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Starlin Castro News & Rumors

Astros 8, Cubs 4: Castro, Johnson hit three-run bombs in series opener
May 22
Houston Chronicle
 
"The tipping point: The Astros had two outs and nobody on base against Matt Garza in the second inning when Chris Johnson singled, J.D. Martinez walked and Jason Castro homered to right center (on an 0-2 pitch, no less). An inning later, the Astros struck again with a two-out, run scoring single. Brian Bogusevic followed with a walk and Chris Johnson homered to center, making the score 7-0. On the mound: Bud Norris pitched seven shutout innings, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out eight to lower his season ERA to 3.14. He is 4-0 with a major-league-leading 0.35 ERA in May. After Enerio Del Rosario and Fernando Abad collaborated to allow four hits while retiring only one"
Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro's defense is a work in progress
April 23
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Hall of Famer Robin Yount started his career as a shortstop and committed 44 errors in his second season. He followed that with seasons of 31, 26, 30, 25 and 28 errors. Yount was 18 years old when he broke into the majors, having played only rookie ball before joining the Milwaukee Brewers. Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro might not equal Yount's achievements, but his career is starting out the same. ''There aren't too many shortstops who are 19, 20 or 21 years old who have had outstanding starts to their careers defensively,'' said Cubs manager Dale Sveum, who also was a shortstop. ''It's a matter of understanding and learning from those errors that there's a lot of work to do. It's a"
Prosecutors: No charges for Starlin Castro over sex assault allegations
April 21
Chicago Tribune
 
"Cook County prosecutors have declined to charge Starlin Castro over accusations by a woman that the Cubs shortstop sexually assaulted her at his Chicago home last fall. Sally Daly, a spokeswoman with the state's attorney's office, said Friday there was insufficient evidence to charge Castro with wrongdoing following a "comprehensive review" of the allegations by Chicago police and prosecutors. Police interviewed the alleged victim as well as other witnesses but did not take the matter to a grand jury because of the lack of evidence, according to Daly. "All of the facts of the case were examined very closely," she said. "The review of the case was exhaustive." If new information becomes"
Investigation of sexual assault accusation against Cubs' Castro ongoing
April 4
Chicago Tribune
 
"When Starlin Castro returned to Chicago in mid-January from his offseason home in the Dominican Republic to appear at the Cubs Convention, Chicago police interviewed him at Area 3 headquarters regarding a young woman's allegation of sexual assault from an encounter in September. Now, with spring training over in Arizona, Castro and his Cubs teammates have returned to Chicago and are to work out Wednesday at Wrigley Field in preparation for Thursday's season opener against the Nationals. Police continued to investigate the claim Tuesday, speaking with people connected to the case."
Castro's Starlin role is 3-hole in Cubs' lineup
April 1
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"When the Cubs' new bosses talk about the parallel tracks of building the organization from below while trying to win at the big-league level, Starlin Castro is the man with one foot on each track. And the Castro Express continues full speed into the season. Manager Dale Sveum has made Castro the No. 3 hitter, so the Cubs can start to build their lineup around him for years to come. ''Yeah, I know the stats,'' said Sveum, referring to Castro's .225 average and .571 OPS in 187 career plate appearances in the 3-hole — all last season. ''It's a commitment I made. He's still the best hitter on the team, and sometimes for the future of the team, too, you have to do it. Like I said early in camp,"
Starlin Castro ready for the Junior Lake effect at shortstop
March 17
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"It was barely two years ago that Ryan Theriot uttered maybe the most infamous words of his Cubs career: ''He's going to have to come and get it.'' Three months later, Starlin Castro did just that, taking the shortstop job from Theriot. Three teams later, Theriot was in the San Francisco Giants' lineup against the Cubs in a spring training game Friday at HoHoKam Park. Not that it's necessarily Castro's turn now, but the kid shortstop might be hearing a few echoes from the past, if not the footsteps of the Cubs' next big thing at shortstop. Castro smiled when asked whether he issued the Theriot Challenge to Junior Lake. ''Yeah, I tell him all the time,'' said Castro, who has become close to"
Starlin Castro has lots to smile about now
March 15
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The face is back in the Cubs' marketing efforts. The smile is back, too, though maybe not quite as easy, definitely not quite as automatic. Starlin Castro has learned that much since his worst offseason in the public eye. He also has learned just how much appreciation a guy can find for the early-morning, daily grind of an uneventful spring training in sleepy Mesa, Ariz. "I don't think any more about that stuff,'' he said. "I just let my agent do his job.'' Since addressing a throng of media on his first day at camp about offseason allegations of sexual assault, Castro has kept his mind completely on baseball."
Starlin Castro's defense still a work in progress
March 12
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Don't start fitting shortstop Starlin Castro for a Gold Glove just yet. Even though the defensively challenged Castro has made improvements this spring, manager Dale Sveum said it's tough to make a fair assessment one way or the other. "I think it's too small of a sample,'' Sveum said Sunday. "The games he's played, he hasn't really gotten a lot of action, so it hasn't been a good-enough sample to tell yet, but he's been working better. He's cleaning up a few things, but it's still a process on an every-day basis.'' Castro had 27 errors as a rookie in 2010 and 29 errors last season. Lack of concentration has been his biggest issue. "The only downside from him last year was his focus,''"
Mini-scare: Kerry Wood fastball nails Castro in wrist
February 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"The sound of a Kerry Wood fastball hitting Starlin Castro near his right wrist caused a momentary scare Monday at Fitch Park. Castro walked out of the cage in obvious pain, holding his right hand. Afterward, he showed off a red welt on his forearm but said he was OK. "I was never scared," he said. "I'm only scared if it hits me in the head." Wood came over to check on Castro and apologize. The two later hugged. "I wasn't there to witness it, but it sounded a little more scary," manager Dale Sveum said. "He stepped right in and did all his drills after that. It was almost like he didn't get hit.""
Castro, Sveum form quick bond
February 27
Chicago Tribune
 
"Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro has been in camp only three days, but he's already bonding with new manager Dale Sveum. Perhaps it's because Sveum is a former shortstop, or maybe it's because Castro was sometimes the recipient of former manager Mike Quade's wrath for losing focus in the field. Either way, Sveum and Castro can be frequently seen on one of the fields at Fitch Park, working on ways to improve Castro's inconsistent defense. "It's good, I like this guy," Castro said. "He talks to me all the time and says the right things, tells me what to do in the game. It's very special to me.""
Starlin Castro has learned to be more careful about whom he trusts
February 25
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro's days of trusting everybody are behind him, he said upon his arrival to spring training Friday. But how quickly he's able to say the same about a sexual-assault allegation that has lingered without resolution for almost five months was the biggest question facing any player in camp as the Cubs held their first full-squad workouts. ''In the beginning, it was tough, but I [put] this out of my mind and [focused on] preparation to play baseball,'' Castro said as he spoke publicly for the first time since reports of the police investigation surfaced nearly two months ago. Last week, a source told the Sun-Times that the police had not finished interviewing"
Cubs' Castro doesn't address assault claim, but says 'Got to be careful'
February 25
Chicago Tribune
 
"Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro met with the media on Friday but declined to talk about the claim by a woman that he sexually assaulted her in his apartment in September. Castro met with Chicago police in January. No charges have been filed against him, and his representatives have insisted he is innocent. "I cooperated with the police and talking about that," he said. "I don't have (anything) to say about that. I'm ready to play baseball and am practicing very hard." Asked what lessons he learned, Castro replied: "That you've got to be careful because there are a lot of bad people in the world." Not to trust everyone? "Yeah, something, like that," he said. Castro has not spoken to the media"
Cubs expect Starlin Castro on time
February 19
ESPN.com
 
"The Chicago Cubs expect shortstop Starlin Castro, who was under investigation by Chicago police this offseason on a sexual assault complaint, will report on time for spring training. "We expect Starlin in camp to get ready for the season," president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said on Saturday. "We do not expect it to be a distraction." Castro will report on Feb. 23, the first day for position players, according to a source."
Teammates rally to Starlin Castro's defense
January 14
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Teammates close to shortstop Starlin Castro predictably rallied around him Friday a few hours after he was questioned by Chicago police regarding an alleged sexual assault 31/2 months ago. "He lived with me for a few months [in 2010]," said Alfonso Soriano, who spoke to Castro about the issue earlier this week. "I believe in him. I know what kind of person he is. The problem he has right now is not true, and I believe him." Castro is attending the Cubs Convention this weekend, as promised, but his schedule has been altered. He released a statement, which he obviously didn't compose, through his attorneys Friday in which he said he didn't plan to make any other public comments. While he"
Cubs not concerned about Castro's mindset
January 12
Chicago Tribune
 
"Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro is scheduled to appear at the Cubs Convention on Friday, a week after a report surfaced that he was accused last September of sexual assault. Castro has not been charged with a crime. Cubs baseball president Theo Epstein declined to discuss Castro's situation Wednesday, saying the team will address the story "as facts develop." Manager Dale Sveum said he's not concerned about Castro's mindset going into spring training next month, despite the allegations hovering over him."
Time for Castro to grow up
January 8
Chicago Tribune
 columnist David Haugh
"As Cubs President Theo Epstein concluded a teleconference Thursday explaining the trade of troublemaking pitcher Carlos Zambrano to the Marlins, a reporter good-naturedly asked if there was any significance in getting, literally, a former choirboy. Epstein quickly answered no. Then he paused.\ "I should point out, too, that you don't have to be choirboys to be accepted into the Cubs clubhouse," Epstein said. "We're not running a popularity contest. You just have to be a good teammate who is accountable and somebody who teammates can trust, put the team first, prepare hard, play hard. It's not that difficult." Starlin Castro, are you listening? To ever be Chicago's Derek Jeter, it requires"
Starlin Castro attorneys deny sexual assault allegations
January 7
Chicago Tribune
 
"Attorneys for Starlin Castro denied wrongdoing after a published report Friday that the Cubs shortstop has been accused of sexual assault by a woman. The Cubs also issued a statement in response to the WBBM-AM 780 report, saying the team was aware of the allegation and hopeful that Castro would be cleared of wrongdoing after Chicago police complete their investigation. The woman, identified by a source as 22, accused Castro of sexually assaulting her at his Near North apartment in September, according to a police report provided to the Tribune. Police were notified and began an investigation, the report said. Castro had left for his home in his native Dominican Republic by the time the"
Sources: Cubs' Starlin Castro Accused Of Sexual Assault
January 6
CBSChicago.com
 
"WBBM Newsradio has learned that Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman after a night of drinking last fall. As WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports exclusively, the alleged victim is a Chicago woman in her 20s. No criminal charges have been filed, but Castro is reportedly wanted for questioning by Chicago Police. She claims that she was drinking with friends at a River North nightclub on the night of Sept. 29 when she met Castro. Sources say she and a friend left the bar at 3 a.m. and went to the 21-year-old Castro's apartment on State Street nearby. According to the police report, the alleged victim said she blacked out. She told police she"
Cubs' Starlin Casto has skills, but there's still room for improvement
September 26
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Now that Starlin Castro has an All-Star appearance and a 200-hit season, what's next for the Cubs' 21-year-old shortstop? "He's got a long way to go,'' said coach Bob Dernier, the former Cubs center fielder whose duties include working with baserunners. "There's no doubt that he has skills. But he still has tools that aren't skills yet.'' Castro is already a star, and he's still three games from finishing his first full season in the big leagues. He's also the poster child for the post-Zambrano, post-Hendry, post-Ramirez era. But the whole package? The guy who one day might have an impact on the franchise that seven-time All-Star Alfonso Soriano and former batting champ Derrek Lee"
Accent the star in Starlin
September 25
Chicago Tribune
 
"As the Cubs ponder the wreckage of a lost season, their bright spot continues to shine. Starlin Castro knocked out his 200th hit Friday night at Busch Stadium to become the 10th player since 1900 to accomplish the feat at 21 or younger, joining baseball luminaries like Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio and Alex Rodriguez. Now comes the question that has no immediate answer: Will the pressures of being the face of a luckless club weigh him down? "It's tough," he said. "I want to do my work to help the team. It's a lot easier if the team is winning.""
Castro gets 200th hit in 5-1 victory
September 24
Chicago Tribune
 
"On a historic night for Starlin Castro, the Cubs dealt a potentially lethal blow to the Cardinals' playoff hopes. Castro became the 10th player since 1900 to reach 200 hits at 21 or younger as the Cubs won 5-1. With the Braves beating the Nationals, the Cardinals fell three games behind Atlanta in the wild-card race with five games remaining. And the Brewers, who defeated the Marlins 4-1, clinched the NL Central with the St. Louis loss. After an intriguing duel between Chris Carpenter and Ryan Dempster, Alfonso Soriano's three-run, eighth inning homer off reliever Kyle McClellan snapped a 1-1 tie and Castro added an RBI single in the ninth. For the Cubs, however, the big story wasn't their"
Despite his feats, Starlin Castro stung by Cubs' bad season
September 19
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"A player couldn't ask for much more in a season than an All-Star Game appearance, a likely 200-hit year and a streak of games reaching base matching a Hall of Fame legend. All those accomplishments will be part of Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro's 2011 resume, only his second in the majors. Yet the youthful star is more melancholy than celebratory about this season. "It's not good," he said of the Cubs' terrible season. "It's better when the team wins. Everything happens more easy then. You don't have to work so hard because everyone is good." Baseball still is as much about the joy of the game as it is the business of it to the 21-year-old Castro. He knows he has had an eye-opening season."
Starlin Castro's apology rings true
August 25
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"So much of what has gone on over the years with the Cubs has come across as transparent, almost phony. Whether it was the way Sammy Sosa was given a free pass by the organization and the media to dirty up the numbers because it was good for business or, extending all the way up to the front offices, the way some of the suits pranced around, pretending to be baseball men because they had the title of "president'' painted on their parking spot. The culture on the North Side always has seemed to be: "OK, well, what's hidden behind the curtain?'' Maybe a 21-year-old has started to change that. All-Star shortstop Starlin Castro made headlines for all the wrong reasons during an ESPN broadcast"
Braves blank Cubs; Castro benched for not paying attention in Sunday's loss
August 23
Chicago Tribune
 
"When Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Silva got into a dugout scuffle in the first inning of the Cubs' fourth Cactus League game last March, it was an ominous sign this would be no ordinary season. But no one could've imagined it would come to this — a star player having to issue an apology for not paying attention to the game during a pitch. Starlin Castro was forced to do just that Monday night before the Cubs' 3-0 loss to the Braves at Wrigley Field. ESPN cameras caught Castro with his back to the plate during a James Russell pitch on Sunday against St. Louis, leading manager Mike Quade to bench the 21-year-old Castro for what he called an "unacceptable" transgression. "I was really"
Castro on mental lapse: 'I'm real embarrassed. There's no excuse for that.'
August 23
Chicago Tribune
 
"Was Starlin Castro guilty of lollygagging Sunday night? ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine believes so, and gave a blunt assessment of Castro's lack of focus during the "Sunday Night Baseball" telecast, blaming the Chicago Cubs' staff for ignoring the problem when he had his back to the plate during a James Russell pitch. Manager Mike Quade followed up by watching video of the incident, and stuck Castro on the bench Monday. "I was really disappointed and very surprised at him," Quade said. "But it is something that we have been after him (to correct) from Day One, focus-wise. It's something, with his talent, it's sometimes the biggest challenge for him. It's unecceptable, not good. And he feels"
Starlin Castro sits out Monday's game
August 22
ESPN.com
 
"Chicago Cubs manager Mike Quade said he was disappointed after looking into Starlin Castro's on-field preparedness during Sunday's 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Quade decided to keep Castro out of the starting lineup Monday, calling it a "mental day off," rather than a benching. "I was really disappointed and surprised, very surprised," Quade said. "But it's something from Day 1 focus-wise. It's something, to be honest with you, that he has to work on. With his talent, that's the toughest challenge for him. "It's simply not acceptable, not good. He feels terrible. I talked to him today, and we are giving him a day. After seeing last night, you have to make his concentration a"
Sky's limit for Cubs' Starlin Castro
August 9
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The face of the Cubs' future smiles often, is eager to learn and is more than willing to carry the burden that will go with trying to revive the World Series dream. Shortstop Starlin Castro already has grown by leaps and bounds in his second major-league season, and he's still only 21 years old. The days of having coach Ivan DeJesus at his side to translate during interviews are over because his English — both speaking and understanding — has improved exponentially. And his baseball acumen is skyrocketing, too, the proof being in his first All-Star appearance and in the honors that keep coming his way. Castro was named National League player of the week for the second time Monday, an"
Castro earns NL Player of the Week award
August 9
Chicago Tribune
 
"Starlin Castro was named National League Player of the Week on Monday after six multi-hit games and a major league-leading .515 average. Castro leads the National League with 150 hits, and 19 games with three or more hits."
Hits keep on coming for Castro
August 9
Chicago Tribune
 
"Starlin Castro makes no bones about it. Castro desperately wants to lead the National League in hits this year, and he's in good position with a league-leading 150. "The greatest hitters are at the top (of the lineup), and I feel real happy to be there," he said. "Just keep going." Castro was named National League player of the week on Monday, his second of the year, after hitting .515 with a .758 slugging percentage. He already has 19 games with three or more hits, the most in the NL, and 44 multihit games, second in the league. Manager Mike Quade's decision to use Castro at the top of the lineup after the Kosuke Fukudome trade seems to be paying off. Castro is batting .383 in the leadoff"
Castro not swinging for fences
August 5
Chicago Tribune
 
"When Starlin Castro hit his fourth home run of the season on Wednesday, he surpassed last year's total of three. A power hitter he's not, and Castro, who was tied for the National League lead in hits on Thursday, said he feels no pressure to increase his home run totals. "Right now, I'm leading off, so I've just got to try and get on base," he said. "But it's coming." The Cubs don't expect Castro to turn into a pure power hitter, but they believe he'll eventually increase his totals as he matures. Ryne Sandberg hit seven and eight home runs in his first two seasons before cranking 19 in 1984, his MVP year. Sandberg wound up with 282 career home runs. "You can see it in batting practice,""
Castro's HR in 8th holds up as Cubs blank Pirates
August 4
Chicago Tribune
 
"Manager Mike Quade is growing accustomed to watching Cubs games on TV in his office. Quade was ejected for the fifth time Wednesday in the Cubs' 1-0 victory over the Pirates, following Tyler Colvin to the showers during a bizarre fifth inning. While Quade and Colvin were stewing, starter Matt Garza earned his first win in seven starts, tossing seven shutout innings against the fading Pirates to give the Cubs their season-high fourth straight win. "We've played like this quite a bit," Garza said. "We just haven't had many breaks. The defense is showing up, it's called progression. We're starting to hold onto balls when they know they don't have time, and making plays when they do have time."
Cubs' Starlin Castro, Darwin Barney expected to 'work it out' after miscue
July 23
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The missed play between shortstop Starlin Castro and second baseman Darwin Barney on Wednesday that drew so much ire from manager Mike Quade will be a ''learning experience,'' Quade repeated Friday. ''I'll bet those two have it worked out the next time it happens, and that's all that matters,'' Quade said, not backing away from his criticism of Castro's dropped fly ball in the 9-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. ''They'll work it out.'' The play happened in the first inning when the second batter, the Phillies' Michael Martinez, hit an infield pop-up that Castro called for, then lost in the sun. Barney was near but backed off when Castro called for the ball. The Phillies scored two runs"
Quade lashes out at unacceptable mistakes
July 21
Chicago Tribune
 
"The Cubs may be a veteran-laden team on the road to nowhere, seemingly playing in a virtual fog on a near daily basis. But after losing 9-1 to the Phillies on Wednesday on the hottest day of the year at Wrigley Field, manager Mike Quade lashed out at two of his youngest and most productive players, alleging a blown first inning popup "set the tone" for the loss. Starlin Castro's misplay on Michael Martinez's routine popup ignited a two-run first inning against Ryan Dempster, who allowed six runs before being lifted for a pinch hitter after three innings. Darwin Barney was cited for a failure to communicate. "Let's put the negativity behind us, play with some freaking intensity, and"
Castro shows some speed at All-Star Game
July 13
Chicago Tribune
 
"Starlin Castro's bat got him to the All-Star Game. But the Cubs' shortstop flashed his potential as a base-stealer Tuesday night after entering the game for the National League in the fifth inning. Bruce Bochy sent him in as a pinch runner after Troy Tulowitzki singled to start the inning. An out later, Castro easily stole second, beating a throw from catcher Alex Avila. He then broke for third and arrived without a throw as the pitch from Jordan Walden skipped away from Avila. Castro should have stopped there."
Starlin Castro gives Cubs, fans reason to be optimistic about future
July 11
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Cubs third-base coach Ivan DeJesus clicked the mouse with care, not wanting a single frame on the computer screen to go by unnoticed. DeJesus was making sure his prized student was listening to every detail, every pointer being offered. Shortstop Starlin Castro was doing just that, eating up DeJesus' explanation of how he should attack second base on double-play balls while still using the bag to protect himself from runners bearing down on him. All the while, Castro was running a long strand of dental floss through his teeth. ''I have to keep my teeth clean,'' Castro, 21, said minutes later, flashing his pearly whites. Ah, the face of the Cubs for years to come, clean teeth and all. ''Oh,"
Cubs' Starlin Castro could wind up starting in All-Star Game
July 8
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Even amid the rubble of the season, the stakes and stature keep rising for at least one Cub. Already named the team's lone All-Star player, shortstop Starlin Castro could be in line to start the midsummer classic Tuesday night because of injuries to elected National League starter Jose Reyes and the only other shortstop on the original roster, the Colorado Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki. ''I heard,'' Castro said. ''I'm excited for [the possibility]. I don't want anybody to be hurt, but if [they're] hurt, I'll take care of the ball. .?.?. I'll be there.'' NL manager Bruce Bochy wouldn't comment on contingency plans when asked before his San Francisco Giants played the San Diego Padres on Thursday"
Starlin Castro goes from Cubs star to their youngest All-Star
July 4
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"When history looks back at this Cubs season, it probably will say the most significant moment came Sunday. That's when Starlin Castro crossed paths with Hall of Famer Ernie Banks and became the youngest All-Star in franchise history. ''He's better than me,'' said Banks, who earned nine of his 14 All-Star selections at the same shortstop spot Castro has locked down a little more than a season into his major-league career. Of course, you might want to consider the hyperbole-prone source on that one. ''He said that?'' Castro said of Banks, who has a statue outside Wrigley Field. ''He didn't tell me that. He just told me he wanted to meet my dad.'' Regardless, the comparisons and lofty"
Making All-Star team 'real special' for Castro
July 4
Chicago Tribune
 columnist David Haugh
"To accurately mark the first time Starlin Castro rose to the occasion for the Cubs, you have to go back five years to his tryout on a dusty baseball field in the Dominican Republic province of Santiago. Castro was an eager-to-impress, skinny 16-year-old sitting on a bench waiting for the same chance at prosperity the dozen other prospects awaited when the arrival of the Cubs' coordinator of Latin American scouting, Jose Serra, immediately brought him to his feet. "I remember somebody pointed to me and told Starlin, 'He's the scout,' and right away he got up and began stretching in front of me," Serra recalled Sunday on the phone from Santo Domingo. "Then he started running and, wow, he"
Cubs' Starlin Castro has eyes on Gold Glove
July 3
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Cubs fans looking for something worth watching, if not cheering, for at least the next two weeks should tune in today to find out if Starlin Castro will become the Cubs' first All-Star shortstop since Shawon Dunston in 1990. In other words, since the year Castro was born. ''I'm nervous,'' Castro said. ''I want to be there.'' But whether he makes it or not, something impressive has happened over the last few weeks with the Cubs' best young hitter: He has started to look like their best young fielder, perhaps good enough to win a Gold Glove one day. ''It's definitely there,'' said second baseman Darwin Barney, who has noticed the growth after returning to the lineup earlier in the week. Yes,"
After criticism, Castro hits back
June 28
Chicago Tribune
 
"Mike Quade took Starlin Castro to task on Sunday, but wasn't about to sit him. Castro remained in the lineup after being called out for a lack of hustle, and responded the way he does best — by hitting. Castro got the Cubs' bats started against Colorado's Jhoulys Chacin, just missing a home run in the first inning. His drive high off the wall in deep left center went for an easy triple, and extended his hitting streak to 11 games, the longest of his short career. Last September, Quade benched Castro for two days when he felt he was making too many mental errors but said Sunday's lack of hustle after a diving try to stop an Alex Gordon grounder wasn't worthy of dropping him from the lineup."
Despite another lapse, Starlin Castro staying at shortstop
June 27
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"He had another bobble and another lapse Sunday against the Kansas City Royals, and he already leads the majors with 16 errors. Get ready for another round of hand wringing over whether Starlin Castro belongs at shortstop and chatter about how soon he should be moved to second or third. ''That's bull----,'' said Jim Fregosi, who should know as a former teenage shortstop in the big leagues, a six-time All-Star and a longtime big-league manager. ''Young shortstops are going to make a lot of errors because they have more range, they get to more balls, they try to make more outs, they make stupid throws. They do a lot of things. Hell, I've done all that [stuff].'' Fregosi, now a top scout and"
Quade doesn't let Castro off hook for lack of hustle
June 27
Chicago Tribune
 
"Cubs manager Mike Quade started Sunday by mailing in his All-Star picks to the league office, hoping shortstop Starlin Castro makes the National League squad. But a few hours later, Quade had to take Castro aside and tell him that a lack of hustle will not be tolerated. While there's no question Castro has proven he's All-Star material in his first full season in the majors, he still has a few things to learn about playing all out for nine innings, no matter the situation. The play in question occurred during the first inning of Sunday's 6-3 loss, when Castro dove for a grounder up the middle by the Royals' Alex Gordon. Castro then lay on the ground after the ball got past him, making Reed"
Some are calling a superstar career for Cubs' Starlin Castro
June 26
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Hours before Saturday's game, a few Cubs kicked back on the clubhouse couches watching one of those sports-countdown shows of baseball's historic moments. When the countdown got to Pete Rose's record-setting hit in 1985, one player sat up suddenly and looked at his teammates. ''How many?'' Starlin Castro said. ''How many hits?'' Forgive Castro for not being so familiar with the day Rose got hit No. 4,192. He wasn't born for another five years. And it's not as if he's had time to study the last three months, what with him trying to make his own baseball history. When the second-year shortstop extended his hitting streak to nine games with a third-inning single Saturday, it gave him 103 hits"
Cubs' Starlin Castro keeps up great work vs. White Sox
June 23
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Another day against the White Sox, another big game for Starlin Castro. The sophomore shortstop, who started Wednesday fifth in the National League in batting (.320), had his third multihit effort in as many games against the Sox, drove in the Cubs' first run, stole a base and continued to look inspired in the field. Whether it had anything to do with encouragement from former All-Star shortstops Ozzie Guillen and Omar Vizquel this week, Castro appears to be making a stronger case every day for his first All-Star bid. "He's exciting to watch; he can do it all,'' said Vizquel, arguably the top fielding shortstop of his generation. "He's one of those great shortstops to watch right now. "And"
Guillen lauds Castro
June 23
Chicago Tribune
 
"White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen believes Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro has a chance to be "a great ballplayer," as long as he doesn't start believing his press clippings. "Be careful because all of a sudden he hears from (the media) about how good he is, and hopefully that doesn't go to his head," Guillen said. "Make sure he stays the same way he is right now, be humble and don't change what you do and you'll be fine. "Some kids think because they have a couple of hits here and there, they see in the paper how good they are and all of a sudden they change and everything goes south. They don't know what to do. Just stay the same way and this kid will be a superstar." Looking up: Cubs"
Ozzie Guillen on Starlin Castro: An amazing player
June 22
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"If it looks like Starlin Castro has picked up his already formidable game for the Cubs-White Sox series, well, that's what he was trying to do. ''A lot of people I know in the city talk to me and say, 'Let's go, White Sox, win,'?'' the shortstop said. ''I say, 'Man, I'm with the Cubs. .?.?. Against the White Sox, when I play these guys, I want to win these games.'' That the kid — already hitting above .300 and installed at the top of the order — could raise his play because of the bigger stakes might be the most impressive thing about the sophomore sensation. And he's still just 21 years old with only 196 games in the big leagues. ''He's amazing,'' Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. ''Amazing"
Castro impresses with his bat, glove
June 21
Chicago Tribune
 
"Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro hit his first home run since April 16 to kick-start the Cubs' four-run rally in the sixth inning Monday, and he drove in three runs on the night. But he also played flawless defense, which may have been more important to the Cubs than his hitting. "Cassie had a great game," manager Mike Quade said. "Swung the bat, but he does that. I was way more impressed with his play at short than anything he did. That's what we need him to play shortstop (like) day in and day out. And if he does that, we're going to have a lot of fun watching him for a lot of years." Castro has 10 hits in his last 20 at-bats, raising his average to .318. He's the Cubs' best chance at"
Starlin Castro most consistent Cubs hitter at plate
June 19
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Starlin Castro continues to be the Cubs' most consistent performer at the plate. Another 2-for-4 performance gives him 28 multihit games. He's tied for fourth in baseball in that category with Houston's Hunter Pence and has five multihit games in his last six. Castro is hitting .349 (52-for-149) with 23 runs, 11 doubles, five triples and 20 RBI in 36 home games. ''Maybe the most exciting thing is he can still be a lot better,'' manager Mike Quade said. ''When you see a kid put the ball in play with authority on balls in the strike zone, you think, the more strikes he gets, he's going to be more damaging. He's had the offensive end more than the defense, which is a great luxury because his"
Castro's reputation expanding to AL
June 19
Chicago Tribune
 
"The word about Starlin Castro and his amazingly live bat has spread to the American League. After giving up a pair of rocket-like doubles to Castro on Friday, Yankees pitcher Freddy Garcia said: "For a young kid, he's a pretty good hitter." Actually, he has been better than "pretty good" lately. With half of the Cubs' four hits Saturday in the 4-3 loss to the Yankees, Castro is hitting .415 (17-for-41) with eight doubles in his last 10 games. "I feel real good," he said. "A couple of weeks ago, I was not doing OK, but I was working with (hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo) and I am feeling real better." Castro even offered that a long fly out Saturday was one "I killed, but the wind was blowing"