March 20--MESA, Ariz. -- It was only two years ago that Starlin Castro was experiencing his toughest season at the plate, so it was only natural that Castro has lent advice to the Chicago Cubs' young but struggling second baseman Javier Baez.
"I just try to tell him to get his confidence," Castro said Friday morning, several hours after Baez struck out four times in a 9-5 loss to the Diamondbacks. "When you got your confidence, something good is going to happen because you trust yourself. And I think it's a little lost in his play right now. But I tell him try to get your confidence back. You'll be all right. And don't think too much. It's spring training. We're here for a long time. We're here to be ready."
There are slightly more than two weeks left in spring training, and Baez is batting .100 with 11 strikeouts in 30 at-bats. Baez admitted he has felt "tension" but insists he isn't lost at the plate.
"It's weird to go through this now," Baez said. "I'm just being patient. I know what I can do. And they know what I can do. Hopefully everything gets on time so we can take off."
Baez admitted he was swinging harder to catch up to the velocity of Diamondbacks starter Rubby De La Rosa, who throws in the high 90-mph range. Baez struck out and battled from a two-strike count to draw a walk in two at- bats against De La Rosa.
Castro and minor league hitting coach Manny Raimrez spoke to Baez after Thursday's game and told him, "you're late. You're really late. You're not going to hit the ball like that. Start early, and you can recognize the (pitch) right away. We keep talking. We keep working.''
There's a strong possibility that Baez could be start the season at Triple-A Iowa if he doesn't improve at the plate, but Baez expressed confidence he could correct his problems.
"Anything can happen," Baez said. "I'm ready for whatever."
Castro said he told Baez, "don't worry about this."
"We'll see. We'll see in two weeks. Hopefully he makes it."
