Rookie Castro might contend for batting title

With the National League Rookie of the Year race looking as wide open as it has in years, it'll probably take something dramatic for one of the Cubs' kids to have a chance.

Like maybe a batting title?

Don't look now, but shortstop Starlin Castro has put himself into the thick of the batting race, even if you can't find his name among the league leaders.

When he singled in the first inning Friday off St. Louis Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook, he moved one point ahead of NL batting leader Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies, at .323, but was 17 plate appearances short of qualifying among the leaders.

He finished 1-for-4, putting his average at .319.

''Isn't that wonderful?'' manager Lou Piniella said. ''This kid here is a player. He's gotten better and better as the season's progressed. You know, he makes his rookie mistakes, but we live with him and work with him, and he's really coming along.''

Playing every day and batting second, Castro should have enough plate appearances to qualify by the end of the month.

And the way he's hitting -- .403 since July 10 -- he might be on track for a lofty debut among the league leaders.

''One thing I've noticed is that he's tightened up his strike zone a little bit,'' Piniella said. ''He doesn't walk much, and it's because he doesn't swing and miss all that much either; he puts the ball in play. He's got good hand-eye.

''He's gotten better; there's no question about it. And I'm sure that these other teams are starting to pay more attention to him -- where he's at in the lineup and how to pitch to him and so forth. So far, I haven't seen one specific way to [effectively] pitch the young man.''

NOTES

The Cubs activated Derrek Lee from the bereavement list Friday and optioned Micah Hoffpauir back to Class AAA Iowa to make room. Lee missed the four-game series in San Francisco to tend to his ailing grandfather.

- Third baseman Aramis Ramirez missed his third straight game because of rib-cage soreness he said had improved Friday. Piniella was optimistic Ramirez would return to the lineup today.

- Jeff Baker was in Friday's original lineup at third base until he experienced back pain during early pregame work. He's day-to-day.

- Darwin Barney made his major-league starting debut Friday at second base with Blake DeWitt taking Baker's place at third.

TODAY'S GAME - CUBS (48-68) AT CARDINALS (65-49) - 3:10, FOX-32, 720-AM

Carlos Zambrano

3-6, 5.46 ERA

'10 vs. Cardinals: 0-0, 0.00 (2 G)

Career vs. Cardinals: 10-6, 3.50 (24 GS)

Zambrano vs. Cardinals

Pujols: 16-for-61, .262, 5 HR, 14 RBI

Lopez: 14-for-40, .350, 2 HR, 7 RBI

Y. Molina: 7-for-32, .219, 4 RBI

Miles: 8-for-31, .258, 2 BB, 2 K's

Schumaker: 10-for-29, .345, 3 RBI

LaRue: 5-for-28, .179, 13 K's

vs.

Chris Carpenter

13-3, 2.89 ERA

'10 vs. Cubs: 1-0, 2.63 (2 GS)

Career vs. Cubs: 10-3, 2.79 (19 GS)

Carpenter vs. Cubs

Lee: 16-for-52, .308, 6 RBI, 10 K's

Ramirez: 15-for-51, .294, 4 2B

Soriano: 13-for-39, .333, 2 HR, 7 RBI

Byrd: 6-for-17, .353, RBI, 3 K's

Fukudome: 2-for-13, .154, 2 BB

Zambrano: 6-for-10, 2B, 2 K's

Color Photo: (See microfilm for photo description).