Losing Your Grip - June 9, 2011

posted 6/9/11 2:05 PM PST
by Jason Martinez

*Players at risk of being demoted from their current big league role. Click HERE for the 'Losing Your Grip' Archive.

Jason Bay, OF (NYM): The 66-million dollar man is in an 0-for-23 slump and he's hitting .207 with 2 HR and 39 strikeouts in 39 games. Can't give up on the 32 year-old because he's under contract through 2013 and there's also a vesting option for 2014 that kicks in with 500 PA's in 2012-13 or 600 PA's in 2013. They can keep putting him out there everyday and hope something changes. Or they can sit him on the bench and give him some time to clear his head. The timing couldn't be better with potential replacement Lucas Duda on fire in Triple-A. The 25 year-old is hitting .438 with 5 HR and 12 RBI in the month of June.

Chris Getz/Mike Aviles, 2B (KC): My guess is that Mike Moustakas is one home-run binge away from being the starting third baseman in Kansas City. His teammate, second baseman Johnny Giavotella, is making a case to come along for the ride with his recent performance (.426 BA in last 10 G). The current second base platoon of Aviles and Getz are hitting a combined .229 so there not really doing much to stop that from happening. While Aviles is supplying some power (5 HR, 30 RBI, 9 2B, 3 3B) and has a .955 OPS against lefties and Getz has 19 walks and eight stolen bases, their overall production has been subpar and the team could decide they're not part of the Royals future and choose to get a look at Giovatella in the second half.

Jerry Sands, OF (LAD): Sands was a nice story in that he started 2010 in Lo-A and was in the big leagues by April 2011. But let's be honest. He's not quite ready for the big leagues. Since a four-hit game on May 22nd raised his average to a season-high .241, the 23 year-old is only 4-for-38 and his average is down to .200. He has a .483 OPS against right-handed pitchers. Jay Gibbons isn't around anymore and Tony Gwynn, Jr. doesn't offer much offensively either. One player to keep an eye is Triple-A outfielder Trayvon Robinson, a switch-hitter with good speed and a 1.005 OPS as a left-handed batter this season. They've already added some much-need speed and athleticism to their lineup with Dee Gordon. Could Robinson be next? I wouldn't be surprised. UPDATE 2:17 PM PST - Sands was optioned to the minors but it was Trent Oeltjen (.339-8-34 in AAA) who got the call and not Robinson.

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