By CHRIS RASMUSSEN
In the American League, teams have nine players paid to hit major league pitching. The Royals, by starting Tony Peña Jr., neglect this by using eight. Before this appears as hyperbole, consider:
Peña in '08:
.141 batting average
.162 on base percentage
.183 slugging percentage
NL Pitchers in '08:
.141 batting average
.177 on base percentage
.180 slugging percentage
It’s clear Peña can't hit. Even if he hit for a high average, his plate discipline is awful and he has minimal power. For every astonishing defensive play, like the one Saturday, there have been errors at critical times -- one Sunday, one in Oakland the previous weekend. P.S., he is a god-awful bunter.
So what's the solution? The obvious one is Alberto Callaspo, who is an above average hitter and can hold his own at defense. But here's how bad Peña is: If Callaspo injured himself, the Royals would achieve greater production from Ángel Berroa. Berroa is hitting .291 with power in Omaha after a good 2007 season there. He averaged a .263 average with a .384 slugging percentage in his unhappy tenure in KC, which far exceeds how Peña is performing now or how Peña could ever manage.
So it has actually come to this: longing for Ángel Berroa. I even have an informal slogan if this occurs:
Indifference, Not Incompetence. Berroa for Shortstop.
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