Goldstein on Hosmer

by Freneau on Apr 30, 2009 5:11 PM EDT

Attending a doubleheader at Kane County in A-ball two weeks ago, I got to see 2008 first-round pick Eric Hosmer have just about as bad a day as one can have for Burlington, as the first baseman failed to put a ball in play, going 0-for-5 with a walk and five strikeouts. His 5-for-12 run over the last three games has finally raised his average above the Mendoza line at .207/.299/.241, but he's struck out 21 times in 58 at-bats and has yet to register an extra-base hit in almost three weeks of play. Scouts attending the game were puzzled, but not overly concerned, since many of them remember 2007 first-round pick Mike Moustakas' introduction to the Midwest League last season; in April 2008, Moustakas hit just .190/.253/.226 in 21 games with just one extra-base hit, but he was the league's best hitter during the second half of the season, batting .321/.392/.557 after the All-Star break. Patience, folks.

As a whole, the Burlington team has been a wreck offensively, averaging just 3.7 runs per game, which actually seems high when one sees that the Bees are hitting .205/.271/.300 as a team. Take out outfielder Nick Francis, who by himself has nearly 20 percent of his team's hits, and the rest of the squad is hitting just .187 with 127 strikeouts in 477 at-bats.

Nick Francis NOW!

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Comments

Great its nice to see our entire organization lacks plate discipline at all levels

Dayton Moore’s fascination with raw power ruined our chance to select Buster Posey who’s currently OPSing 1.1 with 20 RBI’s in 80 AB

by GobbleforCyoung on Apr 30, 2009 5:02 PM EDT reply actions

LMAO @ the suggestion that the Royals should have drafted Buster Posey

You really are hilarious. Keep up the good work.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Apr 30, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Why is that so ludicrous?

If he’s a good college hitter, what would the difference be?

by AxDxMx on Apr 30, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

What would the difference be between what?

Between an elite HS hitter and a college catcher? Between a clear top 3 guy in the draft and a 5-10 guy? Between an 18-year-old and a 21-year-old? I don’t even know where to begin. The other thing that is both ludicrous and laughable is determining how good a player is by how he’s hitting in the first month of his professional career.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Apr 30, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Agreed on the first month thing

I thought you were saying that drafting Posey at all was completely laughable for any team in the 1st round.

by AxDxMx on Apr 30, 2009 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions

No, no, no

But to think that he should have been drafted over Hosmer or Smoak is near insanity.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Apr 30, 2009 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I love the pick of Hosmer

and it is just early struggles but Posey’s salary demands were one of the reasons he dropped. The Rays were looking at him at #1. Posey is hitting much better than most thought he would so far though.

I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.

by kcscoliny on Apr 30, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

College catchers

Worst….draft….investment….ever….

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Apr 30, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah that Matt Wieters guy...

really sucks.

/sarcasm

by XBic on May 1, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd be seriously upset

if they were seriously talking with other teams about Hosmer and Moustakas. That’s insane at this point.

by MkeRoyal on Apr 30, 2009 5:57 PM EDT reply actions

They aren't and they won't (at least not at any time soon)

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Apr 30, 2009 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

They can't trade Hosmer this season

just to free half your mind and I would be SHOCKED if they traded Moose.

I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.

by kcscoliny on Apr 30, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm still worried about Hos with the LHP

It was 10 K and 0 walks in 19 atbats… didn’t check tonight…

and RHP it’s not a problem… 10 BB and 10 K…. But the LHP, that is a little scary right now.

The 2009 Official You Got Rocked by the Royals and Sent to the Minors List
1. Josh Rupe TEX April 17

by 306008 on May 1, 2009 12:01 AM EDT reply actions

I think it is pretty common for even top prospects to struggle against pitchers of the same handedness early in their careers

I’m not going to get worried about anything with Hosmer until July at the earliest.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on May 1, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

especially lefties

I’m guessing they don’t see that many LHPs in HS.

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 May 1, 2009 8:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Great night for Eric last night

2-3 2-2b 2 Bb 3 Rbi hopefully the start to something great. Last 10 games .265 with a .418 OBP, not too shabby.

I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.

by kcscoliny on May 1, 2009 10:04 AM EDT reply actions

he'll be in KC by July

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

by Matt Klaassen on May 1, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

No HR's ?

BUST!

The Allard Baird of incisive internet discourse.

by kcbottom9th on May 1, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Buster Posey is hitting like .370 with 5 homeruns and more BB's and SO's

and he’s playing in Class A advanced AND is only 2 years older than Hosmer.

Moore strikes again!

by GobbleforCyoung on May 1, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions

He IS 2 years older

and has played against higher competition so his learning curve is less. Hosmer has the higher upside longterm. Will either achieve their ultimate upside? Who knows but I haven’t heard any prospect hounds say that GMDM made a mistake. In fact all I’ve heard is how great Hosmer is gonna be. OVERREACTING to one month of minor league ball is a little ridiculous. This month last year would’ve claimed Moustakas was a total bust and last I looked he was the first teenager to win a Home Run title in the midwest league since Prince Fielder.

Posey is playing in the Cal League. Why don’t you go read a review of that league and see what guys in the past have done in that league. If Posey can carry that OPS throughout the season then I will be impressed but it is very early. Butler carried a 1000+ OPS for a full season in the Cal League with 25 HR’s. It’s a very hitter friendly league and Bumgarners start in that league is far more impressive than Poseys is.

I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.

by kcscoliny on May 1, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

That's fine

I don’t like Moore’s philosphy on drafting HS because they have more raw skills and the organization wants the first and only crack on developing them.

I think college players have a better chance to reach the Majors while we still have Meche

by GobbleforCyoung on May 9, 2009 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions

That's fine but this team and Moore

need a longterm philosophy and taking the best possible players is the best for that philosophy. All players offer risk and for every good college player I can name you an elite talented athlete on that same team.

SF Lincecum – Cain
TB Longoria – Upton
Mil Braun- Fielder
Bal Wieters – Markakis

I think people just feel more comfortable taking a college player because they feel it is more of a sure thing when in reality it is still a crapshoot.

I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.

by kcscoliny on May 10, 2009 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions