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does anyone know what his bonus was? the Taylor bonus was a huge deal, but Vitiello was 7th himself... he really didnt cash in much... lots of "normal people" will top 1.5 mil over a decade and a half

A stirring tribute to one of the greatest late-20th Century first baseman from Massachusetts with a last name starting with "V" to play with the Kansas City Royals.  

(as a side note, when I saw the headline "Honoring Joe Vitiello" I thought that perhaps he had DIED! :))

However, after I regained my composure, secure in the knowledge that Joe was NOT dead, I started thinking about who else from the post-80's Royals deserves his due.

I came up with 2 possibles:

1. Tony Muser's favorite player:  

Scott Pose.

A man who set the standard for how every player should play the game - by amassing in two seasons (99-00) over 12 RBI, 48 hits while managing to hit no triples or homeruns - not easy to do.  
Of course the story of "Scotty" is about all the little things he did that don't show up on the scoresheet - which must have been what he did in the dugout since he only had  185 at bats.  
I, for one, salute your incredible "intangibles" Mr. Scott Vernon Pose.  (yes, his middle name is Vernon)

2. The most unsung pitcher in the modern era:

Eduardo Villacis

How unsung is he? Despite his greatness*, by the end of the 2004 season, his own teammates couldn't remember his name!  Shameful. Especially considering his courageous effort pitching against the Bronx Bombers in a hostile Yankee Stadium.  He only gave up five runs in 3 innings (in a 12-4 loss) which is quite good considering manager Tony Peña didn't seem to know anything about him or his stuff.  How was he rewarded?  By being released.  ¡Vaya con dios mi amigo!  We barely knew (or remember) you.

*The standard of greatness used in this tribute may not match the standards of anyone else, and may stretch the limits of reality.

tomorrow

besides, joe deserves it

Born in the same year I was.  Looked like a power hitter.  He had a strong build.  When he stepped into the batter's box, he looked like he should crush the ball.  He rarely did.

I remember when he came up, he was touted as a HR hitter.  He always slugged well in AAA.  Then, as the power didn't develop, he was touted as a great gap-to-gap line drive hitter.  That didn't develop either.  He turned into just another AAAA player (think Shane Costa).

Never really thought he got a fair shake. He spent three years in the minors, did nothing but hit, then got the call in 1995. He didn't embarrass himself, and hit a fine .254/.317/.446 with seven homers in 53 games for a home run starved team. With the implosion of Bob Hamelin, he was made the starting DH in 1996.

He didn't set the world on fire, but again he didn't embarrass himself - .241/.342/.401. I'm not really sure why they pulled the plug on him, but midway through the season they demoted him and made Mike Sweeney and Bip Roberts the designated hitters. Not exactly great alternatives (it was Sweeney's rookie year and his numbers are fairly similar to Joe's). Joe tore it up in Omaha.

In '97 he got off to a great start and by Memorial Day he was hitting .304/.407/.406 but with just one home run. He then went on a terrible 2-33 slump that dropped his average 70 points and probably doomed his career.

The next two years he dominated Omaha, slugging .492 and .576 while the Royals wasted their time with DHs like Terry Pendleton, Hal Morris, Jeremy Giambi, and even Scott Pose. Vitiello hit .318/.405/.579 with 28 homers in 1999 with Omaha, and got just 41 at bats in KC. At the end of the year, the Royals let him go.

Joe bounced around terrorizing AAA pitchers, and even smacking 22 homers in a season in Japan. I think he's a guy that could have become a Jack Cust type player under the right circumstances, or at the very least a Wily Mo Pena. Certainly the Royals had little to lose playing him over Terry Pendleton.

And the obvious modern day comp for him would be Mr. Ryan Shealy.

Do not worry, Joe did not make the Top 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time.

David Howard, Joe Vitiello....Will, are we subjecting Royals Reviewers to an excessive amount of mid-90s crappiness?

Although I can't recall if that was his actual nickname or if that's just how I fondly remember him.

Look at his career SLG.  He never developed much power.  And his limited power was the best thing about him.  He was just like one of many players who could excel in AAA but fell on his face in the majors.  I'm sure once Shane Costa is out of the organization, bounces around the majors a little, the minors a lot and maybe plays a year overseas (not doing well anywhere except in the minors), some Royals fan will stay say "he just needed a chance to play everyday in the majors."  A lot of guys don't deserve that chance.  Joe was one of them.  I think Shane is too.  

I feel a player should play everyday if he is a prospect - and shouldn't be judged one way or another until he does.

Even a mere 300 ABs in a season is not enough. Let him start 150 games, and then we would know for sure what he was capable of.

Maybe a prospect should get a real chance, but there isn't going to be room for every decent, ok prospect to get 550 AB's in a full season.  And I think 300 ABs is probably enough.  I really doubt that a player would do well in 500 AB's but not well in 300 AB's.  I think "regular playing time" is highly overrated.  Joe got a good look and just didn't put it together...ever.

You could easily be correct in saying he was just another AAAA player - but it could also be that he might have been capable of more if he was given an every day job and left alone.

My point is we will never know for sure, because he WASN'T given that chance.

In my opinion, he was given too much of a chance.  He played with the Royals for parts of five seasons for a total of 693 major league at bats.  His career major league line was .248/.335/.414.  Yuck.  I can't believe he stuck around as long as he did.

If you agree with that, then it stands to reason they very EASILY could have been wrong on Joe V.

Indeed the Royals organization doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt.  But after the Royals he was in the San Francisco, San Diego and Montreal organizations and couldn't stick with either team.  After that, no major league team wanted him.  Was every organization wrong about him?

I don't think the Royals should "stick with" every mediocre prospect and give them a full season or multiple full season of everyday play.  There is a reason most of these guys don't get that much playing time.  They don't deserve it.  Joe Vitiello was a consistent failure in the majors with the Royals and other organizations.  He proved that he wasn't good enough to play major league ball.  Shane Costa is well on his way to proving the same thing.  I don't want more at bats wasted on guys like that and their limited potential.