Stone: Castro's Future Not At Shortstop
The Chicago Cubs lost a tough game on Sunday afternoon, and partly because of a defensive play by 21-year old shortstop Starlin Castro.
Castro's unnecessary throw to first pulled Carlos Pena off the bag and led to two runs scoring.
It's plays like the one on Sunday that are making some wonder if Castro has the defensive skills to remain at shortstop, or if a position change is in his future.
"When I look at Castro, and realize what a good hitter Castro is going to be, I'd like to see him perhaps, eventually at second base," Steve Stone said on the Mully and Hanley Show. "I don't think he has the consistency to play shortstop for you. I think he has a chance to be an impact hitter and perhaps a run producer as he fills out a little bit."
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It's the offensive ability that has Castro in the Major Leagues at such a young age, he's the youngest play in baseball right now.
On the young season, Castro has eight hits in 13 plate appearances, including a double, two triples a walk and a RBI. Last season, as a 20-year old rookie, he had a .300 batting average, .755 OPS, 31 double, five triples and three home runs.
"I'd like to see a shortstop who picks everything up and throws the guy out consistently, otherwise you lose some games," Stone said. "And Hak-Ju Lee is going to be that guy, eventually he'll be that guy. Now he'll be that guy for Tampa Bay."
Lee was one of the prospects that the Cubs sent to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Matt Garza.
