With Kosuke Fukudome resting a sore hamstring the last few days, Cubs manager Mike Quade has used Starlin Castro as the leadoff hitter, with Darwin Barney hitting second. The experiment has been pretty successful, to say the least.
Castro has gone 8 for 15 in the leadoff spot, scoring 4 runs in the process. While Barney, hitting in Castro's usual spot, has gone 4 for 11, with 3 runs scored and 2 rbi's.
I know, its a small sample size, but it is enough to probably make Quade consider Castro and Barney as a regular 1-2 punch.
Both players have similar minor league numbers in terms of making contact (strikeout rates around 11%) and drawing walks (walk rates between 6-7%). The contact numbers are great, but they both could be a little more patient at the plate.
Castro is a star in the making and will probably hit no matter where you put him in the lineup. He's probably best suited for hitting atop the lineup (either in the 1 or 2 spot) at this point in his caree...
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