So here comes Kila Kaaihue, or, as he could be known, 'Royals Cyberspace's New Justin Huber.'"

So here comes Kila Kaaihue, or, as he could be known, 'Royals Cyberspace's New Justin Huber.'"

--Sam Mellinger, Journalist and HERETIC

10 months ago devil_fingers Comment 21 comments 0 recs |

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saw that yesterday...

i can’t wait for Kila to not play at all during his call up

after that happens, he’ll be 1/5th HUberized

still, i;m glad that he;’s getting a nice financial bonus at the end of the season

by royalsreview on Sep 3, 2008 11:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What do guys get for the last month?

In general, I don’t understand rookie salaries. Assuming a guy doesn’t get a major league contract out of the draft, outside of the signing bonus, do they all get the same salary (what is it?). So, say, Alex Gordon and TPJ had the same paycheck this year?

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

by devil_fingers on Sep 3, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty much

Everyone makes close to the minimum. You can negotiate slightly higher salaries if you’re good, but you have no leverage until you become arbitration eligible.

The MLB minimum for this year was $390,000. Gordon made $406,000. Pena made $405,000.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Sep 3, 2008 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So, anyone called up will make a prorated portion of the minimum.

We always did feel the same, We just saw it from a different point of view, Tangled up in blue.
-Bob Dylan

by Royal Kingdom on Sep 3, 2008 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Correct

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Sep 3, 2008 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What is are minorl league salaries?

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

by devil_fingers on Sep 3, 2008 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

From what I can gather

First contract season: $1,100/month maximum. After that, open to negotiation

Alien Salary Rates: Different for aliens on visas—mandated by INS (Immigration).

Meal Money: $20 per day at all levels, while on the road

Source: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/info/faq.jsp?mc=milb_info

Typically, AAA players make $2,000 a month, and AA players makes $1500 a month.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Sep 3, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm guessing it's hard to stay in shape on the road with $20 a day

that’s a lot of McDonalds. Do they minor league clubhouses have workout stuff?

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

by devil_fingers on Sep 3, 2008 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm guessing it's hard to stay in shape on the road with $20 a day

This is why Cal Pickering left for the indy leagues. They promised him double the meal money.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Sep 3, 2008 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought

He was cyberspace’s Calvin Pickering.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Sep 3, 2008 11:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We get a new one every year

Craig Brazell was also one

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Sep 3, 2008 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Possible fodder for a new Retro article

Top 10 Royals Minor League sensations who didn’t get a real chance with the big club (and not due to trades, like David Cone).

BUT NOT BEFORE MORE TOP 100!!

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Sep 3, 2008 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea, I apologize for that

Classes started up. I’ve got the next one halfway done, but that also means there is half still to write.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Sep 3, 2008 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't tell from that sentence

whether you’re a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty type.

Although I imagine anyone who’s a Royals fan is, paradoxically, an extreme optimist but a Glass-empty type.

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Sep 3, 2008 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

BP Mentions Kila today -- hopefully it will us another fanshot space from being taken up

Goldstein’s Future Shock on September Callups:

Kila Ka’aihue, 1B: A native of Hawaii, Ka’aihue entered the year as no more than an organizational player. He’d spent six years in the Royals system, repeated a pair of levels, and has career averages of .252/.368/.415. This season, beginning his third year at Double-A Ka’aihue exploded, batting .314/.463/.624 for Northwest Arkansas and opening scouts’ eyes even more with a .316/.439/.640 performance in 33 games following a promotion to Triple-A that included 11 home runs in 114 at-bats. With 37 home runs, he has displayed game-breaking power, and he also led the minor leagues with 104 walks, making him a consistent on-base threat as well. The one aspect of his game that has talent evaluators suddenly seeing him as a legitimate big-league first baseman is his ability to make contact, as it’s hard to find hitters who can slug 37 home runs against only 67 strikeouts. With a good showing this month, he could be in line to take over at first base, giving the Royals an excuse to never again allow Billy Butler to wear any glove other than a hitter’s model.

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

by devil_fingers on Sep 3, 2008 2:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope he's mocking the Royals reluctance to let the Butler play first with that last line.

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

by devil_fingers on Sep 3, 2008 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He isn't mocking the Royals; he's mocking Butler's defense

All along, he’s talked about how horrible Butler’s defense is and that he should really only play DH. That being said, I doubt he’s watched Butler play much in the field since he got to the majors. I think he’s going by minor league reputation more than the anything that has happened this season (or last season for that matter).

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

by NYRoyal on Sep 3, 2008 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder

really, how much worse Butler’s defense 1st for a whole year would be than Gload’s. Would it even cost 1 win?

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

by devil_fingers on Sep 3, 2008 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know

I don’t think first base defense is very important and of course hitting at that position is MUCH more important. But I really do think Gload’s overall defense is much better than Butler’s. The advanced defensive metrics might not reveal it, but they are not reliable when you have small sample sizes (and Butler sample is very small). Also, I think these metrics only deal with how a fielder handles batted balls, as opposed to handling throws from other fielders. And I think that is a big defensive difference between Gload and Butler which is important at that position. Gload really has been spectacular at picking bad throws from infielders (and there are a hell of a lot from this group). Butler isn’t awful at it, but Gload is a lot better.

So, I think Gload’s defense is much better. How many would that translate into over the course of a full season? I would guess 1-2 (2 might be a stretch). And, of course, the difference between Butler and Gload’s bat going forward is significant more than 1-2 wins.

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

by NYRoyal on Sep 3, 2008 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs