Ramon Castro's Greatest Hits

by James Kannengieser on May 31, 2009 12:00 AM EDT Comment 67 comments

Plenty has already been said about the Ramon Castro situation, so I won't pile on. Despite his injury issues, Castro was a valuable backup for the Mets and he deserves some kind of tribute. Here it is, Castro's top 10 most valuable Mets plate appearances according to WPA (via Fangraphs). Format inspired by this post:

10. 7/21/05
Play: 2-run homer off Jake Peavy in the 5th inning
WPA: .168
Game Result: Mets 12, Padres 0

Castro's home run gave the Mets a 3-0 lead, and Peavy surrendered 7 runs in 5 innings. Kaz Ishii was the winning pitcher, allowing 9 baserunners but no runs in 6 innings.

9. 9/22/07
Play: 3-run homer off Byun-Hyun Kim in the 4th inning
WPA: .188
Game Result: Mets 7, Marlins 2

2007 was by far Castro's best season, and the September collapse was not his fault. He hit .308/.400/.769 in limited plate appearances that month.

8. 6/16/07
Play: 2-run homer off Tyler Clippard in the 4th inning
WPA: .189
Game Result: Mets 8, Yankees 11

The only game on this list that resulted in a Mets loss, Tom Glavine got shelled in 4 awful innings of work at Yankee Stadium.

7. 8/1/07
Play: 3-run homer off Claudio Vargas in the 2nd inning
WPA: .192
Game Result: Mets 8, Brewers 5

Marlon Anderson and Shawn Green also tagged home runs. Life was good after this one, as the Mets had a 3.5 game lead in the standings.

6. 7/20/08
Play: 2-run homer off Edinson Volquez in the 3rd inning
WPA: .194
Game Result: Mets 7, Reds 5

This blast gave the Mets the lead in the 3rd inning, but they fell behind in the 6th. However, despite the lack of team-wide grission, a 10th inning rally ended in a W.

5. 7/1/08
Play: 2-run double off Todd Wellemeyer in the 4th inning
WPA: .206
Game Result: Mets 7, Cardinals 4

Castro's double tied the game, and the Mets took the lead for good in the next inning. Mets pitchers held Albert Pujols to just 1 hit in 4 at-bats, obviously because of the brilliant game called by their catcher.

4. 8/20/05
Play: 3-run homer off Livan Hernandez in the 2nd inning
WPA: .231
Game Result: Mets 9, Nationals 8

David Wright and Jose Reyes also homered in this wild one, which saw the Mets bullpen give up 8 runs in the 7th-9th innings. Chris Woodward hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th to send everyone home happy.

3. 7/9/08
Play: 3-run homer off Jonathan Sanchez in the 4th inning
WPA: .285
Game Result: Mets 5, Giants 0

This game was in the middle of a 10 game winning streak which saw the Mets pick up 5.5 games in the standings. Aaron Heilman, Duaner Sanchez, and Joe Smith combined to pitch 4 hitless innings to close it out.

2. 4/16/05
Play: RBI single off Guillermo Mota in the 9th inning
WPA: .396
Game Result: Mets 4, Marlins 3

A walk-off single vs. the hated Mota: awesome.

1. 8/30/05
Play: 3-run homer off Ugueth Urbina in the 8th inning
WPA: .546
Game Result: Mets 6, Phillies 4

The single greatest plate appearance of Castro's Met career completed a come from behind victory over the Phillies.

To Hippo, Darth Catcher, Blastro, or whatever else they call you - stay healthy in Chicago and make the Mets "brain trust" look ridiculous by having a nice season.

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nice send off

thanks for the memories.

by wobatus on May 31, 2009 12:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Salute

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 31, 2009 12:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I know it's not really the point of this post

but I would love to see one of these for Mike Piazza, amongst others. How far back do WPA stats go, and how hard was it to compile Castro’s top 10…if it’s not too hard maybe I’ll do a fanpost if anyone else is interested

by cjmulrain on May 31, 2009 1:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great idea

Maybe a future off-day series

by James Kannengieser on May 31, 2009 4:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

HEAD...

pants!

I.M. Forme
"When you get yourself into trouble is when you feel you have to do something, and then you get yourself in trouble." --Omar Minaya

by itsmetsforme on May 31, 2009 1:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice post

I’m a pretty big Castro fan (and my wife is downright distraught today, “why would they trade shrek?”). How can you not dig a back-up catcher with big fly potential? I don’t understand going on with Schneider and Santos, but I’m sure that’s been covered. Good luck with the Sox. Try not to make eye contact with Pyrzienski (sp?).

by HotChipWillBreakYourLegs on May 31, 2009 2:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ramon was a good man

i will miss him. and his big friggin head.

All of the mets fans hope that we will not see the bad news mets ever again.

by kendynamo on May 31, 2009 3:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I turned on the ChiSox/KC game yesterday

They were sporting the throwbacks…

Steve Stone goes, “Ramon Castro is a BIG man; I mean, a really big man.”

"Those who fear disorder more than injustice inevitably produce more of both." -- Rev. William Coffin

by dcrockett17 on May 31, 2009 9:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Brilliant

What a great list. He was Mike Piazza. We’ll surely miss such production and he is a god next to Omir Santos. That 8th inning jack off Urbina was surely the highlight of his career.

Later Castro.

The 2009 NY Mets: WE GOT K-ROD! OMG, Putz, too! Sign Lowe! Lowe's a Brave. Sign Manny! Tim Redding, WTF? Sign Manny! Sheets or Perez? SHEETS! Perez?? Oh, Sheets is hurt -- good job, Minaya! WTF?! SIGN MANNY!

by ZaBlanc on May 31, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yes

I remember that blast off of Urbina. The Mets and Phils were fighting for the division/WC at the time and it was an absolutely huge win. I remember jumping around my apartment like crazy.

Somehow, a chain of events unfolded that put Steve Phillips in a professional broadcast booth Sunday night so he could rip Carlos Beltran. Try to explain that in any other terms.

by Greenpoint Ian on May 31, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Funny that Omir Santos has a better WPA plate appearance in 2 months...

than Castro’s best in 5 years with the team. Not bad for a “Minor Leaguer”. Just sayin’.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on May 31, 2009 11:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, THAT convinces me.

He must be a better player. Jeez, man, at least don’t ruin this thread, where we’re simply remembering Castro’s impact with the team, and not arguing over who’s better.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 31, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Castro spent 21% of his time with the Mets on the DL.

With backups at any position, durability is as important as production. We’ve seen starts by enough catchers that are pushing 40 in the last several seasons due to Ramon’s inability to stay healthy for me. Don’t get me wrong, I thought he was the best we had when he was healthy, but at some point you just come to expect that he can’t stay in the lineup. With the injury situatuion the way it is now, and the way it has affected the outcome of the last two seasons, I think durability has to be a plus for Santos.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, durability in like less than two months...

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 31, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't realize that staying healthy in the minor leagues didn't count...

I guess you should just discount the fact that he’s never been close to as prone to injury as Ramon since it happed in the minor’s.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's also never been close to

as good a hitter as Castro, either. Even though it happened in the minors, it still counts. I’ll take the better all-around player over the more durable guy whose ceiling is mediocrity.

by BobbyV_Incognito on May 31, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ceiling?

Castro doesn’t have much of a ceiling left…he’s definately at the age where expecting decline from a catcher is reasonable. It’s even more reasonable when you consider he’s a 250+ lb catcher with an injury history. If the Mets kept Ramon, what are the odds Jerry would have played him over Schnieder anyway? At least with Santo’s, we’re getting a decent look to see if he’s a cheap, serviceable backup catcher. There’s basically zero chance Ramon was getting resigned for next season, so why not at least add a little depth to the minor league system for him while they can.

Alou and Floyd put up great numbers when they were healthy, but with both of those guys the Mets would have been better served in the long run by having slightly less production but much greater stability.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But he isn't a serviceable backup.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 31, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't it a little bit of a small sample size

to make that judgement? Give the guy a chance…all he’s done is produce so far this season.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then what am I seeing with my own 2 eyes? A mirage?

This conversation is pointless….check back with me in 3 months.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on May 31, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 31, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you realize

that since 2004 Ramon missed 261 regular season games on the DL? Who know how many more he missed becasue the Mets couldn’t decide whether or not to place him on the DL. Also since 2004, he has a total of 214 at bats in August and September. 2005 was the only year that he didn’t miss over half of the final two months with injury. Catcher’s his size can’t play a full season without breaking down, and Ramon’s history does nothing but prove that point. Odd’s are good, looking at Castro’s history, that Santos would be spending the majority of the last two months in the bigs. At least this way we got another pitcher to add to the mix.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hold up.

You can make the argument for trading Castro. But trading Castro and paying his whole salary, for a has-been prospect? Even Santos supporters disagreed with that.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 31, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

I’m digging the 3 GWRBI in 7 days though. I don’t know how that can be argued with at this point in time.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on May 31, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't like paying his whole salary

and I never once said that. I wouldn’t call Broadway a has been quite yet either. I can think of plenty of very good pitchers that didn’t have it all figured out by the time they were 25. Jeremy Guthrie, Heath Bell, Matt Lindstrom, Jason Vargas, John Maine…all of these guys were highly rated prospects at one point and saw huge drops in their stocks with early struggles. Don’t write off Broadway just yet. I’m not saying he’s going to be a great pitcher, or even a good one, but there is definately a chance. There was something that scouts saw that made him a first rounder and a highly rated prospect, and guys CAN put it together after 25. If nothing else, he’s added AAA pitching depth as the tade deadline approaches. The Padres thought highly enough of him to ask fo him in the Peavy deal that got nixed. I’d say it’s a fair guess that he has some value at the least.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Broadway was a through in.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 31, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Broadway was a throw in"

And your source for that is??? Poreda and Richard were marginal value at best, I’d say Broadway must have had some value.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My source for that is that Broadway was the third best prospect in the deal, as ranked by practically every prospect org. He's 25 years old.

I’m not saying he doesn’t have value, and I guess “throw in” isn’t really fair. But still, he isn’t exactly a fair return for Blastro, especially when we pay the whole contract.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 31, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Every team wants to see ML ready pitching added to any deal...

Broadway is just that…ML ready, capable of starting on a lousy team and showing some return for a trade. With the prospects the mets have to trade, a guy like Broadway could certainly be a piece in a trade at the deadline.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eh.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 31, 2009 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

John Maine

was “just a throw in” too. So was that other guy who had a good season and a half and we should have left it at that.

by cjmulrain on May 31, 2009 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There's plenty of pitchers who are good prospects

but just don’t develop as their first organization had hoped. 25 is not to late for a pitcher to put things together.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

On a lousy team

Which the Mets aren’t. Great, we picked up someone who could start on the Nationals. I don’t think Omar is stockpiling prospects for a Nick Johnson trade.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Jun 1, 2009 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The same could be said of John Maine several years ago

Jeremy Guthrie, Jason Vargas, Wandy Rodriguez, Zack Grienke, Zack Duke, and Gavin Floyd are all guys who were once highly touted, but took longer than expected to develop. It happens, it may not be the case with Broadway, but it does happen. Having him as depth in AAA certainly doesn’t hurt. He doesn’t have to be a piece in a trade, but having him in the system helps if guys like Gee or Niese are traded.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on Jun 1, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I said nothing of the sort, just a simple statement.

I’m not arguing over who is better because there is no argument. Castro has had the better career obviously and will be missed.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on May 31, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, a whole 2 months of PA?

Dude, small sample size. Just sayin’.

by BobbyV_Incognito on May 31, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

All I said was it took him 2 months to have a bigger singlular impact than Ramon did in 5 years.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on May 31, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Luck.

Essentially, the Legend of Omir Santos is based on 3 at-bats.

by BobbyV_Incognito on May 31, 2009 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

3 at-bats which have come in a month and a half...

Judging by the content of the post, Ramon’s legend appears to be a walk off single, a walk off HR, and a bunch of HR’s in the 5th inning or earlier. In a month and a half Santos already has a top three that would easily match, if not surpass, Ramon’s. Castro had 4 years to build up his resume’.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But do three moments a career make, or even a season? Of COURSE not.

C’mon man, you’re better than this, haha. You know all this.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 31, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm just saying that no one will give this guy credit because of the assumption that he is destined to fail.

I’m not comparing his career to Ramon’s career in any way.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on May 31, 2009 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's more that he has no minor league track record.

His stats in the minor’s have never been good. I agree with that. He’s played very well in his time with the Mets, and had big at bats in big moments. He seems to be a very good fit with the team. Castro hit for some power, but what else did he do that well? He’s got an OK arm, and he’s ok behind the plate. His average and OBP are nothing special, and he run’s like a parapylegic turtle. Ramon has proven to be a serviceable backup, Santos is doing so now. None of the three catchers we had were ideal starters. I’d rather we traded one of them for a pitcher with options than just release one.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're right that beyond this season, I hope none of them are on the 25 man roster ideally.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 31, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd love to see Santos keep this up.

Then we’re only looking for one catcher, and not forcing Thole up too soon. If Santos can be a stopgap as a backup catcher, he’ll certainly be cheaper than most other options.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Valentin>Santos, even now.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 31, 2009 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No way

I understand it that you don’t like Santos, but the guy has been coming up big in the wake of all these injuries. No way Valenin is a better option.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Valentin was 1.8 WAR with the Reds a few years ago in 200 something PAs

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 31, 2009 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A few years ago...

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Paul LoDuca was starting for us then

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Still, look what Valentin's hitting in AAA right now

as compared to Santos.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on May 31, 2009 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I liked what I saw from Santos today.

And recently.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on May 31, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You think Valentin would come up and do what Santos has done?

I find that hard to believe. The guy has flat gotten the job done.

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on May 31, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

15% LD in the minors.

Almost 30% LD in his hot streak.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Jun 1, 2009 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So he's hiting the ball well

We can all see that just by watching.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on Jun 1, 2009 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What the rest of us can see

is that he can’t possibly keep this up. He’s hitting better than he ever has in his career with a LD rate double what he did in more than 2400 minor league ABs. This isn’t going to last, and when it ends, we’ll have a catcher who can’t hit or field very well.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Jun 1, 2009 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I haven't seen a problem with his fielding.

Just by what I’ve seen, he is at least as good as Ramon.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on Jun 1, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LD rate is something that regresses to the mean.

You can’t really improve it too much.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Jun 1, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LD% is largely a function of pitch recognition and Swing mechanics

If Omir is selective and continues to swing with a level swing, he is going to have a higher LD% than his career norms. Omir can’t impove his height, that’s outside of his control. LD% is a measure of his performance, and that CAN be improved. Any alteration in swing mechanics will likely result in a change in LD%.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on Jun 1, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Considering how much of a hacker he is,

I doubt his mechanics have really improved at all.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Jun 1, 2009 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

His hacking has improved

He’s swinging at a lower % of pitches, walking at a higher rate, and striking out less. Because of this, his contact rate is up. Looking at these factors, it’s very feasible to think that his LD% should improve.

"If I ever decide to do a book, I've already got the title...The bases were loaded and so was I."

-Jim Fregosi

by Schmidtxc on Jun 1, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs