ESPN’s Enrique Rojas tweets that the Cubs have called up Starlin Castro.
As I wrote in a recent article, my main concern with calling up this 20-year-old shortstop phenom is that the manager, Lou Piniella, will simply do to him what he’s done to Tyler Colvin.
That is, sit him on the bench.
Look, the only reason to bring Castro up is to play him every day as your starting shortstop.
Period. End of story.
But again, we all know that this is potentially Lou’s last season in Chicago so he tends to go with the hot hand.
What if Castro struggles?
And he will struggle, this much we know. Most rookies struggle. But you have to stay with them or demote them. Sitting on the bench does not help a young player develop.
Remember Mike Schmidt?
He hit below the Mendoza line his rookie season, but went on to have a pretty darn nice career.
And Ryne Sandberg?
He started his Cubs career by going 0-for-40 at the plate. How did that work out?
So, in a move that smacks of desperation, the Cubs call up their young star-in-the-making, hoping that he will be the savior for the 2010 season.
That’s a lot of pressure to put on a young kid.
I like Castro’s potential, and personally do not believe he will fail like so many other Cubs over-hyped rookies.
But I worry that the timing isn’t so good. He will add to what would already be tremendous pressure by joining a team that is in desperation mode.
Meanwhile, can he help Ramirez with his hitting? Hey, just asking. Perhaps an easier request would be world hunger.
Yet make no mistake, Castro is legitimate. But keep in mind how young and inexperienced he is.
So this moves Ryan Theriot to second base and either Chad Tracy, Jeff Baker, or Mike Fontenot potentially out the door.
Castro has above average range, a very strong arm, and hits for average. He doesn’t walk much (surprise, surprise) and hasn’t yet hit for power, but he is projected to eventually.
Just don’t expect too much right away, Cubs fans. And hey, that goes for you too, Lou.
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