Costa Wins Final OF Spot

I don't know what Aaron Guiel did or said that landed him in Royal purgatory (Omaha) for all eternity, but the Royals don't appear to be in a mood to show him any mercy. Last season, when we desperately needed a power hitting corner outfielder, Guiel hit 30 HR with 95 RBI in Omaha. This spring, Guiel camp into camp with the notion that he actually had a shot at making the roster.

Guiel hit .351 in 13 games this spring with 2 HR, 8 RBI, 10 BB and had a .479 OBP. When Ambres was designated for assignment, the battle for the fourth outfield position came down to Shane Costa and Guiel. Costa put up mediocre numbers this spring in 17 games (.286, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB and a .311 OBP), but nothing to make a person believe that he would actually win the spot. Then came the announcement yesterday that Costa did indeed win the job.

"We know Aaron can help this ballclub,” said Bell in an article in the Star this morning. "But Shane is a younger kid who we feel is ready to do something in the big leagues.

"Talent-wise, they might be the same player—but Shane is younger, and we want to get him going."

Okay. Costa is 24. Guiel is 33. But if Guiel never had a shot because of his age, why give him the illusion that he did?