Comments on: A Predictable Storyline

By: Kevin Scobee

Kevin Scobee — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 06:03:10 +0000

@jim fetterolf Getz’ OPS this spring was .200 points lower than either of the previous two springs. Sure, spring stats don’t really matter, but this whole “retooling” hasn’t changed anything, so far.

That being said, you’re right. This is more about Giavotella than either of the other two. Regardless of what any of us think about the merits (or lack thereof with Getz because he’s proven to be nothing at the ML level) there must be some underlying factor that has the team deciding to send down Giavotella: a) injury b) defense c) other d) all of the above.

We’re not privy to all the information, obviously, just what we can prove with the stats. The stats say Getz is average at the very best, and struggling to get there. Yuni as well. Perhaps at this time in Giavotella’s evolution of ML’er the team has just decided to go with the devil they know, and force Giavotella to truly earn it. There are worse things, I suppose.

By: jim fetterolf

jim fetterolf — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:56:27 +0000

@Kevin Scobee Kevin, as I’ve mentioned on Kings of Kaufman and Pine Tar Press and Judging the Royals, this isn’t about Getz, who is a replacement level player, it is about the failure of currently Johnny Giavotella to beat him out.

Second is a systemic weakness for the Royals and has been since Mark Grudzelanik (sp?) left. That is why Christian Colon was taken with a high #1 pick. Getz got the concussion in ’10 and 2011 was supposed to be Betemit and Aviles, then Moustakas with Getz on the bench. Then Betemit and Aviles failed in the field and Aviles stunk up the batter’s box, so Getz held on as the blogosphere prayed for Giavotella, who came up against the same September pitching that Sal Perez raked for .331 and put up a .255 with brutal defense. Then we found out Gio was hurt, torn hip labrum, so we could write off Gio’s poor major-league performance. I know I figured him to come back this spring and look more like the kid in Omaha, a poor man’s Dan Uggla, bad glove, good stick. Instead he looked like a poor man’s Mike Aviles while ‘Zo Cain was hitting over .400 against the same pitching and playing a brilliant CF while Johnny G’s range looked a little like Billy Butler’s.

I think that if GMDM had expected Gio to still be hurt, which I think he is, that the team would have traded for a competent 2B. Unfortunately, we didn’t know and still don’t, even as Gio’s performance tells me that he is still limited. Giavotella now has a chance at Omaha to put it back together. Much better players than Gio have gotten a wake-up call in AAA, Billy and Alex among them, and all he has to do is hit .330 again and show some improvement on defense. If he does he’s probably back up by May, if he doesn’t and Christian Colon shows some stick, Gio may become rapidly forgotten.

As for Getzie, supposedly he retooled stance and swing in the off-season, like the Worst Outfield Ever did last winter, so may have a little more stick to go with a decidedly average glove. According to Lee Judge, Getz went to a stand-up, load and stride stance and swing, rather than the previous relaxed crouch and slap, the basic two strike approach. He did it to generate more power. He knew what he needed to do to make the team and gave it his best shot. Will that be enough? That is up to Gio at the moment. Until then Chris’ “little things” will be appreciated by most of us while we quietly pray for Christian Colon to turn into Dustin Pedroia. If Gio produces in Omaha, he’ll get another chance soon and Getz will go to Omaha and likely play a bunch of SS for utility purposes while Colon moves to 2nd, likely the original plan before Gio flopped this spring.

There are half a dozen elite 2nd basemen in the game and they conveniently are on very good teams.

By: Kevin Scobee

Kevin Scobee — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 22:37:57 +0000

@jim fetterolf 9 extra-base hits in over 400 PA’s last year – there is no justifiable reason that Chris Getz continues to be a starter in the major leagues. No amount of defense or sacrifice bunting (giving away outs) makes up for his level of complete non-offense.

Though, you’re one of my favorites to debate with and I’m having a slow work day, so let’s have some fun.

By: jim fetterolf

jim fetterolf — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:29:32 +0000

The job has been Gio’s to lose since he was called up last year and he succeeded, last year apparently due to a hip injury he hadn’t mentioned to the team, perhaps this year because he hasn’t completely healed from off-season surgery, which would be the best reason to send him down for rehab. Perez had the same chance last year and seized it. Gio is this year’s Mike Aviles, the “Great Not-Getz Hope” of some niches in the blogoshere. I hope Gio comes around, otherwise we’ll get to spend several months clamoring for Christian Colon to be brought up.