March 20, 200818 yr There were growing indications from within the clubhouse on Thursday that third baseman Jose Castillo will not make the team. Castillo, a free-agent pickup from the Pirates, has had a pretty good Spring Training, batting .283 with one home run and six RBIs. The 24-year-old from Venezuela has played a solid third base. However, there were rumblings on Thursday that Castillo's tenure with the Marlins is coming to an end. If so, the third baseman wouldn't be surprised. Recently, he was quoted in a Venezuelan newspaper as saying if he didn't make the Opening Day roster, that he would consider playing in Japan. Castillo signed with the Marlins on Dec. 24 for $650,000. If indeed the Marlins waive Castillo, it means Jorge Cantu, a non-roster invitee who has had a terrific spring, would be the frontrunner to win the third-base job. Cantu played the entire 10 innings at third base on Thursday. Should Cantu become the regular third baseman and Castillo is let go, it improves the chances of Jason Wood making the club as a backup corner infielder. Wood was used as a defensive replacement at first base for Mike Jacobs last year. Versatile Alfredo Amezaga, an excellent defensive player, would then become a candidate to play third base more for defensive reasons. http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/articl...sp&c_id=fla If this is true, keeping Wood over Castillo, this has nothing to do with on the field play. I thought it strange Cantu was playing every inning the last couple of games, but I never thought it was because Castillo was on the outs in the clubhouse or with the manager and coaches. The guy has been terrific in the field and after a slow start has been hitting near .400 himself. Boy I want to hear the back story on this one.
March 20, 200818 yr Strange. Sounds like all along they figured if Castillo didn't win the 3B job outright, they weren't going to keep him on the bench. But then, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense either, since he is relatively versatile.
March 20, 200818 yr If this happens, it'll be just as I said it would. I remember Castillo having problems back with the Pirates with Jack Wilson, and criticisms of laziness along with that. I'm not trying to imply that is what happened here, because I have not seen a single game, only heard and seen the stats. But I've always had a man-crush with regards to Cantu and his offensive potential so I'm glad for him.
March 20, 200818 yr wow if they cut castillo i will be pissed and talk about stressing defense and then u let one of ur best defenders go......great choice......wood offers not even close to as good defense or power potential
March 20, 200818 yr Sounds like the love affair with Wood extends beyond this board. I don't get it. either that or they just dont like castillo at all for whatever reason
March 20, 200818 yr Author If it's true, and publishing it almost makes it true if you know what I mean, this is either something that has been festering (and we can thank our totally inept South Florida baseball reporters for either missing it or not giving the fans some kind of hint, but this is first and foremost, on the field, not good for the team. I do wonder if the Jacobs rumor yesterday had something to do with this? Perhaps they were trying to accomodate Cantu and Castillo by moving Jacobs so Cantu was at first and it fell through, but the tone of Frisaro's piece suggests this is a personality clash. No way defensively, if that's what Fredi wanted this spring to improve the defense is this a move that pushes the Marlins as a team towards that goal because it almost is unfair to call the two competing, Castillo so out-classed him defensively. I'm baffled. Maybe he was told today Cantu had the job and it went from there but up to three days ago it sure looked loike he was the guy, or at the very least one of the guys. This story indicates he wasn't even going to make the 25 man roster. Wow.
March 20, 200818 yr surprising yes...but everything happens for a reason...remember two years ago when we lost out on a little someone named Pokey Reese...we of course thought that was the death nail for second base in 2006...yet we ended up with a little someone named Dan Uggla...maybe you've heard of him... I'm surprised about this Castillo possible cut but if it happens it happens and we move on
March 21, 200818 yr Author surprising yes...but everything happens for a reason...remember two years ago when we lost out on a little someone named Pokey Reese...we of course thought that was the death nail for second base in 2006...yet we ended up with a little someone named Dan Uggla...maybe you've heard of him... I'm surprised about this Castillo possible cut but if it happens it happens and we move on I would agree with that. It's the about face that's curious. For all we know Uggla goes to third tomorrow morning and Jorge Cantu is our new second baseman (pure wild-azz speculation, don't take it seriously for a second).
March 21, 200818 yr hmm.... I saw Castillo play in the ST opener vs the nats. He made some nice plays at third.
March 21, 200818 yr Strange. Sounds like all along they figured if Castillo didn't win the 3B job outright, they weren't going to keep him on the bench. But then, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense either, since he is relatively versatile. In Cantu starts, Fredo and Castillo pretty much can do the same things off the bench so you don't really need both. If this is true, I don't really have a problem with it. Maybe they like Cantu's offensive upside and are willing to give up some defense for it.
March 21, 200818 yr Strange. Sounds like all along they figured if Castillo didn't win the 3B job outright, they weren't going to keep him on the bench. But then, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense either, since he is relatively versatile. In Cantu starts, Fredo and Castillo pretty much can do the same things off the bench so you don't really need both. If this is true, I don't really have a problem with it. Maybe they like Cantu's offensive upside and are willing to give up some defense for it. True, but if they kept Castillo, Amezaga could serve as the backup CF and 5th OF.
March 21, 200818 yr Sounds like the love affair with Wood extends beyond this board. I don't get it. either that or they just dont like castillo at all for whatever reason That is what it looks like to me
March 21, 200818 yr Sounds like the love affair with Wood extends beyond this board. I don't get it. either that or they just dont like castillo at all for whatever reason That is what it looks like to me We will be left with spotty defense on the hot corner now...Hanley Ramirez I feel for you it will be a long season at SS
March 21, 200818 yr As much as I like Wood, if it is just an on field decision, I don't get it. Youth, speed, defense is much better served with Castillo
March 21, 200818 yr has mcpherson shown any progress having been sent down? if he has then that could be a factor in letting castillo go????
March 21, 200818 yr Author A word of caution here, its been almost three hours since Frisaro "broke" this but no one else is picking up on it, in fact the opposite is true. Yesterday Frisaro had Jacobs being traded (or at least tradebait). one has to wonder if either frisaro is off the the reservation or his "sources" are messing with him.
March 21, 200818 yr yeah...im not seeing this posted anywhere else at all...could it be smoke and mirrors for some other kind of a move?
March 21, 200818 yr Sounds like the love affair with Wood extends beyond this board. I don't get it. How so? There is a possibility that Casitllo is not a team player in 2008. Are you saying that the FO are Wood fanboy's that are driving Castillo out because of the Wood mancrush? That sounds pretty silly. Maybe Castillo has proved to be a clubhouse cancer. This board has also been very "defense is overrated". Maybe defense can't carry Castillo on to the roster.
March 21, 200818 yr Sounds like the love affair with Wood extends beyond this board. I don't get it. How so? There is a possibility that Casitllo is not a team player in 2008. Are you saying that the FO are Wood fanboy's that are driving Castillo out because of the Wood mancrush? That sounds pretty silly. Maybe Castillo has proved to be a clubhouse cancer. This board has also been very "defense is overrated". Maybe defense can't carry Castillo on to the roster. yeah...in my opinion...winning come first from pitching, then defense, then hitting and thats how i would build a team if i were a GM
March 21, 200818 yr yeah...in my opinion...winning come first from pitching, then defense, then hitting and thats how i would build a team if i were a GM Then how do you justify this move? Sounds like the love affair with Wood extends beyond this board. I don't get it. How so? There is a possibility that Casitllo is not a team player in 2008. Are you saying that the FO are Wood fanboy's that are driving Castillo out because of the Wood mancrush? That sounds pretty silly. Maybe Castillo has proved to be a clubhouse cancer. This board has also been very "defense is overrated". Maybe defense can't carry Castillo on to the roster. Yeah, it was a joke. Calm down.
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