The image of New York Mets second baseman Luis Castillo looking wildly about for the two-out, bottom-of-the-ninth Alex Rodriguez popup that he dropped, allowing the New York Yankees to score two runs and win the game in June 2009, is burned into Mets-Yankees lore for eternity. Soon, that may be the only place Mets fans see Castillo anymore.
The New York Post reports that Mets manager Terry Collins is ready to dump 35-year-old Castillo, who is owed $6 million this season, and name 26-year-old Luis Hernandez as his starter at second.
The paper notes that Collins needs to convince the front office of his decision but that he's "confident he will have final say in the matter after hearing opinions from his coaching staff, general manager Sandy Alderson and special adviser J.P. Ricciardi, among others."
Castillo has asked to be released if the team doesn't plan to start him, the Post reports.
"I know I can still play," Castillo said, according to the paper.
Hernandez is hitting .417 this spring with appearances in six games.
