Christina Kahrl (1:25:52 PM PT): Greg Pizzo (China, Maine) asks: "Does the terrific September by...

Christina Kahrl (1:25:52 PM PT): Greg Pizzo (China, Maine) asks: "Does the terrific September by the Royals mean anything? Before the season started, we probably would have thought 75 wins was pretty good, but did they find out anything about their 2009 Royals using this September?"

I'm not so sure all that much progress was made. Guys like Billy Butler and Alex Gordon didn't take steps forward, they got a harsh reminder that Brian Bannister doesn't have a lot of upside, and even things that were good for them to have sorted out--like Tony Pena Jr. and Mark Teahen aren't regulars--didn't necessarily turn out perfectly well. It seems that guys like David DeJesus and Mike Aviles need to move from center and short, respectively. Their defense is a bit of a mess, there are questions over who plays where, and there's a mistake like the Jose Guillen contract to live down. On the plus side, Hillman seemed to get his bullpen sorted out well enough, Greinke's settling in, and Hochevar and Davies don't seem too far behind. They're still a few Gloads shy of having all the bricks to build a lasting foundation, but they're getting there.

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over 3 years ago LeoBloom 9 comments 0 recs |

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Odd

That’s she’s so positive about Hooch. I’d put Gordon in the “don’t seem too bar behind” category, with Hooch in the “didn’t take steps forward” category.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Sep 29, 2008 4:45 PM EDT reply actions

The stats are pretty positive on Hooch

And analysts at BP value stats pretty highly.

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

by Scott McKinney on Sep 29, 2008 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions

wait a minute

you’re telling me BP people value stats? no f’ing way.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Sep 29, 2008 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

That's my theory

and I’m sticking to it.

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

by Scott McKinney on Sep 29, 2008 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Definitely

Wrong about Alex not taking a step forward. It wasn’t a HUGE step forward, but it was definitely progress.

Alex Gordon in '08

by RoyalJHWKR on Sep 29, 2008 4:45 PM EDT reply actions

i like cahrl but she's wrong on gordon, david, and aviles

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Sep 29, 2008 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

we'll have to have a hardcore Aviles discussion at some point on this site

by Freneau on Sep 29, 2008 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions

It's an interesting issue

OPS by month

June .910
July .873
August .789
September .800

I was concerned by the drop in his stats throughout the season. But it is possible that he bottomed out around .800. I think he’s a pretty safe bet to have a .775 – .825 OPS next year (the lower end of that range being more likely than the higher end). And his defense at SS is definitely sufficient for a .775 OPS.

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

by Scott McKinney on Sep 29, 2008 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow... did she just read a KC Star column or something

I’ve been that VORP is a bit messed up with walks, and that FRAA is barely on the good side of useless, but are BP writers even allowed to look at other stats? I second those who say she must have gooten Hoch and Gordon confused. I’m not bashing Hochevar. But she didn’t notice that not only Gordon’s OPS, but every one of his peripherals have improved, and that he improved from each half of each of his seasons?

As for defense… hey, I’ll admit that DDJ seems to have had an off year. I agree that Aviles is more likely a .723-.775 OPS guy. But that’s above league average for a shortstop the last couple of years. Did she notice that every respected defensive stat has him above average? Well, given that last time I checked FRAA had Jose Guillen as a league average defender, what should I have expected…

Too bad. Did she drop Carl Schorske ‘s name again and call him a genius? If she’s spend more time reading about the Royals and less time reading classic histories of German Social Democracy, maybe her sizable intellect and base of knowledge could actually help us out, rather than piss us ofd

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

by Matt Klaassen on Sep 29, 2008 9:55 PM EDT reply actions