Ramon Castro

[Guest patona314]

just a thought:

loduca is a free agent after this season. his age and cost will make the mets examine other avenues for next season. does ramon deserve a chance at being the mets starting catcher for 08-09? there are some young guns in the wings.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

He deserves a chance.

I don't think he should get the job handed to him.

I'd sign him for 2008 (if he's not already signed) if he can be had for a reasonable salary and he can compete for a job with whoever else is in camp.

[Frayed Knot]

Castro is signed for just this year and will ALSO be a FA after this year -- he came in with 5+ yrs MLB service so will have the needed 6+ at years end. A lot might depend on if both we and other teams can see him as a front line guy. He'll be 32 next spring btw.

I mentioned in the IGT that I was interested - even going back to last year - in seeing him as closer to a "1A" kind of backup to LoDuca rather than the more traditional once a week guy. That idea fell apart last season amid his injuries and LoDuca's offensive surge but the fate of both guys bears some watching this season.

[Guest Edgy DC]

="patona314"]does ramon deserve a chance at being the mets starting catcher for 08-09?

Deserves a chance to at being the starter for 07.

[TransMonk]

="Edgy DC"] Deserves a chance to at being the starter for 07.

Ugh...Castro is a lifetime .227 hitter who has more strikeouts than hits in his 9 year career.

He has had a great 17 at-bats this season...but let's give him the chance to show that he can stay healthy and play consistently better than a below average ML catcher before we anoint him our "1A" ...or worse give him the job over the All-Star already playing the position.

Ramon is a great back up and I'll agree that LoDuca needs more time off behind the plate this year than he got last year...but in my mind he certainly does not deserve a shot at a starting job this year and based on what he's shown me in the past, I'd be terribly worried if he were the starting catcher next year.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, I said "a chance." I wouldn't annoint him anything, or give him anything. But I wouldn't hesitate to start him more.

[Theoldmole]

Are we writing off LoDuca for next season?

[Guest Edgy DC]

I can't speak for everyone, but I'm not.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

TheOldMole wrote: Are we writing off LoDuca for next season?

No. But I may be willing to do that before this season ends, depending on how he does.

[Guest SI Metman]

Depending on how Ramon does the rest of this season, I think about it. I also consider bringing in another quality backup and looking at what the Padres did with Piazza (99 games started) and Bard (50 games started) last season.

I really don't want Castro starting more than 100 games.