Vinny

Castilla

Todd Helton led the league in 2000, and Preston Wilson did it last season. Yesterday, Castilla became the first Rockie to hit 30 homers in six consecutive seasons with the club.

This is why the Rockies have him over a barrel somewhat as Vinny asks for a raise if he’s going to vest his half of a mutual option for 2005. He’s hitting a fantastic .344 at Coors Field, but it’s quite clear the 37-year-old needs them more than the Rockies need him. Fantasy owners should consider sitting Castilla away from Denver.

Castilla turned down a mutual option worth $2.1 million. It’s unclear whether the Rockies will meet his asking price. If not, they have Garrett Atkins and Luis Gonzalez to play third base.

That’s reasonable for all sides. Vinny recognizes, at 37, that his numbers won’t look the same anywhere else, but he also thinks the Rockies shouldn’t take his 25 homers and 100 RBI for granted. The Rockies have good third base prospects in their system who may be just a year away. It wouldn’t be a bad business decision to hold on to Castilla. They could always trade him at the deadline.

“They had all year and through the World Series, and here it is Nov. 11 and nothing has happened,” agent Eric Goldschmidt said. “What does that tell you?” That they’ve smartened up? Goldschmidt said four teams have contacted him to express interest in Castilla. The Rockies may just end up going with Garrett Atkins and Luis Gonzalez at third base next year.

Asked about the luxury of having a .283 hitter with eight homers and 24 RBI batting eighth, manager Bobby Cox laughed and said, ''That’s pretty good. That’s when he started hitting.’' Castilla is 10-for-20 with four homers since being moved down a notch in the order. The Braves will likely leave Vinny eighth for a while, but even as good as they and he have been lately, things are going to cool down and the RBI opportunities aren’t going to be there. When that happens, you’ll have wanted to have traded Castilla to someone else.

Castilla played Friday and Saturday before taking Sunday off.

Vinny is expected to return to the lineup Friday night.

Castilla is day-to-day.

The Rockies seem to be becoming a bit more like the Orioles each and every year. Signing another one-year stopgap at third base is just a bad idea. If the Rockies think Garrett Atkins is their long-term answer at third base, then they might as well play him now, as another two or three months in the minors isn’t going to turn him into a quality defender.