Comparing Problems

Today, I stumbled upon the Boston Red Sox’ website, specifically a bloggers’ inbox full of fan questions.  I’m not very interested in the Red Sox, considering the Royals’ only play them a handful of times every year.  However, the questions fans were sending in got me thinking that the Red Sox have a lot more questions heading into 2012 than the Royals do.

When’s the last time that happened?

This is in no way saying that the Royals are going to be a better overall team than the Red Sox next year.  This isn’t a bash towards the fans of Boston (not like any of them will be reading this) or towards the organization as a whole.  Just an observation.

Here’s a few of the questions summed up:

Who will be starting in right field?

Will we re-sign our Designated Hitter?

Who will replace our General Manager?

Who will be the closer next year?

Isn’t it nice, as Royals fans, to not have any of these issues?

The Royals Opening Day lineup for 2012 is basically set in place.

We’ll go position by position (Obvious if you are a Royals fan)

Catcher-Salvador Perez

1^st Base-Eric Hosmer

2^nd Base-Johnny Giavotella

3^rd Base-Mike Moustakas

SS-Alcides Escobar

LF-Alex Gordon

CF-Melky Cabrera

RF-Jeff Francoeur

DH-Billy Butler

Unless there’s a trade (Melky? Insert Lorenzo Cain), this is the team the Royals will field on a daily basis next year.  They are all under contract and will all be 28 or under going into next year.

Our coach is set.  Our GM is set.  Our position players are set.  Our bullpen is set.

Obviously, starting pitching is our biggest issue/concern. 

Back to the Red Sox fans’ questions.

The most interesting/funny/awesome/confusing/sad thing I read went a little like this.

From a fan, in a nutshell:

Mike Aviles=Good pickup

Everyday starting shortstop?

Red Sox fans are asking this? Really?

Now, Mike Aviles isn’t the worst player in the world and he has shown flashes of being a good player.  If he is the starting shortstop on the Boston Red Sox then something is going terribly wrong.  The Red Sox are known for fielding mediocre shortstops  ever since Nomar Garciaparra, but with all that money I would think they could do better than Mike Aviles.

The blogger went on to say that Aviles would not be a viable option at SS but is expected to get reps in the outfield to see if he transition out there.

Man, this offseason could be easier than we thought.