Is Castillo broken?

[The Operator]

In the game thread, it was mentioned that he had options. Now, I believe by being a veteran, he can refuse that option, but I would try to talk him into it.

I don’t think you can refuse an option with less than 5 years of service time. I’m not 100% sure of that though.

[forfreelin04]

If they really do start him next time out, they need to use Stephenson behind the plate. If for no other reason than to change things up.

Didn’t somebody earlier say his ERA with Casali was way lower than with Barnhart over the last few years? Maybe they just don’t vibe well with each other.

I know I’m reaching... it’s probably a way bigger issue. But if he actually is healthy, change it up. It can’t possibly make things worse.

I don't think that's a reach at all. When I was pitching I preferred certain catchers over others. It's still a human being that you have to get on the same page with. Sometimes you just trust each other better.

[WrongVerb]

Castillo needs a 2 seam fastball which will stay down in the zone with movement. That'll have hitters off balance when he then throws his change.

[The Operator]

I don't think that's a reach at all. When I was pitching I preferred certain catchers over others. It's still a human being that you have to get on the same page with. Sometimes you just trust each other better.

I feel you... I obviously never pitches professionally but even when I was pitching in High School, I definitely had catchers I worked with way better than others.

It’s human nature. In one case I just generally didn’t like one of them and always disagreed with the pitches he’d call, haha. You never wanna see a pitcher and catcher obviously out of sync with each other.


I really hope it could be something simple like this.

[GAC]

The solution is not to start him till the 2nd inning. His 1st inning numbers are ... 16.88 ERA with 18 runs allowed (15 earned).

[Moose Herd]

The solution is not to start him till the 2nd inning. His 1st inning numbers are ... 16.88 ERA with 18 runs allowed (15 earned).

Maybe they should try using an opener with him.

[Kc61]

Castillo needs a 2 seam fastball which will stay down in the zone with movement. That'll have hitters off balance when he then throws his change.

Castillo’s sinking fastball has declined in “pitch value” dramatically. Fangraphs’ Pitch Info Pitch Value chart shows a decline from +5.8 to -8.5 since last year. In 2019 that pitch value was +9.0.

[Rojo Rijo]

The solution is not to start him till the 2nd inning. His 1st inning numbers are ... 16.88 ERA with 18 runs allowed (15 earned).

Tampa style. Maybe we just start Tejay for every LC game

[RedTeamGo!]

I give him more starts start outside of the awful Coors Field before declaring him finished. Shrugs.

[Falls City Beer]

Of course. The answer is to let him continue to get his head pounded in. OF COURSE!

[Falls City Beer]

Good thing the Reds hired pitching "gurus".

This—and not Castillo’s struggles—is what really irks me. “We know what’s wrong. We’re almost done fixing it.” These guys sound like your Uncle Ned “fixing” your alternator for cheap.

[Falls City Beer]

Tampa style. Maybe we just start Tejay for every LC game

Or put Castillo in the bullpen where can rely on his two pitches for 15 pitches at a time. Or figure out how to option him—so he doesn’t just get one Louisville start to “fix” his problem. The key here is to get him out of the rotation—for his sake and the team’s.

[Kc61]

I don’t think Castillo is finished at all. On the other hand, the issues with his pitching are real. They won’t disappear by using an Opener or a different catcher.

If one is interested, just look at the stats. It appears that, at least short term, he’s “lost his fastball.” Mostly his 2-seamer, now far less effective. In turn, that causes his changeup to be less effective.

Maybe readily fixable, maybe not, no idea. But let’s not assume such a prolonged slump will just go away. It’ll take analysis, diagnosis, and work.

[757690]

This—and not Castillo’s struggles—is what really irks me. “We know what’s wrong. We’re almost done fixing it.” These guys sound like your Uncle Ned “fixing” your alternator for cheap.

Actually, the problem is thinking of players to be the same as cars. You can’t just “fix” them. These are human beings. You can know what is wrong, but that doesn’t mean they can make the physical or mental change the way you can just put a new alternator in a car.

If the problem is that Castillo needs to add more movement to his changeup, that takes work, like weeks or months of bullpen sessions and extra work with the coaches. Sometimes the player just can’t do it.

Coaches can’t “fix” pitchers. The best they can do it isolate the problem and help the pitcher work on that problem. But most of the work and most of the success depends on the pitcher and his capabilities.

[Mitri]

I give him more starts start outside of the awful Coors Field before declaring him finished. Shrugs.

He has started 8 games and the Reds have been out of it before he's left in 7 of them. But sure, let's blame it on the mountain air.

I don't think he's finished. As Brantley said last night, nearly every pitcher in the history of baseball comes face to face with a moment like this in their careers. It may be that time for Castillo. Maybe he's hurt (doubt it). I think it's a number of factors that have snowballed into a complete meltdown. It's time for him to do more than tweak.

I'm serious when I say he needs to add that Cueto hitch to his delivery. I think his motion is too smooth and has become very easy read.