Sandy Alderson Comments On Mets' Release Of Luis Castillo

by Eric Simon on Mar 18, 2011 11:41 AM EDT

Less than an hour ago, the Mets officially released Luis Castillo, a decent player who became a lightning rod for fan ire and a scapegoat for everything the Mets have done wrong in the past four years. GM Sandy Alderson commented on the release just moments ago:

"This was a baseball decision. I met with Terry (Collins) and made a recommendation to Jeff (Wilpon) and Jeff approved on behalf of ownership."

...

"In spite of the fact no one has obviously separated himself in the competition, I think we have a good-enough sense of where this is going that we want to accelerate the process. So it was important to scale the competition back a little bit."

...

"I don’t think there’s any question that there’s some linkage between his situation and a perception of the Mets that has existed to this point. That’s something that was taken into account. At some point, you have to make an organizational decision that goes beyond just an ability to play or not play. So those things are relevant. And you try not to make them so controlling that it dictates the final decision under any circumstances. Realistically, it’s a factor."

Castillo's .366 on-base percentage is the 10th-best in Mets history for players with at least 1,000 plate appearances. From the perspective of production, he was worth a roster spot on this team. For non-baseball reasons, it probably is for the best that the Mets are moving on. Castillo is one of the few remaining mistakes of the Omar Minaya administration, and I fully expect that the other big one, Oliver Perez, will be remediated in short order.

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My tweet on this decision ran like this:

After circling under him for a few moments and losing him in the lights, the #Mets have dropped Luis Castillo

by deadspy3 on Mar 18, 2011 11:43 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Our long national nightmare is over.

"I only wanted a few things out of life -- a wife, children, to play baseball and to hunt deer." - Turk Wendell

by Rey-O on Mar 18, 2011 11:43 AM EDT reply actions

I have much less hate for Luis than Ollie

I think he tried hard. He got old. And hurt. He dropped a pop up. I always found has ab’s fascinating. Taking two strikes then trying to flick the ball. I am not convinced that Emaus is ML ready, so this could be a real hole. I think Emaus will make the team, but a month into the season, we will see Emaus released and Turner takes over, with Murphy getting some pt against righties and on days when Pelf is not pitching.

by goquakers on Mar 18, 2011 11:47 AM EDT reply actions

Brad Pitt has better ab's than Luis Castillo . . .

Just Saying.

by 86_revisited on Mar 18, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Joe Sheehan says that Luis is worthy of a roster spot

I think he’s right in a vacuum, but not in our context. Castillo’s a replacement level (at worst) 2B and may even be a +1.5 WAR player for 140 games starting. Certainly a good gamble at “free.”

But he wasn’t truly a sunk cost for us. We’re hitting a bad roster crunch, assuming that Murphy is a lock to make the team as a DeRosa-type. I mean, it really boils down to Emaus (who is under team control for 6 years) or Castillo (who would have been gone after 2011 regardless).

by Dan Lewis on Mar 18, 2011 11:51 AM EDT reply actions 7 recs

I agree

I also think upside has to be taken into account when considering roster spots. To paraphrase Dennis Green, Luis Castillo is who we thought he was. He can get on base at a decent clip but has virtually no extra-base power and is a subpar defender. Moreover, with each passing year given that his hitting and speed is declining, his ability to get on base via the walk would seem to be less of a skill that he’s able to use given that pitchers have less and less of an incentive to throw him anything but a strike – if the most he can do is hit a single, why not throw it down the middle and take your chances?

Say what you want about the rest of the candidates (Hernandez aside), but they have SOME upside. They all have some power. Maybe one of them puts it together defensively, or busts out offensively. They certainly have a fighting chance of providing the same or better production than Castillo. Plus, there are the roster issues Dan mentions – keeping someone like Emaus, or even Nick Evans. The odds of our making the playoffs are slim enough that losing a player who has a shot at being good long-term aren’t worth hanging on to a guy who will provide at best mediocre production and has a well-defined ceiling.

by dontstopbelieving on Mar 18, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Evans

I was thinking about that too, but honestly, it’s incredibly cut and dried here. The Mets are going to take one of Murphy/Turner/Emaus as the 1B/2B/3B/emergency corner OF type. They’re going to also take one of those three (plus Hernandez and formerly Castillo) as a starting 2B. Five guys, two spots.

by Dan Lewis on Mar 18, 2011 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Pitchers know this.

If they could throw Castillo strikes they would.

by Brian Singer on Mar 19, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, this. So much.

The obp – which, by the way, is sure to decline drastically going forward, is not all that valuable when it comes with a low upside DH/PH who has no power and comes with the opportunity cost of longer term/higher upside players.

"The team is not for sale, in whole or in part. There is no need to sell, there is no reason to sell. There will be no sale."
-Dave Howard

by Dandy Salderson on Mar 18, 2011 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

"From the perspective of production, he was worth a spot on the team"

That is, if you ignore the fact that he has absolutely no power and plays terrible defense.

Pretending he’s still a decent player doesn’t make it true.

There is no hope.... there is no future....there is only GRISSIONZ

The 2011 Mets- Rock bottom: We haven't reached it yet

by Syler on Mar 18, 2011 11:53 AM EDT reply actions

He's probably the best 2B we have/had

It’s not fair to cherrypick his weaknesses and ignore his strengths.

But I agree that it’s incorrect to say that the release was for non-baseball reasons. It’s for non-2011 reasons. He’s the wrong guy here long-term, and we have an opportunity now to get Murphy, Emaus (hopefully), and Turner a good amount of playing time (in MLB and/or AAA) over the next few months. The marginal advantage (1 win?) of keeping Castillo isn’t worth losing playing time for those guys (or in Emaus’ case, the player himself).

by Dan Lewis on Mar 18, 2011 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs

I think his UZR was actually positive last year--2.3, iirc.

Mtw, Murphy isn’t a championship team’s solution at 2b. He’ll never be an average defender, probably won’t get close to average, and he’s just not much of a hitter. I thought Emaus had real upside, a little above average on defense and an upside of .350/.400 as a hitter. He’s not showing all of that this spring but if I had to commit to one player for 150 starts this season at 2b, it’d be Emaus. In his good years he can be a 3 WAR player. I don’t see getting that from anyone else.

by Brian Singer on Mar 19, 2011 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Murphy is perfectly adequate as a hitter (career .330 wOBA, 101 wRC+)

and you can’t know this:

He’ll never be an average defender, probably won’t get close to average

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 19, 2011 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

We may not know what Emaus is but

at this point, its in the teams best interest to find out. Luis has a great eye at the plate and can certainly take a walk but that’s about his only skill at this point. For Luis to be effective as a hitter, he needs that walk tool paired with something else, in his case speed. Unfortunately he doesn’t have much speed these days so pitchers just throw meatballs to him because the worst he’ll do is hit a single.

The guy just isn’t a threat at the plate…the OBP is nice but you need another skill to counteract it and Luis has lost that ability with age.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 18, 2011 11:55 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

he hit .235 in 2010.

with little ability to do anything other than hit grounders to 2B, the likelihood of him regaining much in BA is low, imo, and thus the corresponding likelihood of getting ob at a “good” rate is also low… this guy is an old 35/36… there’s already a lot of data on 2Bmen aging poorly/quickly… there’s no reason to think that Luis will be the anomaly.

For a team in transition, there was no reason to invest a year in a guy in obvious decline with very limited skills.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 18, 2011 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions

of course I realize

I’ve subjected myself to ridicule w/o putting my comments in the form of WAR…

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 18, 2011 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions

The bottom line is he's an OLD MAN who has MISSED 2 halves of the last 3 seasons.

If the management thought he was going to maintain decent production, then they would have kept him.

by hotspur on Mar 18, 2011 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I was about to thank you for being civil and say that i agreed

And then I saw this response. The snark is

greatly appreciated.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 18, 2011 1:19 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

you were about to be civil to me?!

that’s kinda hard to believe….

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 18, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

its Cut Day, we're all in a good mood

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 18, 2011 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 18, 2011 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

You started this one and I'll be the man and end it.

Goodbye.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 18, 2011 1:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

well, knowing the history

my comment was completely understandable.

I’m all about keeping it about baseball though… even in the extreme, allowing for opinions…

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 18, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

His BABIP was 80 points below his career avg, for what it's worth

If he gets a starting job, he’s probably a slightly below average 2B, if you think it (his AVG) can rebound. Personally, I’d be surprised if it didn’t to some degree, but I agree that he just doesn’t fit on this team.

by yellomellojello on Mar 18, 2011 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

His w/OBA was .318 in his 3 full Met seasons (not counting last 2 months of 07)

over the 3 yr stretch 08 – 10, Luis ranked 25th of 32 in ML 2Bmen who had over 1200 PAs during that period in w/OBA… just for kicks, the mean was .345… Luis, .318….

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 18, 2011 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Going from lightning fast

to painfully slow will obviously impact your babip. Its not like he going to beat out grounders to third base anymore.

"The team is not for sale, in whole or in part. There is no need to sell, there is no reason to sell. There will be no sale."
-Dave Howard

by Dandy Salderson on Mar 18, 2011 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, but that's still a huge BABIP drop

He did hit .302 in 2009 and .280 total in ‘09 and ’10, it’s not like 300 PA in 2010 proves that he’s lost the ability to keep slapping it over the SS’s head.

I’m happy to see him gone, but he could probably still be a reasonably decent bench guy for someone.

by psiogen on Mar 18, 2011 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

profiles as a poor

bench player since he can’t play anywhere beside 2B.

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 18, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

He cant really play 2B either

"The team is not for sale, in whole or in part. There is no need to sell, there is no reason to sell. There will be no sale."
-Dave Howard

by Dandy Salderson on Mar 18, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Lots of guys get jobs despite the fact that they profile as poor bench players

by psiogen on Mar 18, 2011 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not seeing it.

His only viable slot is versus lefties, and he can only play 2b. The only time you can use a guy like that is when you go to expanded rosters in September.

by Brian Singer on Mar 19, 2011 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

my god the day just got better now that this is official

whats the opposite of disappoint? im that.

its a good day for us mets fans. Boomer….your half right. C’mon Sandy drop the hammer on Lollie!

I hate Philadelphia so much.

by the caveman on Mar 18, 2011 12:01 PM EDT reply actions

Rubin just said Beltran got a cortisone shot in his left knee

Bad comes with the good I suppose

There is no hope.... there is no future....there is only GRISSIONZ

The 2011 Mets- Rock bottom: We haven't reached it yet

by Syler on Mar 18, 2011 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm viewing Beltran as a former Met at this point

If he returns as a productive player, that’s just a nice bonus.

"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Mar 18, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

i assumed that was going to happen when tron came up gimpy

i dont expect to see full strength beltran till june

I hate Philadelphia so much.

by the caveman on Mar 18, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Well if he starts the season on the DL maybe we keep Evans

by Stephen Schmidt on Mar 18, 2011 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

who?

I hate Philadelphia so much.

by the caveman on Mar 18, 2011 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

He received it on the beach in Rincon

Perez and Castillo are still Mets.

by Mookes7 on Mar 18, 2011 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions

so long and thanks for all the Slaps

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 18, 2011 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

Godspeed

Slappy McContract.

Oh, the butcher and the baker and the people on the street: wheredotheygo?!?!? Right here: http://myentireteam.wordpress.com/

by CharlieH on Mar 18, 2011 12:05 PM EDT reply actions

like it!

by ThnkGoodnessforHowieRose on Mar 18, 2011 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

amaro's already got him signed up

so now we give chartiatble contribution towards their 5th straight NL East crown. and you know he’ll be decent for them. sheesh. we shoulda kept him only to keep him out of their hands.

by metfan69 on Mar 18, 2011 12:15 PM EDT reply actions

the mets should just concern themselves with themselves.

they are not going to beat out the Phils this year. They have to find anew identity. And a new marketability. Having Luis around would only hold them back.

by jdon on Mar 18, 2011 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah i guess we should just bend over for them until we have a new marketability

by metfan69 on Mar 18, 2011 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

is it better we don't bother improving our team just to not let the Phillies have an ancient second baseman

with no power or fielding ability?

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 18, 2011 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions

No?

I’m a little confused

by hotspur on Mar 18, 2011 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

metsfan seems to be suggesting it hurts the phillies more to keep Castillo so they can't have him

than to get rid of him so we can find some better younger players more capable of the position

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 18, 2011 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

it was the way you phrased the question

three negatives in a row makes me have to think

by hotspur on Mar 18, 2011 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

sorry, i'll remember to use 4 from now on

even numbers are easier right?

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 18, 2011 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

i would agree with you if our alternatives were an improvement

but they are not not not an improvement. AT BEST if we get lucky (the mantra for the ’11 season is “hmm maybe we can get lucky and have a respectable team”) they are equal. when comparing the alternative of get rid of him for the perception and handing them a free solution for their problem, i find handing them a free solution to be very distasteful.

by metfan69 on Mar 18, 2011 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Castillo is no solution to ANYONE'S problem

let alone trying to repalce Utley.

Oh, the butcher and the baker and the people on the street: wheredotheygo?!?!? Right here: http://myentireteam.wordpress.com/

by CharlieH on Mar 18, 2011 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

shhhh don't tell the philies

it would be hilarious if they didn’t realize

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 18, 2011 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Seriously

Castillo is a really good second baseman,

and I'm shocked that the Mets released him.

I just hope that the Phillies don't sign him.

"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Mar 18, 2011 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

yeah

That would be catastrophic for us

The disappointment in seeing him in a Phillies uniform would be palpable

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 18, 2011 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

we should do an entire gamethread

in sarcasm font

A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.

by fxcarden on Mar 18, 2011 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions

you mean everything we say would ahve to be sarcastic

man that would be a biting and edgy gamethread

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 18, 2011 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Syler

There is no hope.... there is no future....there is only GRISSIONZ

The 2011 Mets- Rock bottom: We haven't reached it yet

by Syler on Mar 18, 2011 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

u miss the point

of course he’s not going to replace utley. we are handing them our band aid while we continue to bleed. u guys are all delusional if u think any of that garbage will be more productive. close ur eyes on opening day when the number 2 batter for the marlins comes to the plate and hanley ramirez slides into murphy trying to turn a double play.

by metfan69 on Mar 18, 2011 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I love how much flack Murph gets for being injured on a horrendously dirty takeout slide

that i’m pretty sure would have taken out many more proficient second basemen than him. Also The reason castillo doesn’t have to worry about that is because he cant range enough to get to second base anymore. He’s also old, and not going to get better. He can’t hit the ball out of the infield, and he can’t run fast enough to beat out an infield hit. Even if you don’t like Murph, Turner is still a good option (and a natural second baseman which should assuage your ridiculous fears about injuries on double plays).

As for giving the Phillies a band-aid, it’s more like we’re giving them a smallpox-infested blanket. It looks good if you have no idea whats going on.

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 18, 2011 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs

hey keiths

i just heard about this great investment opportunity. something something madoff fund. maybe u and jeff (maybe u r jeff) can look into that since u seem to be drinking the wilpon juice.

by metfan69 on Mar 18, 2011 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

hey metfan

I just heard about this new thing called not being a douchebag to people trying to engage in civil discourse. It’s a thing that grownups do that makes you not look like an asshole whos incredibly well thought out and witty opinions and comments will be widely ignored. Give it a try, I’ll bet you’ll like it…. you know on second though, you probably won’t.

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 18, 2011 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 9 recs

Well said sir

Squeezed to Song and Bendtner and Song and Nasri oh lovely lovely lovely!
-Peter Drury, the one time his commentating has ever been acceptable.

by Aidan Gibson on Mar 18, 2011 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions

thank you sir

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 19, 2011 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions

We're handing them our band aid, sure.

The problem is that they have a gunshot wound. The bandaid isn’t going to do a damn thing for that.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 18, 2011 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Castillo can't field, can't hit for power, and is 36 years old

you really don’t think any of the guys we have will be a better investment of time than that?

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 18, 2011 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

What are you talking about?

This team isn’t a 90 win team. They’re not a legitimate playoff contender. Why keep a old 2B who will give you marginal returns over players who have upside. Murphy, Emaus, and Turner have upside (however limited it might be in some cases).

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 18, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

We can only hope Ruben Amaro's that stupid.

"And that's why anybody who invested with Lenny Dykstra should really call that number. Lawyers are standing by."

by BobbyV_Incognito on Mar 18, 2011 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't hate Luis. I hate Omar for giving him a sick contract.

I still remember how the papers said Santana was angry about Castillo going to the mets. Apparently they were close. I have always believed that Omar overpaid to keep Luis as an enticement for Santana to sign here. No proof. Just a belief. But a dumbass like Omar just might do something like this.

by jdon on Mar 18, 2011 12:18 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

very much right jdon.

except why it took the new regime this long is beyond me, EVERYONE knew his skills were degenerating…

"Fantasy, reality, science Fiction. Which is which? Who can tell?"

by feslenraster on Mar 18, 2011 3:12 PM EDT reply actions

Of all the Mets

We can say that he was one of them. On a team that was told to hack, Luis never did. Sure, he never had any power, dropped a catch. But the man never gave up. He wasn’t an asshole like some (cougholliecough).
Best of luck, Luis.

Squeezed to Song and Bendtner and Song and Nasri oh lovely lovely lovely!
-Peter Drury, the one time his commentating has ever been acceptable.

by Aidan Gibson on Mar 18, 2011 4:24 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs