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OK SO MAYBE JACOBS AT 3B WAS A JOKE, BUT KC WINNING THE CENTRAL IS NOT

Tn_100_3485_20_harry_20carey__1__tiny by CubFreak on

Yes the line up with Jacobs at 3B was crazy but no one posed an argument on the signing Pat Burrell. Burrell would fit nicely with this young team. Arguably, after Manny, Burrell is the best right-handed, power-hitting, free agent on the market. Interestingly, I have not received a negative or humorist comment on signing Paul Byrd either. Paul Byrd will help this staff and, as noted earlier, has a great track record against the AL Central.

I know these two signings will help the Royals win 90 games.

On base percentage will improve this season.

 

They will need to replace Ramirez & Nunez.

KC has Teahan and Gload as trade options.

Trey Hillman will have plenty of options with 1B and DH. If they sign Burrell, Hillman can mix it up with Butler, Ka'aihue, Shealy and Jacobs.

So keeping Gordon at 3B is fine, unless Bobby Bonilla is available.

It is not inconceivable that the Royals can win 90 in 09.

I still believe KC can dethrown, I mean dethrone the SOX!

THAT'S IT!

KC ALIVE IN 09

Star-divide

It is not

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Ok, this response to the responses to your “KC Royals Just 15 Wins Away” post should have been in the comments to that post. That’s a good place for this discussion.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 2, 2008 3:56 PM EST   0 recs

Oh thank you my friend, next time I do better

Very well. I will follow your lead oh wise one. Upon your request, let’s continue the discussion. Do you not believe that the Royals will contend in 2009? 75 wins is not great but it’s progress. 90 wins will win the Central. If KC can add a couple of vets to win more games vs the Central this can bring the Crown home. Royals new senior advisor Mike Arbuckle has close ties with Burrell and he will make a difference in our division. Bryd has very good numbers against the Central. Last year the Royals were 30-42 against the Central and if we can turn that around we will contend in the Central.

by CubFreak on Dec 2, 2008 10:49 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Very well. I will follow your lead oh wise one.

Nope, not a “wise one,” just a moderator here.

Do you not believe that the Royals will contend in 2009?

Of course not.

If KC can add a couple of vets to win more games vs the Central this can bring the Crown home.

These “couple vets” would have be exceptional players with big price tags. That is outside the Royals payroll budget, but a lot.

Royals new senior advisor Mike Arbuckle has close ties with Burrell and he will make a difference in our division.

Is Arbuckle taking up a collection to help the Royals pay Burrell’s salary? There is zero chance that Burrell will be a Royal.

Bryd has very good numbers against the Central.

Byrd isn’t a good pitcher and hasn’t been since 2005. He was a decent #4 starter as recently as 2007. Right now he’s not even that.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 3, 2008 5:05 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Byrd isn’t a good pitcher, seriously?

Paul Bryd has a career lifetime record of 34-10 against the Central. (omitting the Royals)

He had great numbers for Boston. The Redsox were 6-2 during his starts. If Byrd sucks so hard why would Theo and the Redsox brass use such a bum down the stretch? Byrd can be a difference maker for the Rpyals too.

Really now, he’s NOT a stud 1, 2 or maybe not even a 3, but he’s a solid 4 or 5. He’s better than what the Royals have now. Mr. Moderator, I present a good argument for Byrd and state my case with real numbers. Unlike others that claim that he just sucks.

by CubFreak on Dec 3, 2008 9:12 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Paul Bryd has a career lifetime record of 34-10 against the Central.

A pitcher’s win-loss record is an exceptionally poor way to evaluate a pitcher.

He had great numbers for Boston

1. Small sample size
2. No he didn’t (4.78 ERA with peripherals that were worse than that)

If Byrd sucks so hard why would Theo and the Redsox brass use such a bum down the stretch?

Byrd doesn’t “suck hard.” He’s a #4/5 starter. The Royals have more than enough of those. The Red Sox used him because they got desperate and he was the best available option for them at the time.

Really now, he’s NOT a stud 1, 2 or maybe not even a 3, but he’s a solid 4 or 5. He’s better than what the Royals have now

He’s not better than Greinke, Meche or Hochevar. He’s likely no better than Davies or Bannister. And Byrd is going to cost some number of millions. Why waste millions on an old, rapidly aging vet who is into his decline phase and who hasn’t been good for 3 years?

Mr. Moderator, I present a good argument for Byrd and state my case with real numbers. Unlike others that claim that he just sucks.

First, that is “Mr. Moderator, Sir” to you. Second, if you want some numbers, I’ll give them to you:

2006 90 tRA+ (100 is average)
2007 90
2008 80

2006 4.79 FIP (4.50 is average
2007 4.68
2008 5.14

In 2006 and 2007, he pitched like a #4 starter. In 2008, he pitched like a decent #5. He turned 38 years old today. At his age, do you think he’s getting better or worse? Signing Byrd would be a waste of millions and a waste of a roster spot. Despite your fantasies, 2009 is not going to be a contending year for the Royals. In addition to the obvious rotation spots for Greinke, Meche and Hochevar, the Royals need to use 2009 to see if Davies and Bannister are sufficient major league starting pitchers. There is good reason to argue for and against both of them. They need another year in the majors to resolve this question. Adding an old 4/5 starter like Byrd is beyond pointless.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 3, 2008 10:00 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

I dunno

I think that #4/#5 starters and utility infielders are the new market inefficiencies

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

by devil_fingers on Dec 3, 2008 10:57 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

A couple helpful tips for future reference

Please don’t write your subject lines in all caps. This isn’t MySpace.

Use caution when singing the praises of Paul Byrd ’round these parts, pardner. He is destroying our national innocence. But his wife has one of the most hilarious career sites ever.

All of us already know that the Royals have an overabundance of 1b/dh options for this year. If you have any ideas for Teahen or Gload trades, we would love to hear them. Any move that results in an exit stage right for Gload would probably be well met.

If you say that you believe that OBP will increase next year, please tell us why. We enjoy having these discussions, because we are nerds who have no life who are writing here either out of decript studio apartments (me) or their parents’ basement (also me, during holidays).

And yes, as NYRoyal pointed out, this post could have been added as a comment to your earlier fanpost.

This has been a public service announcement from your resident Sith Lord dinosaur.

by DarthYoshi on Dec 2, 2008 5:31 PM EST   0 recs

I'm More Of

A crazy uncle in the attic.

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

by philofthenorth on Dec 2, 2008 5:39 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

MyRoyalSpace

Thanks for the helpful tips my mustard loving friend. The Cubs are interested in Teahen. They want a left-handed bat to balance the line-up. With the uncertainty of a new owner, the Cubs will not spend big bucks on another free agent. Teahan fits the bill. The Royals need bullpen help and the Cubs have plenty of solid young arms to part with, sorry Samardzija is untouchable. However Angel Guzman, Sean Marshall, Kevin Hart or Randy Wells are upgrades compared to what the Royals have now. I believe the Royals will be crowned Central Champs in 09.

by CubFreak on Dec 2, 2008 11:28 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Teabag to the Cubs was the topic of a pretty big discussion here not too long ago

Marshall, Felix Pie, and Mike Fontenot were among the names thrown about.

I would definitely do Marshall for Teahen straight up, but I would think the Cubs would want Teahen + throw-in for Marshall. If I had to rank the pitchers you listed in terms of preference, I’d probably rank them Marshall, Hart, Wells, Guzman (Guzman hasn’t pitched more than 45 innings in a year since 2006, so he is a big question mark at best).

by DarthYoshi on Dec 3, 2008 12:22 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

mindless33

I will be rooting for the Royals in ’09 and beyond

I’d like to see KC in the post season and believe they are just a couple of realistic signings away from winning the Central. I’m not talking about signing the likes of a CC, a Manny, or of a Texeria, KC simply just can’t afford it. But the Royals need to pick up a DH, Butler is not the answer. Why not Pat Burrell? GMDM stated a payroll increase of 20-25, maybe even 30 for the right player(s), Pat Burrell will help win some games.

by CubFreak on Dec 4, 2008 5:41 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Do you think that Pat Burell would come to KC to play for $12M a year to be a DH?

If so, why? KC isn’t an attractive FA destination. Guys his age who have played a position in the field aren’t usually excited by the prospect of going to be a full-time DH. He can probably get as much ore more money elsewhere to be an OFer. So why would he take that kind of deal to play that position in KC?

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 4, 2008 5:50 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

CubsFreak is right

The Royals should have 1.3 DH candidates for every utility infielder

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

by devil_fingers on Dec 4, 2008 9:48 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Exceeding That Ratio

Is every GM’s goal. DH’s are the new currency of MLB.

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

by philofthenorth on Dec 4, 2008 11:24 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

the Marlins started them at first and third last year

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

by devil_fingers on Dec 5, 2008 12:20 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Butler is not the answer

Your SS should not have better offensive numbers than your DH
with less games played

Unless your SS is Peralta or Young. (Alexi Ramirez in 2009)

by CubFreak on Dec 5, 2008 12:20 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

fail

Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.

by doublestix on Dec 5, 2008 12:23 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

I was talking about the SS thing

Especially in regard to A. Ramirez. That guy is easily one of the the most overrated players in the game.

Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.

by doublestix on Dec 5, 2008 1:41 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

A. Ramirez

numbers don’t lie

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Dec 6, 2008 8:23 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

and his numbers suck

lol.

Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.

by doublestix on Dec 7, 2008 3:09 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

maybe he meant Amaris

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

by devil_fingers on Dec 7, 2008 3:20 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Careful Now

Amaris is better than any one player in Royals line up.

But I can’t say that b/c it would mean that I’m misbehaving.

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Dec 7, 2008 3:35 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Looks like it's break time for you

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 7, 2008 3:40 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

how was I ripping Amaris?

Now I’m confused

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

by devil_fingers on Dec 7, 2008 4:18 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

All Cubs are better than Royals

Accept it.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 7, 2008 4:41 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Or....

maybe I just think you’re full of shit….

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Dec 5, 2008 8:19 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Or....

Maybe you should get a job

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Dec 7, 2008 11:27 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Somewhere, Bruce Hornsby sheds a tear

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

by devil_fingers on Dec 7, 2008 10:11 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Well said

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 7, 2008 10:18 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

No coming back from that.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Dec 11, 2008 5:56 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

I'm in school so I can get a job.

Revolutionary concept, I know.

Also, I have a job.

Anyway, are we done? :P

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Dec 11, 2008 5:57 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

good point

he’s 22. He is what he is. When’s the last time a baseball player got better after 22?

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

by devil_fingers on Dec 5, 2008 12:49 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

whenever the last time a baseball player did 'roids.

That is it. That is the only way you improve after the age of 22.

by DarthYoshi on Dec 5, 2008 1:00 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Well yeah, don't you know?

Peak performance always comes at age 17.4. It’s science.

by minda33 on Dec 5, 2008 1:09 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

What's science?

Is that the weird evolution-y thing they’re back to teaching again in Kansas?

by DarthYoshi on Dec 5, 2008 1:14 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

I heard the jury's still out on science

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

by devil_fingers on Dec 5, 2008 1:59 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Billy the Kid

Butler will grow into it.
Just like kid’s over sized clothing
You wanna wait till 2015 for Billy to develop & become a real DH?
Hey can he play 3B? JK

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Dec 5, 2008 1:15 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Are you done yet?

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 5, 2008 1:44 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

That's what she said

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Dec 5, 2008 8:21 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

UH NO

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Dec 6, 2008 8:13 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Just be a little more respectful

And stop throwing insults around like “mindless.” You’ve been warned.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 6, 2008 8:38 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Double Standard

Oh it’s ok 4 NHZ to say “That’s what she said”..

but when I say it, “Of with his head”

People blog smack, they should expect the same back…

Just rooting for the Royals in 09 and beyond…

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Dec 7, 2008 11:25 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

"That's what she said"

is a long-running joke, obviously with no intent of actually insulting anyone.

And I’m a moderator too, so I can do whatever I damn well please. :P

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Dec 8, 2008 3:16 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

ooo so you're a moderator and therefore entitled

got it!

At least Wally Joyner's not on the team....

by tcon125 on Dec 9, 2008 12:01 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

If that was a serious critique,

then I’m going to have to shrug it off as sheer idiocy.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Dec 11, 2008 5:56 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

If we win the division this year

It was have to be in some magical way of the team coming together faster than Hershey’s Magic Shell hardens. Like the Tigers the year they went to the series ….or the Arizona Cardinals this year, where the team with several good players suddenly became more solid overall their division went to shit.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Dec 5, 2008 2:35 AM EST   0 recs

*will, not was in the subject line

I love being an insomniac.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Dec 5, 2008 2:36 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

yes playing in a shitty division helps

KC will compete this year!

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Dec 6, 2008 8:18 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Byrd?

Your argument that Byrd is “good” for Boston means he would be good for KC is off base. Boston can score almost unlimited runs at will. It almost doesn’t even matter if they have good pitching or not. For KC it matters infinitely. We need pitching that almost completely eliminates scoring on the other side.

by kabrink on Dec 6, 2008 10:15 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

No, no, no

A pitcher’s wins are all about how good the pitcher is. It has nothing to do with run support, or the bullpen holding his leads, or the defense behind him. It’s all the starting pitcher!!!!!!!!!111

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 6, 2008 10:35 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Well yeah, NY!

Why ELSE would they give Ws and Ls to pitchers, and no one else? It’s so obvious

by minda33 on Dec 7, 2008 1:00 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

They should give 1/2 of those W's and L's to the catcher

He called the pitches after all!

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 7, 2008 2:29 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

We need pitching that almost completely eliminates scoring on the other side.

Well you won’t get that from Banny, Hochevar,or Davies.

Can Jacobs pitch?

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Dec 7, 2008 11:20 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

We don't need a rotation filled with staff aces

…our lineup is below average, but not that far below average.

Meche and Greinke make up one of the better top-of-the-rotation combos, and if Hoch can ever become more consistent with his sinker, he’ll settle in nicely as a #3 starter. We don’t need our #4/5 starters to be amazing—if they were, they’d be 1/2/3 starters for other teams.

And for Davies in particular, I’m not sure what planet you were living on last year—he was quite effective, especially down the stretch. His opposing BAbip suggests that part of it was luck, but he was also walking way fewer people and giving up way fewer home runs, which suggests he may have finally figured something out. I’ll take a 105 ERA+ from our #4 starter any day.

by DarthYoshi on Dec 7, 2008 11:36 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

"I’m not sure what planet you were living on last year"

You love to throw insults as much as Gordon stikes out.

Most teams don’t have 5 aces, I get that. Still need a solid 5th starter.

KC can make a run this season with another proven arm that won’t cost an arm.

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Dec 7, 2008 12:07 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

A solid 5th starter isn't going to "almost completely eliminate scoring on the other side"

Davies and Bannister both are candidates for being effective #5 starters. Good #5 starters don’t eliminate opposing scoring, they keep the game close to allow for the game to be won elsewhere. Rosa could potentially be a good #5 starter this year, but if he makes the big league club out of ST, it will probably be in the pen.

Even if you assume that Jacobs and Crisp both add a couple of wins apiece to the Royals in 2009, we would need several wins added from that “proven arm” to truly make a run. Realistically, I think the Royals’ goal in 2009 is to play .500 ball. I’m not saying another year like 2003 is impossible, but almost nobody thinks it will happen.

I laughed for about ten minutes at the Gordon striking out line, and it wasn’t because of the punchline.

by DarthYoshi on Dec 7, 2008 12:38 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

As long as I made you laugh

Punchline or no punchline…

85-90 wins is not a joke. One more “affordable” arm will help!
Unlike the AL East & AL West, the AL Central is up for grabs.
The Sox are rebuilding, the Tigers are old, the Indians will rebound
Need to play the Twinkies better than the 6-12 effort from last season.

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Dec 7, 2008 12:55 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

If we can get Byrd for a song

He can help.

Bryd was 6-2 for the Red Sox. Fine the Sox score runs.
Its all about keeping your team in the game.

Maybe, I’m impressed very easily, but a 34-10 record vs the AL Central should help.

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Dec 7, 2008 1:53 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Not always

Wins and losses are for agents. Innings pitched, less walks,etc. I am aware that there are other factors to look for…but if you can keep your team in the game and hand the ball to your bull pen it equates to a stronger probability of winning.

Just Cubs Fan rooting for Royals to Win the AL Central!

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy."
- Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A's & Angels pitcher Don Sutton

by CubFreak on Dec 7, 2008 2:37 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

They are an awful way to evaluate any pitcher in any circumstance

A pitcher’s w/l is about many things outside of the pitcher’s control. That’s why they should be completely ignored when evaluating a pitcher. Look at strikeouts, walks and even ERA if you have to. Better yet, look at free, easily available advanced metrics like FIP, xFIP and tRA. Those stats tell you a lot about how good a pitcher really is, or really isn’t. And they show that Byrd really isn’t good anymore. He isn’t even average. He’s a old guy who might manage to be a decent #4 for a year. The Royals have cheaper 4/5 types already.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Dec 7, 2008 3:15 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

must I? Yes.

And you, Paul Byrd are no

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

by devil_fingers on Dec 7, 2008 3:22 PM EST to parent up   0 recs