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Quade, Ramirez working on Castro’s mental miscues

Shortstop Starlin Castro was back in the Cubs lineup Tuesday night after being benched Monday for inattentive play during one sequence Sunday.

Castro repeated that he learned from the situation, and manager Mike Quade said the Cubs will continue to work on the mental aspect of the game with their highly talented shortstop.

“We always talk about the physical nature of this game,” Quade said. “We don’t need to talk about his talent. His experience and the development he needs, absolutely. The mental part of the game matters. Sometimes that gets left behind. We’re here to help people and help people get better.

“I was disappointed because we’ve spent a ton of time and emphasis on this part of his game. Ultimately, he’s responsible. If it was for lack of paying attention to his part of his game, I would feel like we had let him down. But it hasn’t been.”

That said, Quade also noted Castro’s progress since he first came to the major leagues in May 2010.

“It doesn’t take away from the progress that we’ve seen from him, and it doesn’t mean he’s on Mike Quade’s or anybody else’s time schedule,” Quade said. “He’s going to develop. You’re going to push him. You’re going to do all the things you have to do to try and get him better, not just Cassie, but everybody. Something like this happens and you deal with it, but I don’t want this to cloud all the progress that I’ve seen him make.”

Third baseman Aramis Ramirez spent time with Castro in the infield during batting practice. Ramirez urged caution in dealing with Castro.

“People have got to realize that he’s only 21,” Ramirez said. “He’s going to make mistakes. He’s going to make mental mistakes. I try to talk to him because I made it to the big leagues when I was 19. I was young, too, and I did make a lot of mistakes.”

Cashner’s rehab:

Andrew Cashner began his minor-league rehab by starting Tuesday night for the Cubs’ Class AA Tennessee farm club. Cashner threw 23 pitches (15 strikes) in two-thirds of an inning.

He struck out the first two batters before giving up 3 straight singles and leaving the game. Cashner is on the mend from a strained right rotator cuff, suffered in his first start of the season. He hopes to return to the Cubs in early September and pitch out of the bullpen.

Strikeout machine:Kerry Wood struck out the side in Monday#146;s relief appearance. Over Wood#146;s 9 previous games entering Tuesday, he had 17 strikeouts. He struck out three batters in an inning three different times in that span. #147;All three of his pitchers come in,#148; said Mike Quade. #147;The curveball he threw to (Eric) Hinske was unhittable. People who have been around here a long time, that was vintage Kerry Wood. He#146;s going with his fastball and his cutter, which have been great pitches for him. It#146;s all the things. He#146;s got great velocity. He#146;s mixing in a curveball to go with his cutter that#146;s unbelievable.#148;