Wow, just looking at the numbers, this guy has some ridiculous potential. And he seems to be getting better.
If he hasn't had the ACL injury, he'd have developed even sooner. I won't say this wasn't expected since he was a first round draft pick, but its good to see him not only live up to expectations, but become a clubhouse leader on a young team that needs leaders.
He's been a bit better than I expected offensively, and I thought he had a good chance to be the best catcher in franchise history. He's 4th among MLB catchers in OPS & WAR. He's 1st in SLG%. He's the first building block.
He really did this last year too. He got off to a slow start while still coming back from the injury but posted an .830 OPS over his last 200 PA. I don't think anybody expected this power display, he was supposed to be a solid on base guy with occasional pop. His BA and OBP are where most expected, but his SLG% is much higher.
And keep in mind, I think he will look better and better once this team gets better. I love the production he provides, but him being the "best hitter" on the team with those stats makes it less impressive, and maybe that is just my opinion. If your catcher can be, say, your fourth best offensive player putting up those stats, then how great is that? Same stats, but it just adds to the well oiled machine of a great offense. Maybe I am rambling, but I think Castro not being the focal point of the offense will make him more impressive.
His OPS is 23rd in all of baseball. Would be very difficult to get 3 more players better than him and then impossible to keep together.
Too bad his first 3 at bats this year determined how xcrunner51 felt about him: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=7793636&postcount=72 http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=7793640&postcount=74
This is true... I may just be under appreciating his production (which seems more likely). Also, side note, watching some Sports Center every morning and seeing Cabrera's stats has skewed my perception of normal. I would not have guessed that 85 RBI would put you in 9th in the category when the leader has 130. Also, seeing Castro at 27th in WAR makes me eat crow. Great season thus far for him.
Agreed. I think he'll be a multiple time All-Star and the catcher for this team as it turns the corner back into being competitive. I can see him slotting in as the #5 hitter once Springer and Singleton are up and playing everyday. That could be a very good 3-4-5.
Yeah, Miggy's just not fair. There are HOFers that are just above and beyond. Doesn't help that we also are recently removed from the biggest offensive era in modern baseball. Consider in 1998 we had 6 guys with an OPS of .840 or higher. I'm looking very forward to it.
It's not entirely true that nobody predicted Castro's breakout. This dude at Beyond The Box Score has pegged Zobrist, Bautista, Morse, and Castro as breakout stars the past 4 years. It's a ridiculously simple methodology (just look at guys who start drilling the ball toward the end of the season), but he's nailed it on 3 of those 4 guys. http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2013/3/28/4154754/the-next-next-next-jose-bautista
finally we can all agree that we need him for the future, none of that trade him for future prospects nonsense. we will rise! (soon)
Who would y'all take over Castro for the next several years? I would take Posey and thats probably it
I hope so too.... But I doubt next year he has a 351 babip, which is very high.. I think he is really a 240-260 hitter, walks and power are where he can distinguish himself and being a better defender.
How do you feel about him defensively? I wouldn't be against moving him to 1st if Singleton and Wallace continue to flounder.
