Spudboy

"He has not played organized baseball for about 18 months, though, as he defected from Cuba and moved to Haiti." "To me at this point it's not about the time missed, because even though I've missed a year and half of games," http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2014/08/sox_introduce_castillo_could_be_september_addition.html Well, at least he will be well rested!!!!!!!!

"But for all their confidence that they had scored a coup in signing Castillo, the Sox talent evaluator added a caveat: Castillo has not played in a game for nearly a year and a half. " "But he hasn't played in a game since 2012. We saw him in international tournaments back then, but haven't seen him in a game since." http://espn.go.com/boston/columns/mlb/story/_/id/11396178/how-rusney-castillo-joined-boston-red-sox Excellent article by Edes discussing how the acquisition of Castillo came to be.

Koji has looked shaky for about the last month or so. Maybe his magic is gone. He was gassed at 26 pitches. He should have been replaced. Sox should have won this game. Shame.

Kelly will blow up if they bring him out again. I think that he's hurt. Who knows?

That looks like a nice batting order on paper. I bet 2-3 of those guys are not on the opening day roster.

Good evening gentlemen. Kelly looks pretty good so far. He'll have to stay that way for 7 innings if the Sox are to remain in this game. Almost XB.

Time for a game thread! GO SOX! Pound the King!

I find much of the information about Castillo ambiguous and even confusing. He is said to be 5'9" 205 or 185. Which is it? Today I heard that he was 185 when last evaluated as a Cuban player in 2012. Now at his recent "workout" in Miami, he is a hefty 205. It has been suggested that he has gained a lot of muscle mass. How did that happen? Maybe that good living in the DR? Some say that he is an excellent defensive player but with an unremarkable arm for CF. Others say that he is just average defensively with a weak arm. Some say that he is a contact hitter with pop. Others say that he "projects" to have the power of Cesepedas, etc.. Some reports (almost all, in fact ) say that he has not played since 2012. Yet our good Pal Paladios has provided stats for 2013 and something called "2013 1/2" ( whatever that may be!! ). What's the real scoop on this 27 year old prospect? The proof will be in the pudding. I can't wait to see him play. I may have to wait because he must be granted a work permit before he can play and get paid. How long will that take?

I don't see how Ortiz's 8 and likely 9 years of 30+ HR and all those RBI can be ignored. Even if he did not field a position for the majority of his career. Then there is the obvious stuff like the 3 WS titles that he contributed and his WS MVP. But what really gets me is how much he has done for the game. Not just the Red Sox, but the entirety of baseball. He is one of the games brightest stars and most recognized players. There is no award for those types of things so I think combined with all of his offensive production he SHOULD be a lock. I may bitch about his griping about strike calls and his salary and stuff. However, I recognize the scope and magnitude of his contribution to the game. He has my vote ( and not because he plays for my favorite team, either ).

Yeah moving him back and forth between catcher and 1st base may have interrupted his development. I think that we may never know. Too bad. I just wonder what Will ( pun?) become of Middlebrooks. It suck to give up on all that power. Oh well.

Just be clear, I said that some do not consider him to be a player as in playing the full game, defense blah blah blah. That is not my opinion. I know that he can play decent defense at 1st base at least short term. But some people think that he would not have put up the big numbers had he been required to play the field everyday. Again, not my opinion.

Maybe those stats are untrue??????????????

Obviously the Sox are now going to sign Cespedes to a long term deal and send him along with Castillo, a position prospect, and a pitching prospect ( why not Buch?!!! ) to Miami for Stanton. The Sox eat a large chunk of the contracts for the two Cubans. It's a natural fit for the two Cuban players because of the huge Cuban population. Get it done Ben. Just call me GM Spud!!!

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2014/08/are_the_red_sox_closing_in_on_cuban_defector_rusne.html " But it's been a while since Castillo has seen game action. He last played in Cuba in 2012, and ended the year on suspension." Eric Wilbur is a liar!!!!!!!!

I have only stated what I have read about him on ESPN Boston and Boston.com. Either their stories are inaccurate or they are lying.

So where does he go to play? He has not played since 2012. I can't believe that he is ready for MLB at bats. The minor league season are almost over. I see failure in the near term for this guy but I hope I'm wrong. 7 years at 27 years old. That mean the Sox are on the hook to this lump until he's 34!!! Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!! As if the Sox brass has not stepped in doggy doo enough recently. He better work out!!!!

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/11392841/boston-red-sox-add-cuban-rusney-castillo 7/72.5 Hahahahahahahahahaha!!! We will go nuts if this guy does not pan out!!!

Oh joy! Reports are that Castillo is about to sign with the Sox for 6/72. Wow.

And of course you can add Lavarnway and Middlebrooks to the list of flame-outs. Maybe there was too much hype about these kids? Maybe they were brought along and promoted too quickly?

Well the whole team is a mess. Farrell is just throwing darts at this point. Imagine trying to decide who to start where with so many non-performing players on the roster.

Exactly. Except I'm not sure that the Sox cheaped out on those players. I believe they lost out on Abreu by "only" 5 mil. in a sealed bid. Who knows? All the comps mean nothing, really. It's all speculation. If he had been playing in AA or AAA the past few years then maybe these comps could be given some credence. I doubt that he decides to choose Boston anyway with the Sox having so many outfielders already.

I was surprised at this too. I see him as a 6 or 7.

Farrell said that Ortiz had a scheduled day off. He said he was doing this with all of the regulars because of playing a stretch of 17 games in a row. Of course if I was 8 for 10 or whatever Ortiz had been in the series, I would have lobbied to be in the lineup. I doubt that happened.

I hope someone else outbids the Sox. I realize the temptation of landing a foreign player. I see nothing of real value here. Is he a great player????? Who knows? He has not played in a baseball game since 2012!!!!! I think he's just another raw player from another country. That's it. Why waste 50-60 mil and a roster spot on this guy? To be bunk mates with Cespedes??? Screw that. Go for major league talent or don't bother.

How good would Kole Calhoun look in a Sox uni?