Barney came up through a great college program where he was taught well. His team won the college world series. It is said a good college player who has played 4 years in a good program is equal to a AAA player. Castro is still in the learning mode but he has that natural hitting stroke and some other natural abilities. Barney instinctively knows how to run the bases and see ahead. He does not need to think about a play he just does it. Castro still has to think about some of his moves. Barney is basically a complete player but will never be the hitter Castro is. Whether Castro will learn the instincts Barney learned in the 4 years of college play against the best college programs in the nation is yet to be determined. At 22 he still has a lot of time to learn if he has the right attitude and is in the learning mode. I think Castro needs to learn how to take a walk. It would improve his average. He rarely walks which is why he does not lead off. You can often see the frustration in Castro's expressions and body language after some sort of goof up. He has to learn to let what has happened go and move on to the next play. As a young pilot I thought I knew it all. As time went by I found out there is nothing that replaces experience when flying high speed fighters or bombers. The next time you get on a civilian airliner be very happy when you see your "grey haired captain".

LaHair cannot hit LH pitching. He is batting around .140 against them. I am beginning to think he is starting to backup from his great start. Seems to be striking out more. He will never be a regular in the majors until and if he learns to hit LH pitchers. This is probably why he has spent all those years in the minors. He should have learned by now and if he has not he likely never will. There has been many a great hitters in AAA who just could not make it in the majors for one weakness or another. I heard our TV announcers say the ML pitchers have already found the hole in his swing. Low and inside. I like the guy but I am not thinking he is going to be a great player for us. Perhaps a bench guy who can spell regulars or a pinch hitter against RH pitchers.

Barney at 26 isn't anywhere close to being in the same league as the 22 year old Starlin Castro.

Barney has a .666 career OPS.

Talk about unHoly awful hitting abilities, the guys the dang Anti-Christ.

Really appreciating your directness here. I could not have said it better, if I even tried. And it is a shame because no one was pulling harder for him. No problem at all keeping him around, like you say. But, to plan on him may be a fool's errand.