Will the Scouting Gurus Please Show Up?

But it’s not happening. The sad part is I’m not surprised about the Pods signing. The most distressing part of the DM reign for me continues to be the constant Braves retread signings and imports. At least Pods isn’t a former Brave.

…it makes me even more confused as to why the hell Moore signed Brian Anderson for seven hundred thousand clams. We have two center fielders already—DDJ and Mitch—and now we also have two more “center fielders”—Scotty P and Willie Hustle. We needed a legit RFer so that if Trey was hellbent on playing Hoagie, he could stick Hoagie’s awful defense at DH. Or, if we really needed a 4th OFer, we could have picked up some random AAA team’s starting center fielder for the minimum. Instead, we paid $2.5MM for two 4th OFs despite already having Maier for the league minimum and having Shane Costa stashed away in Omaha. WTF?

With all the alleged super pro scouts within the KC Royals front office, which is lead by super baseball genius Dayton Moore, why has the front office not given thought to having KC’s recently signed LHP Noel Arguelles help work the back door in landing another Cuban defector pitcher Aroldis Chapman?

If two guys defect together, does it not make sense that they have a powerful bond which goes far beyond most personal friendships? Each has a thirst for freedom and a thirst to play in the big leagues. They played together as teammates in Cuba, they planed to defect together and seek what this Country has to offer; freedom to earn a living beyond their wildest dreams, become someone that the whole world will take note of, should they succeed in MLB.

Since the Royals has signed the lesser known pitcher, does it not make sense for the Royals to try and leverage their success by having their employee make direct contact with his buddy. Have the newly signed employee say and do all the things that might entice a fellow defector into joining him as a member of a team that jumped at the chance to make him an instant millionaire. Cuba is not NY and KC is far more attuned to the lifestyle these youngesters have lived in Cuba, a carefree life away from the glare of the major market media but one that offers riches that they have only dreamed about for most of their short lives.

I BELIEVE in the process. i really hope the process is to fill the roster with expendable guys for this season while hopefully some of the kids in the minors make giant leaps this year and are ready to contribute the next or in the middle of next. The core of the team for the next five or more years is kinda there already Zack, Billy, Joakim and Alex. Apart from those the rest of the team can be replaced along with Gordon if his breakout year doesnt happen this season and DeJesus will probably be traded for another prospect that will hopefully help in two or so years. Not to say the players we have are bad players but there are some guys who are there to compete for the same job so give the Royals options and raising the level of play to have the best candidate rise to the occasion. I dont have as high hopes about this year as I did last year this time of year but think the royals can leave last place and have meaningful games late in the year. Its still very close in the central and if those players who need to have a above average season, do, it could be a fun year.

When KC signed Brian Anderson, I thought they were going with a Maier/Anderson look in CF. Signing Podsednik making signing Anderson an odd move. He does have an option left but Dyson and Lough should be at Omaha. Could see Lough beginning in AA with Dyson, Parraz, Coats, Costa and Anderson at Omaha.

I am still looking for the logic but might be searching for a while. Feel like Maier is really getting screwed. He hasn’t gotten a chance to prove (or disprove) that he can be an everyday player. After his 2009 second half, thought the Royals would give him a shot to win the position. Signing a FA veteran kills that idea.

I am trying to hold out hope, but it’s getting harder. I, like many others, was expecting Dayton Moore to be the second coming of John Scherholtz, but am about ready to concede that pipe dream. I feel like the only real change between his regime and Allard Baird’s is that he’s been more successful getting the Glass family to spend money.

Rather than pickup Scott Posednik and Jason Kendall I’d rather give the youth (Mitch Maier, Brayan Pena) a chance; it’s not like we’re close to a title anyway. At least it’s more interesting to see whether or not they can cut it rather than watching over-the-hill retreads. His trades (with the possible exception of Tyler Lumsden) have been abysmal as well. Can we get someone on his team to preach the merits of sabermetrics to him?

Honestly, I think the potential difference in wins is nominal at best with those 2 veterans, and could make an argument—and believe to be true—that we would be better off with Maier and Pena; Maier has demonstrated a good-to-great glove in CF and his bat warmed up toward the end of the year; Pena is still unknown given the limited sample size, but has shown flashes offensively.

My guess is Kendall is a decent clubhouse influence and has a marginal year. I bet Podsednik gets hurt and is around the .260 year that is his norm. If the Royals weren’t going to go with Maier from the outset, I’d have preferred they try to re-sign Crisp to an incentive-laden deal. I live in Chicago and there has not been a single tear shed about not resigning Scotty Pods; more has been made of Getz and Fields being shipped out.

Ankiel would have been better

In another thread a week or so ago, somebody offered the argument that Moore was trying to solve his CF and C positions using “old school” values as his criteria.

I assume this means that the catcher should be a great game caller, and a great defender who controls the running game, and you simply “accept” what he can do with the bat, one way or the other. Also assume this means the CF should be an excellent defender with great speed, the ability to steal bases, and you simply “accept” some (presumably) of his hitting limitations.

I would be more inclined to cut DM some slack, IF HE ACTUALLY TRIED TO OBTAIN THESE TYPE OF PLAYERS as “old school” convention dictates.

In other words, you want an old school catcher? Then go out and find a way to trade for Yadier Molina, not 34 year old Jason Kendall. At least that way, your catcher can be well above average AT SOMETHING.

Same goes for the CF situation. You want an “old school” centerfielder? Then find a way to trade for Brett Gardner or Franklin Guittierez, not an over-the-hill guy like PODSEDNIK or BRIAN ANDERSON. At least that way, your CF can be well above average AT SOMETHING.

I sure hope you are correct in saying you think the Royals will release Guillen before spring training.

Rest assured, most RR readers would not hesitate to cite that as a positive sign about GMDM, as it would indicate an abilty to recognize a sunk cost, and at least partially explain what appears on the surface to be superfluous signings of not 1, but 2 marginal outfielders this offseason.