The St. Louis Cardinals’ Worst Enemies

Starlin Castro, 2B, Chicago Cubs

St. Louis Cardinals Killer #4: Starlin Castro. Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s hope the Cubs jettison Castro to some hapless American League club. Because say what you want about him. The erstwhile shortstop comes to play against the National League Central. For his career, hit hits at or near .300 against the St. Louis Cardinals, Pirates and Brewers. And while he’s hit more career homers against the Pirates than any other club in his 5 years in the bigs, he’s driven in 25 runs at Busch as well as PNC Park.

Many of those ribbies against the Cards came last season, when his 19 total driven in was the most he had against any single team. The Cub you’d expect, Rizzo, had 16. So why do Cubs fans in particular want to get rid of Castro? He’s been a riddle wrapped in an enigma. A player every one agrees has tremendous talent, but, at age 25, has yet to fulfill it. (Note to John Mozeliak: There’s still time! Buy low!)

Check out Castro’s tumultuous 2015. He hit .325 in April, then under .250 in May and June. But the pitchforks came out in July, when Castro hit just .170, which surely helped compel skipper Joe Maddon to move the long-time shortstop to second base in August.

That seemed to light a fire under Castro, who hit .295 for the month, but then .429 down the stretch in September. “Madden is a genius!” everyone in Chicago cried. Alas, Castro disappeared again, hitting below the Mendoza line in 16 regular season at bats in October and .176 in 34 postseason at bats.

Are you thinking the same thing? Yeah. Both the Cardinals and Castro could benefit from a change in his scenery.

Next: D.J. LeMahieu