Where do we go from here?

by Royal2103 on Jun 12, 2008 12:23 AM EDT Comment 32 comments

With damn close, the worst record in all of baseball (again) a faltering bullpen/bullpen pieces (again) and inconsistent starting pitching (again) where do we go from here? The moves that are made when you are a contending team aren't nearly as important as the ones made when you're not, and GMDM has plenty of them to consider.

Butler is starting to heat up again in Omaha, who do you send down/out? Nunez should hopefully be off the DL soon, who from the staff leaves? Aviles is hitting (like I said he would) and playing pretty solid defense (which everyone said he couldn't) and the league shouldn't adjust before the break (after the break, we will really see the player Aviles is). One of the middle infielders will have to go. Trade Grudz, trade German, or DFA TPJ? We have quite possibly the least intimidating bench in the league. Changes anyone? There are definitely more questions to be answered...

If we plan on contending in the 3 years, these next few months will be interesting to see what pieces get implemented or which don't. KC bloggers let's play GM for a minute...

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Aviles's two-base throwing error

would put lie to the idea that he is playing good defense.

Aviles hasn’t been jaw-droppingly awful at SS, but in the couple of games I’ve watched him, there has been at least a couple plays a game that he misses that TPJ, all things being equal, probably could’ve made. I’m glad Aviles is swinging the bat well, but I don’t think we need to pretend that he is playing remotely stellar D.

For Nunez, I think that Fulchino probably needs to be shipped out again. For Butler, I imagine Aviles will be sent back to Omaha, at least until Grudz or German gets traded, at which point we will probably see him back in KC. Peralta can stay in Omaha a little while longer, and I wouldn’t mind giving Musser another shot, and if it turns out he can hack it, I’m all for DFA’ing/trading Gobble.

by DarthYoshi on Jun 12, 2008 12:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Stellar no, Solid yes. Why would you send down a kid doing nothing but proving he can play here? At least for now… I would hate to see him turn into Matt Diaz or someone that can produce for his position in a big-league uniform. Fulchino yes…Peralta why? Musser, please Royal gods get him back here! Gobble, I’m all with you homie!
What do you do with Dejesus, Teahan, Gload? I’m interested to hear your opinion

by Royal2103 on Jun 12, 2008 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Aviles can come back up when Grudz or German gets traded

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jun 12, 2008 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And just keep Pena here? Why?

What is Mr. Pena going to give this team in the near future or in the coming years? WHy keep him on the team? Because he’s the most valuable 8th inning replacement on a team where it could somehow matter less? What’s wrong with releasing him and keeping Aviles?

by Royal2103 on Jun 12, 2008 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm

Maybe DFA him. But, if all of the other SS’s (Callaspo, Aviles, German) are at best below average defensive players at SS, don’t you need one good defensive SS on the bench? And it’s not like Aviles is such a good prospect that we need to maximize his time in the majors. I’m not worried about waiting a little while to get a longer look at him.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jun 12, 2008 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree that we've waited this long we could prolly wait a bit longer with Aviles... but...

NOOOOOO we do not need a defensive replacement on this team at this time. Why do we? To win 4 games at the end of the year? To block someone that might need a look? Gawd knows it’s not to showcase Pena for a trade? What Pena makes that throe tonight and we win? Hell no. I’ll keep what I said earlier. Aviles 280-340-400 to maybe 430 with 3 or 4 errors before the break. What’s wrong with that? Name me a Royals SS that has done better since Jay Bell

by Royal2103 on Jun 12, 2008 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Aviles has a .430 SLG percentage after 100 at bats...

...I’ll jump for joy and I’d be willing to eat my favorite Royals hat. In my humble opinion, it ain’t happening. What is even less likely is a .340 OBP. No way. He’s not that kind of OBP guy.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jun 12, 2008 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not particularly, no.

While it’s true that Aviles was involved in both plays which caused the last two games to begin spiraling out of control, the real question is whether the couple of plays he maybe doesn’t make per game in and of themselves counteract the offensive upgrade he presents over Pena.

And really, if Trey’s not going to put Pena in the game in the 7th/8th inning of a game we’re leading by four runs, then what’s the point of keeping him around for his glove anyway?

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on Jun 12, 2008 5:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is no reason to carry more than four middle infielders on a roster

...even when some of them have defensive versatility. Carrying Grudz, Pena, Callaspo, German, and Aviles on the roster at the same time would be ridiculous. And I really hope that I’m wrong about Aviles’s defense, but so far, I’m still concerned.

Peralta has been awful in KC this year, and he can still ride out time in Omaha without being exposed to waivers, so we might as well keep him there and hope he turns a corner.

Between DDJ, Teahen, and Gload, I’m hoping we can trade two of the three, although Gload will bring almost nothing in return.

by DarthYoshi on Jun 12, 2008 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think a trade or two in the next 1 1/2 months will thin out the crop of middle IFers

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jun 12, 2008 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

by DarthYoshi on Jun 12, 2008 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

by Royal2103 on Jun 12, 2008 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

jinx!

you owe me a pop. :)

(well, 2 min. isn’t quite the same as simultaneously…but hey)

by DarthYoshi on Jun 12, 2008 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good man ya beat me! ANd my slowass comp.

by Royal2103 on Jun 12, 2008 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gload is waiver bait

or at least should be

by royalsreview on Jun 12, 2008 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it unlikely that they'll waive a player who is under contract for 2009

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jun 12, 2008 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

true

by Royal2103 on Jun 12, 2008 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why not?

If he gets claimed, you get rid of the contract. If he does not get claimed, he will accept the assignment to the minors in order to keep the guaranteed money. This is the Josh Towers special.

by Gopherballs on Jun 12, 2008 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There's "will" and "should"

I’d waive him. I wouldn’t have signed him to the two-year contract in the first place. But clearly they like him. If they value him enough to give him that contract, they don’t want him off the team. I don’t think his underperformance this year has completely changed their minds about him. So, I think they should waive him, but I don’t think they will waive him.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jun 12, 2008 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They gave him the contract before his collapse

I agree that waiving Gload would not be the first choice, but I would not be surprised if it happens once Butler comes back.

by Gopherballs on Jun 12, 2008 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hope so

But I think they value him, and value him too highly.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Jun 12, 2008 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good point

Why not DFA him? He’s not going to get claimed

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jun 12, 2008 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My 2 Cents

I am not sure where we go from here. Tomko, Gobble and Fulchino don’t belong on a major league club. I agree that we should let Aviles continue playing. We may have something there. Our starters are giving us 6 innings, the problem is our bullpen. Trades may be coming soon.

by BlueBloodRoyal on Jun 12, 2008 8:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gobble belongs in the big leagues

His job is to get lefties out. He has done that. Lefties are hitting .121/.171/.273 against him this year. Righties see him as meat. Its not his fault that Trey is misusing him.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jun 12, 2008 10:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Trey might be misusing Gobble but he doesn't have many other options.

What’s lost in all of these ranting criticisms is the fact the the Royals have just played 9 games in 9 days against 3 of the top 4 OPS teams in the league and that wears on pitching and defense. They have had to go to the bullpen more than they would have liked and it forces pitchers to step into roles they are not accustomed nor equipped to handle. And things like that snowball into losing streaks.

If and when this team is ever good they will have one or two starters that consistently go 8 innings and give the bullpen a rest.

If and when this team is ever good they will have the firepower to blow teams out once in a while so they can allow lesser pitchers eat up innings in non-pressure situations.

I have many leather bound books...

by juano on Jun 12, 2008 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The 15-inning game in Chicago did not help bullpen fatigue

Hochevar did not pitch out of the 6th that game, and the bullpen was solid until Gobble faced Konerko in the bottom of the 15th.

by jbrocato on Jun 12, 2008 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think getting Nunez back will help set up the bullpen a lot

I would not hesitate to dump Tomko and his ~7 ERA. Keep Peralta in Omaha until
someone gets hurt. I hesitate to write this, but Ducky threw 7 shutout innings the other day in Omaha.

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

by buddyball on Jun 12, 2008 10:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs