Gathright article in the Star

by daveyork on Feb 21, 2008 2:47 PM EST

KC Star has interesting article on Joey Gathright

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/royals/story/499086.html

For me, it is more condemnation of Buddy Bell for not giving Joey the green light. As badly as KC was at scoring runs in 2007, Gathright couldn't run except when BB gave him the green light. Guess BB was waiting for the 3 run homer. RR fans are running out of chances to bash Buddy so get in while you can.

Haven't heard much conversation about Gathright's role in 2008. In thinking about KC's roster, the player I see as the most redundant in position and ability is Ross Gload. He is a backup 1B of which we have Butler and Shealy. Teahen and Gordon can cover 1B, too. Can't forget Huber who is out of options and could be backup LF/C/DH. And Gload is a backup LH outfielder of which we have Gathright who can play all 3 spots. Costa, Maier, Lubanski are in the mix, too.

Although I think Gload could be a valuable role player for the right team, just don't see it being with KC in 2008. Gathright has that one plus skill in speed which people like in backup players. Shealy's ST will play in huge part in whether Gload makes KC roster or not.

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Unfair to place all the blame on Buddy Bell

His managing philosophy be partly to blame, but green light or no the burden is still upon Gathright to steal bases at a successful rate.

It is telling though that Gathright's worst steal success rate percentages of his professional career have been in Kansas City.

"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 Feb 21, 2008 3:10 PM EST 0 recs

Green light?

When a player is as unsuccessful at stealing bases as Gathright, he should only have the green light when there is a catcher with a really bad arm and/or a pitcher who is very slow to the plate. Quite frankly, Gathright probably had the green light too often.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Feb 21, 2008 3:35 PM EST 0 recs

joey's words..

saying he would have stole more bases if buddy bell had given the green light has a couple of indicatives and joey probably should have kept his mouth shut.

simply put, joey WOULD have the green light to steal if Buddy would have had confidence in his ability to swipe a bag. but he didn't, thus he was not given the green light. 9 for 17 kind of shows that.

The best option for Joey would be to spend the first half of 2008 in AAA, re-learn how to use his speed, read pitchers and be the threat on 1st we want..then at the deadline, trade Gload off and give it to Joey..if he has proved he can burn with a higher rating than just over stealing 50%.

by THEbobhamelin on Feb 21, 2008 3:36 PM EST 0 recs

Gload

The Royals just signed him to a 2-year contract. They wouldn't have done that if they didn't value him. Like it or not (and I don't much like it), he's a lock for the 25-man roster.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Feb 21, 2008 3:37 PM EST 0 recs

Unless Grudz or German is traded

...the odd man out is likely Shealy.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Feb 21, 2008 3:37 PM EST 0 recs

Thought I saw that Shealy has an option available

Only trade market I could see for Grudz is if Callaspo looks really good in ST and and injury crops up for a contender type before start of season. Gload certainly blocks many players in KC but the 2 year contract is a keeper.

by daveyork on Feb 21, 2008 4:31 PM EST up 0 recs

Odd man out of the 25-man roster

Shealy does have an option left so, unless Grudz or German is traded, he will likely end up in Omaha (until Grudz goes on the DL).

I'd be happy to trade Grudz right now. But Moore likes Grudz's defense and how much he helps our pitchers. So Grudz will likely be with the team until the trade deadline. German, on the other hand, could be traded at any time.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Feb 21, 2008 4:52 PM EST up 0 recs

Gload

is going to be there. Unfortunately, he probably has more value for the Royals as a throw-in on a trade, because we have so many players that perform the same function as he does. I tend to also think by carrying Gload, we will be forced to make a decision on people like Costa, Huber and Shealy since their out of options. This is unfortunate since all of them have more upside.

by lordbyronk on Feb 21, 2008 4:11 PM EST 0 recs

Telling comments

Well, Gathright says he would have more steals if he had the green light. OK. A GOOD interviewer would have followed up with a question about what his CS numbers would do.

It's not the raw steals, Joey, it's the SB%. I'll take fewer steals, but with a GOOD SB%, everytime. Somebody who runs the bases like Mark Teahen, for example.

I'm a Bell basher, but on this one I have to defend him VOCIFEROUSLY! Gathright was a HORRIBLE base stealer for us, and I would have had the red light out for him too!

by loyal2s dad on Feb 21, 2008 4:50 PM EST 0 recs

Also should add

It was nice to hear that Gathright concentrated on increasing his OBP last year.

I would suggest continuing that; if he could increase that from 370 to, say the 400 range, he could make a case for playing every day somewhere, despite the poor SLG, avg defense, and poor base running.

by loyal2s dad on Feb 21, 2008 4:52 PM EST 0 recs

I'll say this about Joey

Last offseason he dedicated himself to improving his bunting and getting on base more and he improved those two areas greatly. I think it is great that he is working on his base stealing skills. Hopefully he'll be able to read pitchers better and get better jumps. He would make a better 4th OFer if he could be counted on stealing bases at a 75+% clip.

I kinda like Joey, but I'm worried that Hillman is going to fall in love with his speed and play him too much. If I see a lot of lineups with Joey in LF and Teahen at 1B, I'm going to be pissed.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Feb 21, 2008 4:57 PM EST 0 recs

Well, somebody has to say it

Keep in mind that I am not saying Gathright should have had the green light at all times, but I do see a side to this deal that most probably don't.

When you are not getting the green light very often you are not going to try and stretch your lead as much. Therefore, when you do get the green light it becomes pretty obvious to the pitcher and catcher that you are going to steal because of the lead you are getting. Why risk getting picked off by messing with the pitcher if you don't have the green light?

If you have the green light, you can pick and choose when YOU want to take off. YOU can time the pitcher and guess the pitches, rather than being told when you can steal by the manager. The manager isn't the one staring down the pitcher, watching his every move while on the mound, the runner is.

I can tell you from experience that I always got a better lead and a better jump when I knew I had the green light. And I had a better SB% when I got to decide when I took off.

Okay, let's hear the critics now.

by MileHighKCfan on Feb 21, 2008 6:21 PM EST 0 recs

I Think You're

Onto something there. I was thinking somewhat along the same lines, and that's a good point about tipping steal attempts with the lead. If Gator could be trusted with the green light (judgement enters into this), I think he would improve his steal % markedly.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!