Chone Smith has recently released Wins Above Replacement Level (WAR) for all positional player 1955 to 2008. I went and look at the recent KC black hole, the shortstop position. Ever since the pair or Freddy Patek and U.L. Washington (with both of them splitting duties in 1979 for the transition), the Royals have not be able to fill the position until hopefully Mike Aviles steps up. Here is the list of top and bottom ten seasons for Royal Shortstops according to there WAR. I included Win Shares for comparison.
| WAR Rank | Year | Name | WAR | Win Shares | Win Shares Rank |
| 1 | 1997 | Jay Bell | 5.5 | 21 | 2 |
| 2 | 2008 | Mike Aviles | 3.9 | 17 | 5 |
| 3 | 1971 | Freddie Patek | 3.8 | 24 | 1 |
| 4 | 2003 | Angel Berroa | 3.8 | 16 | 6 |
| 5 | 1999 | Rey Sanchez | 3.6 | 12 | 17 |
| 6 | 1993 | Greg Gagne | 3.2 | 18 | 4 |
| 7 | 1976 | Freddie Patek | 3.1 | 14 | 13 |
| 8 | 2001 | Rey Sanchez | 3.1 | 10 | 26 |
| 9 | 1982 | U L Washington | 2.9 | 18 | 3 |
| 10 | 1973 | Freddie Patek | 2.6 | 16 | 7 |
| 44 | 1986 | Buddy Biancalana | -0.5 | 4 | 40 |
| 45 | 1987 | Angel Salazar | -0.5 | 5 | 33 |
| 46 | 1982 | Onix Concepcion | -0.9 | 2 | 49 |
| 47 | 1970 | Jackie Hernandez | -1.0 | 3 | 44 |
| 48 | 1985 | Onix Concepcion | -1.0 | 5 | 34 |
| 49 | 1979 | Freddie Patek | -1.1 | 3 | 45 |
| 50 | 1969 | Jackie Hernandez | -1.2 | 7 | 31 |
| 51 | 2002 | Neifi Perez | -1.7 | 6 | 32 |
| 52 | 2006 | Angel Berroa | -1.9 | 1 | 52 |
| 53 | 2008 | Tony Pena | -2.0 | 0 | 53 |
A few observations:
Here is the list of all the Shortstop(s) over the seasons with the their stats combined:
| Year | Name(s) | War | WinShares |
| 2008 | Pena Aviles | 1.9 | 17 |
| 2007 | Tony Pena | 0.8 | 10 |
| 2006 | Angel Berroa | -1.9 | 1 |
| 2005 | Angel Berroa | 0.5 | 11 |
| 2004 | Angel Berroa | 0.5 | 10 |
| 2003 | Angel Berroa | 3.8 | 16 |
| 2002 | Neifi Perez | -1.7 | 6 |
| 2001 | Sanchez/Perez | 3.1 | 13 |
| 2000 | Rey Sanchez | 2.3 | 9 |
| 1999 | Rey Sanchez | 3.6 | 12 |
| 1998 | Lopez/Halter | 0.3 | 8 |
| 1997 | Jay Bell | 5.5 | 21 |
| 1996 | David Howard | 0.4 | 9 |
| 1995 | Greg Gagne | 1.9 | 10 |
| 1994 | Greg Gagne | 1.5 | 11 |
| 1993 | Greg Gagne | 3.2 | 18 |
| 1992 | Rossy/Wilkerson | 0.9 | 12 |
| 1991 | Stillwell/Howard | 0.5 | 13 |
| 1990 | Kurt Stillwell | 1.1 | 12 |
| 1989 | Kurt Stillwell | 1.9 | 15 |
| 1988 | Kurt Stillwell | 2.6 | 16 |
| 1987 | Angel Salazar | -0.5 | 5 |
| 1986 | Salazar/Biancalana | 0.3 | 8 |
| 1985 | Biancalana/Concepcion | -1.1 | 8 |
| 1984 | Washingtion/Concepcion | 1.7 | 10 |
| 1983 | U L Washington | 0.6 | 13 |
| 1982 | Washingtion/Concepcion | 2 | 20 |
| 1981 | U L Washington | 1 | 8 |
| 1980 | U L Washington | 2.1 | 16 |
| 1979 | Washingtion/Patek | -0.4 | 8 |
| 1978 | Freddie Patek | 1.5 | 11 |
| 1977 | Freddie Patek | 2.3 | 15 |
| 1976 | Freddie Patek | 3.1 | 14 |
| 1975 | Freddie Patek | 0.8 | 11 |
| 1974 | Freddie Patek | 2.1 | 15 |
| 1973 | Freddie Patek | 2.6 | 16 |
| 1972 | Freddie Patek | 2.4 | 13 |
| 1971 | Freddie Patek | 3.8 | 24 |
| 1970 | Matchick/Hernandez/Severson | 0.1 | 10 |
| 1969 | Jackie Hernandez | -1.2 | 7 |
This FanPost was written by a member of the Royals Review community. It does not necessarily reflect the views of the editors and writers of this site.
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