The Royals 2010 roster

by Peterman700 on Sep 21, 2009 2:33 PM EDT Comment 57 comments

The Royals season is over. We all know it, but there is still plenty of things to discuss regarding this team. The Royals going into next year have several key situations to address. Moore will have several key decisions to make to improve the team and put some talent around Greinke and co.

Here is my breakdown of the Royals roster and suggested improvements. Obviously the bullpen wasn't nearly as good as Moore had hoped.

Coco Crisp - I think the Royals should keep him. There aren't many leadoff type players like Crisp out there and when healthy, Crisp is a solid defender, tough out and it's really nice to project him in the outfield next season. I think the Royals would have been a far better club with him healthy all season.

Jose Guillen - The Royals need to somehow get out of this contract. He has next season remaining at over 12 million which could be used in other areas that I will touch on. Guillen is just not worth that money, and he is potentially blocking a more productive, healthier player. Dump.

Gil Meche - Yes Meche has good stuff, but he is erratic...and not worth that big contract. The Royals are likely going to be stuck with Gil for the next year or two. So, I expect Meche will be back in 2010.

First Base - Billy Butler, Mike Jacobs and Kila Ka'aihue - Butler has emerged as a solid hitter. I can only imagine what Butler could do with men on base. He is however not a good defender, and the Royals will need to find someone via free agency or trade, that can play the position. A guy I like is Travis Ishikawa...and I think he might be available as the Giants have several younger, more promising players on the come at that position. Mike Jacobs as a DH is ok - but that average and k ratio are brutal. At 29 next season, Jacobs may be what he is - little upside and 20 homer potential. I think the Royals are better served playing Kila at first all year and rolling in Ishikawa or another first bagger. Butler had 9 errors here, I guess he could improve. Change is needed here.

The middle infield - Some questions about Mike Aviles and his durability. He's been injured quite a bit and he's just begun. Betancourt? Really? Not sure I am sold. Callaspo seems to have locked down second base. The Royals need a SS - One with some hitting ability. Jeff Bianchi has been toiling around for awhile....can he make the club?

Outfield - This is the Royals biggest area of concern. I pointed out the Crisp situation and he should be retained. I also feel that Mark Teahen needs to go. The guy does not hit for power, and is not someone the Royals can count on. Dejesus, who I am a big fan of, needs a smaller role - The Royals need to find someone, a right handed hitter, who can play a corner outfield position everyday. Mike Cuddyer or Jayson Werth would be excellent players in that role - The Twins will likely not retain Cuddyer, and the Phillies are going to have payroll issues next season. Werth could become available.

Pitching - The Royals have some excellent pitchers and pitching prospects. They are very deep in this area, but the one thing the Royals need more than anything is a setup man. The Royals need to spend some money in free agency and land a couple of arms for the pen. It is a must. I also believe the Royals need to find a left handed starter not named Mike Hampton. They could make a trade....involving some prospects. I wonder if the Angels have long term plans for Scott Kazmir. Kazmir could be an effective pitcher for the Royals.

With some minor shuffling of the current team, some wise spending in free agency and maybe one or two trades the Royals could find themselves in a much better position for 2010.

Here is my projected team.

Dejesus/Crisp LF
Callaspo 2B
Butler 1B/DH
Werth RF
Gordon 3B
Olivo C
Bianchi SS
Crisp/Maier CF
Jacobs/Butler DH

Maier / Dejesus / Betancourt / Ka'aihue /

Greinke
Kazmir
Hochevar
Meche
Bannister

Soria CL
Tejeda
Colon

Several relievers should be changed - Sean Burnett (WAS) could be an effective arm.

Anyone not named Davies, Ponson, Chen

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Werth is signed for 2010

and due to make $7M.

Cuddyer is also signed for 2010, for $8.5M.

by 2X2L on Sep 21, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Also, about Guillen's contract:

the money’s gone. Nobody’s going to pick up as much 39¢ of that remaining $12M. Not unless they’re desperate to be fired, and Littlefield already got his ticket out.

Because Moore hasn’t got the guts to own up to his mistake and cut him, he’s on the roster for 2010. And so you have to ask yourself whether you want Butler at 1st or Guillen in RF, because only one of them can DH.

Which is to say that: although Ishikawa is a very good defensive first baseman, might be a league-average hitter in good years, and isn’t arbitration eligible as yet, I think whatever the Royals would have to expend to get him in a trade would be better used to shore up another position.

by 2X2L on Sep 21, 2009 10:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Littlefield is gone

but Ricciardi may be angling for a firing himself. Quick before it’s too late: Meche/Guillen for, uh, not Vernon Wells!

by 2X2L on Sep 25, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did a fanshot of this, but how about...

Bradley for Gil Meche and Guillen?

Go Royals!

by BabyBlues on Sep 21, 2009 10:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bradley could be a great DH and hit behind Billy, and we pick up $16 million in payroll flexability.

Bradley’s due $9M in 2010 and $12M in 2011, and he didn’t exactly tear up the NL this year. I think the likeliest outcome of this trade is that the Royals are right back in the same situation with Bradley in 2011 that they’re currently in with Guillen.

I’d rather place my bet on Meche coming back than Bradley.

by 2X2L on Sep 21, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No way do we want Crisp back

especially at his option price. As injured as he is, it’d be a miracle if he’s even remotely useful next season.

by trauty on Sep 21, 2009 11:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep, I don't want him at anything more than 1-2 million for next year.

Maier can do the job for next year if Crisp doesn’t like a low offer.

I used to work with an old man that told me. Son, every workplace has a dumbass, if you don't have one where you work, then I'm afraid you're it.

by Warden11 on Sep 21, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think 3-4 would be acceptable

with some incentive clauses for games played

we seem to forget that even playing less than half a season, he was still the 5th most valuable batter on the team at 1.4 WAR and that includes some time when he was hurt and not properly shut down but his season was over.

by ZeppelinDZ on Sep 21, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I get that Crisp was pretty productive when he was actually playing.

However- he isn’t getting younger. He likely won’t be around if this team ever does compete for the division (2011-12?) and Mitch Maier is acceptable.

3-4 would be the max for me and that’s including incentives. Maybe I’m putting too much stock in Maier playing CF every day.

I used to work with an old man that told me. Son, every workplace has a dumbass, if you don't have one where you work, then I'm afraid you're it.

by Warden11 on Sep 21, 2009 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

While that's true

Raul Ibanez started the season on a massive hot streak and had some ungodly WAR number. He still sits on that number today. There’s no guarantee Crisp would have gone higher.

by AxDxMx on Sep 21, 2009 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not sure what you mean about a "smaller role"?

Dejesus, who I am a big fan of, needs a smaller role – The Royals need to find someone, a right handed hitter, who can play a corner outfield position everyday

I used to work with an old man that told me. Son, every workplace has a dumbass, if you don't have one where you work, then I'm afraid you're it.

by Warden11 on Sep 21, 2009 12:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it means DeJesus should play as much as possible

given that he is one of the few above average position players on the roster.

by Gopherballs on Sep 21, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dejesus is a good player, but he’s not exactly a productive outfielder.

The Royals offense needs a jolt. Some real OPS.

[img]http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0eTH2sm73rf3u/610x.jpg[/img]

by Peterman700 on Sep 21, 2009 12:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Are you kidding?

Last year his OPS+ was 119. That’s 19% better than league average. This year it’s 107 and he had a horrendous start to the year. He is one of the few players we could actually trade for value as other teams want him and his cheap, cheap, cheap contract. I do like your Jayson Werth idea, but that would only happen through trade. BTW, how did Scott Kazmir get on your 2010 team, and why is Robinson Tejeda back in the bullpen?

by AxDxMx on Sep 21, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem with DeJesus

He would be a good piece of the puzzle on a team with a strong offensive lineup. However, ever since he replaced Beltran, he has been sold as “the man”; I think Baird even tried to tell us he would be better than Beltran.

He is not somebody who can carry a team’s offense, but would be a valuable run scorer if the Royals had some bonafide offensive weapons.

by jbrocato on Sep 21, 2009 12:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's not really a problem with DeJesus, is it?

It is more of problem with others correctly evaluating him as a player, right?

Despite the horrible early season slump, DDJ has been the team’s most valuable position player by a wide margin. Yes, defense matters. And DDJ’s defense has been worth something like 15 runs.

by Gopherballs on Sep 21, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly.

I guess no matter what he does, some people want to ship him off. I sort of understand the thought process behind that, he represents some bad teams and memories.

However, the guy can play and definitely hasn’t hurt this team at all during his time year.

I used to work with an old man that told me. Son, every workplace has a dumbass, if you don't have one where you work, then I'm afraid you're it.

by Warden11 on Sep 21, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

has he really helped?

we’re still a last place team, he’s making decent money, has value to competing teams and he wont be around the next time we’re competing. he should be gone.

wait, maybe he has the intangible things that lots of old baseball guys like. Tough? Winner? Does the little things? White? He’s almost one of those things.

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Sep 21, 2009 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not saying don't trade him.

However, most of the DDJ talk on here is that he’s not good enough to help a team win. That’s just wrong.

I used to work with an old man that told me. Son, every workplace has a dumbass, if you don't have one where you work, then I'm afraid you're it.

by Warden11 on Sep 21, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i dont say that....

i hate him with a passion, possibly irrationally, but all that aside, he should have been traded by now, and if not, definitely this offseason….he’s absolutely pointless

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Sep 22, 2009 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

4th place!!!

Go Royals!

by BabyBlues on Sep 22, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He doesn't have the value we think he has

Nobody’s going to give up even one prospect that projects better than him. Given that it appears the front office is as excited about him as half our fanbase, if he could have been traded for real value, I’m sure he would have by now. The fact that he hasn’t suggests that he’s more valuable to the team than what the Royals would get in return. So why get rid of a good player for lesser players? That there’s so much suck around him doesn’t mean he’s not worth keeping. It means getting rid of the suck.

If you look closely, it really says "CentralChamps2012."

by CentralChamps2009 on Sep 22, 2009 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait

When did the “Butler can’t even play first” meme get started again, and who do I pummel?

This space for rent.

by jonfmorse on Sep 21, 2009 1:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I got this one

He can, and he’ll more than make up for his defensive shortcomings with his bat. His defense shouldn’t be anywhere near the top of the lists of things to upgrade, because 1) You might have noticed that there are lots of worse deficiencies elsewhere and 2) You push him to DH, you’ve put the Old Man With No Legs back in right.

by 2X2L on Sep 21, 2009 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

nothing is more important to winning than the 1b ability to turn the 3-6-3 DP

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Sep 21, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, it was a pretty bizarre thing to hone in on, but what he actually said was that it isn’t the manager’s fault when, in spite of working on it every day, the first baseman can’t execute that play.

So, it’s subject to mockery, sure. But there’s just so much gold in those hills you don’t have to settle for pyrite.

by 2X2L on Sep 21, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Do NOT mess with Butler

I’d wait at least another season or more before I did anything with Butler different than this year. His breakout season at the bat came in the same time he got to play in the field everyday. I’m not saying there’s a connection, but there’s at least a correlation, and this team has enough real problems to make correcting below-average 1B defense a priority. Leave Bam Bam alone, if for nothing else than in gratitude for giving us 2 good things to take away from this year.

If you look closely, it really says "CentralChamps2012."

by CentralChamps2009 on Sep 22, 2009 1:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Guillen

Unfortunately, we all know the Royals don’t have the balls to simply cut him, and that trading him for ANYTHING is HIGHLY unlikely, if not downright impossible.

So, I agree with the poster who asks what would you rather have – Butler at 1B or Guillen in RF?

That’s a no brainer – Butler at 1B, Guillen at DH (and pray for a season ending injury to him).

Do NOT bring Jacobs back, period.

As for Crisp, I would be OK at bringing him back – but at such a small salary that he most likely would decline my offer and go elsewhere. That’s fine – we don’t have the resources to gamble on his health; another team might, and probably will. If they can’t pull a big trade of one of their pitchers to plug the CF hole, I think it would be acceptable to use Maier as a stopgap for a season or two.

Don’t know what they will do at catcher; however, my money is on whatever they do being wrong.

I would LOVE to see them do something outside the box – RELEASE GUILLEN, acquire a decent 2B (above avg defense, avg offense), and move Callaspo to DH. Certainly unconventional – but would help the team in many ways.

An alternative plan would be to trade for Jake Fox of the Cubs – a defensively challenged hitter who belongs in the DH role. Seems to be a good fit for KC, as the Cubs are STILL looking for a left handed hitting outfielder. (Teahen?)

Mr Glass, this is a pro sports team, not a retail store - run it like one!

by loyal2sdad on Sep 21, 2009 2:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jake Fox for Teahen?

Maybe we could pull a bullpen arm out of their AAA with that trade. I like it.

I’m wondering how cheap Felix Pie could be had, seeing as how Markakis, Reimold, and Adam Jones are the Orioles’ starting OFers. That would plug CF.

by AxDxMx on Sep 21, 2009 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fox is exactly the type of player the Royals should target (even if not Fox himself)

Under age 30, cheap in terms of salary and (relatively) cheap in acquisition cost, under club control for multiple years, etc. Fox might not get on base enough (either through base hits or walks) to stick as a regular, but it would be a decent gamble to find out.

by Gopherballs on Sep 21, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

I’ve been thinking of this exact trade for a while now. It really would be a perfect fit for both teams IMO. Dayton really should aggressively shop Teahen around this offseason, particularly to NL where his value is probably a lot higher. I like Teahen, but I want to see him in a situation where he can succeed, and I don’t think that situation exist anymore in KC.

by YouDon'tPhaseMeGobble on Sep 22, 2009 2:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously, what I would do with Crisp

Try and work out a one-year deal with a modest salary, and a mutual option at a higher salary for the following year(s, although I wouldn’t want to go long-term with him). And then assure him that if he can show that he’s recovered from the injuries and plays well, the team will not decline their option for financial reasons.

He might go for it, and if he does who really cares if he declines the option for 2011? A cheap year of Coco Crisp busy trying to show the team and the league that he’s recovered would be worthwhile, and the opportunity to do that when other teams may be gun-shy would be worthwhile to him.

You know, assuming some other team doesn’t jump on him anyway.

This space for rent.

by jonfmorse on Sep 22, 2009 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As said above, the thing I want to see from this front office is some balls

Outright cut Guillen. Eating that 12 million is a huge loss. Paying him that 12 million and having him activley contribute in a beig way to losses on the field, is an even bigger loss in my opinion.

Don’t bring back Jacobs or Crisp, I feel these 2 moves are actually going to happen : )

Trade Soria for some outfield offense or some infield defense that isn’t a TPJ at the plate; I don’t see this happening ; (

Next years starting pitching looks good to me:

Grienke
Meche
Hochevar
Bannister
? Tejeda, Davies, TPJ, Disco Hayes, PTBNL ?

Pick up a couple bullpen arms in FA and the pitchng staff will be a huge strength next season. I feel a key to improving next season is to try to do exactly what the Royals did this year, move some guys and bring in help for the outfield and some pop at the plate. Except this time around have some talent evaluators that can, you know, actually evaluate talent.

The last thing that needs to happen is a change in philosophy at the plate, get the occasional walk. Betancourt should only be allowed to bunt balls directly into foul territory untill the opposing pitchers pitch count is at 50+, then he is allowed to use his own “judgement” (same goes for Olivo).

by Your_Moms_Boyfriend on Sep 21, 2009 2:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If Soria were to be traded, it should be for a handful of prospects

No way Disco Hayes could be an effective starter. By the 3rd time through the lineup they’d have him figured out I think.

Betancourt should only be allowed to bunt balls directly into foul territory untill the opposing pitchers pitch count is at 50+, then he is allowed to use his own "judgement" (same goes for Olivo).

You do know a foul bunt with 2 strikes counts as a strikeout right? Although, I could see that being early strategy for a team trying to get Greinke or some other ace up to 100 pitches early if bunting foul with 2 strikes wasn’t suicide.

by AxDxMx on Sep 21, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hell....AAA hitters had disco figured out the first time through the lineup

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Sep 21, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, understand about the bunting

But I am working more from the counterinuitive standpoint than anything else. Right now YTB is going to the plate with every intention of hitting the ball; and he doesn’t. He goes into the field with every intention of fielding balls cleanly & smoothly; and he doesn’t.

If he is asked to put the ball out of play at the plate, then just maybe he will accidently put the ball effectively into play and no longer be the gian black hole on our roster that he currently is.

Doesn’t it just make sense?

by Your_Moms_Boyfriend on Sep 22, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Crisp isn't worth the money

Even if he were healthy for 162 games. And he won’t be.

The immoderate moderator

by NYRoyal on Sep 21, 2009 3:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like Crisp, but I'd be pissed if Moore exercised that option.

It’s for $8M right? No way he’s worth it. Werth would be great, even at $7M, but that would be a ballsy, intelligent move, so it’s not happening.
I want to see a Soria deal, but I fear Dayton would get hoodwinked in it.
See below for my biggest fear of all

Duffy*, Montgomery*, and Melville* for Willy Taveras and Paul Janish
*currency of baseball

by McClure 'stache on Sep 21, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your sig is prophetic but it's missing one piece

Dusty Baker will also come over in that trade.

by AxDxMx on Sep 21, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

good thing we wont have any good young pitching for him to ruin

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Sep 21, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dump Teahen and Keep Jacobs?

next post.

Pecota, watch over us.

by castille on Sep 22, 2009 12:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't want to see Davies in the 2010 rotation, either: Greinke, Meche, Tejeda, Hoch, Banny

But I don’t think he deserves to be lumped in with Chen and Ponson, either. Could definitely be a valuable reliever.

Really, the Royals have had much, much bigger problems than a 5th starter going 17-16, 4.69 over the past two seasons.

by andrewmiller on Sep 22, 2009 12:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The record is misleading

I refuse to count anything Davies does from the last week of August on unless its during a pennant race.

Davies in the bullpen makes sense to me (he’s got good stuff that has never translated to pitching 7 innings at a time because his control is such an issue), but I don’t think it will ever happen for the same reason Soria to the rotation will never happen—it demonstrates imagination and out-of-the-box thinking, something this organization refuses to engage in (except when it comes to imagining Wee Willie B. as a major league outfielder). Davies looks like a starting pitcher, so he’s a starting pitcher. Nevermind that unleashing him for 1-2 innings, letting him use less pitches (maybe just FB, slider, change), and allowing him to rely on stuff alone might free his mind so the rest could follow. We’ve seen him start more than enough to know he shouldn’t.

If you look closely, it really says "CentralChamps2012."

by CentralChamps2009 on Sep 22, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Teahen

Dump Teahen only because he could land something of value.

Jacobs ….kind of stuck with.

The Royals need a lefty.

[img]http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0eTH2sm73rf3u/610x.jpg[/img]

by Peterman700 on Sep 22, 2009 12:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How are the Royals stuck with Jacobs?

Don’t offer arbitration and he’s gone.

I used to work with an old man that told me. Son, every workplace has a dumbass, if you don't have one where you work, then I'm afraid you're it.

by Warden11 on Sep 22, 2009 6:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

1. trade davey…his value is relatively high and i hate him
2. keep teahen and hope he builds his value up again in hopes of a mid season trade
3. non-tender jacobs…bring up kila
4. keep one of buck/olivo….non tender the other..bpj backing up
5. hope guillen hits for a couple of months and we can be relieved of 5 million or so in salary/pick up a decent prospect at the deadline
6. greinke/meche/luke/banny/tejeda
7. whoever out in the pen as long as it includes rosa
8. explore trades involving soria for mlb ready position prospects and hope cortes is ready to help out in the pen (oops)
9. I’d also be all over any possible trades for meche if he starts well

this is what i’d do…nothing major here, but also nothing that hurts us in the future and a couple minor moves that might actually help in the future. the team is going to blow ass next year even if we dont have a billion totally unpreventable injuries, so why not at least suck while preparing for future goodness.

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Sep 22, 2009 12:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

we already tried #5 this year

what’s that saying about doing the same thing and expecting different results?

Air Cassel - approved for takeoff

by kabrink on Sep 27, 2009 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts

Its no coincedence that Tampa Bay, Detroit and Seattle have all majorly improved after upgrading their defense. I’d bring in some guys that can get after the ball and are likely to be cheap – John McDonald, Bobby Crosby, Austin Kearns. I’d non-tender Buck and Jacobs. I’d consider bringing Olivo back, but I’d guess there is a catcher out there for very cheap that can get on-base at a much better clip. We’d miss the power, but we’d get more baserunners and possibly upgrade the defense. Or heck, Ramon Hernandez isn’t terrible.

I’d explore the trade value for Teahen. I’d give Kila a shot. I’d make Guillen a bench player or DH, and I wouldn’t hesitate to release him if he gets off to a slow start (that Luis Castillo/Jose Guillen rumored trade from last winter looks awfully good now!).

I’d explore the trade value for Gil, although I’d probably wait til mid-season when he has re-established his health, before trading him.

We’d suck offensively next year, but hopefully be drastically improved defensively, which hopefully would really help guys like Banny and Hooch (and maybe even get Zack more than 14 wins!)

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Sep 22, 2009 10:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gregg Zaun

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 devil_fingers on Sep 22, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Regarding Olivo and his potential Type B FA status

I’d offer arbitration, but let him know upfront, even if he accepts, he’s the backup.

Unless I'm wrong...
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by Top Ramen on Sep 23, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good call there, but he'll know you are lying

Like we’re going to play Buck or Pena.

by AxDxMx on Sep 23, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with Jake Fox for Teahen.

I think that is a move that could happen and would be great. Power Hitting Right Hander is what what they need. Although Fox’s defense is a concern they can find him DH/RF AB’s. Teahen would also be a good fit for the Cubs as well. Id also like to see Gordon moved. I think he just wont perform at a high level here and could use a change. He could still have some high value DM should see what he could get.

Also need to see how Callaspo could handle 3B for 130+ games. His bat is needed and I think its a little easier to play 3B than 2B. I could see the Royals throwing out this line-up next year though, Mike Aviles and finding a CF are the real wild-cards to this team.

LF:Dejesus
2B:Callaspo/Aviles
1B:Butler
RF:Gullien
DH:Jacobs/Kila/Fox
C:Olivo
3B:Gordon/Callaspo
CF:Mitch
SS:Yuni/Aviles

by KCG816 on Sep 23, 2009 12:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Everybody is so down on Gordon

I hope he just crushes the ball next year. I want to be the one that says “I never lost faith in Alex.”

by AxDxMx on Sep 23, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clear the air

I just want to come back to this to clear up some UNCLEAR comments i made in this post.

David Dejesus is a solid player, no doubt, but he is more of a liability as a regular. He gets hurt all the time….and doesn’t hit for enough power. His numbers are good, yes, but we need someone in the outfield we can depend on for runs, production.

Butler is a great hitter and his defense showed improvement. I still want to see Kila play….or at least be given an opportunity to play somewhere. Trade?

Werth and Cuddyer are names I mentioned…i know they are signed, but those are the types of players the ROYALS lack. Run producers in the OF.

I feel the Royals can challenge with some tweaking. It has to be the right king of tweaking though Dayton!

Not 40 year old infielders and wash up relievers.

[img]http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0eTH2sm73rf3u/610x.jpg[/img]

by Peterman700 on Sep 23, 2009 6:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs