The Final Countdown: T-minus Baird

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 13, 2011 5:03 PM EST

Well, I lied. It's not really the final countdown. I figured there'd be, maybe 5 or 6 Allard Baird players left on the 40-man roster. Not so:

Pitchers

Henry Barrera #35 RP

Luke Hochevar #44 SP (2006 draft)

Dusty Hughes #31 RP

Blake Wood #38 RP (2006 draft)

Everett Teaford # RP (2006 draft)

Position Players

Mike Aviles #30 2B (Hard to believe. It was even rumored that other teams had interest - but he's still around.)

Billy Butler #16 1B

Kila Ka'aihue #25 1B

Jeff Bianchi #15 SS

Jarrod Dyson #1 CF (2006 draft)

Alex Gordon #4 LF (although, Alex Gordon "3B" is long gone)

Mitch Maier #12 CF

Derrick Robinson LF (2006 draft)

--any mistakes, please advise--

(Note: 2006 draftees are thought to be drafted at Ladnier's discretion, rather than Moore's. Some conspiracy theorists might suggest otherwise. For instance: Jarrod Dyson - Did Moore not whisper that name into Ladnier's ear near the end of the draft?)

That makes 13 players, 5 of which are from the 2006 draft, so AT LEAST 8 non-Moore players remain. This number could shrink substantially in the spring if Maier, Kila, Dyson, Barrera, and/or Hughes don't remain.

Poll

How long until this number drops to ZERO?

Before the start of the 2012 season

3 votes

Before the end of the 2012 season

20 votes

Sometime around the 2013 or 2014 seasons

55 votes

2015 or later, which wouldn't be abnormal for a new GM

67 votes

Never (just because of Billy Butler)

66 votes

Never (not just because of Billy Butler)

17 votes

228 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 50 comments | 3 recs |

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Comments

Who will last the longest?

Will it be Butler? My guess is Derrick Robinson is on this team forever. They’ll make him a starter, then keep him around as a 4th OF for years beyond his usefulness.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 13, 2011 5:40 PM EST reply actions

drobs getting out drobbed by dyson

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Jan 13, 2011 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

if only even one of them was as good as lame old Gregor Blanco

by Freneau on Jan 13, 2011 6:17 PM EST up reply actions

That also would have been a good poll.

Too bad there can’t be more than one. I’m sure the coding is

much too difficult

The whole problem with the world is that fools & fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. ~ Bertrand Russell

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 13, 2011 6:37 PM EST up reply actions

its a long standing oddity of the SB nation programming

by Freneau on Jan 13, 2011 6:46 PM EST up reply actions

grumble, grumble

but what have they done for us lately?

The whole problem with the world is that fools & fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. ~ Bertrand Russell

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 13, 2011 7:09 PM EST up reply actions

You didn't hear?

Mitch Maier will be ritualistically executed in CF prior to the home opener.

by Freneau on Jan 13, 2011 5:52 PM EST reply actions

The radical Royalist insurgents

are threatening to sacrifice one Baird holdover a month until all former Braves prospects, held anywhere in the world, are released as free agents.

by 2X2L on Jan 13, 2011 5:59 PM EST up reply actions

FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

by philofthenorth on Jan 13, 2011 9:29 PM EST up reply actions

Along with Alex Gordon

by NotAHippie on Jan 13, 2011 11:31 PM EST up reply actions

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

The prophecy has been fulfilled.

by mitchfreakingmaier! on Jan 14, 2011 10:30 AM EST up reply actions

The official word on the 2006 draft from Moore and the Royals FO

was that due to the timing of his hiring, Moore would not take part in the deliberations on the #1 pick, but could be involved in the rest of the draft. That was essentially a handshake agreement between the Royals, Moore and the Braves.

Now, some believe this and some don’t, but I think Moore and most GM’s aren’t directly involved in their drafts and they have their minor league director do it. I think the GM’s role is pre-draft in discussing strategy, focus and priorities, and not in the decision making on the actual picks. So I think Moore probably talked to Ladnier some about the draft, but not in the deliberations on who should be the #1 overall selection.

Just my two cents.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Jan 13, 2011 6:00 PM EST reply actions

dyson and drob do seem like moore type guys

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Jan 13, 2011 6:02 PM EST up reply actions

They are very much the type of OFer he loves

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Jan 13, 2011 6:04 PM EST up reply actions

the boys all bicep

the girls all chest

or something like that

all tools, no results

by Freneau on Jan 13, 2011 6:18 PM EST up reply actions

It seems like the opposite should be true

The Royals were looking at guys the Braves couldn’t get no matter what in the first pick. The rest of the picks were guys the Braves could have nabbed. IMO, this is what happened – Moore wanted Hooch, but didn’t give his input on the rest of the draft.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 13, 2011 6:33 PM EST up reply actions

Could be

The fact that Moore canned Ladnier after the 2006 draft makes me hesitant to call 2006 draftees “Moore guys”. But like NYR mentioned above, Moore probably had at least some input.

The whole problem with the world is that fools & fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. ~ Bertrand Russell

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 13, 2011 6:35 PM EST up reply actions

the fact that Ladnier wasn't canned until after the 2008 draft...

R.I.P. cwhitman412, Frederick0220, & Mets2k9
http://twitter.com/doublestix

by doublestix on Jan 13, 2011 6:37 PM EST up reply actions

I think, overall, it's a solid guess that aside from general input

2006 coouldn’t have really been Moore’s draft. Hell, it’s an over-statement to call the 2010 draft “Moore’s” because that’s just really not how it works. The GM just can’t possibly be out there scouting the thousands of players involved. He’s an overseer and sets the agenda and makes the final say, but the lieutenant guys are really running the draft

by Freneau on Jan 13, 2011 6:48 PM EST up reply actions

this is true

after the first round pick…the GM isn’t really involved.

though in the end they will get the credit (or the blame) since the buck stops with them.

R.I.P. cwhitman412, Frederick0220, & Mets2k9
http://twitter.com/doublestix

by doublestix on Jan 13, 2011 7:07 PM EST up reply actions

I bet you GMDM was heavily involved in the Myers pick

Since he was originally considering drafting him in the first place

by Boots 58 on Jan 13, 2011 7:23 PM EST up reply actions

I agree

I think the typical GM is really involved in the top several rounds. At least in setting the lists and pulling the trigger. Maybe DM’s more hands off than most – but I doubt it.

He has to at least read all the scouting reports, judge which scouts he can trust on which areas of skill. Then make decisions about what the goals are with each pick, such as team need vs overall talent.

The whole problem with the world is that fools & fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. ~ Bertrand Russell

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 13, 2011 7:26 PM EST up reply actions

Yea

I remember a few years ago in the conference call, Kenny Williams was just sitting back and letting his scouting director make all the picks on day two and Kenny kept laughing and yelling “great pick!” after his selections.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 13, 2011 11:31 PM EST up reply actions

i am sure they are in on these type of extreme overslot picks as well

Myers, Dwyer, Melville, and more recently Adam among them.

R.I.P. cwhitman412, Frederick0220, & Mets2k9
http://twitter.com/doublestix

by doublestix on Jan 13, 2011 7:31 PM EST up reply actions

Antonio (sigh)

by Boots 58 on Jan 14, 2011 12:08 AM EST up reply actions

So it really can't be considered Baird's either

As Baird had not been the GM for what, a month or so, so he would have had little to no input on these guyes. Thus,a ll of the 2006 guys should be excluded from a list of “Baird guys.” That leaves Barrera, Hughes (until the end of spring training), Butler, Gordon, Kila, Maier (until he’s cut to make room for Francis on the 40-man roster), and Bianchi.

It's all ball bearings these days!

by CentralChamps20?? on Jan 14, 2011 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

oh, I thought it was after 2006

that changes things a bit

The whole problem with the world is that fools & fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. ~ Bertrand Russell

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 13, 2011 7:10 PM EST up reply actions

more specifically after the signing period was over

i remember he was very instrumental in getting Melville to sign.

R.I.P. cwhitman412, Frederick0220, & Mets2k9
http://twitter.com/doublestix

by doublestix on Jan 13, 2011 7:30 PM EST up reply actions

huh, i remember reading recently that it was after 2006, but that must have been wrong

stupid internet

The whole problem with the world is that fools & fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. ~ Bertrand Russell

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 13, 2011 7:44 PM EST up reply actions

Where's Europe when you need them?

Killing time until time kills me

by EspeciallyK on Jan 13, 2011 6:08 PM EST reply actions

Right here

I hereby nominate this song as the official theme music of this post.

by Sweep_the_Leg on Jan 13, 2011 6:29 PM EST up reply actions

I assume you can find them in an umemployment line somewhere?

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 13, 2011 6:33 PM EST up reply actions

We're Andorra, a loving tribute to Europe.

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Jan 13, 2011 7:09 PM EST up reply actions

no, they are on strike somewhere

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Jan 13, 2011 10:39 PM EST up reply actions

Well...it turns out they are still pumping out albums and touring.......

Wow.

Killing time until time kills me

by EspeciallyK on Jan 13, 2011 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

I can never get enough of that song

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Jan 13, 2011 7:08 PM EST up reply actions

What exactly is "Never"

as opposed to “2015 or later”? Billy Butler can’t play forever, even if he’s a Royal for his entire career. Once he retires (if he’s the last of the Baird survivors and it’s at the latest possible time), it will be “2015 or later”.

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Jan 13, 2011 7:08 PM EST reply actions

I know it's not exactly clear - and, yes, eventually all the Baird players will die and thus no longer be able to play for the Royals

-2015 or later: means that ALL Baird players WILL BE GONE in the foreseeable future (or until Moore gets fired) – for instance, Moore trades Butler in 2016. (What happens when Butler is 35 in 2022 is not what this answer is getting at – if you think Butler plays out the majority of his career as a Royal, then “Never” is the way to go.)
-Never, because of Butler: means that ALL Baird players will never be gone only b/c Butler will be around for the foreseeable future (or until Moore gets fired), even after 2015.
-Never, because of someone other than Butler: means that ALL Baird players will never be gone b/c at least someone else (say, Dyson (j/k) or Bianchi) will be around for the foreseeable future, even after 2015.
I’m not sure if that made it any more clear, but will we even remember this poll in a week? (day?)

The whole problem with the world is that fools & fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. ~ Bertrand Russell

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 13, 2011 7:23 PM EST up reply actions

David Glass wants to emulate Mr. K

And hand out lifetime contracts. Only now they will be literal.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 13, 2011 11:31 PM EST up reply actions

There's a ton of guys just arriving now

Who will be under team control for quite a while still

It’s possible we keep at least one of these guys if they do well past 2015. I’m not sure how likely it is though.

by Boots 58 on Jan 13, 2011 7:25 PM EST reply actions

That's the question I'm getting at:

Do we think DM will keep dumping Baird guys, even as they approach the majors and show that they can perform? Or was he just weeding guys out, and—Baird guy or not—if they can cut it at the ML level he will keep them?

I’m sure some claims (including mine) that he just gets rid of Baird’s players for the fun of it are exaggerated, though not always. He has kept Aviles longer than I would have expected, considering the non-Moore status and that Moore never seemed to think too highly of him.

The whole problem with the world is that fools & fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. ~ Bertrand Russell

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 13, 2011 7:30 PM EST up reply actions

I think Moore’s distaste for “Baird’s guys” and his blind fealty to “his guys” are both very much overrated.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Jan 13, 2011 9:47 PM EST up reply actions

The fact that is GOB's silhouette...

in the display picture gets you a rec alone :)

by KennyPowers_from_Scout on Jan 13, 2011 8:45 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Gracias

Wasn’t sure how many people would recognize that. Almost went with this picture, but it wasn’t a very high-quality capture:

The whole problem with the world is that fools & fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. ~ Bertrand Russell

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 14, 2011 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Any AD reference will automatically get a 'rec.

Now the song is stuck in my head.

Dr. Ausgiano schools me in the classroom and on the field of battle

by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Jan 14, 2011 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, that was me all day yesterday

“It’s the FInal COUNTdown! bu da bu bum, bu da bu bum bum…”

And that’s the only part of the song I know, so it was just that over and over again.

The whole problem with the world is that fools & fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. ~ Bertrand Russell

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 14, 2011 1:27 PM EST up reply actions

by LaFLamme on Jan 13, 2011 11:01 PM EST reply actions

Strike that.

Had the wrong password. Watching Royals v. Indians, game three in a late August series. Gordon just gunned down a guy at the plate. I won’t tell you how it comes out.

www.marklaflamme.com/books

by LaFLamme on Jan 13, 2011 11:59 PM EST up reply actions