No mas Blanco

by David Howards Legacy on Oct 30, 2007 1:51 PM EDT Comment 44 comments

KC Star Tuesday:
*Shortstop Andres Blanco became a free agent when he was sent outright off the Royals' 40-man roster. Injuries limited Blanco, 23, to 30 minor-league games in 2007. He batted .252 in 78 big-league games over the previous three years.

Blanco is still young enough to be a prospect, but you know exactly what you'll get. A light hitting defensive player. Great arm, good bunter.

Nothing against Blanco, but it's a good time for KC to cut bait here. Too many soft hitting SS.

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Bye!

Take Angel Sanchez with you!

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Oct 30, 2007 1:57 PM EDT reply actions

Are you joking?

He's very young, has yet to play above the AA level and yet you're already writing him off? Let's let our prospects fail before we give up on them.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Oct 30, 2007 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Doesn't hit much

We don't have to release him, but I'm all for jettisoning Angel Sanchez off our 40 man roster.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Oct 30, 2007 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

We don't need to

Several vets are coming off the 40-man, so we don't need to kick him off the 40-man and expose him to the Rule 5 draft. It's not like we need to protect Rowdy Hardy, who no one would draft and then keep on a major league roster for a full season.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Oct 30, 2007 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

He has played above AA level

He had 27 at-bats in 8 games for the big club in 2006.

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Oct 30, 2007 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Good point, he had a cup of coffee

Certainly not yet given a chance to succeed or fail. Way to soon to dump this guy or even expose him to the Rule 5 draft given our complete lack of MIF depth. He is our #1 middle infield prospect. No reason to dump him or risk him.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Oct 30, 2007 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Sanchez has yet to prove himself. Dump Smith before you dump him. Infielders like Smith are a dime a dozen.

by lordbyronk on Oct 30, 2007 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Angel Sanchez will remain on the 40-man

He was a consensus top 20 organizational prospect prior to getting hurt in the spring. There's no need to dump him now, especially considering the Royals lack of impact prospects that will need protection. Besides, if the Royals decide that Sanchez isn't worth it they can always dump him later.

The Royals will already be dumping a lot of dead weight. John Thomson, Joe Nelson, Odalis Perez, Jason LaRue, Jason Smith, and Reggie Sanders are sure to be gone, which trims the roster to 41 players. I wouldn't be surprised if Sweeeney, Daniel Christensen, Shane Costa, Paul Phillips, and Craig Brazell are given walking papers between now and spring training as well.

As you can see, even by a conservative estimate, the Royals will have the roster flexibility to not even have to debate whether to continue protecting Sanchez.

"I'm tired of all these stupid a$$ questions every day. Why the f**k would I hit Brett for Miller?" The rest is history.

by DC Royal on Oct 30, 2007 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Jason Larue? Dead weight?

I see him more as a black hole - not just something useless that adds to your burden, but something that actively drags you backward.

Or to put it in other terms, something that sucks very very much.

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Oct 30, 2007 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Blanco

will be someone's reserve infielder. We just have too many players exactly like him. I'm not sure on Sanchez. I guess I haven't seen enough of him to decide whether or not to cut bait on him or not.

by lordbyronk on Oct 30, 2007 3:03 PM EDT reply actions

i expect hillman will push to resign him

and make him the starting 1B

we need his speed and defense

Anyone but Terry

by FireBell on Oct 30, 2007 3:04 PM EDT reply actions

Ready to switch screen names yet?

Sounds like you have FireHillman almost ready.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Oct 30, 2007 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I think this means

Moore will pick up a veteran middle infield bench player. Someone with experience, good fielding and a light bat.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Oct 30, 2007 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

Marcus Giles?????

Cortez was also released last week. Moore is throwing the middle infield garbage overboard.

I wonder what he will do with Smith?

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Oct 30, 2007 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Upgrading Smith would be so easy

He's a middle infielder who has horrible stats, even with the occasional HR and his defense stinks. Please dump this chump.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Oct 30, 2007 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

i disagree

if smith can handle SS, he's a nice alternative to Pena for PHing and the occasional start, why carry two identical guys? especially when they are both replacement level anyway

by Will McDonald on Oct 30, 2007 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Smith is pointless

I'd rather have somebody like Sanchez getting spot starts to spell Pena then Smith. At least there's a possibility that Sanchez could turn into something with more experience. Smith is what he is and that won't change. Besides, I don't remember any of those HR's he hit for us this year making much of a difference in the game. Feel free to look it up and prove that statement wrong, it's just not worth my time.

by MileHighKCfan on Oct 30, 2007 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Or

get a starting SS to replace TPJ. Then, TPJ makes an ideal reserve.

by lordbyronk on Oct 30, 2007 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I like the way

you think, but I just don't believe it will happen. Once again, prove me wrong GMDM.

by MileHighKCfan on Oct 30, 2007 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

To put it simply, Smith sucks

What is there to like about Jason Smith? From a utility IFer/backup/bench player/spot starter, mostly I want good defense. His defensive skills are mediocre at best. I would actually say he is a below average defender. But that would be fine if he had a decent bat. Not a good bat, but decent. Unfortunately, he is well below replacement level. Here are his OPS+ from recent seasons:

2002 45
2003 36
2004 86
2005 27
2006 84
2007 57
CAREER 66

Again, what is there to like about this guy?

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Oct 30, 2007 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

He hits homers now and again

Over 523 career ABs he has 17 dingers! 10 triples!

But yea, not much to like about him. .222/.261/.382 lifetime. Yuck.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Oct 30, 2007 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

If the HR translated into a good SLG

...then I'd like him more. Unfortunately, the extra base hits (actually hits of any kind) are few and far between. Mostly what he is is a whiff-master with a mediocre-to-poor glove.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Oct 30, 2007 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

A lot to like about Stodolka

I'm not saying he's going to be the next big deal big slugging 1B in baseball, but there are some good signs.

2006 High Desert High-A .283/.396/.448
2007 Wichita AA .291/.409/.462

So, he goes up a level and from an extreme hitter's park to a marginal pitcher's park and his averages actually get better across the board.

2006 78 BB, 103 SO
2007 73 BB, 91 SO

For a guy with power, you have to love that he has nearly as many walks as strike outs.

Sure Stodolka is 26 years old and for most players if you are 26 in AA then you are a washed up, nearly washed out player. But his career as a professional position player didn't start until 2006, so I think he is earlier in the developmental curve than his age suggests.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Oct 30, 2007 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions

bye bye Blanco

You were the weakest link in our line of no bat, good glove infielders.

by royaldaddy on Oct 30, 2007 3:21 PM EDT reply actions

maybe we should sign

this guy: http://www.baseball-reference.com/k/keppije01.shtml

123 OPS+ from a second baseman!

I had no idea what Keppinger was up to until I just searched for him. In case anyone else is curious, we traded him for Russ Haltiwanger (I completely missed this, maybe he was a PTBNL? Then again, that was a pretty busy month for me), who pitched in Wilmington this year with a decent era but mediocre peripherals:

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/H/russell-haltiwanger.shtml

If I had bet you at the beginning of the year that both halves of the Gotay/Keppinger challenge trade would have an OPS+ over 100 with 200+ plate appearances in 2007, what odds would you have given me?

by Moose Tacos on Oct 30, 2007 3:43 PM EDT reply actions

One year wonders

This time next year Keppinger and Gotay will have faded back into obscurity where they belong.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Oct 30, 2007 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions

We Will Never Forget

Keppy's heroism the night of 9/9/06, when he blasted a three-run homer in the top of the 12th after being inserted to pinch run for Mike Sweeney.

by Moose Tacos on Oct 30, 2007 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Keppinger will not be available

for four or five more years. The Reds control his rights.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on Oct 30, 2007 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

looks like

I need to work on making it more clear when I am being facetious.

by Moose Tacos on Oct 30, 2007 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

don't forget super joe mcewing

by Will McDonald on Oct 30, 2007 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

McSuck!

I remember when Cards fans were excited at his "grittiness". Unfortunately, he left much of that grittiness in St. Louis, leaving only "suckiness" in Kansas City.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Oct 30, 2007 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions