MetsFail

Posts Tagged ‘Emilio Bonifacio’

A recent report from the Miami Herald revealed that beloved Mets 2B Luis Castillo spent much of this past winter tutoring fellow Dominican Emilio Bonifacio of the Florida Marlins.  Bonifacio, Final Fantasy Baseball geeks fans might remember, shot out of the gate last April as a fantasy darling as the Fish’s speedy leadoff hitter and third baseman.  He fell back to earth before the the month was through and eventually settled into a utility role.  Bonifacio sought out Castillo’s tutelage on all things small ball in order to increase his appeal as a super-sub for the team.

Forgive me, Omar, for I have sinned

At first blush we thought this would make for standard MetsFAIL material – the word traitor came to mind.  Maybe Castillo resented the constant trade rumors over the winter and decided to focus his time and energy helping a divisional rival.  But when you give it some thought, you realize that these tutoring sessions weren’t exactly the baseball equivalent of Socrates schooling Plato.  Hanley Ramirez picking Albert Pujols’ brain on hitting in the 3-hole?  That’s a conversation you imagine to be fruitful.  But Castillo talking speed?  The word sabotage seems more appropriate.

Hopefully, these offseason sessions do make Bonifacio more like Castillo.  If Bonifacio comes into the season ready to slap singles, nonchalantly lob balls flat-footed to first base, and lay down bunts when it doesn’t make sense to, then hey, by all means let school remain in session.  Castillo might provide more value to the Mets than we think after all.