifying to see Hendry finally admit that, after years of coveting Barrett and then finally acquiring him, the team would be better off with literally any other catcher in MLB behind the plate.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on May 7, 2010 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Correct...
…and his baserunning was not stellar either. Overall, he has very little baseball sense, and was even instrumental in waking the Astros from the dead in 04 by trying to be a hardass when the timing was completely wrong.
Lastly, he was one of the worst major league catchers I have ever seen.
"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel
I have posted a front page story about the Castro recall — continue discussion there.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
The King...
He’s here!
(This story was produced by BCPDnewservice. Our motto: If you don’t like this story then suck it!)
by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on May 7, 2010 11:05 AM CDT reply actions
I admire your optimism
But we’ve had too many Patterson’s, Hills, and Pie’s to get excited about this kid
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
I've had Castro at SS...
since opening day on my MLB2K10 roster. Cubs are 26-3 with him leading off. :)
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