Starlin Castro could be ready for the majors despite only being 19, says Aramis Ramirez. (Phil Velasquez/Tribune)
By Paul Sullivan
MARYVALE, Ariz. -- The decision has been made, and there's no turning back.
Starlin Castro, who will start at shortstop and lead off Friday afternoon in the Cubs' split-squad game against Milwaukee, is going to start the season at Triple-A Iowa, no matter how good he looks in spring training.
And he does look good, as a .571 average attests. The Cubs plan to give Castro an extended look this spring, letting him play longer in Cactus League games (and hang longer in the major-league clubhouse) than they normally would with a player who is headed to Iowa.
The Cubs don't want to rush Castro, who is still two weeks away from his 20th birthday. They believe he is a special talent, and are handling him with care.
Is it the right call?
"I don't agree with that," Aramis Ramirez said.
Ramirez wasn't questioning the Cubs' decision on Castro, but the philosophy that dictates a 19-year-old can't possibly be ready to play in the majors.
"I don't think there is a right age to play baseball," he said. "Just because he's 19 doesn't mean he's not going to perform. At the same time, he's still a kid. He can still get better in the minors and come up and be a great player, but I don't think there should be an age for when."
Ramirez came up to the majors when he was 19 with Pittsburgh in 1998. He skipped Double-A completely, and spent only 47 games in Triple-A before the Pirates called him up on May 26. Ramirez hit .235, and was up and down the next two seasons before becoming a mainstay in 2000 and having a breakthrough season in '01.
"I came up at 19," he said, "But everyone is not the same. Every organization is not the same."
The '98 Pirates, of course, were in one of their perennial rebuilding modes. The 2010 Cubs are trying to win now. And in Year One of the Ricketts' regime, the future is unknown for everyone, from Jim Hendry to Lou Piniella to the bartenders at the Captain Morgan club.
The possibility that Castro could struggle early, as Felix Pie did, is also part of the Cubs' thinking. They don't want to mess this up. That's why Alfonso Soriano said Castro may need to start in the minors to get "mentally ready" for the majors.
"Who said he's going to fail?" Ramirez said. "He could, but you don't know what's going to happen. (The regular season) is different (than the Cactus League). He's not going to hit .330. Hopefully he will, but you can't ask a 19- or 20-year-old to hit .330 in the big leagues. We'll see what happens. Hopefully, they give him the opportunity."
Ramirez said Castro is "mature" for his age and "acts like he's just another guy" instead of the team's top prospect. The Cubs' veterans desperately want to get back to the postseason, and Ramirez believes Castro could help get them there.
"He's good and I think he's going to be better," Ramirez said. "I don't think it's too soon. If you're ready, you're ready. I don't care how old you are. There is no age that tells you when you're ready for the big leagues. If you're ready at 20, you're ready."
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Why don't they bring this rookie up? He could be the next Alex Rodriguez. Look at the rookie that pitched yesterday. That Tom guy pitched a no hitter. If they are scared to use rookies, then he would have not been able to pitch the no hitter. Let this kid play, hit his 40 homers and help us win the world series. I got tickets to see the Cubbies play in May. If he doesn't play and they want to use veterans, then why on earth did they not bring back Reed Johnson.?
If the Cubs wait a month to bring him up then Castro has to wait another full year before arbitration. A month is going to be worth several millions of dollars for the Cubs down the road.
Alfonso Soriano said Castro may need to start in the minors to get "mentally ready" for the majors.
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When's Soriano going back to the minors to get "mentally ready"?
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