Starlin Castro, rookie shortstop for the Cubs, should have enough at-bats by next week to qualify for the batting title, and he would have ranked third in the National League with a .320 average entering Friday's game. "Isn't that wonderful," manager Lou Piniella said. "This kid here, he's a player. He's gotten better and better as the season has progressed. He makes his rookie mistakes, but we live with them and work with him. He's really coming along. He's taken to that two-hole." Castro needed 17 more at-bats through Thursday to qualify. The NL leader was the Rockies' Carlos Gonzalez at .322.