Looking toward the second half for the Royals

So the Royals are certainly a disappointment thus far in 2009. Much of the let down was the tease of an early winning record that quickly evaporated into more ineptitude and all too familiar losing ways. Much has been made of injuries to opening day starters Alex Gordon, Coco Crisp and Mike Aviles. Crisp out for the season certainly doesn't help although as I have said he is probably better suited in LF rather than CF at this point of his career and we already have David DeJesus there. Hard to say whether he comes back for this team in 2010. I have never been sold on Mike Aviles being a real answer for the team at SS. I have maintained all along that I fear him to be a one year (2/3) wonder. Alex Gordon while not being the franchise savior that some demand him to be due to his being the 2nd overall pick in the 2005 draft has in my mind showed real progress until being sidetracked by injury at the beginning of this the 2009 season. He should be back after the All Star break and I hope can continue the progression he showed last season with an OPS+ of 110 and also showed signs of becoming a plus fielding 3B.

This team so needs AG to have a nice second half with the bat and glove. This team is so devoid of potential positive gloves at almost every spot in the field. While Billy Butler is having his best season so far at the plate he is destined to be at absolute best an average 1B. Alberto Callaspo has been a nice surprise with performing at above average OBP and batting average, but similar to Butler is probably never going to be better than OK status at any position in the field. Mark Teahen should probably go to RF and hopefully will without Jose Guillen melting down and becoming a clubhouse distraction. We are only half way done with his 3 year deal so I hope he can handle being a DH for the most part in his final year and half with the Royals. His OPS+ 93 after 222 games with KC is hardly worth 12 million a year, but the team is stuck with it more than likely. Which leaves Mike Jacobs as a part time DH and PH against RH pitching as he makes Butler look like a gold glove fielder.