Roster moves upcoming?

by kcisbetterthanstlateverything on Jul 22, 2008 3:37 AM EDT

I watched tonight's game until the 5th inning (and then went to see the Dark Knight which everyone should be required to watch). I knew it was about to get ugly, but Jesus. I haven't decided whether Trey embarrassed Gobble or if Gobble embarrassed himself. But the main thing that intrigues me about a game like this is how it reaffirms roles and shows us where we may be heading in the coming weeks. I'll rate roster moves by level of likelihood.

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ASAP moves (should happen and likely to happen yesterday)

Gobble goes the way of the Thanksgiving turkey, as in thanks...but no thanks. I understand he's a LOOGY and get the splits, but you have to be professional caliber against everyone, regardless of your role. Jimmy simply has not been that way this season, usage be damned. Trey's decision tonight was an effort to save the bullpen for a night turned into 'I don't want to see this guy again.' I was somewhat surprised Gobble was not optioned to Omaha before the game instead of Peralta, although this may be reversed soon.

Bale off of the DL. Reports vary as to how soon he can contribute, from as soon as 7-10 days to a month. In any case, he WILL be back. What role remains to be seen. Guys like Bannister, Rosa, Ho-Ram, Tejeda, Musser, and Gobble may be affected.

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Possible moves

Bannister to AAA. We all know Bannister is struggling, but it is really getting into Mark Redman territory. He has options left, and the club may need to use them. There are options to replace his spot in the rotation (Rosa, Ho-Ram, Tejeda, Bale, Nunez?), and this is really the only good news here as Banny looked to be a fixture in the rotation for awhile.

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Callaspo off of DL. Seriously? Has anyone heard anything to suggest he is returning at all? I hope he gets his head straight, but someone needs to be honest about what's going on and quit hiding the elephant in the room.

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In bad taste? Maybe, but we'll walk the line. Get well Alberto.

Trades are possible, regardless of intimations that the team is willing to stand pat. Grudzielanek is another team's injury away from being traded. Olivo could be in a similar situation, but we are not nearly as deep at catcher (watch the Yankees here). I have mixed feelings about this, and there are other posts about the topic.

Unlikely, but there is a God...

DFA Pena. Not going to discuss this too much. We all have sick minds by discussing this one too much. Who knows, maybe he can be groomed as a reliever after tonight's outing.

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Soria to the rotation. It is nearing that time of year where it needs to happen IF it's going to happen. I still have not taken a side on this, but I understand both of them. Who knows? Hopefully we win either way.

To be considered:

Mitch Maier is quietly putting together a very good season in Omaha (.318/.370/.467) and is a guy that can play all OF spots well and catch in a pinch.

Neal Musser is still around, and can't be any worse than Gobble (4.01 ERA/1.42 WHIP). He has been up before and hasn't totally worn out his welcome.

Has Hillman totally given up on Teahen at 1b? Because he MIGHT be better than Gload (.248/.316/.397 for Teahen vs. .269/.326/.327 for Gload). Opens up an OF spot to get Gathright, Maier, or others PT.

Ryan Shealy is rebounding nicely in Omaha as well (.294/.370/.502 w/ 14 homers). Could he stay healthy AND be an upgrade at the MLB level?

Jason Smith as a utility player. Dude is hitting the piss out of the ball in Omaha, while continuing to hit for low-average and OBP as he did in the majors. At what point is that just OK? He can play all 4 IF spots. (.249/.287/.485 w/ 18 homers)

I hope these are not considered:

Shane Costa is a known quantity, a major league 5th OF-type that can play all 3 outfield spots rather unspectacularly. He hits great in AAA but has had little success in any stay in the majors, certainly nothing to warrant a look instead of someone younger with more 'upside.' (career .311/.368/.474 in minors, .254/.289/.366 in 421 MLB at bats)

Ross Gload to a long-term contract. Laughing? Well, get this. I actually had a nightmare, one of those where you're not sure if it was real or not, that Ross Gload was signed to a 6 year, 34 million dollar contract, too much for Gload but not so outrageous that someone stupid wouldn't think he was worth it. Dayton Moore had said in the dream that Gload was instrumental to our club's future plans. His grit and defense were cornerstones to build upon. I contemplated dropping my support of the Royals at this notion, only to realize how absurd the whole idea was. However, I continued to sleep uneasily that night.

Thoughts? Others I left out?

2 recs | Comment 23 comments

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Comments

Solutions

I think Gobble is DFA’d and we could call up Musser for a lefty or activate Bale. Or demote Banny or Hoch to the pen and have Rosa in the rotation.

I would like to see TPJ DFA’d, but given the absence of people who can actually play short, I think he stays. It’s probably more likely that Callaspo/German gets dealt.

Gload needs to be in a reserve role. He’s not a starter. Trey needs to repeat this to himself every night like a mantra. Play Butler at 1B see what happens, it’s how he will learn. Maybe Shealy can DH/play 1B.

I have been a Mitch Maier fan too. He is really looking like a solid 4th OF. Gator is a nice experiment with bringing speed in the lineup, but let’s face it that’s all he brings. He could be a throw in on a deal to a team that thinks he could be a speedy leadoff man.

Those are the patches I can see in house, and then we’ll do some rebuilding over the winter. I wonder who we could get from the Yanks for Olivo though?

by lordbyronk on Jul 22, 2008 7:10 AM EDT 0 recs

If I were in charge...

Callaspo would come off the DL as soon as he could and some injury would be found on Pena’s body which would require he go on the DL for the rest of the season.

Gobble would also become injuried and Bale would replace him.

German would be traded or, sadly, DFAed and Shealy would start almost every day at first from here forward.

When September hit Teahen, DDJ and Guillen would sit often and Maier, Gathright and Costa would play. This Maier/Costa/Gathright deal would be kinda like a September cage match. Three 4th outfielders enter, only one leaves.

I would either sign Olivo to an extension or trade him. I prefer the extension.

Oh, and I would make a serious trade run for Jason Bay. Here would be my opening offer. Teahen + Blake Johnson.

And a second on the Dark Knight recommendation. Overall the movie is fine, but Heath Ledger really is remarkable good as the Joker. He carred the movie.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on Jul 22, 2008 9:40 AM EDT 0 recs

I thought a living, breathing, actress with emotional range carried the movie

Sorry, corpse of Katie Holmes!

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Jul 22, 2008 11:20 AM EDT up 0 recs

+1

That was refreshing to not have her in the movie.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Jul 22, 2008 1:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

Does Gobble have options?

My impression was that he does not.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 22, 2008 9:44 AM EDT 0 recs

He's out of options

But did you hear Hillman after the game? He kept saying things like, “sometimes guys aren’t forthcoming with us when we are hurt, so we are gonna make sure everything is OK with Jimmy….”

It sounded to me like instead of DFA’ing him, he’s gonna come down with a wicked case of tendinitis & go on the 60 day DL…

by GoBabies!! on Jul 22, 2008 9:50 AM EDT up 1 recs

Ah yes

The phantom injury. The Royals are good at making that up.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 22, 2008 9:58 AM EDT up 0 recs

Possible Gobble injuries

hot dog fingers
inverted penis
count choculitis

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on Jul 22, 2008 9:58 AM EDT up 3 recs

spontaneous dental hydroplosion

government created killer nano robot infection

Accidentally not thedude925 anymore. I do hate this new name.

by wildthang on Jul 22, 2008 4:20 PM EDT up 0 recs

Dead wing.

My mother's basement is better than YOUR mother's basement!!

by Royal Kingdom on Jul 22, 2008 10:00 AM EDT up 0 recs

Gobble injury

I doubt he would go on the 60-Day. The Royals have to decide to either offer him arbitration or let him go in the offseason. If he got arbitration he would have to be offered about a million dollars. I doubt they would make this offer at this point.

So if he goes on the DL, as I think he will, it will only be until September when the rosters expand. The Royals can then send him out there for another 10 innings or so in the closing days. That will help them make their decision come November.

A shame about this whole situation. It makes trading Mahay much more costly. And I think we all like Gobble here. He is one of the last holdovers from the darkest of years.

www.rockchalktalk.com for pretty good KU baseball coverage

by James Quinn on Jul 22, 2008 10:01 AM EDT up 0 recs

I think at this point

He will certainly be non-tendered. Musser is a cheaper, and perhaps more effective replacement.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 22, 2008 10:22 AM EDT up 0 recs

Gobble is

the Ross Gload of the pitching staff. On a contending team, he could have a place as a LOOGY much like Gload might have a place as a pinch hitter/defensive replacement. However, I don’t think either one adds much value to a developing team. In a couple years when we’re contending for the central (Baseball God willing) a LOOGY won’t be that hard to find from the scrap heap, nor will a light hitting, defensive utility infielder.

"Greinke and the Brain" (R) (C) TM

by SittinByTheFoulPole on Jul 22, 2008 10:50 AM EDT 0 recs

It will be interesting to see who comes up,

if Gobble does come down with a “phantom” injury.

Candidates are Musser, Rosa, Peralta, and Bale. I think there may be rules against recalling Peralta before 10 days are up? Or is that OK if it’s caused by an injury? Not sure.

Anyway, the logical choice would be Bale, especially if Hillman wants 2 lefty relievers available for game situations. (H-Ram has evidently become the long reliever).

Personally, I’m sorta itching for another look at Rosa – but I understand if GMDM considers his continuing development as a starter takes precedence and decides to leave him be for now.

by loyal2sdad on Jul 22, 2008 1:19 PM EDT 0 recs

like hillman actually knows when he's supposed to use a lefty specialist.

he surely wont NEED another lefty besides mahay.

personally, id prefer to see rosa come up and either bannister or davies go away

TPJ...you're dead to me

by billybeingbilly on Jul 22, 2008 1:28 PM EDT up 0 recs

FYI

Musser is on the DL in Omaha

You can recall a minor leaguer before the ten days if there is an injury.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 22, 2008 1:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

I agree with every word you said

Yasuhiko Yabuta is to Major League Baseball as Drew Carey is to The Price is Right

by focs on Jul 22, 2008 3:12 PM EDT 0 recs

Here's my predictions....

Gobble is DFA’d as soon as Bale is able to return.

Before long, maybe 2 more sub-par starts, Bannister will be sent down to AAA (if he is unable to produce an effective start) to be replaced by Musser or Rosa. If it is Musser, Bale will be inserted into the rotation, if it is Rosa, he will start.

by GoBabies!! on Jul 22, 2008 3:21 PM EDT 0 recs