Castillo shows renewed promise
BRADENTON, Fla. — Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson and the team's second baseman, Jose Castillo, met privately late Tuesday morning to talk about Wilson's public criticism of Castillo last month.
Neither discussed the meeting afterward, but Wilson said beforehand, "I'm sure everything's going to be fine."
It was their first conversation since a Jan. 26 TV interview in which Wilson described Castillo as having been "lazy" last season and had biting assessments of Castillo's physical conditioning and mental preparation.
Castillo, asked about Wilson's criticism Tuesday, said, "I don't care what guys say. I'm coming here ready to play, with my bat, my glove, everything."
Despite exceptional natural power and an ability to hit to all fields, Castillo, 26, has yet to top 14 home runs or a .268 average in three seasons. He also made 18 errors last season.
He lost his starting job at second base late in the season and was told early in the offseason by Pittsburgh management that he would have to win it back this spring.
He is in competition with Jose Bautista for the only available starting job on the Pirates' diamond. Perhaps fueled by that, Castillo played 49 games of winter ball in his native Venezuela and engaged in a training regimen that allowed him to lose 10 pounds.
His fitness and quickness were evident in a sharp fielding workout Tuesday morning.
"I feel good right now, different than last year," Castillo said.
Manager Jim Tracy smiled Tuesday when asked about Castillo after the Pirates' two-hour workout.
"I hope that this level of dedication represents exactly who's shown up," Tracy said. "If you look at our team and the success we had in the second half, there's a feeling here that this is real. And, as a result, there's an expectation that your 'A' game has to show up. The approach to the game has to be consistent every day."
Notes: Dick Vitale, the noted basketball commentator and motivational speaker, was a surprise visitor to the camp and addressed the pitchers and catchers after the workout. He lives in nearby Sarasota and showed up on his own. ... Tony Armas Jr., delayed four days by visa problems, was one of a dozen pitchers who made bullpen sessions. ... Position players were required to report Tuesday. The first full-squad workout is today.
