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Ramon Castro wasn't much of an upgrade over Corky Miller. (AP photo/Duane Burleson)
The White Sox have had two consistent black holes this decade—fifth starter prior to 2005 and backup catcher after 2005. Ramon Castro was not spared, as he was swallowed up by that black hole after coming to the White Sox from the Mets in exchange for Lance Broadway May 29.
Key stats
GP: 31
PA: 84
AB: 76
Batting average: .184
OBP: .262
Slugging: .382
OPS: .643
OPS+: 63
wOBA: .304
2B: 3
3B: 0
HR: 4
BB/SO: 0.35
RBI: 12
BABIP: .204
UZR: N/A
WAR: 0.1
A look back at the OPS+ stats of former Sox backup catchers over the last three seasons is not exactly pleasing: 66 (Toby Hall '08), 21 (Hall '07), 36 (Chris Widger '06), 52 (Sandy Alomar '06). Widger's 2005 OPS+ of 77 looks great in comparison.
So Castro's OPS+ of 63 was the second-highest by a Sox backup catcher since they won the World Series. At least Castro brought some good defense and pitch-calling to the team.
Devil Fingers rated Castro's defense as positive and he threw out 30 percent of baserunners, which was about a ten percent upgrade over A.J. Pierzynski.
But the Sox only went 9-22 when Castro started. I wouldn't hold all of that against Castro, though. Castro usually started alongside the team's 'B' lineup—especially late in the year—that didn't include some of the Sox better offensive players.
It's tough to envision a scenario in which Castro comes back to the White Sox in 2010. He made $2.5 million between the Mets (who paid an undisclosed amount of Castro's remaining salary, according to Cot's) and Sox last year, and while he'll probably be due for a pay cut because of his poor offensive showing with the Sox, he still wouldn't be worth bringing back.
Even if you account for Castro's defense, his WAR of 0.1 wouldn't be bumped up a whole lot. With his WAR in mind and Jose Contreras out of the picture, it's tough to make a case to bring Castro back.
The Sox could choose to use Tyler Flowers in a backup catcher/designated hitter role, which wouldn't be awful for his development. If they choose to start Flowers in triple-A in 2010, then they'll have to go out and sign a backup or potentially be stuck with Cole Armstrong as the backup to Pierzynski.
Hopefully, whoever the backup is next year won't be cast into the same black hole as Castro, Miller, Hall, Alomar, and Widger.
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