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Royalsreview_tiny by royalsreview on Comment 84 comments

Don't worry, Cleveland also lost tonight.

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What was up with Nunez tonight?

I still don’t get why some would pick him as the closer-in-waiting. Is it because he’s been a Royal longer?

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 5, 2008 11:18 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I think people do it simply because he was the 8th inning guy to start the year

So the presumption is he’s “next in line”

I offer this as as diagnosis, not a recommendation.

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

by devil_fingers on Aug 5, 2008 11:19 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

that's the first question i had about tonight's game as well...

that and i really want to see a highlight of THE CHEETAH!!!

where tpj happens.

by blue bandwagon on Aug 5, 2008 11:20 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I think his stuff looks really good

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Aug 5, 2008 11:22 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I think prior to being hurt his stuff was alot better

RamRam got off to a great start but isn’t exactly the golden boy right now. He has pitched himself into trouble his last two outings and had Soria and Mahay bail him out. I question his ability to pitch himself out of trouble. I’ve seen multiple times this year when he starts getting wayward with some bad luck or a walk or two he can’t dig himself out.

I don’t think Nunez or RamRam are either viable closer pitchers. As I said and will continue to say Nunez is a injury liability.

Every fight is a food fight when you’re a cannibal.
-- Demetri Martin

by kcscoliny on Aug 6, 2008 12:53 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

RamRam got off to a great start but isn’t exactly the golden boy right now.
You keep saying that he hasn’t been pitching well lately and I have no idea where you’re getting this from.

Last 7 days 3.1 ip, 2.70 ERA, 3 h, 2 bb, 3 k
Last 14 days 6 ip, 1.50 ERA, 4 h, 3 bb, 5 k
Last 28 days 11.2 ip, 3.86 ERA, 10 h, 4 bb, 4 bb, 13 k

Apparently even when he’s having a rough stretch, he’s still pitching very well.

I don’t think Nunez or RamRam are either viable closer pitchers.

Wow, what does a guy have to do to be a viable closer to you? Trust me, if he were a closer for even a couple of months, you’d suddenly think he had the right closer magic.

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 6, 2008 1:02 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I just don't believe

that RamRam can pitch himself out of tough situations when he puts himself there. I don’t think those stats tell the whole story.

That 11.2 ip includes two BS and a game against the ChiSox where he faced 2 batters walked one and gave up a H and an ER. I think he has become too reliant on that hard change.

Every fight is a food fight when you’re a cannibal.
-- Demetri Martin

by kcscoliny on Aug 6, 2008 1:11 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I would leave Soria there til the start of ‘10.

Every fight is a food fight when you’re a cannibal.
-- Demetri Martin

by kcscoliny on Aug 6, 2008 1:13 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Basically all of the stats show that he's been pitching very well

Every month and in all kinds of situations. Bases empty, runners on, runners in scoring position. R. Ramirez, Nunez and Mahay are excellent examples of how it is easy to find a competent closer. Pretty much any good reliever can be at least a decent closer. What you need is good overall bullpen. If you have that, then you’ll have a decent closer. Everything shows that Ramirez can handle closing. It isn’t magic. He faces high leverage situations in the 7th and 8th inning and handles them well. He could handle the 9th. Soria is being wasted in the pen.

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 6, 2008 1:15 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

We'll see like

I said before I think the plan is to eventually move Soria to the rotation but I don’t think it was the plan for next year.

Every fight is a food fight when you’re a cannibal.
-- Demetri Martin

by kcscoliny on Aug 6, 2008 1:19 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

RamRam is only 25

let him build his confidence some more maybe another year then make the change. Hopefully some of the other young guys are up as well to fortify the bullpen. Maybe Hughes/Hayes/Cortes or Pimentel one or two of those guys ready to contribute in the pen by ‘10

Every fight is a food fight when you’re a cannibal.
-- Demetri Martin

by kcscoliny on Aug 6, 2008 1:21 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Joakim Soria is only 24

I don’t think that Ramirez needs more confidence in order to become a closer. He’s being put in high leverage situations as a primary setup man now and is handling it well. There are more than enough pitchers to step into the bullpen to fill an opening created by Soria going into the rotation. Davies, Rosa and Musser to name three. Plus Moore has shown a good ability for finding relievers through the FA and trade market. I don’t think this is an issue.

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 6, 2008 1:25 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I know what I'd do, but I have no idea what Moore will do with Soria

They could start transitioning him to SP in September, next year, two years from now or never. I wouldn’t put money on any particular guess.

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 6, 2008 1:22 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

We'll know some of the story this September

Every fight is a food fight when you’re a cannibal.
-- Demetri Martin

by kcscoliny on Aug 6, 2008 1:23 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I question his ability to pitch himself out of trouble. I’ve seen multiple times this year when he starts getting wayward with some bad luck or a walk or two he can’t dig himself out.

That wasn’t my impression of him, so I looked up his relevant splits:

Runners on 105 pa, 10 bb, 26 k, .239/.308/.315 (So, with runners on, opposing batters have only a .623 OPS against him)
RISP 59 pa, 6 bb, 16 k, .216/.288/.294 (.582 OPS against)

That doesn’t look like someone who doesn’t handle being in trouble with runners on base.

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 6, 2008 1:08 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

His High Leverage stats I think are Average

and I would want someone better than average back there.

.329 .391 .720

Every fight is a food fight when you’re a cannibal.
-- Demetri Martin

by kcscoliny on Aug 6, 2008 1:15 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Man, you are really stretching

You have to look hard to find something. And you didn’t find much. A .720 OPS isn’t average in any league.

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 6, 2008 1:16 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Speaking of Cleveland

Any thoughts on Matt LaPorta?

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

by devil_fingers on Aug 5, 2008 11:20 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Good hitter

We should go after Ryan Garko this winter. Maybe offer Esteban German and Jimmy Gobble.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Aug 5, 2008 11:23 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Meh

Garko was alright last year, but I don’t remember his AAA numbers being all that awesome.

Are there ever any decent trades (i.e., not involving Gloads, Siscos, etc.) within the division?

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

by devil_fingers on Aug 5, 2008 11:25 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

No GM is going to look solely at these players 2008 stats

They don’t have great value, but they definitely have trade value. Could they get us “anything positive”? Of course they could.

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 5, 2008 11:35 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

So you think German is worthless?

A utility player who can handle 2B, 3B, LF and RF (as a bench player) whose career numbers are .280/.363/.387 (OPS+ of 96). That has no trade value? That wouldn’t bring “anything positive”? Think no GM would like to have a multi-position utility player with a .363 OBP? Do you think his 2008 stats completely wash that away?

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 5, 2008 11:41 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

don't forget the bat flip

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

by devil_fingers on Aug 5, 2008 11:43 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

That's worth at least 5 wins a season

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 5, 2008 11:44 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

See it every year

If German could have brought any value do you think he’d still be on the roster?

Simple answer is NO. Then to throw in Gobble’s name is just crazy.

by Warden11 on Aug 6, 2008 12:01 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

When Moore was shopping him back in March/April, he wasn't willing to just give him away for merely "anything positive"

...nor should he have been. German has value. Just because the Royals had more 2B’s than it appeared they needed doesn’t mean he should undersell a commodity and essentially give him away. I know it is easy for a fan to look only at what a player has done this year, but trust me, GM’s don’t make that mistake. I think German will likely be shopped again this offseason. Expect more offers to come for “something of value.”

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 6, 2008 12:05 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I know I'm a simple "fan" and you're a genius

but, if he had much value he would have been dealt by now. What do you really expect to get for him? Every team in the big leagues already has an Esteban German on their roster and 3 more in the minors.

by Warden11 on Aug 6, 2008 12:29 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

but, if he had much value he would have been dealt by now

You can keep repeating that, but it doesn’t make it so. Moore has yet to receive an offer that he liked well enough to do the deal. What has he been offered? We have no idea. Once the season got underway and he didn’t get played much and his small sample size of stats were poor, I’m sure there were no offers. But there were likely offers in spring training and there will likely be offers this offseason.
What do you really expect to get for him?

Something of the approximate value of a good utility player.
Every team in the big leagues already has an Esteban German on their roster and 3 more in the minors.

Good lord, that’s just nonsense. Where do you get this stuff? The Dodgers were so set for utility IFers that they traded for Angel Berroa. Apparently you don’t understand that a .363 OBP is good. Do you think every team has a .363 OBP utility player and 3 guys in the minors who could do that in the majors too? Please

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 6, 2008 12:36 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

if the Dodgers were that hard up

don’t you think they would have traded for German instead of Berroa? Maybe there’s not near as big of a difference between those two as you think?

by Warden11 on Aug 6, 2008 12:42 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

don’t you think they would have traded for German instead of Berroa?

No, because they needed someone to play short.
Maybe there’s not near as big of a difference between those two as you think?

Please tell me you’re kidding. If you don’t understand the magnitude of difference between a career OPS+ of 96 (just below average, and above average for a middle IFer) and 76 (Berroa), then we should probably just stop talking about this.

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 6, 2008 12:45 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I don't buy what you're selling. Sorry.

If German was worth anything on the trade market, he’d have been sold. I don’t believe a bench player for one of the worst teams in MLB has much trade value, you think because he has a below average OPS+ he has value.

by Warden11 on Aug 6, 2008 12:53 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Wow

So you think because he’s on a bad team he doesn’t have trade value? And you think that because his OPS is at all below average he doesn’t have trade value? Wow…just wow. Do you think that utility IFers usually have an OPS that is above average? Good lord.

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 6, 2008 12:57 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Lord almighty

A utility infielder on a team that has a very suspect infield. Yeah, that hurts his trade value a little bit. This is my last post here, we’ll see in the offseason I guess.

by Warden11 on Aug 6, 2008 1:00 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

A utility infielder on a team that has a very suspect infield.

Let me reiterate the IF positions that German plays: 2B and 3B. Is the Royals IF suspect at those positions? Is the Royals IF suspect even at SS now? Of course that doesn’t hurt his trade value.

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 6, 2008 1:12 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You tell me why Grudz had to be tackled so German could play

I’d say the fact that German can’t play 2B over Grudz is a big mark against him. Or the fact that management has held on to Grudz this long is a big mark against him.

by Warden11 on Aug 6, 2008 2:11 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I’d say the fact that German can’t play 2B over Grudz is a big mark against him. Or the fact that management has held on to Grudz this long is a big mark against him.

The fact that German has been behind Grudz is a mark against German? Are you under the impression that Grudz isn’t a good second baseman?
2006 .297/.331/.409/.740 90 OPS+ (Gold Glove)
2007 .302/.346/.426/.770 100 OPS+
2008 .299/.345/.399/.774 96 OPS+

Overall (including this season) that is above average hitting for a second baseman with plus defense. So it’s a mark against German that he’s behind Grudz???

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 6, 2008 2:18 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

German has some value

but not much. 2b are a easy commodity to find KC has 3 ML ready 2b and thats not counting Aviles. I think that maybe Moore turned down some deals that he didn’t see as valuable but the flipside to that card is that those GM’s don’t see German’s value as that much to give up that much.

Every fight is a food fight when you’re a cannibal.
-- Demetri Martin

by kcscoliny on Aug 6, 2008 1:00 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

So who thinks we'll stay ahead of Cleveland all season?

I’d say its 50/50… I still think they have a better roster if hafner and martinez return and are OK

by royalsreview on Aug 6, 2008 12:15 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I think KC has better pitching

and that’s a big, big “IF.”

Sad for Cleveland. Hafner was fun.

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

by devil_fingers on Aug 6, 2008 12:16 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

they were playing much better than their record earlier

basically when they were still only 3-4 games under… then they completely collapsed, and no longer have sabathia

we’ll see

by royalsreview on Aug 6, 2008 12:21 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ross Gload is the Webgem Master

He also gets stuff off of the top shelf at grocery stores and can get basketballs unstuck from rims.

by BHWick on Aug 6, 2008 2:59 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

From an MLB.com column on the "Cheetah Incident"
“It was just a reaction play really,” Gload said. “It has nothing to do with my skill level or anything.”

by wentToARoyalsGameBeforeRR on Aug 6, 2008 12:08 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

For the record,

before everyone takes morse’s ridiculous accusations as the truth, I am NOT afraid to watch Royals-Red Sox. I was out with Flakey last night and missed the game. The previous night, I fell asleep amazingly early. I should be around for a bit tonight. Yes, I know you all wanted to know.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Aug 6, 2008 3:16 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You're still going out with flakey?

I thought she threw some figurative cold water on you.

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 6, 2008 4:06 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

She did

She felt bad about it, too. I really don’t want to bore you with the details. Suffice to say that we’ve become really good friends this summer and I don’t know what’ll happen down the road. And I find that I’m okay with that.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Aug 6, 2008 4:34 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

As long as you know what time it is and aren't letting her string you along

As a wise woman once said, “Love is a battlefield.”

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

by NYRoyal on Aug 6, 2008 4:45 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

No, That Was

Pat Benatar.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Aug 6, 2008 5:53 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

She isn't stringing me along

I know pretty much exactly what’s up at this point, and she’s hardly the only fish in the pond that I reside in. Blah blah boring personal shit.

But you’re such a good moddie for worrying about me. :P

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Aug 6, 2008 6:20 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Oh, please.

You can’t wiggle your way out of this, mister poopyhead. We’re onto you.

“Date.” SCOFF.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on Aug 6, 2008 8:55 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You're onto nothing, melonhead.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on Aug 7, 2008 4:22 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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