You know what really grinds my gears?  By now it has become apparent that many local Royals fans have given up on Gordon at the Major League level.  "He's a prima donna"... "he doesn't hustle"... "he's always injured like Mike Sweeney"... "I wish he played like Willie Bloomquist."  These are all common criticisms of Gordon in the local fanbase, and these drive me insane and make me wonder at all how such people even follow baseball, or order at fast food restaurants for that matter.  They are the same rubes who love that we're leading the league in batting average (runs would be awesome), and they always want more Willie.  Many of these people read the KC Star daily, which is good and this, you would think, would make them more intelligent fans.  But I noticed in today's paper that the detailed minor league stat page left off (wait for it) Alex Gordon at Omaha.  His stats were not printed.  His name was not found.  Error on the editor's part?  Absolutely.  But I can forgive irresponsible journalism (See MSNBC, FoxNews, the Huffington Post, and others) because it's common.  But for fans that are casual and not necessarily blog readers or 'enlightened' in the sense that RR readers are, his exclusion is actually kind of a big deal. 

Especially on the same day that Ned Yost announces that RICK ANKIEL IS BACK!!!  Subtle hints were dropped by Bob Dutton that we should host a parade for Ankiel, which is maybe what Dayton was talking about after all. 

via www.rockhurst.edu

I can't be sure, but I think this is an artist's rendering of the statue Dayton Moore wants of himself, to be unveiled during the parade celebrating Rick Ankiel's triumphant return.  No one can convince me otherwise.  I don't understand art, just baseball.

I really have nothing more to add but... DETAIL, because any intelligent baseball fan (I exclude baseball 'men' here, because they happen to be intent on running our Major League team into the ground) can see that Gordon warrants a call-up and, at the very least, a real shot to be a Major Leaguer.  His token 38 plate appearances this year at the MLB level are a disgrace to the organization.  If that's all he was going to get as a chance to blossom in 2010, why wasn't he at least auditioning as an outfielder in the offseason or spring training?  If two weeks of Callaspo playing well at third is all it took to convince our dipshits management that Gordon should change positions, we are more screwed than I thought.

via cr4.globalspec.com

I imagine this is how Alex felt when he heard that Rick Ankiel will get a shot at the Majors again before he will.

Some ignorant fans may have been rubbed the wrong way by Gordon's non-chalance in the field (he was bad at third base, and getting worse) and called third strikes.  In that environment, it is tough to overcome.  But would any successful 'three true outcomes' type hitter/prospect ever flourish?  Gordon will walk, Gordon will strike out, and Gordon will hit with power (perhaps quite a bit).  These things were known when he came up and were accepted by the fanbase, however briefly.  Why not give him a chance now, as an outfielder?  Some fans just love Scott Podsednik, Rick Ankiel, and Willie Bloomquist too much  (they DIVE for fly balls!!!!).

via kansascity.royals.mlb.com 

Nevermind that Mitch Maier could have tied his shoes under this fly ball before catching it. 

But Rick Ankiel is back, and some fans are rejoicing.  Our beloved former Cardinal is returning from a marvelous stint on multiple a rehab assignment in Omaha where he struck out 17 times and only walked once(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd say that's enough exclamation points, but it really isn't).  He hit four home runs, and batted .270/.281/.556.  Rick Ankiel is gritty.  He is a veteran.  People outside of KC know who he is.  I was open to giving him a chance this past offseason so long as it would not cost Maier development time when we signed him (believed Ankiel might be our RF).  Now, it's costing Gordon too, not just C-prospect Mitch.  Gordon deserves time to develop much more than Mitch.  Spare me the Rick Ankiel is back bulls*** Royals, because this is just retarded.

via cache.daylife.com

Maier actually had already caught this ball and decided to let Rick try it for practice, and he of course dove to display that he cares more about effort than results Mitch does.  Ankiel did not catch the ball.  Dayton Moore was impressed.

Someone should do a post not on which or when our prospects will be rookies and contributing, but the more realistic post should discuss which of our prospects will be needlessly blocked by aging, non-contributing, gritty, obp-voids in the name of leadership.  Right now we have Kila and Gordon.  In two years it could be Hosmer, Kila, Gordon, Myers, and Colon.  Until fans abandon stupidity and their demands for 25 Willie Bloomquists, Dayton Moore will keep giving it to them.

That is what grinds my gears.

"Wait, no, no, I didn't mean it.  I LOVE RICK ANKIEL, I'm all about the fan experience...NOOO!!!!"

via vscdn.giantrealm.com

The Royals front office wishes the readers of RR to know that the author responsible for this piece has been sacked.