For Love of Castillo

[Guest AG/DC]

An Anthony DiComo story at Mets.com earlier in the week was titled "Mets anticipating Castillo surge." Now, I'm really pleased that Randolph seems to be working hard to save Castillo's season --- rather than bury him as some fans want to do --- while at the same time not undrmining a regular lineup while continuing to bat him second. (It's also an indicator that Randolph may not be as much on the hot seat as all that, but that's another point.)

If I'm the Mets (thw whole organization), that's what I'd try to do. But I also don't "anticipate" anything. I certainly don't let slip any statmetnts that trigger such a story. It's just setting you --- and Castillo --- up to fail. But there DiComo is, restating Randoph's insistence that Castillo's demotion is only temporary.

"He'll get going again, and I'm not concerned."

I'd be more like, "Luis is a talented hitter, and we're working to get him back where we know he can be." Say he can do it, rather than he will. Meantime, I'd be lining up about eight backup plans.

But Willie never lacks for cahnfidence. And what haps? Yestereday he returns Castilllo to the two-hole, and gets a single, double, walk, a run scored, and two RBI, perhaps his best game of the year.

I guess that's what road tirps are for. Because they would have booed Castillo into the ground before he got his first licks if that was at Shea.

[batmagadanleadoff]

="AG/DC"] Now, I'm really pleased that Randolph seems to be working hard to save Castillo's season --- rather than bury him as some fans want to do --- while at the same time not undrmining a regular lineup while continuing to bat him second.

I don't have a problem with Randolph trying to improve Castillo's season either. It's what he should be doing as a Manager. But batting Castillo second is undermining the Mets. This has shades of 2005 all over again with Matsui and Cairo getting most of the #2 slot at-bats.

[metirish]

Watching the happy replay last night and when Castillo was taking his first at bat Gary talked about how Castillo is just more comfortable and happier hitting second , when hitting eight he doesn't have the same patience , I'm paraphrasing.

[Guest AG/DC]

But (1) there has to be some risk to get a reward, and (2) he's only done it this once, with two starters sitting out, since May started.

Look, he's clearly aware of what's going on here and moved Castillo back, then up again, then back again.

But Castillo is reaching at .353. That's not hopeless. Everybody's got an interest in getting him back to being the tablesetter he was.

[batmagadanleadoff]

metirish wrote: Watching the happy replay last night and when Castillo was taking his first at bat Gary talked about how Castillo is just more comfortable and happier hitting second , when hitting eight he doesn't have the same patience , I'm paraphrasing.

I remember that. You hear stuff like that often and I always though it was a bunch of horseshit. Gary also mentioned that Castillo sees different pitches batting eighth and that his approach would change depending on where he was batting. More horseshit. Because what? He'd hit more homeruns batting second? What? Castillo has a resepectable command of the strike zone and if he's getting more balls batting eighth, I would presume that he's smart enough to take those pitches and work out the walk. With two outs, the walk clears the pitcher. It's the same game. Swing at the strikes and lay off the balls.

[batmagadanleadoff]

AG/DC wrote: But Castillo is reaching at .353. That's not hopeless. Everybody's got an interest in getting him back to being the tablesetter he was.

This is the part I would agree with. But I'm opining that Castillo's in decline mode. I'm callin' it.

[metirish]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: ="metirish"]Watching the happy replay last night and when Castillo was taking his first at bat Gary talked about how Castillo is just more comfortable and happier hitting second , when hitting eight he doesn't have the same patience , I'm paraphrasing. I remember that. You hear stuff like that often and I always though it was a bunch of horseshit. Gary also mentioned that Castillo sees different pitches batting eighth and that his approach would change depending on where he was batting. More horseshit. Because what? He'd hit more homeruns batting second? What? Castillo has a resepectable command of the strike zone and if he's getting more balls batting eighth, I would presume that he's smart enough to take those pitches and work out the walk. With two outs, the walk clears the pitcher. It's the same game. Swing at the strikes and lay off the balls.

Yeah it sounded to me like Castillo lost interest when batting eight .

[Theoldmole]

Castillo has good creds -- when on his game -- as a 2-spot hitter, and when you're sitting one or two of your power guys, it makes sense to put Church in the middle of the lineup.

[Fman99]

TheOldMole wrote: Castillo has good creds -- when on his game -- as a 2-spot hitter, and when you're sitting one or two of your power guys, it makes sense to put Church in the middle of the lineup.

With the 2006 Delgado MIA and Alou sitting 1/3 of the time I'd agree that Church should be hitting behind Beltran, assuming he continues to produce.

Yet I cringe every time I see Castillo hitting in the two-hole. It seems to me that they are giving those at-bats away to "move runners up" and "make productive outs," i.e., instead of getting clutch hits and RBI's (yesterday being the exception and not the rule).

I think Luis Castillo feels about RBI's the same way Tom Cruise feels about vaginas. He fears them, he doesn't understand them, and ultimately he should leave that work to someone better qualified.

[Guest AG/DC]

But he's only batted there once this month, with two middle-of-the-order guys sitting, and had two hits, one a double, one walk, a run, and two vaginas. Cringe not.

That said, I hope as well that it doesn't lead yet to a permanent return.

[Theoldmole]

I'll take the job!

[MFS62]

Meatloaf lived in a small town in Connecticut, where he coached youth ball teams for a number of years. So he knows what ballplayers can do, and what they can�t.
************************************************

Luis Castillo has a magic glove.
Great coming in and going back
He can do everything with that glove
And to those who see him play that is a fact
You say Jose makes all the plays, that�s way you feel right now,
Oh no, I�ll say
Luis can do everything with the glove
But not with the bat.

Everything with the glove
Oh, he can do everything with the glove
Luis can do everything with the glove, but not with the bat.
No, not with the bat.

Some days the plays look easy
Some days the plays look hard
But Luis won�t let pop flies fall, and batters are always out in the end.
He will easily pick ground balls and fire
There�ll be another runner iced
Some nights I see nothing I've ever seen before or will
again

Maybe I'm crazy, but it's crazy and it's true
I know when I see him around the bag, he�s the best in orange and blue

His plays keep our heads a-turning
And one day I�ll get the yearning
To see again how our Luis threw
You'd better believe me, about what he can do.

Anything with the glove
We never get tired of that act
Luis deserves a golden glove, and that is a fact.
But I'll never forgive myself if I don�t tell the truth
tonight
Luis can do everything with the glove
Oh, Luis can do everything with the glove
Oh, Luis can do everything with the glove, but not with the bat
No, not with the bat.

Oh, Luis can do everything with the glove
Oh, Luis can do everything with the glove, but not with the bat
No, not with the bat.


Later