Jump to content

Good news on Fabio Castro


SSH2005

Recommended Posts

I don't mean to inundate y'all with this Fabio Castro info, but the following is probably the most complete, and interesting of what I've read so far...

 

 

The Newberg Report: March 20th, 2006

By Jamey Newberg

 

www.thenewbergreport.com

 

THE NEWBERG REPORT

 

Francisco Cordero is in, supported by righthanders Akinori Otsuka (who was

really dirty Saturday night against Korea) and Joaquin Benoit, and

left-handed specialist Brian Shouse. Three spots remain in the bullpen that

Texas will run out there on April 3, ideally one more righthander who can

pitch the back third of the game, a second southpaw, and a long man who can

chew up innings if the starter gets chased early.

 

The righty, barring a trade, stands to be Antonio Alfonseca or Jose Silva,

both of whom are off the roster, or Scott Feldman, who has all three of his

options remaining. Jon Leicester is out of options but probably needs to

pitch lights-out over the next two weeks to win a job.

 

The long man was supposed to be John Wasdin, but a rough spring (eight runs

on 14 hits and three walks in 6.1 innings) has opened the door for R.A.

Dickey and possibly another candidate or two. More on that in a bit.

 

The second lefthander in the pen is where the real issue is. Outside of the

fifth starter, it's probably the most interesting roster decision facing the

Rangers.

 

Texas brought seven contestants to camp for left-handed spots in the pen:

40-man roster pitchers Shouse, Erasmo Ramirez, and C.J. Wilson; non-roster

invites Kevin Walker, Ron Mahay, and Jesse Carlson; and Rule 5 acquisition

Fabio Castro.

 

Carlson has already been reassigned to minor league camp. Ramirez is out of

options but hasn't been at his sharpest (four runs on six hits and a walk in

4.2 innings). Mahay has had control issues, issuing walks in five of his

six appearances, including the March 1 intrasquad game (overall, five walks

to go along with six hits in 7.1 frames).

 

That leaves, as contestants for the second job behind Shouse, three pitchers

in different circumstances: Wilson, Walker, and Castro.

 

The decision on what to do with Wilson is interesting. One school of

thought is to make him the Rangers' version of White Sox lefty Neal Cotts, a

power reliever who can go multiple innings and projects eventually to be a

rotation fixture. Another is to option Wilson to Oklahoma and put him on

the same schedule as the big club's fifth starter, stretching him out with

an eye toward bringing him up at some point to give the rotation its lone

lefthander.

 

There remains an outside shot that Wilson could figure in at number five in

Texas, too. In three weeks.

 

The 29-year-old Walker, an Irving native and Grand Prairie High School

product, has been outstanding all spring (one run on two hits and one walk

in seven innings, fanning nine), but chances are he'll be assigned to AAA.

 

And that's because the primary competition for Wilson at this point seems to

be Castro, and not because the club believes he's a better bet to get outs

right now. It's because the only way the 21-year-old can remain Ranger

property into April is to make the Opening Day staff, while Wilson has

options.

 

Jon Daniels jumped into the radio booth during yesterday afternoon's game,

noting that Castro has shown Texas a plus fastball, a plus change, and

flashes (though inconsistent) of a plus curve. The club loves his makeup

and poise as much as his ability to change speeds. And with the exception

of one awful outing against Kansas City a week and a half ago, his results

have been really good.

 

Daniels mentioned that there's been a thought that Castro could be stretched

out to see if he could handle the long man role himself. Moments after he

said that, Adam Eaton took a second-inning Marquis Grissom line shot off his

pitching forearm, and Castro entered the game. He'd go three innings,

getting into a second run through an opponent's lineup for the first time,

and he was terrific, blanking the Cubs on two hits and no walks, punching

out four. All five outs he got aside from the strikeouts came on the

ground.

 

Here are the procedural alternatives as far as Castro is concerned:

 

1. He makes the team. Is it possible that he gets the long man spot that

had been earmarked for Wasdin, or that Wilson gets that role, allowing Texas

to suit both of them up for the opening series against Boston?

 

2. He lands on the disabled list. There's a chance that some sort of injury

pops up, but Rule 5 dictates that he must be active for at least 90 days

during the 2006 season, or else open the 2007 season on the active big

league roster and stay there until he's been active for an aggregate of 90

days.

 

3. He gets traded. Don't rule out the possibility that some other team will

trade something to Texas in order to take Castro and assume the Rule 5

constraints.

 

4. He's lost on waivers. Should the Rangers not find a way to make one of

the first three alternatives work, they'll have to run Castro through

waivers. If he clears, they must offer him back to the White Sox for

$25,000 but can instead try and work out a trade, by which they send Chicago

something for the right to keep Castro on the farm. But forget that

possibility. Castro won't clear waivers.

 

One thing to keep in mind is that the decision on a Rule 5 pick is not set

irreversibly as of Opening Day. Texas can open with Castro on the staff

and, if it's not working out, the club can try to run him through waivers

during the season, recalling Wilson or Walker or Carlson or whomever at that

point.

 

If he has another couple outings like he did yesterday, Castro is going to

make this team. Toss out the bad Royals game on March 9 (five runs in

two-thirds of an inning), and the 5'7" lefty has thrown 9.1 innings

(including an intrasquad frame on February 28), allowing one run on seven

hits and five walks, setting 11 down on strikes. His upside is big.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 53
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

can we work a deal with the rangers to trade him or does he have to go through waivers and get back to us first?

I think that the Rangers can try to work a deal with us so they can obtain the rights to send Castro to the minors outright without having him clear waivers. But if the Rangers decide to try to send Castro to the minors and sneak him through waivers at any point during the season, he can still be claimed by other teams. I believe we are last in waiver priority so many teams could take a shot at keeping Castro on their 25-man roster for the entire season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it's safe to say that he won't end up with the Sox, even if Texas doesn't keep him.

 

So we probably shouldn't wish that the guy does badly.

Don't be so sure. Just remember, any team that wants Castro will have to keep him on their roster for most of the season. Just hope he gets shellacked, as mean as that may sound.

 

I just saw this...

 

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...ate.f60b5b.html

Roster decisions: Showalter said the staff planned to meet Thursday night to continue talks about the opening day roster. If Matthews is on the DL, the Rangers could decide to carry eight pitchers in the bullpen. That might allow them to keep Rule 5 draftee Fabio Castro and at least get a longer look at him before Matthews returns. They also could choose to keep seven bullpen guys and put DH Erubiel Durazo on the roster.

 

"We're looking at different combinations and need to talk about it," Showalter said.

Edited by SSH2005
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bad news on Fabio Castro...

 

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ne...t=.jsp&c_id=tex

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers have released first baseman/designated hitter Erubiel Durazo and placed pitcher John Wasdin on waivers, a move that could open a spot on the Opening Day roster for Rule 5 draft pick Fabio Castro.

 

Wasdin was a candidate to be the Rangers' long reliever but had a 10.64 ERA in 11 innings, allowing 23 hits and three walks. With Wasdin out of the picture, the Rangers are strongly leaning toward keeping Castro, a 21-year-old left-hander who has never pitched past Class A, but has impressed with his talent and potential.

 

Castro would have to stay on the Major League roster all season or be offered back to the Chicago White Sox.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 12:50 PM)
Well, if he gets shellacked during the season and the Rangers have some injuries...

 

Could you use the word "shellacked" a few more times???

 

Personally, I wish the guy nothing but the best whatever team he plays for. The Sox should have protected him, but they didn't, so deal with it. Now he has a great opportunity to prove himself. Good for Fabio, and good for the Rangers for giving him the chance.

 

:D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(squeezeplay @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 01:02 PM)
Could you use the word "shellacked" a few more times???

 

Personally, I wish the guy nothing but the best whatever team he plays for.  The Sox should have protected him, but they didn't, so deal with it.  Now he has a great opportunity to prove himself.  Good for Fabio, and good for the Rangers for giving him the chance.

 

:D

 

Thats what I was just going to ask..

 

If Castro is so great and has all this potential why wasnt he protected?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(T R U @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 11:04 AM)
Thats what I was just going to ask..

 

If Castro is so great and has all this potential why wasnt he protected?

It was a mistake the White Sox made. A big mistake. The same reason guys like Bobby Jenks got released by the Angels or how Johan Santana got away from the Astros.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 01:22 PM)
It was a mistake the White Sox made.  A big mistake.  The same reason guys like Bobby Jenks got released by the Angels or how Johan Santana got away from the Astros.

 

True, I can understand on Bobby Jenks but I doubt at the time anyone knew Santana was going to become what he has today..

 

How did they let this happen? Just werent payin attention or are what?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 01:22 PM)
It was a mistake the White Sox made.  A big mistake.  The same reason guys like Bobby Jenks got released by the Angels or how Johan Santana got away from the Astros.

 

 

A mistake? Come on. The guy is a raw kid in A ball and you don't hand out 40-man roster spots to kids like that who aren't the top prospects.

 

Jenks wasn't a mistake. The Angels knew exactly what they were doing. The Sox were the recipients of the luck of the dice in that move and the Angels just wanted to wash their hands of him.

 

Santana I will give you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Randar68 @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 01:29 PM)
A mistake?  Come on.  The guy is a raw kid in A ball and you don't hand out 40-man roster spots to kids like that who aren't the top prospects.

 

Jenks wasn't a mistake.  The Angels knew exactly what they were doing.  The Sox were the recipients of the luck of the dice in that move and the Angels just wanted to wash their hands of him.

 

Santana I will give you.

 

You keep lefties with plus stuff when you can.

 

luck of the draw or roll of the dice?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(T R U @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 11:24 AM)
True, I can understand on Bobby Jenks but I doubt at the time anyone knew Santana was going to become what he has today..

 

How did they let this happen? Just werent payin attention or are what?

Usually you figure a guy in low A ball isn't going to make the majors or be able to stick so teams will oftne chance keeping that guy off the 40 man while keeping another player that would be eligible (whose at a higher level and more likely to stick for a full season) on the 40 man.

 

Heck just look at Majewski. The Sox lost him once and got him back and than eventually dealt him to the Nats where he panned out.

 

I was dissapointed we didn't protect Castro though. A lefty with his type of stuff (regardless of how young he was and the level he was out) should have been protected. However, at the time we had a much different looking farm system and team.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Randar68 @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 11:29 AM)
A mistake?  Come on.  The guy is a raw kid in A ball and you don't hand out 40-man roster spots to kids like that who aren't the top prospects.

 

Jenks wasn't a mistake.  The Angels knew exactly what they were doing.  The Sox were the recipients of the luck of the dice in that move and the Angels just wanted to wash their hands of him.

 

Santana I will give you.

Any lefty with that type of stuff should be protected, especially considering the lack of depth this system has. I'd much rather have protected him than some of the other bums we ended up putting on the 40.

 

However, I understand trying to sneak him through because you can keep him off your 40 and not start up his clock (I think it starts up when your on the 40, but I may be wrong). I will also admit our system was a lot different looking at the time we had to protect him, but considering some of the guys that we had on the 40, Castro would have been a far wiser choice.

 

Often times these picks don't work out, but no one is going to tell me the org wouldn't want Castro at this point. He's probably a better option than Thornton (well at least the Thornton thats pitching right now).

 

I just wish Thornton had an option left so he could work on the things Coop is teaching him at the minor league level. I don't like the idea of him making adjustments (serious adjustments) at the major league level.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Randar68 @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 01:38 PM)
They tried to get another year out of him in the system without having to protect him and a s***ty team with an absolute s***ty farm system and no pitching took a chance on him.

 

 

 

 

Hopefully you're referring to the Kansas City Royals, the team that drafted him, and not the Rangers, the team that traded for him.

 

But either way, both teams have better farm systems than the Sox.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Randar68 @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 01:59 PM)
Better pitching anywhere near MLB-ready?

 

Ummmm... "ok"...

I have no idea who the Royals top pitching prospects are, but if they don't have any available which are close to MLB ready that's absolutely pathetic. Especially considering they've been a fixture within the top five in the draft for who knows how long.

 

I often criticize our development of pitchers, but atleast we have an excuse. It's difficult to find your studs drafting 12-18 every year for over a decade.

 

Royals ineptness doesn't really compensate for our lack of pitching depth, though. Even Gonzalez and Haigwood, both regarded as top pitching prospects within our organization, wouldn't have been expected to earn a spot on our clib until 08' at the earliest.

Edited by Flash Tizzle
Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 28, 2006 -> 03:21 PM)
I have no idea who the Royals top pitching prospects are, but if they don't have any available which are close to MLB ready that's absolutely pathetic. Especially considering they've been a fixture within the top five in the draft for who knows how long.

 

I often criticize our development of pitchers, but atleast we have an excuse. It's difficult to find your studs drafting 12-18 every year for over a decade. 

 

Royals ineptness doesn't really compensate for our lack of pitching depth, though. Even Gonzalez and Haigwood, both regarded as top pitching prospects within our organization, wouldn't have been expected to earn a spot on our clib until 08' at the earliest.

 

The Royals system sucks. They gave a few good infielders with Gordon, Butler, and Huber, but that's pretty much it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...