SB Nation User Blog: kcisbetterthanstlateverything

Dayton Moore unaware he can make moves in the offseason

kcisbetterthanstlateverything — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:54:59 -0000

Dayton Moore unaware he can make moves in the offseason

Why this weekend's game is winnable

kcisbetterthanstlateverything — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:00:19 -0000

I don't post that much here. I only post maybe once a month over at Royals Review. But I read every day, and I'm just kinda shocked by the lack of confidence Chiefs fans and the lack of opportunity the national media is allowing the Chiefs this weekend in Philadelphia. So here are my 5 reasons we can win and why we should at least not write ourselves off yet.

1. McNabb is not going to play; this means that Kevin Kolb is going to play.

via www.delawareonline.com

This is the helmet McNabb will wear on Sunday.

McNabb is one of the NFL's ultimate feast or famine QBs, but he almost always shines against poor teams (yes, I'm counting us right now). McNabb's Eagles offense, if including Vick, is one of the fastest and most dynamic in the NFL. McNabb makes all that go. Kevin Kolb is billed as the QB of the future, but I think he is more in the Brodie Croyle mold than the Aaron Rodgers mold. He has been unimpressive in his brief NFL career, and for the reasons that follow, he won't have much help this Sunday.

2. Brian Westbrook is injured and, at the very least, will not play all that much.

via www.oddjack.com

Westbrook is the ultimate duel threat RB in the NFL, and the way the Eagles traditionally have thrown under Andy Reid only caters to Westbrook. He is probably the best screen RB in the league, in addition to being a very good runner. Having him out will limit options for Kolb as far as check downs and any attempts to lessen his load with the running game.

3. Desean Jackson is injured.

via www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com

While very fast, Jackson did fumble that ball at the one before entering the endzone last year against Dallas.

Jackson is the big play threat the Eagles have coveted for a long time, and his rookie year provided that excitement almost every week. While his route-running and hands probably still need work, Jackson is a game-changer. With him out, more of the load will fall on Jeremy Maclin, the rookie out of Mizzou. He is a similar player to Jackson, although probably with better hands, less route-running ability, and is easier to tackle. Therefore...no starting QB, no starting WR...seems like trouble to me.

4. Michael Vick will only play sparingly, and, if used at QB, is still just Michael Vick.

via www.insidesocal.com

Hopefully we only have 11 very angry men wanting to put him away for a long time.

Before Vick's brief prison stint, I thought he was one of the most overrated players in the league, mostly because he was playing out of position. At QB, he added a dimension that defenses rarely had to account for, but he also was a slightly better Jamarcus Russell as far as passing. That said, the Eagles will use Vick in the wildcat and at times at QB, though most people are guessing in 10-15 plays only. This is good and bad. Vick can either kill his team or kill us. A medium impact is unlikely. I think I'd bet on him being a non-factor in this match-up, especially as far as passing. As far as his running, he is fast...but very tackle-able (i made that word up) if you can catch him or contain him. Reminder: he spent a long time in prison and has not played a NFL game since 2007 (one year after we were in the playoffs).

5. Even at 0-2, we have played better than our record. (we're due)

via i.cdn.turner.com

New face gets his first win as a Chief?

In Baltimore, against the defending AFC runner up, we took it to 2 minutes to go. Against Oakland, we thoroughly outplayed a team and shot ourselves in the foot too many times. The yardage spoke for itself. Haley, while a lot hate him, is an excellent playcaller and, in my opinion, one of the best young coaches in the league. His team will be prepared, if not overly prepared. They will face a mostly second-team skill-position group on the Eagles offense and CAN cause havoc with that. This is one of the big sleeper games on our schedule, and it appears we have caught the Eagles at their most vulnerable.

So, in summation: don't think this is an automatic loss, and shame on the national media for assuming Eagles second stringers can handle our team. This will likely be a very good game.

Nickname the Chiefs Offensive Line!

kcisbetterthanstlateverything — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:10:59 -0000

Like any famous, or infamous in this case, group goes, a nickname must be given. It's a sports rule or something. As we know, our line is awful. Over the last few years, with the retirements and departures of Will Shields, Willie Roaf, and Casey Wiegmann, our line has turned a perennially dominant five man blocking unit (we had several streaks of starting 5 linemen extending more than one season, which is rare) into a carousel that has turned the record setting LJ into Jamal Lewis and sent many QBs to the injured lists. But if this preseason is any indication, the 2009 incarnation of the Chiefs line could take this level of suck to a new and expensive low.

via cdn2.sbnation.com

Before we actually get to some nickname suggestions, I'll give some famous group nicknames in football history.

The Four Horsemen (Notre Dame stars Harry Stuhldreher, Don Miller, Jim Crowley, and Elmer Layden)

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The Fearsome Foursome (L.A. Rams line of Rosey Grier, Lamar Lundy, Merlin Olsen, and Deacon Jones)

via media.independent.com

The Purple People Eaters (Vikings line of Alan Page, Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, and Gary Larsen)

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The No-Name Defense (Undefeated Dolphins defense of 1972)

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The Steel Curtain (1970s Steelers defense that produced 4 Super Bowl wins)

via www.steelergridiron.com

The Orange Crush (Broncos defense that did not manage to win a Super Bowl but did earn a nickname)

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The Hogs (The big uglies that paved the way for John Riggins and the physical Redskins teams of the 80s and early 90s)

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The Triplets (The self-proclaimed stars of an offense that was ACTUALLY good because of its line)

via www.supersportscenter.com

The Greatest Show on Turf (St. Louis Rams 1999-2001)

via www.nflfans.com

Now for some negative nicknames, because, after all, that's what we're looking at here.

The Ain'ts (New Orleans Saints, 1967-present, zero Super Bowl appearances or wins)

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The Bungles (Cincinnati Bengals 1968-present, NFL laughingstock since 1991)

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The Lambs (Post-Kurt Warner Rams-present)

via www.freakingnews.com

The Chefs (That's great, but who are the Chefs?....I expect my check in the mail Snickers)

via sixfourthreeblog.files.wordpress.com

My suggestions (FINALLY I'm sure some of you, if you made it, are thinking), which aren't all that great; but, whatever.

The French Resistance: a lot of talk until the fighting starts

via www.worldpeace.no

The Blocking Dummies: obviously a joke because our line does not block much at all

via 3.bp.blogspot.com

The Fall Out Boys: these guys are an intimidating bunch

via images.hitfix.com

Cassel's Penetrable Wall: other teams only need to look at our line to find the way through

via www.itraveluk.co.uk

The Chef Salads: mostly because it's different everywhere you go, but still a general wussy dish

via blogs.nashvillescene.com

The Red Light District: this is what our running backs see as they approach the line of scrimmage, and really, our line is really just a playground for the drunken imaginations of opposing defenses, just to satisfy the Amsterdam reference

via hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu

The Red Blush: soft, revealing, attractive...this is what defenses see

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The Red Herrings: our line really is good at hiding the rest of the problems our team has

via sketchedout.files.wordpress.com

The Gingers: South Park's soul-less, dumb, and problematic bunch....the world must be rid of them according to Eric Cartman.

via z.about.com

The Red-Headed Sluts: Our line could suck the chrome off a trailer hitch!

via www.reds-world.com

No offense to women; it's just a drink.

I encourage everyone to try a nickname, because this group is so bad we might have a full roster of skill players injured by the bye week.

via assets.sbnation.com

Poll

What should the Chiefs awful offensive line's nickname be?

The French Resistance

23 votes

The blocking dummies

19 votes

Cassel's penetrable wall

12 votes

The Fall Out Boys

5 votes

The Red Light District

3 votes

Red Blush

5 votes

The Red Herrings

0 votes

Gingers

5 votes

The Chef Salads

6 votes

The Red-Headed Sluts

9 votes

other (I suggested a better one in the comments)

22 votes

109 votes | Poll has closed

Why I don't think Dayton's rebuilding PROCESS will work

kcisbetterthanstlateverything — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:34:00 -0000

Much has been made about the post-Moneyball era where the small-market teams are in the continuous struggle to find the next market inefficiency to exploit. Most of us are familiar with the Royals idea and the process in place: dramatically increase funding for draft-picks (ignoring slotting, drafting on talent only, not money) and international scouting and signings. On the surface, this seems like a good idea, mostly because the Allard Baird regime (David and Dan Glass included) practically ignored these areas as useful as far as building the organization as a whole. But in reality all that is going on is high stakes gambling. Further, it is not innovative; it is how baseball works.

via www.missourinet.com

The first pick post-Allard Baird was Luke Hochevar, first overall. While Dayton Moore did not "pick" Luke, Luke's selection is not out of place in the string of drafts and signings since 2006. Luke was represented by Scott Boras, had been drafted previously and not signed, played independently. His contract demands were high, but so was his pedigree (Roger Clemens Award for College Pitcher of the Year while at Tennessee). He signed for $5.3 million. Lincecum, Longoria, and others were in this draft, and the full fruits of this draft have not risen to the majors yet. But this is not the point, though it helps to understand it because a large portion of that first round draft class will not make the majors. Luke, though a disappointment in some quarters, is a qualified success.

via mlb.mlb.com

via blogs.tampabay.com

The MLB draft is unique in pro sports, mostly because it allows HS and College players to be drafted, though not international players in other leagues. It is also unique in that it is mostly a crapshoot. The draft is the start of a player's trackable development. A player's career, once drafted, could begin in short season rookie ball or AA, hell even in the majors in the rare case. From that point, the player could struggle to adapt, could perform as predicted and improve until ready for the majors, etc. However, none of this is really predictable or controllable. It is rare that there is the CAN'T MISS prospect, though every year there do seem to be several (one usually misses, destroying the can't miss label, but whatever...see Brian Bullington, Brien Taylor, Matt Anderson, and Paul Wilson among others). For all the Josh Hamiltons out there that made it after seemingly being out of baseball, there is another that actually IS out of baseball. Such is the odd nature of the MLB draft when it comes to the big money players. Feast or famine, outhouse or mansion.

via cache.gawker.com

International scouting is similar. Those who spend the most money internationally seem to find and acquire the most talented youngsters there. This is where many of the big money teams replenish their minor league systems. The Royals neglected this area under Allard Baird as well, just as they did the draft. But, just like in the draft, an international player's development, sometimes even his age, is not predictable. A 16 year old shortstop from the Dominican touted as the next A-Rod might be that, but he also might be Tony Pena Jr. or Angel Berroa. At 16, it's hard to say whether or not the kid will grow, turn awkward, even maybe put on weight and become fat, lose speed. Further, he may actually have been 20, lied to get into an Academy, and increase his value before his signing. (See below) In general, the international scouting and signing process is just as much of a crapshoot as the draft is, though it seems to produce just as much top-end talent in the long run. Again, Dayton Moore wants to increase spending in this area, and he has done so dramatically. Optimistic?

via mlbfever.mlblogs.com

I really pulled one over on them then...but now I feel my age. At least I'm not paying for it.

All that said, this is what our General Manager wants to gamble on. He thinks that with the right scouting and the right drafting, not being shy about pricetags, he can fill the minors with talented players sufficient to develop and rise to the MLB level, enough to turn around the fortunes of our beloved Royals. It is a noble task, but in my opinion, it is a more arrogant plan than an intelligent one. To think that one scout, one GM, one person can have the intelligence to draft or sign wisely presumes too much about the draft or the international scouting climate itself. To say that it is possible to draft "correctly" is to say that one GM is smarter than the rest. This does not hold true; how else do so many first round picks flop while 30th round guys somehow make it to the bigs and succeed? Miguel Tejada or Angel Berroa? Failure is part of the draft and international signings as much as scouting is. And this is where our money should be going? Sure, you can increase your chances of succeeding by signing the expensive guys like the big-spending teams do, but in reality you are not gaining any competitive advantage by doing so. You are just competing normally. The draft and the international free agent market are not market inefficiencies to be exploited. Spending on them is simply different than the Allard Baird regime; spending in these areas is just what a franchise is expected and supposed to do.

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We have heard much of the fact that the Royals have spent record amounts on their drafting in the last three draft-classes, and this year will be no different. After Aaron Crow signs, and I believe he will, we will break our own record again with money spent on the draft. No doubt that we will have a better organization, depth-wise, afterwards. However, spending $15 million on the draft is hardly what I would call wise spending. To put us on a normal organizational path, it is only one necessary part. For the Royals and for Dayton Moore, this draft spending has been talked about sometimes as an alternative to big free agent spending, as the way to actaully have long-term sustainable success instead of big contracts and big egos. But what is more predictable? Free agent production or a player's development? Some balance is needed in the spending.

In Dayton's defense, he has argued that front-spending on the draft and scouting, COUPLED with WISE free agent signings will bring MLB success, but that only drafting and scouting well can produce organizational depth. As for the wise free agent signings...yeah, you know.

via redstatebluestate.mlblogs.com

2 years, $9.5 million

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3 years, $36 million

via pictopia.com

What is a walk? Why would I want to not swing?

So all we have to be cheery about as Royals fans is the drafting, the process, the hope that the spending on the unpredictable development tracks of highly touted draftpicks and Latin American prospects will produce success for our franchise. I don't buy it. Other franchises have been doing this for years, and it is normal, not an innovative organizational strategy. Failure and success are friends in the drafting and international signing game. It is better now that we ARE spending this money in these areas, but it is not the solution to anything. We are left to hope and trust that Dayton and his guys can be better at it than the others. As Bad Santa said: shit in one hand, wish in the other...see which one shows up first. While we may have a lot of money invested, the high likelihood is that most or all of these players recently drafted, internationally signed or touted won't be the ones to bring us out of the humongous hole our organization is in. All we can do is wish.

via weblogs.baltimoresun.com

"Change is not a destination, just as hope is not a strategy."-Rudi Giuliani

Poll

What do you think of the process?

I trust that it will work

14 votes

I don't think it will work, but it's the best we can do

8 votes

It's a waste to spend record amounts of money on the draft and in the international signing areas; average spending would be fine

3 votes

Only Bryce Harper can save the process

17 votes

42 votes | Poll has closed

Our GM's Nightmare, Introducing the All Fat-Guy Team

kcisbetterthanstlateverything — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:25:29 -0000

Baseball has long been about tools. Hit for power, hit for average, throwing, fielding, and baserunning. Well, there's one group of guys that scouts often overlook because they lack one of those things: speed/perceived lack of baserunning ability. But in a recent conversation with my friends, and now I've had it several times, I believe a commodity in baseball (after all, the lesson in Moneyball was exploiting the market, not necessarily OBP...as most people would assume) is fat guys. If a fat guy makes the Majors, it is likely because he is extremely talented in one or more of the other four tools (usually the sixth too...plate discipline). In general though, scouts and those watching don't often envy the fat man, because he often looks goofy and out of place in pro sports. But I decided it would be a fun exercise to make an All Fat-Guy Team because I think it would be the best in the majors if assembled, and it wouldn't be all that hard to dupe scout-type GM's into obtaining this type player early in their developmental track, or late for that matter. This stems from a societal stereotype that fat guys aren't athletes. And while that usually is the case, they are irregularly good, if not GREAT, baseball players, making baseball unique in sports. My hunch is this is why Americans love MLB more than the NBA, because, frankly, I don't relate to or possess one skill LeBron has...and most baseball fans are the same. While most of the guys on the list won't enjoy being mentioned, they should. So here it is...the All Fat-Guy Team. Tell me if they're winners.

via bloggingaboutbaseball.files.wordpress.com

Catcher: Yadier or Bengie Molina, it does not matter.

If you've seen one Molina run, you've seen them all. They are so slow that awhile ago Joe Posnanski coined a unit of measure as to how slow a moving object can be, the base unit: Molina (1 Molina being the slowest, 0 being the speed of light). BUT, speed does not define these guys. They have cannons for arms and have been good hitters. Bengie has always hit, though not always taken, good pitches. Yadier was a project of a hitter when he came up as a defensive-specialist catcher, but now he has found himself as an above average hitting catcher, with a thousand times the patience of his older brother Bengie. Either fat guy=good enough for the All Fat-Guy Team. Other brother Jose is not.

Stats: Bengie .262/.274/.425 ;Yadier .285/.355/.377

Runners Up: V-Mart, Olivo, Navarro, Soto, Pudge

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First Base: Prince Fielder

Prince has lineage in this department, if for nothing else. Prince has perhaps the most powerful, if not laughable, swing in baseball. He won this year's homerun derby, is young, and is on his way to being a perennial homer powerhouse. He even realized that the key to being a great fat guy is not in being a vegetarian, but rather being an alpha-male meat-only monster. If he could eat baseballs, I'm sure he would. Instead, he has the quintessential power stroke. Big Guy + Big Swing = Long Balls + Scared Pitchers.

Stats: .302/.424/.585

Runners Up: Ryan Howard (not fat enough), Youkilis (you'll see him later in the list), M. Cabrera, Billy Butler

via bricksandivyradio.com

Second Base: Alberto Callaspo

Admittedly, it's hard to find fat middle infielders, but 2nd base has a few guys that could qualify. Of those, Callaspo may be the best. While not technically fat, he is pudgy, does not have range, and is slow. For a second baseman, that's fat. However, he waves what Mark Teahen called the "Magic Stick", so look out Curtis Jackson. He hits for high average, lots of doubles, does not strike out, and walks. A complete hitter for his position and a well-deserved spot on this team. His beer weight may only change his position on the team, not his membership.

Stats: .302/.353/.453

Runners Up: L. Castillo, Polanco, Durham

via cdn.bleacherreport.com

Shortstop: Miguel Tejada

Shortstop is the hardest position to find a fat guy, and Tejada has simply packed on weight since his ~~steroid~~ great years. However, he still swings a good bat and isn't a complete eyesore at shortstop. I wish I could put Aviles on this list, but he is injured and hurt himself by playing terribly for 5 weeks. He would have fit better. But Tejada probably deserves this non-honor.

Stats: .328/.358/.478

Runners Up: Aviles, Guzman

via www.chrisoleary.com

3rd Base: Kevin Youkilis

While he has played MORE at first base in his career, Youkilis is a natural third baseman. He won a Gold Glove at first, but is a very serviceable third baseman, in addition to being one hell of a hitter. The Greek God of Walks belongs on this list if anyone does, and I suspect his weight is not stable or disappearing. At his age, it can only go up.

Stats: .296/.409/.553

Runners Up: Sandoval, Mora, A. Ramirez, A. Beltre, B. Hall, Peralta (A's recent acquisition Brett Wallace fits here as well...best highlight video of any player I've seen, mostly for laughs, but one hell of a player)

via sonsofsimmons.com

Left Field: Carlos Lee

Since Lee left Chicago and stopped terrorizing the Royals, he has been one of the more dominant hitting corner outfielders in the NL, first for Milwaukee and then for Houston. His status as fat is not in question, and it is fitting for him to play in a LF that is so small he's asked for a recliner out there. But the guy can hit, plain and simple.

Stats: .310/.360/.493

Runners Up: Dunn, M. Ramirez (really not fat, but moves like it)

via blog.kir.com

Center Field: Andruw Jones

Aside from his brief time with the Dodgers, Jones has had an awesome MLB career. He's attempting to piece that back together with Texas right now (where else would a lost hitter go?), but he's probably the best for THIS team at this premium outfield position. Still has big power, big K numbers, but one of the better outfielders in the game defensively (ideally not CF anymore, but that's not the exercise).

Stats: .230/.341/.531

Runners Up (most guys out of position): Swisher, B. Hall, G. Matthews, M. Kemp (again not fat really)

via 2.bp.blogspot.com

Right Field: Bobby Abreu

Again, a guy that's not the fattest but plumping up as he gets older. He is the most patient hitter imagineable, in addition to being able to run very well (for his size?) and throw well. He would be the defensive ace of this team, but also would be our lead-off catalyst. I still regret us not signing this guy when he was so cheap to get...

Stats: .315/.413/.445

Runners Up: Jose Guillen, J. Bruce, Magglio

via cdn.bleacherreport.com

LINEUP

RF Abreu

3B Youkilis

1B Fielder

LF Lee

SS Tejada

CF Jones

2B Callaspo

C Molina, Y.

P Sabathia (let the fat man swing)

Starting Pitchers: Sabathia, Zambrano, Buehrle, Lackey, Cain

Sabathia is the highest paid pitcher EVER, but not per pound. Zambrano is simply enormous, but having met the guy in person he really isn't fat anymore than he is simply enormous. Buehrle looks like he drinks a healthy 12 pack a day, but has the old man facial hair and build to keep that going. Lackey is huge, dominant, awesome. Matt Cain was actually lectured by his team's training staff for being out of shape (but Pablo Sandoval wasn't?), and Cain has responded, not by getting in shape, by having the best season of his career. This starting list is short because I'm only a couple years removed from having Bartolo Colon and David Wells to select.

via weblogs.baltimoresun.com

Relievers: Jenks, Reyes, Guardado, Bradford, Wood, Valverde, Chamberlain

Fat guy doesn't automatically mean gas from the bullpen. Jenks throws hard and has topped 300 lbs. in his pro career. Reyes and Guardado are funny looking 87-93 mph fastball guys. Bradford is the Moneyball famous submariner that physically cannot move off the mound (are his back problems the result of the delivery or his beer gut? discuss.). Kerry Wood used to be fatter, but he's not tiny. Jose Valverde amazes me everytime i see him because it seems like he has an extra chin. Joba needs to do more Meth to get off this list and no longer be classified as fat. In any event, great bullpen here.

via umpbump.com

So....here are the fat guys. They're good. Market inefficiency? Possibly, maybe. Who knows. I just think it's time baseball gets celebrated for its unique and talented jolly fat guys. After all, scouts don't call these guys athletes.

Poll

Do you like fat baseball players?

Yes

70 votes

No

19 votes

89 votes | Poll has closed

Looking at the impending moves (doom)

kcisbetterthanstlateverything — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:01:32 -0000

With the Yuniesky trade behind us, he is soon to join the Royals. Alex Gordon is done reminding everyone that he owned the minors and is set for a return to duty with the Royals. Several players on our roster have the attention of other teams. So who will have the most impact? Who will no longer be with us? Here's a look at each scenario and what I think will, or should, happen.

This Friday against the Rays, the Royals will likely be ready to activate both Gordon and Betancourt, meaning two roster spots will need to be cleared. Here are the options as I see them.

via vancityguy.files.wordpress.com

DFA Tony Pena Jr.

Comment: He's out of options...which begs the question of who kept calling him up. But we know the answer. How shit-faced will we all get in celebration of this move when, and if, it happens. Hopefully it's this Friday because (a) it's the soonest it is possible to happen and (b) it's a weekend so most of us won't have to wake up from the night of boozing in celebration. I don't need to show you any stats about this guy.

Impact: Addition by subtraction for the Royals, and, as GobbleforCyYoung has put it, Betancourt is a major upgrade, even if he, also, sucks. However, I may need some money after the bar tab I'd run up and maybe even some money to cover the stomach-pump.

via cache.deadspin.com

TPJ in his signature performance.

DFA Brayan Pena

Comment: SuperPudge should not be sent down after his run of success at the plate, both in AAA and in the majors for us this year. I'm still baffled he did not get claimed on waivers last time, but surely someone would grab him this time. I like Pena over Buck, but his lack of grit and toolsy athleticism likely make him look different in the eyes of our beloved scouts. To be blunt, he's fat, but that's not always an indicator that someone isn't awesome.

Impact: To me? Devastating. To the team, it really would not matter all that much other than losing the extra bat off the bench and the insurance in case Buck or Olivo get injured long-term.

via royals.mlblogs.com

Pudgy Cuban awesomeness.

Send down Bruce Chen

Comment: i've seen enough of Bruce personally, but there are some that believe he has Horacio Ramirez qualities. Similarities: penchant for allowing homers, the left hand, and the number 52. To management, they loved Horacio Ramirez and, therefore, they love Bruce Chen. This move seems unlikely, but plausible considering we've gone 4-man at several points this year and pitchers will be rested after the break.

Impact: Chen would open a spot for a position player or the return of Sir Sidney. Both scenarios are probably a push, unless that position player replacing him is Gordon.

via farm4.static.flickr.com

How many Chens in an Omaha phonebook? It depends how bad the Royals are doing.

Trade Mark Teahen and/or John Buck

Comment: Funny I put these guys together in the same trade scenario? Well, they're both expendable and have (some) value to other teams. Teahen for his bat and versatility; Buck because he can catch and call games (notice I did not say throw). These guys could be gone without much changing on our roster, meaning they are an opportunity to add some minor league depth or a major league relief arm (although probably not a good one).

Impact: Losing Teahen would symbolize the end of an era, but not necessarily one we'll miss. Teahen has saved the team with his ability to change positions and adapt, but he has also sucked up a roster spot since 2005 with his potential that has never really maximized, and if this is it, a .290/.335/.440 18 hr season, we won't miss much. I personally like Teahen, but I understand why so many of us have soured on him. Losing Buck would give Brayan Pena his much needed opportunity to catch once or twice a week and secure his spot with our franchise.

via multimedia.foxsports.com

Wow, who would have thought this picture would contain (a) the shortstop whose injury destroyed the organization, (b) both players involved in the Carlos Beltran trade still on the roster, and (c) the hacktastic superhero Dayton Moore envisioned? All three, perfect caption.

Trade Juan Cruz or Ron Mahay

Comment: When we signed Juan Cruz, Royals fans were the only ones who didn't see it as a trade set-up move. Well, now other people looks smarter than us, because a 94-98mph fastball and sharp slider are always attractive tools for set-up men. Further, good teams always need more set-up help. We could cash with a A or AA prospect (what we may have gotten with that pick we lost for signing him), but his ERA does not scream value right now. Mahay, on the other hand, is left-handed, making him instantly more valuable. However, his control has been spotty this year. He'd have marginal trade value at best.

Impact: Season blow up. This would officially signal that we have given up, as it would mean the bullpen simply could not function any more. Tejeda, Farnsworth, and Colon would be the best relievers left to get a game to Soria, and that's scary.

via mlb.mlb.com

Once an outfielder, always Australian.

via cdn1.sbnation.com

Cruz reacting to trade rumors.

DFA Mike Jacobs and call-up Kila

Comment: Here's one that would jump off the page, but because of that it is very unlikely. Send down a recent Dayton acquisition and call-up an OBP monster with power? Hmmm, unlikely, but it's obviously one I'd LOVE to see.

via farm4.static.flickr.com

The real Hawaiian Punch. (.259/.390!!!/.474, 13 HR, 64 BB, 64 K in 87 G, 365 PA)

In summary, this is speculation. But we've wondered for awhile what the team would look like when Gordon came back, often optimistically. Well, the time is here, and it's terrible. These roster moves are the possibilities I see. Chime in with your thoughts and prayers.

Poll

Which move is the most appealing?

TPJ

76 votes

Chubby Pena

2 votes

Chen

9 votes

Trade Teahen/Buck

37 votes

Trade relief pitcher

3 votes

Somehow find a way to get Kila here

103 votes

230 votes | Poll has closed

The Royals All-Star Team

kcisbetterthanstlateverything — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:45:29 -0000

As ESPN and others try to make some kinds of all-time all-star teams, I figured it would be an interesting exercise to find the best all-stars the Royals have produced. So, by position, here they are.

Catcher: Darrell Porter (1979)

Stats: .291/.421/.484, 20 hr, 121 WALKS!!!!

Comment: Career highs in homers, walks, rbi, 3rd of 4 career all-star appearances, finished 9th in AL MVP voting for a 1st place Royals team.

via www.baseballtoddsdugout.com

1st Base: Mike Sweeney (2000)

Stats: .333/.407/.523, 29 hr, 144 rbi, 206 h, 71 bb to 67 k

Comment: Probably the best all-around year Sweeney had in his time as a Royal, with the only possible exception being 2002, the year he hit .340. This was the first of his 5 appearances as a Royals all-star representative.

via blogs.pe.com

2nd Base: Frank White (1986)

Stats: .272/.322/.465, 22 hr, 84 rbi, 37 2b, 76 r (career high)

Comment: This was Frank's last all-star game and it came as he was at his peak offensively but before his defensive skills had eroded at all.

via www.studyofsports.com

Shortstop: Freddie Patek (1976)

Stats: .241/.318/.306, 1 hr, 50 sb, 19 2b, 3 3b, 43 rbi, 50 bb

Comment: Only Royal SS to make the all-star team, though there have been many better seasons by Royals shortstops. Moreover, it wasn't as if there were 6'3 power hitters playing the position in the 70's. Patek must always be viewed through the lens of his era for that reason alone.

via cardboardgods.files.wordpress.com

3rd Base: George Brett (1980, surprise!)

Stats: .390!!!/.454/.664, 24 hr, 33 2b, 9 3b, 118 rbi, 204 OPS+

Comment: The best season by any Royals player to date, this should not be a surprise. The only downside to that unbelievable season was that Brett was hampered by a rather unfortunate injury...

via i.cdn.turner.com

Outfielders:

LF: Bo Jackson (1989)

Stats: .256/.310/.495, 32 hr, 105 rbi, 172 so

Comment: This was at the height of Bo-mania across the country, and it was capped off with a moonshot homerun to lead off the All-Star game for the AL. Bo knows.

via secure.ussa.edu

CF: Amos Otis (1973)

Stats: .300/.368/.484, 26 hr, 93 rbi, 63 bb to 47 so, 13 sb

Comment: Probably the second best CF in franchise history next to Beltran, and 1973 was maybe only his second best season, as in 1978 Amos put up better numbers, finished 4th in MVP voting, but did not make the all-star team.

via www.vintagecardtraders.org

Odd-man out in CF: Carlos Beltran (2004)

Stats: .267/.367/.548, 38 hr, 104 rbi, 42 sb, 3 cs, 36 2b, 9 3b

Comment: The stats above are for the full season, as Beltran is the only member of this all-star team that played for the NL all-star team in that year. Beltran spent most of the first half of 2004 with the Royals before being traded for the three-headed Teahen/Buck/Wood beast. Beltran created a memorable summer for those in Houston and possibly the greatest postseason in history in 2004.

via i.cdn.turner.com

RF: Jermaine Dye (2000)

Stats: .321/.390/.561, 33 hr, 118 rbi, 41 2b

Comment: Voted to start in RF by the fans (yeah, the same fans that put Josh Hamilton and Dustin Pedroia there this year). This would be Jermaine's best year as a Royal, and it was only slightly better than Danny Tartabull's year in 1991 (though Danny's 171 ops+ is much better than Dye's 135).

via assets.espn.go.com

Pitchers:

SP #1: Zack Greinke (2009)

Stats: 2.12 ERA, 127.1 ip, 129 k, 4 hr allowed, 5 cg, 2 so, 10-5 (season in progress)

Comment: The best first half of any Royals starter ever, including possibly the best 9 start run of any starter in MLB history to begin this season. Zack should be named the AL starter unless ESPN succeeds in its efforts to let Wakefield roll out in his wheelchair and throw knuckleballs as the AL all-star starter.

via www.midwestsportsfans.com

SP #2: Bret Saberhagen (1987)

Stats: 18-10, 3.36 ERA, 257 IP, 15 CG, 163 k, 1.163 WHIP

Comment: Not even close to Saberhagen's best season, as a Royal or otherwise, but Saberhagen was the AL starter in 1987, in the middle of the most dominant portion of his career.

via i.cdn.turner.com

SP #3: Steve Busby (1975)

Stats: 18-12, 3.08 ERA, 260 IP, 18 CG, 160 k, 1.206 WHIP

Comment: Those stats reveal why Busby's arm was a ticking time bomb, but he was one of the best pitchers in the AL for a four year run, and this was his best season.

via www.baseball-almanac.com

SP #4: David Cone (1994)

Stats: 16-5, 2.94 ERA, 171 IP, 132 k

Comment: Cone won the strike-shortened season's Cy Young Award with what could have been his best professional season.

via i.cdn.turner.com

RP #1: Joakim Soria (2008)

Stats: 1.60 ERA, 67 IP, 42 saves, 39 hits, 0.861 WHIP

Comment: Soria's 2008 was historical in dominance, only to be overshadowed by names under bright lights in LA, NY, and Boston. If Soria had a better team, he could have been even better.

via royals.mlblogs.com

RP #2: Dan Quisenberry (1983)

Stats: 1.94 ERA, 45 saves, 139 IP, 118 h

Comment: The Q turned in his best season as the most dominant groundball inducing force ever seen, leading the league in saves, games pitched, and games finished.

via badseed57.mlblogs.com

So there they are. Yes, there is room for debate at several spots, but this is who I picked. Have a great All-Star break. Hopefully my next post will be a revised and updated Ryan LeFebvre drinking game.

Are the Twins a rival?

kcisbetterthanstlateverything — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:34:06 -0000

Do you hate the Minnesota Twins? Your response is most likely like mine. "Yeah, they're in the division...and they're always doing things without money just like we should be, but I don't HATE the Twins...their fans seem nice and there's nothing all that threatening about the Twin Cities." So my answer would probably be no, but there is something to the relationship between the Royals and Twins.

So...What is it that links these teams aside from the division?

First, geography.

The Royals and Twins share boundary lines in Iowa, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. However, due to growing apathy in the Royal fandom, Iowa and even parts of Nebraska have been lost to the nationally dubbed loveable losers, the Cubbies. Further, it is not all that long of a drive from Kansas City to Minneapolis, somewhere between 8 and a half to 10 hours depending how reckless you'd like to be on the road. As such, LOTS of Twins fans come to the games at Kauffman Stadium (most likely because it's outdoors and tickets are cheap) because it is close. Also, a surprising number of Royals fans show up on camera at the rightful indoor ballpark in Minneapolis. There is crossover here.

via donstuff.files.wordpress.com

Seriously, northern Nebraska, the Dakotas, and Grass Creek, WY....call Nike and voice your displeasure with their cartography (1-800-344-6453)

Second, envy.

While not all of us agree that the "Twins way" is what makes them good (it's more likely pitching and a willingness to play to their ballpark while still getting OBP), the Twins thrive in a small market in a way we wish the Royals could. Here's a table for that...

YEAR	Twins Payroll (division finish)	Royals Payroll (division finish)
2001	24.13M (2)	35.42M (5)
2002	40.23M (1)	47.26M (4)
2003	55.51M (1)	40.52M (3)
2004	53.59M (1)	47.61M (5)
2005	56.19M (3)	36.88M (5)
2006	63.40M (1)	47.29M (5)
2007	71.44M (3)	67.12M (5)
2008	56.93M (2, lost one game playoff)	59.25M (4)
2009	65.30M (2)	70.52M (4)

Envy forms the basis for many rivalries in sports (Browns/Steelers, old Yankees/Red Sox, Kansas/Kansas St., Cardinals/Cubs, even Royals/Cardinals), and this one may be closer to our noses than we think. While we can hate the White Sox because of their utter lack of class (beating up old people is not okay for those White Sox fans seeking clarification on this comment), the Twins just do what we're trying to do but better. The division finishes do not follow the monetary investment, and, therefore, their baseball people are smarter than our baseball people, at least those paid to do it, ironically, by the Glass family. So much for Wal-Mart bargains and smart-shopping. It hurts to see someone like you succeed while you fail, repeatedly.

Third, the people and crossovers.

Our current TV Broadcaster is the Twins former radio broadcaster.

via www.wickedlocal.com

My name is Ryan LeFebvre, and I am an alcoholic. I've been sober since I left Minnesota.

One of our worst free agent acquisitions ever was a former Twins All-Star.

via imagecache2.allposters.com

Look out Keith Olberman's mom! Knoblauch is throwing baseballs!

We hawked a year off of this future hall of fame Twin.

via www.mattspenandpaperheroes.com

He hit .199/.317/.375 in his final season in 1975 playing for the Royals, hitting the last 14 of his career 573 homers. Take that Minnesota (and Washington, D.C.)!

Hitting rivalry...Brett vs. Carew?

via i.cnn.net

via i.cdn.turner.com

Look who's closer- Happy Gilmore

Fourth, the many Twins heroes created by the Royals and Royals pariahs created by the Twins.

Lew Ford: LeFebvre once compared him to Joe DiMaggio when he plays against the Royals. Outside of those situations, however, he was not a very good ballplayer.

via img.photobucket.com

Luis Rivas: Perhaps a grander, and dumber, comparison by LeFebvre, Rivas was compared to Ruth after more than one multiple homerun game against the Royals (34 total career homers in 2100 AB in 8 seasons.

via images.minorleagueball.com

Okay, so the connections here are weak, and I'm reaching for something that I cannot find. The bottom line is that the Twins are a division opponent, and their fans are occupying the seats at Kauffman Stadium at an alarming rate. They embarass us constantly with some of our more famous meltdowns (See Joel Peralta vs. Craig Monroe, among others), while proving the point that market-size does not doom you to regular season failure, at least not in our division. So, to come back at it, are the Twins a rival? I certainly don't want their borderline Canadian accent and Miller Lite nonsense any more. Let them have hockey and eat it too.

Poll

Are the Twins a rival?

Yes, I hate them

36 votes

No, but they annoy me

61 votes

No, don't ya know they're nice folks?

66 votes

No opinion

11 votes

174 votes | Poll has closed

Our Worst Nightmare: Soria Injured

kcisbetterthanstlateverything — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:50:48 -0000

Our Worst Nightmare: Soria Injured

Sore shoulder makes Hillman look slightly better, our team much worse...

Robinson Tejeda is what 'we' wanted Farnsworth to be

kcisbetterthanstlateverything — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:15:25 -0000

Farnsworth sucks, sucked, and is overpaid. Anyone who follows the Royals gets it and has said to their friends, family, pets, and dead relatives. But what pisses me off the most is that we had/have the same player. In fact, a younger, better version just rotting without being used. That man: Robinson Tejeda.

Robinson Tejeda, much like Farnsworth, came up as a touted prospect. He had a blazing fastball, a bad attitude, and decent secondary pitches. While Farnsworth made his reputation in a big media market, Chicago, Tejeda was a young starter in Philadelphia.

via blogs.trb.com

Tejeda's career had a bright start. In 13 starts with the Phillies in 2005, he had a sparkling 3.57 ERA, with 72 k's and only 67 hits in 85.2 innings. The following offseason he was traded to the place where pitchers die. He followed his impressive rookie campaign with a less impressive 4.28 ERA in 14 starts the following season, albeit in a pitcher's version of hell...TEXAS. However, his stuff always overshadowed his results. To some, probably even a new GM named Dayton Moore, Tejeda's stuff screamed dominant reliever.

via texas.rangers.mlb.com

Tejeda struggled mightily, on a Horacio Ramirez level, in 2007 as a starter for Texas. He posted a 6.61 ERA in 19 starts for the Rangers. Obviously, he had to rediscover himself and find a niche. In 2008, Tejeda made 4 relief appearances for the Rangers, posting an unimpressive 9.00 ERA in 6 innings pitched. At which time, Dayton Moore claimed him off of waivers, surely banking on Tejeda's potential, and hoping that Texas played a large role in his terrible performance, with his still-blazing fastball and strikeout potential.

via media.kansascity.com

As has often happened with Dayton Moore and bullpen acquisitions, this one worked. Tejeda posted a 3.20 ERA in 39.1 innings in 25 appearances for the 2008 Royals. He struck out more than a batter an inning and limited his walks for the first time since his rookie season. Tejeda was a power arm in a stacked bullpen, although he was rarely used in leverage situations.

via cache.daylife.com

My question, why not then? More importantly, why not now? 7 k's in 3.2 innings this year (although 3 bb isn't good) is fantastic. This guy is a big arm that can go several innings for the bullpen. He is young (27). As far as the fastball and power, he is as good as Farnsworth...as far as effectiveness, he has been better in the time he has been with the Royals. He does NOT allow a homer for every 4 innings he pitches (a more normal 1 for every 8.5 innings pitched...approximately). It has been an interesting ride for Tejeda; now it's time to put him to use and forget about the overpaid moron losing a majority of our games.

via media.kansascity.com

As for Trey's management style, see Fernando Vina's (what the FUCK, did I just say Fernando Vina?-Matt Vasgersian for those who haven't seen the error in MLB Network yet Vasgersian blooper) summation of it...I agree with all of it except for the assertion that inserting TPJ was ever a tolerable decision.

Fernando Vina's thoughts on Trey