Castro still in learning mode
A year ago Saturday, Starlin Castro burst onto the baseball scene with a smashing debut in Cincinnati. He hit a 3-run homer in his first major-league plate appearance and later added a 3-run triple, setting a record for RBI by a player in his first game.
Castro did not play in Saturday’s 3-2 victory over the Reds, but he marked the anniversary of being called up from Class AA Tennessee happily.
“Everybody knew the night before, but they didn’t tell me because they said I would not sleep,” he said. “They told me in the morning.”
Cubs manager Mike Quade gave Castro the day off because Castro had gone 6-for-33.
“The step-by-step process of young players who haven’t quite established themselves yet, I think he’s seeing less strikes now,” Quade. “I think they’re challenging him to be more disciplined. These guys are good up here. And video’s incredible. You start watching, and you say, ‘We’ve got this kid, and if the ball’s in that 17-inch square, he whacks the daylights out of it. So let’s see if we can get him to go four inches off the plate. Let’s see if we can get him to swing four inches in off the plate.’
“That’s what I see. His swing is the same. The struggle has occurred in several spots. I don’t see him putting any extra pressure on himself.”
Castro agreed with Quade’s assessment.
“I feel pretty good. I feel the same,” he said. “The pitchers are pitching different right now. They don’t throw too many strikes. I’m doing my approach and not swinging at bad pitches. They don’t throw too many strikes because everybody knows I can hit (strikes). They’re trying to make me get out by myself.”
Making it work:Casey Coleman enjoyed his best start of the season, even though he didn#146;t get the win. He worked 6 innings, giving up 4 hits and 2 runs. It was his first quality start of the year.Coleman, who is in the rotation because of injuries to Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner, finished last season well, but got off to a slow start after being called up from Class AAA Iowa. #147;Mechanically I#146;m back a little bit,#148; he said, crediting pitching coach Mark Riggins. #147;But (it was) just working up to being a starter again. They gave me the opportunity to make the team out of spring training as a reliever. I ended up going back to Triple-A for a little bit and working my way back up. It#146;s unfortunate what happened up here (with the injuries)#147;Me and Riggy worked two side (sessions) in between starts this time. I figured some things out, staying taller from the stretch, just a few mechanical things and working with a four-seam fastball.#148;Keeping it going:Kosuke Fukudome had the game-winning hit and went 3-for-4 with a walk. As usual, he performed well in April, ending it with a .383 batting average. He entered Saturday 1-for-11 in May. #147;It#146;s just the beginning of it, so I can#146;t really say I#146;m confident,#148; he said. Wellemeyer retires:Veteran pitcher Todd Wellemeyer announced his retirement after pitching 1 game for the Cubs#146; Class AAA Iowa farm club.Wellemeyer, who pitched for the Cubs from 2003-05, signed a minor-league deal this off-season but battled hip problems in spring training.