 As Dirty reported earlier on TRDMB, Ramon ‘The Chin’ Castro was traded late Friday night to the White Sox for 25 yr. old RHP, Lance Broadway. The Mets will also pay a portion of Castro’s remaining contract.
 So let’s meet Mr. Broadway…
 Per Wikipedia, (Damn, they’re fast. They make a Mustang GT look like Grandma’s 1979 Volvo.)
High school and college
Broadway attended Grand Prairie High School, where he was an all-district performer all three of his years on the varsity team. He transferred from Grand Prairie after his junior year and attended Waxahachie High. He played with former high-school All-State player Ben Hudspeth, but the team lost in the first round of the playoffs that year.
Broadway then went on to pitch for Dallas Baptist University, and major in communications, where he earned all-conference honors both years he pitched for the Patriots. He threw two no-hitters as a freshman and as a sophomore went 10-2 with a 2.82 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 108 innings pitched.
After two seasons with Dallas Baptist, Broadway transferred to Texas Christian University. He went 15-1 with a 1.62 ERA and 151 strikeouts in 117 innings pitched. This remarkable season earned him both the Conference USA‘s pitcher of the year and male athlete of the year awards.
Major League Baseball Draft (2005)
Broadway was selected 15th overall (the 4th pitcher taken in the 1st round) by the Chicago White Sox in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed for $1,570,000.
Minor leagues
2006
Going into the season, Broadway was considered the 8th best prospect in the White Sox system. He combined to go 8-8 with a 2.75 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 160.1 innings pitched between the Double-A Birmingham Barons and Triple-A Charlotte Knights.
2007
Entering the season, Broadway went all the way up to the 3rd best prospect in the White Sox system. Broadway finished the 2007 season at 8-9 with a 4.65 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 155.0 innings pitched.
2009
On May 29, 2009, Broadway was traded to the New York Mets for backup catcher Ramon Castro. Broadway, who is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in 8 games this season, was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo.
 Per Sox Machine,
Lance Broadway didn’t have a spot on the White Sox. Duane Shaffer’s penultimate first-round pick can officially be classified as a bust, a guy who just didn’t have enough stuff to survive in the American League, especially at U.S. Cellular Field.
39 comments
QnsNative718
5/30/2009-2:45am at 2:45 am (UTC -4)
Citi Field aint Cellular Field…
rustyjr
5/30/2009-6:47am at 6:47 am (UTC -4)
Yeah shea stadium part deux is cavernous compared to cellular btw and shouldn’t u be asleep? LOL
QnsNative718
5/30/2009-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
Call me… The Night Stalker. (Wow, that was creepy.)
rustyjr
5/30/2009-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
lol u look more like dart man lol
fongy2
5/30/2009-8:07am at 8:07 am (UTC -4)
Good morning fellas!
Busy,busy night!
Had no idea what happened
with the game until about
3 in the AM.
Great,great Win!
This “B” squad really showing
alot of heart!,guts!,moxie!!!
Joking! But really,great Win!
Although I called it yesterday,
also surprised hearing Shrek
is now a WhiteSox.
Doing some quick checking
(’cause I don’t think I’ve ever seen
Broadway although I grew up 3 blocks
from there) read a couple scouting
reports on him.Says hes not a real hard thrower(86-80) BUT has a “plus”
MLB Curve and Pitches to contact.
A control Pitcher who sometimes has
trouble with his control.That part
don’t sound too good. Been bounced
around a little by the Sox and may
be more a reliever than a Starter
BUT hasn’t been used much as a
reliever.Huh?!,yeah I know!!
Well couldn’t hurt to have another
fmr 1st round arm in the system,
Lord knows its better than having
a Lima,Gonzalez,Soler or Park waiting
in case of 911.Not great though that
we’re gonna pay Shreks salary BUT
maybe this is a precursor to something else with the Sox?
Hello Konerko or Dye??
Anyway, good move by Omar.
Jeez,did I just say that?
At this point I’d rather have Santos
or either Valentin(who I’ve always liked) OR even Rivera (whos now healthy) than Shrek.
I’d like to wish him well BUT I don’t
think he ever apologized to the woman
he raped in 2003 in Pittsburgh.This
as a married man. Nice guy?, NOT!
trs86
5/30/2009-9:03am at 9:03 am (UTC -4)
OK, what about 2008 here?
wannybackstra
5/30/2009-9:06am at 9:06 am (UTC -4)
Broadway was rushed bigtime by the Sox. He pitched 7 AA games and was then on the AAA-MLB trolley.
Maybe he can re-find himself given some steady AAA time. However, he hasn’t pitched well in his two previous AAA partial seasons.
trs86
5/30/2009-9:11am at 9:11 am (UTC -4)
Yeah last year was not to good for him in AAA.
Wanny how do the colors look? Orange too hard to read?
wannybackstra
5/30/2009-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
I like the colors. Feels like a TRDMetsblog now.
trs86
5/30/2009-9:14am at 9:14 am (UTC -4)
Ok the orange kind of glows on mine but that’s most likely my 1990 laptop.
wannybackstra
5/30/2009-9:12am at 9:12 am (UTC -4)
scratch that… 25 AA games.
trs86
5/30/2009-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
He had a h/9 of over 10 last year.
wannybackstra
5/30/2009-9:16am at 9:16 am (UTC -4)
and his bb/k rate is abominable.
maybe a change of scenery and some patience…
wannybackstra
5/30/2009-9:11am at 9:11 am (UTC -4)
I’m not sure I buy into Santos yet despite his latest (and repeated heroics). The saving grace in all of this is that Javier Valentin is at AAA and is more than capable to take over.
trs86
5/30/2009-9:12am at 9:12 am (UTC -4)
The question came down to was Castro a better option than Santos and was he a million dollars and a former 1st round pick better?
wannybackstra
5/30/2009-9:16am at 9:16 am (UTC -4)
Broadway doesn’t figure into the equation because the Mets are in bad shape if they need to rely on him.
I’m not sure Castro won’t be a million dollars better. Santos has not been around long enough to convince me of anything and his minor league track record is not impressive.
dirtysanchez
5/30/2009-10:27am at 10:27 am (UTC -4)
hopefully he does well in the majors
a guy with the last name broadway belongs in NY lol ;p
im sure it was just someone else for the buffalo team and he is pretty young…can still be “fixed” peterson style ;p
wannybackstra
5/30/2009-9:17am at 9:17 am (UTC -4)
That said, he’s had a real knack for the big hit so far.
trs86
5/30/2009-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
But I think they were just ready to move on from Castro. I still think even if the guy has not shown anything to get a 1st round pick for Castro and save a million is good enough. I was hoping for Ronny Cendeno
dirtysanchez
5/30/2009-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
agreed. They turned the page on castro since the start of the season. With omir here…that like omar said made his decision easier. Im ok with it…ill miss the pranks tho
wannybackstra
5/30/2009-9:32am at 9:32 am (UTC -4)
David Dellucci was just DFAd by Cleveland. He might be a good guy to take on a major league minimum contract. It would allow the Mets to send FMart back down and then let Dellucci compete with Pagan and Reed for a permanent spot.
trs86
5/30/2009-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
You think that is why we picked up Emil Brown?
wannybackstra
5/30/2009-9:38am at 9:38 am (UTC -4)
I hope not. Brown stinks! I thought he was just org depth and a guy who can give a little offense to a terrible lineup. But I guess he could do the same thing I suggested for Dellucci.
But Dellucci is the type of player that many a Mattsblog.com reader was clamoring for.
charlies
5/30/2009-9:44am at 9:44 am (UTC -4)
funny…mattsblog.com
dirtysanchez
5/30/2009-10:15am at 10:15 am (UTC -4)
eh no thanks…theres ENOUGH of a log jam at OF…we dont need more people adding to it. We are fine with pagan/reed/tatis/shef to man the corners while fmart is the x-factor imo.
jaydh
5/30/2009-9:50am at 9:50 am (UTC -4)
I think this was a good deal. Its a low risk, high reward type player for an oft-injured 33yr old backup catcher. I dont get the people who dont like this deal.
wannybackstra
5/30/2009-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
.650 = Santos’ career minor league OPS
.729 = Castro’s career major league OPS
Again, the only reason to have confidence in dealing Castro is that Javier Valentin can replace Santos if Omir is merely on a lucky streak (as his track record suggests).
jaydh
5/30/2009-10:06am at 10:06 am (UTC -4)
Santos’ minor league #s don’t mean too much. There are players who have been average in the minros, only to excel in the majors. Castro can’t run, he can’t play D, he is often injured, and he is 33+. Right now Santos is outplaying Castro in practically the same amount of ABs plus Santos actually gets hits in the clutch while Castro usually strikes out. Schneider hits righties over his career just as well as Castro(ops wise). I’m just glad to have a young backup who can actually do more than bring a little pop.
dirtysanchez
5/30/2009-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
agreed. I dont think we lose too much having omir over ramon. I like the way omir puts together his ab’s. Besides, hopefully he can be healthy in September when the mets really need him..unlike some other catcher..
wannybackstra
5/30/2009-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
Santos’s minor league numbers mean a lot more to me than his cup of coffee in the majors. He has 9 seasons worth of at bats down there.
Last year Castro hit .300 .429 .500 w/RISP and .412 .600 .765 w/RISP and 2 outs (only 17 at bats). In 2007 he hit .250 .296 .500 w/RISP and .292 .346 .625 w/RISP and 2 out. In 2006 he was horrible. In 2005 he hit .303 .410 .515 w/RISP and was crappy with 2 outs. This year he is hitting .280 .379 .480 w/RISP.
So I don’t think it is fair to say that he can’t get a hit when you need him to (I don’t feel like looking at all of the numbers including late and close, high leverage, etc.).
I think this is rushing to judgment on Santos and that soon his lucky streak will come to an end.
dirtysanchez
5/30/2009-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
well castro wasnt going to be here next year anyway…if omir can stay healthy that already is an improvement
jaydh
5/30/2009-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
Even if his “lucky” hitting does come to an end, he is still superior to castro in every other way.
charlies
5/30/2009-10:17am at 10:17 am (UTC -4)
This is a conversation about a backup catcher, right? Schneider’s career OPS is less than Castro’s (.699) and he is the starter. I think it was a nice trade. Castro was a career backup who was oft injured – that’s a horrible combination. His presence often required the Mets to carry three catchers. The Mets are a better team without him. Broadway Lance, er, Lance Broadway is not going to much (his avg FB is only 89 mph) and he apparently has control issues, but at least he’s young and still has some potential. Castro’s well has long run dry.
prismo
5/30/2009-10:37am at 10:37 am (UTC -4)
Nice entry QnsNative! I can’t believe that a first round draft pick from 2005 can be considered a bust yet – he seems too young for that. This could end up being a steal.
fongy2
5/30/2009-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
Thank You Prismo and Charlies!
This is a OK bat,below average
backup Catcher(Castro)we’re talking
about here.OH, and an admitted rapist
too.This aint Johnny Bench.
Valentin has always been a better
Catcher and with catchers what he
does BEHIND the plate is always
much more important than what he does
AT the plate.As for Broadway and him being a bust etc.,Just pickup a whos
who in baseball and flip thru the Pitcher pages and take a good look at
the Pitching in the MLB at this time.
Many,many Pitchers take yrs too develop and who knows maybe down the road B’way becomes a decent 4/5 Starter or Middle-Inning guy. If not
then so be it. Whats the great loss here? He still has options and little
MLB time so salary for the near future
is no issue(see:Dirty Sanchez).
What? Some of you think they’d send
Dye over for Castro?
I doesn’t matter how good ahitting
Catcher Castro was since BackUp Catchers rarely/can’t P.H..
Not to mention,THE GUY IS ALWAYS HURT! You all know me,I’m no Omar
Fan BUT this isn’t a bad move at all.
GravediggerHebner
5/30/2009-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway.
So I’m anxious to see him in a night game.
fongy2
5/30/2009-11:30am at 11:30 am (UTC -4)
Gotta Love George Benson
and The New York Mets!
udontmesswthejohan
6/1/2009-8:36am at 8:36 am (UTC -4)
I prefer:
“I’ve seen the lights go out on Broadway…”
udontmesswthejohan
6/1/2009-8:33am at 8:33 am (UTC -4)
I’m sure this has alaready been discussed, but I can’t help but feel like the wrong catcher was traded here and that Castro was a victim of the numbers game.
Between Santos and Castro, the team was getting more production out of the catcher’s slot since LoDuca in 06′. Schneider seems like a good guy and a good teamate, but let’s be honest, he’s not that great defensively and he doesn’t really hit.