Bautista betters Castillo
BRADENTON, Fla. — Jose Bautista was chosen Friday as the Pittsburgh Pirates' starting third baseman, a move that sends three-year starting infielder Jose Castillo to the bench and means NL batting champion Freddy Sanchez will open the season at second base.
Pirates manager Jim Tracy, frustrated that Castillo hasn't responded to his repeated requests to become more disciplined at the plate and mentally involved in the game defensively, said it is up to Castillo how long he remains on the bench.
"We want these players with the Pittsburgh Pirates to understand that mediocrity is not what we're striving for here," Tracy said. "We're not looking for that. We want a lot more than that."
Because the 26-year-old Castillo hasn't responded to the Pirates' pleadings to change his approach, Tracy said, "the message had to be changed."
Castillo, who jumped from Double-A into the Pirates' lineup as a rookie in 2004, also was criticized in the offseason by shortstop Jack Wilson for not staying in shape and being lazy in the field. Castillo reported to spring training about 10-15 pounds lighter than he was last season, but Tracy said he hasn't seen enough progress in Castillo's approach or his play.
"I sat and talked to him for quite a while," Tracy said. "We mentioned plate discipline, being in tune to the game for every pitch that gets thrown — all of those things are very, very important for this player to return to being what he was a few years ago. I've seen little tiny spurts of it off and on, but I've not seen it on any consistent basis.
