May 11
This from the Bison’s blog “The Dish”
HOT TEJADA: INF RUBEN TEJADA collected the Bisons’ fourth four-hit game of the season last night. The 20-year old has now hit in 16 of 20 games since April 19. Tejada has averaged .391 (27-69) with 11 runs scored in 20 games over that stretch. His .391 average since April 19 is tops in the entire International League, .001 ahead of Louisville’s INF CHRIS VALAIKA.
Did you hear that Cora?
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41 comments
trs86
5/11/2010-1:52pm at 1:52 pm (UTC -4)
A 20 year old is 100% not coming up to backup Luis Castillo and take Cora’s spot. We know why Cora is here and mostly it’s not for his baseball ability. Let the kid stay until we figure what to do with 2B long-term.
stickguy
5/11/2010-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
agreed.
Now, if Castillo got hurt and had to hit the DL, then we are having a different discussion.
trs86
5/11/2010-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. Castillo injured and Tejada is your starter.
metsfan4decades
5/11/2010-2:04pm at 2:04 pm (UTC -4)
Agree.
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
100%? Wow if I was so sure I’d be looking to put my money where my mouth is.
Sadly I am not so sure so I will just enjoy the kids success so far and hope he can continue to have a good season.
For the record the “Did you hear that Cora?” line was just in good fun. The only way the kid comes up most likely is if someone goes to the dl.
trs86
5/11/2010-2:03pm at 2:03 pm (UTC -4)
If you can find me somewhere to bet then I will take you up on that. Of course if Cora or Castillo get injured then bets are off. Even if Cora gets injured I don’t see Tejada up.
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
Im trying to put money in my pocket and you want me to look where you kind find a way to put money in yours?
trs86
5/11/2010-2:33pm at 2:33 pm (UTC -4)
Hey you want to take that bet I am good for it. I am a teacher though so it might be a while.
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-2:35pm at 2:35 pm (UTC -4)
???
So You will front me the money if I can find a taker on that bet? and I will reap the rewards if it wins and you cover the losses if it doesnt?
Great!
trs86
5/11/2010-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
UH yeah, well of course not.
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-2:39pm at 2:39 pm (UTC -4)
Then we are back at square one.
Im trying to put money in my pocket and you want me to look where you kind find a way to put money in yours?
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/11/2010-2:03pm at 2:03 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed. We should expect him to be the replacement for Castillo IF he keeps this up. That is in 2012? Gosh that sounds like million years away…
trs86
5/11/2010-2:07pm at 2:07 pm (UTC -4)
If he keeps this up and Castillo takes a step back then it could be next year.
ceetar
5/11/2010-2:11pm at 2:11 pm (UTC -4)
Easily, although I see no real indiction at all that Castillo won’t be fine next year. But depending on the situations, Castillo might have trade value mid-next season if Tejada looks like a solid contributor you could probably move Castillo who’d be owed very little to a team taht needs a high OBP guy.
trs86
5/11/2010-2:24pm at 2:24 pm (UTC -4)
Perhaps this? .671? Castillo’s OPS.
trs86
5/11/2010-2:24pm at 2:24 pm (UTC -4)
or his .303 SLG/
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-2:27pm at 2:27 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t want to misunderstand so before i reply can you explain what is the purpose of showing Castillo’s slg and ops?
stickguy
5/11/2010-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
my guess, he is supplying the indication that Castillo won’t be fine next year that Ceetar was looking for!
trs86
5/11/2010-2:30pm at 2:30 pm (UTC -4)
“I see no real indiction at all that Castillo won’t be fine next year”
To me his declining OPS and SLG are worrisome. It is not a large part of his game but still has to be factored in.
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-2:32pm at 2:32 pm (UTC -4)
ahh, thanks for expanding then i will say to look at Castillo as anything more than a singles hitter and a guy that gets on base is a waste of time.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/11/2010-2:34pm at 2:34 pm (UTC -4)
But even during his prime years, Castillo has never had OPS much greater than .700.
Look at Juan Pierre for example, he has never had high SLG as well. I just think their SLG and OPS should not be looked at when evaluating these types of hitters.
stickguy
5/11/2010-2:38pm at 2:38 pm (UTC -4)
kistics, actually he did. From ages 26-31 (a reasonable concept of prime years), he had 4 from .720-.726, and 2 from .765-.778
and there is a big difference dropping into pitcher territory in the mid .600s!
trs86
5/11/2010-2:39pm at 2:39 pm (UTC -4)
There’s a far cry between .722 and .671. Keep in mind that .722 is with his 2 below .700 seasons factored in.
The difference of .50 OPS points is nothing to laugh at.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/11/2010-3:01pm at 3:01 pm (UTC -4)
What I’m saying is that when looking at Castillo, SLG and OPS should not be a big factor, but should weigh much much heavily on his OBP and/or SB.
stickguy
5/11/2010-3:12pm at 3:12 pm (UTC -4)
his OBP is at about .360. If that is what he can do now, combined with zippo power, then is that enough OBP to ignore his otherwise no-dimensionalism?
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/11/2010-3:21pm at 3:21 pm (UTC -4)
Stick, I’m not saying Castillo is good. But his power numbers should not be looked at even at his prime years.
The value (or lack there of) that he brings to the table is his ability to take pitches, draw walks and speed around the bases.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/11/2010-2:27pm at 2:27 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t think you should look at Castillo’s SLG when evaluating him. As we all know Castillo is not a power hitter. He doesn’t hit for power, but he gets on base as well as hit for singles. I think his value is his OBP.
trs86
5/11/2010-2:29pm at 2:29 pm (UTC -4)
Obviously but it does create an issue anytime your OPS is below .700.
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-2:30pm at 2:30 pm (UTC -4)
Is ops your slugging and on base percentage combined?
If it is why would you care about Castillo’s ops when he clearly is a singles hitter?
trs86
5/11/2010-2:32pm at 2:32 pm (UTC -4)
Because even a “singles” hitter usually has an OPS over .700.
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-2:33pm at 2:33 pm (UTC -4)
In Castillo’s case I beg to differ.
stickguy
5/11/2010-2:34pm at 2:34 pm (UTC -4)
that is his only value. Problem is, as that trends down, when is it too low to justify putting him on the field?
from 2005-2009, it has been pretty consistant at .356-.371. 2009 was the outlier at .387, but he is also now 34 (35 this season), with a bad heel.
his slugging has also dropped off to almost microscopic levels.
Basically, his 2010 numbers are almost identical to his dismal 2008 sinal stats.
So, I am not guessing that at his age and miles, he is going to be any better than he is right now, and doubt he will crack .700 OPS.
Is that enough to keep the guy playing, especially hitting in the 2 hole?
trs86
5/11/2010-2:36pm at 2:36 pm (UTC -4)
Since Castillo became a full-time player his OPS has been under .700 twice. Easily his worst 2 seasons. 2008 and 2001.
trs86
5/11/2010-2:36pm at 2:36 pm (UTC -4)
Two hole, no way Stick. When/if Beltran returns then Castillo goes to #8.
Mr North Jersey
5/11/2010-2:37pm at 2:37 pm (UTC -4)
Hello? We are talking about Castillo here.
Slugging percentage waste of time not Castillo’s game.
ceetar
5/11/2010-2:38pm at 2:38 pm (UTC -4)
I’d say his OPS is slow-start, random injury low, not trending downwards.
DNDJohan aka kistics
5/11/2010-2:17pm at 2:17 pm (UTC -4)
You mean Castillo as a backup? I don’t see that happening. Not when Castillo cannot play SS. Plus isn’t Tejada only 20 years old?
On the other hand, I don’t think it’s a bad idea of trading Tejada. I would like to see him playing for the Mets in the future, but if the right opportunity comes by to get a real solid SP, I would not mind trading Tejada along with Murphy.
trs86
5/11/2010-2:25pm at 2:25 pm (UTC -4)
Castillo traded or released.
stickguy
5/11/2010-2:40pm at 2:40 pm (UTC -4)
now you are just messing with me man. Don’t do that unless you got the goods to back it up!
stickguy
5/11/2010-2:27pm at 2:27 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t expect that Tejada is on the untouchable list.
trs86
5/11/2010-2:30pm at 2:30 pm (UTC -4)
Uh No.