Royals sign OF Scott Podsednik for no apparent reason
Grit! Speed! Over 30! PLAZA PARADE SCHEDULED FOR THIS FALL!
about 2 years ago
RoyalsRetro
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Before I decide if this is a bad deal
I need to know the terms… (but I’m scared to see them).
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I don't know what the terms are
but I’ve already decided….bad deal
by wt on Jan 8, 2010 9:41 AM EST up reply actions
That's better than 2/17, right?
Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.
The quick and dirty
Hitting last 3 years
2007 .243/.299/.369 in 235 PAs CHW
2008 .253/.322/.333 in 181 PAs COL
2009 .304/.353/.412 in 587 PAs CHW
UZR in CF last 3 years
2007 only 3 games
2008 -2.6
2009 0.5
WAR
2007 -0.1
2008 -0.3
2009 1.7
CHONE 2010 Projection: .271/.333/.367 0.7 WAR
Bill James Projection: .275/.340/.367
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
forgive me for being a DM apologizer
but 0.7 WAR at 1yr/$1 mil, if that turns out to be true, is a pretty solid deal.
The money is not the issue to me
Its that they will trot him out there in the leadoff spot and in CF every day despite his .330 OBA and awful defense.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
i guess my response is
what would be the alternative? I have trouble coming up with truly good solutions for us in CF this year. Sure I would love to con the yanks out of Gardner, but who could we realistically expect to acquire that would be better without shelling out a lot more money.
Well
You either get someone that can hit (Jonny Gomes to play LF, DJ to CF) or someone that can field (Ryan Langerhans). Not someone that can’t do either.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
although Gomes is at about 60% the ABs of Pods
still, hard to see how thats is a significantly better player
I find the CHONE projection for Pods to be optimistic
He’s only been good for one of the last four seasons, and he’ll be 34. And speedy guys don’t age well.
I see your point, I guess the correct answer is to trade for a longer-term option in CF. Maybe there just isn’t one out there to be had for our chips. But I have to think there are better solutions than Scott Podsednik. Ugh.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
thats kinda what I see
I would bet money Maier and Pods are going to be roughly equal in value this year, so having both just creates depth (whether its Mitch backing up Pods or vice versa). This team needs to find a long term option in CF, and we have some toolsy guys in the minors that could develop, but it might be helpful for fans to come to grips that we were going to have a poor CF in 2010 no matter what.
now SS, C, and RF are another story
those positions I hold DM very accountable for not improving/making worse
we have some young guys
I’d love to see Mitch get a chance to start. It still isn’t a bad idea to bring in a vet though. Just the deal has to be right. And that is why I’m withholding judgement as of now.
We have Jarrod Dyson and Derrick Robinson in the minors. Also Jose Duarte although I’m not sure on him. And some younger guys.
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by 306008 on Jan 8, 2010 11:14 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Don’t speedy guys age better than other types of player? I thought that was a conclusion of sabermetrics.
Note that I’m not saying Podsednik will be good or that I like this signing, just clarifying the statement.
It's debatable
I know that PECOTA bases some projections on that. Sadly with the death of MVN, Matt Schwartz’s article on PECOTA’s difficulties with speedsters is lost.
Tango, however, criticizes the notion that speedsters age better here.
In any case, if it is true that they age better, we should hope for a multi-yeawr deal. Sure, he’s only 0.5 WAR in 2010, but he’ll only decline ton 0.3 WAR in 2011!
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 1:39 PM EST up reply actions
I believe that ALL SPEED GUYS do not age well
but if a young player has speed, along with a complete game, they age well
like Arod, Jeter, Andrew Dawson, etc
those are from fangraphs and adjust for playing time
over 150 games, I have Langerhans at 1.5-2 WAR, Podsednik at 0.5-1
FGs post coming shortly
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 11:22 AM EST up reply actions
I got the BtB post to do.
I will try not to read yours before mine.
Jeff Zimmerman - Protecting the world from RBI's and Wins from my mom's guest house.
by Jeff Zimmerman on Jan 8, 2010 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
i look forward to your post
but fangraphs still has Langerhans at 0.3 WAR over 275 ABs, I’ll be curious to see how you get that to 1.5-2, even if he played everyday
I think something is messed up with the way the put in CHONE's defensive projections without adjusting for playing time
in any case, I’d put Langerhans at about -5 offensively, and with (at worst) “neutral” outfield defense (that is, enough to offset the positional adjustmen-5 +0 + replacement = 1.5. And I think that defensive adjustment is harsh…
Anyway, he’s on a split contract.
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 11:53 AM EST up reply actions
But you forget
That Pods was a Mariner longer than Langerhans.
Such petty concerns as “who is the better player” and “making signings that make sense” are not for you, because…
[insert those three magic words here]
Snort! C'mon,
you know DJ can’t play CF.
DM
Air Cassel - approved for takeoff
Always in motion is the future.
-- Yoda
Only Dayton picks up great CFs
unlike Allard. I don’t think Allard would know a good or great potential CF if he saw one.
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 6:54 PM EST up reply actions
Horrendous
Two consecutive amazingly awful offseasons. Moore is actually getting worse with each passing year.
The immoderate moderator
He just keeps making awful moves
The only reason that the magnitude of suckitude this offseason is not as high as last season is that he doesn’t have as much money to waste.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on Jan 8, 2010 11:55 AM EST up reply actions
I fail to see this as awful or good yet.
Try holding your judgment on this one until you see the contract. Adding depth to our team and someone to push Mitch isn’t “suckitude” unless you see every move made by this GM as “suckitude”.
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He's a bad player
Wheter he is cheap or expensive doesn’t matter.
He is an over-30, poor defense, poor bat outfielder who will earn more than a sub-30, good defense, who knows bat already in the organization.
All these crappy vets for what? Improving to 68 wins? What the hell is the point. It’s just a dumb, stupid, pointless move.
why do we get to assume that Mitch is good on defense but cant assume he's bad with the bat?
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jan 8, 2010 3:30 PM EST up reply actions
because defense and hitting peak at different points
Mitch has a defensive history that is more or less predictable. His bat still has a little room to grow, given his age/service time.
Typical rxn...
…from NYRoyal. There’s no use in asking him why because (a) he just doesn’t think that GMDM has any intelligence, and (b) the stats tell us that he and his signings are awful. – TL
I'm slowly becoming convinced
that you’re really only here to troll. There can be no other explanation for your ability to post ridiculous drivel such as this.
Nobody in this community is quicker to DEFEND Moore when he does something right than Scott is. But the point you just don’t want to grasp — and at its root, it’s because you’re just like Moore and all your prior arguments here are more than adequate evidence — is that if the idea is to replace Maier when he’s coming off a season where he actually started putting it together at the plate, then Podz is not the guy to do it; if the idea is to merely push Maier, then why pay Podz a million when you can pay someone like Jordan Parraz $400K and see if HE’S a potential future useful part as part of the bargain? (It doesn’t have to be Parraz specifically, of course; if you really think he needs the PT in AAA, then pick someone else. Pick up a spare part off the scrap heap. Don’t pay someone who you already know, or should know, sucks.
This space for rent.
NYRoyal was on the DM bandwagon....
far longer than alot of people…until the point where he realized it was no longer still early, and the ‘good moves and bad moves are somewhat even’ ie. Meche and Soria. He by no means hates dayton just to hate him
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jan 8, 2010 6:18 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
rec'd, billybeingbilly.
You and I don’t agree on a lot, but I strongly defend your defense of NYRoyal. Nobody hates on GMDM just for the sake of hating on him – he gives us plenty of good reasons!
WTF, self?
(a) he just doesn’t think that GMDM has any intelligence
I think he has intelligence. I just don’t think he’s a good baseball GM.
(b) the stats tell us that he and his signings are awful.
Yes, they do. Stats are meaningful. What does your Ouija board tell you about Pods and how good of a GM Moore is?
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on Jan 9, 2010 6:24 AM EST up reply actions
Moore isn't intelligent
He doesn’t sound it for one and he’s pathetic. I hated him towards the end of the year when all he could do is belittle the fan-base that questioned him. I remember him saying something along the lines of “common” people couldn’t grasp the reasons behind his moves.
Who cares about these moves really. He trade Nunez and Ram Ram for two expensive and awful/injury prone players. His ignorance is bliss though and his arrogance was disgusting.
However there is no point in talking about how bad he is .The guy shouldn’t be making 30k a year to be the disaster he is. But wasn’t he just given an extension to be the Royals GM? It’s just sad he was rewarded for being at most competent, at worst a total retart.
by GobbleforCyoung on Jan 10, 2010 5:29 PM EST up reply actions
Buddy was right
If you look closely, it really says "CentralChamps2012."
by CentralChamps2009 on Jan 8, 2010 10:04 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
All Day Long
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 8, 2010 7:56 PM EST up reply actions
Betancourt was the move that crystallized Royal fans anger.
This move, I’m just kind of numb. It’s a horrible move but I just can’t muster much emotion. Apathy is setting in. And I find myself hoping that the Royals make bad moves and lose horribly to bring about regime change.
The process continues
The Royals continue to stockpile players with 0-3 years service time
by nwroyal on Jan 8, 2010 10:16 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
/Feels Lukewarm
Same as every other deal this offseason
Silver lining
Pods vs. Zackkkk
.500/.541/.735 in 37 career PAs.
SMALL SAMPLE VICTORY!
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
Maybe Pods was brought in as a mentor to ZG. He can teach him why he gives up a hit here and there.
Seriously though, were the White Sox one of the teams that had Hochevar’s tell sign?
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by 306008 on Jan 8, 2010 11:06 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
combined with Fields past success against Soria in 9 ABs
3. CHAMPIONSHIP
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
sigh...
"Readin's don't never not dun nuthin' for not nobody!" ---Early Cuyler
by averagegatsby on Jan 8, 2010 4:29 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
I particularly like the Sadam-in-a-Southpark-episode feature
Mr Glass, this is a pro sports team, not a retail store - run it like one!
well GMDM acts like a total dictator sociopath douchelord at times.
"Readin's don't never not dun nuthin' for not nobody!" ---Early Cuyler
by averagegatsby on Jan 8, 2010 6:07 PM EST up reply actions
the joke that keeps on giving
Mr Glass, this is a pro sports team, not a retail store - run it like one!
Yet another "new market inefficiency"
Sign all the crappy players who inexplicably hit well against you. Mark Redman – you’re in! Sorry Brayan.
"Greinke and the Brain" (R) (C) TM
by SittinByTheFoulPole on Jan 8, 2010 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
Pods
His stats from last year appear to be a significant jump from the three years before 09… still nice numbers. As long as its around 1 mil, we shouldn’t get to down on this, unlike the stupid Kendall deal. If its 2 or 3 mil, then it’s just more wasted money. But why not Maier in center???
PODS = STEROIDS!
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 11:30 AM EST up reply actions
Pods sounds like Coco Crisp
minus the breakfast-cereal name and the “giving up Leo Nunez” part.
Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!
or the "Ability to play center field" or "power" (yup) parts
or the “baserunning” part
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
A brief but trenchant analysis of Scott Podsednik
He’s dogshit.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on Jan 8, 2010 11:56 AM EST reply actions 7 recs
I am intrigued by your ideas and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
That's top of the line analysis
"It’s not about the guacamole itself," Greinke said. "I just don’t want to let them win."
by Joseph Landis on Jan 8, 2010 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
lol...
I’m still waiting for his analysis as well.
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Thanks Billy
As I missed that above…. NY always talks about the meaning of words. The meaning of analysis to sports fans isn’t 2 words… it’s a breakdown of a situation or person..
I was simply asking for it. :)
Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.
If the two words accurately convey the analysis
further words are, as your high school English teacher would tell you, “fluff and padding”.
This space for rent.
would you really need a bunch of words to explain how Yuni is as a MLB SS?
He sucks would convey the idea perfectly and same everyone much time.
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jan 8, 2010 6:20 PM EST up reply actions
and really....
the ‘why dayton moore is dogshit as a GM’ arguments have been rehashed on this website a million times…and this move can just be added to the list
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jan 8, 2010 6:20 PM EST up reply actions
Can This System
Be used on baseball players in general, or is it specific to Poddy?
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 8, 2010 8:00 PM EST up reply actions
it works for both ends of the spectrum...
Pujols, Arod, Zack, Lincecum, etc = He’s awesome will suffice
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jan 8, 2010 9:07 PM EST up reply actions
trenchant and
pungent.
"Shot by my own men."
Unrec
This is a typical over-reaction to deal that actually is a fine one all things considered. CF now projects to be a plus position between Pods/Anderson/Maier.
You realize they can't all play CF at once, right?
Are teams now allowed to field 12 players?
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 5:23 PM EST up reply actions
Did MLB grant the Royals a roster-size exemption...
so they can carry 27 players? That’s great. That frees up two spots for Mitch and Brian. Every kid gets to play! Orange slices and RC Cola is ready for after the game, boys!
"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 Jan 8, 2010 5:28 PM EST up reply actions
I'm not a stats guy, but, okay
Maier: 28 year-old below average — decent stopgap 4/th OF. Poor offense, okay defense in center field. Obviously, Moore’s been scrambling to replace.
Podsednik 34 year-old bench scrub, slightly above replacement level, below average defense in in left field, but hey, he played center in years, so small sample size, amiright? He’ll be awesome. Can’t hit. Steals a lot of bases, but gives that production back by getting caught
Brian Anderson 28. As bad or worse than Pods, although he’s younger and cheaper (although Dayton is so awesome he didn’t bother with a minor-league deal for this guy).
So, at best, Maier gets the most PAs and the Royals live with below average production at center for a year. Of course, Dayton is gong out of his way to bring in Podsednik to replace him.
Don’t get me wrong, Pods is probably 0.5 WAR player (as opposed to Maier’s 1-1.5) over 150 games. Sure, he hasn’t played 150 games since 2004, but players get healthier with age, right?
I dunno, tim, I guess we should have learned our lesson about taking your defenses of Moore to heart after Jacobs worked out so well.
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 5:32 PM EST up reply actions
you're not a stats guy?
get serious
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jan 8, 2010 6:21 PM EST up reply actions
well, I mean
the theoretical foundations are too complex for me
Like philosophy and sports in general, statsistics is attractive to me because it is something I’m not good at. I’m like a kid and a hot stove (insert Dayton Moore joke here). The only thing that I’ve been attracted to that’s been good for me is my wife, thank goodness her taste is men is worse than Dayton Moore’s in shortstops.
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 6:35 PM EST up reply actions
A Properly Deployed
Platoon of Maier and Anderson possibly would have yielded a league average CF. Now these two will battle for 4th OF while Podman plays a near replacement level CF. This was not just pointless; he’s hurting, not helping.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 8, 2010 8:07 PM EST up reply actions
curiously
Maier has a reverse split not just for his limited time in the majors, but also throughout his minors career…
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 8:17 PM EST up reply actions
Anderson Has The
Same in his MLB career. I figured that would straighten out in time given the proper opportunity. Shealy was the same way.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 8, 2010 8:19 PM EST up reply actions
yeah, it should
but LHH have more idiosyncratic splits. With Maier, i’d dismiss it if it he didn’t have reverse splits for his league career, too. Shealy had normal splits in the minors, as did Anderson.
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 9:32 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks, I'm Too
Lazy and/or ignorant to look that stuff up. I just notice stuff sometimes.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 9, 2010 5:07 AM EST up reply actions
What are you smoking?
And what is it laced with?
CF now projects to be a plus position between Pods/Anderson/Maier.
Could you tell me how three well below average CFers average out into an above average one?
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on Jan 9, 2010 6:26 AM EST up reply actions
I'm telling you
Bud Selig has made a special exception, allowing the Royals to play 11 guys in the field
I’m pretty sure that having 5 OFs = + defense
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 9, 2010 1:50 PM EST up reply actions
Extra players on the field are the new market inefficiency
5 OFers + more flyball pitchers = Royals in the playoffs
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on Jan 9, 2010 2:02 PM EST up reply actions
Don't you know?
If you authoritatively make a statement about how things “project to be,” it’s the truth! No facts needed. Just gut, heart, and maybe some hustle.
WTF, self?
I think that KC will
…get rid of Guillen eventually. So this logjam may take care of itself that way—-since Pods has played a lot of left field. Even if that doesn’t occur, I feel that the team will either pair Pods with Maier or Anderson and hope that some development occurs with one of the younger players. – TL
Any new on the deal's terms?
Pumping out post for FGs now…
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On the bright side
Minda will get to watch MITCH play everyday in Omaha.
Pretty apparent that Pods will be given the CF job, and that Brian Anderson has the inside track for the 4th OF job.
Mr Glass, this is a pro sports team, not a retail store - run it like one!
Mitch in RF maybe?
Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.
Not While Hoagy
Breathes and can stand upright.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 8, 2010 8:08 PM EST up reply actions
Well, he is well-liked in
Omaha, I guess. But I told him long ago that I never wanted to see his face in Rosenblatt again, for his sake. Poor guy. Just another in a long line receiving the Huber treatment. Japan, ho!
WTF, self?
Contract terms
At this point, I would be happier to hear that this is a one-year deal with no player or team option for a 2nd year, REGARDLESS of the amount of money we are wasting here, than to hear that the money is reasonable, but it’s for 2 or 3 years or something…
Mr Glass, this is a pro sports team, not a retail store - run it like one!
+1
If for no other reason than to just know that Dayton is aware that he is not required to sign a MLB free agent to at least a 2-year deal.
"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 Jan 8, 2010 12:15 PM EST up reply actions
Only Dayton could manage to acquire two players inferior to Mitch "MITCH" Maier
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
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Wait
I thought Freel was all-caps MITCH cause he was more Mitchy than Mitch—a larger-than-life Mitch, if you will.
Hey, can I change my screen name to "CentralChamps20??"?
by CentralChamps2009 on Jan 8, 2010 1:23 PM EST up reply actions
well
MITCH was always MITCH. I think Freel was MITCH Jr., as in not even as good a player as MITCH (which would, like you say, make him more Mitchy than Mitch).
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 8, 2010 1:26 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Freel was MITCH, Sr.
for looking old enough to be MITCH’s dad
Anderson was MITCH, Jr., for sucking
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 1:28 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
What is Brian Anderson?
Just BRIAN?
"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 Jan 8, 2010 1:29 PM EST up reply actions
Boy, it lacks something, doesn't it?
Hey, can I change my screen name to "CentralChamps20??"?
by CentralChamps2009 on Jan 8, 2010 2:06 PM EST up reply actions
This Is BRIAN
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 8, 2010 8:10 PM EST up reply actions
I know, it's just all probabilities
don’t even get me started on theoretical physics
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 5:24 PM EST up reply actions
Stick MITCH, Pods, and Brian in the Large Hadron Collider
and see what happens.
"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 Jan 8, 2010 5:29 PM EST up reply actions
it will be much harder
to measure their molecular weight after that.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Air Cassel - approved for takeoff
Always in motion is the future.
-- Yoda
nobody really knows what anyone will do at the MLB level...
so, why the hell are we paying zack $8 million this year…we could go buy uncertainty for 400k
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jan 8, 2010 6:23 PM EST up reply actions
I couldn't figure out what was really the big problem here ...
… 1 year, $1 million. It’s a small contract, and you do have to put nine players on the field. It’s also not as if some great prospect is being blocked this time. The team isn’t any kind of a contender in 2010.
But then I reread the title of the post and it dawned on me – “for no apparent reason”. And that’s it. What’s the reason?
This is exactly the type of situation where you can pick up some guy who is likely to have value at the trade deadline and who hasn’t landed with another team. Someone who wants playing time, but there isn’t anything available with any of the contenders. But for sure when some team has an injury or needs to add a part to their roster, you have a chance to trade the guy for somebody who might be useful down the road.
You know, the type of thing that actually does play in GMDM’s strengths.
And that’s the problem for me. It’s pointless. It’s just filling a spot where there was an opportunity to make a small move that might have some impact down the road.
+++++++
OK – I guess there’s one more thing that bothers me. And that is why Podsednik instead of Maier. My best guess is that this is another case of looking for a guy who fits a role – speedy centerfielder and leadoff hitter. That apparently automatically makes him an upgrade over Maier.
And to link back to my comments above the separator. What if Dayton actually is plotting this as an opportunity to flip Pods before the trade deadline for a prospect? What if Dayton actually believes that Pods stands a decent chance of having some significant value to a contending team sometime next July?
True
Teahen never really did get a fair chance in CF, and now that he’s locked up long-term, it’s the time to pounce!
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 1:09 PM EST up reply actions
I cant really see
there being much of a market for pods but maybe for DeJesus. Then maybe pods could move over to left. Although I would prefer to trade both and fill those positions from the farm.
by wt on Jan 8, 2010 1:33 PM EST up reply actions
Podsednik is a lot like DDJ
Steals more basses (and almost as unsuccessfully!), that’s for sure.
Well, he’s like DDJ. Without the bat. Or glove. and 4 years older.
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
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by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 1:40 PM EST up reply actions
does that mean?
He’ll get picked off first and find it funny too?
"Shot by my own men."
I love this
b/c we started joking about it months ago
and it finally came true
by Freneau on Jan 8, 2010 1:05 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Quick, let's make jokes
About how Dayton Moore would trade Willie Bloomquist for Jason Heyward!
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
Reading GMDM's Mind
Is just not that difficult.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 8, 2010 1:15 PM EST up reply actions
He Has To
Marinate in the NL a couple more years before he reaches his Moorean prime.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 8, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Plus, not dealing for him now increases the chances that Cincy
will trade him to the Braves or Mariners first. So he’s properly indoctrinated into the Church of Major League Baseball.
"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 Jan 8, 2010 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
This is the only way
Will Ebners Hit Parade, Pain TV; Channel 32; All the time! (PDT)
by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Jan 8, 2010 1:33 PM EST up reply actions
Moorean Prime
probably the funniest phrase I’ve read in quite a while. Perhaps someone can explain a Moorean Prime in mathematical terms?
"Remembers first run episdoes of Different Strokes"
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 4:42 PM EST up reply actions
yes, that has been the most disturbing transition
well, since the Meche contract, anyway
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 4:47 PM EST up reply actions
if that makes sense
which it doesn’t
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 4:48 PM EST up reply actions
Mom And Daughter
Are the total package.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 8, 2010 8:14 PM EST up reply actions
looks like a fucking party to me
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jan 8, 2010 9:08 PM EST up reply actions
I'd tap that
Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org
I feel guilty looking at this picture.
Is she 18 here?
close enough...
her peak was from like 17-19 so i’m assuming its somewhere in there
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jan 8, 2010 9:08 PM EST up reply actions
mmmm
<img src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:OiYKOH-FSDAGqM%3Ahttp://www.wallpaperbase.com/wallpapers/celebs/lindsaylohan/lindsay_lohan_24.jpg"/>
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jan 8, 2010 6:24 PM EST up reply actions
For the original usage, I believe you can look here
http://www.royalsreview.com/2009/12/26/1220063/holiday-royals-links-reactions-to#27850081
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 4:59 PM EST up reply actions
An explanation of Moorean Prime concept ...
Most ballplayers have careers that fall between ages 24 and 40. Within that number set, the primes are 29, 31, and 37.
Ergo, if the team signs players who are in their 30’s, the team effectively doubles its probability of having a player under contract during his prime years.
++++++
Note that this is an example of advanced baseball thinking that ordinary fans would never be able to grasp.
by Steve Nelson on Jan 8, 2010 5:13 PM EST up reply actions 10 recs
tremendous
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 5:22 PM EST up reply actions
Brilliant!
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 8, 2010 8:16 PM EST up reply actions
Instant classic.
Royalsreview, can you pleasepleaseplease make the Moorean Prime into a post, and then put that post on the front page forever and ever (amen)? Brilliance like this should not be buried in a depressing discussion about another useless Royals pickup.
WTF, self?
because we know
DM never duplicates the players available for a certain position
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 8, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
I'm sure it is
Dayton's savvy enough not to offer another year or two for no reason.
"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 Jan 8, 2010 1:18 PM EST up reply actions
or is it; Let's play better baseball!
Slogan ’10
Will Ebners Hit Parade, Pain TV; Channel 32; All the time! (PDT)
by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Jan 8, 2010 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
Read The Bible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111111111ONETWOTHREE
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 8, 2010 1:37 PM EST up reply actions
Someone once told me that
when I stated that “I need a drink,” that THAT would be the Royals’ 2010 slogan. I’ve got the logo and advertising materials all designed and everything.
WTF, self?
one more reason Alberto Callaspo should be untouchable
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jan 9, 2010 12:49 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
There is no way this is for 1/1
Did you see the Kendall deal? And the Farnsworth deal? And the Gload deal? And the Bloomquist deal?
Besides, Pods was apparently negotiating one- and two-year deals with teams, and I remember him getting greedy early on. I’d be thrilled with one year, $2 mil.
“we’re going to focus on players who can get on base”
Signs Scott Podsednik
“we’re going to focus on 0-3 year players with more years of team control”
Signs Scott Podsednik
“we’re going to improve the defense”
Signs Scott Podsednik
more evidence that GMDM has a case of the “very sexy” learning disability, “sexlexia”
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 8, 2010 1:23 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
The crux of the problem here
is that Dayton really believes the first and third statements are true with regard to Podsednik.
"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 Jan 8, 2010 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
Continuing The Tradition
Of signing shit players with hot wives.
And now:
http://www.playerwives.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/810377338_c603287c5b_o-photobucket.jpg
Is Kris Benson available?
Sorry; someone had to do it.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
I Can't Even
Do gratuitous sex right.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 8, 2010 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
I'd hold out for Cole Hamels
Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!
twss
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 2:05 PM EST up reply actions
BTW, who was the one in the center married to?
I recognize Mrs. Lima on top.
Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!
It's Pods' wife
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 2:07 PM EST up reply actions
Mr and Mrs. Tomko are pissed
Fire Everyone
by billybeingbilly on Jan 8, 2010 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
No it's not
The “Properties” on that page indicates to me her name is Schultz, but that’s not her married name, at least not while she was married to a Royal. Pod’s wife, from the link right under that image, was named Dergan.
Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!
D'oh
sorry, Julia Schultz is Mrs. Brett Tomko
Blonde Playboy bimbos…
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 4:07 PM EST up reply actions
didn't she do some sports casting?
Like and Erin Andrews type of gig before EA got rich?
Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.
This is just a note to myself
so when reviewing Moore’s transactions in the future months and years, there is written confirmation that at the time, I thought that this was another pointless deal.
I feel like this is pointless
But better than pretty much any other move Moore has made this offseason. Sad, but I’m not going to be upset with this one.
Pecota, watch over us.
Don't count your chickens
The terms aren’t officially out there yet. When we find out the overpayment (not if), upset is inevitable.
Hey, can I change my screen name to "CentralChamps20??"?
by CentralChamps2009 on Jan 8, 2010 2:09 PM EST up reply actions
It's almost impossible believe the incompetency being exhibited by this mangement team.
Dayton Moore is like the bastard child of Ed Wade and Omar Minaya. Increasingly, with every major league move, I am left wondering who the hell he has working for him. What sort of circle jerk must exist in order for him to believe Bloomquist, Guillen, Kendall, Gload, Jacobs, Betancourt, Getz, Fields, Anderson, Podsednik… were all good ideas?
As a fan, I’ve reached the point where I no longer am questioning whether I could run the team better than the current management. No, at this point I have absolutely no doubt I could do a better job, Bill Bavasi might be able to do a better job. Somehow, Dayton Moore has come to Kansas City and achieved what we never dreamed possible: he has made our team an even bigger joke than it was before.
The problem is, before the Royals were a joke – but they were a funny joke, there was some comedy in their haplessness. We had excuses to lean on, you could not point solely to the incompetence of the front office. Well, the joke isn’t funny anymore, and now it’s just a tear-jerking tale of arrogant under qualified people making an incredible amount of increasingly poor decisions. The moves are predictable, predictably awful, and even worse there is no logic behind them.
If you make informed gambles and lose, well, at least you tried. When you consistently go against common sense, statistical realities and obvious facts you are just a goddamn idiot. You can close the book on Dayton Moore if you hadn’t already. He was ill-prepared to be a major league general manager in the 21st century, and he’s shown no ability to learn from his mistakes. It’s one thing to make mistakes, it’s another to trudge onward,
-
blindly flinging yourself over the edge of the cliff of ultimate suck.
-
by slayor on Jan 8, 2010 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
LOL, *incompetence
i wrote this in such a furious rage i lost what little command of english i do have
-
devil_fingers post up at Fangraphs
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/scott-podsednik-dayton-moore-and-the-contest
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
You know, this wouldn't be a bad deal at all
if you were a contending team in need of a fourth or fifth outfielder. It’s not much money. Podsednik is not an awful player; he’s below-average, but on a good team as a fill-in he makes some sense at that price.
The problem is that the Royals are not a contending team in need of a backup outfielder. They are rebuilding and need players who might develop in the future. Pods is not going to get any better; in fact, he’s very likely to get worse. Therefore, it makes no sense to spend a million bucks on Pods that you could have spent developing prospects.
It's pronounced Poo-ZHOLS in Catalan.
by Juancho on Jan 8, 2010 2:49 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
exactly how i feel, too
saying it’s pointless is one thing, but it’s more than that: spending $1M+ on a pointless player is deleterious
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 8, 2010 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
Not quite what a contending team would do ...
if you were a contending team in need of a fourth or fifth outfielder. It’s not much money. Podsednik is not an awful player; he’s below-average, but on a good team as a fill-in he makes some sense at that price.
A true contender might sign someone such as Podsednik to a minor league deal and stash him in AAA to be available in case of an emergecy. The backup OF on the 25-man roster would be someone who brings more value than Podesdnik.
A team such as the Royals is a team that keeps someone like Podsednik with the MLB club as a backup OF. But a team led by GMDM makes a signs a guy such as Podsednik to be a starter.
by Steve Nelson on Jan 8, 2010 10:37 PM EST up reply actions
I am the last guy who would defend this signing for KC
but last year Scotty Pods did OPS 765 in 587 PA with a 1.7 WAR in the American League, according to Retro. Only the Yanks or Sox would be able to stash him at Triple-A. Your standard 89-win contending team (especially in the NL), fighting for a division title, would have him on the 25-man squad as a reserve outfielder, if only because he can sort of play center field.
Besides, he provides gritty veteran leadership.
It's pronounced Poo-ZHOLS in Catalan.
last year Scotty Pods did OPS 765 in 587 PA with a 1.7 WAR in the American League
Last year’s performance is an important data point. So are every other season of his career (especially the more recent seasons). Taking all into account, he projects to be about a 0.5 WAR player over a full season.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on Jan 9, 2010 6:21 AM EST up reply actions
Yep. Last year he was a little above replacement
and this year his performance is likely to decline to slightly above replacement level. A guy who is slightly above replacement level and is making $1 million can be useful as the 24th or 25th player on your squad, assuming you need someone who can sort of play center field and you don’t have any developing players there who could use some at-bats.
The problem is, while he might be a decent pickup for a .550 NL team with a $75 million payroll that needs gritty veteran leadership, he’s just another waste of money for the Royals.
It's pronounced Poo-ZHOLS in Catalan.
The biggest problem with this (these) moves is opportunity costs
There were many pretty good OFers on the FA market who would come cheap: Langerhans, Fiorentino, Gross, Church, etc. Instead, Moore acquire two pieces of shit: Anderson and Podsednik. Moore chose poor over pretty good. And there is risk in adding this kind of depth. Sidney Ponson would have made a decent 8th starter. Instead, he was the Royals 4th or 5th starter, thanks to poor roster and usage choices by Moore and Hillman. Now we have Podsednik. He’s a barely above replacement piece of crap who might be an ok 5th OFer for some team (but it is hard to concede that given that he doesn’t do anything well, including defense and base running, as well as hitting). But Hillman may well use him as an everyday OFer, and then Moore may pick up his option, giving us this nearly worthless player for yet another season.
Moore and Hillman have a knack for turning mildly negative signings into much larger mistakes.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on Jan 9, 2010 8:27 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Completely agreed.
That was my original point: that signing Pods was a bad move for the Royals, who need developing players, not over-the-hill players. It’s a waste of a million bucks, which you could use to sign five Latin American prospects or add to a couple of signing bonuses for draftees or hire five competent scouts or pick up two OK relievers or cut beer prices back to $7 to keep the long-suffering fans happy.
It's pronounced Poo-ZHOLS in Catalan.
I don’t really mind the Royals spending $1M on an OFer to help shore up the team. Even if you aren’t spending big money on the FA market because you are rebuilding, you still need to fill a hole cheaply here and there. My problem is that there were similarly inexpensive OFers who are clearly better than both Anderson and Podsednik. Bringing in a guy like Langerhans, Church, Fiorentino, etc. would have provided a clear upgrade over Maier, while maintaining a modest MLB budget.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on Jan 9, 2010 8:47 AM EST up reply actions
You know better than that
DM is bringing in Kendall and Podsednik for “name brand” value. I think he does truly think they’ll play well like they perhaps did 5 years ago – for some reason. However, I think he also highly values the name brand players because he can get it into the newspaper and hope to fire up the casual fan and get them out to the stadium or buy a t-shirt. DM/Glass is like a cheap Dan Snyder.
Air Cassel - approved for takeoff
Always in motion is the future.
-- Yoda
I guess Kendall had a "brand name" years ago
But Podsednik? He has no name value. He’s never had a reputation for being a good player. I don’t think Moore thinks there’s PR value to the fans from bringing in Podsednik.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on Jan 9, 2010 8:48 PM EST up reply actions
And that is my point about contending teams not having Podsednik on the active roster
There were many pretty good OFers on the FA market who would come cheap: Langerhans, Fiorentino, Gross, Church, etc.
Those are the types of guys that contenders keep around as reserve outfielders. Teams that are not contenders – and that have capable management – might find a reserve role at minimum salary or close thereto for guys such as Podsednik.
There is something that the Royals have to offer guys – playing time. There are always a group of players who don’t want playing time, to set themselves up for their next contract or so that they can get traded to a contender. Those are the players that a team such as the Royals should be acquiring instead of a Podsednik.
by Steve Nelson on Jan 9, 2010 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
I'm not sure I could take signing a good player though
Over the years as a Royals fan I have come to enjoy very different things from fans of other teams. For example, while they enjoy competition, I enjoy self deprecating humor. While they enjoy fawning over their star players’ numbers, I enjoy the eye-popping horribleness of our players. I have Stockholm syndrome. If we were ever to be good I’d be like an abused prisoner (picture the Gimp from Pulp Fiction) who suddenly has freedom. They’d be taking my leather helmet off. The light would be so blinding! Where’s my abuse?! I couldn’t handle it!
*You think I'm good* "You know, that Farnsworth is pretty good." *You will give me 9 million dollars* "So, Farnsy, how does $9 million sound?"
by jackie ballgame on Jan 8, 2010 2:54 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Don't underestimate the joy
of Stockholm Syndrome.
But is it truly “Stockhom Syndrome” if you know it’s Stockhom Syndrome?
"Shot by my own men."
When I saw this come up on the ESPN scroll just now during lunch, I could not stop laughing
My favorite team has officially launched itself into “so bad that the front office must have been taken over by theater students trying to parody baseball with a post-ironic meta-comedic performance piece.”
by Soria's Unibrow on Jan 8, 2010 2:58 PM EST reply actions 8 recs
Royals' new team slogan:
Support Your Local Post-Ironic Meta-Comedic Performing Arts Troupe! Parody of baseball has never been funnier!
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 8, 2010 3:19 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe it's a tragicomedy
Because when I’m not laughing, I’m crying.
by Soria's Unibrow on Jan 8, 2010 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
This whole thing brought back to mind those absurd comment threads at FanGraphs a year ago ...
… when Dave Cameron ripped the Jacobs trade and ranked the Royals front office #27 out of 30.
Is it possible that there is actually a rising tidal wave of absurdism? At what point does it cease to be an performance parody and start to become reality?
Yu-Betcha!
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 8, 2010 8:30 PM EST up reply actions
Dave Cameron must have a lot of faith in the draft picks to rank the front office that high
Mr Glass, this is a pro sports team, not a retail store - run it like one!
a new post is up btw
as long as we bring in an apprpriate number of new cheesecake pics, i think we’re good
Move is being ripped on the royals facebook page.
Usually, it’s casual fans there, so I’m a little surprised.
it takes real talent
to take a situation that should be hopeful — high draft picks, big draft budgets, and turn it into this sort of feeling
I’m just glad that every good draft always works out, otherwise I’d be really worried about the future.
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
by Matt Klaassen on Jan 8, 2010 6:37 PM EST up reply actions
Every five days you get to watch Zack pitch.
That’s all I got…
Maybe BPJ Will
Be his personal catcher.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 8, 2010 8:31 PM EST up reply actions
It's been 25 years since the playoffs.
25 years. Really.
If you haven’t given up during all that time, why bother giving up now??
by Black and Gold on Jan 9, 2010 12:22 AM EST up reply actions
We all have our breaking points
And I should note that it’s only been 16 years since the team was actually good.
This space for rent.
We stood before it and began to freeze inside from the exertion. We questioned the signing, berated it, made love to it, prayed to it: We called it mother, called it whore and slut, called it our beloved, called it Podsednik…
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Jan 10, 2010 4:05 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
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