Around the Horn: Corner Infielders
01/25/2006
KANSAS CITY -- It's a matter of extremes on the infield corners for the Royals. At first base, the cabinet is well-stocked. At third base, the selection is thinner.
You want first basemen? You got 'em with Mike Sweeney, Matt Stairs, Doug Mientkiewicz and Justin Huber.
At third base, there's Mark Teahen and ... and .... OK, a backup, maybe Esteban German or Joe McEwing.
So how is this wealth of first basemen going to be employed?
It revolves around Sweeney, the team captain, biggest star and most dangerous hitter.
"A lot of it depends on where Mike is at," said manager Buddy Bell. "We've got to get Mike in our lineup every day. That's important to us -- even if he doesn't get any hits, just from a credibility standpoint, it adds so much."
Sweeney's medical problems have been, pardon the expression, a sore point for the last four years. Mostly it's been of the back variety. Last season, though, a right oblique muscle, a sprained left wrist and a bruised forearm all factored in as well.
As a result, Sweeney played just 122 games but still managed to hit .300 with 21 homers, 39 doubles and 83 RBIs.
After the sore back struck in late August, Sweeney was used as the designated hitter in his last 20 starts. That might be his fate for most of this season, too.
Shhhhhh ... not too loud. The Royals don't broadcast this from the rooftops because Sweeney likes to be in the field. But even he has hinted recently that perhaps exposing himself less to the wear and tear and twists and turns around first base might keep him in the lineup more.
Right now, Bell is inclined to use Mientkiewicz as his starting first baseman in an effort to upgrade the defense.
"It's upgrading," general manager Allard Baird said, "but it's also to give support to Michael, to him staying healthy and being productive, too. Last year, he was not on the disabled list but he was not 100 percent [even though he was] playing. And that doesn't help Michael or the ballclub."
Mientkiewicz, a past Gold Glove winner, hasn't hit much in the last two years as a part-time player for the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox. However, in his last full season for the Minnesota Twins, he batted .300 and had 65 RBIs in 2003.
"Let's see how it plays out when we go into Spring Training, but Mientkiewicz is going to get considerable time," Baird said.
Stairs started more games (61) than anyone else for the Royals last season and he still moves around pretty well at 38. He produces (13 homers, 66 RBIs, 60 walks) and figures to see plenty of backup duty at DH and first and perhaps the outfield.
Huber is the future guy, penciled in for a season at Triple-A Omaha. He was the Texas League batting champion but is still picking up the nuances of first base after his shift from catching.
Meanwhile, third base belongs to Teahen after a rookie season in which he batted .246 and made 20 errors. Obviously, those are not great figures, but he did pretty well for a guy who was supposed to spend most of the summer with Omaha.
"I don't expect Mark to be any kind of superstar or anything," Bell said, "but I expect him to progress nicely over the next three or four years. He's a pretty doggone good player. And he's such a smart kid. Sneaky though, too. He doesn't say much, but he competes."
Teahen, a left-handed hitter, who often drives the ball to the opposite field, is not a home run-masher-waiting-to-happen. He had seven in 130 games and is more of a gap hitter.
German, obtained in a trade with the Texas Rangers, is likely to be Teahen's main backup. McEwing, who started 26 games last year at third, can lend experience when needed.
And if you're thinking top draft pick Alex Gordon, forget it. Gordon will be playing at Double-A Wichita or Class A High Desert.
Source: http://royals.mlb.com/
KANSAS CITY -- It's a matter of extremes on the infield corners for the Royals. At first base, the cabinet is well-stocked. At third base, the selection is thinner.
You want first basemen? You got 'em with Mike Sweeney, Matt Stairs, Doug Mientkiewicz and Justin Huber.
At third base, there's Mark Teahen and ... and .... OK, a backup, maybe Esteban German or Joe McEwing.
So how is this wealth of first basemen going to be employed?
It revolves around Sweeney, the team captain, biggest star and most dangerous hitter.
"A lot of it depends on where Mike is at," said manager Buddy Bell. "We've got to get Mike in our lineup every day. That's important to us -- even if he doesn't get any hits, just from a credibility standpoint, it adds so much."
Sweeney's medical problems have been, pardon the expression, a sore point for the last four years. Mostly it's been of the back variety. Last season, though, a right oblique muscle, a sprained left wrist and a bruised forearm all factored in as well.
As a result, Sweeney played just 122 games but still managed to hit .300 with 21 homers, 39 doubles and 83 RBIs.
After the sore back struck in late August, Sweeney was used as the designated hitter in his last 20 starts. That might be his fate for most of this season, too.
Shhhhhh ... not too loud. The Royals don't broadcast this from the rooftops because Sweeney likes to be in the field. But even he has hinted recently that perhaps exposing himself less to the wear and tear and twists and turns around first base might keep him in the lineup more.
Right now, Bell is inclined to use Mientkiewicz as his starting first baseman in an effort to upgrade the defense.
"It's upgrading," general manager Allard Baird said, "but it's also to give support to Michael, to him staying healthy and being productive, too. Last year, he was not on the disabled list but he was not 100 percent [even though he was] playing. And that doesn't help Michael or the ballclub."
Mientkiewicz, a past Gold Glove winner, hasn't hit much in the last two years as a part-time player for the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox. However, in his last full season for the Minnesota Twins, he batted .300 and had 65 RBIs in 2003.
"Let's see how it plays out when we go into Spring Training, but Mientkiewicz is going to get considerable time," Baird said.
Stairs started more games (61) than anyone else for the Royals last season and he still moves around pretty well at 38. He produces (13 homers, 66 RBIs, 60 walks) and figures to see plenty of backup duty at DH and first and perhaps the outfield.
Huber is the future guy, penciled in for a season at Triple-A Omaha. He was the Texas League batting champion but is still picking up the nuances of first base after his shift from catching.
Meanwhile, third base belongs to Teahen after a rookie season in which he batted .246 and made 20 errors. Obviously, those are not great figures, but he did pretty well for a guy who was supposed to spend most of the summer with Omaha.
"I don't expect Mark to be any kind of superstar or anything," Bell said, "but I expect him to progress nicely over the next three or four years. He's a pretty doggone good player. And he's such a smart kid. Sneaky though, too. He doesn't say much, but he competes."
Teahen, a left-handed hitter, who often drives the ball to the opposite field, is not a home run-masher-waiting-to-happen. He had seven in 130 games and is more of a gap hitter.
German, obtained in a trade with the Texas Rangers, is likely to be Teahen's main backup. McEwing, who started 26 games last year at third, can lend experience when needed.
And if you're thinking top draft pick Alex Gordon, forget it. Gordon will be playing at Double-A Wichita or Class A High Desert.
Source: http://royals.mlb.com/
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