Theo Epstein Sploosh Thread

[World's #1 Astros Fan]

He's not repped by Scott Boras. He already signed under slot. Appears they aren't needing to play games with his service time like they have to with Bryant.  Bryant's timeline was artificially slowed.

I think Theo wants to maximize everyone's service time, regardless of who they're repped by.

I guess Schwarber does have the benefit of starting earlier than Bryant did, so he has a few hundred extra at-bats under his belt. I guess that makes it a bit more likely, but I still would be a little surprised.

The one thing that would really accelerate Schwarber's timeline would be showing real improvement defensively as a catcher. If the FO decides he's good enough I think they'd call him up right away. He's probably capable right now of at least equalling Castillo's offensive output.

Actually I think Schwarber being godawful at catcher is probably the scenario that gets him to Wrigley quickest. They try him there for a month, he gets hit in the nuts multiple times because he's unable to catch a cutter, they throw him in left field, he hits the shit out of the ball, and he's up here midsummer.

If he shows signs of being a good catcher I think they keep him in the minors at least through this season to let him get as comfortable as possible there. I worry about him being passable defensively at catcher in the minors, only to come up here and give up 40 stolen bases in a week, and then shit the bed at the plate because he's worried about Ned Yost pantsing him in the next half inning.

I really don't care to see him play catcher at all if he's really, truly Christ Fucking Brian, the short. If that's a fallback position in case he isn't quite who they think he is, then fine.

I think getting another lefty boomstick in the lineup is the first priority. If everyone develops to their potential, carrying Castillo's bat isn't that big a deal.

Except Castillo isn't that good defensively.

No?

I'm guessing Slaky is referring to pitch framing, which doesn't fall under the traditional definition of catcher defense (blocking pitches, throwing out runners), and the measurement of which is still tough to rely on.

I was going to say I thought Castillo acquitted himself well defensively.  Seemed he did a good job of handling the staff, did a decent job of throwing out baserunners.  I'm too lazy and/or dispassionate to look up his cERA or CS%, but I'd be willing to bet he didn't fare much worse than most NL catchers in that regard.

[InternetApex]

He's not repped by Scott Boras. He already signed under slot. Appears they aren't needing to play games with his service time like they have to with Bryant.  Bryant's timeline was artificially slowed.

I think Theo wants to maximize everyone's service time, regardless of who they're repped by.

I guess Schwarber does have the benefit of starting earlier than Bryant did, so he has a few hundred extra at-bats under his belt. I guess that makes it a bit more likely, but I still would be a little surprised.

The one thing that would really accelerate Schwarber's timeline would be showing real improvement defensively as a catcher. If the FO decides he's good enough I think they'd call him up right away. He's probably capable right now of at least equalling Castillo's offensive output.

Actually I think Schwarber being godawful at catcher is probably the scenario that gets him to Wrigley quickest. They try him there for a month, he gets hit in the nuts multiple times because he's unable to catch a cutter, they throw him in left field, he hits the shit out of the ball, and he's up here midsummer.

If he shows signs of being a good catcher I think they keep him in the minors at least through this season to let him get as comfortable as possible there. I worry about him being passable defensively at catcher in the minors, only to come up here and give up 40 stolen bases in a week, and then shit the bed at the plate because he's worried about Ned Yost pantsing him in the next half inning.

I really don't care to see him play catcher at all if he's really, truly Christ Fucking Brian, the short. If that's a fallback position in case he isn't quite who they think he is, then fine.

I think getting another lefty boomstick in the lineup is the first priority. If everyone develops to their potential, carrying Castillo's bat isn't that big a deal.

Except Castillo isn't that good defensively.

No?

I'm guessing Slaky is referring to pitch framing, which doesn't fall under the traditional definition of catcher defense (blocking pitches, throwing out runners), and the measurement of which is still tough to rely on.

I was going to say I thought Castillo acquitted himself well defensively.  Seemed he did a good job of handling the staff, did a decent job of throwing out baserunners.  I'm too lazy and/or dispassionate to look up his cERA or CS%, but I'd be willing to bet he didn't fare much worse than most NL catchers in that regard.

I was really disappointed to read that from Slaky today. He may be right, I don't know. It just kind of bummed me out though is all.

[Slaky]

He's not repped by Scott Boras. He already signed under slot. Appears they aren't needing to play games with his service time like they have to with Bryant.  Bryant's timeline was artificially slowed.

I think Theo wants to maximize everyone's service time, regardless of who they're repped by.

I guess Schwarber does have the benefit of starting earlier than Bryant did, so he has a few hundred extra at-bats under his belt. I guess that makes it a bit more likely, but I still would be a little surprised.

The one thing that would really accelerate Schwarber's timeline would be showing real improvement defensively as a catcher. If the FO decides he's good enough I think they'd call him up right away. He's probably capable right now of at least equalling Castillo's offensive output.

Actually I think Schwarber being godawful at catcher is probably the scenario that gets him to Wrigley quickest. They try him there for a month, he gets hit in the nuts multiple times because he's unable to catch a cutter, they throw him in left field, he hits the shit out of the ball, and he's up here midsummer.

If he shows signs of being a good catcher I think they keep him in the minors at least through this season to let him get as comfortable as possible there. I worry about him being passable defensively at catcher in the minors, only to come up here and give up 40 stolen bases in a week, and then shit the bed at the plate because he's worried about Ned Yost pantsing him in the next half inning.

I really don't care to see him play catcher at all if he's really, truly Christ Fucking Brian, the short. If that's a fallback position in case he isn't quite who they think he is, then fine.

I think getting another lefty boomstick in the lineup is the first priority. If everyone develops to their potential, carrying Castillo's bat isn't that big a deal.

Except Castillo isn't that good defensively.

No?

I'm guessing Slaky is referring to pitch framing, which doesn't fall under the traditional definition of catcher defense (blocking pitches, throwing out runners), and the measurement of which is still tough to rely on.

I was going to say I thought Castillo acquitted himself well defensively.  Seemed he did a good job of handling the staff, did a decent job of throwing out baserunners.  I'm too lazy and/or dispassionate to look up his cERA or CS%, but I'd be willing to bet he didn't fare much worse than most NL catchers in that regard.

I was really disappointed to read that from Slaky today. He may be right, I don't know. It just kind of bummed me out though is all.

RV is right. His framing is bad. The other stuff is fine. He won't fuck the Cubs over. But you could find a better defender maybe if he's just going to be the kind of hitter he is - which I think is pretty well established as a guy who won't hit higher than 7th in any decent lineup.

[Eli]

I'm guessing Slaky is referring to pitch framing, which doesn't fall under the traditional definition of catcher defense (blocking pitches, throwing out runners), and the measurement of which is still tough to rely on.

The recent obsession with pitch framing metrics is bizarre. I refuse to believe any of it is reliable and I refuse to be swayed otherwise.

[Slaky]

I'm guessing Slaky is referring to pitch framing, which doesn't fall under the traditional definition of catcher defense (blocking pitches, throwing out runners), and the measurement of which is still tough to rely on.

The recent obsession with pitch framing metrics is bizarre. I refuse to believe any of it is reliable and I refuse to be swayed otherwise.

Ok well either way - do you think Castillo is a good catcher, defensively? I mean he's fine. I think they can do better.

[InternetApex]

I'm guessing Slaky is referring to pitch framing, which doesn't fall under the traditional definition of catcher defense (blocking pitches, throwing out runners), and the measurement of which is still tough to rely on.

The recent obsession with pitch framing metrics is bizarre. I refuse to believe any of it is reliable and I refuse to be swayed otherwise.

Ok well either way - do you think Castillo is a good catcher, defensively? I mean he's fine. I think they can do better.

I like his on-field postgame interviews.

[Eli]

I'm guessing Slaky is referring to pitch framing, which doesn't fall under the traditional definition of catcher defense (blocking pitches, throwing out runners), and the measurement of which is still tough to rely on.

The recent obsession with pitch framing metrics is bizarre. I refuse to believe any of it is reliable and I refuse to be swayed otherwise.

Ok well either way - do you think Castillo is a good catcher, defensively? I mean he's fine. I think they can do better.

I don't think I've watched him enough to really have an opinion. I just wanted to complain about something else.

[PenFoe]

I'm guessing Slaky is referring to pitch framing, which doesn't fall under the traditional definition of catcher defense (blocking pitches, throwing out runners), and the measurement of which is still tough to rely on.

The recent obsession with pitch framing metrics is bizarre. I refuse to believe any of it is reliable and I refuse to be swayed otherwise.

Ok well either way - do you think Castillo is a good catcher, defensively? I mean he's fine. I think they can do better.

Pretty sure they can do better defensively and offensively at catcher.

Castillo is just a guy.

[Slaky]

I'm guessing Slaky is referring to pitch framing, which doesn't fall under the traditional definition of catcher defense (blocking pitches, throwing out runners), and the measurement of which is still tough to rely on.

The recent obsession with pitch framing metrics is bizarre. I refuse to believe any of it is reliable and I refuse to be swayed otherwise.

Ok well either way - do you think Castillo is a good catcher, defensively? I mean he's fine. I think they can do better.

Pretty sure they can do better defensively and offensively at catcher.

Castillo is just a guy.

Cool we agree.

[PenFoe]

I'm still all set on trading Baez and some dudes not named Bryant, Russell or Soler for Hamels.

[Yeti]

I'm still all set on trading Baez and some dudes not named Bryant, Russell or Soler for Hamels.

I'd be more impressed if he had a RHP season of 4+WAR, 175+Ks, and 130+ERA+

[R-V]

I'm still all set on trading Baez and some dudes not named Bryant, Russell or Soler for Hamels.

I'm glad you're not running the Cubs because you just left Eric Patterson off your untouchable list and now he's going to be a 10-time All-Star for the Phillies.

[InternetApex]

I'm still all set on trading Baez and some dudes not named Bryant, Russell or Soler for Hamels.

I'm glad you're not running the Cubs because you just left Eric Patterson off your untouchable list and now he's going to be a 10-time All-Star for the Phillies.

Most of the guys on the list up there are old. Some of them are dead.

[ChuckD]

I'm still all set on trading Baez and some dudes not named Bryant, Russell or Soler for Hamels.

I'm glad you're not running the Cubs because you just left Eric Patterson off your untouchable list and now he's going to be a 10-time All-Star for the Phillies.

Most of the guys on the list up there are old. Some of them are dead.

Some?

[PenFoe]

I'm still all set on trading Baez and some dudes not named Bryant, Russell or Soler for Hamels.

I'm glad you're not running the Cubs because you just left Eric Patterson off your untouchable list and now he's going to be a 10-time All-Star for the Phillies.

Most of the guys on the list up there are old. Some of them are dead.

Some?

Crazy Steve Carlton just put Apex on his "people to kill" list.