"Here we go with the first week of the rest of Alex Gordon's life as a professional baseball player.

He is yesterday's hotshot third baseman, today's minor-league outfielder and tomorrow? That's the $5 million question, which is what Gordon has made so far while being hyped up, then brought up and for the moment chewed up by the major-league baseball machine.

His future now depends on whether he's been used up.

"The best thing for our long-term is for him to get some regular time and just play and hit," Royals general manager Dayton Moore says.

And here we go with the first week of Mike Aviles' next shot as a big-league baseball player.

He is yesterday's club player of the year, today's utility infielder and tomorrow? That's what the Royals are still trying to figure out after dismissing him, then relying on him and now pushing him to prove it all over again."