Starlin Castro and 200 hits in season

In News And Rumors by dmick89Leave a Comment

Starlin Castro sits at 192 hits entering today’s games. There are 13 games remaining this season and there seems a good chance he ends up with 200 hits. That’s a big number and one that is often talked about. If you get 200 hits, you supposedly are a great hitter. Certainly, at Castro’s age, doing it is quite impressive, but where does it rank in the history books?

If we look only at the Cubs for starters we find that Starlin Castro’s 192 hits currently ranks 3rd among players 23 and under. Only 2 players 23 or younger have had more hits in a season than Castro has at age 21. In 1932, 22 year old Billy Herman had 206 hits. 23 year old Augie Galen had 203 hits in 1935. Then there’s Castro and after him is 23 year old Ron Santo (187), 22 year old Hugh Duffy (182) and in 6th is the young 23 year old Rafael Palmeiro with 178 hits in 1988.

Plate appearances obviously matter and we find that Herman had 728 of them while Galen had 748. Both of those led the league. Castro has 656 plate appearances to date. He’ll likely finish just over 700.

As you can hopefully tell, no player Castro’s age or younger has had more hits in a single season. The closest to Castro is 21 year old Ron Santo with 164 hits (655 PA). Phil Cavaretta in 1935, at the age of 18, had 162 hits. Castro is far away the leader at his age and it’s not even close.

If Castro plays every game te rest of the way and gets about 4.5 plate appearance per game, he’ll finish the season with 715 plate appearances. Using his current 4.4% walk rate, that’s 56 at-bats the rest of the way. This means he’d have to hit only .143 to get to 200 hits. That’s possible of course, but more likely is that he gets more than 200 hits. In order to tie Herman for the most hits in a season by a Cubs player 23 or under, he’d have to hit only .250. That’s more than reasonable if he plays every game. If he bats his career average of .305 he’d end up with 209 hits. ZiPS projects .300 the rest of the way he’d also end the season with 209 hits.

But what exactly does 200 hits mean other than it being a milestone? Castro doesn’t walk much at all so much of his value is in his batting average. Remember that he was 3rd among 23 and under players in hits? Among players who qualified for a batting title in a Cubs uniform and were 23 and under, Castro’s 110 OPS+ ranks 32nd. Not that it isn’t impressive because it is. Reducing the age to 22 and under, Castro then ranks 12th so a lot of those ahead of him were 2 years older. For 21 and under players Castro’s 2011 ranks 5th andh is 2010 ranks 12th (out of 19).

That 19 is perhaps the most impressive number of all. Only 19 players 21 and under have qualified for a batting title in a Cubs uniform. That goes all the way back to 1876 and several of the player on the list are there more than once. Cavaretta is on it 4 times. Only 14 players in a Cubs uniform have ever qualified for a batting title (21 and under).

There have been 388 seasons since 1947 in which an MLB player has qualfied for the batting title when they were 21 or under. Castro is currently tied at 16th in hits with Orlando Cepeda and is one behind Ted Williams. If he finishes the season with the 209 hits we used above, he’d finish tied for 5th Denny Lyons. In 3rd is Ty Cobb with 212 hits so if Castro gets hot and plays every game he could end the season with that many hits. Above Cobb is 1996 Alex Rodriguez with 215 hits so that’s going to take a very hot Castro the rest of the way. Lloyd Waner’s 223 hits at the age of 21 in 1927 is tops for that age group. All Castro would have to do between now and the end of the season to tie Waner is bat .554. Unless he goes cold he’ll finish in the top 10.

Castro’s 110 OPS+ pales in comparison to the 167 that Cobb posted or the 160 that A-Rod posted. However, Lloyd Waner’s OPS+ was the same as Castro’s right now. Of those 388 seasons, Castro’s OPS+ this season ranks 144th. Oddly enough, he’s tied at 110 with Gary Templeton. For those who remember, Bryan Smith used Templeton as a comparable player prior to last season (two parts) to project what Castro would do at the MLB level.

What Castro has done at such a young age is really impressive. He’s likely to reach what is considered a huge milestone at the age of 21 (there’s hit number 193 right there!). However, when you incorporate other aspects of batting, he falls back a bit, but still well above average.


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  1. mb21

    [quote name=melissa]It’s sad for the child and his mother. I’m skeptical that the guy is even broke. Seems like he’s looking to get out of child support payments. I also find it curious that he left the mother and quit playing football right after she became pregnant. Unless he was a gambler, drug user or some other kind of habitual spender it would be hard for him to have spent all of that money without having any assets. It doesn’t say he was ripped off by a business partner, common amongst athletes and entertainers, so I’m skeptical as to where the money went.[/quote]Agreed. I’d just add that even if he was a drug user, it would be almost impossible to spend that amount of money. I don’t know what an ounce of coke or crack costs these days, but let’s say it’s $700. Let’s also say that he somehow managed to smoke an entire ounce each day. That’s $255,000 per year. I’d just add that it’s highly unlikely he could smoke that much per day. If he was adding in some heroin and some hookers and some other shit, we’re talking at most $1 million per year on drugs and I’d put the odds of that at less than .01%. I’d put the odds of it less than $500K at .02%. Not to mention, if you’re doing that much you’re going to be buying it by the pound and paying less and more than likely selling.

    It’s not easy to waste the amount of money that he did and like you, I don’t feel bad for him. I feel much worse for his wife and child who were cheated. They’re the victims here.

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  2. mb21

    Also, great point about not having an assets. Most of what people his age and in his situation buy are cars, houses, boats and other things that can be sold. If he agent screwed him then I might feel a little bad. Probably not much though.

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  3. melissa

    Yeah, MB, I agree that it would be hard to spend that much on drugs. I suppose it would be more of a partying lifestyle with friends, drugs, hookers, etc. I just wish they would have said why he is claiming to be broke. I have a sneaking suspicion that he is claiming to be destitute in order to avoid paying child support.

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  4. melissa

    [quote name=Rice Cube]If Hell freezes over Koyie Hill hits the first Cubs grand slam of the season, it will shut me right up.[/quote]
    (dying laughing)

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  5. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]If Koyie Hill hits the first Cubs grand slam of the season, it will shut me right up, because I will be more worried about massive tidal wave about the destroy the Earth.[/quote]
    2012’d.

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  6. ACT

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Darwin Barney sure fell off a cliff.[/quote]He’s just doing what he was expected to do at the beginning of the year.

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  7. Rice Cube

    [quote name=ACT]He’s just doing what he was expected to do at the beginning of the year.[/quote]
    Yes, he climbed a mountain and then fell right off (dying laughing)

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  8. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Mish]Pssshaw…I’ve taken 200 hits in September alone.

    (dying coughing)[/quote]Lucky fucker. My supply fell off.

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  9. Berselius

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Lucky fucker. My supply fell off.[/quote]
    I hear it’s very hard to find that stuff out in Oregon (dying laughing)

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  10. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Mish]Haha…anytime near Wrigley…[/quote]I’m nowhere near there. Summer is the offseason here. (dying laughing)

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  11. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Berselius]I hear it’s very hard to find that stuff out in Oregon (dying laughing)[/quote](dying laughing), I have a discerning palate. (dying laughing)

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  12. Aisle424

    [quote name=Rice Cube]12 games after this one, Carlos Pena needs 10 more walks to get to 100. Think he can do it?[/quote]
    Stop giving spoilers about MB’s next post.

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  13. Aisle424

    [quote name=fang2415](dying laughing)

    Every article should be tagged “This Is About Motherfucking [Subject]” from now on.[/quote]
    Don’t presume to tell us what to do.

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  14. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Stubbs having contact issues this year.[/quote]
    Shut me right up. If only Castro were a couple inches taller.

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  15. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Stubbs having contact issues this year.[/quote]Keep watching. It’ll condition you for watching Brett Jackson.

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  16. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Keep watching. It’ll condition you for watching Brett Jackson.[/quote]
    Saw plenty of Pena too, so I’m pretty used to it now (dying laughing)

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  17. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Saw plenty of Pena too, so I’m pretty used to it now (dying laughing)[/quote]So you’ve spent the last few years building up an immunity to iocane powder.

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  18. jtsunami

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Keep watching. It’ll condition you for watching Brett Jackson.[/quote]Except Jackson strikes out because he doesn’t swing.

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  19. bubblesdachimp

    [quote name=melissa]It’s sad for the child and his mother. I’m skeptical that the guy is even broke. Seems like he’s looking to get out of child support payments. I also find it curious that he left the mother and quit playing football right after she became pregnant. Unless he was a gambler, drug user or some other kind of habitual spender it would be hard for him to have spent all of that money without having any assets. It doesn’t say he was ripped off by a business partner, common amongst athletes and entertainers, so I’m skeptical as to where the money went.[/quote]
    I am on a listserve with 7 O’s and Ravens fans and they said he was addicted to the sauce…

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  20. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=jtsunami]Except Jackson strikes out because he doesn’t swing.[/quote]A 30% K-rate is a 30% K-rate.

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  21. Berselius

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]A 30% K-rate is a 30% K-rate.[/quote]
    The first rule of Tautology Club is the first rule of Tautology Club

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  22. mb21

    [quote name=melissa]Yeah, MB, I agree that it would be hard to spend that much on drugs. I suppose it would be more of a partying lifestyle with friends, drugs, hookers, etc. I just wish they would have said why he is claiming to be broke. I have a sneaking suspicion that he is claiming to be destitute in order to avoid paying child support.[/quote]Yeah, without further information I’d assume that’s what it is too. For one thing, I don’t buy that you can just waste that much money. If it was drugs, hookers, gambling or whatever other illegal possibilities there could be, it’s highly unlikely there wouldn’t have been an investigation and/or an arrest relating to the illegal activity. The amount of money we’re talking about is going to draw interest from the local authorities, the FBI and possibly even the ATF. Second, we’ve been told nothing other than he’s broke and if any other millionaire said the same thing we’d want some kind of proof. We’d want to know why the hell he’s broke. What the fuck happened? How could he possibly be broke?

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  23. bubblesdachimp

    [quote name=Berselius]Going to be a fun morning tuning into boston sports radio on my drive in tomorrow (dying laughing)[/quote]
    (dying laughing) (dying laughing) God i hope tampa sweeps

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  24. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=mb21]Yeah, without further information I’d assume that’s what it is too. For one thing, I don’t buy that you can just waste that much money. If it was drugs, hookers, gambling or whatever other illegal possibilities there could be, it’s highly unlikely there wouldn’t have been an investigation and/or an arrest relating to the illegal activity. The amount of money we’re talking about is going to draw interest from the local authorities, the FBI and possibly even the ATF. Second, we’ve been told nothing other than he’s broke and if any other millionaire said the same thing we’d want some kind of proof. We’d want to know why the hell he’s broke. What the fuck happened? How could he possibly be broke?[/quote]Debt is a bitch. Georgie Best made millions upon millions as a footballer, easily the best of his generation, maybe the best ever. He died drunk and penniless, and near the end someone asked him what he did with all his money. He said , “Half I spent on birds and booze. The rest I wasted.” These guys buy anything that jumps in front of their face, and then they buy it for their friends.

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  25. Berselius

    I wouldn’t be surprised if gambling was involved. That’s a fast way to lose a lot of money. I also think we’re underestimating how hard it is to say no to your friends/family when they ask for money and you think that you have a lot of it.

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  26. mb21

    [quote name=bubblesdachimp]MB,

    Shitty blow would cost between a thousand to 1,200 an ounce..

    And that was back in 2008 prices..[/quote]Yeah, thanks. After I read this I realized I screwed up. When I ran the numbers in my head real quick I was thinking $200 per eight ball (roughly what I was paying in the late 90s) and for some retarded reason I was thinking 4 eight balls per ounce. (dying laughing) I figured some money off for buying a larger package so I went with $700. There’s a reason it’s called an eight ball. Thanks again.

    The point I made still stands though. If we’re talking about a guy doing an ounce per day, he’s going to be investigated. There’s simply no way you can purchase that much under the radar. A public figure like he is, there’s even less of a chance.

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  27. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]I wouldn’t be surprised if gambling was involved. That’s a fast way to lose a lot of money. I also think we’re underestimating how hard it is to say no to your friends/family when they ask for money and you think that you have a lot of it.[/quote]I understand that, but I also understand that if you start with $5 million and you get down to $1 million you’re going to be much less likely to hand out money even if you still have a shitload of it. Unless the guy was literally a fucking moron, I don’t buy it. If he is that stupid, I still don’t feel sorry for him.

    It just seems A LOT more likely to me this is just another example of some irresponsible fuck trying to get out of paying child support.

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  28. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424]It happens a lot with people who suddenly get a giant sum of money they think they can never run out of.

    http://consumerist.com/2007/10/1-in-3-lottery-winners-broke-within-5-years.html%5B/quote%5DThat article points out the potential to lose a ton of money in a business. I just think if there was any truth to this we’d know a lot more than we do now. All we seem to know, or at least know from that article is that he’s living with his parents, supposedly broke after making millions.

    I need more information.

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  29. Berselius

    I understand that, but I also understand that if you start with $5 million and you get down to $1 million you’re going to be much less likely to hand out money even if you still have a shitload of it.

    Eh, maybe not when you think you’re going to sign another even bigger deal at the end of this one. As you pointed out the guy is a professional athlete. There’s a lot of ego involved in that.

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  30. Aisle424

    [quote name=mb21]That article points out the potential to lose a ton of money in a business. I just think if there was any truth to this we’d know a lot more than we do now. All we seem to know, or at least know from that article is that he’s living with his parents, supposedly broke after making millions.

    I need more information.[/quote]
    The Chicago beat reporters are on the job!

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  31. mb21

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]A 30% K-rate is a 30% K-rate.[/quote]True, but not all strikeouts are the same. Corey Patterson and Felix Pie struckout because they swung and missed so often. Despite striking out and seeing more pitches as a result, they rarely walked. Jackson is walking, working deep counts and getting good pitches to hit.

    The strikeouts are a concern, but I think there’s a difference between a Patterson strikeout and a strikeout from Pena (or Jackson). Patterson can’t make contact whereas Pena is striking out as a result of his great eye.

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  32. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]Pena is striking out as a result of his great eye.[/quote]
    I agree with what you are saying but just found this statement funny (dying laughing)

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  33. Aisle424

    [quote name=Berselius]Eh, maybe not when you think you’re going to sign another even bigger deal at the end of this one. As you pointed out the guy is a professional athlete. There’s a lot of ego involved in that.[/quote]
    Also, that assumes he knew when he was down to his last million. I somehow doubt that to be the case. That is part of the waste that comes from an unreal amount of money.

    How often do we get $100 from the cash station and then 3 days later, go to pay for something assuming there is plenty in there, but you’re shocked to find a couple of singles? We sometimes just don’t track our money especially when we don’t feel the need to be careful about it.

    I’m not surprised in the least that people waste that much money. I bet a lot of it goes to moocher hangers-on that benefit from the “Sure, have some, I have plenty!” attitude.

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  34. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]Eh, maybe not when you think you’re going to sign another even bigger deal at the end of this one. As you pointed out the guy is a professional athlete. There’s a lot of ego involved in that.[/quote]

    ‘I live in my parent’s home. My parents provide me with my basic living expenses as I do not have the funds to do so.’

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2037709/Chris-McAlister-Broke-NFL-star-lives-home-parents.html#ixzz1Y4knyEWY

    Notice the wording of his comments. I’d be shocked to find out that he wasn’t coached by an attorney before he made that statement.

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  35. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Berselius]Eh, maybe not when you think you’re going to sign another even bigger deal at the end of this one. As you pointed out the guy is a professional athlete. There’s a lot of ego involved in that.[/quote]
    It’s that kind of ego that bankrupted MC Hammer. He had a pretty big posse…and that’s what she said.

    You don’t really hear about the guys who realize that new contracts are no sure thing and that their current contracts must last them the rest of their lives, and perhaps into future generations.

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  36. melissa

    [quote name=Berselius]Eh, maybe not when you think you’re going to sign another even bigger deal at the end of this one. As you pointed out the guy is a professional athlete. There’s a lot of ego involved in that.[/quote]
    He had a 10 year career in the NFL. He had to have known in 04 that it would be his last best and biggest deal. As dumb as he probably was nobody in the NFL thinks they’re getting their big money at the 10 year mark. Most have an average career of 3-4 years. It’s also a league where contracts aren’t guaranteed so I think he had to have known his $55 MM deal was his big pay day.

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  37. melissa

    [quote name=mb21]Notice the wording of his comments. I’d be shocked to find out that he wasn’t coached by an attorney before he made that statement.[/quote]
    I agree and coupled with the fact that he left her when she became pregnant leads me to believe that he didn’t want a child and doesn’t want to pay for one either. Also, don’t tell me a guy that played in the league 10 years can’t get a job. Coaching or media opportunities are awaiting guys who’ve been around that long.

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  38. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424]Also, that assumes he knew when he was down to his last million. I somehow doubt that to be the case. That is part of the waste that comes from an unreal amount of money.

    How often do we get $100 from the cash station and then 3 days later, go to pay for something assuming there is plenty in there, but you’re shocked to find a couple of singles? We sometimes just don’t track our money especially when we don’t feel the need to be careful about it.

    I’m not surprised in the least that people waste that much money. I bet a lot of it goes to moocher hangers-on that benefit from the “Sure, have some, I have plenty!” attitude.[/quote]I mentioned this before, but I think we have to be very careful to use ourselves as examples. The difference between $100 and what this guy had is enormous.

    OK though, let’s say it’s definitely possible. Why should I believe this guy? What exactly is there that would lead us to believe there’s any truth to this?

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  39. mb21

    [quote name=melissa]I agree and coupled with the fact that he left her when she became pregnant leads me to believe that he didn’t want a child and doesn’t want to pay for one either. Also, don’t tell me a guy that played in the league 10 years can’t get a job. Coaching or media opportunities are awaiting guys who’ve been around that long.[/quote]Another great point. more likely is that he means he can’t get a job that pays him $55 million.

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  40. mb21

    [quote name=ACT]Cliff’s scoreless streak ended in the ninth, and now he doesn’t even qualify for the win. So much for winning the Cy Young.[/quote]What’s his win-loss record?

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  41. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=ACT]Cliff’s scoreless streak ended in the ninth, and now he doesn’t even qualify for the win. So much for winning the Cy Young.[/quote]NOT AN ACE.

    /Man-O-Lantern

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  42. Berselius

    [quote name=mb21]Another great point. more likely is that he means he can’t get a job that pays him $55 million.[/quote]
    Well, yeah. I guessing that’s what those child support payments were calculated on.

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  43. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=Rice Cube]The part that wasn’t owed to Carlos Silva.[/quote]Wait I thought that part was used to pay Byrd.

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  44. mb21

    [quote name=Berselius]Well, yeah. I guessing that’s what those child support payments were calculated on.[/quote]It was probably based on the smallest amount of money he could receive from the contract.

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  45. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=mb21]It was probably based on the smallest amount of money he could receive from the contract.[/quote]On an NFL deal, that’s usually just the signing bonus. No guaranteed deals in the lig.

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  46. Aisle424

    [quote name=mb21]I mentioned this before, but I think we have to be very careful to use ourselves as examples. The difference between $100 and what this guy had is enormous.

    OK though, let’s say it’s definitely possible. Why should I believe this guy? What exactly is there that would lead us to believe there’s any truth to this?[/quote]
    It is and it isn’t. The thought process is the same. We don;t give a shit about the $100 in our wallet because it is a small percentage of our personal wealth and there is more of it where that came from. When you start talking about $55 million, what’s $100,000? Peanuts.

    You hear stories about Barkley gambling away hundreds of thousands in blackjack per hand. You go to a fancy enough casino, you can absolutely drop a shit ton before you even know what is going on and nobody is going to call the cops, that’s what rich people do in casinos.

    I’m not saying he actually is broke, he could very well be a lying piece of shit, but I do believe it is more than a little plausible that he could have pissed that money away without realizing it.

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  47. mb21

    I’m not saying he actually is broke, he could very well be a lying piece of shit, but I do believe it is more than a little plausible that he could have pissed that money away without realizing it.

    That’s true. However, he’s still a complete fucking idiot and a piece of shit when you factor in that he just gambled away money that wasn’t even his and it was actually money that belonged to his child.

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  48. mb21

    If you guys refresh the page you can see AC’s Ghost of Cubby Past logo. The login box is at the top of the page now. The twitter link directs you to the bottom of the page where there are feeds for 424, AC, berselius and myself.

    That is all.

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  49. melissa

    [quote name=mb21]Why do I find myself wanting the Cubs to catch (and pass) the Pirates? (dying laughing)[/quote]
    I think you already know the answer. It’s a way of [L]ife. (dying laughing)

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  50. Aisle424

    [quote name=mb21]If you guys refresh the page you can see AC’s Ghost of Cubby Past logo. The login box is at the top of the page now. The twitter link directs you to the bottom of the page where there are feeds for 424, AC, berselius and myself.

    That is all.[/quote]
    Fantastic.

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  51. Rice Cube

    [quote name=mb21]If you guys refresh the page you can see AC’s Ghost of Cubby Past logo. The login box is at the top of the page now. The twitter link directs you to the bottom of the page where there are feeds for 424, AC, berselius and myself.

    That is all.[/quote]
    Is the guy between Z and Sosa Milton Bradley? (dying laughing)

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  52. Rice Cube

    [quote name=josh]If only they could now pinch run him for Soriano.[/quote]
    I actually thought they should’ve used LeMahieu then.

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  53. melissa

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Barney has not completely regressed yet (dying laughing)[/quote]
    Too bad they couldn’t draw the infield in to the back of the pitcher’s mound for all of his at bats. (dying laughing)

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  54. mb21

    [quote name=Rice Cube]Is the guy between Z and Sosa Milton Bradley? (dying laughing)[/quote]Yep. I thought it was him too, but wasn’t for sure. Hilarious that he included him. And even more hilarious that dinner is represented in the logo in the form of TGI Fridays. (dying laughing)

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  55. mb21

    [quote name=melissa]I love that TGIFridays is included in the banner. (dying laughing)[/quote]It’s pretty funny because someone mentioned the Ghost of Dinner and I immediately knew TGI Fridays was going to be in the banner somehow. I just didn’t know how. (dying laughing)

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  56. Aisle424

    [quote name=Rice Cube]I wouldn’t have put MB in the pantheon of Cubs past, but I thought it was a nice touch :-)[/quote]
    They were all run out of town. Notice there is still space for Soriano.

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  57. mb21

    [quote name=Aisle424]They were all run out of town. Notice there is still space for Soriano.[/quote]And over to the right is room for Castro.

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  58. mb21

    I know some of you have wondered how to contact OV so there shouldn’t be any question know with the Gmail icon at the top of the page. Also, if you click on your rss icon on Firefox or whatever browser you’re using, there are multiple feeds available. The front page is just Obstructed View, there’s Unobstructed views and one for All the articles. There are also 2 additional ones that I’ll get rid of tomorrow.

    mb21 out, fuckfaces

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  59. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Rice Cube]http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=19254739

    BABIP smiled on Darwin Barney.[/quote]
    Shut me right up.

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  60. Aisle424

    [quote name=GBTS]What’s with the banner?[/quote]
    It’s the Ghosts of Chicago Beat Writers’ Narratives Past just in time for Halloween.

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  61. melissa

    [quote name=GBTS]What’s with the banner?[/quote]
    They had to remove the photo mocking Ricketts since it’s the “We Love Tommy” blog now. (dying laughing)
    I like it though and it’s a nice change.

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  62. Mercurial Outfielder

    Asked who he believes was the better second baseman between Hall of Famers Joe Morgan and Ryne Sandberg, Brennaman didn’t hesitate.

    “I give the nod to Joe Morgan, with the understanding that there were things Sandberg could do that Joe couldn’t do, and that’s obviously hit for more power,” Brennaman said Thursday. “I never saw Sandberg leave his feet to field a ground ball. And that always stuck in my craw. … Morgan, for the two years he won the MVP award, was the best player I’ve seen since I’ve been around. He could beat you everywhere there was to beat you. And while Sandberg had more power, Sandberg couldn’t steal bases like Joe did.”

    /facepalm

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  63. melissa

    I’m just glad the unicorn picture still has front page status. Definitely my favorite, the only way it could be better is if Ricketts were riding the unicorn. Actually, “Riding the Unicorn” would be a good euphemism for following the Cubs. (dying laughing)

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  64. ACT

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]/facepalm[/quote]I remember hearing that criticism quite a bit. That didn’t prevent him from winning all those Gold Gloves, though.

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  65. Mercurial Outfielder

    I’m pretty sure Marty Brennamman emerged from the test tube, was immediately fed lead paints chips and dropped on his head and then given a helmet and put on the short bus where he licked cyanide off the windows.

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  66. ACT

    Joe Morgan was certainly a better player than Ryne, but fielding metrics (FRAA and TZ, at least) seem to like Ryno better defensively.

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  67. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=ACT]I remember hearing that criticism quite a bit. That didn’t prevent him from winning all those Gold Gloves, though.[/quote]As my coach used to say, when you position yourself correctly, you don’t have to dive.

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  68. Rice Cube

    [quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]As my coach used to say, when you position yourself correctly, you don’t have to dive.[/quote]
    Is that what she said?

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  69. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=ACT]You don’t appear on Plays of the Week by positioning yourself correctly.[/quote]Especially if you’ve walked off the island.

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  70. Rice Cube

    [quote name=ACT]Russell has been just fine since moving back to the bullpen. He was just beaten by two very good hitters.[/quote]
    Shitty variance.

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  71. Mercurial Outfielder

    [quote name=ACT]Russell has been just fine since moving back to the bullpen. He was just beaten by two very good hitters.[/quote]This Reds lineup is kinda nasty when they’re on.

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  72. ACT

    One more thing about Sandoval: he wasn’t running hard at first, and then “turned it on” when he saw the fielders misplay the ball.

    “When I saw him fall down, that’s when I started running hard,” Sandoval said. “Halfway between first and second that’s when I thought I had a chance to make it.”

    http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=310915127

    Are Giants fans going to turn on him for being lazy? Maybe it’s his fault they’re losing the division to the D-Backs…

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  73. binky

    [quote name=ACT]Next time someone complains about the phrase, “a triple away from the cycle,” show him that video.[/quote]Nice triple, but It’s still a stupid thing to say.

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  74. Robert

    Castro is doing this against today’s pitchers and today’s *elevated* pitcher’s mound (which gives pitchers a huge advantage). In the 1930’s 200 hits was impressive; today much more so. Castro is phenomenal and when mentioning what Williams and Galen did, it should be remembered the pitcher’s and lack of pitching mound they did it against. Santo’s and Castro’s hits are far more impressive!

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