Is Sweeney Drunk?

by lopey986 on May 24, 2007 1:21 AM EDT

From time to time I get little CBS Sportsline MLB Rumor Mill alerts and this nugget came in today.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Royals' DH Mike Sweeney told the Kansas City Star he wants to catch again, returning to his roots. Sweeney, 33, last caught regularly in 1998 and was the team's opening-day catcher that year. "I've been talking to my agent," Sweeney said, "and I'm thinking about becoming a catcher again."

Is Mike Sweeney crazy?

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Why not?

He's likely to go on the DL regardless of the position he plays. I don't know if anyone would use him as a backup catcher/backup 1B/DH, but it is not out of the realm of possibility.

His real problem right now is that his hitting skills are diminishing. If he starts hitting like the Sweeney we know (knew) and love(d), then someone would give him a contract next year for a small base salary plus incentives. That would be a low risk, high reward move. However, if his hitting doesn't improve much, then he'd just be a waste of any team's time.

by Scott McKinney on May 24, 2007 1:28 AM EDT reply actions

taking a page from royaldaddy's book

why dont WE give him the low risk, high reward contract next season. i think we should probably trade him midseason this year, then try to resign him this offseason depending on the interest he gets and whether we've given up on butler in the field or not. if we still think butler has a chance in lf/1b then sign sweeney to a 1 year deal and see if he can help us win. if not, then its just a couple mil well spent on a risk. if butler has proven he can only be a dh though, we cant sign sweeney because butler HAS to play everyday at the very latest april 08 and sweeney would take away playing time.

by rockchalk on May 24, 2007 1:31 AM EDT up reply actions

If he can't hit, he's not worth $1 million

If he can't hit due to deteriorated skills at his age, then he isn't even worth the $1 million base. If he ends the season with an OPS in the neighborhood of .750, then I think he's done. Someone may sign him, but he's not even worth the little money he'll get.

If he shows that he's still a good hitter, then I wouldn't be averse to signing him to that low base salary contract plus incentives. Next year will be too soon to relegate Butler to full-time DH duties. He should get more play in 1B or LF to see if he might possibly have a future in the field. So there would still be room for Sweeney to get his share of AB's.

by Scott McKinney on May 24, 2007 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions

6 homers and 22 RBI

doesn't do anything for ya? Damn, what do you want him to do? I don't get why everyone is so gung-ho on getting rid of Cappy. Everyone wrote Frank Thomas off too (including myself) and look how well that went. His leadership alone is worth 1 million.

by royaldaddy on May 24, 2007 2:56 AM EDT up reply actions

There's more to the story

I want him to at least approach league average production for a 1B/DH. And right now his more important and telling stats are:

OBP - .331
SLG - .441

Those numbers aren't even particularly close to average for his position. Now, it is still early and he can turn things around. I'm not yet certain that his skills have diminished greatly. I just don't like what I've been seeing with my own amateur scout eyes.

Everyone wrote Frank Thomas off too (including myself) and look how well that went.

Everyone wrote Frank Thomas off because of his many injury problems. When healthy, he was still hitting like crazy. When the only problem with a player is injury risk, then a low base salary contract with incentives makes sense. But it appears at this point that Sweeney's problems are both injuries and diminished skills.

His leadership alone is worth 1 million.

I don't think his leadership alone is worth a roster spot. If he's on the team, he's going to play, and play frequently. Bell and most other managers (probably including his replacement, if any) would show "respect" for this "great veteran" by giving him plenty of PT which would take at bats away from good, young, developing players like Butler, Shealy, German, etc.

If he's not a good hitter anymore, he hurts the team, regardless of his salary.

by Scott McKinney on May 24, 2007 4:50 AM EDT up reply actions

even if he could/would

only play catcher once or twice a week or even demonstrate he could do it in an emergency, it would greatly elevate his value

by LeoBloom on May 24, 2007 2:11 AM EDT reply actions

Good point

I've wondered in the past why more teams don't try this with mediocre corner spot "prospects." It's much easier to contribute with the bat to a team (relative to your position) when you're playing a tough defensive position.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on May 24, 2007 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Crazy Idea

do that with Huber. Make him a reserve bat off the bench at C/1B/OF. That can have value in a Robert Fick sort of way. I think he will have more pop than that guy, but it would fill Ross Gload's role and give us additional insurance at catcher.

lordbyronk

by lordbyronk on May 24, 2007 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Hasn't Huber caught before?

I think it was him that I said had the potential to be the next Craig Wilson.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on May 24, 2007 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, he has

Craig Wilson would be cool. I'd just like to see what he can do before we dump him. Looking for any justification to bring him on the MLB roster once he's healthy.

lordbyronk

by lordbyronk on May 24, 2007 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions

ok, this is wacky

but is he in league with bell to drive buck (And the fans) insane? 'cause seriously, we've got a great catcher who can play every night. and rake. why can't he revitalize his infield play? don't we need 1b/3b/please f'n god SS players?

The first thing I know about someone in a KC hat is that they're loyal.

by grantfunk on May 24, 2007 10:18 AM EDT reply actions

My take on Sweeney and next year

For those curious, it's easy to look up what exactly "league average" is at any given position on Baseball Prospectus.

As of today, the league avg DH line is at 263/356/438. Sweeney is, as NYRoyal points out, 257/331/441. Personally, I think he could pass the league avg, and here's why: His BABIP is only .250. That means he has been hit unlucky. Looking at the three true outcomes, homeruns (6 per 136 ABs) is not bad at all, strikeouts at only 14 is very good, and walks at 13 is below par for a DH. My take is that Mike is so good at aggresively attacking an at bat and being able to put a ball in play early in the count (look at his pitches per plate appearance - astoundingly low), that it almost works against him sometimes.

Sweeney has stayed healthy all year. Let's assume he avoids the DL all season, and becomes a free agent.

Assuming he continues his recent surge and posts numbers above league avg for DH this year, I would consider signing him under the following conditions:

GMDM is SURE Butler won't be the full time DH in KC next season
Sweeney is willing to sign a contract weighted heavily towards PA incentives
The contract does not exceed about 4-5 million, including the incentives
The contract is not more than one year. Any option years must be the club's option, not Sweeney's
Sweeney must waive his 5/10 trading rights.

Any of those not met, and I say thank him for his great career, wish him well, and move in a different direction.

by loyal2s dad on May 24, 2007 10:21 AM EDT reply actions

So where does that leave Butler?

1B? So what do you do with Shealy? Not to mention Huber and Gload?

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on May 24, 2007 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I still want him in left

He's got a gun and I still say he's a better fielder than German.

by royaldaddy on May 24, 2007 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

I do too!!!!

He is too young to write him off as a permanent DH. Also, we have several good 1B in the system. He is never going to get better on D., if he doesn't get to play in the outfield.

by grudz69 on May 24, 2007 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

^^^^LOGIC

prevailing. nice.

The first thing I know about someone in a KC hat is that they're loyal.

by grantfunk on May 24, 2007 10:35 AM EDT reply actions

Bernie Treatment

Like Sweeney, Bernie Williams was a nice guy, good for a number of years (OK, Bernie better than Sweeney for longer). But when they can no longer hit or field adequately for your position, then "hometown favorites" get a minor-league invites and minimum salary. And, especially, then need to prove they're worth keeping around in lieu of holding back younger talent. If there are not other options at DH (and I'd be willing to get Huber could hit just as well next year as Sweeney at a fraction fo the cost), then, MAYBE give him a contract. If he's willing to play for less than $1 million and will accept a trade anywhere.

I know it sounds harsh. I'm not saying that anyone is saying this here, but I'm really sick of the "team owes the player" crap as an excuse to re-sign washed-up veterans. All they are owed is what they signed contracts for. (The worst recent case of this is the last few years of Craig Biggio's career, where he's now managed to hold back both Hunter Pence and Chris Burke. And at this rate, it will take him all season to get to 3,000 hits) And, in Sweeney's case, he's never come close to being worth it, except for 1999-2002. Oddly, right after he signed the new contact, he almost instantly wasn't worth it. 120 OPS+ is OK for a major league DH, but not at $11 million a year. And certainly not for a guy who, in the healthiest year since signing the contract, played 122 games at 1B/DH.

I know there is a lot of understandable affection for the guy, but no amount the "leadership," delusion returns to catching, and Jeff Weaver whoopins make Sweeney a smart resigning with any guaranteed money for the Royals.

by Matt Klaassen on May 24, 2007 1:07 PM EDT reply actions

Excellent Point

the Bernie treatment is exactly what the Royals need to do with Sweeney. He can have value for the team if his salary is very low 1 mil tops and full of incentives not longer than two years. However, sometimes it's better to cut and run, especially when there are players in the farm system that can fill that role at a fraction of the cost.

lordbyronk

by lordbyronk on May 24, 2007 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I like the guy

I always have been a huge fan but in the business of baseball (and don't delude yourself into thinking it isn't a business first) you can't make decisions as a fan would you have to make decisions as a businessman would. This is especially magnified when your a small business, the Royals just don't have the luxery of making a mistake on this guy. As a fan I would love to see Sweeney retire as a Royal then move straight into being the bench coach and eventually the manager, but looking at it from a business perspective I would rather get rid of him one year to early than one year to late. Mistakes like that set small businesses back for years to come.

by EricConley on May 24, 2007 1:17 PM EDT reply actions

Sweeney should use the

"go out of top theory."

He should retire after this year as a Royal. He is still on top and if he isn't injured this year it would be very special year for him.

I am sure there are lots of other things he could do. Why not start his managerial career with the Royals organization.

To echo the above post... I would like to see Sweeney go out on top rather than have stayed to long and have a serious life changing injury.

by grudz69 on May 24, 2007 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Or...

He should have retired on top after 2002. Or 2004.

by Matt Klaassen on May 24, 2007 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Retro

Re-read my post. My first caveat for signing Sweeney was if Butler was not going to be the DH. By inference, I meant that either Butler was going to be still in the minors, or if in the majors playing somewhere in the field. This could be accomplished in any number of ways, including trading Shealy, trying Butler in LF (again), etc. etc. I want to make it clear that by putting that caveat in there, it means that the long-term develpment of Butler takes precedence over EVERTHING else. Also, depending on how Shealy's future looks at the end of the year, that obviously could impact the Sweeney decision as well.

by loyal2s dad on May 24, 2007 1:23 PM EDT reply actions

You'd think that Mike Sweeney

beats his wife, punches fans, and sucks down Miller Lites with Satan and then drives through residential areas at high rates of speed. Loyal2's dad has a good idea for a contract. I'd do that deal and I think Sweeney would too. But, to play in front of a bunch of ingreats might make me rethink that. If I had to carry a team on my back for years, mine might hurt a little bit too.

by royaldaddy on May 24, 2007 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

I don't beat my wife, puch fans, or drink Miller

I haven't met Satan, yet, although I do enjoy AC/DC's various songs about Highways and bells. I don't do much driving, as my wife takes the Car to work.

With that said, I will take half of what you'd offer Sweeney to DH. No promises about how long I'll be on the DL after I charge Weaver, though.

A bunch of ingrates? Really? Who gets more cheers than Sweeney? The club signed him, and they owe him that money. Nothing more.

Look, the suggestion by loyal2's Dad makes sense (too much sense to work out, unfortunately), but this post perfectly illustrates the "the teams owes the player extra future consideration for past work" mentality. No one is impugning Sweeney's character and work ethic. But where, exactly, did he carry the team? It's not all his fault for that, but I don't think there's any credit accrued, either, since his contract has been an albatross.

by Matt Klaassen on May 24, 2007 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Sweeney was well paid for his service

Sweeney got a hell of a lot of money in exchange for his services, which didn't include many full seasons of play. He was very well compensated. In fact, for the number of games he was played, he was overcompensated.

I like Sweeney. He's a great guy and he has been a very good player. He'll go into the Royals HOF and very deservedly so. But, I want him on the team if and only if it helps the team. If he can still hit at an average level for his position and if the price is right, I want him back.

But he doesn't deserve charity. He doesn't deserve a contract just as a thank you for years of being good. He doesn't deserve a roster spot for being a great guy. He deserves a contract (the right contract) if and only if he earns it with his play on the field.

by Scott McKinney on May 24, 2007 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

KC doesn't have the luxury

of carrying Sweeney if he can't continue to help the organization. He is a tremendous leader and the type of guy you want in your system. But if the small market models of Oakland and Minnesota tell us anything, you have to let them go if they cost too much money. Sweeney for short term, cost effective contract would be great. Keeping him for old time sake is a losing organization's attitude. Atlanta would never do that!

by daveyork on May 24, 2007 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions