May 24--A dazzling defensive stop is offset by a sinking throw that skips past first base.
Conversely, a strikeout on a pitch outside the strike zone is balanced by a clutch single to force extra innings.
This is the Cubs' life with Starlin Castro.
While many outsiders try to match the three-time All-Star shortstop with another team, the Cubs hope Castro can embark on one of his hot streaks at the plate while stabilizing his defense.
"What you're seeing is who he is," manager Joe Maddon said Friday night before Castro hit a double to right field, then ripped an RBI single in the top of the 10th inning.
Maddon said he believes Castro soon will be able to hit the ball to right and right-center more consistently.
"We talk, talk, talk. His batting practice is outstanding," Maddon said. "In the game, it's just not there yet. It happens. You've just got to keep talking about it until one day he's going to get that pitch, and he's going to hit it to right-center hard and he's going to stick."
Castro is aware that he often opens his hips too soon, leaving him vulnerable to low and outside breaking pitches.
"Nobody throws in," Castro said. "They throw maybe one pitch in to show you. That's it. Now we're trying to hit up the middle or the other way. When they make a mistake and pitch in, you're going to hit a home run."
Castro said he has tried a few drills to prevent him from pulling so frequently and has studied videos of his best and worst at-bats.
The Cubs have managed to post a winning record in May despite Castro tailing off. Many outsiders believe the Cubs would be better off trading Castro for pitching help and letting Addison Russell and Javier Baez man the middle infield.
Castro, whose batting average has sunk to .274 from .325 on April 29, can at least temper some of the talk about his immediate future by shoring up his fielding and regaining the plate discipline that helped make him a three-time National League All-Star.
Maddon is convinced it may take only one at-bat to spark Castro's resurgence. Maddon pointed to Pirates third baseman Josh Harrison, who hit a home run off Jason Motte on May 15 when he was batting .200 and has since raised his batting average to .255.
"Sometimes it's just that one at-bat where all of a sudden your timing comes together, and then you're able to carry it over," Maddon said. "That's where I think Starlin is at. He's still doing a great job. There's definitely another level of offense he's capable of. And he'll be the first to tell you that.
"He gets angry with himself. But I have a lot of confidence in him in situations (with runners on base). And he's not afraid of anybody. I like all that about him."
mgonzales@tribpub.com
