Your Billy Butler Double Play Update

I am a pretty big Billy fan. He can rake, he’s young, and I really believe the power will come. DP’’s are a concern, but are a fact of life with Butler. He hits the ball hard, often on the ground and he is slow as molasses. The doubles out weigh the negatives created by the DP’s.

But I am pretty disappointed in some of his recent actions and in his body language. He thinks he should be starting at first base. Billy, you are horrible defensively. Hosmer is very good defensively. Shouldn’t you say that you want whatever is best for the team?

In his body actions he doesn’t look happy, Maybe he has other problems outside of the game or something, but whatever it is this attitude is not good.

As big a fan as I am of him, I think he is pretty replaceable. A committee approach might work and give Maier and Aviles some more AB’s while giving more ‘days off’ in the form of DH to the entire team. Or you could give Robinson the chance he deserves.

If you could get a starter of Baumgarner’s ilk i think you have to do it. Package him with someone and get a frontline starter possibly. Whatever, starting pitching is what is needed.

Oh, and go out and sign Yu Darvish also.

Giants will never offer that trade.

But Darvish is available, and there is a possible package that could be put together to get help.

Butler’s value on this team is lower than it would be on another team. Therefore you can use that value difference to upgrade your team.

Now, to be clear, I’m not suggesting Butler is better than Hosmer defensively, but here goes:

Would it kill Ned to let Billy play 1B once a week or so? Would it have killed Ned to let Butler get the majority of the starts in the NL games, seeing as how he is a better offensive player than Hosmer (at this point, anyway)? Yes, Billy should be handling things better, rather than acting like a 5 year old and pouting about it – but there is nothing saying you can’t manage different personalities in different manners. In fact, I would RECOMMEND they do that for any and all players in order to get the most out of everybody. Some guys need a kick in the ass, and some need hugs. Billy needs to be coddled. He’s talented enough, and his potential is great enough, to warrant that treatment, IMHO.

One final thought – take a look at Hosmer’s defensive numbers. Last time I checked at fangraphs, Hosmer was at -6.0 runs defensively. May not jive with what we think we see – but there it is. Yes, too small a sample, etc. etc. Just pointing it out.

fangraphs also thinks Billy a better base runner than Frenchy.

e.g. Butler, Greinke…etc

When he gets the ball in the air, you always feel like good things will happen. He has the strength to lob the ball over the left field wall without making perfect contact. And his outs in the air are often hard hit balls that look like doubles off the bat.

Billy just needs to stop pounding the ball into the dirt. Grounders up the middle might pad his batting average, but that’s not his best game.

who called the cops on us over our air-conditioner is enjoying a combo CD I made of all of Johnny Cash’s American Recordings stuff. It’s really depressing. And really loud, because you can hear it halfway down the street. I know, because I just checked.

Next time this bastard goes on vacation he’s going to find three dozen stinking rotten broken eggs on his terrace when he gets back.

Don’t fuck with me.

Drink every time Yost or any Royals announcer uses the word “command” or Frank giggles or anyone comments that eventually Billy will hit for power.