Remembering Mike Aviles
by Freneau on Aug 1, 2011 7:54 PM EDT
in Honoring & Remembering Former Kansas City Royals
Email
PrintMike Aviles was a product of the bad old days of the Royals farm system, a no-bonus pick from a cold-weather college who was a long shot to ever make the Majors. His odds got longer when a new regime came in, naturally, and even more so when everything about Aviles was antithetical to what the new regime (possibly rightly) believed in.
Still, he kept hitting and hitting and after, ohh, three effing years of historically bad hitting by Tony Pena Jr., Aviles finally got a shot. In this case, Aviles was the internet/stats geeks/bloggers/prospect nerd hero who actually hit the ground running after tearing up AAA.
As a rookie in 2008, Aviles hit an astounding .325/.354/.480. Given that this offensive performance came with good defense at shortstop, Aviles was performing at an MVP level. According to fWAR he was a 4.4 win player, 3.7 in brWAR. Just incredible. While Evan Longoria was a no-doubt American League ROY that season, you could make a serious argument that Aviles was the better player in 2008.
Even though he was plainly not an organizational favorite, the world opened before Aviles at the start of 2009, opened before him like the shell of Venus or somesuch. But this is a tragedy rather than an As Told To autobiography, so the opportunity was not to be realized. Aviles struggled with an elbow injury, attempted to play through it, was bad, and eventually needed Tommy John surgery. By all accounts, the organization was furious about this. (Which is odd and hypocritical, but what isn't from the Royals' FO?) The clam shell had closed.
Still, Aviles battled his way back, earning eventual playing time with the bad 2010 Royals. He was bad initially, but just as the vultures were circling, he hit .400 in September, which probably saved his career.
But 2011 was a rough year. Aviles made a number of prominent errors to begin the season and found himself without an obvious play behind favored parties such as Escobar, Getz, Betemit, and soon Mike Moustakas. He was eventually demoted, said he was unhappy about it, and thus earned the opprobrium of the vocal set of Aviles-haters among Royals fans.
Odd thing was, Aviles was a Moore player in many ways. He was aggressive as hell at the plate and his best assets were batting average skill and splashes of power. I've refrained from posting too many numbers in this post, because in some ways they've never told the entire story. He was the Baird-era ghost who exposed the deficiencies of the Moore regime in 2008, and the Baird-era ghost who exposed the deficiencies of the Baird-era in 2009 and 2010. Kinda. Overall, he was just a tremendously mismanaged guy. The Royals waited way too long to promote him, mishandled (or allowed him to mishandle, or baited him into mishandle) his injury in 2009 and then semi-buried him in 2010 and 2011 for a lesser player.
In his newsletter, Joe Sheehan made the comparison to Tony Graffanino, who was traded from KC to Boston at age 33 in 2005. As a Red Sox, Tony G had the 50 games of his life down the stretch with Boston, hitting .300 with power. Weirdly, Graffanino then re-signed with the Royals, who then traded him to Milwaukee in 2006 for Jorge de la Rosa, in one of Dayton's first trades. I wouldn't expect a repeat of that scenario.
89 comments
|
4 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
We're gonna miss you Aviles
Sorry that you were probably a victim of really weird management of prospects and minor leaguers.
SBN's most random and mysterious lurker
though I do love Royals Review
Follow me on Twitter if you want: Lum_SM
I don't particularly remember people thinking highly of Aviles before he was called up in 2008.
No one ever wanted to see TPJ again, but Aviles was a non-prospect in his third year of AAA with spotty defense (I believe he was actually playing 3B in Omaha that year). He’s never had an OBP that wasn’t inflated by high batting average, not to mention his weird batting stance. All in all, I’ve always liked (not loved) Mike Aviles – although it’s not hard to like a Royals SS who actually has value – but I wouldn’t call him an
internet/stats geeks/bloggers/prospect nerd hero who actually hit the ground running after tearing up AAA.He was the unquestionably better option at the position long before he came up, but he was never going to be a star.
Internet Sabr-Hero guys are usually not star-type players
Just guys who they believe could be useful, or better than their Major League counterparts in their organization.
Almost anyone would be better than TPJ, and Aviles was there… and he was awesome.
SBN's most random and mysterious lurker
though I do love Royals Review
Follow me on Twitter if you want: Lum_SM
by Lum on Aug 1, 2011 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions
I personally want to see Zelous Wheeler up in Milwaukee
Fangraphs Page
Though his PA total is really low this year so he may be injured or something
SBN's most random and mysterious lurker
though I do love Royals Review
Follow me on Twitter if you want: Lum_SM
by Lum on Aug 2, 2011 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Also, what's up with the batting stance hate from various people?
I don’t care if you look like a rabbit with a bat on acid at the plate as long as you hit well
SBN's most random and mysterious lurker
though I do love Royals Review
Follow me on Twitter if you want: Lum_SM
by Lum on Aug 1, 2011 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry, Lum---(as in Lum and Abner?).
I’m not a pro at watching baseball like you and many others on this board are, and I don’t really know much about the game, although I’ve watched every single Royals game that was broadcast the past 3 or 4 years and am a dedicated fan..
I called that twirly-bat thing he did his “batting stance.” I guess I meant his “wind-up?” or maybe his “warm-up swing” or even his “practice swing???” Or none of the above? Anyway, I misspoke—-I didn’t mean his stance was what annoyed me so much, but just that weird twirly-bird thing he did (does) above his head with the bat. I apologize for calling it his batting stance. I hope you can ever forgive me for being so ignorant?
I'm sorry but I don't respond to weird parody accounts
SBN's most random and mysterious lurker
though I do love Royals Review
Follow me on Twitter if you want: Lum_SM
by Lum on Aug 1, 2011 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't hate his stance.
It’s unconventional, leading some to claim that it would deter his major league production, particularly his power. If it works for him, great, but I remember some at the time claimed that it wouldn’t.
He was crushing AAA pitchers while TPJ flailed at the plate like a 7 year old girl
I distinctly remember Aviles having a Kila-like internet following during his heyday.
I was excited about Kila
I remember raging several times that he was just rotting in AAA all season while Mike Jacobs turned into a puddle of radioactive waste
SBN's most random and mysterious lurker
though I do love Royals Review
Follow me on Twitter if you want: Lum_SM
by Lum on Aug 1, 2011 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions
anyone who claims they were never excited about kila is a liar
by YouDon'tPhaseMeGobble on Aug 1, 2011 10:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
bullshit...
find me one post that ive made over the past 3 or 4 years where i seemed excited about him…i wasnt alone in this opinion but i was definitely in the minority
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Aug 1, 2011 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I remember there was a poster at Royals Scout
Who was a big Omaha fan and I think she even hosted the players a lot and got to know them. Anyways, she was a HUGE Aviles fan and kept saying he should get a shot. Many others of us thought he was a AAAA player at best, a non prospect putting up big numbers against guys younger than himself. Well she was right and we were wrong. We eventually came around, much quicker than Royals brass did.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
The pickoffs will not be missed
I am probably the only Royals fan in Hong Kong?
by Yamfun Cheng Kamfun on Aug 1, 2011 8:25 PM EDT reply actions
He was eventually demoted, said he was unhappy about it, and thus earned the opprobrium of the vocal set of Aviles-haters among Royals fans.
While the Aviles man-crush brigade waxed ecstatic over his .220 ba, .his .190 against righties, and his elegant grace playing soccer on a baseball diamond. His greatest use this year was as a warning to those who lust in their hearts for Johnny Giavotella. Aviles suggested about a 25-30% difference in hitting between Omaha and KC, as did the equally loved and mourned Kila, as did even the evil Twin Moore Messiahs, Hoz and the Moose. Guess we can expect Gio to come in at about .250. Oooooh, the goosebumps of antici……PAtion.
Also I love your in-depth study of the difference between hitting for Omaha and KC
I love that it’s based on a sample of FOUR
SBN's most random and mysterious lurker
though I do love Royals Review
Follow me on Twitter if you want: Lum_SM
by Lum on Aug 1, 2011 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Yeah, didn't you know that predicting how AAA hitters would hit in the big leagues is by taking their numbers down 25%
Guy’s probably gonna start working on Minor League Equivalency formulas for fangraphs soon!
Killing time until time kills me
Some people are crazy enough to evaluate a player based on more than the current year’s stats. But Ron Polk and Lee Judge wouldn’t approve of that. Good ol’ fashioned, grizzled baseball men apparently only care about what you’re doing right now. Carl Crawford? Release his worthless ass. I bet he wouldn’t get many Polk-Judge points.
You may know me as NYRoyal.
by Scott McKinney on Aug 1, 2011 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Aviles was always one of my favorites
I read a little story or blog post in the Star about his background and it was pretty inspiring. A four year college player from a no name school, drafted by KC and received a slap in the face bonus ($1000), and basically had to dominate every level before getting a promotion.
I know some fans soured on him over the last year but I will keep rooting for him.
Trade won!
SBN's most random and mysterious lurker
though I do love Royals Review
Follow me on Twitter if you want: Lum_SM
by Lum on Aug 1, 2011 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Is he wearing this?
SBN's most random and mysterious lurker
though I do love Royals Review
Follow me on Twitter if you want: Lum_SM
by Lum on Aug 1, 2011 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Only
a little —
nice swing jackass
by Sean O on Aug 1, 2011 5:24 PM PDT reply actions
omfg I hate this man
his stance is infuriating, he swings at utter garbage.
by Sean O on Aug 1, 2011 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Is Aviles getting set
or playing helicopter?
by Tessie’s Dad on Aug 1, 2011 5:25 PM PDT reply actions
he sucks so so so much
slow clap, Theo.
by Sean O on Aug 1, 2011 5:26 PM PDT up reply actions
what was wrong with Sutton?
by BoldandBrash on Aug 1, 2011 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions
wasn’t a nobody Royals backup
by Sean O on Aug 1, 2011 5:28 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm At Work
So I can’t follow too closely.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Aug 1, 2011 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions
A group of random people calling themselves the Houston Astros
are beating the Reds 3-0 in the 2nd.
Stuck following the Royals since 1976.
Their depth chart at MLB.com the other day didn't have a CF on it
SBN's most random and mysterious lurker
though I do love Royals Review
Follow me on Twitter if you want: Lum_SM
by Lum on Aug 1, 2011 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions
No Royals? No worries!
“Ball up Streetball” on FSKC. Since we had to miss it the other night…
Stuck following the Royals since 1976.
Going to miss Mike
He seemed like a cool guy and was actually a good player even though he was from New York. Cheers to future success hopefully.
by KCTiger on Aug 1, 2011 8:53 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Aviles Apparently Had a Huge Ego
But aside from that, and aside from 2008, does anyone really think he should be a regular? I guess if his fielding was close to Getz’s fielding at second, he is better than Getz, but isn’t the consensus here that Getz is not good enough?
by Kansas City Oracle on Aug 1, 2011 9:01 PM EDT reply actions
No
But there was always someone a lot worse starting while he was on the bench or in AAA. First TPJ, then Yuni, then Getz
by YouDon'tPhaseMeGobble on Aug 1, 2011 10:25 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Rewind yourself....
Micah wasn’t on the bench in AAA when Yuni was playing because he was OUT WITH TOMMY JOHNS! In 2010 he played a whopping 17 games in AAA. (Rehab ???), and after surgery he played more 2B last year than any other position simply because he needed to rebuild arm strength after the surgery. He started in 86 games, so played half the season. That’s not riding the bench in AAA. This year…yeah he went to AAA ball, because you send people there that aren’t hitting…like BILLY BUTLER (07 / 08) and ALEX GORDON (09). Micah did have an attitude and I knew watching him opening day that this would be his last season here…watching a ball drop in front of him with a chance to get an out, and the fans booing is not a good sign.
He’s no different than St. Maier, on the bench watching others…but where as Mitch is sitting there ready to contribute, Micah complains to the newspaper…Classy, really classy.
I hope he does well for Boston, I hope he stays healthy, and if he thinks KC is a tough crowd….I think he’ll realize how good he had it here.
The Royal Pork T....between inning snack of prized Royal Designated Hitters
Alright Kendall, I've been rewound...but
In 2010 he spent time in AAA, then he shared time with the getz, betemit and bert at 2nd or 3rd ending up on the bench for a good chunk of time. yuni “played shortstop” every damn day. Aviles should have in the very least, taken some of those starts at ss, if not all of them. So rewind YOURself sir.
by YouDon'tPhaseMeGobble on Aug 2, 2011 1:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I would like to see him hit one over the Green Monster in a big situation
by Kansas City Oracle on Aug 1, 2011 9:02 PM EDT reply actions
i would not...
and that is because i despise mike aviles and hate the red sox far more than any non stl steam in baseball…fuck em all. aviles is where he belongs.
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Aug 1, 2011 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions
on the bright side
this is probably the last fucking time we have to hear you whine about it.
2011 Royals Review NCAA Bracket Challenge Winner, by process of attrition
by sfeldkamp on Aug 2, 2011 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions 10 recs
is all of sbnation really fucked up for everyone else?
Fire Everyone
the background is all black...none of the replies are indented....
i have to highlight the entire screen to read anything…
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Aug 1, 2011 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Everything's
normal here, with either Safari or Firefox. I’ve been checking out various threads here and at McCovey Chronicles and haven’t seen what you describe.
i switched to IE and its fine now....still screwy on chrome
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Aug 1, 2011 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions
still hatin...i hate IE
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Aug 1, 2011 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions
me too, but I have a Mac and IE is really incompatible with them anymore
"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell
GC Has Some
Quirks I don’t like. I’m using Firefox on my laptop, and I’n fairly happy with it. IE9 on my home PC works well enough with Vista.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Aug 1, 2011 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Stupid ESPN
I tuned in for his 2nd AB and they missed the whole thing (1 pitch) by cutting to Yankees/White Sox highlight.
Grounder To SS
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Aug 1, 2011 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Geez, enough of the "glad football is back" stuff
We didn’t miss anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stuck following the Royals since 1976.
Farewell, AVILANCHE
some of us still remember 2008. Too bad you flamed out, but you are all alone in having a fluke year, unlike certain people on the Royals this year who are totally gonna repeat.
But 2008 was a long time ago, oh, so long ago, when some dork was making really, really long fanposts about nicknames…
Making watching baseball as fun as doing your taxes.
My Twitter feed.
I Still Like
Nicaragua. I forgot about that. I called him that for a while.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Aug 1, 2011 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Remembering Mike Aviles?
now I am remembering Devil Fingers
(and I still think The Mission Link was the most bestest nickname)
"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell
Anagram?
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Aug 1, 2011 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions
if Aviles doesn't ignite in the Bronx, then he's Tug Hulett in the eyes of the org
he started on his first day in KC (Thursday May 29th), went 0 for 3, then sat on the bench until Friday June 6th. He started off 2 for 3. He went 5 for 14 in that series. He made 25 straight starts, going 30 for 100.
Tony Pena Jr was hitting 160/181/200 when Aviles was promoted. He added a 1 for 10 between Aviles 1st and 2nd starts.
In between Aviles 1st and 2nd starts, the shortstop position went into some flux.
Aviles started on May 29th, Pena on May 30th, Esteban German on May 31st, Alberto Callaspo on June 1st, Pena on June 3rd, German on June 4th and 5th, and Aviles on June 6th.
If Aviles doesn’t hit in New York, the competition from other no-glove/can-hit guys (German and Callaspo) and TPJ (all-glove/no-bat) would have nudged Aviles back to Omaha. How Esteban German lasted to September 2008 is a mystery. How he was starting in left field in September 2008 is also a mystery. Esteban was awesome in 2006 but he was pointless in 2008. Granted, the Royals roster construction specializes in guys who have no purpose, like 3 catchers, Mitch, and all sorts of stuff that makes you suspect that Dayton comes from a long line of people who can’t throw out anything, but will stack it in the living room just in case they need a manual on repairing cars from 1982.
Pena’s time as a starter ended when Aviles got a chance. There’s no understating how terrible Pena was at hitting. Chris Getz is not good at hitting, but TPJ was terrible.
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bhindepmo
Chairman, The Melky Cabrera Seasoning Sauce. It's great on your outfield!
Aviles chose to play in the World Baseball Classic after his rookie season and as I remember it was against the Royals wishes. I think that is what made them sour on him, especially since his elbow flamed out early in the 2009 season.
Of course, Soria also played in the WBC … and ended up on the DL in early 2009. I think there were several other Royals players in similar situations.
definitely...
justin huber. his choosing to play in the WBC was what kept him from getting a fair shake from the Royals
go royals
um
Huber not getting a fair shake preceded the WBC and Allard Baird’s time in KC too
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bhindepmo
Chairman, The Melky Cabrera Seasoning Sauce. It's great on your outfield!
are we ever going to stop complaining about guys who failed miserably 'not getting a fair shake'?
hubers been in like 3 organizations since…he hasnt gotten a shake from any one of them either…b/c he’s not good
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Aug 2, 2011 3:52 AM EDT up reply actions
totally agree with you
the Royals can totally afford to not find out if players performing well in AAA can perform well in the ML. Especially in a season like this one, we just don’t have at bats and innings to spare on trying to find / develop good players.
2011 Royals Review NCAA Bracket Challenge Winner, by process of attrition
you don't have to be a genius
to understand that AAA success doesn’t automatically translate into MLB success. i don’t know why you act like that’s the case each time, every time.
by Professor Stephanie Willbanks on Aug 2, 2011 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
That's why we can't trade Melky
He might be like Bautista!!!! /Humber’d
SBN's most random and mysterious lurker
though I do love Royals Review
Follow me on Twitter if you want: Lum_SM
by Lum on Aug 2, 2011 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
i was going to say that
BUT HE WAS MISMANAGED.
by Professor Stephanie Willbanks on Aug 2, 2011 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Will always miss him
Because of this video he did. (NSFW)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JMOh-cul6M&ob=av3n
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
Bitches love my haircut
SBN's most random and mysterious lurker
though I do love Royals Review
Follow me on Twitter if you want: Lum_SM
The Story of Mike Aviles
Called up late, not really his fault. Performed, got hurt, never really recovered. Now he’s 30 and in decline. In two years he will be gone.
MLB is full of tragic tales such as his.
by BlueEyes_Austin on Aug 2, 2011 12:16 PM EDT reply actions
If he "got hurt [and] never really recovered"
…then why did he perform so well last year after his injury?
You may know me as NYRoyal.
by Scott McKinney on Aug 3, 2011 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions
His Career Line
Of .286 .317 .417 .734 would be acceptable for a SS with average defense. His career UZR on 9.1 at SS seems to indicate he could be average. Too bad Yu-Bet came along to ruin his chances. I don’t think he was ever comfortable at 2B and 3B.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
I wish Dayton Moore had stuck behind Aviles at ss the way he does with getz at 2b now.
Despite injuries and struggles, would have been better that Yuniesky….
by liquorstoreclerk on Aug 2, 2011 3:33 PM EDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Royals Review
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Eric Hosmer redefines the Baltimore chop with infield double (Video)
- College player makes impossible over the fence catch to save tournament game (Video)
- Security!: Camden Yards guard collides with Royals’ Mike Moustakas
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
- Benches clear at Fenway as Red Sox-Rays rivalry heats up
