Starlin Castro Draws Stern Words From Cubs Manager Mike Quade for Lack of Hustle

Starlin Castro will have a tough time making the All-Star Game, as the National League is stacked at shortstop. If he doesn't get a spring in his step, he might have trouble getting on the field for his own team, too.

The 21-year-old Chicago Cubs shortstop was called out by manager Mike Quade for a lack of hustle in Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals. Castro dove for a grounder but could not make the play, and stayed on the ground while center fielder Reed Johnson ran in to pick up the ball.

Royals cleanup hitter Alex Gordon ended up on second base with an RBI double.

"It better not happen again, and he knows it," Quade told reporters after the game. "He just gets frustrated. He wants to make the play. He doesn't make the play, and then just has a letdown."

This was the second time in a week that a star shortstop drew the ire of his manager for a lack of hustle. Marlins manager Jack McKeon made out his first lineup Monday without perennial All-Star Hanley Ramirez because McKeon didn't like the way Ramirez was running the day before.

Ramirez, however, is batting just .218 with 12 extra base hits and is no threat to make the mid-summer classic. Castro, in contrast, is one of the NL's top three shortstops this season, with a .326 average and 42 runs scored. The Mets' Jose Reyes is expected to start for the NL at shortstop and the Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki will likely make the team as well.