Memories of Castro

[Guest Edgy DC]

They say the Mets just dealt Ramon
For Broadway (For Broadway)
They say three catchers are too much to bear
That when your bullpen needs eight guys
Your dugout bench must shrink in size
One must be dealt --- it's no surprise ---
For Broadway (for Broadway)

They dealt the guy who backed up Mike
For Broadway (For Broadway)
And then he backed up Paul LoDuca too
And even when the Shneid arrived
Castro stayed, he just survived!
A roster crunch and he's thrown aside
For Broadway (for Broadway)

I liked his jaw but now he's gone
For Broadway (For Broadway)
I liked his power, liked the way he threw
How long he stayed I could not forsee
Fatter than a manatee
Often hurt, now he's sent to sea
For Broadway (For Broadway)

[Guest Triple Dee]

[G-Fafif]

He kept the clubhouse loose, which we now see is valuable only when you're hitting.

Big home run against Philly in August '05, height of Mets' Wild Card contention. Occasional hit since, mostly out with injuries. Always seemed like a good idea.

Good luck RC.

[Farmer Ted]

He always seemed to be the butt of the bubble-gum-bubble-on-your-hat gag.

[Gwreck]

Ramon not only hit the game-winning homer in the 8th (off Ugeth Urbina, I believe) in the first game of that series against Philly (brought us to 1/2 game of the wild card, I think), he also got another big homer in the early innings of the very next game, earning himself a second curtain call.

I think that was his peak as a Met.

Fun fact: was the only Met to be on the rosters for DS and LCS but not appear in a postseason game in '06.

[Guest Edgy DC]

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	HBP	SB	CS	SH	SF	TB	Avg.	Slg.	OBP
269	701	83	177	41	0	33	121	71	6	187	3	1	0	4	6	317	.252	.452	.321

Seemingly put the whole sex-offender thing behind him. Good luck, ol BMNM.

[Fman99]

="Farmer Ted":16qr3xqg]He always seemed to be the butt of the bubble-gum-bubble-on-your-hat gag.[/quote:16qr3xqg] Ha! First thing I thought of too.

Gwreck May 29 2009 10:26 PM

At the time of his departure, only David and Jose had been Mets longer than Ramon.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr May 29 2009 10:40 PM

="Gwreck":xnabd5g4]At the time of his departure, only David and Jose had been Mets longer than Ramon.[/quote:xnabd5g4] Carlos Uno tips his hat to your careful wording (he'd rather people forget about his 2005 as well). I always thought I'd be more annoyed when management finally ushered him out the door. Omir's proving to be quite the Castro roofie. Edgy DC May 29 2009 10:46 PM It's an illusion, but the back of Pedro Feliciano's card would suggest he has a tenure going back to 2002. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/felicpe01.shtml Benjamin Grimm May 30 2009 04:50 AM April 2005. My first time at Shea in almost five years, and the first visit ever for my son, who was 8 at the time. Mets vs. Marlins, Pedro vs. Leiter. Castro won the game with a walk-off single. I think that's still the last walk-off win that I've seen in person. OlerudOwned May 30 2009 06:48 AM Blastro! metirish May 30 2009 06:51 AM it still surprises me that Castro was with the Mets since 2005, was a good backup when healthy and could have been more than that. Benjamin Grimm May 30 2009 07:13 AM Castro is currently in 15th place in the Schaefer Mets Player of the Century competition, one of only 16 players to have accumulated more than 100 points: +-----------------+---------------------+ | Wright | 534.75 | | Beltran | 486.22 | | Reyes | 447.82 | | Delgado | 321.46 | | Glavine | 261.27 | | Martinez | 230.85 | | Hernandez | 186.87 | | Maine | 180.74 | | Floyd | 174.86 | | Santana | 161.82 | | Heilman | 154.70 | | Perez | 153.55 | | Pelfrey | 126.61 | | Lo Duca | 122.69 | | Castro | 106.39 | | Wagner | 100.56 | | Chavez | 87.25 | | Piazza | 83.40 | | Feliciano | 80.84 | | Green | 75.90 | +-----------------+---------------------+ Triple Dee May 30 2009 07:19 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 30 2009 07:25 AM I don't want to be the type of guy who writes negative things in an appreciation thread, but I'm going to be that type of guy -- It seemed Castro was most productive as a spot starting catcher or pinch hitting. When he played for a prolonged periods, it appeared he lacked the stamina (whether mental or physical). (And I don't have an ounce of data to back-up my claims). On the positive side, he was probably underrated in terms of his defemse John Cougar Lunchbucket May 30 2009 07:25 AM I was at this game. As I recall the shot was off UUU Very good hitter for a backup catcher but like a lot of bench guys, I think the Mets probably over-committed to him and it was time to move on. It was especially frustrating to see him miss large stretches of two consecutive seasons. I don't think Santos will ever be the offensive force Castro was at his best but I'd put even money on him having the better next three months and that's what matters to the Mets now. Benjamin Grimm May 30 2009 07:28 AM I agree with that. I'm in favor of riding Santos for as long as we can. He may fizzle out in the next week or two, but he may not. Might as well take advantage of a cheap, youngish, productive player. G-Fafif May 30 2009 07:55 AM Ramon nearly brought the Mets back to life in the bottom of the first on 9/30/07 with a deep bases-loaded fly to left off Dontrelle Willis that I swore was going out. The grand slam would have made that do-or-die game 7-5 and history might have changed. But Citi Field, I'm convinced, altered the wind currents at Shea and it dropped into Cody Ross' glove and it was 7-1 and the Collapse was just a matter of innings from complete. G-Fafif May 30 2009 08:08 AM ="Benjamin Grimm":pje1ao89]April 2005. My first time at Shea in almost five years, and the first visit ever for my son, who was 8 at the time. Mets vs. Marlins, Pedro vs. Leiter. Castro won the game with a walk-off single.[/quote:pje1ao89] Underrated as a milestone game in Mets history by my reckoning. Ironic or fitting or a little sad -- whichever -- that Ramon is traded on the night his successor has just that kind of moment to push him out the door. John Cougar Lunchbucket May 30 2009 08:41 AM Mets by the Numbers is reporting that Castro leaves as the third-leading home-run hitter and run-driver-inner of all Met 11s. ]Home runs by guys who wore 11 1. Wayne Garrett 55 2. Tim Teufel 36 3. Ramon Castro 33 4 (tie). Duke Snider, Lenny Randle 7 6. Gene Woodling 5 7. Dick Schofeild 4 8 (tie). Ed Bouchee, Roy McMillan, Kelvin Chapman 3 metirish May 30 2009 08:48 AM If he stayed on the field he probably would have been first. soupcan May 30 2009 10:02 AM Big-ass head. Edgy DC May 30 2009 10:14 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 30 2009 10:42 AM Mostly an infielder's number, huh? Better to have a big-ass head than to be a big ass-head. soupcan May 30 2009 10:14 AM ="Edgy DC":2qsynsu1]Better to have a big-ass head than to be a big ass-head.[/quote:2qsynsu1] True dat. Elster88 May 30 2009 10:51 AM The first thing I think of is the almost grand slam in the last game of 2007. From my seat in the mezzanine it looked like it was gone off the bat. The second thing I think of is a gatorade cup upside down on top of his hat with a giant bubble gum bubble stuck on top, courtesy of the young prankster David. So long Blastro, I enjoyed your work. Kong76 May 30 2009 11:01 AM Three years from now at a cranepool function ... KC: We had that other Castro too, Ramon, remember him? JQP: Yeah, had that big head. KC: Big caboose too, seemed like he was always hurt. JQP: He had some big hits for the Mets, won games, I liked him. KC: He was ok, when he wasn't on the DL. I'm going to remember him most as the guy that got traded the night Sweet Caroline was finally ditched at Citi Field. * JQP: Oh snap. To Castro! KC: Ramon! * Hopeful thinking.

[Gwreck]

At the time of his departure, only David and Jose had been Mets longer than Ramon.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

="Gwreck":xnabd5g4]At the time of his departure, only David and Jose had been Mets longer than Ramon.[/quote:xnabd5g4] Carlos Uno tips his hat to your careful wording (he'd rather people forget about his 2005 as well). I always thought I'd be more annoyed when management finally ushered him out the door. Omir's proving to be quite the Castro roofie.

Edgy DC May 29 2009 10:46 PM

It's an illusion, but the back of Pedro Feliciano's card would suggest he has a tenure going back to 2002. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/felicpe01.shtml

Benjamin Grimm May 30 2009 04:50 AM

April 2005. My first time at Shea in almost five years, and the first visit ever for my son, who was 8 at the time. Mets vs. Marlins, Pedro vs. Leiter. Castro won the game with a walk-off single. I think that's still the last walk-off win that I've seen in person.

OlerudOwned May 30 2009 06:48 AM

Blastro!

metirish May 30 2009 06:51 AM

it still surprises me that Castro was with the Mets since 2005, was a good backup when healthy and could have been more than that.

Benjamin Grimm May 30 2009 07:13 AM

Castro is currently in 15th place in the Schaefer Mets Player of the Century competition, one of only 16 players to have accumulated more than 100 points: +-----------------+---------------------+ | Wright | 534.75 | | Beltran | 486.22 | | Reyes | 447.82 | | Delgado | 321.46 | | Glavine | 261.27 | | Martinez | 230.85 | | Hernandez | 186.87 | | Maine | 180.74 | | Floyd | 174.86 | | Santana | 161.82 | | Heilman | 154.70 | | Perez | 153.55 | | Pelfrey | 126.61 | | Lo Duca | 122.69 | | Castro | 106.39 | | Wagner | 100.56 | | Chavez | 87.25 | | Piazza | 83.40 | | Feliciano | 80.84 | | Green | 75.90 | +-----------------+---------------------+

Triple Dee May 30 2009 07:19 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 30 2009 07:25 AM

I don't want to be the type of guy who writes negative things in an appreciation thread, but I'm going to be that type of guy -- It seemed Castro was most productive as a spot starting catcher or pinch hitting. When he played for a prolonged periods, it appeared he lacked the stamina (whether mental or physical). (And I don't have an ounce of data to back-up my claims). On the positive side, he was probably underrated in terms of his defemse

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 30 2009 07:25 AM

I was at this game. As I recall the shot was off UUU Very good hitter for a backup catcher but like a lot of bench guys, I think the Mets probably over-committed to him and it was time to move on. It was especially frustrating to see him miss large stretches of two consecutive seasons. I don't think Santos will ever be the offensive force Castro was at his best but I'd put even money on him having the better next three months and that's what matters to the Mets now.

Benjamin Grimm May 30 2009 07:28 AM

I agree with that. I'm in favor of riding Santos for as long as we can. He may fizzle out in the next week or two, but he may not. Might as well take advantage of a cheap, youngish, productive player.

G-Fafif May 30 2009 07:55 AM

Ramon nearly brought the Mets back to life in the bottom of the first on 9/30/07 with a deep bases-loaded fly to left off Dontrelle Willis that I swore was going out. The grand slam would have made that do-or-die game 7-5 and history might have changed. But Citi Field, I'm convinced, altered the wind currents at Shea and it dropped into Cody Ross' glove and it was 7-1 and the Collapse was just a matter of innings from complete.

G-Fafif May 30 2009 08:08 AM

="Benjamin Grimm":pje1ao89]April 2005. My first time at Shea in almost five years, and the first visit ever for my son, who was 8 at the time. Mets vs. Marlins, Pedro vs. Leiter. Castro won the game with a walk-off single.[/quote:pje1ao89] Underrated as a milestone game in Mets history by my reckoning. Ironic or fitting or a little sad -- whichever -- that Ramon is traded on the night his successor has just that kind of moment to push him out the door. John Cougar Lunchbucket May 30 2009 08:41 AM Mets by the Numbers is reporting that Castro leaves as the third-leading home-run hitter and run-driver-inner of all Met 11s. ]Home runs by guys who wore 11 1. Wayne Garrett 55 2. Tim Teufel 36 3. Ramon Castro 33 4 (tie). Duke Snider, Lenny Randle 7 6. Gene Woodling 5 7. Dick Schofeild 4 8 (tie). Ed Bouchee, Roy McMillan, Kelvin Chapman 3 metirish May 30 2009 08:48 AM If he stayed on the field he probably would have been first. soupcan May 30 2009 10:02 AM Big-ass head. Edgy DC May 30 2009 10:14 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 30 2009 10:42 AM Mostly an infielder's number, huh? Better to have a big-ass head than to be a big ass-head. soupcan May 30 2009 10:14 AM ="Edgy DC":2qsynsu1]Better to have a big-ass head than to be a big ass-head.[/quote:2qsynsu1] True dat. Elster88 May 30 2009 10:51 AM The first thing I think of is the almost grand slam in the last game of 2007. From my seat in the mezzanine it looked like it was gone off the bat. The second thing I think of is a gatorade cup upside down on top of his hat with a giant bubble gum bubble stuck on top, courtesy of the young prankster David. So long Blastro, I enjoyed your work. Kong76 May 30 2009 11:01 AM Three years from now at a cranepool function ... KC: We had that other Castro too, Ramon, remember him? JQP: Yeah, had that big head. KC: Big caboose too, seemed like he was always hurt. JQP: He had some big hits for the Mets, won games, I liked him. KC: He was ok, when he wasn't on the DL. I'm going to remember him most as the guy that got traded the night Sweet Caroline was finally ditched at Citi Field. * JQP: Oh snap. To Castro! KC: Ramon! * Hopeful thinking.

[Guest Edgy DC]

It's an illusion, but the back of Pedro Feliciano's card would suggest he has a tenure going back to 2002.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/felicpe01.shtml

[Benjamin Grimm]

April 2005. My first time at Shea in almost five years, and the first visit ever for my son, who was 8 at the time. Mets vs. Marlins, Pedro vs. Leiter. Castro won the game with a walk-off single.

I think that's still the last walk-off win that I've seen in person.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Blastro!

[metirish]

it still surprises me that Castro was with the Mets since 2005, was a good backup when healthy and could have been more than that.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Castro is currently in 15th place in the Schaefer Mets Player of the Century competition, one of only 16 players to have accumulated more than 100 points:

+-----------------+---------------------+
| Wright          |              534.75 |
| Beltran         |              486.22 |
| Reyes           |              447.82 |
| Delgado         |              321.46 |
| Glavine         |              261.27 |
| Martinez        |              230.85 |
| Hernandez       |              186.87 |
| Maine           |              180.74 |
| Floyd           |              174.86 |
| Santana         |              161.82 |
| Heilman         |              154.70 |
| Perez           |              153.55 |
| Pelfrey         |              126.61 |
| Lo Duca         |              122.69 |
| Castro          |              106.39 |
| Wagner          |              100.56 |
| Chavez          |               87.25 |
| Piazza          |               83.40 |
| Feliciano       |               80.84 |
| Green           |               75.90 |
+-----------------+---------------------+

[Guest Triple Dee]

I don't want to be the type of guy who writes negative things in an appreciation thread, but I'm going to be that type of guy --

It seemed Castro was most productive as a spot starting catcher or pinch hitting. When he played for a prolonged periods, it appeared he lacked the stamina (whether mental or physical).
(And I don't have an ounce of data to back-up my claims).

On the positive side, he was probably underrated in terms of his defemse

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I was at this game. As I recall the shot was off UUU

Very good hitter for a backup catcher but like a lot of bench guys, I think the Mets probably over-committed to him and it was time to move on. It was especially frustrating to see him miss large stretches of two consecutive seasons.

I don't think Santos will ever be the offensive force Castro was at his best but I'd put even money on him having the better next three months and that's what matters to the Mets now.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree with that. I'm in favor of riding Santos for as long as we can. He may fizzle out in the next week or two, but he may not. Might as well take advantage of a cheap, youngish, productive player.

[G-Fafif]

Ramon nearly brought the Mets back to life in the bottom of the first on 9/30/07 with a deep bases-loaded fly to left off Dontrelle Willis that I swore was going out. The grand slam would have made that do-or-die game 7-5 and history might have changed. But Citi Field, I'm convinced, altered the wind currents at Shea and it dropped into Cody Ross' glove and it was 7-1 and the Collapse was just a matter of innings from complete.

[G-Fafif]

="Benjamin Grimm":pje1ao89]April 2005. My first time at Shea in almost five years, and the first visit ever for my son, who was 8 at the time. Mets vs. Marlins, Pedro vs. Leiter. Castro won the game with a walk-off single.[/quote:pje1ao89] Underrated as a milestone game in Mets history by my reckoning. Ironic or fitting or a little sad -- whichever -- that Ramon is traded on the night his successor has just that kind of moment to push him out the door.

John Cougar Lunchbucket May 30 2009 08:41 AM

Mets by the Numbers is reporting that Castro leaves as the third-leading home-run hitter and run-driver-inner of all Met 11s. ]Home runs by guys who wore 11 1. Wayne Garrett 55 2. Tim Teufel 36 3. Ramon Castro 33 4 (tie). Duke Snider, Lenny Randle 7 6. Gene Woodling 5 7. Dick Schofeild 4 8 (tie). Ed Bouchee, Roy McMillan, Kelvin Chapman 3

metirish May 30 2009 08:48 AM

If he stayed on the field he probably would have been first.

soupcan May 30 2009 10:02 AM

Big-ass head.

Edgy DC May 30 2009 10:14 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on May 30 2009 10:42 AM

Mostly an infielder's number, huh? Better to have a big-ass head than to be a big ass-head.

soupcan May 30 2009 10:14 AM

="Edgy DC":2qsynsu1]Better to have a big-ass head than to be a big ass-head.[/quote:2qsynsu1] True dat. Elster88 May 30 2009 10:51 AM The first thing I think of is the almost grand slam in the last game of 2007. From my seat in the mezzanine it looked like it was gone off the bat. The second thing I think of is a gatorade cup upside down on top of his hat with a giant bubble gum bubble stuck on top, courtesy of the young prankster David. So long Blastro, I enjoyed your work. Kong76 May 30 2009 11:01 AM Three years from now at a cranepool function ... KC: We had that other Castro too, Ramon, remember him? JQP: Yeah, had that big head. KC: Big caboose too, seemed like he was always hurt. JQP: He had some big hits for the Mets, won games, I liked him. KC: He was ok, when he wasn't on the DL. I'm going to remember him most as the guy that got traded the night Sweet Caroline was finally ditched at Citi Field. * JQP: Oh snap. To Castro! KC: Ramon! * Hopeful thinking.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Mets by the Numbers is reporting that Castro leaves as the third-leading home-run hitter and run-driver-inner of all Met 11s.

]Home runs by guys who wore 11 1. Wayne Garrett 55 2. Tim Teufel 36 3. Ramon Castro 33 4 (tie). Duke Snider, Lenny Randle 7 6. Gene Woodling 5 7. Dick Schofeild 4 8 (tie). Ed Bouchee, Roy McMillan, Kelvin Chapman 3

[metirish]

If he stayed on the field he probably would have been first.

[soupcan]

Big-ass head.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Mostly an infielder's number, huh?

Better to have a big-ass head than to be a big ass-head.

[soupcan]

="Edgy DC":2qsynsu1]Better to have a big-ass head than to be a big ass-head.[/quote:2qsynsu1] True dat.

Elster88 May 30 2009 10:51 AM

The first thing I think of is the almost grand slam in the last game of 2007. From my seat in the mezzanine it looked like it was gone off the bat. The second thing I think of is a gatorade cup upside down on top of his hat with a giant bubble gum bubble stuck on top, courtesy of the young prankster David. So long Blastro, I enjoyed your work.

Kong76 May 30 2009 11:01 AM

Three years from now at a cranepool function ... KC: We had that other Castro too, Ramon, remember him? JQP: Yeah, had that big head. KC: Big caboose too, seemed like he was always hurt. JQP: He had some big hits for the Mets, won games, I liked him. KC: He was ok, when he wasn't on the DL. I'm going to remember him most as the guy that got traded the night Sweet Caroline was finally ditched at Citi Field. * JQP: Oh snap. To Castro! KC: Ramon! * Hopeful thinking.

[Elster88]

The first thing I think of is the almost grand slam in the last game of 2007. From my seat in the mezzanine it looked like it was gone off the bat. The second thing I think of is a gatorade cup upside down on top of his hat with a giant bubble gum bubble stuck on top, courtesy of the young prankster David. So long Blastro, I enjoyed your work.

[Guest Kong76]

Three years from now at a cranepool function ...

KC: We had that other Castro too, Ramon, remember him?
JQP: Yeah, had that big head.
KC: Big caboose too, seemed like he was always hurt.
JQP: He had some big hits for the Mets, won games, I liked him.
KC: He was ok, when he wasn't on the DL. I'm going to remember him most
as the guy that got traded the night Sweet Caroline was finally ditched at Citi Field. *
JQP: Oh snap. To Castro!
KC: Ramon!

* Hopeful thinking.