What do you guys really think about Castro? Remember, Juan Pierre once had 200 hits leading off for the Cubs too.
He can't keep making 25+ errors a year at SS.
I think he eventually moves to 2b if he can't make the plays.
I do think he will hit for more power in a couple of years, but his OPS was under .800 and his OPB isn't that much higher than his batting average.
Stoney keeps saying he's a 3B
His slugging % was the 6 highest of all short stops with enough "qualifying" plate appearances. I would go back and research how many that is, but I am too lazy.
I know SS is not a power happy position in MLB so take and place him in the 3B ranks. He is 7th. His OPS weakness is his ability to take a walk. He is 21. He had 36 doubles, 9 triples and 10 homers. Better than Ryno who in his second season was 23 and had a slugging percentage 75 points lower than Castro at 21 and Castro at 21 had more doubles, triples and HR's than Sandberg did at 23.
His power is already good for 21 and will get better. Will he get to 40 like Sandberg did? Probably not, but Sandberg's second highest total was 30 and then 26 and I do think Castro can get there.
So his bat will play at 3b and his bat is a plus bat at SS and CF. If his glove does not come around with maturity, his arm plays more to 3rd and CF than it does to second base. As his power develops and he continues to be a free swinger he needs to come out of the leadoff spot and become an RBI guy.
In other young Cub news, Sickels rates Brett Jackson the 14 best hitting prospect for 2011 when he had a combined 20 home runs and 21 steals.
. Much better ability to walk than Castro.
