Everyone knows I am no Gathright fan, but at least he brings something to the table – speed. He also has shown a limited ability to draw walks. As a fourth outfielder, I am fine with a player like that.

I do think the Royals should consider carrying a fifth outfielder next season. The bench is awfully thin, and we could use a guy who at least has the possibility of hitting a home run or at least a double. A guy like Costa would fit that role well.

Is a fifth outfielder at best. He can’t hit. I’m sorry, he just can’t, not enough for a fourth outfielder. Meaning—he shouldn’t be starting unless there’s a desparate injury or a double header or something. He’s a late-inning defensive fill-in and pinch-runner. He’s probably a bit better than Maier, but if some other stupid GM thinks that Gator’s “speed” is a super-duper weapon and, that at 27, he still has time to develop 5 HR/year power (one can always dream), then trade him and use Maier in that 5th outfielder role.

A fourth outfielder needs to be able to hit acceptably. I don't know if "that guy" is in the system. but  assuming that a big name isn't signed as an outfielder next year, I've been thinking than the Royals could do worse than to find a right-handed fourth outfielder who could platoon with Teahen and fill in at either corner when Guillen has multiple pulled groins, etc. Unfortuneatley, Lubanski's splits don't put him in that role. Someone who is blocked like Jhonny Gomes might not be bad, if he was cheaply attainable. Hasn't been dynamite, but he was hurt last year and Maddon hardly ever plays him. That would be a good fourth outfielder who could Dh occasionally, make the RF numbers more acceptable (in platooning with Teahan) and wouldn't kill the Royals when filling in for Guillen. It doesn't necessarily have to be Gomes - I'm assuming there are a number of guys like that out there - they won't all turn out like Marcus Thames, but even Matt Diaz-types fill that role well. Having a guy like that fourth puts Gathright more into his role (and if Gathright is gone, a fifth outfielder is something you can fill with a AAA journeyman without too much impact -- Maier, etc.)

What are Costa R/L splits like?

I don’t like Costa for reasons I don’t quite understand. I never thought he was a very good outfielder. I have these memories of him taking really poor routes to fly balls and turning singles into extra base hits. I wish Lubanski would live up to his draft position.

I don’t think I am alone in thinking that we shouldn’t give up on this guy yet. He was a high draft pick, but has seemingly always been treated by Royals fans as an afterthought.

(I’m not looking anything up b/c 1/2 the websites are blocked by my fascist company, so if my facts are wrong below, let me know about it…)

He was called up initially after right around a year in the Minors. He’s never been given consistant AB’s in KC for an extended period of time. When I look at his career path, I think he could easily wind up like a Raul Ibanez. The kind of guy that once he gets a shot somewhere, and he gets those consistent AB’s, he could blossom fairly quickly.

I’ve said it before, the second I saw this guys swing on the scouting video the day we drafted him I fell in LOVE with that swing. He’s got a quick bat, has some quicks on the bases (obviously not Joey quicks, but he ain’t slow), and just always struck me as a guy that would do the little things to stick…I hope we see him this year in September, and next year in April

should be the team’s 4th OF/superutility player if we are going to be a contending team.