Help me here: why is Castillo so unpopular?

by nickler on Jan 10, 2010 10:46 AM CST

Once again, thanks in advance for your answers.

I am still trying to figure out why Luis Castillo is considered such a bad player whose contract is such an albatross.

His salary is $6 mil for another two years. Sure, in this market that's inflated. But Mark DeRosa just signed a 2 year deal worth $12 mil, similar to Castillo's.

Luis Castillo 2009:

BA	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
.302	1	40	.387	.346

Mark DeRosa 2009:

BA	HR	RBI	OBP	SLG
.250	23	78	.319	.433

He seems like an ideal leadoff hitter with speed (don't know how fast he is now, but I do remember that was his big MO in the day) and high OBP. DeRosa certainly has more power, but Castillo makes up for that in increased OBP.

Clearly, my logic must be faulty in some way since everyone here seems to dog on him, and his contract is considered to be terrible. However, before he got hurt last year he was a big part of the Mets' success. Granted, I haven't been watching him play nor do I follow the hated Mets. That said, I am wondering why he is considered such a poor player.

Personally, based on numbers alone, he seems to be a better deal than Fukudome.

Thanks again for your insight.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Castillo's speed was one of his best qualities.

But he doesn’t steal that many bases any more and has ZERO power — had only 16 XBH all year. His .346 SLG was sixth-lowest in the NL last year. He did have a .387 OBA — his highest in six years — but Kosuke Fukudome had a .375 OBA in 2009 and is a better hitter in virtually every department than Castillo. Fukudome should be leading off.

It’s just not worth the money.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 10, 2010 11:26 AM CST reply actions

so its Juan Pierre with no stolen bases?

Just because you talk a lot doesn't mean you're saying anything. dtpollitt 1-7-10

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 10, 2010 12:20 PM CST up reply actions

Essentially, yes.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 10, 2010 12:30 PM CST up reply actions

big time no thanks IMHO

Just because you talk a lot doesn't mean you're saying anything. dtpollitt 1-7-10

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 10, 2010 12:35 PM CST up reply actions

Not quite

It’s more like Juan Pierre with no stolen bases + PLATE DISCIPLINE.

Castillo draws walks. Pierre doesn’t. That’s why I like Castillo.

by Poloplaya14 on Jan 12, 2010 5:55 PM CST up reply actions

And not very good at 2B

by ClarkFan on Jan 11, 2010 9:38 PM CST up reply actions

I bet JP was not very good at 2B also

:-)

Just because you talk a lot doesn't mean you're saying anything. dtpollitt 1-7-10

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 11, 2010 10:05 PM CST up reply actions

Nyuk nyuk nyuk

"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher

by Musicdude10 on Jan 12, 2010 12:39 PM CST up reply actions

Hey Moe

Just because you talk a lot doesn't mean you're saying anything. dtpollitt 1-7-10

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 12, 2010 7:09 PM CST up reply actions

I'd rather have Castillo than Carlos Silva

Other than that, the Mets can keep him

by Musicdude10 on Jan 12, 2010 12:39 PM CST up reply actions

Because he’s slow and not good anymore. And his defense isn’t that great, either.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jan 10, 2010 11:30 AM CST reply actions

yeah ... last year showed he's not good anymore i guess

COOL BEANS!

by lexmarklover on Jan 10, 2010 11:31 AM CST up reply actions

His defense and WAR are steadily in decline. He's 33. Speed does not behoof the man anymore.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Jan 10, 2010 12:12 PM CST up reply actions

That has the makings of a pun

but I can’t really provide a good one at this moment

"This next song... it's about the White Sox. It's called: F*** Em'." - Eddie Vedder

by PacificCub on Jan 10, 2010 12:24 PM CST up reply actions

I think there's a little too much anti-Castillo thinking on BCB

That said, he’s not that good of a player. I liked the idea of getting him for Bradley (or Silva!), but short of that or something similar, I don’t really see the point.

by elgato on Jan 10, 2010 11:37 AM CST reply actions 2 recs

Exactly.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 10, 2010 12:16 PM CST up reply actions

This is pretty much how I feel, too...

…though, as suggested below, I’d probably deal Silva for Castillo if the Mets were so inclined.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Jan 11, 2010 10:48 AM CST up reply actions

A straight swap - sure. That would save the Cubs many $$$$$$

But I don’t see why the Mets would do that unless Silva returns to the living during ST.

My fantasy would be to see that deal followed by the Cubs shipping Castillo and $3M/year for a bag of practice balls. At that point, they would have moved Bradley with no additional cost.

A fantasy, I know….

by ClarkFan on Jan 18, 2010 1:31 PM CST up reply actions

Actually,

he is an ideal top of the order hitter, if you are a manager would values 1) baseball sense and 2) the ability to get on base.

To answer your question more specifically, for most people it’s the money. Castillo’s game has always been based on his ability to steal bases, and his defense, which until recent years was regarded as stellar. Not to mention the fact that he’s a heady player.

In the last few years, his base stealing has declined due to a hip injury, and he’s shown less range at second as well. Omar Minaya, in a move that I will never understand, still gave him a 5/25 deal, even as there was little market, and the warning signs were already beginning to show.

So basically what you have is a guy with a 2/12 deal, in the midst of a market so heavy with middle infielders that he probably wouldn’t get better than 2/5 as a free agent today. Depending on who you believe, Minaya still won’t acknowledge his mistake, and eat the difference to move him, so that’s where we are now.

At 2/12, he does little for the Cubs, unless the Mets would like to take back a Silva. If the Mets eventually capitulate, and eat enough to take it down a 2/6, he could be a real smart move for a couple of different teams. The Cubs, the Twins, and maybe the Dodgers or Nationals come to mind offhand. It probably wouldn’t even the cost the Cubs really, as you’d just trade or release Fontenot to pay for it at that point.

Just my opinion.

by Damen Jackson on Jan 10, 2010 11:48 AM CST reply actions

I guess if the Mets took Silva in return...

… it’d be worth doing. Otherwise, no. The Cubs already have a leadoff hitter.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 10, 2010 12:17 PM CST up reply actions

Can I ask you a question?

What is it exactly that leads you to conclude that 1) Lou Piniella will use Kosuke as a lead-off man, and 2) that he’ll start Baker over Fontenot at second, given the choice between the two?

by Damen Jackson on Jan 10, 2010 12:40 PM CST up reply actions

2) that he’ll start Baker over Fontenot at second, given the choice between the two?

i am willing to bet that he will

Eric Hanna and FAN of the BULLS, the two greatest BCBers in the history of mankind

by jesus christos on Jan 10, 2010 12:42 PM CST up reply actions

Well, Fontenot's career splits against LHP are pretty bad

Where Baker has a career OPS of .889 (Fontenot’s is .630). And Baker is pretty close to Fotenot against RHP with a career OPS of .727 vs. .783.

The bottom line is that over-exposing either one of them is a risk. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Cubs pursure someone for a large role at 2B before the trading deadline, if they are in any kind of contention.

by ClarkFan on Jan 18, 2010 1:40 PM CST up reply actions

hes unpopular

because he hit that foul ball…

Eric Hanna and FAN of the BULLS, the two greatest BCBers in the history of mankind

by jesus christos on Jan 10, 2010 12:16 PM CST reply actions

Ah, the power of the subconscious.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Jan 11, 2010 10:45 AM CST up reply actions

Let me sum up my feelings

Castillo isn’t worthless, but he’s overpaid and his value compared to Baker and Fonenot are marginal at best.

If there was a trade out there that ended up with the Cubs having Castillo and also improving in other ways, I’d be for it. But it would be silly for us to try and make a trade with him as the target.

by madcow256 on Jan 10, 2010 1:04 PM CST reply actions

Luis Castillo is a shadow of his former self

And a bit of a liability at 2nd base to boot. A big no thanks on that contract.

The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.

by BLou on Jan 10, 2010 1:14 PM CST reply actions

I agree with BLou

Liability at second base , and is getting slower every year .. IF ?? The Cubs could dump Silva for a trade for Castillo JH should do it …

by CUBFANINAZ on Jan 10, 2010 1:29 PM CST up reply actions

I can't see the Mets doing that.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 10, 2010 3:40 PM CST up reply actions

exactly

too often I see these trade ideas, and seems that people believe that the other 31 teams exist strictly to trade our crap to

I have seen some that seem realistic, but if Castillo was available for Silva, I believe Seattle would have done it instead of trading for Bradley

Just because you talk a lot doesn't mean you're saying anything. dtpollitt 1-7-10

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 10, 2010 3:47 PM CST up reply actions

The other 31 teams?

Oh no! Did MLB add two teams while we weren’t looking?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 10, 2010 3:58 PM CST up reply actions

is one of them the miami gators?

Eric Hanna and FAN of the BULLS, the two greatest BCBers in the history of mankind

by jesus christos on Jan 10, 2010 4:04 PM CST up reply actions

Hmmm.

Who knows? Maybe.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 10, 2010 4:17 PM CST up reply actions

Bring back the Senators

And the Whalers. Who cares that they played hockey? They’re probably better than the Pirates….

by Musicdude10 on Jan 12, 2010 12:44 PM CST up reply actions

yikes

and this one is sober..but watching NFL playoffs where there are 32 teams, does that count?

ok, I know it didnt, but you get the jist of what i was trying to say, rigt?

Just because you talk a lot doesn't mean you're saying anything. dtpollitt 1-7-10

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 10, 2010 4:23 PM CST up reply actions

Of course.

Was just giving you grief.

Are there 32 teams in the NFL playoffs these days? I didn’t realize they let everyone in. Where were the Bears?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Jan 10, 2010 4:30 PM CST up reply actions

32 teams in NFL

and the Bears were rejected from the BCS selection, and the playoffs, well, lets not go there. Tho New England did a good impersonation of the Bears today.

And I know you were giving grief, i be it no dummy

Just because you talk a lot doesn't mean you're saying anything. dtpollitt 1-7-10

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 10, 2010 4:36 PM CST up reply actions

it also seems ...

like Hendry is content with our second-base options. That’s incredibly disappointing, in my mind. I’d rather spend the money we have left on Orlando Hudson than a reliever, Reed Johnson or another outfielder. But maybe Hendry knows Hudson and all other second-base options are too expensive for the relative payoff.

I think we’re going to see a lot of Mike Fontenot in the season’s first couple months, and that really worries me. I think betting on improved seasons from most of our guys — Soriano, Soto, Ramirez’s health, Marmol, Z — should pay off. But Fontenot? Danger Will Robinson.

That’s not saying that I think we should go after Castillo. It’s just saying that I disagree with the Cubs’ apparent satisfaction with our internal second base options.

by elgato on Jan 10, 2010 1:30 PM CST reply actions

Hendry is content with the second base options because he doesn't have other options available

It is crystal clear that JIm Hendry has no money to spend this offseason. He let Rich Harden go because he couln’t afford to bring him back and needed to free up some money to afford a center field replacement. Beyond that he is done shopping for anything unless he moves money first.

The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.

by BLou on Jan 10, 2010 1:42 PM CST up reply actions

Wait unitl the season starts - there may be more guys offered as teams lose hope

by ClarkFan on Jan 18, 2010 1:41 PM CST up reply actions

He's not scrappy enough

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Jan 10, 2010 1:50 PM CST reply actions

Many reasons

He’s lazy, he rubs people the wrong way, he doesn’t care about winning, he’s a terrible baserunner and he isn’t a very good hitter. Do a quick search of him as a trouble maker and you’ll get numerous accounts of him and his lackadaisical approach to the game.

Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?

by krummy12 on Jan 11, 2010 3:32 PM CST reply actions