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Who Was the Most Pointless Royal of 2011?

Pointlessness was down in 2011, way down. Heralded rookies Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer made their debuts, as did a raft of relievers. The Royal outfield, riddled with question marks headed into Opening Day, was surprisingly strong, and after the extension of Francoeur, less pointless.

Nevertheless, the Royals were a bad team with a roster still amidst a long rebuild. When we look back on this in five years, who will be the most pointless member of the 2011 Royals?

What do I mean by pointless? Well, why exactly was Doug Waechter on the 2009 Royals? What was accomplished by having Kip Wells around in 2008? In 2010, Gregor Blanco played 49 games with the Royals. Umm, why? If you can't find a reason for their existence other than "we had to field a team" I'd say, in a nice way, they were pointless. We may have talked about them excitedly at the time, but as the years pass, they just seem like random moments in time.

Poll
Who was the most pointless 2011 Royal?
Matt Treanor - a 35 year old journeyman catcher is what every young team needs
76 votes
Chris Getz - 429 mistake-free PAs
193 votes
Mitch Maier - a 29 year old 4th outfielder who never played
154 votes
Kila Ka'aihue - seems pointless to have a guy around for 96 PAs
143 votes
Yamaico Navarro - ??
86 votes
Jarrod Dyson - clearly a developing team needs a pinch running specialist
83 votes
Jeff Francis - since the Royals didn't trade him, what was the point?
59 votes
Nate Adcock - In a system littered with live arms, the Royals snagged Adcock in the Rule 5 draft and got below average production all season
67 votes

861 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 94 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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Except...

…coming off of the injury, there was, at least, the possibility of a rebound that led to some sort of minor trade-deadline deal. That’s not entirely pointless. It just didn’t work out.

by kcemigre on Oct 18, 2011 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

Doesn't the organization think of Yam as a SS.

That’s why they sent him down. They wanted to see what he had there, just in case Escobar didn’t hit enough to play. Yam will probably get a chance as the utility man in 2012. Right?

by royal_in_cincinnati on Oct 18, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions  

by August 2011

it wasn’t like Escobar’s stock was plummeting. So why not give Navarro a shot to hone his skills at other positions in AAA instead of having him continue to learn in the big leagues?

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Chairman, The Melky Cabrera Seasoning Sauce. It's great on your outfield!

by BHWick on Oct 18, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions  

yup

when we acquired him that should have been the last we saw of Getz

Do these effectively hide my thunder?

by splitty on Oct 18, 2011 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions  

St. Christopher of the Blessed Getz

and we may get to enjoy him next year too!

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Oct 18, 2011 1:36 PM EDT reply actions  

I think a point could be made regarding Getz, Treanor, Francis, and Adcock

However, it’s a matter of what you deem to be more pointless when it comes to Mitch, Kila, Dyson, and Navarro.

by 9il on Oct 18, 2011 1:41 PM EDT reply actions  

definitely that makes sense

for me, I guess, it’s just the fact that the whole thing felt like a chore… what’s his upside? a non-horrible reliever?

I can see the argument for keeping him around, especially since the Royals were going to be bad

by Freneau on Oct 18, 2011 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions  

I would think non-horrible starter is also a possibility, right?

I mean, he was a starter his whole career until the Rule 5 landed him on a 25-man roster for the year.

He’d never pitched above high-A to that point. And he’s the same age as Dwyer. Is there some reason to think he should be relegated to the ‘pen going forward? I’d think you might as well put him in the NWA rotation and see what happens…

by kcemigre on Oct 19, 2011 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah, I think Adcock could possibly become a decent #5 SP

Maybe. And every team needs SP depth as they are likely to go 10-deep in SP’s over the course of a season. I was happy to use a roster spot on a Rule 5 player so that the Royals SP depth is improved a little over the next few years. And what was the cost? Lost MLB playing time for Jesse Chavez? I consider that a positive.

You may know me as NYRoyal.

by Scott McKinney on Oct 19, 2011 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions  

Gotcha...

…I misunderstood your comment. It’s confusing when we’re talking about “most pointless.” That’s the same as “least pointful.” And when you said “a point could be made” I just flipped it all the way around… my bad.

by kcemigre on Oct 19, 2011 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions  

Should Getz be winning?

He was annoying, but I can see a reason why he was out there…

by Freneau on Oct 18, 2011 1:52 PM EDT reply actions  

What reason?

He’s getting my vote.

I can articulate a reason for everyone on this list except for Getz. Some of those reasons are pretty stupid, but at least I can articulate something…

by kcemigre on Oct 18, 2011 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions  

My reason was that we weren't completely convinced that he was not an average-ish 2B

And even halfway through the season his defense was propping up his bat – by the end, though, it became fully clear that he’s not really the solution at 2B.

Kila's slash for Apr 20 to May 4, 2011, right before he was sent down: .276 / .344 / .448

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Oct 18, 2011 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

Aviles might have been/be an "average-ish 2b"

…I’m not sure how big the error bars are on the term “average-ish,” but you get my point. Are you suggesting that Getz could have been so average-ish that we wouldn’t want to lose him? I just didn’t worry about that too much.

by kcemigre on Oct 18, 2011 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

I agree with your sentiment

I voted for Dyson, not because I hate him or anything, just didn’t see the point of having a pinch-runner around. If he has the potential to be something, he needs to be playing regularly, or at least turned into a “real” fourth outfielder rather than a PR specialist.

Making watching baseball as fun as doing your taxes.
My Twitter feed.
Before getting tweaked, read up on regression.

by Matt Klaassen on Oct 18, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

My apologies

Still getting used to accountability. —MK

Making watching baseball as fun as doing your taxes.
My Twitter feed.
Before getting tweaked, read up on regression.

by Matt Klaassen on Oct 18, 2011 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

I must have missed the backstory on this…

Let's just trust the process.

by trusttheprocess on Oct 18, 2011 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

The reason I didn't vote for Dyson,

b/c Yost never uses his bench. So whats the differnce in having Dyson ready to pitch run and Maier as a 4th outfielder? They should carry 10 pitchers next season and 1 backup catcher.

by royal_in_cincinnati on Oct 18, 2011 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions  

But, "That's what speed do"...

Isn’t that enough of a reason. He was there to provide us a memorable slogan for the year.

by Big Guy on Oct 18, 2011 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

I think Dyson adds a ton of value as a PR specialist, just not for 5 weeks.

But I also don’t think he gets on base at anything resembling acceptable at the major league level, so I’d rather he didn’t bat much anyway. If he came into any game with it tied or whatnot in the 7th or later, I wouldn’t mind him PRing and then sliding into CF for defensive purposes.

Nick Swisher is handsome. Johnny Giavatella close second.

by ChrisCEIT on Oct 18, 2011 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions  

exactly...that has value on a good team...

and i think more value even on a bad team than a 4th of who isnt ever used and doesnt have any real plus abilities

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Oct 19, 2011 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions  

i dont see why maier is getting votes

he seems pointless with how the season played out, but he was there for insurance in case of injury or frenchy/melky/gordon stinking up the joint.

by BeauJackson on Oct 18, 2011 2:00 PM EDT reply actions  

The point of MITCH was two fold:

1.) I didn’t have to change my screen name, 2.) It really doesn’t get any better than letters from summer camp MITCH.

I'm waiting for my wave of talent to arrive.

by mitchfreakingmaier! on Oct 18, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

mitch was pointless b/c he didnt really provide anything.

if you’re going to play your 3 starting OF everyday, then a guy like dyson makes sense as a 4th OF b/c he’s good defensively in center and can be used as a PR in close, late games. mitch doesnt bring anything to the table other than not being especially shitty at anything

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Oct 18, 2011 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

i guess

i’m just looking at it like you need a guy like that on the roster just in case. i wasn’t factoring in the fact that it appeared yost forgot mitch was on the roster for weeks on end at times this season.

by BeauJackson on Oct 18, 2011 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

yeah...its kinda like the backup ss in my mind...

it might be ideal to have him…but worst case is youre playing part of one game with a guy not suited for the position like betemit wouldve been at short and dyson in right or whatever

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Oct 18, 2011 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

The most pointless one was Boom Boom or SOS

Not only was there no reason to use them, but they stank like a beer-egg fart.

"All the boys think she's a guy
She's got crazy Frenchy eyes."

by Juancho on Oct 18, 2011 2:04 PM EDT reply actions  

Not to mention Davies

Although, I guess the thinking is “find out if these guys can be major league pitchers in a year that doesn’t matter”. Unfortunately, we found out that none of them are. But I guess there was some point.

Getz got my vote. “Defensive specialist” 2nd basemen are pointless to begin with. Those who aren’t that good with the glove are worse. We had guys who actually came with bats who could field the position nearly as well. And Getz is nothing close to part of the future in KC.

by Big Guy on Oct 18, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions  

I wanted to say Chris Getz

but that’s mistaking annoying with pointless. I gotta go with Dyson.

by LaFLamme on Oct 18, 2011 2:36 PM EDT reply actions  

I voted for Yamaico

I had already forgotten that he’s a Royal…

Tension is the enemy. - Charlie Lau

by aHorseWithNoName on Oct 18, 2011 2:38 PM EDT reply actions  

I voted Getz. My runners-up would be Dyson and Treanor.

Dyson had a limited role to play, and it is pretty much impossible to imagine him improving the team going forward. On the other hand, he was at least fun to watch. If we are allowed to consider “fun to watch” as a reason for guys to be on the roster (and I think we should be), I’m not picking Dyson.

Treanor, technically, had a point: “veteran catcher.” Every team, apparently, needs a veteran catcher somewhere on the 25-man roster. I think it’s in the rules. But I hate that rule, so Treanor seemed pretty pointless to me. This one is really close. As much as I hate the “veteran presence behind the plate” fetish, I am willing to acknowledge that basically all teams do this, so I’m sticking with Getz as “most pointless.”

by kcemigre on Oct 18, 2011 2:43 PM EDT reply actions  

If not Treanor, who?

Pena had one spot, and I think they wanted Lucas May to take the other spot, but he was playing abysmally. Perez and Pina weren’t ready. People still argue they aren’t ready. Just sign a younger free agent? I hated the signing when it happened, but the results changed my mind.

Treanor was productive, and Pena’s defense seemed to improve with him there. Eh. I think many of us are working off of a different definition of “pointless.”

My vote was Mitch. He played pretty well. He also never played. Why have a solid all-around 4th OF who never plays? At least Jarrod Dyson would have provided ++ defense/speed. He was there for an injury replacement—but oh wait, so was Cain.

by dejezeus on Oct 18, 2011 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

I agree

As we all know far too well, the Royals have trotted out many, MORE pointless veteran catchers than Treanor in years past.

by Sweep_the_Leg on Oct 18, 2011 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

Agreed.

Treanor had a freakishly high OBP, which he’d never done before, and he was adequate defensively. His one interesting skill is fouling off pitches to lengthen his at-bats. He had like a 0.8 WAR in like 250 PA, which is not bad. Not that I want him to come back, but he did what he was asked to do.

"All the boys think she's a guy
She's got crazy Frenchy eyes."

by Juancho on Oct 19, 2011 3:07 AM EDT up reply actions  

Dude, go to bed.

Or don’t. I’m wide awake.

by kansasjohn on Oct 19, 2011 3:08 AM EDT up reply actions  

It's 9:10 AM

I’m doing my normal Internet surfing before starting work. I have to translate some hotel promotional brochures and do a private class with this business executive guy. He needs practice because his company got bought by some Americans.

"All the boys think she's a guy
She's got crazy Frenchy eyes."

by Juancho on Oct 19, 2011 3:14 AM EDT up reply actions  

No prob, we're both wide awake

though I’m gonna get another cup of coffee in me before buckling down and doing this stuff.

"All the boys think she's a guy
She's got crazy Frenchy eyes."

by Juancho on Oct 19, 2011 3:17 AM EDT up reply actions  

Piña wasn't ready?

I think he’s ready and has been for a while now. He just isn’t that good. Was the consensus on this different a year ago? That’s not the way I remember it.

Anyway, I don’t know if Treanor improved Peña’s defense, but that falls into the broad category of “intangible benefits of having a veteran catcher.” I have already agreed that I’m not voting for Treanor for this very reason… so, to that extent we agree. It sounds like I’m just a little less happy about it than you are.

by kcemigre on Oct 18, 2011 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions  

Probably a fair assessment.

In Manny’s defense, he improved his BB walk rate in 2011 AAA from his 2010 AA numbers, and that becomes pretty important. I think it is worth noting that his pro numbers won’t be good—though his numbers as a 24 year old in AAA aren’t all that different from a 24 year old Matt Treanor in A+.

by dejezeus on Oct 18, 2011 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions  

He wasn't merely the "veteran catcher"

He was a “catcher”. The Royals only had one guy on the roster when they snatched him up at the end of ST.

Nick Swisher is handsome. Johnny Giavatella close second.

by ChrisCEIT on Oct 18, 2011 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions  

On March 28, when the Royals bought Treanor’s contract from the Rangers, Kendall was technically on the roster, although he would later be placed on the DL, retroactive to March 22. Of course, there was never any real chance he would play in 2011. But… both Peña and Piña were on the 40-man on the 28th, although Piña was optioned to Omaha earlier that week. So, technically, no, they weren’t down to one catcher when they signed Treanor. Peña and Piña were a viable if unimpressive catching tandem… or at least could have been except for the fact that neither of them is a veteran, and as I suggested above, you need a veteran catcher on every team. I don’t like it, but that’s the was it is, and someone had to go to Omaha. To fill the need for a veteran catcher, it was necessary to acquire Treanor. And that’s what happened.

We’ll see if it happens again this year. Peña or Piña could be Perez’s backup, but then we won’t have a veteran catcher. What do you think will happen?

by kcemigre on Oct 19, 2011 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions  

I guess I had it figured that Pina was and is just organizational filler.

Veteran or not, Traenor was a far more viable everyday mlb catcher. (I get the point you’re making about the need for a “veteran catcher” but I actually happen to think it was a good move then to get him.) I’ll be fairly excited to see the Perez/Peña going into ST this year. In fact, I think C can be a strength for the Royals next year, with Pina being the 3rd C at Omaha.

Nick Swisher is handsome. Johnny Giavatella close second.

by ChrisCEIT on Oct 19, 2011 1:43 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’ll be fairly excited to see the Perez/Peña going into ST this year. In fact, I think C can be a strength for the Royals next year, with Pina being the 3rd C at Omaha.

I’d be fine with that.

Except, I don’t think it will happen because the organization still thinks a veteran catcher is necessary. So, I will be pleasantly surprised if those three guys remain the top three options on the catcher depth-chart. I think it is more likely that a new veteran catcher is acquired (accompanied by press releases that talk about how he’s going to be a great mentor for Perez), and either Peña or Piña will be gone by May.

by kcemigre on Oct 19, 2011 8:35 AM EDT up reply actions  

I doubt it.

Peña has been around a while, and he’s actually starting to get old, but he has only 728 career plate appearances. Just for the sake of comparison, here are all the catchers acquired by DMGM since taking over, along with their career plate appearances at the time they were acquired:

Matt Treanor: 1,118
Jason Kendall: 8,211
Miguel Olivo: 1,898
Jason LaRue: 2,544

Most teams do this, and I don’t particularly mean to single out the current regime, since the predecessor regime felt the need to acquire guys like Benito Santiago, Paul Bako, Kelly Stinnett, etc…

BTW, in the alternate universe where I get to make personel decisions for the Royals, John Buck is the veteran catcher for 2012, and the guys listed above never wore Royal blue.

by kcemigre on Oct 19, 2011 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

I voted Dyson.

Getz would maybe get my vote in a least favorite players poll, but he had a purpose, young-ish starting second baseman that might have an outside shot at being average. Now, if Getz is on the team NEXT year, then he’ll probably be able to get my vote.

Most pointless Royal of the last five years? I’ve got to go with Josh Anderson.

Let's just trust the process.

by trusttheprocess on Oct 18, 2011 3:23 PM EDT reply actions  

How dare you

The Ghost of Ryan Freel will come back to haunt your nightmares.

by Sweep_the_Leg on Oct 18, 2011 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

Freel’s a good call. 2009 was really a good year for pointless Royals. Jacobs, Freel, Anderson, TPJ got some ABs, plus some great pitchers.

Let's just trust the process.

by trusttheprocess on Oct 18, 2011 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions  

Well, what is more pointless?

Signing a still sort-of-young guy in the offseason who you knew might not make the club out of ST (and didn’t)? Or TRADING cash and a PTBNL for an old guy to come play for a month in the second half of a pointless season?

by Sweep_the_Leg on Oct 18, 2011 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions  

I don't recall who the PTBNL was or how much cash was involved with Freel.

I do recall that Anderson was paid $750,000. And, for the money, the Royals got the privilege of coaching his transition from the OF to the mound. That’s not exactly money well spent.

by kcemigre on Oct 18, 2011 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

Frisbee Climbed Fences

And I’m pretty sure Farny still roams the K. Far from pointless.

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

by philofthenorth on Oct 18, 2011 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

I suppose I never thought Getz had a shot at "average."

Maybe I’m not being fair. Or maybe I’m relying more on hindsight more than I ought to, but I just never saw the point. I don’t see how he was ever the best option at 2b, or ever likely to become the best option.

by kcemigre on Oct 18, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions  

he wasnt ever going to be good...but average was a reasonable hope...

and he wasnt far from that this year or in 2009 whereas the savior johnny g was the definition of replacement level in his time here

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Oct 18, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

Average for Getz was absolutely possible.

I kind of think he was instructed to play for Polk points. Obviously, that is speculation, but his slugging % dropped dramatically in KC. In 2 seasons with the Royals, he hasn’t matched his doubles (18 – 12), triples (4-3), or HR (2-0) totals with the White Sox.

I think the hope was: SLG stays the same, OBP goes up. The walk rate mostly stayed the same. This year he would have needed about 15 more walks, and his CWS slugging, but he could have been a .700 OPS guy with good defense. That would be enough for average. He just tanked into a Polk zone.

by dejezeus on Oct 18, 2011 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah. This.

Sorry, billyBbilly, but I don’t think Giavotella is the right comparison. I think Aviles was always a better option than Getz in 2011.

I guess I’ll concede that Getz could have been average, but that’s basically his ceiling, right? I suppose if he could sustain that “averageness” over his cost-controlled years, that’s something worth having. But I still that’s no more than a stopgap—whether Johnny G is ultimately the solution or not. Aviles would have worked just as well in that stopgap role in 2011, and once Johnny G came up, we transitioned into playing the new guy in order to find out whether he’s the future or just the latest stopgap. Either way, and under all of the above circumstances… I see no point to Getz at any time in 2011.

by kcemigre on Oct 18, 2011 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions  

and aviles is significantly older, no?

much less likely to be a part of a good royals team which i think is/should be the goal

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Oct 18, 2011 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions  

Age makes no difference...

…when talking about a stopgap position player. I think it’s pretty clear from my comments so far that I didn’t expect the guy playing 2b to start the year would be starting at 2b for the foreseeable future. Either Johnny G or Colon was eventually going to get a shot. I don’t care how old 2011’s second-sacker will be in 2013 or 2014… because I don’t expect him to be on my team by then.

Or, to put it another way, I didn’t expect and don’t expect Aviles or Getz to play for a good Royals team. Ever. Under any scenario. So, regardless of age, I don’t see Getz as having a meaningfully higher chance of accomplishing that feat.

by kcemigre on Oct 18, 2011 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

getz was a possibility if he did the average thing...

and gia/colon didnt work out…unlikely but not insanely so

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Oct 18, 2011 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

Agreed.

If they weren’t going to keep him on the roster all year, then why bother for the /what/ 5 weeks?

Nick Swisher is handsome. Johnny Giavatella close second.

by ChrisCEIT on Oct 19, 2011 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions  

Getz

At what time in his time with the Royals has been either of these, therefore giving Yost and GMDM a reason to play him?
A) The most productive second baseman on the team
B) The second baseman with the most potential

by spamiam79 on Oct 18, 2011 10:05 PM EDT reply actions  

May I vote for Suppan?

Still have no idea what he was doing in Omaha.

by ichirix on Oct 18, 2011 10:41 PM EDT reply actions  

providing leadership

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Oct 18, 2011 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

Speaking of extraneous..anyone catch CJ Wilson in the cool skull cap at the WS presser?

I hate him a little bit for it….he speaks well, an articulate, earnest, and hip sonofabitch, apparently. Can’t wait for GMDM to throw big bucks at him so he can come and blow up like Banny’s old man did

by Nighthawk at the Diner on Oct 18, 2011 11:52 PM EDT reply actions  

Clearly there's been a mistake

I did not see Jesse Chavez in the poll.

by Steve Perry on Oct 19, 2011 1:22 AM EDT reply actions  

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