Saturday Applesauce

by Eric Simon on Aug 23, 2008 11:15 AM EDT in Applesauce

Despite recent comments to the contrary, it appears that Luis Castillo will be the starter at second base when he is activated from the disabled list tonight. Argenis Reyes has been getting the bulk of the playing time lately, though his 60 OPS+ leaves plenty to be desired (an additional 40 OPS+ or so). Castillo is nothing special, but his 88 OPS+ this season is considerably higher than Reyes. I don't think either is a spectacular fielder, though if Castillo's knees are up to the task his bat is certainly an improvement over Reyes and even Damion Easley at this point. Easley's reputation as a middle-infielder with pop hasn't really manifested itself this season; his .347 SLG is just a shade higher than Castillo's 2008 mark of .331 and is actually lower than Castillo's career SLG of .357.

Apparently chemistry, not getting solid starting pitching and scoring more runs than every NL team but the Cubs, is what has gotten the Mets to this point in the season (not to mention winning a ton of recent ballgames against terrible teams). This is just a brutal, horribly-conceived article that begs the Mets not to "tempt fate" by inserting Castillo into a lineup that has flourished without him. Conflating causality with coincidence has long been a favorite arrow in the tired sportswriting quiver, and this cage-liner by the Post's Larry Brooks is more of the same. I'm far from a Castillo supporter, but this is a little ridiculous.

Orlando Hernandez will undergo surgery to remove a bunion from his right foot. Hernandez, "39", likely won't pitch again this year or ever.

Did MLB screw the pooch by not sending its marquee ballplayers to compete for Olympic gold? Jayson Stark (nae) and Keith Law (yae) debate that question.

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So Our Anus is leaving us?

Well as much as he wasn’t spectacular at the plate I suppose you can’t argue with the way things have gone for the team while he’s been here. Guess it’s back to Castillo in the 2-hole. Ready for non-stop bunting, everyone?

I agree with Stark on the Olympic thing. For selfish reasons (a two-week break right now? Hell no) as well as pragmatic – I don’t know that bringing baseball’s best to China would have caused much of a dent in the Games compared to the other, better stories. Maybe if Matt Treanor was on the team so he and Misty May could win husband and wife gold medals. Just not worth losing two weeks of real baseball, to my mind.

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

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Aug 23, 2008 11:29 AM EDT reply actions

I'm sending that Larry Brooks article to FJM.

I’m sure others have done so already.

On another topic unrelated to the Mets, Rocco Baldelli went deep for the Rays last night. I thought the guy’s career was over this spring, and that his life might be in danger with that weird mitochondrial disorder he had. Instead, he’s back in the big leagues and hit a big HR last night. Awesome.

Vote change: DePodesta/Acta in 2009!!!

by Greenpoint Ian on Aug 23, 2008 11:35 AM EDT reply actions

Nice editorial work

Brooks slipped in the “[one-time]” before “world champion” in Jerry’s quote about Castillo. Not necessary. Bit of a dick move, eh Larry?

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

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Aug 23, 2008 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Duque's undergoing surgery NOW??

Last year it was Burgos who waited until August to get himself clean. Do sports surgeons offer a discount for late-season work?

by Simons on Aug 23, 2008 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

Olympics

We have the WBC, where countries can represent their best. Olympic baseball just isn’t needed because all countries minus Cuba and others who don’t send their best to professional ball anyway can’t put their best team out on the field. It’s not an accurate representation of baseball on the planet Earth.

Talkin' Sports

by BlackOps on Aug 23, 2008 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

WFAN is reporting

That Castillo now will not be activated for “several more days.”

So he will not be starting tonight. I’m OK with that.

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

by kingcritical on Aug 23, 2008 5:23 PM EDT reply actions

Hooray for chemistry!!

A vote for Castillo is a vote for surly, chemistry-defiling ne’erdowells!

by Eric Simon on Aug 23, 2008 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I just don't like the cut of his jib.

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

by kingcritical on Aug 23, 2008 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Thank you for not spelling it 'gib'

The jib of a sailing ship is a triangular sail set between the foretopmast head and the jib boom. Some ships had more than one jib sail. Each country had its own style of sail and so the nationality of a sailing ship, and a sailor’s consequent opinion of it, could be determined from the jib.

by Simons on Aug 23, 2008 6:24 PM EDT reply actions