The Best Back Up Catcher In Basebasll

George Willis at The New York Post writes about Ramon Castro, the best back up catcher in baseball:

It was the elder Castro who taught his son the game of baseball, a sport Castro Sr. played well enough to be a fixture in the Puerto Rican leagues. It was dad who taught his son how to respect the game, his teammates and to always be prepared physically and mentally when his opportunity came. Castro Jr. has learned those lessons well, making him more valuable to the Mets than anyone can truly realize.

He proved his value again yesterday. With Paul Lo Duca nursing a strained right hamstring, Castro drew the start yesterday afternoon against the Washington Nationals. In a game shortened by rain, he produced a double and a two-run homer in his two at-bats during the Mets’ 5-0 victory.

“He’s one of the better backup catchers in the game,” Mets manager Willie Randolph said. “He’s always ready to play for us. He has been a big part of our success the last couple of years.”