Starlin Castro has attracted a lot of attention in recent weeks. His play in the Arizona Fall League coupled with his 2009 campaign has moved the 19-year old shortstop up the Cubs' prospect list. A report from Cubs.com made the statement, "Starlin Castro is ready for the big leagues."
Starlin Castro was born on March 24, 1990 in the Dominican Republic ... he hits and throws right-handed (6'1", 160 at beginning of 2009 season). Jose Serra signed Starlin Castro out of the Dominican Republic on October 25, 2006. Castro played in the Dominican Summer League in 2007 (at age 17) and put up a solid line in 60 games (.299/.371/.371 with six doubles, two triples and two home runs with 23 walks and 24 strikeouts). Castro then spent 2008 in the Arizona Rookie League and impressed the Cubs enough to start 2009 in High Class-A.
During his 51 games in rookie ball in 2008 Castro hit .311/.364/.464 with 11 doubles, five triples and three home runs with 14 walks and 33 strikeouts in 196 at bats. Castro began turning heads within the Cubs organization ... and throughout baseball.
Starlin Castro was named the Cubs' seventh best prospect by Baseball America before the 2009 season ... and Baseball America figured he would spend his year with short-season Boise. The Cubs started him out in High Class-A with the Daytona Cubs.
In their annual look at the Cubs' farm system, the VineLine had the following to say about Castro:
"After hitting .311 in the Arizona League, the rangy Dominican showed Cubs brass he has the makings of a five-tool player. He runs well, fields well and has shown flashes of power as illustrated by his three homers and 11 doubles. Castro reminds Oneri Fleita of a young Edgar Renteria - a good team player with impeccable work ethic."
Starlin Castro was listed as having the best range at shortstop in the system (along with Darwin Barney). Castro "anticipates well and moves quickly to both sides." As for arm strength, the VineLine listed Castro has having the best in the system. Castro "has the ability to make deep plays in the hole." And for his footwork, Castro was equal to Darwin Barney in the system once again ... "Castro's natural ability shows around the bag."
The Cubs skipped Starlin Castro two levels and he began the year with the Daytona Cubs in the Florida State League. He put up an impressive line of .302/.340/.391/.731 in 96 games. Castro hit 17 doubles, three triples, and three home runs and walked 22 times (struck out 41 times in 358 at bats).
Castro earned a Mid-Season All Star selection in the Florida State League and played in XM Radio's Futures Game (along with Josh Vitters) in St. Louis in July during All-Star weekend festivities. Despite finishing the year in Double-A with Ryne Sandberg, Castro was named to the FSL Post-Season All Star team.
Castro stole the show at the FSL All-Star game. He went 4-for-4 with an inside the park home run. Castro was named MVP of the game.
Starlin Castro finished his season in Double-A with the Tennessee Smokies. Castro hit .288/.347/.396/.744 in 31 games (111 at bats) after a slow start with six doubles, three triples and no home runs. Castro walked ten times and struck out only 12 times after showing more patience at the plate as the year progressed.
Castro hit first, third and eighth in various lineups with Daytona and Tennessee and had success in each spot.
Defense
Some have questioned Starlin Castro's defense ... he is a young-man still learning to play the game. Labels such as "defensive liability" have been used and some took his recent time at second base in the AFL as proof. Castro appears to have all of the tools to be a very good big league shortstop.
Oneri Fleita on Castro
"I think he's got all of the ability in the world to play shortstop. He's got great range and a tremendous throwing arm. Like most kids when they're young, he may be a little inaccurate at times, but that takes care of itself through time."
Tim Wilken compared Starlin Castro to Tony Fernandez.
From Baseball America
"At shortstop, he has plus range, steady hands and a solid arm with good accuracy. He displays fine instincts at the plate and in the field."
Andrew Cashner on Castro
"Defensively, I think he's ready. He saved me a lot this past season. He made special plays out there. I think it's more instincts for him. Everything is natural."
Keith Law on Castro
"At shortstop, he has good lateral range, especially to his right, and a 65-70 arm on the 20-80 scale."
Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus
"While he's not the next Ozzie Smith, he is a true shortstop who also has surprisingly solid defensive fundamentals for such a young talent, as he's also yet to make an error in Arizona."
"... All while showing solid, if not plus defensive ability. He needs to add something to his offensive game other than batting average to move into elite status, but able to compete at these levels - including the Arizona Fall League as a teenager - is very impressive."
From Buster Olney's Blog (October 22)
"Talent evaluators are raving about Cubs shortstop prospect Starlin Castro. He's the most exciting kid here, according to one evaluator. He's got a chance to be a superstar. He's got the bat speed, the strength, and he's somewhere between a Jose Reyes type of defender and a Hanley Ramirez type of guy. He looks pretty special."
Buster Olney reminded his readers that despite the fact Starlin Castro figures to be the Cubs full-time shortstop in 2011, Lou Piniella has "never been afraid to aggressively promote very young players with superlative talent - such as Alex Rodriguez."
Starlin Castro on his future ... "I want to be the best shortstop in the Major Leagues."
Starlin Castro could end up as the Cubs' top prospect and make an impact one day for the big league club ... or he could end up like many of the top prospects in recent years. Only time will tell.
If Baker continues to impress and Castro is finally a true shortstop for Cubs that would be a good core for the infield.
It is great to hear all about Castro's upside. I am not convinced that Jeff Baker is the everyday man at 2B.
Barring injury, it sound's like the latest we'll see Castro is late 2010
with an outside chance of breaking spring training with the parent club...it's at least good to hear the potential to solve short inhouse is there. (Even if it is the current CUBS
hot prospect).
I still love Blanco's defense and believe
he's capable of the .270-.280 range
given enough ab's at the plate.
If Castro continues to shine through spring training...I'd be comfortable
breaking camp with Castro and Blanco at ss....Theriot/Baker at 2nd...and Aram/Baker at third...BUT...woulf prefer
EY Jr at 2nd.
Since Baker can back-up both 2nd and 3rd.
That makes Theriot the odd man out...
with Fontenot and Miles.
It's critical to the Cubs improvement that Miles is moved...I'm sure LaRussa
would take him back in a heartbeat...the question is...under what circumstance
would the Cubs/Cards make a trade at this point?
I love Theriot...but his defense and range are not that great...and we need better speed on the bases...(like EY Jr.)
It might be time to sell high on Theriot.
(I can't remember the last time we sold high on someone.)
We will see Castro in spring training no matter what.
But with Castro coming up you might see theriot be traded. Look at the Red Sox, they need a SS and have been looking for a while. Also they got a good farm system.
Just can't find it in me to dog on Theriot. I think he'd be more than fine at second base. At least the guy hits in the .280 - .300 range with consistency. Can't say that about Blanco or Castro (yet). He's a perfect 2 hitter because he excels at hitting the other way. Let's stay inhouse / system if we can.
It is hard to dog a guy that plays as hard as Theriot does, but the fact is he just isn't a high level SS. Which is why I can't imagine a team like the Red Sox making a move for him. That would be the smallest, scrappiest middle IF in baseball. Theriot would be way more acceptable at 2B.
Scioscia has spoken out about the ridiculous post season schedule, I hope more follow suit.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AnSeJYH5Ftu1JST_DIRyON8kPMsF?slug=ap-playoffs-notebook&prov=ap&type=lgns
Wayyyyyy too much attention to a 19 year old player. Give me a break.
Yeah, and we had the next best thing since sliced bread in Felix Pie the 5-tool wonder.
Not to mention this kind of attention and "sure thing" pressure is what kills a kid.
Let em play and lets see what happens from there.
I have to agree with Suzy about Blanco..
( I still love Blanco's defense and believe
he's capable of the .270-.280 range
given enough ab's at the plate.)
He has a real quick bat and I believe he can even do better with Rudy's help.
Baker is a keeper also.. He has a lot of versatility at different position,and he hits well...
Here's one more reason to hate Cardinals. They just hired Mark McGwire as hitting coach. Haha. What a joke.
I wonder if he will supply Pujols with fresh needles every day or he'll just let Pujols use his own stash of needles ?
I've been saying Theriot isn't a true SS for more than two years. I've also said he is a better fit at 2B. Theriot is average at best in the field, and championship caliber teams need ++ shortstops that can make plays up the middle and in the hole. Theriot can't do either. Put him at 2nd to keep his bat in the lineup and call it quits.
I have a general question...If a player is not on the 40 man roster because he is on the 60 day DL...can another team claim him while on the DL?
While reading mlbtraderumors.com...I noted that the Pirates roster now stands at 38..."not including two players on the DL". (One is Ascainio on the 60 day DL).
Of what I read if a player is on the DL, they may not be claim by another team. But I could be wrong.
Suzy ... no. The Pirates will have to activate them soon or put them on waivers.
Here is a good link from Cot's
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2003/01/transactions-glossary.html
Neil thanks for helping me out, I found the read on a unliable website wikipedia, that is where I found my answer.
I have the Bradley update right her if anyone wants to know of what still could be interested and who is out:
http://waldo7239117.blogspot.com/2009/10/milton-bradley-update.html
Thanks
Thanks for update Waldo, I think the one interesting team in the Bradley deal could be Seattle. Seattle doesn't have too many bad contracts, but the one name that could be intriguing is Jack Wilson. He is going to make $7 million or so next year, and then there is a club option for 2011. This would make alot of sense for the Cubs - if indeed the reports are true based on Castro being ready. Wilson could be pushed out at any time if indeed Castro comes up end of 2010, or if Castro is not ready to go til '11 then we could just decline the club option.
I think maybe a package of Bradley and Theriot along with say $10 million to Seattle for Wilson and a prospect could do it.
I see Seattle as the dark horse in the Bradley dump off by the Cubs due to Hendry's relationship there and his past trades. Maybe this deal will work out better than the last shmoe we got from Seattle, what was his name, oh yeah Aaron "there it goes" Heilman!!
Anybodys thoughts????
Useless Cubs Trivia:
This former Cub Player remains the only player in MLB history to be traded for himself. (Traded for a Player to be named later...which turned out to be him)
Do you know who??
Bonus Question:
This former MLB Player is the only player to get a base hit for two different teams in two different cities on the same day. One of those hits was against the Cubs.
Do you know who?
good old Dickie Noles if I'm not mistaken, and I believe he was brought over with the influx of former Phillies Dallas Green brought over in the early 80's.
Yep it was the Dick alright.
He was brought in 1983 with Green. The trade however occurred during Dickie's second stint with the Cubs in 1987 when he was traded during the season to the Detroit Tigers for a player to be named later. He was returned to the Cubs shortly thereafter.
Harry Chiti
and
Joel Youngblood
Nice post, gave me something to look up while bored at work.
Aaron was correct on the first question....Dickie Noles.
You have the right answer in Joel Youngblood. On August 4, 1982 Youngblood played for the Mets against the Cubs and after a 2-run single in the 3rd inning was replaced and traded by the Mets to the Expos. Youngblood traveled from Chicago to Philadelphia where the Expos were playing and managed to get a pinch hit single in the 7th inning.
As if that wasn't a hard enough days work...the two pitchers he got hits against were: Fergie Jenkins and Steve Carlton.
The Bonus question was Joel Youngblood.
Dickie Noles? Thaty name brings a smile to my face....Took a break from the corporate world one year and waited tables at a fine dining place in Florida
one season...The owner of the Pirates...
(McClatchy?) and a bunch of baseball execs spent the night at one of my tables
drinking and telling Dickie Noles stories. I won't repeat them here but evidently he was quite a character.
After hering the Cubs might move to Florida, it is unlikely:
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1847814,CST-SPT-cub27.article
in response to woody34 up a ways: The Mariners have a club option on Jack Wilson for '10. Interesting looking at the M's on Cot's, they really don't have much for bad contracts on the books. They have Ian Snell at
After Bravisi sold the farm for Bedard (a very Hendry-like knee-jerk move after coming close in '07) and his subsequent firing, they have made some shrewd moves. I always wonder if the Cubs could have made that move for Adam Jones and Chris Tillman (+2 other prospects i don't recall) for the likes of Zambrano. How did it happen that the Cubs lost McPhail but kept Hendry anyway?
I wonder what will become of Jose Lopez after next season. He is a young and productive 2B. Beltre is FA, is he quick enough to play 2B? Notice that the versatile Ty Wigginton is FA in Balimore, he could be good bench player.
don't know what happened there, i was saying they have Snell at about $3mil and Bill Hall at $6mil next year, both of whom I'd take as a trade on one of Bradley's years. I'm sure Rothchild could turn Snell around and bring him to his full potential! Hall plays LF and 3B, don't worry that he couldn't a pitching machine last year, Rudy will have him hitting .300 in no time.
YES!!
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1848429,cubs-sale-ricketts-family-final-102790.article