In defense of Castillo
Hold up. Don't start looking at me like this is the O.J. trial or something. After all, we are talking about a three-time All-Star with three Gold Gloves and a World Series ring.
He's also a career .293 hitter with a lifetime .368 on-base percentage. Luis Castillo can play baseball. And he's only 32 years old -- actually he'll be 33 in three weeks.
Check out his numbers before Castillo went on the DL. OK, his .261 batting average was a little light. But the guy was still getting on base (.365), managed to score 42 runs in 68 games and also had 13 stolen bases on gimpy, surgically-repaired knees.
The key here, obviously, is health. If Castillo can move better than he did before the DL stint, Argenis Reyes and Damion Easley aren't in the same universe defensively. Again, if healthy, or at least mobile, Castillo, a switch-hitter, is an asset as the starting second baseman as well as batting behind Jose Reyes.
Easley, who has been bothered by leg problems, needs the rest and A. Reyes could be exposed down the stretch. Those two have done a great job in tandem at second base, but a healthy Castillo is better than both.
And regardless of Jerry Manuel's flip-flop on Castillo's playing time, there's evidence of why it might be good to have him in the lineup over the next five weeks -- and beyond. You can't blame last season's collapse on Castillo. He batted .316 (31-for-98) in September with a .404 on-base percentage.
Maybe Omar Minaya, by virtue of Castillo's $25-million contract, did strong-arm Manuel to force him into the starting lineup. All I'm saying is that it could work to the Mets' benefit. Now that Easley slides back into a reserve role, it makes their bench deeper. And if A. Reyes is demoted later today, he can come right back when rosters expand a week from Monday.
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Comments (7)
David-
"aren't in the same universe"!! Maybe Castillo from years ago, the gold gloves years, but to say if healthy A. Reyes is light years away from him defensively is blind. I've seen Reyes make some spectacular plays in a short amount of inconsistent playing time. The bats are the focus here but I've seen Reyes save runs and right now Castilo's defense can't do that. I'm wiling to give him a chance but I love and believe Reyes' scrappiness is perfect for a run.
I mostly agree David. However, with Church back, I wouldn't mind seeing the Mets put either Church or Beltran in that 2 spot in the lineup rather than Castillo, and put Castillo 8th. A front five of Reyes, Church, Wright, Delgado, Beltran would be very difficult to navigate for opposing teams. 6-7-8 could be Tatis/Murphy, Castro/Schneider, Castillo.
IF Castillo can play close to the same defense as A Reyes then will be a help. But if his defense is like what it was earlier in the year keep him off the field
IF Castillo can play close to the same defense as A Reyes then will be a help. But if his defense is like what it was earlier in the year keep him off the field
David - I agree with you - I don't understand all these people saying to get him off the team - I believe he wasn't playing well because he was hurt and it limited him - I agree with everyone else - If he is healthy and is able to move - I don't have a problem with him coming back and being our 2nd baseman - as far as the chemistry thing - i think its a bunch of hogwash the media has created and fans are falling for it. Don't write him off - remember Delgado??? Everyone wanted to run him out of town and release him????? Don't rush to judge - until you see what he can do...and I believe the reason we have been on this roll is because our starting pitching -- not who is playing on second.
Castillo's not being activated tonight
I have to disagree about Castillo's contribution last year. Castillo hit .296 after he joined the Mets and his .296 was the weakest .296 I have ever seen. He joined the Mets in early August just in time to lend a hand in their demise. They were a number of times with Castillo at the plate and as little as a fly ball would win a game where this weak hitting slap hitter couldn't get the ball out of the infield. This happened in a critical game against the Phils in the bottom of the ninth. Castillo had Reyes on third with one out and couldn't get the ball out of the infield. The Mets lost that first game to the Phils in extra innings and then went on to be swept in the critical Sept.series by the Phils.
As little as a fly ball by Castillo and the Mets would have given the Mets a two game pyoff series against the Phils and Colorado.
We never saw a powerful one-two punch of Castillo and Reyes last yera in fact Reyes has never hit more poorly in his career than he did with Castillo hitting behind him in August and Sept of last year and early this year. This season the Mets were 41 -43 playing boring mediocre ball before he was injured and placed on the DL on Jul 3rd .
It is no coincidence that since he was injured they have gone on a tear. Since Castillo has been out and Easley and Reyes have been playing they are 31-15 and went from a lackluster lineup to a very exciting team again. To say the media has biased my opinion or anyone is an insult. I had seen enough
of Castillo after August and September of last year. I was glad they were going to lose him to free agency and disappointed when they decided to sign him to a ridiculous contract. Castillo confirmed my opinion of him with his dismal uninspired play again this year.