Castro's starpower continuing to rise
Not long ago, the talk was that Darwin Barney might be the Cubs' lone All-Star Game representative. But with Barney on the disabled list and Starlin Castro making an offensive charge, Castro's name has come up.
Why not, says Cubs manager Mike Quade.
“He's obviously in the conversation,” Quade said before Tuesday night's game against the White Sox. “He's one of the guys that's been healthy all year, so that gives him a lot of points.”
Castro entered Tuesday fourth in major-league baseball in hits, with 95. He had a batting average, on-base and slugging line of .318/.346./441. He hit his second homer of the season Monday night leading off the Cubs' 4-run sixth inning. He also had a five-game hitting streak, going 10-for-20. Castro extended that streak with a sixth-inning single Tuesday.
“In the projection business, as scouts are and the rest of us as we watch, do you see this kid getting a little bigger and a little stronger?” Quade said “Do you see power becoming a better part of his game? I think there's every reason to believe that for a number of reasons, not the least of which is his swing.
“I watch batting practice. He hits balls out of the ballpark with regularity. I'm glad that he's not putting the cart before the horse. He's hitting line drives and doing the things he needs to do to make contact. He continues to work on his discipline at the plate and then let the power take care of itself.
“There's a ton to like about him offensively. There's a ton of upside.”
Quade also said he was impressed by Castro's defense in Monday's 6-3 victory. On Tuesday, he made a pair of barehand plays to get batters running to first.
Barney getting better:Second baseman Darwin Barney hit in the cage Tuesday and said he felt good. He was expecting to get a knee brace, and when that comes, he said he'd be able to take part in all drills.
Barney is on the DL, retro to June 14, with a left knee sprain.
More DH doings:Jeff Baker was the DH Tuesday. Mike Quade originally said Aramis Ramirez would DH, but Ramirez was back at third base. Look for Ramirez to DH in Wednesday's series finale.
#8220;We talked at length,#8221; Quade said. #8220;He wanted to play. He likes to play. He does want to DH, but we kind of came up with Thursday and give him a two-day break defensively.#8221;
The Cubs have an off-day Thursday before heading to Kansas City.
Minor matters:Catcher Welington Castillo, who didn't play much when he was with the Cubs earlier this season, had a 15-game hitting streak end Monday for Class AAA Iowa. Castillo was named the Pacific Coast League batter of the week for June 13-19. He was 10-for-16 (625) with 3 doubles, 3 homers and 12 RBI in four games.