Starli... Silly ratings guide quibling

One of the biggest issues the Cubs have had with Castro over recent years is his inability to keep focus on the game - he has a world of talent from a physical tools standpoint, but mental errors are maddening. He lead the NL in hits (207) at the age of 21.

The hope is that in batting a talented player in the # 4 spot where he is likely to come to the plate with runners on base should: (1) increase his daily focus and (2) give him some long-term confidence that the team believes in him and wants him to succeed. Putting any player in a position to succeed and to be productive is the manager's job.

We did the same in the Little League and on high school teams that I've coached.

Thanks guys. That piece of information on Madden liking to alternate L/R was helpful.
That is an inciteful bit of info Risden provided. Had not considered that at all. If this gets him back on track to what that age 21 season had people expecting then might have to call it brilliant.

In the game today, Soler batted fourth, Castro was dropped to sixth. Interestingly, Castro homered, his fourth of the
year and first in about 3 weeks.

The sabrmetric studies that I've seen conclude that batting order matters in the neighborhood of [snip] +2 wins/162 vs an "average" lineup.

Right -- the very worst vs. the very best line-up, not just one guy batting in any particular spot.

As for another poster who said eff sabr: wouldn't you rather READ sabr?

The sabrmetric studies that I've seen conclude that batting order matters in the neighborhood of [snip] +2 wins/162 vs an "average" lineup.

Right -- the very worst vs. the very best line-up, not just one guy batting in any particular spot.

As for another poster who said eff sabr: wouldn't you rather READ sabr?

Actually, Clown, comparison of an ideal lineup vs. an average lineup is very different from "the very worst vs. the very best lineup."

And, while I'm definitely a fan of what sabrmetrics has brought to the game, It is hardly scintillating reading material. Many who have tried reading it probably wished they had chosen Scumby's option.

Maddon wants more power and confidence out of Castro.

Maddon wants more power and confidence out of Castro.

It's unlikely Maddon is going to get much more power out of Castro. He never hit more than three home-runs in the minors or 14 in the majors, and he's fully grown at 6'0/190. So I don't think he's expecting a major spike there. Also, I wasn't aware confidence was a problem for Castro. His problems have mostly been excess swagger, stupid mistakes, and spacing out of games.

I think it's what's been covered before: Maddon sees him as his best clean-up option--in certain lineups--on a team not full of them.

Soler is going for an MRI today so we may see Castro hang around the 4 spot for the short term future.

Maddon is batting Castro 4th partially to let him know that he expects more of him. Castro is stronger now then in past seasons and could easily top 14 HRs. Sure Maddon would like to have a true power hitter 4th but without one he is letting Castro know he expects more of him..... Listen up Strether, I am right and you are wrong, buddy! And I know I am right and you are wrong because I am a better manager and people person than you! ....However, I will admit that your knowledge of baseball just might best my knowledge of the game. And we will both have to live with that!


Speaking of Castro is anyone using him at SS this year?

Maddon is batting Castro 4th partially to let him know that he expects more of him. Castro is stronger now then in past seasons and could easily top 14 HRs. Sure Maddon would like to have a true power hitter 4th but without one he is letting Castro know he expects more of him..... Listen up Strether, I am right and you are wrong, buddy! And I know I am right and you are wrong because I am a better manager and people person than you! ....However, I will admit that your knowledge of baseball just might best my knowledge of the game. And we will both have to live with that!

Ease up on the histrionics and silly faces, Brown. Nothing you said countered any of my post at all, which was correct. So, I was right and you are wrong, buddy. The fact you can't actually counter what I said and resorted to such histrionics helps prove that. And you have no idea what is going on in Maddon's head. So, until you can show a quote saying he put him in cleanup to "let him know what he expected of him," it's highly unlikely he did so. As I said, he far more likely put him in because he was his best option at cleanup. And as I said, past history shows it is not likely Castro will ever hit many more home runs than he has before.

P.s. If you want to consider yourself a better manager than me, fine. Firstly, it is irrelevant to our discussion. Secondly, you and I have only played in three leagues together, and you did so with help from a ratings guide and I did so without using one. So, such a comparison would be both premature and inapt.