Starlin Castro is in the Cubs lineup for Saturdays game against the Reds one day after he drew manager Dale Sveums ire for a baserunning blunder.
Sveum said after Fridays five-error loss to the Reds that he was unsure if Castro would play Saturday, and he said he would talk to the 22-year-old shortstop.
He had a long talk with Castro on Saturday, and the Cubs' shortstop is batting fifth against Reds starter Bronson Arroyo.
I talked to him for quite a while today, but nothing that I really want to share with anybody, Sveum said. Its more of a closed-doors meeting and it went well. He was completely, basically, I dont know if remorseful is the right word, but he knew he made a big mistake in a certain part of the game, five runs down. You have to be a little more prepared for that situation and do a little better job there, so it went good.
With the Cubs trailing by five runs in the sixth inning Friday, Castro led off with a single and attempted to steal second. On Josh Vitters single to right field. Castro didnt watch the ball and slowed down as he was decoyed by second baseman Brandon Phillips, who put up his glove as if he was going to receive a throw. Castro realized the ball was in play and tried to advance to third, where the Reds threw him out.
Though Castro is just 22 years old, hes in his third major-league season, and he told Sveum there was no excuse for his mistake.
I dont treat him any different than anybody else, Sveum said. He just happens to be a big focal point of the team because he is our shortstop and the shortstop that will be here for a long time.
The guys made leaps and bounds defensively and did a good job as far as concentration for most of the time. A lot of times, myself included as well as the media, blows him up as much as anybody else. Some other people have made some pretty bad mistakes too, but it doesnt get blown up as much either.
Sveum said he no longer sees consistent mental lapses from Castro.
Hes still an elite shortstop in the big leagues, Sveum said. Some people might have less errors, but a lot of people havent been able to do the things he can do at shortstop either.
Meanwhile, outfielder Brett Jackson is out of the Cubs lineup after he was involved in a collision in the eighth inning of Fridays game.
He felt like he got hit by a truck more than anything, Sveum said. More of a whiplash type of effect with that collision in center field.
Before Saturdays game, the Cubs also made roster moves, activating right-handed pitcher Lendy Castillo from the 15-day disabled list and optioning left-handed pitcher Scott Maine to Triple-A Iowa. Castillo was 0-1 with a 7.04 ERA in seven games with the Cubs before he went on the disabled list with a left groin strain. Maine was 1-1 with a 4.79 ERA in 21 games with the Cubs.