Despite offensive regression, Castro playing every day

ST. LOUIS -- One year ago, Starlin Castro was batting .302, and headed to his second All-Star Game. The Cubs shortstop entered Thursday's game batting .235 for the season.

"By his numbers alone, he's regressed, there's no question about it," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said Thursday. "You're getting way, way down, as far as all the other shortstops in baseball -- as far as the offensive part. He's under .600 OPS. That would go without saying that he's regressed."

Castro has played every game, and Sveum said he hasn't given the shortstop a breather yet, because he hasn't found a good day. Castro has done well defensively. If he did sit, Cody Ransom would sub at shortstop.

Part of the problem has been Castro's mechanics at the plate.

"He knows the formula," Sveum said. "The rest is up to him. He knows the issues and the mechanical things that are different than when he first got up to the big leagues. It's up to him to get all of that ironed out."