The chosen one. (Photo courtesy Chicago Tribune)
HEY!!! HAVE YOU GUYS HEARD ABOUT STARLIN CASTRO?!?!?!?!?!
Of course you have. But while visions of sugarplums dance in your head, do you also have dreams of Castro making Ryan Theriot expendable?
If the Cubs start the 2010 season with Starlin Castro at shortstop, it won't be without the prodding of hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo.
Castro isn't on the 40-man roster, but he will get a spring training invite and an opportunity to break camp with the Cubs if he has an exceptional spring.
It's a long shot, considering Castro began the season in Class A last April and doesn't turn 20 until March 24. But the Cubs are so sold on his future that they already have told incumbent shortstop Ryan Theriot he might move to second base in the not-so-distant future.
How will the Cubs weigh the decision on whether Castro is ready?
By asking their newly designated "hitting guru."
(snip)
"Rudy has a great track record with hitters, and you have a young man here who has had only six to eight weeks in Double A," general manager Jim Hendry said. "So you want to make sure everybody feels he has enough experience to make the jump.
"And once he gets here, you want to let him go. You don't want to put expectations on him, that he has to be here by a certain day, that it has to be Opening Day or by the All-Star break. You let him dictate when he's ready by the way he plays, the way he carries himself and how he adjusts. No one in house is worried about it because Theriot is a real good player and we're certainly prepared to play without (Castro), with Ryan coming back after a couple of successful years."
Hmmm. This all sounds very familiar. Wasn't there a guy. . a few years ago. . . who was deemed "untouchable" and "the future" by the Cubs. And we didn't want to "rush" him or something? His name was something to do with birthdays. . . Cake? No, that's not it. . . well, it had something to do with dessert. . . or something.
Just trade Castro before the rest of the world finds out he's not as good as the Cubs think. We don't develop position players. Period.
In other Cubs news, it's been a bad month for Sammy. First the epidermal tribute to Michael Jackson, now this:
Sammy Sosa is being sued for $203,000 by a businessman in the Dominican Republic who says the former Major Leaguer owes him for -- among other things -- commission on a house sale.
Carim Abu Nabaa alleges that Sosa has not paid him a commission of $150,000 on a house sale, $43,000 for a luxury watch, and $10,000 for getting Reggaeton singer Don Omar to perform at Sosa's 41st birthday party.
In legal documents obtained by The Associated Press, Sosa has been ordered to appear in a Dominican court on Dec. 2.
But don't worry. I'm fairly sure Sammy can collect $200k in under the floor mats in whatever ridiculously ostentatiousSUV he undoubtedly drives around the DR.
Bruce Miles has the update on Milty Watch 2009:
GM Jim Hendry appears to be working steadily on trading right fielder Milton Bradley. Cubs people still express confidence Hendry will get a deal done as he continues to haggle over the price.
Even though you've read suggestions that the Cubs should trade shortstop prospect Starling Castro to the Tigers for outfielder Curtis Granderson, it simply is not going to happen. The Cubs appear to have a bona fide blue-chip prospect at a position other than pitcher, and they are not trading him for Granderson or anybody else. And no, I do not see the Cubs as a player for Roy Halladay, but you probably knew that, given their money situation.
Finally, in news that made me giggle today:
The Pirates are believed to have already made contact with Scott Boras about two of his clients, free agents Rick Ankiel and Hank Blalock, according to Dejan Kovacevic of The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. The team's preference "is for a short-term contract aimed at allowing the player a chance at full-time duty to revive their careers."
Hee! I can think of no more fitting punishment for Rich Ankiel for being a cheater and all-around douche than having to play for the Pirates.
Happy Black Friday. I'll update any Cubs rumors as they come down the pipe.
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