31
2010
From Left Field: A Possible Solution To The Luis Castillo Dilemma
An article by 
Despite the gripes of Mets fans, Luis Castillo will at the very least be in spring training this season vying for the starting second base job that he once possessed.
He no longer has the range of his younger self and has also lost a step or two on the basepaths.
But the one thing about Castillo to keep in mind is that he is 
owed a ton of money in the final year of his contract. Omar Minaya signed Luis to a four-year deal after the 2007 season.
Part of the reason was to lock up a familiar face for Johan Santana. Santana and Castillo had been teammates, albeit briefly, in Minnesota.
What’s done is done, and you can’t change the past. In my last article about shaping the Mets 2011 bench, I constructed the bench with the assumption that Castillo would be the starting second baseman.
Now, obviously I nor do many know what will happen during spring training and beyond this season. But since there aren’t exactly teams lining up for Castillo’s services and he is owed a good chunk of cash, maybe the Mets would best be served letting Luis play out the final year of his contract in a starting role.
Personally, I think Castillo should have been sent packing awhile ago. After he hit .302 two seasons ago, there must have been some team willing to trade for him, assuming the Mets paid some of his contract.
I know I’m bound to be attacked for this proposal, but the following might be a situation in which the Mets can get the most out of Castillo.
If Castillo happens to show enough to win the second base job and if he proves he at least somewhat has his legs back, the Mets should consider hitting him ninth in the order. That’s right, hit Castillo after the pitcher.
Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa has had some success with this in the past, more so though because his pitchers could actually hit a little.
The Mets would do it for a different reason. Though Castillo in his prime was best suited as a No. 2 hitter, Angel Pagan has solidified that spot in the order. In my mind, hitting Castillo eighth is useless.
Despite his flaws, the man can still bunt very well and is a decent base-runner. However, the idea of having him in the ninth spot wouldn’t be to move runners over. That’s the pitcher’s job.
Castillo would serve as a second leadoff man. If the pitcher makes the last out of an inning, the Mets would have Castillo, Reyes and Pagan in that order. That combination of speed and bunting ability could set up the Mets with some great scoring chances. It would then be up to Wright, Beltran and Bay to drive them in, which is a completely different can of worms.
Naturally, having the pitcher hit eighth would mean that the pitcher’s spot would come to the plate more often. It’s definitely a risk and something that doesn’t need to be employed every game, unless it’s working of course.
And again, this is only a suggestion in trying to make the most out of the parts we have. If Murphy, Emaus or Turner wins the second base job, I would feel more comfortable batting him seventh or eighth and not ninth.
I wonder if Terry Collins has at least pondered this scenario with Castillo. Yes it’s risky, but it can also be a way to give some value back to a former All-Star caliber player.
Happy New Year everyone! Let’s hope for some Mets success in 2011.
About the Author: Jim Mancari
Jim Mancari hails from Massapequa, N.Y. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Journalism at Hofstra University, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2012. He is a devout Mets fan and takes pride in his team, despite their lack of success over the last few years. Like all Mets fans, Jim has plenty of hope. He also writes as the sports correspondent for the Brooklyn Tablet newspaper, the senior editor of metroBASEBALL Magazine and the co-managing editor of the Long Island Report website. Contact Jim at jmmanc@gmail.com. Click my name to view my website.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 26 | 17 | .605 | - |
| Nationals | 25 | 17 | .595 | 0.5 |
| Marlins | 23 | 19 | .548 | 2.5 |
| Mets | 22 | 20 | .524 | 3.5 |
| Phillies | 21 | 22 | .488 | 5.0 |
Last updated: 05/22/2012
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I was never one for the LaRussa strategy of batting the pitcher eighth, but I’m intrigued by your argument is doing it when Castillo is in the lineup. You convinced me that it would be worth giving it a shot. Considering our struggle to score runs, if Castillo does make the team out of spring training, and I expect he will, this could make him a little bit more palatable.
well, in BB terms, he is no longer owed a “ton” of money. More than he is worth at 6mill, but not hugely out of line. And most likely movable by eating 1/2 or so.
I think most likely he is off the team. Well, maybe wishful thinking, since I really can’t stand him on the team anymore!
and if you are thinking LT too, then it makes no sense to waste the roster spot and PT over a guy that might be around adding value for a few more years. They also have the minor issue of identifying a replacement 2B for 2012+. And of course, there is still the question of whether the Mets are looking to contend or retool in 2011.
He may end up in the ST mix if they can’t trade him first, but hopefully one or more of the other options beat him out, and he gets moved for a few spare parts.
I understand the hitting 9th logic, but I don’t expect it to happen, since with Johan out only dickey is really a good hitting pitcher (unless neise does more with the bat than I remember!)
Oh, and ollie either needs to start or be gone, since I can’t see him being on the bench.
If nothing else, removing Ollie and Luis sends a message (throws a bone?) to the fans that there really is a new way of doing things in place.
The possibility that Murphy, Emaus or Turner cannot play 2B is a very real one. Hopefully one or more than one will be able to handle 2B for at least a year but giving away a guy who can at least handle most of the defensive requirements without KNOWING and SEEING for yourself how the above mentioned three will do doesn’t make any sense.
Luis does get OB fairly well but that skill is completely negated when there are runners OB already due to the fact that many of his hits are of the infield variety and therefore would just turn into force plays. That’s why he sac bunts so often with runners on.
When or if Luis played 2B he certainly should be hitting 9th and the only exception would be if Collins sought to employ the hit and run with Luis at the plate. Castillo already hits the ball on the ground 2 times out of three without the H+R on and against a sinker ball pitcher and trying to stay on top of the ball and with his good contact skills could easily open some games for us 1st and 3rd no one out.
Of course Jose would have to be able to get OB first (.318 vs RHP) but perhaps against LHP it could be given a shot. Other than that I agree 9th would be the most productive spot in the order for Castillo but obviously I’m hoping for Emaus/Murphy/Turner to come through for the next couple of years and Havens/Tejada down the road and maybe some other real candidates to follow them up from the minors.
We should be open to try new things, whats the worst that can happen?He is not as dead as Ollie is, and maybe can show some worth. Focus only on his good points and use them. I believe in give them enough rope and they will hang themselves, but they are using up roster space, and then the question is? thats the best team we can put on the field?
Love the Mets.
I dont know the exact number but LaRussa has quite a few division titles and World Series rings. If he bats the pitcher 8th maybe more managers should follow his lead.
very well said
i’ll go out on a limb: no way either Castillo or Ollie Perez will be on the team opening day, because both make the team weaker and i do not believe the new regime would tolerate the insanity of playing 23 guys against other teams’ 25-man rosters.
i may be proved wrong, but that’s my gut…
Bob L I think you are right. Terry or Sandy dont want a player who the fans hate and is not a good locker room mate. They also want more than 1 HR at 2nd base each year.
Thanks Jerry M. i could be proved wrong and have been on many things! But, i highly doubt the new regime would go into the season, ‘short’ 2 players, particularly given the fact that the Phillies, Braves, Nats, and Marlins have all made moves to upgrade their teams this off season.
Hey, I was referred to your blog and I bookmarked it! Feel free to check out my seo website as well!
We need to remember that Castillo has had a very good major league career and is on the verge of 2,000 career hits, I’d be very surprised if he couldn’t beat out the career minor leaguers he’s in competition with.
Problem is Bryan, he’s become a defensive liability and 85% of his 1889 career hits have been singles, with that ratio deteriorating to 88% of his hits since 2008. Again, i highly doubt he’s on the team on opening day.
you also have to look at the big picture of building the team, for 2011 and beyond. And for sure, Luis is not here after 2011 no matter what. so, if they can get equivalent output (say by WAR) from a young guy that might be part of the future (likely more O, less reliable but better range D), it makes sense to do it instead of giving a bunch of ABs to a very limited old guy on his way out.
A bad idea to consider Castillo as hitting ninth even if he were to make the opening day roster. Doing that would then be dropping a potential .300 hitter like Josh Thole and a 30 home run guy like Ike Davis into the 7th and 8th spots in the lineup. As it is one of them is going to hit 7th anyway!
The reality is that Castillo most likely will not be here this year and that the team will be eating his contract along with Ollies!
actually it would push them both UP 1 slot. Castillo 9th, pitcher 8th.
If you bat castillo 8th instead, it just flips the pitcher with him. And if he hits (God forbid) 2nd, then the real hitters get pushed down one, and in your case, Thole drops to 8.