Christmas shopping list

by daveyork on Dec 18, 2007 3:17 AM EST

Without having much of my shopping list done for Christmas, I am posting a new diary. At least I have my priorities right! I have a feeling that the Royals aren't done filling out the 25 man roster. So, there is a shopping topic:

What do you think the Royals are still shopping for and will they be able to get it done?
If you could put one thing on your Santa' wish list, who or what would it be? Please Royals topics only - no, super model girl friend responses.

Here's mine:

1. A. Looking for another pitcher or two for the back end of the rotation like Jason Jennings or Matt Clement. Hope they don't sign Silva for 4/48. They'll regret it sooner than later.
B. KC will move one of their OF surplus to create playing time. They have extreme depth in the 4th/5th OF position. Teahen, DeJesus, Guillen in starting lineup. Butler as DH (don't include him in LF mix). Bench types includes: Costa, Gathright, Huber, Lubanski, Maier, German, Callaspo, Gload. That is too many for KC

2. Alex Gordon becomes the superstar that was predicted for him. 320, 30, 110 and the face of the franchise.

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My list

I think they are looking for starting pitching and relief pitching. I'm sure the #1 priority is a starting pitcher, but there are probably some relief pitchers they might be willing to take a shot at. What is most likely is that the Royals acquire a veteran SP for a short-term deal, such as Lieber, Clement, Colon, Jennings or Benson. I think it most likely that the relievers acquired will be minor league deals.
Moustakas emerging as a superstar SS with great hitting and defense adequate for the position.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Dec 17, 2007 7:00 PM EST reply actions

I still don't know what to think of the Moose pick

I don't know if it was a reach, or if it was exactly the kind of high-risk, high-reward gamble the Royals precisely need to take. If Moose can handle SS, even for a few big league years, he should be really valuable. But if he can't, then, well... yea. Bad.

by Freneau on Dec 17, 2007 7:33 PM EST up reply actions

I just don't get this

Moustakas wasn't drafted because he was a high school SS. He was drafted because of his hitting skills (and to a much lesser extent because of his arm). Like most high school position player prospects, he was drafted because he has skills which look MLB projectable. A plurality of great major league players played SS in high school. If Moustakas really does have good hitting skills, those skills will carry him to the majors. Of course his hitting would be most valuable at SS, but that's not the only way he'd be worthy of a #2 pick. In the last month or two, one of the "experts" at BP was asked in a chat session which of following players would end up being the best MLB hitter: Moustakas, Vitters, Wieters or Laporta. He Moustakas largely because he had the most projectable major league power.

Why is it only a good pick if he becomes a MLB shortstop? Butler and Gordon were good top 5 picks and they aren't shortstops. Vitters isn't a shortstop. What am I missing here?

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Dec 18, 2007 12:04 AM EST up reply actions

Your not missing anything

If Moustakas hits like experts/scouts think he will hit, which is .280-.300 with 25-30 homers, that will play at any position on the diamond.

by doublestix on Dec 18, 2007 12:37 AM EST up reply actions

but aren't two of those guys catchers?

by LeoBloom on Dec 18, 2007 12:38 AM EST up reply actions

One

Wieters is a catcher, and there has been concern for quite a while that considering his size he won't be able to stay at catcher for very long and will have to move to first base.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Dec 18, 2007 1:01 AM EST up reply actions

Wieters looks like another pretty good bet

for clubbing the ball at the ML level, though.

It's fine to disagree with anything I type, but I'm currently running on energy drinks. Be warned.

by NHZ on Dec 18, 2007 1:14 AM EST up reply actions

Could be

Pretty much anyone drafted in the top 10 looks like they'll be a good major league hitter. Some will and some won't. But they are almost never drafted for the position they play. They are drafted because of their skill set. You rarely if ever know which position a player will end up in. This is doubly true of HS players.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Dec 18, 2007 1:26 AM EST up reply actions

Oh, I know that

I'm just saying that I think Wieters is going to rake no matter where the O's make space for him.

It's fine to disagree with anything I type, but I'm currently running on energy drinks. Be warned.

by NHZ on Dec 18, 2007 2:01 AM EST up reply actions

hmm

well, perhaps i'm wrong...

by Freneau on Dec 18, 2007 2:33 PM EST up reply actions

this is funny because i was just thinking

that i should post something about what we should expect from Gordo...

by Freneau on Dec 17, 2007 7:36 PM EST reply actions

gordon

i'd be happy with .280/20/85

by kcdc on Dec 17, 2007 8:04 PM EST reply actions

i'd like to see

a big drop in the strikeout numbers as well.

by 390 on Dec 18, 2007 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

Pitching, pitching, pitching...

just as some women can't enough shoes and purses... the Royals under GMDM can't have enough pitchers.

I too see us getting a veteran starter or two before spring training. We may pick up a reliever but that priority isn't has high as getting a starter. I have posted before that I would take Lieber and Clement.

My present would be for Hillfire to come out and be an innovative manager using everything is his box of tricks to win games. That hopefully would produce our first .500 season in so many years I can't count that high.

by grudz69 on Dec 17, 2007 8:48 PM EST reply actions

yea

1. I think GMDM is still looking for more arms, just like every other GM in the universe. You'd think pitching was 90% of the game, or something.

2. I'd like to see more movement which defines the muddled situations in the OF and 1B/DH. I'd also like to see Huber traded.

Hillman, you're on notice.

by FireBell on Dec 17, 2007 8:51 PM EST reply actions

My wish list

More pitching: Colon, Prior, or Lieber etc.
Steve Balboni's home run record broken.

by Skirra on Dec 17, 2007 10:21 PM EST reply actions

woo

Pitching and a legit first baseman. I hope their going after Nick Johnson. I like Jennings or Clement on an incentives based contract as well.
Greinke, Butler, and Gordon starting to emerge as superstar players. Not necessarily putting up MVP/CY type numbers yet, but going in that direction.

by doublestix on Dec 17, 2007 11:49 PM EST reply actions

a two year contract to colon

for big money, would be genius

by LeoBloom on Dec 18, 2007 12:38 AM EST reply actions

Big? How big?

He's coming off two seasons where he pitched 56.1 and 99.1 innings respectively with absolutely horrible stats in both years. Can we be confident that he'll bounce back and pitch very well in 2008 and 2009? I'd be willing to offer him a contract, but a big contract? No way in hell.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Dec 18, 2007 1:05 AM EST up reply actions

i dunno... $20 million

i mean, the money is dumb no matter what, but i really don't care about how large Glass' account is at this point

lets make a play for 2009!

Hillman, you're on notice.

by FireBell on Dec 18, 2007 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

2 yrs/$20M for Colon???

That would be crazy overspending, even in this market. He's in the last quarter of his career and he's coming off two really horrible years. Given his recent injury history and the fact that he's always in bad shape (unless you consider round a good shape), there's a significant chance that he won't rebound to better than a #5 starter. That kind of contract would be pricey even for a #4 starter.

The worst thing is that a contract like that would limit our ability to get some really good FA's next offseason. There's a finite number of $10M+ players that the Royals can afford. It would make no sense to waste that kind of money on a massive question mark like Colon.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Dec 18, 2007 2:24 PM EST up reply actions

Wish list

Scarlett Johansson
Wait, what? Ah, crap. Sorry.

Wish list:

For Tony Pena Jr. not to be the starting SS
Some competence from Davies
Soria for rotation!

It's fine to disagree with anything I type, but I'm currently running on energy drinks. Be warned.

by NHZ on Dec 18, 2007 2:43 AM EST reply actions

Pena is not the problem

I hate his game at the plate, but really, he almost makes up for it

Hillman, you're on notice.

by FireBell on Dec 18, 2007 2:19 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah I know

I would just love to see some actual production of that position.

It's fine to disagree with anything I type, but I'm currently running on energy drinks. Be warned.

by NHZ on Dec 18, 2007 5:15 PM EST up reply actions

follow the rules

by Freneau on Dec 18, 2007 2:33 PM EST up reply actions

Well I'd take

Callaspo to win the SS position in ST
Do you think we could make a decent trade to the Cardinals and get Wainwright? If so I'd take that as a little bonus gift.
The first base situation to get cleared up with a guy that plays in to the long run of this team, preferably by New Year's.

Yeah I think I could live with that...for now.

Sign Alex Gordon to a life time contract!!!

by eboston on Dec 18, 2007 9:36 AM EST reply actions

Wish list

Teahen gets the power back that he had.
Greinke pitches up to his potential for the full year.
Butler develops into a competent 1st baseman.
Davies does a "McGowan".
Moore signs a good defensive backup catcher and a re-tread SP who pleasantly surprises.
That the posters to this site don't go ballistic every time Hillman makes a strategic move that doesn't work out.
Gathright learns to steal bases.
Guillen keeps his emotions in check for the full season.
No one on the club suffers a serious injury.

Yoda

by Yoda @ Royals Review on Dec 18, 2007 10:09 AM EST reply actions

Teahen

I hope so too, because he was insanely good...

His 2006 June/July/August numbers expanded to 550 AB's...

.314/.381/.564, for an OPS of .945!!!!
35 doubles
9 triples
28 home runs
BB/K of 65/108
15 stolen bases

That is really good, an elite player no matter the position (unless you suck at your position defensively!).

by doublestix on Dec 18, 2007 5:41 PM EST up reply actions

Whoops

I guess that was more than 1 thing. Sorry

Yoda

by Yoda @ Royals Review on Dec 18, 2007 10:12 AM EST reply actions

Pitching and a Pennant

Pitching - I'm shying away from the money it will take to land Silva, and taking a gamble with Matt Clement or Kris Benson instead.
the AL Central pennant - what else?

"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 Dec 18, 2007 2:42 PM EST reply actions