Luis Castillo To Twins?

[Macar91]

Re: Luis Castillo To Twins?

This move really helps the Twins b/c they rally lacked having a leadoff hitter last year. Now they've got a guy who can steal 20+ bases and manufacture some runs. I don't even know who the Twins' leadoff hitter was last year.

[poster]

Re: Luis Castillo To Twins?

Are you shocked? The Cubs for the second year in a row failed to shore up the closers role with a proven player. Last year Troy Percivel was available and I can't remember but someone else was available and they stuck with Boroawski and LeTroy Hawkins. We all know how that turned out.

Now, in a strong closer-free agent market. Not to mention a lot of other closer under contract looking to get dealt to other teams who do the Cubs turn to? Ryan Dempster. Yes, he had 33 saves last year BUT Boroawski had 33 saves in 2003 and look what happened after that. They just don't learn. Oh well, Sox rule Chicago.

I agree with you guys about the Cubs not making an effort. Castillo would be a big upgrade over the slow and poor fielding Walker. As far as Dempster goes he if my memory serves me right was 33for 35 with an ERA of under 2 when he was the closer. What more do you want? I was skepitcal as well when the season started, but I think he has the stuff and he will get better the further along he gets from Tommy John surgery.

[shugknight]

Re: Luis Castillo To Twins?

Are you shocked? The Cubs for the second year in a row failed to shore up the closers role with a proven player. Last year Troy Percivel was available and I can't remember but someone else was available and they stuck with Boroawski and LeTroy Hawkins. We all know how that turned out.

Now, in a strong closer-free agent market. Not to mention a lot of other closer under contract looking to get dealt to other teams who do the Cubs turn to? Ryan Dempster. Yes, he had 33 saves last year BUT Boroawski had 33 saves in 2003 and look what happened after that. They just don't learn. Oh well, Sox rule Chicago.

No, I'm not shocked. I'm more amused at the Cubs situation.

Here is a city with great sports tradition. 2 baseball teams with only 1 World Series ring in the past 100 years.

You would think that after the White Sox mopped up the playoffs and the World Series, that Tribune and Co. would make an attempt to become the better team.

As for the closer, I dont really mind their situation about not signing neither Billy Wagner or BJ Ryan, simply because IMO they have 2 quality closers in their pitching staff.

One is Ryan Dempster. He showed last year that he was capable of closing out 30+ games. (Imagine if they Cubs actually gave their pitchers run support... his stats would probably be better than they actually are)

As for the other one... Kerry Wood. Yes he has a great arm, and is a Grade A starter. But his arm is not strong enough to withstand a full 7,8, or 9 innings for an entire year. Hes been injury prone since they decided to overuse him since he was considered the "one" after his 20 K game.

Put Dempster in the rotation, along with Rusch.

Prior
Zambrano
Maddux
Rusch
Dempster

They have a quality setup man in Howry, and with Wood closing, hes even capable of going 2+ innings if needed.

Now if they do this, all they need is hitting and defense.

Castillo sure would have been nice at 2nd teaming alongside Furcal (if we actually do sign him!) But instead rumors has it that the Cubs are going for Juan Pierre instead. Which is also nice, but what about FELIX PIE!?!?!

Geez Cubs management (Especially Dusty Baker, idiot) are the dumbest people on the face of the planet.

[Macar91]

Re: Luis Castillo To Twins?

No, I'm not shocked. I'm more amused at the Cubs situation.

Here is a city with great sports tradition. 2 baseball teams with only 1 World Series ring in the past 100 years.

You would think that after the White Sox mopped up the playoffs and the World Series, that Tribune and Co. would make an attempt to become the better team.

As for the closer, I dont really mind their situation about not signing neither Billy Wagner or BJ Ryan, simply because IMO they have 2 quality closers in their pitching staff.

One is Ryan Dempster. He showed last year that he was capable of closing out 30+ games. (Imagine if they Cubs actually gave their pitchers run support... his stats would probably be better than they actually are)

As for the other one... Kerry Wood. Yes he has a great arm, and is a Grade A starter. But his arm is not strong enough to withstand a full 7,8, or 9 innings for an entire year. Hes been injury prone since they decided to overuse him since he was considered the "one" after his 20 K game.

Put Dempster in the rotation, along with Rusch.

Prior
Zambrano
Maddux
Rusch
Dempster

They have a quality setup man in Howry, and with Wood closing, hes even capable of going 2+ innings if needed.

Now if they do this, all they need is hitting and defense.

Castillo sure would have been nice at 2nd teaming alongside Furcal (if we actually do sign him!) But instead rumors has it that the Cubs are going for Juan Pierre instead. Which is also nice, but what about FELIX PIE!?!?!

Geez Cubs management (Especially Dusty Baker, idiot) are the dumbest people on the face of the planet.

What about Jerome Williams? I think the Cubs would be better off with him in the rotation than Dempster considering Dempster sucked as a starter at the beginning of last year. Also, it is hard for a pitcher to go from being a reliever to a starter like Smoltz did last year.

Also, I'm getting a little tired of people saying that Cubs management is doing a bad job. Compare them to teams like the Marlins, Devil Rays, and Pirates who don't sign any free agents at all and who have horrible GM's.

[Dice]

Re: Luis Castillo To Twins?

As for the other one... Kerry Wood. Yes he has a great arm, and is a Grade A starter. But his arm is not strong enough to withstand a full 7,8, or 9 innings for an entire year. Hes been injury prone since they decided to overuse him since he was considered the "one" after his 20 K game.

I agree. Kerry Wood should get a shot at closing. I think he can do a hell of a job in the closers role. Look what it did for Smoltz.


Maybe I might be hard on Dempster. From what I saw from him he didn't impress me BUT I only watched him for like 2 or 3 games. I guess it's not enough to determine considering he did save 33 out of 35 games, which is not bad. And he did have a 3.13 ERA. Which is not bad for a closer but not overly impressive.

[SPTO]

Re: Luis Castillo To Twins?

I agree. Kerry Wood should get a shot at closing. I think he can do a hell of a job in the closers role. Look what it did for Smoltz.


.

There have been rumours that one of these days Wood would be the closer for the Cubs but it seems Cubs management is determined to give him every shot at starting even if it means his arm becomes completely useless thereby throwing away any chance at closing.

[Macar91]

Re: Luis Castillo To Twins?

I agree. Kerry Wood should get a shot at closing. I think he can do a hell of a job in the closers role. Look what it did for Smoltz.


Maybe I might be hard on Dempster. From what I saw from him he didn't impress me BUT I only watched him for like 2 or 3 games. I guess it's not enough to determine considering he did save 33 out of 35 games, which is not bad. And he did have a 3.13 ERA. Which is not bad for a closer but not overly impressive.

Kerry Wood would not be a good closer IMO. His 1st inning of work is statistically his worst inning (walks especially).

Remember, when Dempster moved to the 'pen, he had been a starter for 3 or 4 starts and his ERA was upwards of 7. As closer, his ERA was like, 2.20 or something like that.

[cjonesfan921]

Re: Luis Castillo To Twins?

These numbers are amazing. Marlins payroll has gone from 65 mill to 25 mill, with people still to go.

Source: ESPN Radio Sportscenter

[shugknight]

Re: Luis Castillo To Twins?

Also, I'm getting a little tired of people saying that Cubs management is doing a bad job. Compare them to teams like the Marlins, Devil Rays, and Pirates who don't sign any free agents at all and who have horrible GM's.

LOL, theres a BIG difference between the Cubs and teams such as the Marlins, D'Rays, and the Pirates.

First of all, the Cubs are in a major market town. They sell out pretty much 99.9% of their games. They have the money. They just dont want to spend it.

Those 3 teams you named all have a budget to stay under simply because they dont have the same fan base as the Cubs. They dont have the money simply because they suck.

The Cubs have the money, they can easily afford Furcal, Castillo, Pierre, and possibly a couple more guys. But they dont want to get them. They are cheap. They've been known to be cheap, and they'll always be cheap.

Please dont stick up for the Cubs management.

[Macar91]

Re: Luis Castillo To Twins?

LOL, theres a BIG difference between the Cubs and teams such as the Marlins, D'Rays, and the Pirates.

First of all, the Cubs are in a major market town. They sell out pretty much 99.9% of their games. They have the money. They just dont want to spend it.

Those 3 teams you named all have a budget to stay under simply because they dont have the same fan base as the Cubs. They dont have the money simply because they suck.

The Cubs have the money, they can easily afford Furcal, Castillo, Pierre, and possibly a couple more guys. But they dont want to get them. They are cheap. They've been known to be cheap, and they'll always be cheap.

Please dont stick up for the Cubs management.

I will stick up for the management because if they got everyone they wanted, they would basically become the Yankees, and I sure don't want that. Also, last I checked, 5 years for 50 Mil. isn't cheap.

If they did get Pierre, Furcal, and Castillo, I guarantee you in two years, at least one of those guys won't be on the team and the Cubs would be paying the contract.

[dkgojackets]

Re: Luis Castillo To Twins?

nothing like trading allstars for people no ones heard of

[shugknight]

Re: Luis Castillo To Twins?

I will stick up for the management because if they got everyone they wanted, they would basically become the Yankees, and I sure don't want that. Also, last I checked, 5 years for 50 Mil. isn't cheap.

If they did get Pierre, Furcal, and Castillo, I guarantee you in two years, at least one of those guys won't be on the team and the Cubs would be paying the contract.

Hmmm... last I checked.. that 5 years for 50 Mil... STILL HASNT HAPPENED. And when it does, then maybe I'll say the Cubs are actually doing something to improve their team.

And please dont compare the Yankees with the Cubs. Thats like comparing Donald Trump to that bum on the corner.

The Yanks spend money and get whoever they want, simply because Steinbrenner wants to win.

The Cubs dont want to spend money on what the team needs simply because they want to save money and think that their current team is "good" enough to get them to the playoffs.

Yet every year come June/July, we hear "Cubs needed a closer this year, and failed to sign one in the off-season" or "Cubs need a quality leadoff hitter, but failed to trade for one"

Why? Becuase they dont want to spend money. Other than Aramis Ramirez and Derrick Lee, the Cubs dont have other big threat on offense. I'm surprised they manage to even sign those 2 to an extended contract. (Sorry but I dont think Burnitz, Walker, Perez, Murton, or Hairston is the answer to their problem.)

They overuse their pitchers, which in turn causes injury problems in the future (ie... Kerry Wood, Mark Prior... Soon to be Zambrano..) Dusty never has anybody steal. No actual baseball strategy has been used with the Cubs. You dont see players on the Cubs bunt anybody over to move them to scoring position. You dont see any sac flys. Its all about, hit the ball as hard as you can and hope you can get on base. I'm sorry but thats Sammy's mentality for his Cubs team back in 2000. This is a different team, Unfortunately the Cubs, year afte year fail to sign that big free agent to finally get them over the hump.

And you "Guarantee" that one of those 3 players wont be with the Cubs?? Its because the Cubs doesnt know how to use their players correctly.

Last year, if they kept Latroy Hawkins as the setup man, and moved Dempster to the closer role, they would have never had to trade Hawkins to the Giants. But keeping him (Hawkins) as the closer after he failed to close out 6-7 games, he lost his confidence. And those frat boys that you call Cubs fans didnt help by hollering at him to "get your bum *** out of Chicago."
If Dusty kept his promise that Dempster will close and Hawkins would still be the setup man from the beginning of the season, the Cubs would have had a better record, and most likely would have taken the Wild Card.

Do you remember Sammy Sosa? Do you remember who we ever received for him? Cause I sure dont. I do remember Hairston though. He was suppose to be the big name that we received in return. He was suppose to make an immediate impact at 2nd or CF. What happens? Dusty benches him till Corey Patterson is hitting .009 fifty games into the season.
Also we keep hearing about this amazing prospect by the name of Felix Pie. Umm.. Yeah he might have been injured, but with Corey Patterson swinging at everything like bees are attacking him, I'd bring him up ASAP. Did they? I think we all know the answer to that.

Oh and whats wrong if you signed every big name FA available? Yeah you might be classified with the Yankees, but at least the North Side of Chicago would be WINNERS. Which IMO is more important than any amount of money.

[bender_over]

Re: Luis Castillo To Twins?

This move really helps the Twins b/c they rally lacked having a leadoff hitter last year. Now they've got a guy who can steal 20+ bases and manufacture some runs. I don't even know who the Twins' leadoff hitter was last year.

Shannon Stewart.

[Macar91]

Re: Luis Castillo To Twins?

Shannon Stewart.

How was he as a leadoff hitter?

[bender_over]

Re: Luis Castillo To Twins?

How was he as a leadoff hitter?

Last year, very mediocre. He was outstanding in 2003 when the Twins traded for him. He was very good in 2004 but was on the DL for much of the year. Last year it seemed like he just wasn't the same and he had the worst season of his career. Maybe injuries and age have caught up with him but he should have a better year next year.