Midafternoon Royals Links: Even Gibbons Thinks the Ship is Sinking
It's weeks like this last one that explain why so many Royals blogs seem to drop dead without warning during the middle of the season. Though in the short term a terrible Royal-sized meltdown will produce a flurry of activity, which is what we're seeing now.
Royals-related links up top, general baseball links below, with a few surprises mixed in. Also, please note the launch of SBN's newest baseball blog, MLB Daily Dish, which has hit the ground running with near-constant posting of rumors, trade talk, etc. As always, feel free to shot me an email if you have a link you'd like to suggest.
Oh, I'm also going to begin posting Braves-related minor league links as well. I think you know why.
- Royals Authority goes negative: What We Learned - Royals Authority
- (Not necessarily) The Top 10 things broken about the Royals so far, Part 1 | Mellinger's Blog on the Royals and Baseball
- Sports Radio 810 WHB - Wins don't attract fans, T-shirt Tuesdays do!
- Royal Reflections: Royals Still Searching for Answers
- The Pipeline: Royals on the Farm 6/19 & 6/20
- How to explain Brian Bannister | Upon Further Review & How to explain Brian Bannister: Part II | Upon Further Review (The Star's really doing great things baseball-wise.)
- 2007 Draft Class (Rounds 6-15) | Kings of Kauffman | A Kansas City Royals Blog
- RR Watches the 4th Inning Sunday
- How Neanderthals met a grisly fate: devoured by humans | Science | The Observer
- Royally Speaking: Notes from Wilmington
- Royally Speaking: Sending Davies down the right choice
- Royals on Radio etc.: Why to, why not to, fire Hillman
- Royal Blues: Something Unexpected
- Royalscentricity: Were Those Four Royals Wins Just Another Cruel Tease?
- Haha, Jeff Pearlman thinks he's found feeble offense. We'll show him feeble offense | Mellinger's Blog on the Royals and Baseball
- Surprisingly, "stripper memoir" is a pretty rigid genre. More evidence that my dissertation topic was a mistake.
- Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: 6/19 - Talking Chop
- Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: 6/20 - Talking Chop
- Walking Pujols - Viva El Birdos
- Indians Ready to Deal DeRosa - MLB Daily Dish
- Prospect Retro: Ben Zobrist - Minor League Ball
- Most Over Hyped Players - Beyond the Box Score
- Baseball Prospectus | Events | Chat with Marc Normandin
- LC: How's Kerry Wood Working Out? - Driveline Mechanics
- It Might Be Dangerous... You Go First: Roster Moves in Bulk
- The Punto/Harris Decision | FanGraphs Baseball
- House of Georges: Baseball In The Daytime: June 19 2009
- Discussion: Which Team Has The Best Young Core?: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com
- Endy Chavez has a torn ACL - Lookout Landing
- Felix and Fastball Percentage - Lookout Landing
- Ordonez benched to save money? - SweetSpot by Rob Neyer - ESPN
- A minor sleeper: Whit Robbons - Twinkie Town
- Take it easy with your colleagues -- The Hardball Times
- Chrissy's Outfit of the Day
0 recs |
55 comments
Comments
Another batch of links
and still no interview with Jim Wong.
by Gopherballs on Jun 22, 2009 2:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
SHEA HILLENBRAND NOW!
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jun 22, 2009 2:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
if Dayton couldn't sign him for 3/36 this offseason
I’m pretty sure he won’t sign now
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by devil_fingers on Jun 22, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, apparently nobody else is willing...
"Now…put that in your [BLEEP]ing pipe and smoke it." -Hal McRae
"I was doing this when BJ was in his father's nutsack." -Renzo Gracie
by Sweep_the_Leg on Jun 22, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wily Mo Pena is now available
He is a poor, poor, poor man’s Jose Guillen. So if we trade JoGui, we have a ready replacement.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jun 22, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A guy bet me once that Pena would end up with more career HR's than Dunn
heh
by marbotty on Jun 22, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he could still surprise ya!
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by devil_fingers on Jun 23, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
For a team supposedly extremely worried about how poor the defense is
I can’t for the life of me figure out why they’re willing to play Willie Bloomquist in center field, when they’ve got a guy who played there his entire career playing in LF.
by Top Ramen on Jun 22, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The organization hates DJ
I cannot find another explanation.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jun 22, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sadface
Yet at this point, exactly what other conclusion is there?
"Do they have people that tall in Mexico?"
by NHZ on Jun 22, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
When Moore came in and immediately traded for Gathright
I figured he’s follow through and trade DeJesus to fill other holes.
Then, when he traded for Crisp, I figured he’d follow through and trade DeJesus to fill other holes.
And yet, here we are — running Willie Bloomquist and a somewhat overmatched Mitch Maier out in CF. Oh well, at least the LF defense is good!
by Top Ramen on Jun 22, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
HEY
Maier made one HELL of a catch in the 1st inning on sunday…that play was ridiculous and I stood up and cheered…great play, while giving up the body running into that chain link fence out there
Pujols takes out "I" in BIG and "A" in MAC, previously considered to be an unyielding, consonant threat
by DESTROYER on Jun 23, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
too bad he didnt even attempt to catch the double that bounced two feet up on the wall
that put the game away in zacks last start…instead he jogged and stopped 15 feet from the wall…conceding a double
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jun 23, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
While DDJ's range has definitelyl taken a hit over the years
his UZR/150 in LF so far on the year (SSS warning) is +14.1, which certainly implies a guy who could still be at least adequate in center.
Not really relevant (although tomorrow’s Driveline article will have a bit on this) here… I’m just too tired to rant about Willie B.’s “versatility” and so on at thispoint.
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by devil_fingers on Jun 22, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Uh oh
I hope I did not steal your driveline thunder with my comment below.
by Gopherballs on Jun 22, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Driveline Thunder" would be an awesome name for a band
but no, it’ll be something else tomorrow, if I can get it written decently.
And Langerhans stole my heart last fall, only to have Dayton Moore throw it on the ground and stomp on it when he failed to pick up (for “free” on waivers!) one of the few ex-Braves worth acquiring.
(The other was Russell Branyan. Oh well. I’m sure the Royals are just as good with Crisp and Jacobs as they would have been with Branyan, Langerhans, Nunez, and Ramirez).
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by devil_fingers on Jun 22, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wasn't Driveline Thunder the band on "Lost"?
One of the other (nearly) free talents I liked this offseason was Matt Murton, who is now posting a .500+ wOBA in elevation-inflated Colorado Springs. That obviously will not continue, but ZIPS rest of the year projection has him at .347 wOBA, and for his MLB career, he has been a slightly above average fielder in the corners (albeit with zero style points).
by Gopherballs on Jun 22, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Driveshaft
"Do they have people that tall in Mexico?"
by NHZ on Jun 22, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Free Matt Murton!
Murton and Quintanilla for Jimmy Gobble!!!!
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jun 22, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As a Royals fan, we all should have learned by now that there is only one thing to do...
"Now…put that in your [BLEEP]ing pipe and smoke it." -Hal McRae
"I was doing this when BJ was in his father's nutsack." -Renzo Gracie
by Sweep_the_Leg on Jun 22, 2009 3:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
wow, is that real?
cue theme song from Deliverance
by marbotty on Jun 22, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the 610 squawkers say that
Trey talking to Tony for 20 minutes in the Cards dugout before the game wasn’t cool
by BHWick on Jun 22, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes
MLB managers are akin to street gang leaders. In order to keep their street cred, they cannot be seen fraternizing with other gang members/leaders unless it is merely an elaborate attempt to “smoke them fools.”
While that picture is not cool (no doubt Trey will be unable to Google himself for the next 20 years without seeing 157 versions of that photo popping up on the first few pages), I fail to see the problem with some pre-game socializing with the “enemy.” Pro coaches in almost every other sport do it (most prominently the NFL). Players do it. It might even be considered “cordial” and exhibiting some “professional courtesy.”
"Now…put that in your [BLEEP]ing pipe and smoke it." -Hal McRae
"I was doing this when BJ was in his father's nutsack." -Renzo Gracie
by Sweep_the_Leg on Jun 22, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But they dont do it on the other team's bench..
I think it is wrong and embarrassing
But I also think it isn’t a HUGE DEAL
Bloomquist. God? Or just an illusion? You be the judge.
by focs on Jun 22, 2009 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I nominate this as the next Caption Contest pic!!!!
by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Jun 22, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the possibilities are endless
TDLR: “Trey, is that a banana in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?”
"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell
by buddyball on Jun 23, 2009 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ex-Royals news
Twins are calling up P Bob Keppel. You don’t find too many guys our age named “Bob” anymore.
I like Bob back in the day. That was like, five years ago.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jun 22, 2009 4:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
it's hard to believe he got another chance
When can we lose to him?
"Do they have people that tall in Mexico?"
by NHZ on Jun 22, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well, we play Minnesota in a week
so we’ll see if we face him…..i’m guessing he’s a bullpen guy for them, since their rotation is pretty filthy (as in good & efficient) with Liriano,Blackburn,Slowey,Baker,and now Perkins.
by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on Jun 22, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Liriano's actually below average this year
But yeah, it’s a pretty good rotation.
"Do they have people that tall in Mexico?"
by NHZ on Jun 22, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Looking for something to watch tonight?
Louis Coleman, future Royal, is starting for LSU in the CWS finals versus Texas.
I’m proud of myself – I resisted the urge to label him “Louis Coleman, future Royals bust”
(Actually, I am quite high on Coleman’s potential as a future pro)
Mr Glass, this is a pro sports team, not a retail store - run it like one!
by loyal2sdad on Jun 22, 2009 4:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The way this week is going
Coleman will blow out his arm on live national television.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jun 22, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He isn't pitching well.
It seems like when Texas makes contact, they’re getting bombs.
- W. Bloomquist homered to deep center
- P. Earth explodes
by JobDDT on Jun 22, 2009 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
CF Help
With Crisp out (and DDJ apparently not an option), why not take a look at a player outside the organization? The outfield-rich Nationals really have no use for devil_fingers-approved Ryan Langerhans, who is productively biding his time in AAA (279/383/508, .385 wOBA) while waiting for the Nats to flip him to another team needing OF depth for a player to be named later.
At 29, Langerhans is no prospect or long-term answer, but he can get on-base, hits left-handed, and can probably still play an acceptable CF. He is basically the player now that we hope Maier might develop into. Langerhans would give the team an upgrade over the other CF options for the rest of this year, and with an extended audition, might play his way into a role as fourth outfielder for next year.
by Gopherballs on Jun 22, 2009 4:19 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
I have liked Langerhans for awhile
For whatever reason, he’s played a lot of 1B this year in the minors.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jun 22, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Nationals are wicker smaht
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by devil_fingers on Jun 22, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
as evidenced by their acquisitions of Horacio Ramirez and Robert Meiklejohn MacDougal
to bolster their bullpen
by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on Jun 22, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not much to add, but does he really count as being "outside the organization?"

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by devil_fingers on Jun 22, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I completely forgot the Braves connection
I not only buried the lead, I forgot the gravestone.
by Gopherballs on Jun 22, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why why why
Did the Nationals acquire so many outfielders?? And then, of course, bury a guy with a chance to be productive in AAA.
"Do they have people that tall in Mexico?"
by NHZ on Jun 22, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
they knew their pitchers would be serving up lots of hard hit fly balls?
and they needed the speed/agility of Dukes,Wilie Harris,Kearns,Milledge,Willingham & Dunn?
by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on Jun 22, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jim Bowden knew that outfielders are the true currency of baseball
by Gopherballs on Jun 22, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
All geniuses and innovators have been cruelly and unjustly persecuted
by those who feared what they didn’t understand. His theories on signing-bonus-skimming are also some groundbreaking work.
"Now…put that in your [BLEEP]ing pipe and smoke it." -Hal McRae
"I was doing this when BJ was in his father's nutsack." -Renzo Gracie
by Sweep_the_Leg on Jun 22, 2009 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let's go Tribe
Has a really great piece on why the Indians suck.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jun 22, 2009 4:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Completely off topic...
My copy of “Baseball Between the Numbers: Why Everything you know about the game is Wrong”
And Christ I didn’t expect to get a book the size of a Michael Crichton novel
Nothing from Nothing leads to... Your 2009 Kansas City Royals
by averagegatsby on Jun 22, 2009 4:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
as in I just got it
Nothing from Nothing leads to... Your 2009 Kansas City Royals
by averagegatsby on Jun 22, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
On other news...
Mike Jacobs and Leo Nunez are currently tied at 0.4 runs above replacement level.
This will be fun to follow for the rest of the season.
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by devil_fingers on Jun 22, 2009 5:09 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
A flawed system
Jacobs has already hit 10 home runs, so he’s got to be worth at least 10 runs on your little magical statistical mamby-jahambo scale.
"Now…put that in your [BLEEP]ing pipe and smoke it." -Hal McRae
"I was doing this when BJ was in his father's nutsack." -Renzo Gracie
by Sweep_the_Leg on Jun 22, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
and Nunez playes in the inferior National league, so his rar should be at 60%
Nothing from Nothing leads to... Your 2009 Kansas City Royals
by averagegatsby on Jun 22, 2009 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That got rec'd for the
Young Guns reference
REGULATORS!!!
by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Jun 22, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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