Who will RR choose as a favorite to

by daveyork on Mar 28, 2008 6:29 PM EDT

heckle, ride, complain about and generally bitch and bemoan for the 2008 season? I'd like to have a name for this awe inspiring award but have yet to come up with one. Without the Devil, Buddy, Nationwide, Scott Elarton and Jason LaRue, we'll have to choose a few new targets.

To me, the early favorite looks like Tomko.

Any suggestions or thoughts?

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Of course it will be Tomko

Unless he manages an ERA under 4.50, he'll derided as a miserable failure as waste of money. Even if he does have a decent ERA, he'll still get bashed unrelentlessly any time he has a start with an ERA over 4.50.

The narrative for Tomko has already been set. The reality of his performance will be spun to fit the narrative.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 28, 2008 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

I can't believe

you are supporting that loser who is doomed to failure.

Success is counted sweetest by those who ne'er succeed. - Emily Dickinson

by buddyball on Mar 28, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions

And that loser Guillen too

Those awful players will probably both be released by the All Star Break.

Fire Allard Moore Now!!!!!!!!!!!!111

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 28, 2008 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Some options

Jose Guillen: he'll underperform for at least a month and a half, and all will hate him SO MUCH for being a really, really big waste of money.

Trey Hillman: the team struggles, he's says something about his faith, leading to much mockage.

Joey Gator: new emphasis on only swinging down on the ball means he never hits it out of the infield again; BABIP (does a batter have a BABIP?) comes down, so does corresponding OPB; nobody has anything good to say about him that doesn't include the words "jump" "car" or "diminuative Japanese pitcher."

by CentralChamps2009 on Mar 28, 2008 6:49 PM EDT reply actions

guillen or gload

But as CChamps suggested, I think Guillen will end up doing well by year's end.

On the other hand, will anyone really dislike Gload? He is very lovable, in a gritty, veteran presence sort of way.

So, maybe Shealy?

This space intentionally left blank.

by marbotty on Mar 28, 2008 6:56 PM EDT reply actions

TPJ Will Be

The target of unrelentless mockage for his miniscule OPB.

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

by philofthenorth on Mar 28, 2008 7:09 PM EDT reply actions

How could I forget Guillen?

One mediocre month and/or a few too many strikeouts and he'll get Larue-like bashing. You know, he's no Fukudome.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 28, 2008 7:15 PM EDT reply actions

Gload, Guillen, and Tomko

At least it's good to see our whipping boys are getting better.

by doublestix on Mar 28, 2008 7:29 PM EDT reply actions

gload

there is also a rising anti-Grudz sentiment

I wanna know what love is, I want you to show me

by LeoBloom on Mar 28, 2008 7:29 PM EDT reply actions

is any of this a bad thing?

by Freneau on Mar 28, 2008 7:34 PM EDT reply actions

Is it bad...

...that fans are going to incessantly and bash some player(s) in a totally reactionary and thoughtless way? I guess that depends on how one enjoys being a fan. Clearly many fans absolutely love doing that. You go into any bar in any city and you'll find lots of drunken louts shouting down some player(s) he finds lacking. It is the lowest form of fan expression. But it is an inherent and significant element in any fan population.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 28, 2008 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions

What a pile

os sanctimonious pontification!

Be loyal, Be Brave, Be Free.

by hardyguy on Mar 28, 2008 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd say...

showing up at the K in a Cardinals hat to enjoy buck night is the lowest form of fan expression. Seriously though, the above is far from sanctimonious pontification. It's an opinion that respects the talents and efforts of elite athletes who are below average major league baseball players. Fair enough. However, I think the commitment communities and fans make to local teams warrants criticism of the weakest link. If that criticism springs from objective, rational analysis, as I think NYRoyal would appreciate, then it is much better. Those who benefit from the adoration and devotion of the public must weather the inevitable scrutiny. We'd do well to ensure that scrutiny remains reasonable...even if we're drunken louts otherwise.

by WDB12 on Mar 29, 2008 4:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Very well said

I find it hard to disagree with any of that.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 29, 2008 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

obviously the name of this position should be

the official Royals Review whipping boy. Because no matter how bad things get, all we have to do is lash out at him and we'll feel a little bit better about ourselves.

Boyfriend of the Year 2008: It's gonna be big!

by loyal2theroyals on Mar 28, 2008 7:49 PM EDT reply actions

It probably has to be a pitcher

Doesn't it? Maybe it's just that I'm conditioned to years of really bad starting pitchers (Elarton and Redman come immediately to mind) who make start after start with no little or no success, leading you to wonder when the hell <insert manager's name here> will put him in the bullpen and causing you to dread each one of this guy's starts...

So I agree, Tomko is the clear choice.

by cookierojas73 on Mar 28, 2008 11:07 PM EDT reply actions

I vote for a fan instead of a

player. Since everything we say is wrong and HE probably disagrees with us anyway. I will put up NYRoyals name.

Be loyal, Be Brave, Be Free.

by hardyguy on Mar 28, 2008 11:20 PM EDT reply actions

Oh ya... Tomahawk does suck too.

Be loyal, Be Brave, Be Free.

by hardyguy on Mar 28, 2008 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Good to have you back, Joel

How old are you?

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 28, 2008 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Wasn't he the one

from last year that called you a Moron. Sorry, I don't go in for name calling. You do though since you called Grudz an ASS. I am a 59 year old Vietnam Vet. Who lives on the border of Iowa and Missouri. I am not going to argue with you. I will just call a pile a pile when it is dropped on us.

Be loyal, Be Brave, Be Free.

by hardyguy on Mar 28, 2008 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Grudz has enough problems in

his life right now that he doesn't need to be in between you two. Give him a break and keep his name out of your arguments.

by Bluemen on Mar 28, 2008 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow, 59, really?

Are you sure you're not just playing with me?

And if you can't handle your opinions being challenged and disagreed with, then you came to the wrong forum.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 28, 2008 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions

That is pot calling the kettle black...

Be loyal, Be Brave, Be Free.

by hardyguy on Mar 29, 2008 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Royals scapegoat of the year

Gload - on offense, unless he is mercifully returned to a reserve role.

Tomko - if he is not relieved of his duties by midseason by Hochevar or Rosa.

Unlike previous season both these guys are not awful players (LaRue), but are stretched in their current roles. It shows great improvement on our team development side that we have evolved and continue to improve, which is why I suspect we will have new people to take their places by mid-season.

by lordbyronk on Mar 29, 2008 3:47 PM EDT reply actions

Good points

I would say Gload at starting 1B is a big stretch. But Tomko at #5 SP really isn't. But he should definitely give way to Hochevar when they think he's ready. Rosa is starting the season in AA, so I don't think we'll see him until 2009 at the earliest.

I probably disagree with you.

by Scott McKinney on Mar 29, 2008 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions