Gordon signed a deal for $1.4 million with a chance for $100,000 in performance bonuses. (Updated)

Gregor Blanco got a hit on 57% of his 21 fair bunts last year.

Here is Part Two in the series

An interesting look at the Chiefs chances to make the playoffs. Rany goes into detail what has to happen for the Chiefs to make the playoffs, either by winning the division or the wildcard. Bottom line: win the division or go home.

"Today's topics are the unusual splits of a cutter, the borderline between cutters and sliders, and looking at the sinker of a recently traded pitcher...that doesn't sink."

Billy Butler wins the coveted Les Milgram Player of the Year award for second straight year. He was also the most valuable according to WAR (BRef, 2nd in Fangraphs).

"The stats say Jarrod Dyson is a poor man’s Joey Gathright, or (as I compared him to before the season) Endy Chavez: a player with top-of-the-line speed and defense, but below-replacement-level hitting skills. The scouts – or at least one scout – thinks that Dyson’s numbers are a reflection of his inexperience playing the game, and that – even at age 26 – he is poised to take a giant step forward and become a quality everyday centerfielder in the majors."

"The Giants are proof that to build a playoff team, you don’t need to trade well, and you don’t need to spend money well. You simply have to draft well. The fact is that Brian Sabean, despite his many, many blunders over the years, cannot be considered a failure as a GM, because the Giants have done such a good job of drafting over the past decade that it covers over his mistakes."

Nothing is likely to be official until after the season, but Royals manager Ned Yost anticipates no changes in his coaching staff for next season beyond the need to replace first base coach Rusty Kuntz.

Yost’s staff could undergo a major shakeup if bench coach John Gibbons gets a managerial job. Gibbons spent nearly four years as Toronto’s manager from 2004-08 and is completing his second season on the Royals’ staff.

All coaches are under contracts that expire at the end of the season.

"Eight teams have assured themselves of losing records in 2010, but they're all trying to turn things around and reach the postseason. Could the Diamondbacks, under new GM Kevin Towers, be the first to reach the playoffs? What about the Royals, who have so much minor league talent? Or the Cubs, a big-market team with a number of pieces already in place? It's time to vote on those teams, plus the Nationals, Pirates, Mariners, Indians and Orioles."

The results say no.

"The Royals announced Thursday that they have extended their contract with Class AAA Omaha through the 2014 season.

The Omaha Royals, who will be moving into a new park next year, are 77-62 this season in the Pacific Coast League.

Omaha has been an affiliate since 1969."

After taking each team’s Clutch batting score from 2000 until the 2010 season and averaging them on a per-team basis, I found that the mean is -7.26 wins and the standard deviation is 12.7. That means that the Cubs (-35.1) are more than two standard deviations away from the mean. The Diamondbacks (-26.2), Reds (-24.1), and Rockies (-22.6) are all a standard deviation away on the same side of the scale as the Cubs. Meanwhile the Angels (16), Twins (14.7), Mariners (11.7), Athletics (8.9), and Royals (8.5) are more than one standard deviation away from the mean on the other side.

4. Texas
8. Oklahoma
9. Nebraska

Missouri recieved 32 votes, good enough for 36th place

Willie Bloomquist most likely Royal to be dealt before deadline. Angels, Yankees, Phils & Padres have kicked the tires on him. #trades

via Jerry Crasnick

Fantasy Manager Moves:

Royals Send: Callaspo
Royals Receive: Tevor Bell, SP and PTBNL (Angels)

Royals Send: Guillen, $4 Million
Royals Receive: Ray Kruml, OF (Yankees)

Royals Send: Farns and Bloomquist
Royals Receive: Chris Dickerson, OF (Reds)

Royals Send: Podsednik and Aviles
Royals Receive: Che-Hsuan Lin, OF and Kyle Weiland, P (Red Sox)

Call-ups: Lucas, Kila, Coleman, Hardy, Gordon
Demotions: Marte

By Mike DeArmond - Posted on 21 July 2010, KC Star

The Big 12 might want to issue a correction - albeit a small and pretty darned meaningless one - about league media being unanimous in picking Nebraska to win the Big 12 North.

I didn't pick the Cornhuskers, although given that Missouri plays at Nebraska I probably should have and probably would now.

A call to the Big 12 office produced a very nice apology:

"Thanks Mike. Sorry about the poll. All I can guess is it was either misplaced once I printed it off or intern who assisted me accidentally miscalculated points. I'll make sure your votes are counted for preseason team."

DeArmond's voting in the link, including Jerrell Jackson first team offense.