via img27.picoodle.com

Final Results April 28th - May 11th Based on 0-10 Scale

Joey Gathright -- 4.17 (-.71)   Season Avg - 4.73

David DeJesus -- 6.31 (-1.07)   Season Avg - 6.85

Jose Guillen -- 6.17 (+1.98)   Season Avg - 4.23

Mark Teahen -- 5.50 (+.12)   Season Avg - 6.04

Ross Gload -- 3.67 (-1.39)   Season Avg - 4.89

Mark Grudzielanek -- 5.67 (-.64)   Season Avg - 6.70

Tony Pena -- 1.92 (-.27)   Season Avg - 1.93

Alex Gordon -- 6.34 (-1.16)   Season Avg - 7.43

Billy Butler -- 5.50 (-1.19)   Season Avg - 7.08

Alberto Callaspo -- 6.00 (-1.06)   Season Avg - 6.65

Esteban German --  3.00 (-.81)   Season Avg - 3.81

John Buck -- 7.00 (+.69)   Season Avg - 6.29

Miguel Olivo -- 6.84 (-.66)   Season Avg - 6.47

Gil Meche -- 5.50 (+.56)   Season Avg - 4.90

Brian Bannister --  6.67 (-1.46)   Season Avg - 8.20

Zack Greinke -- 8.84 (-.04)   Season Avg - 9.09

John Bale (DL 15) -- N/A (N/A)   Season Avg - 3.78

Brett Tomko -- 4.92 (-1.27)   Season Avg - 6.33

Luke Hochevar -- 6.67 (-.21)   Season Avg - 6.78

Joel Peralta -- 4.50 (-1.13)   Season Avg - 5.07

Yasuhiko Yabuta -- 2.67 (-.21)   Season Avg - 3.75

Leo Nunez -- 7.17 (-.33)   Season Avg - 7.99

Ramon Ramirez -- 8.50 (-.19)   Season Avg - 8.61

Ron Mahay -- 7.00 (+.69)   Season Avg - 7.04

Jimmy Gobble -- 5.67 (-.83)   Season Avg - 6.95

Joakim Soria -- 9.92 (+.04)   Season Avg - 9.87

-

Most Improvment - Jose Guillen (+1.98)

Biggest Drop - Brian Bannister (-1.46)

Most Consistent - Joakim Soria (+.04) and Zack Greinke (-.04)

Best Player - Joakim Soria (9.92)

Worst Player - Tony Pena (1.92)

Well there ya have it.. I really hope we get more of you to PARTICIPATE in the next PPI we do, which will be evaluated from Tuesday May 13th to Monday May 26th (first game in the Tigers series to the last game in the Toronto series).. So keep a good eye and watch closely ill post the next evaluation on May 26th

Josh Fields and play him at 1st. He's a 30 HR guy plays good defense (could easily move across the diamond) and at this point I would think he wouldn't be too difficult to trade for. Then it becomes a question of who we give up for him. I would say some of the obvious choices would be

German, Gload, Grudz, Teahen, Shealy, possibly some pitching prospects.

Once we came up with a long term solution at SS we'd have our IF set for a few years.

Gordo, Fields and Callaspo, with SS X, sounds nice to me.

This basically just came out of boredom but I was something I'd been thinking about so I thought I would see what others think.

#55 on our countdown of greatness is gritty right-handed pitcher Tim Belcher.

Tim Belcher is a pretty overlooked pitcher in Royals history, but for three seasons he was a pretty solid, although not spectacular frontline starting pitcher. His numbers may look pretty pedestrian, but this was the dawn of the steroid era, when offensive numbers were beginning to explode and league ERAs hovered around 5.00. He threw at least 230 innings in two of his three seasons in Kansas City, a feat no Royals pitcher has since matched.

In America, many times we seem to adopt the attitude of Ricky Bobby - "If you're not first, you're last." You're either number one, or you're a nobody. We strive and strive and strive to be the best, and are not satisfied until we've reached that pinnacle.

The thing is though, you can do a very effective job, and be very happy, simply being very, very good at what you do. "60 Minutes" ran a piece a few months ago about how Denmark is the happiest country in the world. What's the key to their happiness? Being content with what they have and what they are. Only one person can be "number one", leaving the rest of us to wallow in bitter agony. Maybe we should be satisfied merely being really good?

What does this have to do with Tim Belcher? Well I don't think anyone would confuse Tim Belcher for being an ace. He never made an All-Star Game, never earned any votes for Cy Young and never won more than fifteen games in a season. But he had a pretty darn good Major League career and was a key member of three post-season ballclubs, including one Championship team. He was not the best, but he was very, very good at what he did.

Tim Belcher was a star at Mount Vernon Nazarene College in Ohio, with a 95 mph fastball. In June of 1983 he was selected first overall in the Amateur Draft by the Minnesota Twins. Negotiations with the Twins soured, with the ballclub upset that Belcher was represented by legal counsel in negotiations, a rare step in that day. His legal counsel was a little known agent by the name of Scott Boras. In those days, there was a draft in January for unsigned players, and with Belcher still unsigned by the Twins, the Yankees made him the first overall selection.

Baseball also had a free agent compensatory draft to compensate teams that had lost a free agent. Each team submitted a list of protected players, and those players unprotected were free to be selected by teams losing free agents. In January, the Yankees submitted their protected list, but failed to protect Belcher, who had still not signed. On January 31, Belcher signed with the Yankees. On February 6, former A's pitcher Tom Underwood signed with the Baltimore Orioles, meaning the A's were entitled to select a player from the free agent compensation pool. They chose Belcher, infuriating the Yankees, and causing Major League Baseball to re-examine free agent compensation.

Most Career Wins by the #1 Overall Pick in the June Amateur Draft
Mike Moore  (1981) 161
Andy Benes  (1988) 155
Tim Belcher (1983) 146
Floyd Bannister  (1976) 134
Ben McDonald  (1989) 78

Doesn't bode well for Luke Hochevar , does it?

The A's developed Belcher, but before he had a chance to pitch for the parent club, they dealt him to the Dodgers in 1987 for left-handed pitcher Rick Honeycutt. In his rookie season the following year, Belcher finished 12-6 with a 2.91 ERA and was third in Rookie of the Year balloting as the Dodgers won the World Series. In 1989, he won fifteen games and hurled 230 innings, striking out a career high 200 batters. He would pitch four full seasons in L.A. before being dealt to the Reds in the Eric Davis deal.

Belcher spent one and a half seasons in Cincinnati before being acquired by the White Sox in a pennant push. He then signed with the Tigers only to have a horrific season, losing 15 games and posting a 5.89 ERA. He resurrected his career with a decent season in Seattle, although he angered some after shoving a camera man after a lousy outing in the 1995 American League Divisional Series.

In January of 1996, the Royals were looking for a durable arm to replace departing free agent pitcher Tom Gordon, and turned to Belcher for a one year deal worth $900,000, plus incentives. Belcher exceeded expectations and provided solid innings for the Royals. In June, he won his 100th career game. In his next start, he showed off his fiery temper again by getting ejected in the first inning of his start against the Angels, then rushing home plate umpire Joe Brinkman. Belcher left a statement after the game questioning Brinkman's professionalism.

I was baited, I was ejected and I apologize to our team and fans. No apology ever to umpire Brinkman. I have my entire career had a good relationship with nearly all umpires. I respect the very difficult job they have. Umpire Brinkman's on-field attitude is an embarassment to his profession, paying little attention to his ability, his mechanics, or lack thereof. His demeanor is what drives most AL players into confrontations with him.

Belcher went on to have a fine season, culminating in a four hit shutout of the Blue Jays in September. He led the team in wins and innings pitched. He finished with a 15-11 record and a 3.92 ERA, 27 percent better than the league average and tenth in the league. He was named Royals Pitcher of the Year and was rewarded with a two year $4 million deal.

Belcher got off to an excellent start in 1997, giving up just one run in 7 1/3 innings in his first start against the Twins. He had back-to-back complete games against the A's and Yankees, then threw twenty consecutive shutout innings, including a complete game shutout against the Red Sox. Combined with Kevin Appier and Jose Rosado, the Royals looked like they had one of the best pitching trios in the league. By May 13, the three combined for an 11-6 record and a 2.16 ERA for the second place Royals.

Nobody believes in Tim Belcher . Nobody. Everybody believes he's an optical illusion. Maybe that's because he has played more cities than the Stones. His career has been filled with ups and downs and more downs and Hugh Downs. He's been traded, traded, traded, signed, signed, traded, and the Royals are his sixth team in seven years, but maybe he's got it figured out. He won 15 games for Kansas City last year. And this year he has been indomitable. He keeps coming at hitters. He throws 115 pitches a game. He mixes them. He spots them. He wins.

-Joe Posnanski

Belcher then gave up twenty runs over his next three starts, raising his ERA by two runs. In mid-July he would go through another atrocious stretch, giving up twenty-four runs in three starts. He ended the year with a 5.02 ERA, which for those days, was only slightly below average.

Belcher would get off to a good start again in 1998, giving up just one run in his first two starts. He would pitch effectively most of the year, leading to rumors the Royals would trade him to a contender for prospects. The Royals had three impending free agents who were in demand at the trade deadline - Belcher, closer Jeff Montgomery and third baseman Dean Palmer. General Manager Herk Robinson failed to trade any of them.

"There's still a third of the season left. We're playing better. We can still win some games. Who knows, right? Who knows. ''

Belcher would pitch well down the stretch and end with a 4.27 ERA and a team high fourteen wins. That winter, he would leave the Royals for the Angels. He would spend two seasons in Anaheim, with one notable game in which he engaged Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park in a kung-fu match.

Belcher retired after 2000, with 146 career victories in a very respectable Major League career.

I'm so sorry that I'm behind, but here's a double post! I'll go through the winners for the 14th first, then list the winners for the 15th followed by the totals after the two.

Also, I would like to note that I will be out of town starting tomorrow until Monday afternoon, so any wins we may rack up against the Marlins will be awarded in a similar fashion once I get settled in Monday evening.

Continue reading this post »

Went and watched NWA against the Tulsa Drillers tonight.  It marked the return of Daniel Cortes from the DL.  I came away mighty impressed.  In the 1st got into some trouble lead off man reached on a hit off of a 3-2 pitch.  He proceeded to steal second and third.  Dan came around and struck out 2 in the first.  He looked to me like he was getting frustrated with the strike zone early.  Second inning was awesome struck out the side on no more than 12 pitches.  He lasted into the 4 when with 2 out he left a curve up and out over the plate that was deposited into the street behind right field.  Line was 4 2/3, 3 hits, 2 runs both earned, 0 walks and 5 strike outs.  Like I said very impressive return from the DL.  We say Hochevar pitch here and I see a lot of similarities between the 2.  Sadly there is no radar gun here in Tulsa so I don't know who fast his stuff was.  Looked great though.  Other observations from the game Jose Duarte went 2-5 but was picked off after he walked and later thrown out by a mile trying to steal second.  Mario Lisson looked like he had no idea what was going on 0-5.  Lastly NWA won the game in the 12th 6-4.

Yes yes yes, I know he's been called a AAAA player who will only mature into a dependable backup. But take it from someone who lives in Omaha that this kid is the real deal. I've been on here before lauding his play and I got the normal complaints -- defense and he strikes out too much. Well for a slugging percentage nearing .700 he's striking out the 7th fewest of anyone in the minor leagues with over 100 abs. He's hit 18 doubles and 6 triples already and even stole 3 bases. Hit impressively in the spring but got tenured-out with the current logjam at 2nd in KC. Numerous scouts have put his arm as slightly above average and his range at average. (Not terrible considering the human vacuum at first that is Ross Gload...) Slightly troublesome are his 3 E at short in limited action this year (and his 33 4 years ago... yikes... he's gotten progressively better each year though) but more time there would help that and he does at least look comfortable.

Bottom line -- 

Are the runs TPJ leaves at the plate and on base too much to balance the 2-3 runs he saves a week? Yes, his defense has been darn near stellar this year (he better be buying Gload dinner every night) but you will never TPJ him hit over .250, with even a larger obp, in a starting role for the rest of his career. I for (maybe) one have no problem with a rotation of Grudz and Aviles at 2nd and Callaspo (who's just as questionable defensively, if not more so, at short) and Aviles at short. The kid has a sick  stick from the right side and will not kill you defensively. 

They should have made the trade with the Dodgers for German, because there's no way he can get the playing time he needs to showcase himself with this year's team. I like Grudz but his days as a royal may very well come to an end in July. Just try your Minor League Player of the year and see how he does...

And I really don't wanna hear in 2 years how everyone saw Aviles rise to fan favorite! Nobody thought Keppinger or Gotay would be MLB contributors either and Aviles has much more talent and a much bigger stick. Can/Will his average glove keep his above-above average bat out of KC's lineup?

A somewhat annoying cliffhanger seems inevitable. Here are  some likely ones:

-Jim proposing, answer not given cliffhanger. I hope they don't do this since they've basically done it multiple times before and a significant portion of the show's fans actually don't care about Pam & Jim. And it isn't a cliffhanger if they make it a cliffhanger. If that makes sense.

- Michael being fired/threatened cliffhanger. I thought this was likely awhile back, but not anymore. Possibly killed by the strike and inability to setup the story line. In the British office David Brent actually gets fired, which remains one of the most stunning things I've ever seen on a TV show. I don't think they can really do that here, but some epsiodes-long hiatus is possible. Just maybe not starting now.

-Jim threatened with being fired/getting fired cliffhanger. I think this is the most likely
, since definte seeds have been planted on this plot line.

-Pam quitting cliffhanger. What I'm sorta hoping for. All depends on how you interpret the final scene last week: was that Pam's awakening that she needs to get out NOW or was it her realization that she's already scerwed, and that Jim is soooo dreamy and suuch a good businessman, so it's all good. Pam quitting could complicate the Jim Proposing Plotline.

I'm going to be gone this weekend looking for wedding locations in Norman. As a result, I won't be able to post the 25 percent progress report when it is appropriate (after Thursday's game). Since we're at a significant milestone, it's time for something different (also, repeating the line "pitching good, batting not so good" is getting tiring). Therefore, it's time for everyone's favorite 5-7-5 poems, HAIKU! I only used active players, so sorry Hideo Nomo, Luke Hudson and John Bale. No haiku for you. Maybe I'll spend a night coming up with some other form of poetry next milestone. I guarantee I/won't write a freaking sonnet /when the future hits.

Continue reading this post »

Sometime in the last couple of days, one of the Reviewers suggested the nickname "Greinke and the Brain" for Zack and Bannister. I love that idea, and in honor of the back-to-back wins we just received from them, here is the "Greinke and the Brain" theme song (sung, of course, the the tune of "Pinky and the Brain"):

Gee Brian, what do you want to do tonight?

The same thing we do every night, Greinke: try to take over the AL Central!

They're Greinke and the Brain,
Yes Greinke and the Brain
One loves the SABR,
The other throws flames
They're Royals pitchers, true,
But they're a fearsome du-
Oh, They're Greinke, they're Greinke and
the Brain Brain Brain Brain
Brain Brain Brain Brain
Brain

Before each game concludes,
Their talents are displayed.
They make batters look like fools,
'Til Soria gets the save!

They're Greinke and the Brain
Yes Greinke and the Brain
Their summer campaign
Is easy to explain
To give KC a chance
to the playoffs to advance,
They're Greinke, they're Greinke and the
Brain Brain Brain Brain
Brain Brain Brain Brain
Hooch!

Any chance Kyle Davies gets a shot in the bigs again soon?  It looks like he's quietly putting together a pretty solid season in AAA.  His walks appear to be down from previous years, ERA of 2.43, 1.22 WHIP.  Maybe think about bringing him up as a middle reliever for awhile, to see how he does against major-leaguers, for a possible late-season move into the rotation?  (I'm assuming he would replace Tomko in the rotation, with Tomko moving to the pen).