Gathright article in the Star
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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Comments
Unfair to place all the blame on Buddy Bell
It is telling though that Gathright's worst steal success rate percentages of his professional career have been in Kansas City.
by DC Royal on Feb 21, 2008 3:10 PM EST 0 recs
Green light?
by NYRoyal on Feb 21, 2008 3:35 PM EST 0 recs
joey's words..
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
by NYRoyal on Feb 21, 2008 3:37 PM EST 0 recs
Unless Grudz or German is traded
by NYRoyal on Feb 21, 2008 3:37 PM EST 0 recs
Thought I saw that Shealy has an option available
by daveyork on
Feb 21, 2008 4:31 PM EST
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Odd man out of the 25-man roster
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.
by NYRoyal on
Feb 21, 2008 4:52 PM EST
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Gload
by lordbyronk on Feb 21, 2008 4:11 PM EST 0 recs
Telling comments
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
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
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.
by NYRoyal on Feb 21, 2008 4:57 PM EST 0 recs
Well, somebody has to say it
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
by philofthenorth on
Feb 22, 2008 2:35 PM EST
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