Helping Castillo

Coaches do a lot of little things for every player. Sometimes a player benefits greatly, sometimes not.

Jose Castillo has been red-hot since ending an uncomfortable period in which he was learning to use a leg kick. As Mac explains it:

Castillo is benefiting from a leg kick he adopted in his batting stance that has helped him hit the ball to the opposite field. "It's designed to let the ball travel to you," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "You can stay on the breaking ball a lot longer."

Joe Rutter has that and Castillo's gaudy numbers since August 10 in his notebook.

No leg kick in this photo but it's a good one nonetheless.