Shit is about to come down on Starlin Castro, and it shouldn't be shocking to anyone that the source of the impending storm is located in a Paul Sullivan piece in the Tribune. Whether he is trying to stir the pot purposefully is a matter of opinion, but whether he is doing it intentionally or not, this pot is getting stirred as we speak.
Starlin Castro headed to the All-Star Game on a positive note Sunday with a pair of hits, including a three-run home run.
Well, that's a nice lede. It looks like this will be a really positive blurb about a solid performance from our 22 year-old star shortstop. Nice first half, Starlin.
Asked if he has seen any growth in Castro, Ryan Dempster cracked: "Obviously he's not turning around and looking in the outfield when pitches are going this year. That's always a good step."
HA HA HA HA HA! Yes! That's a good one, Ryan! Let's present the beat writer who thinks the job title is called that because they are supposed to beat dead horses with a dead horse to beat! You're hysterical!
Actually, I should just be thankful Dempster probably didn't say it in his Harry Caray voice and I'm sure he was just joking around, because, you know, that's what Ryan Dempster does because he's hilarious.
Dempster was joking about the game last year when Castro had his back to the plate during one of James Russell's pitches.
Thank you for the context so the two people reading this who didn't already know this tidbit can get caught up. So far, what started as a positive little piece about Starlin is getting dark kind of fast.
"Kidding aside, he's making huge strides," Dempster said. "His ability to read the plays, to know when a pitcher is going inside, turning double plays he's been unbelievable, his range has been great. … When you're the shortstop, you're the leader of the defense, and he's really taken over."
OK, now that we're getting serious and Ryan says some very nice things about his teammate and how he has been maturing. His teammates must be recognizing some positive changes in Starlin as he's growing into his role as a team leader.
Castro knows he's one of the game's elite shortstops, and said he wants to make an annual trip to the Midsummer Classic.
Now this is getting to be too much. He's improving his game and maturity PLUS he has aspirations to be an All-Star type of player every year? This is turning into a puff piece! Better dial it back!
"You see the commercials — it's not a break," he said with a grin. "I want to go to the All-Star Game every year. I've got time to be in my house in October to rest. But now, I don't need it."
Oh. Shit. Now we have a shortstop who seems to be conceding he won't be playing in October very often. That will get people pretty riled up. I'm sure Paul will follow that up with an explanation or some context (like he did with the Dempster quote for no reason) so that we can understand that he was probably just talking about this October. Because, let's face it, the Cubs aren't playing baseball this October and anybody who thinks that is a possibility needs to have their head examined, so what's the problem with Starlin admitting that in a human moment?
Paul? Anything? Can you provide some context?
No? You're just going to leave that quote hanging out there for the masses to assign their own meaning?
Ok, then. The beatings will now begin!
Comments
Sullivan is possibly the worst sportswriter, ever. If he was a horse, the owner would shoot him.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
He’s a necessary part of the Cubs world, though. He gives us a focal point to bitch about. It’s unfortunate that he makes a living wage doing this, probably more. Probably more than I make. I get a living wage for telling people to stop using so damn many commas. OK, life sucks. More beer.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
Speaking of, my parents are here visiting and I clued Dad into St. Bernadus Abt 12. He was duly impressed. Also, Mom and to drive back to the motel.
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
(dying laughing) excellent. I love turning people on to world-class beer.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Great call on the preemptive outrage about outrage. This is just like the end of 8 Mile, amrite?!
Dick McCheesedoodleQuote Reply
@ Dick McCheesedoodle:
Welcome back! I thought you lost yourself.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
@ Dick McCheesedoodle:
I’d love to be wrong, Dick Cheese. But this is the shit that fills time on The Score and ESPN and when WGN bothers to cover sports now. Plus, I’d be shocked if Rosenbloom let’s this meatball go by without taking a big hacky swing at it.
But like I said, I’d love to be wrong.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I agree that Paul Sullivan sucks, and maybe it’s because I mostly ignore what he writes but I didn’t even see the potential outrage until Aisley pointed it out.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
I saw two tweets responding to the quote almost immediately, and I don’t follow a ton of meatballs. They will have a fucking field day with this. “DIS GUY DON’T CARE ABOUT WINNING ‘CAUSE HE HANGS OUT WIT DAT LAZY, SELFISH SORIANO!! JOE MATHER FOR SHORTSTOP!!”
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
Huh. I guess I’m glad I don’t Twitter as much then (dying laughing)
That’s pretty sad.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Sullivan does this all the time. He frames a narrative around a player and then just pops in these subtle nuances to reinforce it so he never has to write anything else about a guy. See also: the eternal prevalence of his “Mark Prior was a weak-minded weenie” meme.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
josh wrote:
Awesome- I was in Fayetteville last week. And, BTW, I think I remember discussing bagpipes with you, and you went to Lyon college? Do you know or remember a guy who played bagpipes there named Kenton Adler? He ran a music store in Fayetteville for a while.
Rice Cube wrote:
Actually, that’s “Sooooooooooiieeeeee!” or somesuch. There’s no “W.”
UrkQuote Reply
@ Urk:
Yeah, I know Kenton Adler. Friend of a friend kind of deal. He was one of the IT/music gurus at Lyon when I was there. I believe he is still there. I didn’t know him extremely well, but he seemed like a nice guy. He and Aaron Malcomb were the best pipers I knew up there. Malcomb was a student a year ahead of me. He is in Seattle now.
I played harmonica in college. It’s kind of like bagpipes….
Anyway, we’re going to Pine Bluff, where my wife is from. Pine Bluff is kind of a craphole. I wish my MIL would move to the Ozarks.
joshQuote Reply
We used to call Aaron Malcomb “Braveheart” because of the hair and the bagpipes. I don’t believe he shot lightning bolts out of his arse, however.
joshQuote Reply
Maybe a harmonica is like a bagpipe with more notes? Bagpipes are pretty cool and weird instrument. I like anything that makes a drone. I don’t know Kenton that well either, but I used to go into his music store and drool over the rickenbackers. I’m friends with him on facebook & he is still there. Nice/smart guy. He had a pretty cool 60s-y powerpop trio in Fayetteville for awhile, and an acoustic band that covered “Log” from Ren & Stimpy.
My experience with Pine Bluff is limited to a soundgig I did at I think a country club(?), with an all black jazz band from Fayetteville whose bass player was from PB. Cool gig, but i see what you mean about the town. they should definitely move to the Ozarks, its nice up there. Except for Springdale.
Have a great trip. I love the comic & look forward to more when you get back.
UrkQuote Reply
Re: Lincecum. I heard some announcers commenting that he lost a ton of weight over the off-season, and they were bitching that the Giants shouldn’t have let that happen since he was already a pretty skinny dude.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Suburban kidQuote Reply
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/09/carl-crawford-is-going-to-need-tommy-john-surgery-eventually/
BerseliusQuote Reply
new shit up
dylanjQuote Reply