Expectations, great and small, at the break
The All-Star break is when fans often take stock of their team. Some Royals fans are feeling not-so-bad about the team being 10 games under .500 at the All-Star break. That says a lot about expectations.
Actually, that’s about where I expected the Royals to be at the break. But how about individual players? Have they done better or worse than we expected? Here’s my take on players who clearly fall one way or the other.
David DeJesus: Better than expected. He’s finally getting some real production out of that fluid swing. Third in the order may be in store for 2009.
Mike Aviles: Better. He does some dumb things on the field, but he is a huge improvement at the plate over the likes of Tony Peña Jr. and Angel Berroa. But a swoon in the second half would not surprise me.
Alex Gordon: Worse. Let’s hope he is a second-half guy, like last year, but he has now been mediocre for most of his brief career.
Billy Butler: Much worse. Could it be he can only hit AAA pitching? I am no hitting coach, but his stance looks too wide and his swing too long. He has just 19 RBIs in 233 at-bats. Awful.
José Guillen: Much better. He came to a losing team with a big contract but appears intense about winning, not just sitting on his money. He is on a pace for about 120 RBIs but could also be trade material if the Royals get uncomfortable with his tirades.
Catchers John Buck and Miguel Olivo: Worse and better. Buck’s power has regressed and he hardly throws anybody out. Olivo is one of those rare catchers who is his team’s best candidate for DH when he’s not behind the plate. What does that say about the Royals?
Joakim Soria: Better. A Royals All-Star who really deserves to be there. Remember Ken Harvey? Some of the rest of the bullpen has been a pleasant surprise at times, especially Ron Mahay.
In my book, Mark Teahen, Mark Grudzielanek, Zack Greinke, Gil Meche, Brian Bannister and Joey Gathright, among others, are doing about what I expected, for good, average or bad.
But, I’m just a fan. Your views on the Royals’ biggest surprises and letdowns so far are as good as mine so share them if you’d like.
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