Author Topic: Cubs in '11  (Read 57301 times)

Playtwo

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #120 on: April 17, 2011, 09:52:59 am »
Encouraging game last night after it looked like another one of those abysmal Colorado road trips after game one. Coleman doesn't have first-rate stuff, but can spot his fastball and little slider enough to get by.  Seems like a good athlete and a good kid.  No shame in him being our fifth starter.

A series win would be sweet. Any scoop on the Rockies starter?

I also was impressed with how good an athlete Coleman appears to be.  He can run, field his position, and handle the bat.  Those are very helpful qualities for a pitcher who doesn't have overwhelming stuff.

Clarkaddison

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #121 on: April 17, 2011, 10:01:15 am »
All Coleman does is win. You don't have to light up the radar gun if you can pitch.

As for Castro, it's obvious. He's the best Cub infielder since number 14.

Jes Beard

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #122 on: April 17, 2011, 10:28:08 am »
Guess they didn't learn from Lee and Ramirez last year when they tried to play through injuries.  Should've given him 2 weeks off when he initially injured his hand.[/color][/size]

Management decisions on such matters have to depend very heavily on feedback from the player himself.  Sometimes players like ARam last year will deny their is any injury when speaking with the manager or trainer, despite the fact that he knows the injury is there, the pain is there, and that his movement, reaction time or flexibility are reduced.  Other times players will not feel a problem or realize there is a problem until there is an actual game situation.

Quade has seemed to be perfectly willing to sit a player when he has a concern about injury.

Eastcoastfan

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #123 on: April 17, 2011, 12:35:16 pm »
Thanks!  Well then I better check him out.

Cactus

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #124 on: April 17, 2011, 01:51:07 pm »
It's official - James Russell starts Tuesday night against San Diego.  His pitch count  could be as high as 65-75.

davep

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #125 on: April 17, 2011, 02:03:26 pm »
I think it may be a little soon to decide that Castro will be better than Sandberg was.

It is nice, however, to see a prospect actually produce right away.

brjones

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #126 on: April 17, 2011, 02:21:56 pm »
Wells and Cashner to be evaluated tomorrow; Wells could start a throwing program this week:

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=6375959

StrikeZone

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #127 on: April 17, 2011, 03:10:41 pm »
I think Starlin Castro is the best young Cubs infielder since Ryne Sandberg.

He's the most exciting home-grown offensive talent I've seen since I started following the Cubs in late 1983 when I first received WGN.

Jes Beard

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #128 on: April 17, 2011, 03:26:17 pm »
It's official - James Russell starts Tuesday night against San Diego.  His pitch count  could be as high as 65-75.
It's official - James Russell starts Tuesday night against San Diego.  His pitch count  could be as high as 65-75.

In which inning?

brjones

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #129 on: April 17, 2011, 03:37:03 pm »

StrikeZone

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #130 on: April 17, 2011, 03:38:37 pm »
That's great!

Jes Beard

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #131 on: April 17, 2011, 03:39:49 pm »
I think it may be a little soon to decide that Castro will be better than Sandberg was.

At the moment it is still premature to say Castro will be better than even Dunston was, or Kessinger or Beckert or Manny Trillo, but, just to try to put things in perspective...

Castro turned 21 last month and now has 224 career total bases.  That is two years younger than Sandberg reached that number.

Castro had an OPS+ of 97 last year.  Sandberg was five years older before he did that well.

Certainly Castro could tear a ligament, develop eye problems, forget how to recognize a curve ball, decide he should swing for the fence on every pitch, start smoking crack, gain 45 pounds, or set up permanent residence on Rush Street.  Any of that is possible.

But we need to appreciate just how truly special a talent this guy is.

bitterman

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #132 on: April 17, 2011, 03:40:22 pm »
Castro is a Cub.  Somehow he'll still lose that poll.

Cactus

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #133 on: April 17, 2011, 05:38:25 pm »
Paul Sullivan:  Carlos Pena now 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Not what you want from your No. 5 hitter.

Chris27

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Re: Cubs in '11
« Reply #134 on: April 17, 2011, 05:55:37 pm »
Don't know if anyone's mentioned it, but Castro has opened up his stance and now bears a striking resemblance to Hanley Ramirez at the plate.