Castro’s impressive start grabbing attention

Starlin Castro is starting to open some eyes, even among the hard-to-impress.

The second-year Cubs shortstop went 2-for-4 in Saturday’s 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Included was an RBI double in the 5-run eighth inning.

Castro, who just turned 21, is 5-for-9 in 2 games. From the start of spring training on, his fielding seems to have settled down, and he’s made two heads-up baserunning plays to score runs in each of the first two games.

“I’m also impressed with the fact that he doesn’t seem to know how good he is,” said veteran first baseman Carlos Pena. “I like that humility. He’s here early. He working. He respects everyone. He respects the game. He respects the veterans. And yet, we all know the potential this kid has. The sky’s the limit with him.

“Incredible instincts. I don’t think you can teach that. It’s kind of like a natural feel for the game. That’s the way it seems to go for him. He plays the game just like a kid.”

Manager Mike Quade also marveled.

“Right before your eyes,” Quade said. “Maybe I haven’t thought enough about some of the mistakes he made last year, and maybe some of these things that we didn’t see from him last year that we’re seeing now. And, oh by the way, he’s 20 years old, and he’s trying to get comfortable at Wrigley Field. Maybe that takes six weeks, eight weeks, four months.”

Bunting with a purpose:

They took down the colorful opening-day bunting at Wrigley Field, but there was still some bunting Saturday.

Pinch hitter Reed Johnson tried to lay down a couple of bunts with two outs in the seventh inning. Carlos Pena also tried to bunt, but his motive was to foil a shift the Pirates had on him, pulling their infield to the right side because Pena is a left-handed pull hitter.

“I’ve done it in the past,” Pena said. “It’s there. It’s one of those tricks I have in my back pocket. It’s not an easy thing to do. My heart starts racing like 100 miles per hour once I start thinking about it. I try to control my breathing and try to lay down a good bunt. If it calls for it, if the situation is right and it’s the right play, I’m going to do it.”

Nothing but sunshine:

Carlos Pena didn’t want to take credit for a saying posted on the erasable board in the clubhouse: “You can’t see the rising sun if your eyes are fixed on the setting one. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, that is why it is called present. Conquer the now.”

But he did have some thoughts about sunshine and Wrigley Field on a sunny Saturday.

“I’ll be honest with you, I was thrilled when I walked up that concourse,” he said. “I would see this as a kid in the Dominican Republic. The first time I went to a professional stadium over there, the one thing I used to look to do... you’re underneath the stands and you start walking up the ramp, and it’s dark. At the end of the end of the tunnel, you see a light. You walk out and you see the field, and it was gorgeous.

“To me, that was a thrill. Twenty-five, 27 years later, here I am walking up the stands. Walk up the ramp and you see that light at the end of the tunnel, you come out and it’s like the gates of heaven have opened and you see Wrigley Field. It’s really a special place in every sense of the word. I’m not going to hide it. I’m really excited to be here.”