we are actually connected to 6 of the top 10, not 5 – if you allow me to count Chris Truby, who the Royals signed as a FA going into 2004, but never played for KC.

OBP is overrated. Just trust the process.

Clinkscale, who’s opinion I respect, was talking about B Pena’s defense after the game Sunday. Basically, he thinks the Royals should choose to keep either Olivo or Buck, and make B Pena the backup, precisely because of his poor defense.

I think the consensus is that Pena would outhit either of them easily, but his defense would more than offset that added offense, thus making Pena the more viable backup option.

I know there is a lot of discontent here for Olivo & Buck – but both hit approximately at league average OPS, and both do one thing well defensively while not doing another thing well at all.

Bottom line, to me, is the team has FAR greater glaring weaknesses that SCREAM to be fixed before even looking at the catcher spot. I certainly wouldn’t object to the Royals jettisoning one of the 2 and giving the backup job to Pena – we could sure use the payroll flexibility that would add, and Olivo & Buck are redundant, to say the least.

Personally, I’d dump Olivo, if for no other reason than I am tired of watching him swing at everything that moves and allowing umpteen WPs and PBs. Not saying Buck is much better; but he just seems to not annoy me nearly as much as Olivo does.

I am absolutely shocked to see Shawon Dunston’s name on that list repeatedly. That man never saw a low outside pitch in the dirt that he didn’t like