IMU just called Starlin Castro one of the best middle infielders in baseball, I take back all the bad things I said about FF. Jesus, I hope IMU is being sarcastic because if he is serious.....

I'm happy for you that you can Google Addison Russell's OPS.

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Any of us can google anything here. I would advise you and other Cub fans to familiarize yourselves with the other 29 teams in MLB. It'll help with perspective.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I realize you're hammered, so I'll handicap my argument.

I hope you're aware that the value of a shortstop is found primarily in his defense. This isn't 1999 when everyone was juiced and you had ARod, Garciaparra, Tejada, and Visquel at short. In 2016, Addison Russell graded out as the 4th best defensive shortstop, and everyone ahead of him was much older with the exception of Lindor, who is an unquestionable stud. He was 7th in WAR and is 23 years old. He has four years before he even reaches his prime. No one called him the best shortstop in baseball, but he's on a pretty damn good trajectory. He could very well be a star in the near future.

At the very least, solely quoting OPS to make a definitive statement on a shortstop or to rank shortstops is pretty limiting and ignorant.

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Ok, so you're diluting the word stud and star down to meaning the 7th best at your position. That will help going forward now that it's qualified. I was thinking a stud or star player is at minimum a top 3 player at their position, which Russell is most clearly not right now. I'm not counting Hypothetical Addison Russell the 2018 MVP. I'm looking at what he's done right now. He's simply not as good as guys like Lindor, Seager, Correa, Crawford, etc, and yes Machado when he plays SS which he can and does.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Is he always on the field? It seems Baez and him platoon alot.

He's very talented. I understand perfectly what you're saying, but you have to watch out sometimes how you say things, ya know people get the wrong impression. I understand what you said. The guy's talented. Leave at that, he's very talented.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

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I didn't get a chance to click that link or read that article, but I'm assuming Addison is #1?

He didn't make the top 5.

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Trevor Story @ 5 ...dudes a god damn butcher, Addy has more RBI and he plays in Colorado. Addy would hit 35 in Colorado and knock in 125.

The only guy with as good a glove as Addy is Lindor.

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You reveal your bias when you call him by a little girl's nickname.

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RBI are a "team stat". Unless we want to prop up some guy we like.

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His mind is not for rent to any God or government.

This is crazy talk. There are at least two other starting infielders on Russell's own team that are better than he is, and you guys want to proclaim him a star?

I said before I did not think Cubs fans could get any worse than jumping into the Chicago River to "celebrate" on parade day. I have underestimated you guys.

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This may shock you, the Cubs have the best infield in baseball. The best glove on the team is Addy.



http://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/i ... t?id=12071

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Runs win games, I'll take the guy who saves runs and knocks in runs when guys are on base.

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http://m.mlb.com/news/article/214194390 ... -for-2017/

Russell is easily in the top 10 in a crop of shortstops that MANY consider the most talented group in MLB history. He already has the elite glove and power. If his average and obp climbs, he will continue to rise on the list.

I would place him firmly as a rising star. He's probably my favorite Cub.

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#That'sCub

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Addy is much more manly than " Avi"

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I knew a guy named Avi. He was from Israel.

Fail.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Really? I know there are a lot of strong shortstops out there right now, but I don't see how anyone could say they are better than Jeter, A-Rod, Garciaparra, Vizquel, et al.

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His mind is not for rent to any God or government.

Nomar wore a Cubs jersey for a while, therefore he was great. #ThatsCub

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A SS hasn't won the MVP since Rollins in 2007. No way this is the greatest group in MLB history in the eyes of anyone except the "everything from this era is better than everything else ever before" crowd. And those people will abandon this group the instant a new one comes along.

This group is all early 20's though, I wouldn't be surprised to see this group at the g.o.a.t. in a few years.

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Whole Lotta roids~hgh junkies on your list.

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One Hall of Famer on that list doesn't make it sound so impressive. At least say Larkin.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

Why do people think this is the first time ever the league has featured young players?

Russell has the hottest wife on the team

How many Hall of Fame shortstops do you think are playing now?

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His mind is not for rent to any God or government.

Other than Tim Anderson? Can't think of any.

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Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?