Friday, Sept. 23, 2011Posted: 7:20 p.m.Updated: 11:51 p.m.
By Patrick Mooney
CSNChicago.com Cubs InsiderFollow @CSNMooney
WATCH: Soriano happy for Castro
ST. LOUISStarlin Castro has made it look easy.
It doesnt matter if Castros staring at a Cy Young Award winner or aSeptember call-up. Hes going to attack and be aggressive and go withhis instinctual feel for hitting.
Castro fouled off the games first pitch on Friday night. He drove thenext one from Chris Carpenter into center field. The line drive landedon Busch Stadiums green grass.
Someone threw the ball back into the dugout, which Castro plans to giveto his father back home in the Dominican Republic. Thats just one ofmany mementos that will be collected during what Castro believes couldbe a Hall of Fame career.
With that natural swing, Castro notched his 200th hit this season. Itcame during the first inning of a 5-1 victory that seriously damagedthe playoff hopes of the St. Louis Cardinals. He became the youngestCub in franchise history to reach the milestone, and the sixth-youngestto get there in major-league history.
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Castro essentially has a Yeah, sure, why not? attitude to just aboutanything in this game. But hes definitely in elite company now. Since1900, only nine other players have reached 200 hits at the age of 21 oryounger, including: Alex Rodriguez, Al Kaline, Joe DiMaggio and Ty Cobb.
You got a potential superstar, Ryan Dempster said. He sure can hit.Its incredible his hand-eye coordination, his ability to put thebarrel of the bat on the ball. (Hes) just going to get better andbetter. The skys really the limit for him.
On this night, Dempster pitched six innings of one-run ball, andAlfonso Soriano blasted the go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighththat left the Cardinals (86-71) three games back in the wild-card racewith five to play. But very soon this entire Cubs team will revolvearound Castro.
(Its) performance on the field, Soriano said. You dont have totalk to be a leader. If he plays good, all those young guys around himare going to want to play like him.
Castro needed only 264 games and less than 1,000 at-bats in the minorsto prove that he was ready. The Cubs tried to downplay his offensivepotential and talked up his defensive range when he was promoted on May7 last year.
Castro then went out that night in Cincinnati and smashed a three-runhomer in his first at-bat and finished with six RBIs, a record for amajor-league debut.
The kids not afraid of the big moment. But even Jose Serrathe scoutwho signed Castro out of the Dominican Republic almost five years ago had to admit: I didnt think at this time he was going to be in thebig leagues and doing the things that hes doing right now.
READ: Introducing the Cubs scout who found a huge Star(lin)
Castro has done it at Wrigley Field, on national television and infront of a demanding fan base. The All-Star shortstop was called out byESPNs Bobby Valentine and media members have speculated about a moveto another position. He keeps coming back for more.
Hes a really tough kid, bench coach Pat Listach said. He lovesplaying the game and he took it personal when he was criticized(and)I would have, too. But all he can do is (play). The people that aresaying these things about him and writing these things about him dontknow how hard it is to go out there and play that game every day.
Manager Mike Quade has pushed and disciplined Castro, the same way heonce coached up future American League MVP Miguel Tejada in Double-Aball. With Aramis Ramirez set to leave as a free agent, maybe the Cubswont need a traditional power-hitting third baseman. At the veryleast, they have a player to build their lineup around for the nextdecade.
No matter how good Cassie is andor becomes, you still want tosurround him with the best people available, Quade said. Were stillin projection mode with him. I think we have a really nice player. Fromthe power standpoint, it looks like hes heading in that direction. ButIm kind of a Missouri guy: Show me.
Castro feels like he has it all mapped out. Bat .300, get 200 hits andmake the All-Star team. Every year. He knows he has to cut down on hiserrors (28) to win a Gold Glove. Hes learned English because he wantsthe clubhouse responsibilities and the marketing opportunities.
Im working hard, Castro said, in preparation to be a complete superstar.
Patrick Mooney is CSNChicago.com's Cubs beat writer. Follow Patrick on Twitter @CSNMooney for up-to-the-minute Cubs news and views.