Sports: Spring swoon gives way to autumn surge

Not so long ago Castilla was feeling, and playing, miserable in a Rays uniform. When hope began to waver in Tampa Bay this season, he was among the first to go. Before Gerald Williams was released, before Fred McGriff was traded, before Larry Rothschild was fired, Castilla was benched.

He later returned to the lineup, was benched again and then released. All before Memorial Day.

"I lost my confidence. I started doubting myself," Castilla said. "Basically, they told me I was done. They told me I couldn't play anymore. Even if you try not to pay attention, it's still your job and when they take your job away from you, then you start doubting yourself. You think, "Maybe they're right. Maybe I've got nothing more.' "

That may have been the impression Castilla got from the Rays, but team officials said otherwise. They believed he still had ability, they just doubted it would ever show in Tampa Bay. Turns out, they were right.

Days after gaining his release, Castilla entertained offers from the Cubs and Astros. Chicago could offer Don Baylor, Castilla's former manager in Colorado, as an enticement, but not a starting job. The Astros gave him a chance to be in the lineup every day. He chose Houston.

"It was a no-brainer," Castilla said. "Chicago wanted me to play 2-3 days a week, sometimes at first base, sometimes at third base. Houston would let me play every day. And I needed a chance to play every day to prove to myself I could still play this game."

At 34, Castilla is no longer the slugger who put up enviable numbers with the Rockies in the 1990s. But during his four months in Houston he at least showed he is still a capable major-league hitter. Castilla finished the season hitting .260 with 25 home runs and 91 RBI (his numbers in Houston were .270, 23, 82). That's a far cry from his Rockies days, but also far better than his brief stay in Tampa Bay.

The Rays acquired Castilla before the 2000 season in a deal that sent Rolando Arrojo to Colorado. At the time, the question was whether Castilla could adapt to a new league and park other than Coors Field. A dropoff in his numbers was likely, but it was difficult to imagine a swifter downturn.

Castilla pulled a ribcage muscle in the spring of 2000 then rushed his return. The Rays wanted him to go on a minor-league rehab assignment to sharpen his batting eye, but he refused. He immediately went into a slump then endured two more stints on the disabled list.

"Everybody talked about me not hitting in a new league, but nobody said I was injured and went on the disabled list three times," Castilla said. "Part of this was my fault. I don't blame the team because they wanted me to go on minor-league rehab and I didn't. I thought I was ready. That was my fault."

The season was an utter disaster. After hitting .302 with an average of 38 home runs and 112 RBI from 1995-99, he hit .221 with six homers and 42 RBI.

The lack of production increased the pressure on Castilla coming into this season. He began 7-for-19 with six RBI in the first five games, but when he went 0-for-15 in the next four, he was benched.

Castilla got a second chance after Rothschild was fired as manager, but soon fell into disfavor with replacement Hal McRae too. His lack of production continued and he was benched for failing to move a runner over in a clutch situation.

"I felt like I was playing under a microscope," Castilla said. "I was miserable there. I was miserable. The fans started getting on me. It was like a nightmare before they let me go."

Castilla said he asked for his release after his first benching. When he was benched a second time, he agreed to defer part of his $7-million salary to get his release. "I'm not mad at Tampa. I feel bad because they still had to pay me a lot of money after they released me," Castilla said. "It was better for me and it was better for them because they got to play some younger guys. I just don't understand why they were ready to give up on me after nine games."

Castilla said the only difference in Houston was that the Astros handed him a job and told him not to worry about slumps. The Astros also used him deeper in the lineup -- the sixth and seventh spots -- where he did not have as much pressure to produce. Once his confidence returned, Castilla said his production followed soon.

Although he has had success this summer, Castilla is not guaranteed a job in 2002. The Astros aren't saying whether he will be invited back, but there is a sense the team might go in a different direction.

Castilla, who will be a free agent, said he is not worrying beyond the postseason.

"I showed I can still play. Everybody knows that," Castilla said. "What's most important is that I proved it to myself."

Back to Sports

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright

From the Times sports desk

Bucs
Bucs to use week to heal

Titans D may force Bucs to think big

Lightning
Defeat leads to anger

Devil Rays
Spring swoon gives way to autumn surge

LaMar pleased at second half

College football
Amazing: The making of Wide Right

Close calls

Practice reports

UCF to C-USA: Take that!

Baseball playoffs
Seattle: Success story

AL notebook

NL notebook

On the air
On the hunt for Fox Family

NFL
Rams remain unbeaten with ease

Motorsports
For Gordon, safety is the priority

Outdoors
Daily fishing report

Preps
Girls get more than a kick from football

Bulldogs romp on quick TDs

Palm Harbor U. builds powerhouse

From the wire

From the state sports wire Jacksonville's Spicer placed on IR after leg surgery
FIU-Western Kentucky game postponed because of Jeanne
Brown anxious to face old team for first time
Dolphins' desperate defense readies for Roethlisberger
Former Sarasota lineman sheds tough-guy image with Michigan
Rothstein rejoins Heat as assistant
No. 16 Florida has history on its side against Kentucky
FSU and Clemson QBs both off to slow starts