New Competition: Guess the 2008 Roster!

by Eppenweb on Sep 29, 2007 2:26 AM EDT

Because the Royals have totally crapped the bed this month, a lot of the readers here at Royals Review have started looking towards next year and possible roster changes. So, with the "guess the number of Huber's at-bats" contest drawing to a close, I thought it would be a good idea to start a new contest: Guess the Royals 2008 Opening Day Roster!

Here are the rules: each contestant gets two weeks to turn in an entry of 25 players they think will form the opening day roster next year. Points will be allocated in the following way:
3 points for:
- correctly placing a player in his primary role on the opening day roster, for the following roles: starting 9 position players, 5 rotation spots, closer, and set-up guy.
2 points for:
- correctly placing a player in the following roles: back-up position players, relief pitcher
1 point for:
- correctly naming a player but missing his role, i.e. Butler starts at DH but you have him at 1B.

If a free agent or trade target is correctly identified, the point total doubles. So correctly identifying a pitcher we trade for and his spot in the rotation is worth 6 points.

On opening day, we tally the points and the winner gets some awesome prize (maybe something that rhymes with "she flirts"?) and bragging rights for reading GMDM's mind. For roles that are platooned/not well defined, we will go with the administration's stated intentions. If those are not available, we will go with the player's starting position on opening day. Remember, this is who we WILL have, not who we SHOULD have.

So, what do people think? I'll allow a few days for the rules to be vetted and then we can get this underway!

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Comments

BRILLIANT!

this shall be very much fun...I'll take some time and throw down my prediction...this is one of my favorite things...BRILLIANT!

Buy the ticket, take the ride.

by PhattStairs on Sep 29, 2007 9:27 AM EDT reply actions

OK...

Kenny Lofton (CF)
Mark Grudzelianek (2B)
Alex Gordon (3B)
Billy Butler (1B)
Mark Teahen (RF)
Mike Sweeney (DH)
David DeJesus (LF)
John Buck (C)
Tony Pena, Jr. (SS)

Gil Meche SP
Dontrelle Willis SP
Brian Bannister SP
Zack Greinke SP
Luke Hochevar SP

Joakim Soria CL

Joe Nelson RP
John Bale RP
Brandon Duckworth RP
David Riske RP
Ryan Braun RP

Esteban German BE
Ross Gload BE
Joey Gathright BE
Paul Phillips BE
Jason Smith BE

same team with 2 upgrades and everyone else getting better

Buy the ticket, take the ride.

by PhattStairs on Sep 29, 2007 11:30 AM EDT reply actions

I would really like...

Rowand instead of Lofton...but we are the Royals

Buy the ticket, take the ride.

by PhattStairs on Oct 1, 2007 6:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Bonus Manager...

I'll go with Joe Girardi...he seems to want a job and this is the perfect team for him

Buy the ticket, take the ride.

by PhattStairs on Oct 1, 2007 6:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Plus...

GMDM just seems like he is getting guys to be good for 3-5 years and Girardi would be an immediate long term solution...he could do a Meche type signing with him and it would be on the somewhat safe side

Buy the ticket, take the ride.

by PhattStairs on Oct 1, 2007 6:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Girardi scares me

It seems that most of the Marlins pitchers regressed this year; he seemed to have a reputation for overworking them.

Besides, the Royals have a poor track record with former catchers as managers.

by jbrocato on Oct 1, 2007 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions

hmm... this may take awhile for me

Anyone but Terry

by FireBell on Sep 29, 2007 5:09 PM EDT reply actions

give it a shot

By no means (well some, maybe) what I want to see, but just guessing.

CF Carlos Gomez (Mets)
2B Mark Grudzielanek
LF Milton Bradley (Padres, FA)
DH Billy Butler
RF Mark Teahen
1B Richie Sexson (Mariners)
3B Alex Gordon
C Jeff Mathis (Angels)
SS Tony Pena, Jr.

SP Gil Meche
SP Brian Bannister
SP Zack Greinke
SP Chris Capuano (Brewers)
SP Luke Hochevar

RP Billy Buckner
RP Kyle Davies
RP John Bale
RP Kerry Wood (Cubs, FA)
RP Joel Peralta
RP Henry Owens (Marlins)
CL Joakim Soria

C John Buck
IF Andres Blanco
1B Ross Gload
IF Esteban German

That's a complete shot in the dark, no way I'll win if I don't take chances. :-)

by doublestix on Sep 29, 2007 9:16 PM EDT reply actions

OK, I'm game

CF - Joey Gathright
2B - Mark Grudzielanek
SS - Carlos Guillen
1B - Billy Butler
3B - Alex Gordon
DH - Mike Sweeney
RF - Mark Teahen
LF - Carlos Quentin
C - John Buck

C - Ramon Castro
UT - Ross Gload
UT - Esteban German
OF - Justin Huber

SP #1 - Gil Meche
SP #2 - Brian Bannister
SP #3 - Chris Capuano
SP #4 - Zack Greinke
SP #5 - Billy Buckner

LR - Jorge De La Rosa
MR - Joel Peralta
MR - Leo Nunez
MR - John Bale
MR - Octavio Dotel
SU - David Riske
CL - Joakim Soria

We will sign Milton Bradley, but he won't be available/activated until after Opening Day.

Our offense will benefit from having a new-minded, sabermetric manager and a non-cardboard cutout hitting coach. Our offense will be league average next season, but our pitching will take a slight step back before moving forward again in '09.

http://royalsnation.proboards62.com/

by Royals Nation on Sep 30, 2007 3:02 AM EDT reply actions

Carlos Guillen

I forgot the Tigers signed him to an extension. In that case, I have to say that Tony Pena, Jr. will remain a Royal. So pencil him in the #9 slot and move everyone else up a spot.

And make that Braves Minor League manager guy my manager. Snitker.

http://royalsnation.proboards62.com/

by Royals Nation on Oct 1, 2007 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll take a shot at it

As much as I would like to see the Royals make a few significant upgrades, I don't think that they will. The braintrust will hope that the young guys get better and new manager draws more wins out of them.

C - Buck
1B - Butler
2B - Grudz.
SS - Pena
3B - Gordon
LF - Carlos Quentin
CF - DeJesus
RF - Teahen

Bench - Matt Tupman, Esteban German, Mike Aviles, Ross Gload, Ryan Shealy

Rotation

Meche
Bannister
Greinke
Hochevar
Dela Rosa

Bullpen
CL - Soria
Setup - Riske,Gobble, Peralta
Middle - Nunez, Duckworth, Bale

Bonus Coverage - Brian Snitker as new manager

In the past, I would have picked some obscure AAAA pitcher from some other roster that ended up on the roster but KC has the depth now to end that futile experiment. Names that come to mind are Chris Booker, Steve Andrade, etc.

For the regulars, I just don't see KC signing a FA in what will be an extraordinarily thin market. Hunter, Dunn, Rowand will be in high demand and the money will be good no matter where they go. Why would they come to KC? The Bonds rumor is fun to debate but again, why would he come to KC?

Best wishes to Reggie Sanders, Mike Sweeney, Emil Brown, Jason Smith, Jason LaRue, Odalis Perez. A question to consider? Will anyone find a roster spot for LaRue who has been historically awful?

Changing of the guard with Sweeney leaving the team. He has been the captain of some terrible teams but he is first class in the character dept. Only wished his body would have held out.

by daveyork on Sep 30, 2007 4:00 PM EDT reply actions

One more additon

Shealy will be opening day DH

by daveyork on Sep 30, 2007 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Too bad I can't spell addition correctly

by daveyork on Sep 30, 2007 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Who is Brian Snitker?

by jbrocato on Sep 30, 2007 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

He is a minor league manager in the Braves

system. I think he will be a dark horse candidate. Not the glamorous person like some of the others but a guy who has been in game a long time and has a good reputation. Braves connection is strong.

Manager for 2008 is the most significant move for Dayton in the off season. More so than any player addition.

by daveyork on Sep 30, 2007 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

What if Milwaukee does fire Yost?

There have been rumors that he will be fired and remember, Yost was a long-time coach for the Braves.

by jbrocato on Sep 30, 2007 4:59 PM EDT reply actions

They won't fire Yost????

by grudz69 on Sep 30, 2007 5:47 PM EDT reply actions

I am going to take some time on this one.

Loyal2 will win this contest too. I called it here first.

by grudz69 on Sep 30, 2007 5:49 PM EDT reply actions

My SWAG

(Scientific Wild Ass Guess)

C - Buck
1B - Butler
2B - Grudz
3B - Gordon
SS - Pena
LF - Gathright [He'll start on Opening Day, but once healthy, Milton Bradley (FA) will be the regular LFer]
CF - Teahen
RF - Kemp (by trade from LAD)
DH - Sweeney

C - Larue
OF - Gathright
OF/IF - Gload
IF - German
IF - Shealy

Meche
Bannister
Greinke
Milton (FA)
De La Rosa

Bale
Duckworth
Nelson
Nunez
Peralta
CL - Soria

So, how did this happen? Dejesus, Gobble and a mediocre prospect traded to the Dogers for Kemp and a throw-in. Some low-intensity FA signings in Milton Bradley and Eric Milton.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Oct 1, 2007 11:27 AM EDT reply actions

I hope your kidding about Larue

Let the losers worry about losin'

by ksuroyal on Oct 1, 2007 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Not kidding

Who knows what will happen. But the Royals will need a backup catcher. And the choices will be a variety of journeymen who aren't very good. His 2007 season was not representative of the rest of his career. I think they like how he handles pitchers. He may well be re-signed. If so, I hope the next manager knows how to limit his PT.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Oct 1, 2007 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions