Justin Huber Sighting

by daveyork on Jul 9, 2007 11:23 PM EDT

While gazing through the Arizona Rookie League box score - yes, I know it is sick - I saw that Justin Huber was in the box score. He must be rehabbing there.

Hard to believe he was the Futures Game MVP in 2005. Now, he isn't even on the radar screen on a team that is in desperate need of a first baseman.

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all part of the KC genius

take something valuable and destroy it

the royals are like an anti-school or something

by LeoBloom on Jul 9, 2007 11:29 PM EDT reply actions

As bad as our need for a

first baseman is, why on earth is this kid not in KC? Seriously, what did he do? He can't be as bad as Shealy. Stupid.

by royaldaddy on Jul 10, 2007 12:41 AM EDT reply actions

well, right now he is hurt

and has had a bad year in general this year.

despite all that, i agree that once healthy he should at least get a chance, something he has never really gotten, to be the future first basemen.

by rockchalk on Jul 10, 2007 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions

He needs to get a chance

He had 8 home runs in Omaha in a small amount of at bats, which shows how much power he has. I'm sure he has a lot more power than Shealy.

by teabag2007 on Jul 10, 2007 3:15 AM EDT reply actions

I predict

This winter we trade him to Oakland for a non-useful pitcher, and he ends up being a productive 1B/DH.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 10, 2007 10:22 AM EDT reply actions

Sadly

this sounds about right. He apparently won't get any chance with this organization.

by lordbyronk on Jul 10, 2007 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Scouts say he doesn't look so good anymore

In the last couple of years, I haven't read any scout or analyst say that he looks like he could probably be even a major league average first baseman. He just isn't that good of a hitter. Like most prospects, he has fizzled. That's what prospects usually do.

I'll bet my salary that he is never a regular in the majors with any team. I will bet a month's pay that he never has an OPS that is within 25 points of league average for a first baseman.

by Scott McKinney on Jul 10, 2007 11:41 AM EDT reply actions

and the 1Bs we have on the roster right now...

...how close are they to league average? Huber still at least has it in him to be a good role player, possibly more. It's better than starting Gload.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Jul 10, 2007 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Gload was our best hitter early on.

He just hasn't gotten his swing back since his injury and is being played too much. He should be exclusively a lefty matchup guy in the OF or 1B when we face a tough righty.

We've got Brazell at AAA as well that would seem to fill the chasm-like void with Shealy out (or in for that matter) of the lineup.

I'm guessing they've got some 40 man roster problems right now with so many older guys injured that they don't have a lot of flexibility to move guys not on the 40 up. I'm all for releasing some guys if we can't trade them so we can just get on with our lives. I can't imagine that Elarton, Sweeney or Sanders is going to generate any trade value in the next 3 weeks.

by Big Guy on Jul 10, 2007 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Gload has no history of hitting well...

...enough to start. He's hurt, whatever. He's still not good.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Jul 10, 2007 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Sweeney And Sanders

Deserve better than to be DFA, particularly Sweeney. Sanders was still stealing bases when he was injured (maybe that's why he's injured) and was hitting well, but I don't think he'd get many takers before the trade deadline. Sweeney might, but the knee put a damper on that. A team would almost have to be looking to next year to give up anything for Sweeney, and he's available for nothing after this season.

Shealy comes off the 15 day DL over the break; he might get a short rehab stint to see if his bat can pull a minor league fastball. If he can, I think the Gload/Shealy platoon will do for the rest of the year. I don't know Shealy's R/L splits, but he must hit lefties better.

Being a fan is irrational, but what is the alternative?

by philofthenorth on Jul 10, 2007 3:10 PM EDT reply actions