Why recalling Hosmer was a good move

One thing is for certain -- no matter how Eric Hosmer performs, Dayton Moore has put the league on notice that the Royals aren't playing around anymore.  That doesn't mean any of this will translate to wins, but if it doesn't, it won't be for lack of trying.

In a slight departure from normal though, instead of bitching and moaning, the blogoshere responded with tempered excitement, but the are still some patently ridiculous arguments against the move (and some slightly legitimate ones too).

1) We should've gamed his service time by waiting three more weeks.

Obviously, all things being equal, it is in the financial interest of the Royals for Eric Hosmer to not qualify as a so-called "Super 2," meaning he would get arbitration (and likely a big raise) one year sooner.

This argument is ironic (read: hypocritical) because a lot of these same bloggers were complaining about how slimy such a move is and they're also the same bloggers who get upset that the Royals value being cheap over winning.

If we were 10-21 or even 14-17 instead of 17-14 or if Kila was hitting .250 instead of .200, there would be quite a bit of legitimacy to this argument.

We aren't and Kila isn't. 

The Central is in play, and even if it's only because the division is weak and not that the Royals are good, I'd rather take a run at it now than wait until June 1 and be 8 back and Kila has raised his average all the way up to .220.  All just to MAYBE save $10 million three years from now.

Besides, if he gets a huge arbitration raise, it means he's playing well.  At some point, we're going to have to open the checkbook.

2) Kila got jobbed.

Yes, Kila got screwed -- royally, no pun intended -- n 2010 when Jose Guillen was playing DH. Probably even in 2009 when Mike Jacobs was playing 1B.

This is different.

At Omaha in 2010, Kila had a .319/.463/.598 line.  Stellar to be sure, but it was a radical departure his career minor league line is only .266/.391/.460.  Compare that to Hosmer, who is raking to the tune of .439/.525/.582 and has a career line of .312/.393/.493.

Did I mention Kila is currently hitting a paltry .195/.295/.317 with 26 K to only 12 BB and didn't hit much better in limited time last year.

Yes he got screwed, but not yesterday. 

Kila was given his chance, and he didn't take it.  I'm sorry for him, but we can't let Hosmer waste away hitting practically .500 in Omaha because we feel bad about Kila not getting a chance in 2010. 

The fact of the matter is Hosmer forced their hand.

It's really simple.  Is our lineup better today with Kila Ka'aihue or Eric Hosmer?  Is our lineup likely to be better next year with Kila Ka'aihue or Eric Hosmer?  In five years?

Eric Hosmer.  Eric Hosmer.  Eric Hosmer. 

If come the all-star break, the Royals are 15 back, Hosmer is batting .250 and Kila is raking in AAA again, we can review the issue of giving Kila more PT and gaming Hosmer's service time. 

But as long as the window to win a weak AL Central is open, I love that Dayton Moore is going balls to the wall to win now.