KC Star: Nomo forcing his way into...

Now tell us how you really feel

If he is one of the 5 best starters I say use him as the number 5 guy. You can skip him some at the begining of the season. If he starts to suck just cut him.

by TXroyal on Mar 11, 2008 3:34 AM EDT reply actions

I want the 5 best starters

Frankly, I don't care if they're 70 years old and 40 years out of baseball as long as they can pitch!

by jbrocato on Mar 11, 2008 7:49 AM EDT reply actions

Aren't we forgetting

that ST numbers are meaningless?

by royallyblue on Mar 11, 2008 9:37 AM EDT reply actions

My guess is that once it gets down to it, Nomo won't be able to maintain stuff, velocity and command much past 3 or 4 innings. Now put him in the bullpen with that nasty splitter and you may have something there.

If I had a rocket ship, I'd never want to land.

by dman126 on Mar 11, 2008 9:57 AM EDT reply actions

Were you going to follow that up with a

moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo?

by raefzilla on Mar 11, 2008 10:11 AM EDT reply actions

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Ugh, even his meaningless spring training stats aren't that good. I can't imagine what they see in Nomo.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Mar 11, 2008 10:29 AM EDT reply actions

Nomo

From what I've gathered following the games he has pitched in is that he is giving up a lot of extra-base hits. But then he is finding a way to get out of the inning without any damage. That is a great skill-set to have, getting out of tough situations, but it is also not a real consistent skill. Eventually, he won't be able to put out the fire and all hell will break loose.

by MileHighKCfan on Mar 11, 2008 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

he's no John Bale

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by marbotty on Mar 11, 2008 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions

i second that

by Freneau on Mar 11, 2008 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Hochevar

Didn't somebody say that Hoch got roughed up in that "B" game last week? Sounds like from the article that he did just fine.

by MileHighKCfan on Mar 11, 2008 10:32 AM EDT reply actions

That's what 810 reported

Although they did say he didn't give up any runs - just got in jams every inning.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Mar 11, 2008 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Gotcha

by MileHighKCfan on Mar 11, 2008 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Moving Soria

to the rotation would have simplified this quagmire....

Looking forward to 2009, when that will happen.

by loyal2s dad on Mar 11, 2008 11:14 AM EDT reply actions

I hear that!

by royaldaddy on Mar 11, 2008 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Nomo got hit hard

By the Giants, who are making a run for the league's cellar this year. Call me unimpressed.

Far more interesting news in the Star this morning (I haven't seen anybody else comment on this yet): the Dodgers are reportedly interested in Esteban German as a backup for Jeff Kent. While Dayton says he hasn't heard anything from LA, and we are already short on good OPB guys, now seems the perfect time to deal German, with Callaspo filling almost the exact same role on the roster. That would open up a permanent spot for one of the on-the-bubble bats (Shealy, Huber, or possibly Player of the Spring Damon Hollins, aka Emil 2.0), and give us a potential mid-level prospect(?) in return.

by CentralChamps2009 on Mar 11, 2008 11:19 AM EDT reply actions

There is a diary posted

with the title "Dodgers interested in German" if you would like to check that out.

by MileHighKCfan on Mar 11, 2008 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

That was, like, 6 diaries down

Way too hard to find.

(To quote the year 1992, "Sorry, my bad")

by CentralChamps2009 on Mar 11, 2008 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

4 & 5 Starters

I'd be mildly suprised if our final two starters were not:

John Bale
Luke Hochevar

I know we'd like Hoch to get a few more innings in AAA, but Tomko is a joke and Nomo is a bad joke.

I'd rather be watching baseball.

by Sisquatch Kids on Mar 11, 2008 11:31 AM EDT reply actions

I'd be shocked

If Tomko were not in the rotation and Hochevar wasn't in Omaha. Frankly it is the right decision, Hooch needs a bit more seasoning, some minor league success, and I don't mind a bit that he delays his service clock.

I'm sensing DLR's days are numbered. I agree that Bale is starting to look like the #5 starter.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Mar 11, 2008 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

The last 2 spots on the pitching staff

They could easily go to DLR and Nunez. I hope they do. That way the Royals wouldn't have to trade/release/waive any of their pitchers. If they go with Hochevar on the 25-man roster, then the Royals would have to part with either DLR or Nunez.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 11, 2008 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

ehm

I'm going to trust the coaches/scouts. If Luke is deemed ready, but all means, I believe he should be in the rotation.

by doublestix on Mar 11, 2008 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Fearless forecast

Nomo won't make the 25-man roster. They are just being respectful of the once great veteran by lauding his very minor ST achievements. I really don't think there is much to worry about here. He stinks, he's been hit pretty hard and has a fluky low ERA. Even in these meaningless ST games, his ERA is going to go up. I'm not going ot start worrying unless I hear this kind of talk from the Royals two weeks from now.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 11, 2008 11:41 AM EDT reply actions

I won't mind if...

...Nomo doesn't make the team, but I'm starting to feel that De La Rosa has had his shot. I'd like to see him have one full season of success in AAA ball before bringing him back. DLR's ERA last year was atrocious, despite the injury. He a about 6-8 good starts before his huge slide: in other words, after one time around the league hitters figured him out. - TL

Trust Trey and Dayton.

by timlacy on Mar 11, 2008 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

George of the Rose

Is quickly becoming this year's Berroa--some early reports of him coming to camp and looking good, followed by uninspired play, followed by the end of his meaningful time with the Royals. Whether picked up by someone else on waivers or in Omaha, JDLR is out of time.

by CentralChamps2009 on Mar 11, 2008 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

If nothing else...

...DLR could make a good lefty reliever. He absolutely dominates lefties and has great stuff. I won't be upset if DLR doesn't make the team, but if they have to dump him to make room for the rotting corpse of Hideo Nomo, I'll be pissed. DLR has talent, youth and upside. If nothing else, a few good months of him as a reliever would make for pretty good trade bait in July for a contender in the market for a lefty reliever.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 11, 2008 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Not really sure

Why we're even messing around with him as a starter. He seems much better suited as a reliever. Guess cause we already have a bunch of lefty relievers.

Hopefully JDLR can be dealt to a team needing a reliever.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Mar 11, 2008 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Because

Why we're even messing around with him as a starter.

Because we have at least one open spot in the starting rotation.
Because this team is still rebuilding.
Because he's shown some flashes of brilliance as a starting pitcher.
Because he has great stuff including a plus fastball, plus curveball and a good change.

He has talent and youth. Talent like that shouldn't be given away if it can be avoided. And there will be enough available starts this season to give him some starts to see if he can build off the good pitching he showed last year. The downside to starting him is maybe the Royals lose 1-2 more games than they otherwise would have. The upside is that they develop a good lefty starting pitcher.

Now, if his stuff and/or control really look crappy all spring, then he might not deserve a spot on the 25-man roster, much less in the rotation. I just wouldn't write him off because of the stats of prior seasons when he has talent and youth and their are open spots on the pitching staff.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 11, 2008 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Youth

Time is not on his side. He's not really that young anymore.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Mar 11, 2008 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

No, he isn't THAT young

I'm not saying that he's so young that he has a lot of improvement and development ahead of him. But his age is a minor plus, whereas Nomo's age is a major minus. He's young enough that he has several peak years ahead of him. He's young enough that he could still improve.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 11, 2008 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

His change up is not very good

That is a big reason why he is ineffective against right-handed hitters. When command is considered, neither his fastball nor curve is a plus pitch.

by Gopherballs on Mar 11, 2008 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I disagree

His change is inconsistent. When it is on, it's a plus pitch. His command is inconsistent as well; that's his big problem. But the fastball and curve are both definitely plus pitches.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 11, 2008 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions

His change is inconsistent

in the same way that Shane Costa's major league career has been inconsistent.

by Gopherballs on Mar 12, 2008 6:24 AM EDT up reply actions

In that case

his changeup must be pretty damn consistent because Shane Costa's Major League has been pretty damn consistent, consistently bad!

by MileHighKCfan on Mar 12, 2008 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

I disagree

And I think most scouts would disagree as well.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 12, 2008 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Does DLR have...

...an option? Can we let him flower in Omaha, either as a reliever or starter? - TL

Trust Trey and Dayton.

by timlacy on Mar 11, 2008 3:56 PM EDT reply actions

Out of options

Nunez is too, from what I've read.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 11, 2008 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Nunez gets traded before

the season starts. Dayton tried to trade him for Milton Bradley last year. I would expect him to go (possibly in a package). I think Dayton sees Nunez as an injury waiting to happen. It wouldn't surprise me to see JDLR dealt too. Somebody should be willing to bite on these guys, but I don't know how much worth they have. I doubt we could get a Milton Bradley like talent for either of them, but maybe something useful will come back in return.

by royaldaddy on Mar 12, 2008 2:03 AM EDT reply actions

+1

I've suggested such a deal before. In record time, Moore has crowded our system with plausible MLB pitchers, but none have been overwhelming talents. They may be, however, good enough to get good return in a deal with the right team. Nunie nearly garnered Bradley last year, and I don't see how his value has declined. JDLR is a LHP with good stuff. Together they could bring at least a good prospect if not an MLB ready player.

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

by philofthenorth on Mar 12, 2008 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Nunez's value

Nunez was valuable enough to get Bradley, but it would only have been a two-month rental of Bradley. So I don't think Nunez's value is a full season of someone like Bradley. Therefore, I think his value would be someone considerably worse than Bradley. As there is no room on the 25-man roster (and that is why he would be traded), we'd have to trade for a prospect who still has at least one option remaining. So what kind of prospect could the Royals get for Nunez? Probably a pretty good one. Not an A prospect, but maybe a B+ prospect.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 13, 2008 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah

I was actually a little pissed that Moore was ready to unload Nunez for a rental of Bradley.

This only made sense if Moore thought he could re-sign Milton. I'm not sure Dayton even offered a contract to Bradley this offseason, but that may have been because he was upset with how Bradley nixed the trade.

I'd really like for us to hold on to Nunez, because I think between Soria and Leo we will have our 4th starter and a competent closer. (Not sure which would be which.)

I guess if we can find get a new shortstop, like Dodger's Hu, or someone like Wladimir Balentien, then I'd be okay with unloading Nunez. I don't know how realistic a trade offer that is, though.

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by marbotty on Mar 13, 2008 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Nunez, Balentien and Hu

According to Sickels, Hu is a B prospect and Balentien is a B/B+ prospect. Goldstein at BP has Hu as a 5-star prospect but Balentien as only a 3-star prospect. I think they are both good but not great prospects. Perhaps if the Royals threw in something else that the team needs and maybe gets back a lesser prospect in addition. Since they dealt Sherill, the Mariners need a lefty reliever, so we could trade them Nunez and Gobble for Balentien and Mangini or Tuiasosopo. Of course, I don't know how much interest they have in Nunez and maybe the second prospect would have more of a throw-in than the two possibilities listed above.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 13, 2008 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions