" Luis Castillo 2007-2011"
I have come here to neither bury Luis Castillo nor to praise him. If anything I would like to commend him for the effort that he put forth this past Spring training. Yes the man that I disaffectionately call ” Slappy” tried his best and from what I saw looked better than most of the second base candidates that are vying for the position, but lets face the facts – this once to defensive specialist’s range has eroded to the point where Argenis Reyes looks more competent.
I had predicted that Luis would be on the Opening Day roster. Yes I am happy that Sandy Alderson showed that he is the antithesis of Omar Minaya , extricating the Mets from that foul contract, but it makes me a bit nervous that Oliver Perez is still here.
I have a feeling that Luis Castillo is our pound of flesh, and Oliver is our punishment.I am still holding out hope that Oliver gets the old pink slip also, but I sense that if he keeps up lucking out the way he has of late ( being on the receiving end of some very good defensive plays while his stuff is mediocre and his velocity is dismal) , well then I guess we will have Ollie for one last season – or at least until the boos are too loud to hear from the incredible shrinking attendance at Citi Field .
Either way at least it looks like the Mets took a brave step forward in order to pull themselves out of the mire. Lets just hope they have the foresight to make it two for the road .
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!!
Mets Alumni celebrating a birthday today include :
The only original Met to be selected to the ’62 All Star Game, Richie Ashburn would have been 84 today (1927) .
Mets relief pitcher from the ’71 season, Don Rose is 64 (1947) . Don is more commonly known as one of the throw in players that the Mets sent to the California Angels along with Nolan Ryan for the worn out Jim Fregosi. Everyone start your face palming !!
Reserve first baseman from the ’86 team, Tim Corcoran is 58 (1953) .
And while we all sit here impatiently waiting for the other shoe to drop with Oliver Perez, just remember that there are just 13 Lee Mazzilli Days remaining until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami, and just 20 days until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Mo Vaughn is thinking about taking up opera. I could just imagine him dressed up as a Valkyrie !!!
35 comments
stickguy
3/19/2011-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
I think Ollie will go too, but even if they decide to carry him as the loogy, I won’t be too upset. Putting aside the fan animosity, he may not be enough of a difference to a guy like burdyk to make a noticeable difference in the win column. And he would be on a short leash.
I got what i really wanted, no Slappy, so Ollie getting bounced would just be icing on the cake at this point.
I agree though that even yesterday was not “good”. 86 tops, and falling behind 1 lefty who then smoked a ball deep (nice catch by Duda to save him!). And the utter, complete inability to throw close to a strike to a RH batter, a good thing, since anything in the zone to him would have been crushed.
Yes, he got a Kid (was it haywward or freeman) to 1/2 commit to a breaking ball down low (Keith said he didn’t go though). But over all, not bringing much to the table!
metsfan4decades
3/19/2011-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
It’s the ‘Ollie watch’ now.
Even if they keep Ollie, he’s going to have to be damn near perfect to quiet the mob. The first time he comes out of that pen and walks a run home, the uproar will be deafening.
oleosmirf
3/19/2011-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
i think Sandy knows better than to keep Ollie. I would not have complained if they kept Castillo b/c he was having a good spring and arguably deserved to make the team.
Ollie, on the other hand, has been unarguably outperformed by 2 other candidates with Byrdak having a very good track record as a loogy. In fact, Byrdak has been almost as good as Feliciano against LHB holding them to a slightly lower career BA. Considering Byrdak will be our only lefty in the pen, his struggles against righties are not really an issue
stickguy
3/19/2011-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
I still don’t see how Castillo has been having a “good” spring. 8-28, all singles, mostly infield. Meaning 1 of those GBs doesn’t sneak through, he is at .250 (pointing out how we are dealing with such small sample sizes!).
and his D? sure, he knows how to play the position, but the reports have not indicated much range, and he has some errors too.
so nothing special with the glove, and absolutely no power. If that is the best, it doesn’t mean keep him, it means find another option!
Mr North Jersey
3/19/2011-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
Since Ceetar is not here i feel I should say something on his behalf regarding Ollie.
Here goes: If Ollie can show he is better that the other guys he should make the team.
OK Done.
rustyjr
3/19/2011-12:31pm at 12:31 pm (UTC -4)
Quiet you!
stickguy
3/19/2011-12:49pm at 12:49 pm (UTC -4)
well, hard to argue with that. Just need to define “better”.
oleosmirf
3/19/2011-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
well so far Tim Byrdak hasn’t given up a run in ST, Ollie’s given up at least one right?
stickguy
3/19/2011-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
oh for sure, Ollie has not been better than the other options. So it won’t be an issue.
but in theory, if he had been, then yes he probably should get the job!
stickguy
3/19/2011-1:21pm at 1:21 pm (UTC -4)
Even have the game on TV today. Nice.
interesting D in the first inning. Wright looked terrible, backing up on a ball then making a horrible sidearm “throw” (though Evans missed it, Ike most likely would have saved him an error).
Capuano looked really good. Stuff moves, and hard to hit.
and murphy, looked pretty good on 2 plays (a 5-4 put out (too slow to try the DP), then covering 2B on a pick off of a guy on 1st made a nice tag).
metsfan4decades
3/19/2011-1:32pm at 1:32 pm (UTC -4)
And I didn’t know Capuano has that nice pick off move. Bonus.
stickguy
3/19/2011-1:38pm at 1:38 pm (UTC -4)
advantage of being a lefty.
he has some good looking stuff. Lots of movement.
I know there is no guarantee that Young or Capuano stay healthy the full year, but right now they both look good (and are healthy). And at least give me a way better feeling than going into last year with maine and Ollie both in the rotation!
oleosmirf
3/19/2011-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
im not worried about Young or Capuano. Both have been very good in spring and both pitched well in September of last season.
The only worries I have is how well Pelfrey copes with being the ace and what kind of decline will Dickey have…
stickguy
3/19/2011-1:52pm at 1:52 pm (UTC -4)
Dickey I think will be fine. But certainly an interesting situation with him.
Pelf, hopefully has enough experience now to not worry about being the “ace”. Just pitch. besides, he knows that Santana is still the ace, and pelf just happens to be going on opening day!
at least both goes seem to be horses that can pitch plenty of innings.
stickguy
3/19/2011-1:36pm at 1:36 pm (UTC -4)
man, marquis sucks. Mets put up 4, and should have had 4 with 2 guys thrown out on base!
metsfan4decades
3/19/2011-1:44pm at 1:44 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, really should have been more than 4.
Duda wasn’t paying attention to Teufel and Teufel wasn’t paying attention to Ainkie’s arm.
stickguy
3/19/2011-1:53pm at 1:53 pm (UTC -4)
he just went around a little too far, and couldn’t get back in time. No clue who needs to take the heat for that!
metsfan4decades
3/19/2011-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
Well, the replay showed Duda with his head down. He never picked up Teufel in time telling him to hold up. By the time he realized it, he was a little too far down the line.
Pick you head up, Lucas!
stickguy
3/19/2011-1:58pm at 1:58 pm (UTC -4)
OK. Watching on the laptop with no sound, so hard to see the details! But he probably won’t make that mistake again.
stickguy
3/19/2011-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
capuano dominating here. they aren’t even hitting anything hard off of him.
and murphy, nice play to end the inning! OK, it was a routine GB, but he looked fine.
and he has his BA up to .340. Better than Castillo was!
metsfan4decades
3/19/2011-2:13pm at 2:13 pm (UTC -4)
Misch pitching well against the Braves too.
stickguy
3/19/2011-2:01pm at 2:01 pm (UTC -4)
OK, predictions for bay’s first HR of the year.
I am taking June 1st.
metsfan4decades
3/19/2011-2:15pm at 2:15 pm (UTC -4)
LOL.
Ralph in the booth saying Bay wasn’t brought here to hit these singles up the middle. Wants to know where the HRs are. Insists he hit HRs, no matter what Keith is saying LOL.
Apparently, Keith is commenting that doubles are just as good.
And boo….Nats finally got a hit off Cap.
metsfan4decades
3/19/2011-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
On that note, Misch gives up a 2 run HR to Brooks Contrad.
Conrad, Pat???
metsfan4decades
3/19/2011-2:29pm at 2:29 pm (UTC -4)
ESPN:
Word out of ESPN Wide World of Sports is that Mookie Wilson officially has switched to uniform No. 1. The number was vacated with the release of Luis Castillo.
***************************
stickguy
3/19/2011-2:39pm at 2:39 pm (UTC -4)
the universe is starting to align again.
that alone was enough reason to release slappy.
hazmet
3/19/2011-2:45pm at 2:45 pm (UTC -4)
Oh man Mook, ya should’a let the number air out for a week first.
stickguy
3/19/2011-3:02pm at 3:02 pm (UTC -4)
great outing by capuano. hard to argue with this.
And Beato on the mound reminded me of Pedro M. Not necessarily his stuff, but his “look” (demeanor, motions, etc.)
stickguy
3/19/2011-3:11pm at 3:11 pm (UTC -4)
murphy is locked in at the plate. Hitting really well now. Maybe he will be getting time at 2B. What the hell, having no offense didn’t work last year, might as well sell out the other way this year!
stickguy
3/19/2011-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
so, will Ollie make it until tomorrow, or just get cut tonight?
Though that was a RH batter. Can he still get a look as a loogy?
metsfan4decades
3/19/2011-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
That has to be it for Ollie.
Final nail in his coffin.
stickguy
3/19/2011-3:44pm at 3:44 pm (UTC -4)
cross your fingers, but you should be right.
heck, he walked the 1 LHB I remember seeing him face.
Just cut the cord, and move on.
Prismo
3/19/2011-3:45pm at 3:45 pm (UTC -4)
I STILL THINK HE CAN BE USEFUL WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP TRYING
stickguy
3/19/2011-4:02pm at 4:02 pm (UTC -4)
channeling your inner Ceetar?
stickguy
3/19/2011-3:42pm at 3:42 pm (UTC -4)
you know it is late in a ST game when you have #90 playing next to #89!
But that Den Dekker guy certainly has a flair for dramatic diving catches. Looks like a CF.