THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 2, 1994 TAG: 9408020455
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
The Tides will get their wish after all. Though it appeared that righthander Juan Castillo might be sent back to Double-A, he instead has been directed to the Tides and is scheduled to debut Friday night at Harbor Park against Syracuse.
Castillo, 24, was the class of the many pitching prospects at Double-A Binghamton when he was recalled July 26 to make one start for the Mets. That stay extended to Sunday, when Castillo started again.
Monday, the Mets announced Castillo would join the Tides rather than return to Binghamton, where he was 11-2 with a 2.59 earned run average. Righthander Doug Linton was recalled to take Castillo's place in New York.
``His last 20-some innings he's given up one run,'' pitching coach Bob Apodaca said. ``He's got good stuff - well above-average fastball and he's developed a real good changeup. The things that are missing right now are a really consistent breaking pitch. He was throwing a slider in spring training, I think that's the pitch that is going to get him over the hump. It still has its rough edges, but they rate it better in the future than his curveball.''
Castillo, from Caracas, Venezuela, pitched 11 2/3 innings for the Mets and gave up 17 hits and nine runs for a 6.94 ERA. He walked five and struck out one. In Binghamton he fanned 80 and walked 44 in 111 1/3 innings.
Despite Castillo's protests upon failing to make the Tides in spring training, his extra Double-A time seemed to do him good.
He was 7-11 with a 4.56 ERA there a year ago, yet reacted harshly when he was told he was going back.
``It wasn't that I didn't want him, it was just that the people we were getting from the big leagues, we were dealt a hand,'' Apodaca said. ``Same thing with (Joe) Roa. They were basically in the same boat and they both didn't take it very well. (But) it wasn't like he set that league on fire last year. He still had some lessons to learn.''
LINTON LEAVES: Linton returns to the Mets after starting three games for the Tides since his demotion July 15. He was 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 18 innings.
Jonathan Hurst will take Linton's scheduled start tonight against Charlotte.
It will be Hurst's first start after 30 relief appearances.
DREAMING OF WRIGLEY: Eric Hillman expects to have his pick of teams as a minor league free agent this off-season. Expect the Chicago Cubs to be among the first teams queried.
Hillman grew up outside of Chicago and saw his first major league game at Wrigley Field.
``There's plenty of memories, so I'd probably choose the Cubs,'' said Hillman, 6-1 with a 3.14 ERA this season. ``There'd be nothing better than pitching where I've always wanted to pitch ever since I was a kid.''
As an adult, Hillman's pitched pretty well at Harbor Park. He's 9-0 in Norfolk the last two seasons. by CNB