Castillo Wants the Job

by Sam Page on Nov 21, 2008 8:55 PM EST Comment 28 comments

I became surprised the way the fanbase turned on Castillo last year, if for no other reason than Easly is probably worse. Initially, I didn't really want him to be the secondbaseman this year because of his terrible defense. But the idea of him getting in shape has made me wonder if an in-shape Castillo could increase his range and infield singles, essentially becoming his old self.

Poll

Second chance for Castillo?

Yes

11 votes

No

16 votes

27 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I'd rather have Murphy play second

But since that’s never going to happen, if the Mets can’t find a way to trade Castillo for Javier Vazquez, I’d rather give Luis another shot than spend $50 million for five years of Orlando Hudson.

by Eric Simon on Nov 21, 2008 9:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

If Orlando Hudson's defense returned

to greatness, would you consider him worth it? I just read another “Hudson wants to play for mets” thing, so I can’t help but think silver-lining.

by Sam Page on Nov 24, 2008 7:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Castillo is garbage

Easily the worst deal Omar has made in GM tenure.

Castillo willl be out of baseball before his current contract expires. Dump him at the first chance, I say.

We've got ourselves a ball club, the Mets of New York town!

by kingcritical on Nov 21, 2008 9:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re:

Now he wants to get in shape? I appreciate the effort, but the fact that he waited around on it makes me a bit skeptical.

Who's world is it? It's yours.

by BlackOps on Nov 21, 2008 10:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts exactly

So, what were you doing this last year, Luis? Just dicking around to see if you could do the job while out of shape?

I want him out of here, however we can get that done.

'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Nov 21, 2008 11:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Correct me if I'm wrong...

CASTILLO = MARLON ANDERSON & “JACK = $HIT”

2008 SEASON STATS FOR “WORTHLESS AND MORE WORTHLESS”

CASTILLO: AVG .245, HR: 3, RBI: 28, SB: 17, AB: (298)

ANDERSON: AVG .210, HR: 1, RBI: 10, SB: 2, AB: (138)

Both of these guys are putrid. Be done w/them please.

" Don't expect any gifts this Christmas. My money is tied up in the bailout. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Nov 22, 2008 9:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

As washed-up as Castillo may seem...

His OBP was .355, higher than anybody else who played 2B for the Mets last year, as well as higher than regular starters Delgado, Church and Schneider, and comparable to Reyes (.358). Castillo takes so many walks that it’s ridiculous to look at his batting average rather than his OBP in discussing him. As a #8 hitter, you could do worse (any of our other 2B, for example). 17 SB against 2 CS isn’t such a bad thing to have on your resume either; if he played 120 games he might swipe 25 which is certainly useful at a high rate of success.

However, his defense isn’t what it used to be; if we’re willing to settle for bad defense at 2B, you could play Murphy there. I don’t know how much of that has to do with balky knees and how much has to do with general “not being in shape” (though that would beg the question of why he wasn’t in shape last year), of course. I’m not really sure how much of an opportunity he really should or will get to figure that out. If there’s a decent opportunity to get rid of him, the Mets may as well take it, but will they get one? If not, it doesn’t really make any sense to buy out the rest of his contract just to get rid of him.

by JoshNY on Nov 22, 2008 4:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry bud...

$6.25 million and all you can offer me is an OBP stat?

Forgive me for lauging (LOL!)…That ain’t gonna cut it. What else ya got?

" Don't expect any gifts this Christmas. My money is tied up in the bailout. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Nov 22, 2008 5:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sorry

That all I had to offer was the single most important statistic a batter (especially a player like Castillo whose role has always been a table-setter) can have. I recognize that I should have instead used much less important things like RBI.

by JoshNY on Nov 23, 2008 12:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't remember people bragging about this all important stat when a$$ was whiffing when we needed him most.

Look, this is a what have you done for me lately league. I understand the importance of stats. Everyone seems to have their own idea of what the most important stat is but who the hell really knows? I just don’t think OBP by itself is enough to warrant him making that much money for any length of time.

" Don't expect any gifts this Christmas. My money is tied up in the bailout. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Nov 23, 2008 9:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

forgive me for laughing (LOL)

at your post.

by Sam Page on Nov 23, 2008 8:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

look here hillbilly

i’ll reply to you after you’ve paid your dues by blogging during the year, until then…

Nuff said.

" Don't expect any gifts this Christmas. My money is tied up in the bailout. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Nov 23, 2008 9:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"Hillbilly"?

Now it’s my turn to Laugh OL.

'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Nov 23, 2008 11:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ouch

Lou is clearly upset over Phil Fullmer’s departure.

"I just want to thank you for being such a goddam prince, that's all." - Holden Caulfield

by Prince on Nov 24, 2008 1:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I recognized ol Samt's affinity for southern teams (SamT knows I'm just f'n with 'em.)

They are just up the road from Knoxville – Home of the Volunteers. Home to the team and the game that has just past Phil Fulmer by.

But I’m smart enough to love me some JETS. (See profile)

:-)

" Don't expect any gifts this Christmas. My money is tied up in the bailout. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Nov 24, 2008 7:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Luckily

I wasn’t in town for the Jets game. I promise our defense is better.

by Sam Page on Nov 24, 2008 7:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Castillo was awful last year but his decent OBP plus the fact that we can’t get rid of him means he should get another chance. Hudson is overrated and not worth the money he is seeking. Keep Luis, sign a fairly cheap closer like Hoffman or maybe Putz and spend your money on starting pitching, and outfield help.

by Endys Game on Nov 23, 2008 1:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ah yes!

Now, if we could just gift wrap OBP and give it to God, maybe he would deliver the METS a World Series or end this economic crisis.

" Don't expect any gifts this Christmas. My money is tied up in the bailout. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Nov 23, 2008 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why the hate for OBP, Lou?

The single most important thing a hitter can do when he goes to the plate is not make an out.

by JoshNY on Nov 23, 2008 7:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Aw shucks!

I don’t hate OBP. I understand its relevance in the overall scheme of things. I just don’t think it alone and of itself is enough to warrant continued service at that salary.

Now my friend, it is important not to get an out. However, it’s more important to be more productive than just getting on base. How about if he drives in a run or two? Hits a few more “dingers”, or doubles. “Just” getting on base ain’t enough for this old goat.

But believe me, I do ‘understand’ your position, however, for me, he’s lacking. And NOW the guy wants to get into shape? He should be taking a lesson from D-Murph. I think a lot of people were blogging when ol D-Murph jacked a home run and one of the announcers made a point of showing D-Murph in the dugout, within moments, studying the pitcher’s approach.

Castillo could stand to learn a thing or two from this kid.

" Don't expect any gifts this Christmas. My money is tied up in the bailout. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Nov 23, 2008 9:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I imagine

For 6.25 million you can do a lot worse than Castillo. I mean Juan Pierre makes 9 million a year, Jose Guillen makes 12.5 million. 6.25 million really isn’t that bad. The problem is more the number of years we gave him.

by Gina on Nov 23, 2008 11:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well the number of years

and the terrible defense he played last year.

by Gina on Nov 23, 2008 11:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention

The possibility of three more years of terrible defense yet to come.

'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Nov 23, 2008 11:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with this

Castillo has a decent OBP b/c he almost never swings at pitches, and the vast majority of pitchers suck so much that they don’t throw strikes to him. His .355 OBP was decent in and of itself, but his .305 slugging percentage is so far beyond pathetic that it doesn’t even merit discussion.

by cjmulrain on Nov 24, 2008 7:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Correct me if I'm wrong

But didn’t you have a job LAST year. Weren’t you paid for it? Why the hell didn’t you try your best last year?

"I got my pregnant wife (the Yankee fan) with me. Hoping my kid learns to kick her everytime the Mets score." -Schifftis-

by future on Nov 22, 2008 10:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Although I can see what value he has,

I doubt Castillo’s health is going to make a big difference in ‘09. He’s got bad knees, really bad knees, and that kind of health problem doesn’t get any better with conditioning. He’s still going to need lots of off-days, and his range is still going to suck.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Nov 22, 2008 9:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

No, no no

Taking on Luis Castillo a year ago was understandable, the Mets needed a second baseman. But signing him for 4 years? You got to be kidding me. His shoddy knees and old age are doing him in. So what does he do? Shows up to spring training in even worse condition. He spent most of this season on the DL or away from the game. Sorry, but I’m sick of Luis Castillo and the Mets and he need to part ways.

Let Murphy play second! The Mets let Pelfrey face the Majors when he was still a rook, why not let Murphy get the same baptism by fire?

by krg391 on Nov 23, 2008 8:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs