Our long national nightmare is over - Tony Pena Jr. is gone
by RoyalsRetro on Jul 16, 2009 5:29 PM EDT
74 comments
After thrilling us with his glove for three seasons, Tony Pena Jr. has been designated for assignment. Tony was a tremendous "ballplayer" who played the right way, never complained about all the playing time he was getting despite historically awful hitting statistics, and as great as he was as a ballplayer, was an even better person. He was just twenty-eight.
Worst OPS+, MLB History, min. 870 PAs
1. Bill Bergen 1901-1911 - 21
2. Angel Salazar 1983 - 1988 - 36
3. Luis Gomez 1974-1981 - 40
4. Mario Mendoza 1974-1982 - 41
5. Jerry Zimmerman 1961-1968 - 42
6. Ray Berres 1934-1945 - 43
7. Fritz Buelow 1901-1907 - 43
8. Tony Pena Jr. 2006-2009 - 44
Mitch Maier was sent to Omaha and Alex Gordon and Yuniesky Betancourt were activated from the disabled list. Gil Meche may be placed on the disabled list. Brian Bannister will start Friday, Zack Greinke will start Saturday and Luke Hochevar will start Sunday.
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I am way more pissed that Gil is DL bound
Then happy that TPJ is gone.
by kcbottom9th on Jul 16, 2009 5:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I edited the post
I haven’t heard confirmation that Meche is DL bound, only that he may go on the DL, according to Greg Schaum at 610.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jul 16, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I almost feel bad for TPJ...
best of luck to him. It was not his fault that he was put into a position where he was doomed to failure. He’ll now go back to what he should be doing. Sometimes backup IF, sometimes AAA shortstop, sometimes unemployed.
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jul 16, 2009 5:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
mostly relief pitching?
"The life of a (Royals) fan must be lived forward but can only be understood backward" -- Kierkegaard (more or less)
by benfunke on Jul 16, 2009 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm being completely honest here... why not?
It’s not like he has anything to lose. I’d try and make the switch if I were him. Hitting is clearly not his thing.
by Soria's Unibrow on Jul 16, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think it really might be a matter how long long is needed to secure an mlb pension for life....
if he’s close, i’d stick with SS to try to guarantee getting paid for life…if not, why not try to be good at something.
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jul 16, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's a good point
but i also think he could be a real useful tool in the NL if he could pitch and field SS. he could be a late-innings defensive replacement/double switch guy
"The life of a (Royals) fan must be lived forward but can only be understood backward" -- Kierkegaard (more or less)
by benfunke on Jul 16, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that'd be super badass....
and might make him go from one of (now) my least favorite players to one of my favorites…assuming that NL team isnt the Cardinals
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jul 16, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think it really might be a matter how long long is needed to secure an mlb pension for life….
The requirement of remaining on a major league roster for a minimum period of time — most people remember its original length of four years — is a thing of the past. He qualified for a pension, like every other major leaguer now does, his first day in the show.
by 2X2L on Jul 16, 2009 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ahhh....so does the amount just increase with service time?
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jul 16, 2009 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, with “credited service”.
The pension plan is laid out in full in this document.
by 2X2L on Jul 17, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So how do I go about getting a single at bat in The Show?
FREE MONEY!
by AxDxMx on Jul 16, 2009 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mahay should give him advice
maybe we’ll see him in Australia in a few months.
by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on Jul 16, 2009 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
IT'S OVER BOD-EE!
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jul 16, 2009 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He did always seem a nice guy to me
I got his autograph last year, and he smiled and high fived my son and so on.
He has that over Yunefi at least.
by kcbottom9th on Jul 16, 2009 5:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
DM having a press conference right now
Sounds very defensive. “We knew Jacobs would strike out a lot.” “Willie Bloomquist, which, might I add, also drew a lot of criticism as a free agent signing, has been a gamer for us.”
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jul 16, 2009 5:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Please tell me he didn't say gamer
Please
by kcbottom9th on Jul 16, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He should realize that he had a terrible offseason
When he has to hang his hat on Willie Bloomquist being less than terrible
Unless I'm wrong...
by Top Ramen on Jul 16, 2009 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah that's pathetic
Why can’t he just say, “I fucked up, Jacobs sucks and with the return of Gordon, he will no longer be in the lineup.”
by GobbleforCyoung on Jul 16, 2009 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was also defensive
on the 810 Border Patrol the other morning. It seems as if the first time he isn’t getting a free pass in KC is starting to wear on him a little.
Yeah, it was a stupid screen name.
by CentralChamps2009 on Jul 16, 2009 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
anyone would be defesive if they had to put up with the vicious KC media for 3 years!
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jul 16, 2009 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
not to mention those vicious, bloodthirsty Chicago Bloggers
"The life of a (Royals) fan must be lived forward but can only be understood backward" -- Kierkegaard (more or less)
by benfunke on Jul 17, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now what am I going to do
With all those TPJ bobble-heads I’ve been hoarding?
Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!
by cmkeller on Jul 16, 2009 6:15 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Its alright Ryan
you have a new paper tiger to prop up.
by raefzilla on Jul 16, 2009 6:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That's really not a flattering portrait
Between the many chins and dazed expression, he looks fat and confused
by Soria's Unibrow on Jul 16, 2009 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
His Eyes Follow
You.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jul 16, 2009 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hold up...
surely you mean we pawned him off on some sucker for a couple prospects?
by PopeSoria on Jul 16, 2009 6:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
some good ones too
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jul 16, 2009 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Best of luck to you TPJ
the funniest thing about this particular signature is that by the time you realise it doesn't say anything it's too late to stop reading it!
by ratherfantastic on Jul 16, 2009 6:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
There’s a little team and in 2007, they get Tony Pena Jr… and everybody in the village says, “how wonderful. we have Tony Pena Jr” And the Zen master says, “we’ll see.”
Two years later Tony Pena Jr is the worst hitter in baseball and everyone in the village says, “how terrible.” And the Zen master says, “We’ll see.”
Then, zombies invade the earth and eat the brains of everybody who can hit major league pitching and all the young Royals are gone… except Tony Pena Jr, because he sucks. and everybody in the village says, “How wonderful.” Now the Zen master says, “We’ll see.”
Enough is Enough - Fire Trey Hillman
by BHWick on Jul 16, 2009 7:09 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
+1
I love that part of “Charlie Wilson’s War”. And it is quite apt.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jul 16, 2009 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I Always Thought
He could cut down on his swing and become just a bad hitter, not a ridiculous one. He swings as hard as Prince Fielder. Apparently it’s not in the cards for him. I don’t think he’d ever have played baseball if not for his dad.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jul 16, 2009 7:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That's exactly the part that pisses me off
He always has that huge swing. People say “oh, he seems like a nice guy, great fielder, etc” but it seemed to me he is just like we’re hearing of Berroacourt in that he doesn’t try to improve. Maybe we just never heard the behind the scenes story. But, have you EVER detected any attempted change in his swing? Not me. I have always assumed he just thought his swing was fine and he was just not going to work on it at all. That’s a major attitude problem – if it’s the case. How “deserving” (due to dear old dad perhaps) does he need to feel to just blow off the opportunity to at least try to improve and STAY in MLB?
Even from his lover, Ryan, we never heard any stories about how hard TPJ is working in the cage trying to change his swing and improve, or whatever. Never. I guarantee if he WAS doing that Ryan would never have ceased bragging about it. Am I right?
Fuck This Team. Period.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
by kabrink on Jul 16, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i dont hold him sucking at baseball against him as a person
you never hear anything bad about him other than his baseball skills…good luck to him…and i really hope someone in the organization approaches him about a change to the mound…but im sure they wont
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jul 16, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's not what I mean.
It’s ok to suck at baseball. I suck at it. But, to be a marginal MLB player and sit around in satisfaction and not TRY to improve and help yourself AND your team is totally different. Again, I’m only suspecting that he did this but that’s based on some kind of evidence – his swing never seemed altered in any way, ever.
Fuck This Team. Period.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
by kabrink on Jul 16, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
do we know that the royals tried?
b/c he’s not the only one who’s been here and has made no adjustment…at this point im just as prone to believing that the royals were fine with his approach as to believe that he was just stubborn/lazy
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jul 16, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, I never heard anything about him being lazy
anyway, at 26/26 or whatever, he’s probably adopted that swing as the only way he could hit (horribly) in the minors.
I know there are cases where players just don’t try hard enough, but given the extreme level of athletic ability that even guys who never make it out of rookie ball have, I think it’s pretty sage to assume that just about every player is working as just about hard as they can and know how to to be good unless we have good evidence otherwise.
TPJ’s a good athelete, with good defensive talent (although he wasn’t the defensive God that the FO thought he was or that he needs to be useful with that bat) who can’t hit and could probably pitch.
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jul 16, 2009 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's a very good point
there doesn’t seem to be any accountability within the Royals and Hillman just doesn’t seem to be the guy that can get on people and make them “get to work”
Fuck This Team. Period.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
by kabrink on Jul 16, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also delighted that Maier and his .230 OBP over the past month is gone
Our team is better without these two horrible baseball players on our team.
by GobbleforCyoung on Jul 16, 2009 7:56 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
So
when is Davies going to reappear? I haven’t kept track of his performance.
Fuck This Team. Period.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
by kabrink on Jul 16, 2009 8:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
he started off great the first few starts,
then has slowly come back to earth, but still steady, he is better than AAA thats been decided in my mind.
"I can resist everything but temptation." - oscar wylde
by cfizzle on Jul 16, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
TPJ
I can’t wait to see which team picks him up!
Seriously, good luck to him. I didn’t think the Royals should have had him on the roster at all this season (or probably last), but it’s hard to not root for a guy. Hopefully he either magically picks it up with the bat enough to be useful to someone or becomes a relief pitcher of note.
He isn’t cut out to be a major league position player, but he was actually a decent pickup for 2007, his peak season, where he somehow had a higher OPS (I think) than he ever had even in the minors.
As a tribute to TPJ’s career year in 2007, here are three other players he was equal or greater than in WAR that season: (from FanGraphs).
Tony Pena, Jr: : 1.7
Yuniesky Betancourt: 1.7 (also his peak!)
Ian Kinsler: 1.7 (not quite his peak)
Bill Hall: 1.7
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jul 16, 2009 9:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That will be the Royals
I think there’s about a 5% chance he doesn’t accept a minor league assignment in Omaha in 10 days (unless I’ve completely missed some rule preventing that). I also harbor the impression that he will show up in KC again someday.
Yeah, it was a stupid screen name.
by CentralChamps2009 on Jul 16, 2009 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Someday = September 1st
Unless I'm wrong...
by Top Ramen on Jul 16, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My TPJ memorial post.
It was you, TPJ. It was always you.
by 2X2L on Jul 16, 2009 10:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The only pitchers to give up hits to TPJ this year
1. Andy Sonnanstine (now in the minors)……….weak single through 3B
2. Carl Pavano (need I say more)……double down RF line.
3. Jeremy Sowers (2-7 record with an ERA above 5.75)……….single to RF
4. Nick Blackburn……single to LF
5. Justin Masterson……broken bat flare to CF.
……and a special treat……..the only ones to allow HR to TPJ in his career
1. Last year—Garrett Olson
2. 2007: Jose Contreras
3. 2007: Jamie Moyer
4. 2006 (with ATL): Shawn Chacon—a pinch-hit HR
……..that’s quite a list. From your random replacement-ish starters (Sowers/Sonnanstine/Olson), a white guy born in Jamaica, a Cuban defector of unknown age (Contreras), the ageless Moyer, the immortal Carl Pavano, and a black guy born in Alaska that choked out his GM in Houston (Chacon).
by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on Jul 16, 2009 11:05 PM EDT reply actions 5 recs
wow, this is just amazing to see through pictures
soon to change name to, "The Not So Curious Case of Benjamin Bratt"
by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Jul 17, 2009 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You need to give some love to two special men
Down 5-4, Scott Downs intentionally walked Tony Pena Jr on April 25th, 2008 to load the bases for David DeJesus. DDJ knocked in a run.
The guy who made the decision to intentionally walk TPJ is now our bench coach.
Zach Miner and Ricky Romero walked TPJ this year, unintentionally
Enough is Enough - Fire Trey Hillman
by BHWick on Jul 17, 2009 2:32 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Romero's control must have been haywire that night
He’s been really good this year.
by AxDxMx on Jul 17, 2009 3:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
WOW the connections..........
unbelievable, and not flattering
soon to change name to, "The Not So Curious Case of Benjamin Bratt"
by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Jul 17, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Gibby was just playing the percentages."
“Its what smart managers do to win ballgames.”
-Trey
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
by RoyalsRetro on Jul 17, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Gibby got confused
about how fractions work and had them inverted.
Fuck This Team. Period.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
by kabrink on Jul 17, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
is there any possibility that he will be piked up by any team?
"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell
by buddyball on Jul 16, 2009 11:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I haven't felt this way since October 3, 1993.
I still can’t believe George is gone.
by Black and Gold on Jul 16, 2009 11:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
looks like he'll be joining RR cult hero
Luis Hernandez in Omaha…
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/wsfb/news/index.jsp?action=locate&pid=434682
Kansas City Royals - rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic since 1994.
by Home Run Tony Cogan on Jul 17, 2009 3:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow! How did Luis Hernandez sneak through waivers?
Dodged a bullet there!
by Soria's Unibrow on Jul 17, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's already on the Royals
who else would think he was worth acquiring?
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jul 17, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is cause for CELEBRATION!
Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.
by 306008 on Jul 17, 2009 11:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
prep the plaza
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jul 17, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
So.
If Julio Lugo becomes a free agent what do you guys think we could have picked him up for? I know he’s older but I’m guessing he would be far cheaper and just as good as Yuneifi Berroacourt.
Then again, we seem to have a real penchant for bidding against phantom teams for the services of old guys.
Fuck This Team. Period.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
by kabrink on Jul 17, 2009 4:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Julio Lugo?
He already makes $9M a year, maybe we should offer 3/$36??
by AxDxMx on Jul 17, 2009 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He's getting released.
Fuck This Team. Period.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
by kabrink on Jul 17, 2009 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well I'm not gonna wish TPJ well...
Fuck that. Good riddance.
Your hitting is/was an embarrasment.
The one good thing I can think of is when you made Pudge look stupid striking him out.
Have fun on the T-Bones bench.
1977 & 1989 Royals - We shoulda won it all dammit
by Trey_has_no_pulse on Jul 19, 2009 8:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
BTW
That last pic of Ryan is “Gold, Jerry, Gold!”
Fuck This Team. Period.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
by kabrink on Jul 19, 2009 5:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is that Dr. N ick
in the background of the first picture in the post?
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jul 19, 2009 9:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
nope
that’s the 3rd base dugout, which is for the visitors
by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on Jul 20, 2009 6:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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