I was chatting with a writer in the press box at an Omaha Royals game last week when Tug Hulett came up to bat. I said something along the lines of, with Aviles struggling with the bat and Callaspo struggling with the glove, I wonder why the Royals called up Luis Hernandez (0 HR, 13 RBI, .292 AVG in Omaha) when Hulett has much batter stats (4 HR, 32 RBI, .296 AVG)? They can both play the middle infield, so that’s not an issue. Maybe Hernandez is better defensively, I don’t know.
It doesn’t matter now because they are both playing for Kansas City. Hulett was called up and the Royals made a several other moves after the game yesterday as well. Luke Hochevar was sent down to Omaha. Mike Aviles was placed on the 15-day DL; so was Robinson Tejeda (tendinitis in his right shoulder). In addition to calling up Hulett, The Royals also called up John Bale and Roman Colon. The Royals have an off day this coming Thursday, so they will probably skip Hochevar’s spot in the rotation. Willie Bloomquist will presumably become the starting shortstop. Hulett and Hernandez will be the utility guys.
I think the move regarding Hochevar was a little quick. Aviles should have been placed on the DL the minute he finally admitted he’s had a sore right forearm. Bale really has never been all that effective at the Major League level, but in his six appearances in NW Arkansas this year he has a 1.35 ERA, so let’s hope his success carries over. Colon was 2-3 in Omaha with a 2.84 ERA with a 1.38 WHIP. I’m not sure he’s big league material (he has 5.03 career ERA in 73 games at the Major League level—and he hasn’t pitched in the bigs since 2006 with Detroit), but we’re about to find out.
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