KC continues to amaze me with Mike Aviles although with the way they have handled players in the past, nothing really surprises me. Aviles is a KC draft pick who has hit at every level. KC’s offense is crying for another stick in the lineup. He can play SS, 2B or 3B and by all accounts is a gritty player (which we know is a highly valuable asset). No one really knows about his glove until Aviles is in KC doing it on a big league level. Are the Royals the only ones who don’t see they have to give this kid a chance? He’s a minor league veteran so it’s not like he is a flash in the pan. Aviles had a good spring training in 2008.

Here is my biggest point – why is KC so reluctant to promote Aviles or Maier (who is hitting in the .370s).? It was the same with Huber – What have they got to lose? TPJ is a great glove but let’s face it – the stick is a rally killer. Aviles will be another player who leaves KC and sticks with another organization while the Royals moan about lack of production.

If anything, it should be the opposite. That the Royals infielders have committed so few throwing errors this year is testament not only to their defensive prowess, but to Gload’s ability to catch their mistake throws on a very consistent basis.

Royals Authority actually has a good post about the Royal’s defense—it is from a few weeks ago, so it is a little dated, but it is worth checking out. I think the title of the piece is “Defense, Draft, and a pitcher named C.C.”

Also, we don’t know exactly what the Dodgers were offering for German. Sure, dealing German relieves the logjam we have at the backup IF bench positions, but if we just call up Aviles to replace German, we are right back where we started. We should only trade German if another team is willing to give us an equal player in return—we should NOT trade him simply for the sake of trading him.

If/when the Royals play themselves out of contention this year and deal Grudz to the highest bidder, I would not be opposed to calling up Aviles for a look (and to give Callaspo and Gordon a night off here and there). But for now, what is the point of calling up yet another utility infielder who can’t hack it at short? We already have a glut of those.

which we all think will happen

Steady, albeit a bit slow, progress in the minors. This year so far is indeed a spike in production that must be sustained another couple of months to be taken seriously. If he’s still producing like this at the trade deadline, we should either call him up after a trade or see what we can get for him. If he could play LF and 1B as well as 2B, his bat could make him a worthwhile member of the mix at those positions. I’m pretty sure he could DH, too.

Year Team Lg Age Org. Level Pos Ln G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO HBP IBB SH SF DP AVG OBP SLG OPS
2003 Az Royals Ariz 22 Kc Rk ss 52 212 51 77 19 5 6 39 11 5 13 28 5 0 2 5 2 .363 .404 .585 989 -
2004 Wilmington Caro 23 Kc A+ ss 126 463 66 139 40 4 6 69 2 5 39 57 1 2 1 6 8 .300 .352 .443 795 -
2005 Wichita Tex 24 Kc AA ss 133 521 79 146 33 6 14 80 11 6 30 64 1 1 2 5 16 .280 .318 .447 765 -
2006 Omaha PCL 25 Kc AAA 3b 129 469 52 124 21 3 8 47 14 5 28 48 2 0 0 3 14 .264 .307 .373 680 -
2007 Omaha PCL 26 Kc AAA ss-3b 133 538 78 159 27 6 17 77 5 5 30 59 2 0 5 6 24 .296 .332 .463 795 -
2008 Omaha PCL 27 Kc AAA 37 159 33 57 18 6 6 30 3 0 7 16 1 0 0 1 1 .358 .387 .660 1047 -

Minor League Totals – 6 Season(s) 610 2362 359 702 158 30 57 342 46 26 147 272 12 3 10 26 65 .297 .338 .462 800

I have no problem with him in left either. And no, you don’t bring him up this second. But i really have no problem with letting go of TPJ outright or go the whole player (or cash)-to-be-named-later route. You only keep a defensive shortstop that can’t hit if their name is Ozzie.
And saying a player will never cut it at a position defensively is stupid. Brett became a good defender 9 or 10 years after his rookie year. In the minors, scouts said Scott Rolen couldn’t catch a cold and look at him now. They brought him up for his stick and developed him into an outstanding fielder (Rolen was 3 years younger though).

The Royals need his bat. This division will continue to be mediocre and because of Cleveland and Detroit’s issues the Royals are actually contenders. I really think it might come down to Cleveland and Kansas City for the Central, with Minnesota staying close. If GMDM makes the proper moves at the proper times these slow starts by division counterparts could be the blessing this city needs. This is an average ballclub in an average division. Cleveland scares me but no one else is actually better than the Royals. The problem is our sticks and the kid can rake. Bottom line.

Not trying to be that crazy fan that takes a decent record and makes plans on buying playoff tickets… but Cleveland is the only team I see returning to form.

I’m not trying say he’s anywhere close with the bat but that was just for those who don’t think a player can progress defensively in the majors

logjam at second base that could be filled with German, Callaspo or Aviles. All are younger, cheaper and actually have a future with the club beyond 2008. Not trading Grudz if there is an opportunity would be short-sighted.

and German have the potential to have the two highes OBP’s on the team yet they don’t play very much because TPJ and Grudz start every game. I really think Callaspo would be a better SS or a better second basemen than either one of the incumbents. I’m not Grudz bashing (although I always TPJ bash). I just think he is the least viable long term option in a loaded position. Getting rid of him sooner instead of later has its advantages.

and he has looked marginally acceptable there to me,

then that opens up DH for Aviles.

Seriously, if his defense isn’t good enough, and he is having a career year with the stick, why couldn’t he outhit Gload?

This makes even more sense if Moore trades some of his excess (3 viable 2Bs and 2 viable starting catchers) for other needs, such as shortstop. That would open up the DH spot for Aviles.

Moore was on 810 yesterday, and when asked about the prospects he saw in Omaha, he more or less said they were ready for the big leagues, but the only position players the Royals have that still have options are Butler, Gordon, and Teahen. Obviously, none of those players are or should be candidates to be sent down, so basically he was saying his hands were tied.

We will all have to wait another month or two for the trading deadline for any of this to be resolved, if then…