Olivo disappointed that Buck enters camp as Royals’ starting catcher
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
SURPRISE, Ariz. | Miguel Olivo again acknowledged surprise and disappointment at learning John Buck enters camp as the club’s starting catcher.
Olivo believed he would have a chance to compete for the starting job when he signed a two-year deal with the Royals as a free agent in the offseason.
“When you’ve been a starting catcher for so long and you come here to fight for a job,” he said, “it’s a little hard (to take). But there are only two people who decide, the general manager and the manager.”
Manager Trey Hillman met previously with Olivo in an effort to correct any misunderstanding.
“(Olivo) was under the impression that it was wide open,” Hillman said, “and he was going to come in and either be the starter or be able to fight for a job. Well, the second part of that is exactly correct. There’s not anybody out here who can’t fight for a job.
“But I told Miguel, ‘I want you to understand that my philosophy is to always have options. I hope that energizes you, but John Buck is our starting catcher.’ He said he understood 100 percent.”
Olivo indicated he hasn’t given up hope of wresting the starting job from Buck.
“It’s too early,” Olivo said. “We haven’t even played games. We’re just catching bullpen and having live (batting practice). We’re just having fun.”
Hillman said Buck’s hold on the job isn’t absolute.
“I want competition,” Hillman said, “but we’re going into this camp with John Buck as our starting catcher for a very simple reason. We believe he has the ability to be a front-line, All-Star-type catcher and an impact bat in the lineup.
“Understand that anyone in our starting lineup has to maintain a certain level of performance. We want to win games. I told Buck, ‘You’re our starting catcher, but understand there is an expectation of a level of performance in order to maintain that position.’ ”
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