Michael John Caruso (born May 27, 1977 in Queens, New York) is a former Major League Baseball shortstop who played for the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals.

Caruso was a prospect for the San Francisco Giants. During the 1997 season, Caruso was one of six prospects traded to the White Sox in the infamous White Flag Trade.

In 1998, Caruso was called up by the White Sox at the age of 20 to become their everyday starting shortstop. He finished third in the Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award balloting. However, his career in Chicago only lasted two years. He reemerged back into the Major Leagues in 2002 with the Royals, but only played in 12 games.

After two years out of the game, Caruso began a comeback attempt. He played the 2007 season for the South Georgia Peanuts of the independent South Coast League.[1] However, the South Coast League only lasted one season before suspending operations. [3] He is still continuing the quest for a comeback as part of the Joliet JackHammers. His manager for the JackHammers is Wally Backman, who also managed him on the Peanuts.[2] Although Caruso resides in Coral Springs, Florida, he was willing to leave his home and play for an independent league team 1,200 miles away.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

This Starlin guy reminds me a lot of the Mike Caruso deal. Great player for 1 year,2nd year he was toast.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

The Orie and Beckham comparison is much better.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

No it's not. It's rare for a 20 year old to be given the everyday SS job on a ML team.
You are just kissing ass of someone from the "inner circle".

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Sure it is meatball.

Orie played his rookie season at a pretty high level and was in contention for ROY voting. Beckham played his rookie season at a pretty high level and was in contention for ROY voting. Orie started his 2nd year playing awful. Beckham has started his 2nd year playing awful. Seems pretty clear to me.

Castro has played in less than 10 games.



Dr. Ken is the man, no doubt. And you are just an ignorant meatball. Good point.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Jimmy, for what its worth, I think both comparisons are bad.

I'm just giving the first guy I thought of when I read Castro was brought up. Caruso looked like a fine player in that year. RFDC,I highly doubt I am ignorant or a meatball on all matters. Basically just the Cubs & the Bears is when the "meatball" kicks in.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

I see your thinking jimmy, but the circumstances of Beckham/Castro are much different than Orie/Caruso

In my opinion.

We have our first confirmed member of the "Inner Sanctum of Pricks". Congratulations Dr. Kenneth Noisewater.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Exxxxxcelllent.

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You know me like that.

At least you are leaving it open to the possibility.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Every rookie is in contention for ROY voting.

Put their numbers side by side and you will see the difference.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Settle down gd. I like Beckham and I don't think he is Orie, but that comparison is more solid than pastameatballs.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I agree. You shouldn't even be comparing these players to anyone, until they at least have a full season's worth of games played in the Show.

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

I agree with this as well. Orie played 178 games in his Cubs career.

Beckham has played 132 games in his White Sox career.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I mean you can compare all you want, just that there is no way of getting any real idea until there is a body of work. People were throwing all kinds of names out in the Beckham thread, myself included, in terms of what his ceiling might be. Obviously his floor could be much lower.

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

All of this is like trying to grade an NFL draft the day after the picks are made lets let these prospects play some games before annoiting them as savior or bust. That being said Castro is going to be better then Derek Jeter.

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There is a difference in power and speed.

But, I'm guessing the differences aren't as great as you wish they were.


Year 1

Beckham - 430 plate appearances / 43 extra-base hits / 63 RBIs / 7 steals / .270 BA / .808 OPS

Orie - 415 plate appearances / 36 extra-base hits / 44 RBIs / 2 steals / .275 BA / .781 OPS

Beckham had more RBIs but also batted higher in the order while Orie was batting 7th or 8th in the NL.

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You know me like that.

I think one could argue his tools as a 20 year old could be better at his age than a Jeter. The thing that remains to be seen is whether he can develop consistency in executing fundamental baseball. You can't be sure he won't "dog it" if he makes a few mistakes. I think it's a litttle unfair to be booing a 20 year old at this point (not sure if this actually happened, though).

Possible reason for concern, supposedly he is staying with Soriano?

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

castro will put on about 30 lbs and wind up in LF and hit about 40 bombs.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

Yes, and The Jonas Brothers will one day write a piece of music as beautiful as Beethoven's 9th Symphony.

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1923-1927-1928-1932-1936-1937-1938-1939
1941-1943-1947-1949-1950-1951-1952-1953
1956-1958-1961-1962-1977-1978-1996-1998
1999-2000-2009
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XXI - XXV - XLII - XLVI

Impossible. The Jonas Bothers don't write anything.

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Precisely.

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1923-1927-1928-1932-1936-1937-1938-1939
1941-1943-1947-1949-1950-1951-1952-1953
1956-1958-1961-1962-1977-1978-1996-1998
1999-2000-2009
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XXI - XXV - XLII - XLVI

Not one "THE KIDS CAN PLAY" mention?

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Bee Bee Castro.

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There goes one over the fence..Tru Link Fence..Beauty, Privacy Security....Call Tru Link.
Murph's Union 76 Truck Stop....A great Thanksgiving Tradition!!!!

WOO LIFE!!!!

Wasn't Caruso a midget? Totally different type of players.

Actually he reminds me of Dunston.

Let's hope he's at least as good as Dunston when he develops. I wouldn't mind a 270 hitter with pop and speed especially the first couple of years.

One for the old guys, Bob. Lee Richard is way more obscure than Zoilo Versalles!

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

Not to Bart Johnson,Mike Andrews or Bill Melton.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."