Post by MizzouTiger on Dec 20, 2007 13:32:55 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/story/411362.html
TOP OF THE MORNIN’
Royals’ trade for Callaspo may pay big dividends
By JEFFREY FLANAGAN
The Kansas City Star
When the Royals dealt pitching prospect Billy Buckner to Arizona last week for utility man Alberto Callaspo, many Royals fans simply scratched their heads.
Give up on a young right arm? For a utility player?
Well, in return, the Royals may have gotten more than just a utility player. Callaspo, 24, could wind up being the Royals’ second baseman of the future.
“He could definitely be that type of guy,” said Kevin Seitzer, who was the Diamondbacks’ hitting coach for half of last season.
“I liked him, and I liked his ability a lot. He’s the type of guy that if he ever got into the lineup, you might not ever get him out of it. The big thing with him is, he needs to play.”
In mostly a part-time role last season with Arizona, Callaspo hit just .215 in 56 games.
“Like a lot of young guys, it’s tough for them to just sit and then come in and perform,” Seitzer said. “But when he’s playing regularly, he hits. It’s that simple. He hit at every level and he’ll hit in the major leagues, too.”
Callaspo hit .341 last season at Triple-A, and .337 there the season before.
“He’s not a guy who has serious pop,” Seitzer said. “But if he runs into it (the pitch), he’ll hit it a long way. He’s a gap-to-gap guy.
“And he’s a bat controller. It’s like a magic wand to him. He can really control it. He doesn’t strike out and he can use the whole field. He can bunt, hit and run. I thought it was a great pickup.”
And defensively?
“He’s more than adequate at second base and at third base,” Seitzer said. “We even had him in the outfield a little, and even though he hadn’t played there, he was fine.”
While Callaspo did have some domestic issues, Seitzer doesn’t believe character is an issue.
“I thought he was a good guy,” he said. “He’s quiet, keeps to himself. No problems.”
Shrewd move?
49ers quarterback Shaun Hill, who is from Parsons, Kan., was approached by the 49ers before the season began about extending his contract. Hill decided to wait, even though at that point he’d never even thrown a pass in the NFL in five previous seasons with the Vikings and 49ers.
Maybe Hill knew something all along. He may be up for a decent contract after completing 43 of 55 passes for 378 yards and two touchdowns the last two weeks.
Hall of Fame
Shawnee Mission North High School, which has been around 86 years, is establishing a Coaches Hall of Fame. The first class of inductees will be Larry Taylor, Merlin Gish, Beverly Plump and Bernadette Wagner.
Those four coaches will be honored at halftime of a Shawnee Mission North basketball game on Feb. 22.
TOP OF THE MORNIN’
Royals’ trade for Callaspo may pay big dividends
By JEFFREY FLANAGAN
The Kansas City Star
When the Royals dealt pitching prospect Billy Buckner to Arizona last week for utility man Alberto Callaspo, many Royals fans simply scratched their heads.
Give up on a young right arm? For a utility player?
Well, in return, the Royals may have gotten more than just a utility player. Callaspo, 24, could wind up being the Royals’ second baseman of the future.
“He could definitely be that type of guy,” said Kevin Seitzer, who was the Diamondbacks’ hitting coach for half of last season.
“I liked him, and I liked his ability a lot. He’s the type of guy that if he ever got into the lineup, you might not ever get him out of it. The big thing with him is, he needs to play.”
In mostly a part-time role last season with Arizona, Callaspo hit just .215 in 56 games.
“Like a lot of young guys, it’s tough for them to just sit and then come in and perform,” Seitzer said. “But when he’s playing regularly, he hits. It’s that simple. He hit at every level and he’ll hit in the major leagues, too.”
Callaspo hit .341 last season at Triple-A, and .337 there the season before.
“He’s not a guy who has serious pop,” Seitzer said. “But if he runs into it (the pitch), he’ll hit it a long way. He’s a gap-to-gap guy.
“And he’s a bat controller. It’s like a magic wand to him. He can really control it. He doesn’t strike out and he can use the whole field. He can bunt, hit and run. I thought it was a great pickup.”
And defensively?
“He’s more than adequate at second base and at third base,” Seitzer said. “We even had him in the outfield a little, and even though he hadn’t played there, he was fine.”
While Callaspo did have some domestic issues, Seitzer doesn’t believe character is an issue.
“I thought he was a good guy,” he said. “He’s quiet, keeps to himself. No problems.”
Shrewd move?
49ers quarterback Shaun Hill, who is from Parsons, Kan., was approached by the 49ers before the season began about extending his contract. Hill decided to wait, even though at that point he’d never even thrown a pass in the NFL in five previous seasons with the Vikings and 49ers.
Maybe Hill knew something all along. He may be up for a decent contract after completing 43 of 55 passes for 378 yards and two touchdowns the last two weeks.
Hall of Fame
Shawnee Mission North High School, which has been around 86 years, is establishing a Coaches Hall of Fame. The first class of inductees will be Larry Taylor, Merlin Gish, Beverly Plump and Bernadette Wagner.
Those four coaches will be honored at halftime of a Shawnee Mission North basketball game on Feb. 22.