4 Royals Prospects invited to Spring Training

Moose, Duffy, Lough, and D-Rob added to those already invited on the 40-man. Lough seems like the only guy that has any shot to make the roster, so what is the purpose? Foreshadowing for potential September call-ups?

over 2 years ago bas 38 comments 1 recs |

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I guess

Lough has an outside chance of making the roster, and will almost certainly play in MLB at some point. Moose and Duffy are also likely to be Royals at some point in the not too distant future. So I guess they make sense.

Robinson? Moore getting hard about his speed I guess. Because it sure as hell can’t be for his hitting.

by kcbottom9th on Jan 18, 2010 4:56 PM EST reply actions

Moose exemplifies the organizations approach to plate discipline

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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 18, 2010 7:56 PM EST up reply actions

i don't know what i fear more

his ST line, or him somehow making the opening day roster

by Freneau on Jan 18, 2010 8:12 PM EST up reply actions

There's almost no way that happens.

They’ve got quite the clusterf*** the way it is.

by AxDxMx on Jan 18, 2010 9:38 PM EST up reply actions

To be honest

D-Rob probably has the best chance at making this team. He’s fast and can play CF. DM and Trey will love him.

For Moose and Monty I think they just want to get the acclimated to a MLB camp, maybe give them something to shoot for, get familiar with the players and coaching staff.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 18, 2010 5:12 PM EST reply actions

DM has been repeating the "defense first" line

which would be D-Rob

Conversation b/t Special baseball operations consultant Zapp Brannigan and GM Dayton Moore: "...but paper covers rock and rock crushes scissors...we have a conundrum. Get me some paper, a rock, and some scissors."

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 18, 2010 5:44 PM EST up reply actions

Where is Kila?

Kidding, we all know he isn’t good enough to make the Royals roster.

And where is DISCO?!?!

by Boots 58 on Jan 18, 2010 5:20 PM EST reply actions

Kila is on the 40-man

Disco is not, and has yet to be added as a non-roster invitee. Given the numbers of other pitchers, I get the feeling they are quite happy to keep him in AAA this year.

Something tells me that Disco will be a throw-in in a trade for an overrated position player in the not-too-distant future.

by bas on Jan 18, 2010 5:28 PM EST up reply actions

I see Disco as a career ML, with a few cups of Joe here and there. Brian Duckworth like.

Jeff Zimmerman - Protecting the world from RBI's and Wins from my mom's guest house.

by Jeff Zimmerman on Jan 18, 2010 6:12 PM EST up reply actions

I see him bouncing around AAA til he's 31

Then posting a sub 2.00 ERA for someone, getting hurt, and is never heard from again.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 18, 2010 8:27 PM EST up reply actions

I forgot to look until now

but CHONE has Disco as a replacement level reliever this season. Honestly, that’s better than I thought he would be.

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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 18, 2010 9:43 PM EST up reply actions

Excuse me

I think you mean Brandon.

But don’t sweat it.

by BrRoyal on Jan 19, 2010 8:45 AM EST up reply actions

aren't these things usually mostly rewards for good progress or whatever

(unless we’re talking about AAA guys who could make the team)

moose? hell, lets send Hosmer to ST as well

he's earned it

by Freneau on Jan 18, 2010 8:12 PM EST reply actions

I'm not sure Hosmer showed enough "leadership"

i.e., threatening to kick some guys ass

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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 18, 2010 8:36 PM EST up reply actions

Come on DF,

That was pretty cool. That’s what ballplayers do. It’s called grit. Look into it.

by Dadunca on Jan 18, 2010 8:57 PM EST up reply actions

that's fine

I’m glad he’s a leader

I’d be even more excited if he could tell the difference between a ball and a strike

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

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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 18, 2010 9:33 PM EST up reply actions

Sure he can

If you swing at them all, they’re all strikes!

Hey, can I change my screen name to "CentralChamps20??"?

by CentralChamps2009 on Jan 19, 2010 1:01 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs

Simplify

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Jan 19, 2010 1:09 AM EST up reply actions

awesome

Will Ebners Hit Parade, Pain TV; Channel 32; All the time! (PDT)

by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Jan 19, 2010 12:35 PM EST up reply actions

unless your name is Derrick Robinson

in which case it’s a reward for stealing 69 bases while doing virtually nothing else. looks like he’s next in line to continue the gathright-crisp-pods lineage of suckage

by marbotty on Jan 19, 2010 7:48 AM EST up reply actions

No real problem with any of these guys getting an invite.

Lough seems like he could see some time on the active roster this year.

Moose needs to hear more about plate discipline from guys he’ll actually listen to.

Duffy looked great last year in the futures game. Is it possible they see him in a relief role?

I’m guessing they feel Robinson needs a shake-up to see if they can jump-start him hitting.

Only thing is that if Duffy gets an invite, why not Montgomery? But I don’t have any real desire to mess with success, either, and Montgomery should be focusing on starting in the Texas League.

by WURoyal on Jan 18, 2010 8:57 PM EST reply actions

Who can offer advice about plate discipline?

Moose needs to hear more about plate discipline from guys he’ll actually listen to.

Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.

by Warden11 on Jan 18, 2010 9:39 PM EST up reply actions

Butler? Brett?

If not them, then GREINKE!

by AxDxMx on Jan 18, 2010 9:41 PM EST up reply actions

George Brett only talks about shitting his pants at ST

Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.

by Warden11 on Jan 18, 2010 9:44 PM EST up reply actions

good point

If you believe plate discipline functions as an innate trait (i.e., either it isn’t learned, or it’s learned far before you’re a 20 y.o. with a couple years in the minors under your belt), then Moore should trade Moustakas now and get what he can. The scouts still have a h-on for that bat speed; it will take at least another full season of subpar performance before the luster comes off.

His trade value would be reduced somewhat by his lack of a clear position. He’s gone from a shortstop to someone who needs to demonstrate his glove can play somewhere— anywhere.

by aquaman213 on Jan 18, 2010 10:13 PM EST up reply actions

Rule 5 draft is a consideration

Robinson will be Rule 5 eligible next year. DM won’t want to waste a spot on the 40-man, but another team might see Robinson as a useful bench player (pinch-runner who could serve as 5th OF for a few days in a pinch). If he gets hot during ST, it might help Moore swing a trade and get something of value for him.

by aquaman213 on Jan 18, 2010 9:19 PM EST reply actions

Ritual humiliation of Moustakas

Appears to be Moore’s 2010 plan. First, start him in big-league ST, where he’ll likely struggle. Then, send him to AA, even though he posted a sub-300 OBP in High-A last year. Hopefully, he’ll stop listening to the sweet nothings that his hangers-on are whispering in his ear and realize he needs to change his approach to make The Show.

by aquaman213 on Jan 18, 2010 9:22 PM EST reply actions

Or he puts up another sub-.300 through June and replaces Alex Gordon

(hitting only .260/.350/.430) at the hot corner at the break. Gordon is shipped to Atlanta for some guy that gets non-tendered two years later.

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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 18, 2010 9:34 PM EST up reply actions

You're being entirely too generous

He’ll be non-tendered in the 2010 offseason. It will be a complete salary dump move because Alex is terrible and nobody wants him.

by AxDxMx on Jan 18, 2010 9:42 PM EST up reply actions

Just in time to take Beltre's place in Boston

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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 18, 2010 9:43 PM EST up reply actions

not sure why everyone is down on Gordon

His age-25 season was wasted, which sucks. But if he breaks through this year— one year after being the fashionable breakout pick— it will hardly be the first time that’s happened.

by aquaman213 on Jan 18, 2010 10:10 PM EST reply actions

agreed

by Freneau on Jan 18, 2010 10:15 PM EST up reply actions

not sure who you're referring to

I think most people here still have faith in Gordon being at least above average. many of us just mock those who think he “sucks”

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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 18, 2010 10:34 PM EST up reply actions

it won't be the first time

but it’s kind of rare. beltran did it, though.

i don’t think gordon will ever be a superstar, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be an above average player. that, in itself, is in short supply round these parts, so i’d still be very happy with that.

by marbotty on Jan 19, 2010 7:42 AM EST up reply actions