The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

[BleacherBum2310]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Baez has 11 Errors in AAA already. Yes this Castro wouldn't be a significant drop-off but When Castro gets out of his slump and say he returns to his normal averages that's kind of a big drop off.

I realize how i sound a big defender of his but it's mainly because every-time he makes a mistake alot of people go overboard. I didn't hear anything on Russell and Rizzo last night when they made the big costly error to allow the nats to score. & It's the same when Castro was hitting well.

It's very exhausting.

[ThreeKing]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/0...tarlin-castro/

[Jr.]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

I don't think Castro is meant for the hot corner. He has trouble reading ground balls and getting his proper footwork down as it is at short. It should be either LF or trade him. I have this feeling though if you move him to LF, you might get in his head and he'll actually regress.

Whatever the case may be, they cannot keep Baez down there for too long. Let him come up and figure it out. He's doing well enough to get the call up.

I can see that a bit, but Castro has made some great plays on balls where he just had to react. I think that could suit him well for 3B. There isn't quite as much footwork involved where you have to measure steps. It's more of a 1-2 step movement to the ball, a step and a dive, or it's right at you. I think he'd be fine coming across and fielding a ball to his glove side, a lot of his errors seem to be when he has to move to his arm side.

As for Baez, 9 of his 11 errors are at SS. Only 2 at 2B. He's got Maddon raving about his defensive ability, so I think he would upgrade the infield D if they did decide to make the moves I'm talking about.

In the end, I still think Baez gets traded. I don't think the organization wants to move guys all around at this point.

[ThreeKing]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

That very last sentence in the reply, needs to be shouted from the mountain tops.

[fugazi]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

http://www.bleachernation.com/2015/0...tarlin-castro/

The article was meh, but the comments section is a travesty.


If he wanted to write a balanced article, he could've mentioned Castro's base hit numbers...one article linked in this thread, i believe stated he had more hits that anyone in the league since he came up, or something to that effect...

The problem, I think, has been a matter of expectations. NOTHING in Starlin's career has suggested he will be anything more than a SS Mark Grace. He's never come terribly close to an .800 OPS...

As a kid, his proficiency for doubles, occasional HR, and boatloads of singles were almost prodigious. Other than 2013, that's what he's been..he's been quite consistent. About a .300 hitter, gets on base about 1/3 of the time... 30+ doubles.

Defensively, he's been sufficient but no more, if only because his position demands more.

A Shortstop that can't hit well is acceptable, given he brings the glove...
A Shortstop that can hit a ton while providing passable defense is also acceptable.

Right now, Castro is not fulfilling either of those roles.

Even when hitting at his best (OPS of .777, 14HR, 36 2b), it seems tough to argue it justifies his 0.96 fielding. Compare him to Tulowitzki, who has made half as many errors in almost 1300 more chances.

I want him to succeed, not just because he's a Cub, but because he is the kind of hitter a lineup needs in the bottom of the order...usually high contact rate, knack for doubles.

The team needs a bit of an upgrade, though...and he's in a vulnerable spot.

[fugazi]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Zobrist or Prado...apparently deadline targets...

thoughts?

[Jr.]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Zobrist or Prado...apparently deadline targets...

thoughts?

I like Zobrist more than Prado, but really on the basis that I think Zobrist is a better defender in the OF.

I have no idea if that's true or not, but I feel like he is.

[fugazi]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

I just wonder how they'd be used...

As the primary LF? or RH platoon?

Play most days to rest others?

Or more limited playing time? It's hard to imagine trading for one of them just to have them be on the bench very often.

Or do they push Castro out the door, maybe with Baez's help?


As far as every-day offensive contribution, I'm not sure that either provides enough to make a great difference...that being said, I'll take Prado's near-.300 career BA; his line this year is not far off from average, while Zobrist is not likely to regain his 18+HR/yr form.

[Jr.]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

I just wonder how they'd be used...

As the primary LF? or RH platoon?

Play most days to rest others?

Or more limited playing time?

Or do they push Castro out the door, maybe with Baez's help?


As far as every-day offensive contribution, I'm not sure that either provides enough to make a great difference...that being said, I'll take Prado's near-.300 career BA; his line this year is not far off from average, while Zobrist is not likely to regain his 18+HR/yr form.

I've been hearing they would come in mostly as a starting LF, but also giving Soler some time off. Just some added flexibility in the OF. I don't think Maddon wanted to play Soler every game given his history with leg injuries.

[ThreeKing]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Welp, here we go. Possibly making moves for a potential Baez call-up.

[Jr.]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Welp, here we go. Possibly making moves for a potential Baez call-up.

On that note, Baez to start playing 3B in Iowa

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/baseball/iowa-cubs/2015/06/03/javier-baez-chicago-cubs-iowa/28413301/

[fugazi]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

sorry...this is a joke.

The Cubs dropped 4 of 6 to Milwaukee...and now 2 of 3 to Miami. No one makes the playoffs by losing series to cellar-dwellers.

David Ross...what a joke. What a joke to sign this guy just because of Lester. So, you bring in an AL pitcher and his mendoza-hitting buddy...neither of whom can hit...every 5 days you're cool with 0-9.

Lester...smh. His performance is only slightly below his average, and one can reasonably expect him to turn it around...but....was he worth $$ aaaannd the signing of David albatRoss??

How many 0-fers does Fowler get before he's moved out of the leadoff spot?

Bring Baez up...go for it...might as well give him one last shot, because this season is already in the tank. Surely playing for next year already, too many holes in this team. Fans can believe, but if the FO does, the fans are in trouble.

At least the pitcher batted 8th tonight...otherwise, Ross-Lester-Fowler would have gone 0-14 in succession.

Same cubs. lots of Strikeouts, crap OBP, crap bullpen, lots of talk.

hate on me if you want...i'm not happy about it, but I'm not going to delude myself.

[Jr.]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

Take a deep breath. Lester just finished a 4-1 month with a sub 2 ERA. The offense is struggling, but that was to be expected with a team this young and this K prone.

I do agree about Ross, but at least he does have a walk-off single to his name.

The team is also in the top half of baseball (12th according to ESPN.com) in OBP... far from crap.

Bullpen help looks to be on the way (CJ Edwards is in AAA now, Ramirez should be back soon, and hopefully Medina provides a boost)

It is infuriating that they seem to play to their competition level. The bench will hopefully be getting a big boost soon, whether through trade or getting LaStella or Olt back from the DL.

[JODYE]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

sorry...this is a joke.

The Cubs dropped 4 of 6 to Milwaukee...and now 2 of 3 to Miami. No one makes the playoffs by losing series to cellar-dwellers.

David Ross...what a joke. What a joke to sign this guy just because of Lester. So, you bring in an AL pitcher and his mendoza-hitting buddy...neither of whom can hit...every 5 days you're cool with 0-9.

Lester...smh. His performance is only slightly below his average, and one can reasonably expect him to turn it around...but....was he worth $$ aaaannd the signing of David albatRoss??

How many 0-fers does Fowler get before he's moved out of the leadoff spot?

Bring Baez up...go for it...might as well give him one last shot, because this season is already in the tank. Surely playing for next year already, too many holes in this team. Fans can believe, but if the FO does, the fans are in trouble.

At least the pitcher batted 8th tonight...otherwise, Ross-Lester-Fowler would have gone 0-14 in succession.

Same cubs. lots of Strikeouts, crap OBP, crap bullpen, lots of talk.

hate on me if you want...i'm not happy about it, but I'm not going to delude myself.

Let's slow down the panic train for a minute. Sounding like a certain someone, and that isn't a good thing lol

Give it time. This team is young and growing pains should have been expected.

I do agree about Ross, but the rest will come. LaStella and Olt will return to bolster the bench and I find it difficult to believe that a team that lead the majors in bullpen ERA in the second half of last year won't turn it around at some point soon. Injuries have been a killer and guys are getting healthy, Plus as Jr. said, Medina is a solid addition.

It's only the first week in June. There is A LOT of season left.

[fugazi]

Re: The Friendly Confines: The Official Chicago Cubs Thread

You're absolutely right...youth is playing a big role. I do understand that, but didn't do much to make that clear.

it's not just the kids though...Fowler and Castro, too.

the idea that Lester "needs" Ross makes me dislike each of them more.