SB Nation User Blog: djk royal

Royals May Have Best Pitching Prospects in Baseball in 2010

djk royal — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:25:47 -0000

Royals May Have Best Pitching Prospects in Baseball in 2010

From Jim Callis:

Pitching has become the strength of the Royals system. Third baseman Mike Moustakas and first baseman Eric Hosmer entered 2009 as Kansas City's two best prospects but both had disappointing years. Meanwhile, Danny Duffy had a strong season in high Class A; 2008 draftees Mike Montgomery, Tim Melville and John Lamb all showed considerable promise; and Crow and Chris Dwyer signed out of this year's draft.

None of those guys has advanced past high Class A yet, and attrition takes a heavy toll on pitching prospects as they advance through the minors. Thus I can't put the Royals in the first tier of pitching-rich systems. The Indians, Orioles, Rangers, Rays and Rockies (in no particular order) have quality arms and depth and guys on the verge of helping their big league clubs, so I'd put them all ahead of Kansas City. But the Royals would fall in the next group, and if their arms continue to progress, they might have the best collection of pitching prospects in baseball at the end of 2010.

Keith Law Given The Rany Treatment From Royals

djk royal — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:41:33 -0000

Keith Law Given The Rany Treatment From Royals

From Keith Law chat: "Someone I know well with KC told me after I wrote that the Royals shouldn't give Dayton an extension that we're not friends any more. The entire organization has gone mad - you are simply not allowed to criticize them."

Interesting Quote from Gil Meche

djk royal — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:34:07 -0000

Interesting Quote from Gil Meche

The following is from the most recent Craig Brown column:

I missed this quote from Gil Meche following Jose Guillen's Excellent Right Field Adventure on Friday night that led to Howie Kendrick's inside the park home run:

"If you want to call it an inside-the-parker, you go ahead, but I'd rather not even comment on that one."

Hmmmm. Had to travel all the way to the LA portion of the internet to view that little dandy.

Think Meche was a little perturbed with the effort? I'm with Gil, I don't care to comment.

Billy Beane: Master of Payroll Efficiency

djk royal — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:56:17 -0000

In honor of the upcoming movie Moneyball I present to you the salary and OPS for the six highest paid Oakland hitters this year:

1. Matt Holliday: $13.5 million with a 654 OPS

2. Eric Chavez: $11.5 million with a 262 OPS

3. Bobby Crosby: $5.3 million with a 664 OPS

4. Mark Ellis: $5 million with a 503 OPS

5. Jason Giambi: $4 million with a 629 OPS

6. Orlando Cabrera: $4 million with a 571 OPS

I know it's still somewhat early in the season but I was a little surprised to see these results.

From Joe Posnanski's Blog

djk royal — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:52:45 -0000

From Joe Posnanski's Blog

"I will share this Instant Message that I sent to young Sam Mellinger, the Star’s outstanding baseball writer. Sammy had been assigned to write some sort of instant analysis piece from back home in Kansas City, and we were just sending some smart aleck thoughts back and forth. And then, in the sixth inning, with the Royals leading 2-1, I wrote him this:
"For your instant analysis, why don’t you beat the rush and right now write ‘After Kyle Farnsworth blew the lead in the eighth inning …’"
I don’t write this to, in any way, overpraise my own ability to see into the future (though I have been on a bit of a roll lately). I write this because it was THAT obvious."

Things I am Thankful for Regarding the Royals

djk royal — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:01:41 -0000

Consistent Progress - I still have nightmares regarding the Allard Baird Regime and am grateful for the ever increasing win totals (62, 69, 75 & roughly 80 projected wins in 2009). That my friends is a trend I can get behind.
Improvement of Minor League System - Gone are the days of signability picks at the top of the draft and $1,000 bonuses to college seniors. Jim Callis has our system ranked 9th while Keith Law has it ranked 12th. This is very impressive considering we have so few prospects in the upper levels. Look for this ranking to increase when GMDM players eventually filter through every level.
Gil Meche, Zack Greinke & Joakim Soria - This 1/2 punch at the top of the rotation is the best since Appier/Cone and can compete with any team in baseball. The Mexicutioner is quite possibly the best young closer in baseball. All are signed for at least two more years.
Renovated Kauffman Stadium - I loved the stadium as it was but am really looking forward to seeing the improvements. It also nearly guarantees the Royals will remain a fixture in KC for the forseeable future.
Increase in Payroll for 2009 - While much of the industry is cutting payroll the Royals were one of the few clubs that significantly opened their wallets. Couple this with a record setting financial payout in the draft and maybe there is hope for Mr. Glass yet.
Royals Review, Rany on the Royals & Joe Posnanski - Royals fans are truly blessed to have so many quality options to discuss and learn about their favorite team. Two years ago I only had the KC Star.
Mike Aviles and Kila Ka'aihue - How often do two fringe prospects who were considered too old for their respective minor league levels explode with seasons like those two had in 2008.
David DeJesus - The Royals best position player handles a position switch from CF to LF with complete class. Maybe Michael Young and Jose Guillen could learn a few things from watching David.
Tony Pena Jr., Ross Gload & Joey Gathright - Barring something drastic happening, there is a real chance I may never have to watch those three bat for the Royals ever again.
Increase of Royals Baseball on TV - There are so many opportunities to watch games than ever before. Not to mention many are in HD now!
1B/DH Logjam - At a position the Royals have been almost comically bad the last two decades the Royals actually have 4 players who have the potential to be at least average and possibly more.
Slugger - For the second year in a row I attended the Royals Caravan and Slugger made by daughters day. Kudo's to the Lion!

Keith Law Ranks Royals Minor League System 12th

djk royal — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:11:18 -0000

Keith Law Ranks Royals Minor League System 12th

12. Kansas City Royals: Another improved system, boosted by an outstanding 2008 draft led by Eric Hosmer, lefty Mike Montgomery and sleeper Tim Melville, a projected first-rounder who fell after a mediocre spring. The Royals have good pitching depth but are a little light on impact talent after Hosmer.

What Roughly $26 Million Will Buy You For One Year

djk royal — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:07:57 -0000

2009 Salaries:

Coco Crisp: $5.75 million plus $.5 million buyout

Kyle Farnsworth: $4.25 million plus $.75 million incentives

Miguel Olivo: $2.7 million plus $.1 million buyout plus incentives

Ho-Ram: $1.8 million plus incentives

Willie Bloomquist: $1.4 million

Esteban German: $1.2 million plus incentives

Mike Jacobs: $3 million estimated arbitratrion amount

John Buck: $3 million estimated arbitratrion amount

Mark Teahen: $3 million estimated arbitratrion amount

Cue the parade now.

The Honeymoon is Over

djk royal — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:46:17 -0000

The Honeymoon is Over

Nobody in Kansas City will be happy if 75 wins is the best that comes of this.

The honeymoon is over.

The real marriage is beginning -- for better, for worse, in Joakim times and in Gload.

Rob Neyer Blasts Meche Contract..... Again.

djk royal — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:40:17 -0000

Rob Neyer Blasts Meche Contract..... Again.

I was not, however, wrong about Meche's contract, which was not a good one for the Royals.

Why not? Because big contracts don't make sense for losing teams. In Meche's two seasons the Royals have finished 69-93 and 75-87, with a .500 record still just a fantasy. Now, the argument that has been made is that while Meche might not push the Royals into contention all by himself, signing him "showed the Royals are serious" and would thus attract both fans and free agents.

Fans? The Royals finished last in attendance this year, next-to-last the year before. Free agents? The only notable free agent they've signed since Meche came aboard is Jose Guillen (about whom the less said, the better).

snip

Someday, the historians will look at Gil Meche's statistics and his salaries and conclude that the Royals got their money's worth, and then some. Today, though, those dollars are just another example of the mismanagement that has plagued the franchise for nearly 25 years.