Well since last August (including playoffs) through now, replacement level catcher is doing better than him... regardless of replacement level catcher's replacement level defense. I understand your premise...it just seems you go out of your way to defend him (and that includes crapping on his possible replacements or those questioning Castro's incompetence)... and right now, he's making Matheny look like Babe Ruth at the plate, while not coming close to reaching Matheny's gold glove level of excellence defensively (along with being a manager on the field, ala Ausmus.) Again, I agree.. offense from the catcher is not a priority... but you can't have somebody who is completely and utterly overmatched either, and ask them to catch 4 out of 5 games.
Again: Who are/were the other options? The MLB-ready options? I imagine Casto will not be an Astro next year. Stros traded away their best one last year for Hank Conger. I would love for them to draft ~2 guys this year who can stick at catcher. They are very, very, very hard to find.
This. Probably one of his worst games and he still keeps the damage to a minimum. 6 innings, 3 runs with all those walks and no control is pretty impressive
Agreed... they're going to have to package prospects for somebody, or make a run in free agency. Lucroy seems to be the most popular name mentioned. Had they suspected Castro was going to regress to this at the plate, I don't think they make the move for the improved offense/limited defense backup catcher last year (who's struggles throwing were also unexpected and slightly overblown in terms of impact).
Told my roommate I thought Neshek was a terrible matchup against Braun and would give up a home run. Happy to be wrong but geez
Did you see the picture of the bone spur that was taken out of his plant foot after last season? I can't imagine pitching with something like that. If he can get it back together, the bullpen looks that much better. (caveat...he may suck today, but he was very good early last year and before)
He was actually very good/reliable till August 15th of last year.... his late season struggles get magnified/exaggerated because it happened in the midst of bullpen collapses that cost this team the division.
White has swung at some pitches upstairs over the last 2 games... both would have been ball 4. He still makes contact, but early book could get established to try and induce him to swing at a pitch he won't be able to do much with. I know Berkman never learned to lay off the high one.
