Santiago, Dominican Republic
In one small clear plastic container was the white rice, the other container had plantains. The Dominican Republic staples came courtesy of Rangers pitcher Franklyn German, Casilla's countryman and neighbor back home on the island, and the smell alone brought a smile to the Oakland reliever's face.
The timing could not have been better. Call it comfort food for a man that has never looked more comfortable. The right-hander is having success on the mound and enjoying every minute of it.
"Santiago's stuff has always been there, but now he's confident being in the Major Leagues and he looks forward to pitching in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings when we have the lead," Oakland pitching coach Curt Young said. "It comes with confidence. When you are comfortable in the situation, you can let your talent work for you. Success brings confidence, and he has had a lot of success."
Until he was charged with a run Saturday against the Rangers, Casilla had not been scored upon in 18 innings of work this season. He still boasts a 2-0 record with a 0.47 ERA in 19 1/3 innings in 2008. For his career, he is 5-1 with a 4.22 ERA in 81 innings starting in 2004.
"They scored on me, but that's baseball," Casilla, 27, said. "It shows that I was throwing the ball well and we are playing well. I'm just trying to do my job and have some fun. It's been great because I have more experience here. Last year, I got to know the league."
Oakland manager Bob Geren said he respects Casilla's streak, but all goals are ultimately team-oriented and Casilla has definitely helped the team reach its goal -- to win games.
"He has a great slider, he's throwing in the mid-90s and his location has been pretty close to perfect," Geren said. "If you watch him pitch all the time you can understand why he is doing so well. He has been very dominating at times."
In 2007, Casilla went 3-1 with a 4.44 ERA in 50 2/3 innings and helped fill in for Huston Street at times when the Athletics closer was injured. This season, he is a big reason Oakland relievers rank first in the American League with eight wins and a 2.79 ERA. Overall, Oakland's pitching is tops in the American League with a 3.29 ERA.
"He was kind of inconsistent toward the end of the season, but he was good and you always saw the flash of talent," Oakland reliever Alan Embree said. "From Spring Training on, he has had a different approach. He wants the ball and he wants to be on the mound."
"In order to be comfortable as a reliever you have to go through ups and downs," Embree continued. "You have to go through low points because it tests the character of a player. You have to come back to the high level you were before. Santiago understands that."
Casilla admits the road has been an eventful one. He once went by the name Jairo Garcia and claimed to be almost three years younger before the truth was discovered in 2006. It's a topic he does not like to discuss, because he said it's part of his past and he wants to focus on his present and future instead.
He's not shy about his distant past, however, growing up as one of 12 siblings near San Cristobal and about his brother Jose, a farmhand in the Giants organization.
"We were a normal family and everybody knew I wanted to be a baseball player," Casilla said. "My father played when he was younger, but I don't know if you can say we were a family of baseball players. Jose is good. He will be here one day."
"Here" is a good place for Casilla, because the big leagues are literally starting to feel like home. Casilla lives in the same Palenque neighborhood as Major Leaguers Vladimir Guerrero (Angels), Timo Perez, Juan Uribe (White Sox), Francisco Liriano (Twins) along with German and said having buddies on big league rosters is good for his confidence. It can't be bad for his hunger pangs, either.
"It's a great experience to have all of your friends here with you, to help you," Casilla said. "This is where everybody wants to be and I'm very happy to be here."
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