Notes: Castillo shines in spring debut

03/04/2006
FT. MYERS -- The Pirates finally had a chance to see at least one half of their vaunted double-play combination in action on Saturday against the Red Sox.
Second baseman Jose Castillo, who sat out the Bucs' first two exhibition games, took the field on Saturday for the first time since suffering a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee on Aug. 22.
He didn't seem to miss a beat.
Castillo started a 4-6-3 double play in the first inning on the first ground ball hit to him, singled to right field in his first at-bat, and scored from second base on a Mike Edwards base hit to left field. He finished the afternoon 2-for-3 with a run scored.
"I felt good," said Castillo. "I'm happy because I got a hit and was able to [score] on the hit. My knees and leg felt very good."
Manager Jim Tracy certainly enjoyed his second baseman's spring debut.
"For him to come out here today, do the things that he did and get his work in, I know he is going to go home feeling like he had a very productive day," said Tracy. "Win, lose or draw, in Spring Training, that's what you'd like to hope every guy does."
For all the strides his second baseman has made to get back on the field, there is still one area of Castillo's game that Tracy would like to see evolve before the start of the regular season.
"I think [Castillo] is a better offensive player than he realizes," said Tracy. "If he stays in the strike zone and gets himself good pitches to swing at, you'll find out how good of an offensive player he is capable of being."
It will be at least two days before Castillo gets his regular double-play partner back. Shortstop Jack Wilson had his wisdom teeth removed on Thursday, and he's not expected to appear in a game until Monday at McKechnie Field against the Minnesota Twins.
Preaching patience: Pirates hitters have drawn 16 walks in the first three exhibition games.
Take a moment to let that sink in.
The Pirates, a team that routinely draws among the fewest free passes in the big leagues, have suddenly become the model of patience at the plate.
It's not a coincidence that these are no longer the free-swinging Bucs of old. Tracy has been stressing the importance of making the opposing pitcher throw strikes since the day he was hired, and Castillo's not the only player who has been hearing the new manager's message on a daily basis.
"For the most part, we have taken great at-bats," said Tracy, who has praised hitting coach Jeff Manto for his ability to get the hitters to adapt a more patient approach. "We've given ourselves chances to get a good pitch to swing at. What [Manto] is doing with these players is terrific."
Despite his fondness for walks and, more importantly, good pitches to hit, Tracy said that he stops far short of handcuffing his hitters and taking away their freedom of choice early in counts.
"I'm not sitting here advocating that we take the first pitch every time we walk up there," said Tracy. "I saw a couple of first-pitch swings, but the ball was put in play and it was put in play hard. If you are going to take a swing at a first pitch in a situation like that, have it be a real good swing.
"If we keep preaching that, I think the realization will come, and there won't have to be a whole lot said if you make a weak out on a marginally bad first pitch. It's not the way you play winning baseball."
Quote of the day: "Jose Hernandez plays seven positions. We've seen him at two so far. Stay tuned." -- Tracy, on his versatile veteran
Bucs bits: With their 7-6 win on Saturday, the Pirates improved to 3-0 in Grapefruit League action, their best start since at least 1993. Records for spring games prior to 1993 were not immediately available. ... Jody Gerut went 1-for-2 with two walks and threw out a runner at second base on Saturday. "This kid's got a real idea of how to play the game, and he has a real idea how to hit," said Tracy. "He understands the concept that we're preaching out here."
On deck: The Pirates will travel to Lakeland on Sunday to take on former Bucs managers Jim Leyland, Gene Lamont, Lloyd McClendon and the Detroit Tigers. Right-hander Brandon Duckworth is scheduled to start for Pittsburgh against Detroit right-hander Jeremy Bonderman. Ian Snell, Terry Adams, Josh Sharpless, Jonah Bayliss and Scott Strickland are also expected to pitch for the Pirates.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/