MESA, Ariz.-- Starlin Castro won't start the season with the Cubs, even if Andres Blanco isn't ready to play shortstop, Lou Piniella said Sunday.
Blanco is expected to miss 10 days to two weeks after suffering a moderate sprain to his right knee after getting his cleats stuck on a play at second during Saturday's loss to the White Sox.
The Cubs have no other veteran shortstops in camp to back up Ryan Theriot, but Piniella ended any speculation that Blanco's injury would open the door for Castro.
VOTE: Is this the right move for Cubs?
"This will give me a chance to play (Mike) Fontenot at shortstop, which I said I needed to do," Piniella said. "We've got (prospect Darwin) Barney in camp. We've got enough."
Photo: Starlin Castro at spring training. (Phil Velasquez / Tribune)
Any way the Cubs would keep Castro at short, and move Ryan Theriot to second?
Piniella laughed.
"No, no," he said. "Starlin is going to start the season in Triple-A and play. Now the only way Starlin would come into this equation, and I've said this before, is if he shows he's ready to play here and there's a problem physically with Theriot.
"Now, we don't want that. But I'll tell you what, I've been very impressed with Starlin. He's smooth up there, got a nice throwing arm, good hands. I'll tell you what, he gives you a nice at-bat. But no, we're going to go with Theriot at shortstop, and certainly (Castro) wouldn't be up here backing up under any circumstances. We want this kid to play."
So why not let him play at short?
"You guys are starting trouble already," he said. "Four games into spring training. No, let's just leave it the way we've said it (would be). ... I'm happy with 'The Riot.' And remember, Castro has played only briefly in Double-A, and no Triple-A. Blanco is a two-week thing, tops. lf we needed a backup infielder, it would be more Barney than it would be Castro."
The Cubs had split-squad games scheduled for Sunday, but the one against the White Sox at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., already has been canceled due to rain.
It hasn't been determined whether Jeff Samardzija, who was going to start against the Dodgers, will instead pitch in relief against the Dodgers in Mesa.
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Thats a handsome looking Fidel in his Cuba uniform. What year was that photograph taken? Had to be the '40's.
Ryan on March 7, 2010 11:59 PM
"when is the last Cubs drafted only,brought through the minor, all-star or close to it positional player that they drafted?"
Geovany Soto
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Not exactly on all-star year last year but Geo Soto is so cute and will bounce back this year with a great season. Go Cubs!
Castro, ok. You got me. That is all. Hmmmm...
Lou knows better then anyone if the kid is ready. I think the mental aspect of it is hard for a fan to judge. We can see these guys physically perform but whether they are mature enough is unknown.
http://www.avasflowers.com/illinois/florist-chicago-il/
"when is the last Cubs drafted only,brought through the minor, all-star or close to it positional player that they drafted?"
Geovany Soto
The Media, not the Cubs, are trying to rush Starling. The kid was on the cover of Baseball America and the local media has run with the idea that he should play now... It's possible that he could be called up later in the season but the team is doing itself a favor by not starting his arbitration clock early by having him start the season in the Majors.
Also, to those who say he needs AAA. That's not necessarily true; most teams best players reside in AA while the AAA guys are those who are mostly just roster fill-ins and career minor leaguers. The good players either don't stop at AAA at all or stay there very briefly.
The real issue is Andres Blanco is out of options so if he's healthy he will be the backup. Castro should be starting where ever he's playing and not wasting his development on the bench. Most likely he'll be the starting SS next season anyway. Lou is right, Darwin Barney is is AAA right now and he could serve as a backup if needed.
Lou's doing the right thing putting Castro in AAA. Leave him there for a year. Give him one solid year of AAA ball at shortstop. The Cubs are a veteran team and shouldn't rely on 19 year olds. Please don't put undue pressure on this guy. If the Cubs were a young team it would be different but with veterans Derrick Lee and Aramis Ramirez going on their last contract years it's no time to gamble on Castro yet.
Another slow media day. Poor Lou.
Since this method has never worked other than with the Cubs and Mark Grace, it seems likely Castro will become another flop who swings at everything and won't take pitches. Wouldn't having Jaramillo as the hitting coach here be the best option for Castro? Maybe it's time to try a different strategy, no? As a Cubs fan, I am sick and tired of this team and these prospects who never seem to pan out. This is an organizational problem- starting with minor league coaching methods on hitting obviously. Let's see the list here for the last 22 years of Cub "Hot" prospect flops on positional players who didn't suffer any major injury:
Ty Griffin, Brooks Kieschnick, Corey Patterson, Felix Pie, Pat Cline, Gary Scott, Ryan Harvey, and on and on and on...
Does anybody else see a problem here?
Ok, I know I'll get the responses mentioning the Theriot type players (nice player, not an all-star or difference maker) but when is the last Cubs drafted only,brought through the minor, all-star or close to it positional player that they drafted? Even the Pirates fare better, and that says a lot.
Mike who is Sterling? Sterling Hayden?
The Cubs have historically called up prospects way too quickly. You cant work on your game and develop skills at the last level, you have to hone and polish them in the minors. Sterling's hope for not becoming yet another failed Cubs prospect is to not be rushed. For all the Cubs fans, and journalists, who are hysterically calling for him to play in the majors now, you remain one of the biggest impediments to success.
The media is making this guy way overrated. He did well in AA, but not spectacular, and definitely not well enough to skip AAA. He would have done bad in the majors. Give him some time.. he's young.