Royals notes: Hillman says club wants “more evaluation time” on Olivo
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
The snap conclusion is veteran catcher Miguel Olivo should have popped off a long time ago. Olivo started Saturday for the fifth time in six games since his clear-the-air session with manager Trey Hillman.
Merely a coincidence, Hillman insisted.
“Honestly, that’s not a factor,” he said. “Prior to that article coming out, I knew we needed a little more evaluation time on Miguel. It just ended up being really bad timing for the article.”
Olivo’s meeting with Hillman occurred Aug. 30 in Detroit, one day after he vented his frustration in The Star regarding his lack of playing time. Olivo also criticized his lack of a working relationship with Hillman.
“When we talked,” Olivo said, “we made things clear, and I think we have a better relationship now. I’m happy with what he told me, and he was happy with how we talked.”
Olivo, 30, has a mutual option with the club for next season at $2.7 million. He previously said he had no intention of returning to the Royals but now appears open to doing so — depending on the circumstances.
“I said a lot of stuff because I was frustrated and angry,” he acknowledged. “We’ll see when September is over. If I’m the starting catcher, yeah, I’d come back. You never know. We’ll see what happens.”
More time for Olivo means less time for John Buck, who is batting .221 in 97 games with eight homers and 43 RBIs. Buck is batting just .123 in his last 25 games.
“I don’t like it, obviously,” Buck said. “But what can you do? I should hit better.”
Olivo spent the last two seasons as the starting catcher at Florida. He is batting .257 after going zero for three in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Cleveland. He has 11 homers and 36 RBIs in 75 games.
Hillman warned against reading too much into Olivo’s increased playing time.
“Obviously, John (Buck) has had the majority of the catching time the whole season,” Hillman said. “From this point in time forward, you’ll probably see a little bit more of Miguel than you’ll see of Buck.
“That’s not to say John Buck is not in the picture. It’s not to say that Miguel Olivo is. It’s a simple fact that I feel we need more evaluation time with Miguel.”
Melville looks on
That sparse crowd Saturday night would’ve been even sparser — is that a word? — if not for the 40 or so friends and family who came out with fourth-round pick Tim Melville.
Melville, considered by most a first-round talent who signed for $1.25 million, was here to meet staff members and some of his possible future teammates.
A 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher from Wentzville (Mo.) Holt High, Melville smiled his way through a short question-and-answer session with reporters in which he called the Royals “a second family” and “one of the top organizations out there.”
Melville has been at the Royals’ spring training facility in Arizona training and will return next week to take part in the instructional league.
“I can’t really put it into words,” he said. “I’m so excited. I was sitting around all summer waiting for something to happen, and now it’s happening.”
Injury updates
Third baseman Alex Gordon and outfielder Mitch Maier hit soft-toss pitches before the game in the indoor batting cage — the first time either one has swung a bat since his injury.
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