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| (AP Photo) |
New England Patriots coach
Bill Belichick is fond of dispatching annoying reporters with the following zen-like observation, "It is what it is". Could it be that this aphorism is the best yardstick for evaluating
Rusney Castillo? To put things in perspective, the Red Sox shelled out the biggest contract ever to a defector from
Castro's Prison Island: $72.5 million. So far, they've gotten 91 major-league games in which he's hit .265 with 7 HRs. Not bad, but not worthy of that contract. This year, after being sent down to AAA, he's hitting .254 in 30 games at Pawtucket—
with zero HRs. All told, his minor league numbers are: .270 BA, 3 HRs, 29 RBIs, .326 OBP, .350 SLG, .676 OPS. Pedestrian at best. And, maybe that's just what Rusney is—an average player who was
way overpaid on nothing but 'spec'. So, the best alternative could be to package his "potential" with others in a deal for some starting pitching. After all, apparently,
he is what he is.
