No start for Chicago Cubs' Starlin Castro for the first time this season – MLB News
The Chicago Cubs’ Starlin Castro on Friday, July 6, did not appear in the game, marking his first absence this season in any encounter. Castro, who has made 82 consecutive starts, was asked to take some rest by the team manager, something that the player himself referred to.
Castro commented that he did not think he needed rest, but in the end, he took it.
"He told me day off," Castro said Friday about the message he had received from the team manager, Dale Sveum. "I don't think I need it, but if he wants to give it to me, I'll take it. I'll be ready for tomorrow or later today."
As to what had actually led to the team manager’s decision to call for rest, it is not clearly known. However, as it seems, the decision might have been taken after a little slump Castro has recently witnessed.
The Chicago Cubs’ short-stop had begun the season with an impressive .300 average which is witnessing a downturn right now. Recently with a 2-for-16 record, Castro is having a season-low average of .287.
However, that slumping batting average does not worry the short-stop. He is confident he will make improvement in that soon.
"I wanted to give him a day off before the [All-Star] break, one way or another," Sveum said. "I just want him to kick back one day and just observe before the break, because he's not going to get much of a break. I want him to kick back and talk to him about scenarios on the bench."
Castro is aspiring bigger. He wants to be starter by the next year, an aspiration he is dedicated to working on. It is also worthwhile to note that the short-stop is heading to his second All-Star game next week, which in itself is a great achievement for the young player.
He might have missed one game on Friday, but it only bothers him a little as he remains focused at what he is supposed to do. In the games ahead, he will be looking to try his level best to regain his characteristic form. It will be interesting to see what type of impact Castro will have in the second half of the regular season.
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