Just as the Padres demoted one of my favorite players, Jon Knott, the A's called up another one of my guys, infielder Ramon Castro. In Castro's first major-league at-bat, he pinch hit for Bobby Crosby in the 9th inning. Castro reached base on an error by Angels 3B Alfredo Amegaza, and got an RBI when Scott Hatteberg scored on the play.
The Oakland Tribune reported today that A's manager Ken Macha plans to use Castro as a late-inning defensive sub, but I hope he gets a chance to hit. If there was ever an organization who could recognize and appreciate how talented a player Castro is, it's Billy Beane's A's.
Matthew Namee cofounded The Hardball Times in 2004, when he was working as the assistant to baseball author and Red Sox executive Bill James. Matthew still lives in Kansas, where he is currently pursuing a law degree. He can be reached at mfnamee [at] gmail [dot] com.
