Trading away the team's only viable everyday shortstop, Marco Scutaro, was shocking enough. But when the Red Sox team management expressed their confidence in Mike Aviles as the team's everyday shortstop, people were surprised to say the least. Especially Mike Aviles.
"Did they acquire another Mike Aviles?" the stunned utility player asked. "I know there's more than one Mike Aviles living in this country. I can't possibly be the Mike Aviles they expect to be an everyday shortstop. They sent me to play Winter Ball to be an outfielder, for crying outloud."
Ben Cherington, while confirming that Mike Aviles is the Mike Aviles they are referring to, said that the team stands behind the decision to have Aviles play outfield in Winter Ball. "Statistics show that playing outfield is an excellent preparation for playing everyday shortstop," he noted. Wouldn't actually playing shortstop be better preparation? "Sorry. The data doesn't confirm that."
Aviles, meanwhile, continues to scour websites of other teams, looking for the mystery Mike Aviles the team acquired. "I can't wait to meet this Mike Aviles. He's gotta be a better option at shortstop than me."
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