Quote:
Originally Posted by DeepSouth
If they don't bring in another bat, they should get rid of Ibanez. He's pretty much a guaranteed out every time he bats. I'd platoon Dyson and Aoki (Dyson batting over .300 against RHP, Aoki batting over .350 against LHP). I'd bring back Colon. He showed some spunk. It might be my imagination but I think Colon's presence and great rookie game seemed to light a fire under Infinte. Colon also gives the Royals a legitimate backup at SS and 2nd.
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My main determinant of the plausibility of the Royals making a playoff spot this year, at least for me, personally, lies squarely on what they do or don't do up to the trade deadline. Specifically, the ability to add a legitimate bat or 2 to the lineup. Ideally, I would 1st look for a guy who is a consistent hitter by average or in combination with drawing walks to have a high on base percentage. Might even be able to offer some guidance and instruction to our other guys on better working the count and drawing walks??
Secondly, if they got more than 1 bat, as unlikely as that is realistically, I'd look for a good masher, power guy who I could live with a lower BA, if it meant a true instant offense, and not another warning track power bat.
Anything to truly provide incentive and competition for guys like Billy or Moose to either produce or spend their time on the pine or DFA would be a huge difference in creating greater incentive / motivation- even though these guys are professionals and, really, there shouldn't be any reason to need to dangle a bigger carrot to get them to do their jobs already!
I'm not sold on the organization actually being bold and aggressive in acquiring 1 or more guys to improve before the deadline, but I'm hoping I'm pleasantly dead wrong!