Just How Good WAS Starlin Castro’s Rookie Year?

Since we’re light years away from opening day and no breaking news in sight, I decided to look at the all time best rookie seasons put up by a shortstop that had enough at bats to qualify for the batting title. Here are the results, sorted by OPS+ (adjusted OPS). Scanning the list, I can’t seem to find Jeter, Rodriguez or Garciaparra. Just sayin’. So the discussion for today is Do you believe in Starlin Castro, and what do you expect from him in 2011?

Player	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	PA	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	BA	OBP	SLG
Charlie Hollocher	134	1918	22	CHC	586	72	161	23	6	2	38	47	30	26	0	.316	.379	.397
Johnny Pesky	119	1942	22	BOS	686	105	205	29	9	2	51	42	36	12	7	.331	.375	.416
Arky Vaughan	114	1932	20	PIT	555	71	158	15	10	4	61	39	26	10	0	.318	.375	.412
Dave Bancroft	104	1915	24	PHI	665	85	143	18	2	7	30	77	62	15	27	.254	.346	.330
Dave Altizer	102	1906	29	WSH	493	56	111	9	5	1	27	35	0	37	0	.256	.324	.307
Whitey Witt	100	1916	20	PHA	626	64	138	16	15	2	36	55	71	19	0	.245	.315	.337
Pat Listach	99	1992	24	MIL	649	93	168	19	6	1	47	55	124	54	18	.290	.352	.349
Dick Howser	98	1961	25	KCA	719	108	171	29	6	3	45	92	38	37	9	.280	.377	.362
Topper Rigney	98	1922	25	DET	642	68	161	17	7	2	63	68	44	17	8	.300	.380	.369
Joe Tinker	98	1902	21	CHC	545	55	132	19	5	2	55	26	0	27	0	.263	.300	.333
Starlin Castro	97	2010	20	CHC	506	53	139	31	5	3	41	29	71	10	8	.300	.347	.408
Rafael Furcal	97	2000	22	ATL	542	87	134	20	4	4	37	73	80	40	14	.295	.394	.382
Mickey Doolan	97	1905	25	PHI	524	53	125	27	11	1	48	24	0	17	0	.254	.292	.360
Phil Rizzuto	96	1941	23	NYY	548	65	158	20	9	3	46	27	36	14	5	.307	.343	.398
Joe Boley	96	1927	30	PHA	415	49	115	18	8	1	52	26	14	8	5	.311	.361	.411
Glenn Wright	96	1924	23	PIT	662	80	177	28	18	7	111	27	52	14	6	.287	.318	.425

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Buddy

Hopefully Starlin Castro’s career goes better than Pat Listach’s did.
Norm

I think you need to re-do the list….unless I’m missing something.

Jeter had a 101 OPS+ in his ROY season.
Nomar had a 123 OPS+ in his ROY season.
(Arod just misses the cutoff with over 200 plate app’s before a 160 OPS+ his first full season at age 20)

That being said, I expect big things from Castro…maybe not 2011…but a batting title in his future.
Buddy

Ripken’s rookie year was pretty good as well. I think he smacked 28 homers.
Norm

Looks like criteria is ‘first season’ rather than ‘Rookie season.’
Doc Raker

I believe in Starlin Castro, or as Harry would say, O-R-T-S-A-C is a fine young ballplayer.
Buddy

I believe in Harvey Dent.
walterj

the stat that really worries me about castro is his 71 k’s to 29 walks . i hope he improves on that this year . reguardless , i think he will have a good career. i hope it blossoms into a great career , but i don’t see the next ripken , jeter , or arod .
Terrelle Pryor 2

I hope he doesn’t go into a slump like Geo
http://swantron.com jswanson

Patience comes with age. When I was Starlin’s age, my impatience got my fake IDs and me tossed out of bars every weekend. Actually, the IDs usually stayed in the bar, and I would end up in the alley.
Hopefully he too will mature, and we’ll see those errors go down and bases on ball increase.
Joe

Norm,

the criteria is 1st season, not rookie season. That, to me, is what makes Starlin’s season impressive. It was his first look ever at big league pitching AND his age is so young.
Doc Raker

I believe in individual liberty and freedom, reducing the size of our ever intrusive nanny government, expensive eyewear and any young ballplayer better than Sorryano and Aram.
Doc Raker

Joe- what time zone is the clock set to? Bermuda time zone?

Just How Good WAS Starlin Castro’s Rookie Year?

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