Comments from Rob Neyer...

by djk royal on May 7, 2008 4:18 PM EDT

from his blog on the Royals hitting problems.

Just to mention a few of the many problems …

• First baseman Ross Gload hasn't homered in 26 games;

• Shortstop Tony Pena is batting .157 with two walks and zero homers in 27 games;

• Joey Gathright, who everybody loves because he's fast, is batting .247 with one walk and zero homers in 24 games; and …

• Jose Guillen, "earning" $12 million this season, is batting .165 (and yet somehow leads the club with 15 RBIs).

Oh, and youngsters Alex Gordon and Billy Butler, who were supposed to break out this season, aren't hitting, either. Essentially, nobody's hitting except David DeJesus (good player) and Miguel Olivo (fluke). Which has Jazayerli calling for the head of hitting coach Mike Barnett.

That's probably a necessary first step, particularly considering that Barnett's in his third season with the Royals and the hitting has been worse each season. But as Rany notes, the Royals have other options. Manager Trey Hillman isn't making the most of the talent on his roster, and general manager Dayton Moore isn't making the most of the talent in his organization (there's help available in Triple-A). What's disheartening is that Hillman and Moore seem to think that if they just keep running Pena out there every day, eventually he'll start hitting.

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Neyer is down on the Royals?

How novel.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 7, 2008 4:23 PM EDT 0 recs

There's help available in AAA?

Like what? Aviles? Tupman? Costa? Good lord. Calling any of those guys up and actually playing them would be a massive overreaction to one bad month.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 7, 2008 4:24 PM EDT 0 recs

You are indeed...

the champion of mediocrity and the defender of the status qou.

by djk royal on May 7, 2008 4:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

Can you answer my question?

What available help in AAA. If you are calling for any of those guys to be called up, then you are championing sub-mediocrity to an alarming degree.

What I don’t champion is knee-jerk overreactions which are so common among any team’s fanbase.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 7, 2008 4:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

we finally agree. the guys down there are nothing but good organizational filler. they’re not bad guys to have ready if/when one of your regular starters goes down….they should never be seen as any solution to any problem. the only exception that i see as possible is aviles. id like to see what he could do with major league pitching and he’s never gotten a shot. tupman, costa, etc all have gotten enough/too many chances. however, we’ll likely not really see aviles this year b/c we failed to trade german who is redundant with callaspo around.

TPJ...you're dead to me

by billybeingbilly on May 7, 2008 4:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

Aviles

I’m not against the principle of giving him a chance, but where does he play? He can’t play SS, period. So he can’t replace Pena. Even if Callaspo is at SS, I’m not for playing Aviles at 2B over both Grudz and German (who isn’t getting enough PT). So if he gets called up, I don’t see how he gets at bats.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 7, 2008 5:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

seriously

what they heck happened to german?

by royalsreview on May 7, 2008 6:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

The Royals acquired Alberto Callaspo

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 7, 2008 7:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

Once again, I'll beat someone else's point into the ground

they should at least be giving a bunch of Gload’s ABs to German, to at least showcase him for a trade for whatever they can get if he isn’t part of their plans. And it would help the offense, too, since he actually gets on base

Hope is not a strategy. And neither is playing Tony Pena every day. (Rany Jazayerli)

by devil_fingers on May 7, 2008 7:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

so tell me nyroyal what is your master plan for the royals???

you have all the answers. plz enlighten us.

by Billybutlerformvp on May 7, 2008 4:25 PM EDT 0 recs

I could spend hours on my "master plan"

Develop the young players. Add key free agents. Make trades from areas of strength to fill areas of weakness. Rebuild this year. Hopefully start seriously contending in 2009 or 2010. If you have a more specific question, just ask it.

What you don’t do is overreact to a bad month and start benching good players like Teahen and wasting at bats on schlubs like Costa and Aviles.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 7, 2008 4:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

ill tell you what create your master plan and i think its

special enough to warrent its own fan post and all the other bloggers will give you our thoughts on it. sound good?

by Billybutlerformvp on May 7, 2008 4:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

what free agents do you want to sign

this offseason??? what do you do with the young guns contract wise?? what do you do with joakim soria??? leo nunez?? Who would you trade at the deadline??? Who would you trade in the offseason?? lets start with those questions.

by Billybutlerformvp on May 7, 2008 4:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ok

Sign Dunn or Burrell this offseason. If we sign Dunn, make him the 1B. If we sign Burell, trade DeJesus or Teahen, hopefully for a good, young SS. Start long-term contract talks with Greinke, Soria and Gordon now. Next year or in the offseason, you work on Teahen and Butler. Next year you consider it with Bannister. I’d stretch Soria out later in the season with longer outings and then some spot starts to get him up to 90-100 ip this season. Next year, I’d have him work in the bullpen and rotation, geting his IP up to about 130. He could go into the rotation full-time in 2010 if and only if he’s been effective and healthy. I’d keep Nunez in a set-up role. If Soria goes to the rotation, he’d be a closer candidate. At the deadline, I’d probably trade Grudz. But if no one is offering anything more than mediocre prospect crap, then I’d probably hang onto him and take the compensatory draft pick. I’d trade German and any one of our lefty pitchers.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 7, 2008 4:56 PM EDT up 0 recs

im all on board with everything you said there...except for Pat Burrell...

i just hate him for some reason…ive been a huge advocate of the Dunn signing for awhile now.

TPJ...you're dead to me

by billybeingbilly on May 7, 2008 5:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

Looking at the FA options...

...I came to the conclusion that Dunn and Burrell are the best options. While Burrell has pluses and minuses, he’d be a good choice. Looking at age, cost and performance, he’s definitely on the short list.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 7, 2008 5:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

yeah...ive looked at that list as well...

and i really see only dunn being a good option. burrell is getting old and we dont need to be paying for the tail end of guys careers. when were likely to be competing, burrell is likely to be on the downside

TPJ...you're dead to me

by billybeingbilly on May 7, 2008 5:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

He's 31 and won't be 32 until October

Free agents have had 6 years of major league experience, so they are rarely going to be particularly young guys. 31/32 is pretty good for a free agent. Signing someone who is 32 means you’ll get at least 2 years of their peak/plateau. Given what Burrell has done, you really can’t say that we’d be getting the “tail end of his career.” He’s had an OPS+ over 120 for each of the last 3 seasons and so far he’s not looked any worse this season. Dunn is my first choice, but you don’t always get your first choice (the Royals made offers to Hunter, A. Jones, Kuroda and Silva this year and all turned us down even though we had the highest offer for at least two of them). I wouldn’t sign anyone just to sign someone and send money. But Burrell would be a sound signing. We need his bat. If it is a long contract, he can be flipped down the line.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 7, 2008 7:24 PM EDT up 0 recs

Personally

Off the top of my head, I’d rather have Dunn or Burrell than Hunter anyway. It’s probably just some weird bias. But I don’t recall Dunn and Burrell calling out teammates for not being tough and acting like ironmen while actually missing lots of the season.

Not to mention Hunter’s increasingly overrated defense and hacking plate approach that means he fits into exactly the kind of hitting strategy KC needs to get away from, and will catch up with him as he enters his decline phase. Basically, he’s going to be CF version of Garrett Anderson.

Not too many thoughts on Dunn and Burrell. Good, underrated players (mostly be people who think that Torii Hunter is God’s gift). But I think GMs are smarter , most of the time, than Ned Colletti and his ilk, so there will be some competition. I’m not sure how Dunn would work out in terms of positions. Not saying he couldn’t, I just don’t have the confidence others do in his defensive abilities. Just being better than Billy Butler isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement, and I’ve read that Dunn’s a pretty bad hack both in LF and 1B. But I can also relate to the “who cares, the guy pounds the heck out of the ball argument.”

Burrell, like Dunn, has numbers that are helped by a tiny home park (another concern) and crappy NL-pitching, but that’s balanced by idiots who think that Burrell takes too many strikes and isn’t “clutch.” I’d rather have him than Jose Guillen. Depends on how much money.

Hope is not a strategy. And neither is playing Tony Pena every day. (Rany Jazayerli)

by devil_fingers on May 7, 2008 7:35 PM EDT up 0 recs

Dunn and Burrell would defensive downgrades

But I’m willing to give up some defense in exchange for offense. Clearly, we need it. While I know Moore value’s defense highly, I think he understands how this team needs a real offensive upgrade, even if it means worse defense. And, quite frankly, I think Moore really values defense up the middle (CF, SS, 2B, C) but doesn’t put so much of a premium on it at corner positions. So I think he’ll go after guys like Dunn and Burrell. He might even take a shot at Teixeira, which makes sense. I just think the Yankees will overbet the pot and take him off the table.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 7, 2008 7:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

yeah

sorry I wasn’t clear. I don’t give much of a crap about defense on the corners, either.

I have to admit that I’ve always thought of Teixeira, and started to post as such. But then I had another look at his numbers, and, well, pretty impressive. He’ll still get too much money, though.

Hope is not a strategy. And neither is playing Tony Pena every day. (Rany Jazayerli)

by devil_fingers on May 7, 2008 11:58 PM EDT up 0 recs

Burrell

I think I read somewhere that in the right situation, he would be willing to play first base as well. Not sure if this is accurate though, or if the Royals would be the “right situation” for him to consider a position switch

Marriage is a great institution, for those that like being in institutions.

by fats on May 7, 2008 5:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

one thingny royal

what makes you so sure dunn wants to be a royal. what kind of package are you ready to offer him

by Billybutlerformvp on May 7, 2008 6:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

I have no idea if he's willing to play for the Royals

I’d offer him a hell of a lot of money. We’ll have to see how the market shakes out. I’d certainly be willing to give him 5/85. Probably more if necessary. Salary inflation is a bitch.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 7, 2008 7:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

Not for Teahen

By no means am I ready to write him off and I continue to root for him to improve, but I have to say that I wouldn’t open negotiations on a long-term deal with Mark Teahen anytime soon, if ever.

I have a gut feeling that with Teahen, what we’re seeing is what we’ll be getting. Sure, he’s a pretty good hitter and he’ll improve modestly, but I must admit that I no longer hold out a lot of hope that he is going to blossom into a significant run-producer or fixture in the Royals’ offense in the years to come. Last year the lack of power was attributed to his recovering from the previous fall’s surgery. I was skeptical of that last year and remain so this year based upon what I’ve seen. Really, other then a torrid stretch a couple of years ago following a stint in AAA, the guy has never hit for much power, and this limits his value to the Royals or anyone else.

This year, he hasn’t stolen a base, either, something he managed to do often enough last year that led me last year to envision him as more of a top-of-the-order guy and potentially even a CF option. Maybe this can still happen; we’ll see. It is early, but…

At this point, what is Mark Teahen? He seems very unlikely to produce enough to be a corner outfielder or first basemen. He’s not going back to 3B. Where does he fit? To me, while there is some room for improvement, I go year-to-year with him, for sure.

by cookierojas73 on May 7, 2008 7:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Then make an offer to him which is appropriate to that

I have a gut feeling that with Teahen, what we’re seeing is what we’ll be getting.

If the Royals think he’s going to be a speedy OFer with a good arm, good defense, high OBP and low SLG, then they should start long-term contract negotiations with him which are appropriate to that. He’s still a valuable player. He’s still a player I want to have on the team (and as a possible trading commodity). He’s got 2 more years of arbitration eligibility and then free agency. I think the Royals could save some money by making a deal with him which covers those arb years and one or two FA years. I wouldn’t offer him a huge deal, because he hasn’t produced enough to warrant that yet.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 7, 2008 7:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

my master plan is based around...

spending tons of money in latin america. sure, we spent more last year…with something like 6 latin players receiving 100K+ signing bonuses. however, id go even further. we NEED to be players for guys like Villalona, Triunfel, the one Pena that isnt terrible, Guerra, etc. We could sign 6 of the top players for what we’re paying Jose this year alone and its very likely that at least one of them will outproduce Jose once he makes it up and be very cheap for 3 years and affordable for three more. That is the way that I think small market teams can best compete…that and going after guyslate in the draft and buying them away from UNC and such…which moore also started doing to some extent last year

TPJ...you're dead to me

by billybeingbilly on May 7, 2008 5:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think Rany said we were something like 7th in MLB in money we spent in Latin America last year

Yes we can and should probably spend more. But that is just one piece of the puzzle of improving the organization.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 7, 2008 5:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

believe it or not i like everything you said nyroyal

except for investing that much more in latin america. look at guys like tejada they use roids lie about their age. and half of the latin prospects like francisco pena turn out to be busts.

by Billybutlerformvp on May 7, 2008 5:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think Tejada has been pretty impressive in his career

regardless of the age issue. And I could probaby name a hell of a lot of “American” ball players that used steroids, or were at least mentioned in the report which is all that happened with Tejada. I don’t think you should base your amount of investing in Latin America on Miguel Tejada, which is what you just did. You said guys like Tejada but didn’t mention any other guys. And half of baseball prospects turn out to be busts, not just latin prospects.

Disclaimer: Comments may not be suitable for young children or women who are pregnant, or women who think they may be pregnant. Side effects could include nausea, dizziness, or yelling at the monitor in disbelief.

by MileHighKCfan on May 8, 2008 3:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

ny royal where is your plan

or can isee it with the exit strategy for iraq??

by Billybutlerformvp on May 7, 2008 4:39 PM EDT 0 recs

So, the hyperbole is fun for a while,

but it kinda wears old.

NYRoyal is right – we’ve played for one month. Thing is, we’re still in the pennant race, and I think everyone’s lost sight of the fact that WE WERE STILL ONE OF THE WORST TEAMS IN BASEBALL this VERY LAST YEAR.

I’ll still be happy with .500, which is by definition mediocrity. Any fan with perspective would be happy with it too because it means improvement and in the long run division titles and playoff games. I’d hate to sit at .500 for years and years, but that “mediocrity” would mean so much to the 2008 Royals.

by Bornin85 on May 7, 2008 4:57 PM EDT 0 recs

aviles

if the problem is offense, we have guys that would be improvements. (Costa is not one of these guys, Aviles is) I agree that Barnett needs to be fired. It isn’t that our players don’t have the ability or work-ethic (I think they work a lot at this). instead, there seems to be a club-wide disregard for plate discipline or reasonable approaches. This is the job of a hitting coach: build player swings to maximize potential, encourage plate discipline and knowledge, and use scouting reports to gain a reasonable approach for facing individual pitchers. If these jobs are done correctly, then the players are wholly responsible for their performance. I don’t see this happening. While there are some players who simply aren’t all that gifted with the stick (Pena and Gathright), the ones that are gifted seem to have a disregard for some common sense modern hitting notions. Butler and Gordon have immense talent at the plate, but it seems it is not being used for power potential or walks as it certainly could be and was used for these in the minors. I don’t know if it is a shift in emphasis from development to aggressiveness(Barnett is a Buddy guy, oh shit), or it is simply a chronic condition affecting everyone playing for the Royals. Some guys have stayed above this club-wide problem, such as Butler, Gordon, Olivo, Callaspo, Grudz, and German, but even these guys that are succeeding are not achieving up their potential seems to indicate in terms of walks and approach. Fire Mike Barnett.

Never giving up on your team is what makes you a good fan.

by kcisbetterthanstlateverything on May 7, 2008 4:59 PM EDT 0 recs

common sense

modern common sense hitting notions including obp, ops, and p/pa. our team is bad at all of these while these have emerged as extremely valuable tools for hitters and gm’s. sorry my last sense in the above rant wasn’t grammatically correct. (even these guys that are succeeding are not achieving to their potential, which is indicated in terms of walks and visible approaches.)

Never giving up on your team is what makes you a good fan.

by kcisbetterthanstlateverything on May 7, 2008 5:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

While I agree that our AAA guys are organizational filler

We’re pretty much in a situation where we should be trying things out at the MLB level, because what we have now is clearly not working. I’m not a huge Aviles, fan, but I’d be all for starting Callaspo and giving Callaspo’s role to Aviles. That would probably mean getting rid of German, and using Pena as a utility infielder/defensive replacement. Would that shore up our offensive problems? No. But it would help.

I can’t see how Shane Costa helps at all. I wouldn’t mind calling up Shealy even though his numbers aren’t fantastic, but what do you do with Gload?

As for Barnett, I can’t say one way of the other whether he should be fired or not. I’m not really convinced he has great talent to work with, and I’m not really of the belief that a hitting instructor has a huge impact on a team. Maybe on a few individual players, but not on a team overall. So I really don’t care if he stays or goes.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on May 8, 2008 4:08 PM EDT 0 recs