Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Mets Fans Ask, Who's On Second?

What do Richie Rivera of Mets Public Record and Mets manager Terry Collins have in common? They both believe that the second base position should be considered a defensive position. Looked upon more for his bat than his glove, here’s a small sample of what Luis Castillo could bring to the Mets if he’s able to play everyday at second base.

Luis Castillo 2B (1996-2010) 15 MLB seasons, 10 yrs with Florida, played in 152 games for the 2003 World Series Champion Marlins. In addition to a World Series ring, Castillo found himself receiving votes for the NL MVP as well. He also spent some time with the Twins, now he’s with the Mets. When healthy, Castillo has been able to produce on a consistent basis in terms of batting average and on-base percentage year after year.

From 2002-2007, 6 seasons as a Marlin, one-and-a-half as a Twin, and one-half as a Met, you’re looking at a .301 BA and a .371 OBP in around 142 games a year. During that span, Castillo averaged 168 hits, 87 runs scored, and 24 stolen bases (48 in 2002).

But I feel that in 2000, at the age of 24, Luis had his best offensive year. Career highs in batting (.334), on-base percentage (.418) stolen bases (62), runs scored (101), and walks (78) are proof that this particular season is a step above the rest.

For more of Castillo’s stats, check out baseball reference.com.

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