A Belated Mike Jacobs Entry

by KHAZAD on Nov 3, 2008 6:33 PM EST Comment 26 comments

The Mike Jacobs deal has some pluses and minuses.

Pluses:

They only gave up Nunez. I like Nunez, don't get me wrong, but he will ALWAYS get injured. Leo is a poster child for max effort and bad mechanics. Also Dayton seems, in his short history, to be able to sign good relievers. It seems to be a strength of his.
Mike Jacobs hit 32 Home Runs. Power hitting is non existent here, and FLA is not an easy place to hit them. He is also a classic late bloomer. He should do well for about 3 years before tailing off as long as his average does not continue it's dive. He should be more productive in KC.
It Probably means the end of Ross Gload, or at least his relegation to 25th man. Ross hasn't nearly enough production for his position(s).
It might allow Billy Butler to spend an entire year in Omaha, hopefully developing as a hitter, learning to field, and staying away from the major league post game spread.

Minuses:

We now have 3 late blooming, somewhat power hitting first basemen who can't play the outfield. How do we find out about Shealy or Kaaihue? One of these 3 should DH, but this could really retard the growth of Kila who is younger and shows much potential. Ideally, they should use Shealy's September to see what they could get in return for him.
Mike does not like to walk. He will fit right in here in KC. It is a shame that the Royals do not seem to recognize the potential of Kaaihue and his walks. It May take a disaster of sorts (injuries, bad performances) for him to get his shot. (Like Aviles)
With this logjam, the Royals will have every opportunity to get rid of the wrong guy, or keep the wrong guy in the Minors.

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Comments

Uh, who's the third...

…late bloomer? Butler is only like 22 or something. – TL

by timlacy on Nov 3, 2008 9:51 PM EST reply actions

I wasn't counting the fatkid- he is probably a career DH, if & when he learns to hit. He SHOULD spend next year in the minors, but knowing the Royals he probably will not

by KHAZAD on Nov 3, 2008 10:42 PM EST up reply actions

fatkid... career DH

Sounds like Mike Jacobs… projected as worse defender than Butler. Just change “kid,” to “28 year old,” and “career DH” or “career platoon DH.”

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by Matt Klaassen on Nov 3, 2008 10:45 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

You're becoming a one trick pony, bro

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Nov 3, 2008 10:57 PM EST up reply actions

yeah, sorry

(jnsert “Mike Jacobs” and “one trick pony” here)

replacement level players are the currency of my comments

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by Matt Klaassen on Nov 3, 2008 10:59 PM EST up reply actions

Sorry, that title is already taken

by Gopherballs on Nov 4, 2008 12:28 AM EST up reply actions

Stuff!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuff_(band)
Gadd in particular was a monster. Simon did an epic live version of “Late In The Evening” on SNL with Stuff backing him.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Nov 4, 2008 8:31 AM EST up reply actions

Gadd!

wow… I thought I was the only one who remembered coked-up 1970s fusion/studio drummers…

Time to start talking about Metheny/Breckers/Jaco/Joni Mitchell…

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by Matt Klaassen on Nov 4, 2008 10:29 AM EST up reply actions

Jacobs is a wretched fielder...

But so are they all, really. I am so tired of hearing about fielding at first base for the Royals- Many other teams still stick their own “Fatkids” there.(Don’t worry Billy, you’ll always be #1). People here seem to think Ross Gload is a great fielder at first. He’s not as bad as David Mccarty, who was also once the Royal’s “defensive guy”. The point is the Royal’s will not bite the bullet & put Billy there, so why not just have him play 1B one year at AAA, figure out who to keep otherwise (Shealy, Kaaihue). I find it hard to believe that Jacobs has as little baseball instinct & skills as Billy, but if he does he will have to hit 36 Homers to keep me from riding him. The Logjam is in the negatives, and if you can’t already tell I drank fully of the Kila Kool-aid(or Hawaiian Punch)

by KHAZAD on Nov 4, 2008 12:31 AM EST up reply actions

I for one, am not one of the "Gload is a great defender" people

last year was the only year he was above average, according to the stuff I’ve seen. Most years he’s been below average with the glove. Shealy has been above average every year.

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by Matt Klaassen on Nov 4, 2008 12:37 AM EST up reply actions

Here was KC in general...

Not meaning you. I would like to see Gload go away, and he almost certainly must after this. Even if with Shealy at 1B, Jacobs at DH, Butler in Minors, Kila is odd man out. Royals talk about walks, but act otherwise.

by KHAZAD on Nov 4, 2008 1:02 AM EST up reply actions

Jacobs

Is Butler with less OBP, more power, and far less upside.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Nov 5, 2008 6:20 PM EST up reply actions

Not to mention one of the few players in baseball who project as substantially worse on defense than Billy Butler

but fielder usually have a late-20s defense spike, right?

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by Matt Klaassen on Nov 5, 2008 7:40 PM EST up reply actions

PS-Kaaihue is the 3rd. Maybe in a no pressure AAA playing everyday Butler COULD become a 1st baseman

by KHAZAD on Nov 3, 2008 10:44 PM EST reply actions

optimally

A three way rotation thingy with Butler, Shealy, and Jacobs would be ideal.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Nov 4, 2008 1:07 AM EST reply actions

Do we have the roster space for it though?

Not sure if we continue to insist on the absurd 12 man pitching staff.

Bench:
Olivo
TPJ
German
Joey G or MITCH
One of the Butler/Shealy/Jacobs triad of terror

That means an 11 man staff, which may cause DM and Trey to crap their pants

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Nov 4, 2008 10:15 AM EST up reply actions

is that including Gload?

he obviously needs to go, but will he?

Don't Stop Believing!

by KC Chris on Nov 4, 2008 10:28 AM EST up reply actions

Are you suggesting

We need to get security to escort him from the building?

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Nov 4, 2008 11:18 AM EST up reply actions

If that's what it takes!!!

Would you voluntarily leave if you were Ross Gload? I sure as heck wouldn’t. He gets oodles of PT and got a contract extension and has not done anything to justify either. I’d be digging in and protesting if they tried to get me to go.

Don't Stop Believing!

by KC Chris on Nov 4, 2008 11:32 AM EST up reply actions

I Don't Care What

We do to get rid of TPJ, Rossy, Gator, and either Buck or Olivo. They have to go to make this vision come true.
http://www.royalsreview.com/2008/11/4/653442/no-major-increase-in-payro

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Nov 4, 2008 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

11 man staff

write it down: Banny’s shortest outing th is year will be 6 2/3 (3 earned runs) vs Oakland.

I think 10 will be fine

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by Matt Klaassen on Nov 4, 2008 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

throw out TPJ and German

Get either a real upgrade (Furcal or Hudson) pushing AC to the bench, or a better bench guy. Cesar Izturis? Good defender that won’t embarrass with the bat.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Nov 4, 2008 8:45 PM EST up reply actions

oddly, I agree with the Izturis possiblity if he comes cheap

was afraid to say it, though, for fear of ridicule.

I think Furcal would actually be a guy Dayton would like that would fit.. Back injury scares me, though, and I don’t think KC can give him a contract that would both be protect them and be satisfactory to him.

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by Matt Klaassen on Nov 4, 2008 9:56 PM EST up reply actions

Devil, I hope you are right about Banny

Please, God no TPJ next year. I don’t think I can take having another one position late inning defensive specialist who replaces someone who actually out fields him

by KHAZAD on Nov 4, 2008 3:12 PM EST reply actions

I know the Royals love Gload & TPJ

Keep them in the organization. TPJ can be Ryan Lefebvre’s personal assistant, so that Ryan can express his love for him in a more private manner. I know Trey can find a job for his boy Gload. That is fine as long as it is not hitting instructor. Then all the Royal’s would be dead pull slap hitters with no power (Hey it’s not as easy as Ross makes it look) Seriously I have not seen that many balls to the right side since Rey Sanchez. Do you think it is Trey or Dayton that Ross has compromising pictures of?

by KHAZAD on Nov 4, 2008 3:37 PM EST reply actions