Easy Goals for 2010 That the Royals May Nevertheless Not Achieve: Part 2
Goal #2: Playing St. Willie Less
Thanks to both injuries and organizational incompetence, the Royals ended up playing Willie Bloomquist way too much in 2009. St. Willie logged career highs in games played (125) and plate appearances (468) by wide margins. But hey, any time you can pencil in an all-batting-average-hitter-with-a-horrible-batting-average-and-no-position into the starting lineup, you pretty much have to do it.
After a hot start, the beloved Bloomquist cooled, and ended the season with a .265/.308/.355 line. Honestly, it was a bizarre season for Bloomquist, who completely lost/abandoned the OBP skills that he'd shown in 2008 (.377 OBP) in favor of an extremely small power surge (4 homers!) He apparently took the one skill he'd developed in his early 30s and decided to go away from it. (The Royals, where a 70 point OBP drop happens and is praised!)
The Royals played Bloomquist everywhere in 2009, and while a part of this can be attributed to the various owies which (supposedly) plagued the Royals in 2009 (robbing them of that 77 win season they'd earned), Bloomquist's playing time also wasn't entirely innocent. It wasn't like he wandered out of the desert as the last baseball player alive after World War III. No, the Royals like Bloomquist and think he helps them.
Bloomquist started 42 games in right field (where the greatest number of his PAs came) and 9 in left, after all, which is a sure sign of a broken baseball braintrust. They found ways to get him run, and they probably will continue to do so in 2010.
Yes, Bloomquist can nominally play a number of positions (most of them not well) but how does that give you flexibility of a desirable kind when the player isn't actually good? And it isn't like Bloomquist's flexibility allows the Royals to employ less flexible mashers at other postions either. Nope, the Royals have similarly bad options all over the place. There's nothing actually of quality being generated by this relationship. Nothing is being advanced here! It's like dating someone who brings nothing to the relationship physically, emotionally, intellectually or financially, yet saying they have the whole package.
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To be fair
thanks primarily to Dayton Moore, Willie does currently have it ‘going on’ financially.
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs.
Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.
Fortunately, Willie is kind of an afterthought this year
Trey has too many things to worry about, other than getting the generic gritty white guy playing time.
Getz took his spot.
another thing going against his PAs
is the growing number of FA signings in the outfield. they’re more in love with Pods and Ankiel than they are with Bloomers.
Zapp Brannigan/Dayton Moore quote of the day: "...And like all my plans, it's so simple an idiot could have devised it!"
by SagehenMacGyver47 on Feb 16, 2010 2:53 PM EST up reply actions
Where?
If Guillen’s not playing the field, there’s nowhere to shift him. Late inning replacement at 2nd base? Gordon replacement after 7-8 innings? I just don’t see it. Getz over Bloomy, Fields for his bat over a Bloomy pinch hit, and Callaspo’s in there too. Bloomy gets less than 200 ABs, and doesn’t start more than 25 games.
at some level
I think we’re going to see a Callaspo or DDJ trade that will lead to more Bloomy time. I think you are right about Pods/Ankiel, but those guys are also fairly significant injury risks and or sucking-so-much they fall out of favor risk.
I’m also not sure they’re fully committed to Getz.
We’ll see. You may very well be right. I think, in any case, 150 PAs is the absolute floor for Bloomy, and we work our way up from there.
keep in mind, though
exactly how badly someone has to suck before they fall out of favor
NOt just TPJ, think Bannister’s 2008, when it seemed like he wsa getting utterly shelled every time out
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 Feb 16, 2010 3:30 PM EST up reply actions
Bloomquist right now is the only backup shortstop and might be the backup outfielder too
Right now, the three starting OFers are all left-handed, with Anderson and Bloomquist as the only right-handed backups (maybe Fields if the team trusts him to play the OF). Assuming 12 pitchers and no trades, Pena/Callaspo/Bloomquist have locked up three of the four bench spots, with Fields probably having the inside track for the last spot. With Anderson out of the picture, Bloomquist is suddenly the backup outfielder and probably gets a start somewhere in the outfield against LHPs.
Another option is to trade Bloomquist, but that they be difficult. Jokes aside about no one else wanting him, there are a few (mostly old school) teams that would value his versatility at the end of the bench. But Bloomquist’s base salary this year is $1.7 million (plus playing time incentives), so in this economic market, Moore might have trouble finding another team willing to take Bloomquist without the Royals paying them to do so.
I think Trey's talked about Getz backing up SS
which is almost as good as him starting there, I guess
The Giants seem to like older, crappy guys who “play” a lot of positions, maybe we can get MB for him?
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 Feb 16, 2010 3:55 PM EST up reply actions
I love how Brian Anderson is the afterthought after being signed to a big league contract.
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
by Warden11 on Feb 16, 2010 10:13 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
good point
but they seemed to sour on Jacobs pretty quickly (even though he was exactly what we thougth he would be)
there’s delusional Moore/Hillman (TPJ) and vindictive Moore/Hillman (Jacobs, Gordon, Dayton’s string of 10 straight moves that seemed to be directed at pissing off fans)… its so damn hard to predict these days
At least right now
He’s the only guy who projects on the 25-man roster who isn’t either entrenched in or allegedly competing for a starting spot. So that should help, shouldn’t it?
That seems like a more appropriate name.
by CentralChamps20?? on Feb 16, 2010 2:41 PM EST reply actions
you'd think
but remember the, “hey, Willie Bloomquist Tug Hulett Luis Hernandez sucks, but at least it will get Tony Pena, Jr. off the roster!”
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 Feb 16, 2010 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
Not Until We
Acquired Yu-Bet.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Feb 16, 2010 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
trey is petitioning MLB at this moment
to allow the same player to bat in the lineup twice, thus giving Willie Bloomquist 7000 PA on the season still while starting every 5 day and closing the other 4.
Regardless of who the Chiefs pick at #5 overall, Whitlock will call it the worst pick in the history of the Chiefs. Heres to hoping that #5 pick runs Whitlock out of town.....
Heh, my favorite new feature is back!!!
I tend to agree with RR’s take that somehow, someway, Hillman will manage to overplay Willie.
By my count, that makes two resounding “yeses” in this series so far.
What will the easy goal not reached # 3 be?
I can’t wait to read all about it!
Mr Glass, this is a pro sports team, not a retail store - run it like one!
Willie was overplayed due to tremendous lack of OF depth
If 2010 sees the injuries to two OF starters like 09 did with Crisp and Guillen, KC is in better shape with Brian Anderson, Josh Fields and Mitch Maier available. I see Bloomy’s days in the 2010 next to none.
Omaha has on its roster Shane Costa and Buck Coats who are two 4A types that could get an extended look. Not saying they are good but it’s not Willie
Finally, by midseason, I am optimistic that KC might have one of its own young minor leaguers to call up like Lough, Parraz, Dyson or T. Smith. I know Trey would rather go with the gritty veteran presence but doesn’t there come a time when the kids should get a shot if they are putting up the numbers?
no way of knowing
they might call up a bunch of guys… but they might not… i’ve given up trying to predict this group
they called up NO ONE last year, fwiw
Kila Ka'aihue says "Don't hold your breath".
I know Trey would rather go with the gritty veteran presence but doesn’t there come a time when the kids should get a shot if they are putting up the numbers?
by Steve Nelson on Feb 16, 2010 5:17 PM EST up reply actions
that is crazy talk, right there.
"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell
by buddyball on Feb 16, 2010 5:32 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Got to think there is still a chance the Royals do the right thing..
Getz to short, Callaspo to 2nd and either a Bloomy or Yuni is DFA’ed once we bring up the 5th starter, otherwise Maier is a goner, which would be stupid……..
See ya around Mitch.
Go Royals!
either a Bloomy or Yuni is DFA’ed
You actually think there is a chance they would do that???
by Steve Nelson on Feb 16, 2010 5:40 PM EST up reply actions
If either bloomy or Yuni is DFA'd...
then Dayton Moore got fired as GM.
or
assassinated
Zapp Brannigan/Dayton Moore quote of the day: "...And like all my plans, it's so simple an idiot could have devised it!"
by SagehenMacGyver47 on Feb 17, 2010 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
When And If
Aviles returns it should be Aviles/Callaspo with Getz on the bench. Hoagy’s hammies will probably be flapping in the breeze by that time, so Fields should probably be the primary DH. This leaves Pena, Getz, Anderson/Maier and Sporqie/YuBet on the bench.
Of course, this will not happen because Yu-Bet, the most sunken of costs, will be displaying his improved lateral movement between 2b and 3B, Getz will be starting at 2B, Aviles will be DFA’d and Callaspo traded for an A-Baller to make room for Bloomers and Hoagy, who will be playing at 50% and moping because he’s not in RF.
The Process is a wonder to behold.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Feb 16, 2010 6:19 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The Process is a wonder to behold.
Some behold it. Others choose to avert their eyes once they smell it.
by Steve Nelson on Feb 16, 2010 6:51 PM EST up reply actions
Lineups question
Does anyone have a link to that lineup generator that everyone was using a couple of years ago to see what the best lineup would be?
so I guess...
in this ‘relationship,’ you’re getting action in just about every position imaginable, but afterwards you just wish you just hadn’t wasted the time trying and that most times quality is more important than quantity…or flexibility.
So This Was
What easily could have been done on the USS Titanic without shuffling the deck chairs much at all.
Buck C
Butler 1B
Callaspo 2B
TPJJ/Aviles (when he returns) SS
Gordon 3B
DDJ LF
Maier/Anderson CF
Teahen RF
Kila/Guillen DH
Bench- Pena, Bloomers, Maier/Anderson, Kila/Guillen
We would have had to have thrown maybe 5-7 million at Buck and Teahen, signed Anderson and pissed Hoagy off by making him the lesser half of a platoon; FINE! Not all action is progress.
So you get a batting order something like this:
DDJ
Callaspo
Kila
Butler
Gordon
Buck
Teahen
TPJJ/Aviles
Maier/Anderson
And I’d keep TPJJ and DFA Bloomers when Aviles returns. This also leave a lot of room to bring up MiLBers who look like they’re ready.
Is there any aspect of baseball at which this team is not at least as good as what we now have?
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Feb 17, 2010 12:21 AM EST reply actions
Anyone who's finished wood knows that you need to choose between grittiness and polish
The gritty sandpaper is used to remove big imperfections. But as the preparation is finished you have to reduce to grit to get a nicely polished finish.
So that the underlying idea here. If you want to field a team that is a finished you need to get rid of the guys who are the grittiest.
The obvious lesson here is that as long as the Royals value players for their grittiness, they’re never going to field a finished product. The team will always be a work “in Process”®.
by Steve Nelson on Feb 17, 2010 12:41 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
And here I thought after the Kendall/Pods signing we were already looking at a team that's finished
by marbotty on Feb 17, 2010 8:44 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs
Or, to borrow a quip from Zsa Zsa Gabor ...
A ballplayer is not a ballplayer until he is a Kansas City Royal. Then he’s finished.
+++++
And seriously, folks, how many baseball blogs do you know of that feed you quotes from a Gabor?
by Steve Nelson on Feb 18, 2010 1:21 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
John Buck
John Buck is the best ball player I’ve ever seen. Why did we get rid of John Buck? That guy was the bread and butter that made this ship go. He was the best. I’ve seen some good catching arms in my day, but Buck threw out 100% of the would-be base stealers. Buck hit dingers, buck could throw, buck could win. Buck never once struck out in 4000 major league at bats. Buck quit the royals to join our boys over seas. He’s currently a general in the army of one. He single-handedly drove a tank into a taliban stronghold. John Buck is the reason I left my wife. If I could invite three people to dinner, none of them would be John Buck, because he’d steal all of the girls and throw out all of the base runners. John Buck had a career average of .394. The only person with a better average was Stan Musial, and he’s dead. Natural causes, you kidding me? Buck killed him, because Musial was trying to steal his virginity.
Bob Hamelin, Ken Harvey and Rusty Meachum
I am going to sell Billy Butler to the circus and bring back Bob “The Hammer” Hamelin, Ken Harvey and Rusty Meachum.
With The Hammer you know what you’re going to get, a few DUIs.
With Harvey you know what you’re going to get: 64 home runs and sparkling defense.
With Meachum you know what you’re going to get: he’s going to throw you a piece of bazooka from the bullpen when you’re 6-years-old and make you a lifetime Royals fan, while turning in around 18 perfect games a season.
As general manager, I plan on breaking this news to the press eventually, I’m making this post with my bluetooth, eating a meatball grinder and going 100 mph down I-35 while masturbating to a picture of David Glass and listening to Boz Skaggs.
sincerely,
Paul Splitorff
p.s. This is really Mendy Lopez, and I’m ruining your life.
What is responsible for this post?
Crack, meth or black tar heroin? Hard to say.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on Feb 18, 2010 8:19 AM EST up reply actions
I don't know, but I find this line hilarious:
“… and going 100 mph down I-35 while masturbating to a picture of David Glass and listening to Boz Skaggs.
sincerely,
Paul Splittorf"
So basically Callaspo is competing against Bloomquist for ABs now...
Great. We know who is winning that battle.
Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.
I haven't listened to it yet,
but I’m going to have to see it to believe it.
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.
Callaspo Should Supplant
Getz at 2B against LHP; he cold rakes from the right side. He should DH over Hoagy against RHP, even though his splits ate pretty RH dominant. He’s still better than Hoagy against RHP.
I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.
by philofthenorth on Feb 19, 2010 4:02 AM EST up reply actions
Yes.
JO from Jose and GUI from Guillen= Hoagy/JoGui
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.





















