Moves That Make Sense

Well it's been a couple of weeks since I last wrote about Kansas City baseball...and with good cause...every time I think about this team, I get a little bit depressed. 

In the time since that last post, the Royals have made some moves and shuffled some things around.  Most notable is the recalling of Mike Aviles and designation of Alex Gordon.  Ah...Alex Gordon...The Chosen One.  Or maybe not.

Gordon is now making a transition to left field, in an effort, I suppose, to give us a potential power hitting corner outfielder.  Will it work?  I dunno.  But it's worth a shot and I guess better than just throwing in the towel.  In the meantime, though, it's good to see Aviles back with the big league club.  Aviles has shown that he can, in fact, hit major league pitching (something Gordon has yet to prove on a consistent basis).  Aviles gives positional flexibility on defense as well.  Chris Getz not hitting well?  Plug Aviles in at 2B.  Yuni Betancourt underwhelming us at shortstop?  Aviles.  Callaspo playing horrible defense at the hot corner?  Aviles.  Maybe Mike Aviles is the real Chosen One.  At least for now.

My one gripe in all of this...Chris Getz hasn't done a lot to impress me outside of the first seven games or so.  The offense did look better before he was injured, and he does play a much better second base than Callaspo, but his bat just isn't looking good right now.  I could argue that maybe Gordon deserves a spot on the roster more than Getz...but if they're serious about the position change for Alex, probably better to do it in AAA.  I don't necessarily like Getz on the roster, but I can see where the organization's hands are a little tied.

Oh.  And Kila is on the roster.  Let's hope they actually let him play rather than sit the bench for two weeks.  That would just be a waste of time for all involved.

Good, Bad, and Ugly

Another version of Good, Bad, and Ugly.  I didn't want to start posting knee jerk reactions to games last week, or particular events as they unfolded.  Figured the best way to go was to let the first handful of games play out, take a step back, and react.  Decided to go with my second "Good, Bad, and Ugly" of 2010.

The Good

To start, the team seems a lot more athletic than it's been over the past few seasons.  Ankiel is a pretty solid all around guy to this point.  Most notably, he's running down balls in centerfield that I haven't seen a Royals' centerfielder track down for some time now.  We had DeJesus there, and he's as steady as they come, but more suited for a corner outfield spot.  Ankiel can flat out get after it, though.  And he's hitting.  So far. 

Two more sources of added athleticism:  Scott Podsednik and Chris Getz.  Our defensive OF play has been great, and Getz is leaps and bounds ahead of Callaspo as a defender.  The two of them have also shown they can get on base, and I think watching this team on the basepaths could be fun for a change (although I'm still not sold on Pods being a "great" baserunner, at least he CAN steal a base).  I was very excited to get Getz in the Teahen deal, and so far, he's not disappointed.

I also have to mention the starting pitching thus far (minus the debut of Meche).  They've looked fantastic.  All of them (again, minus Meche).  Zack, Luke (WOW), Bannister, and Davies have all done more than their share to get this team in the win column - but the bullpen (see "The Ugly") has been a trainwreck.  I don't know how well this starting rotation will pitch over the course of a 162 game season, but so far, so good.


The Bad

The team is not taking advantage of the starting pitching and jumping out to leads.  We still lack the offensive power we need to compete in the American League, and it shows.  We're seeing starting pitchers allow anywhere from zero to three or four runs...and we need to capitalize.  As an offense, we shouldn't barely be hanging on to a 1-0 nothing lead, or having to rally in the later innings to salvage a quality start.  Hillman has as close as he's ever had to that "scrappy" roster he's wanted...and now we need to see that he can manage this team.  Since we can't throw runs on the board in bunches, we need to see Hillman managing this offense into manufactured runs...and I haven't seen it enough yet.  Even though we're playing small ball, with this bullpen, we're going to HAVE to average at least five runs per game to hang in there.

One more item for "The Bad."  The handling of Mike Aviles.  If Hillman/Dayton Moore weren't sold on his arm being recovered enough to play third base or shortstop, they should have sent him to Omaha from day one.  In Omaha, he could play everyday, and his throws could be very easily monitored.  As it stands, he's wasted a week on the big league roster, being used as a pinch runner, and we have no idea how his throws will look in a game situation.  They've essentially wasted everyone's time by letting him sit the bench.  The kind of move that makes me pull my hair out.

The Ugly

The bullpen.  I don't really need to say any more than that, do I?  I mean...the Royals are carrying 13 pitchers.  Obviously, this won't last (they can't spread themselves so thin on the bench) but they need to figure out who their guys are going to be.  And fast.  Then either recall Aviles, or if his arm is in fact not ready, bring up Wilson Betemit to play as a multi-position sub, or...god forbid, give Kila a shot as a 1B/DH/pinch hitter.

Tad Iguchi?

According to some rumors, the Royals are one of a few teams interested in the services of Tad Iguchi, although some Japanese clubs are also after him.

Not sure I like this move, but he could be a good veteran/utility guy to have around maybe...I'd rather see the middle infield of Aviles and Callaspo and see what we've got in those two.  Callaspo showed he could get on base last season and plays a solid second base.

Iguchi is 34 years old and hit around .230 (OBP around .290) last season...if we can get him on the cheap, I may be interested.  But what's the upside of this, really?