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MizzouTiger
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Around the Horn: DH/bench
« Thread Started on Feb 14, 2008, 10:27am »

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/ar....xt=.jsp&c_id=kc

Around the Horn: DH/bench
In wake of Sweeney's departure, open competition at DH
By thingy Kaegel / MLB.com

The following is the last in a series of weekly stories on MLB.com examining each Major League club, position by position. For the past seven Wednesdays, we've previewed a different position. Today: Designated hitter and bench.

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- There's no certainty about which folks or how many of them might fill the Royals' designated-hitter spot this season.

There's also no certainty about which players will fill out the bench when the season begins.

There are different reasons for both unsettled situations.

The DH role, filled for so long by Mike Sweeney, became the property of rookie Billy Butler last year. But, in 2008, Butler is getting a shot to start at first base. So DH is up in the air.

"It depends on where Billy will be," manager Trey Hillman said.

There could be a revolving door at DH if Butler is a part-time first baseman while he refines his fielding skills. Other first sackers such as Ross Gload or Ryan Shealy or Justin Huber could cruise through the DH spot as Spring Training unfolds.

In the regular season, of course, the DH spot could be a stopping point for whatever everyday player might need a spot of rest.

Take second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, for example. He's 37 and had two knee surgeries last year.

"I'm not planning on playing Grud a whole lot early in camp, I'm just not going to do it," Hillman said. "He's a veteran. Grud is comfortable getting ready a little bit slower. With what his body incurred last year, he's on my radar to keep healthy."

That could mean some DH duty during the season.

"I want Grud to be able to come up and say, 'Skip, I need a day [off], but I can hit for you," Hillman said.

The DH spot also would be perfect to rest center fielder David DeJesus, who wore down a bit late last season, while Joey Gathright roams the field.

So DH is in the wait-and-see category.

If the Royals carry 12 pitchers to open the season, which seems likely, there will be just four openings for position-playing reserves.

The top candidates would seem to be catcher Miguel Olivo, infielders Esteban German and Alberto Callaspo and Gathright.

But hold everything. Unless appeals are upheld, left fielder Jose Guillen (15 days) and Olivo (five games) will start the season on the suspended list. That means two other guys will have to fill in until the penalties are up.

The only other catcher on the 40-man roster is Matt Tupman, who hit .281 last year at Triple-A Omaha. The other outfielders are Shane Costa and Mitch Maier.

Of course, German and Callaspo also are capable of playing the outfield, too.

In the Spring Training sparring for infield spots, German has had two productive seasons for the Royals and often finds his way into the starting lineup. Callaspo, obtained from Arizona for pitching prospect Billy Buckner, is a switch-hitter who is considered a possible second baseman of the future.

Angel Berroa, demoted to Omaha last year in favor of Tony Pena Jr., will be in camp as a non-roster infielder. So will Jason Smith, who was Pena's primary back-up last year, and Mike Aviles, the Royals' Minor League Player of the Year.

Gathright is considered a lock after leading the club in batting (.307) and on-base percentage (.371) last season. He possesses great speed and can play all three outfield spots.

Olivo was Florida's primary catcher the last two years and has good power and a strong arm. Hillman places him behind John Buck but hints that Olivo could also see some duty at first base and DH.

"I like options," Hillman said.

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