Who Is the Worst Royal Ever?

by royalsreview on Nov 27, 2007 12:25 PM EST in News Comment 87 comments

From the archives... Looks like we need to add Jason LaRue to the list, maybe Ryan Shealy as well.-RR

Who is the worst Royal of all time?

What name comes to mind when you hear that question? Do you prefer long stretches of bad play, epic flameouts, or players who were alright, but not near as good as they could have been?

I'll just throw out some names:

Rey Sanchez
Chuck Knoblauch
Dee Brown
Graeme Lloyd
Brian Meadows
Chris Haney
Jeff Granger

For starting pitchers, you may want to check out the toy David Pinto has posted at Baseball Musings. It gives you the team's won-loss record in games that every Royal starter has ever, umm, started.

-----------------

A few hours later...

Some really great suggestions are starting to pour in... Gregg Double G Jeffries, Mike Tucker and about a million horrible pitchers. "RoyalsRetro" even went so far as to list the worst seasons by a Royal in terms of ERA+.

Worst season ever by a Royals starting pitcher by ERA+:

1. Jose Lima 2005 5-16 6.99 168 IP 62 ERA+
2. Chad Durbin 2000 2-5 8.21 72 IP 62 ERA+
3. Mike Hedlund 1972 5-7 4.78 113 IP 64 ERA+
4. Rich Gale 1981 6-6 5.40 101 IP 67 ERA+
5. Ted Power 1988 5-6 5.94 80 IP 68 ERA+
6. Vida Blue 1983 0-5 6.01 85 IP 68 ERA+
7. Jim Rooker 1972 5-6 4.38 72 IP 69 ERA+
8. JP Howell 2005 3-5 6.19 72 IP 70 ERA+
9. Chris George 2003 9-6 7.11 93 IP 71 ERA+
10.Wayne Simpson 1973 3-4 5.73 59 IP 72 ERA+
11.Mark Gubicza 1991 9-12 5.68 133 IP 73 ERA+
12.Zack Greinke 2005 5-17 5.80 183 IP 74 ERA+
12.Mark Gardner 1993 4-6 6.19 91 IP 74 ERA+
12.David Frost 1982 6-6 5.51 81 IP 74 ERA+
15.Runelvys Hernandez 2006 6-10 6.48 109 IP 75 ERA+
15.Mike Wood 2004 3-8 5.94 100 IP 75 ERA+
15.Charlie Leibrandt 1989 5-11 5.14 161 IP 75
ERA+

Thanks again to Royals Retro for running these numbers.

What a strange grouping of players, including alot of otherwise venerable names. There are young and old, has-beens and never-wases. Just shows you something about the nature of pitching.

Here's another name, Shawn Sedlacek.

Keep the memories coming!

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My lists

LONG STRETCHES OF BAD PLAY:

T1) Neiffi Perez
T1) Angel Berroa
3) Rich Gale

EPIC FLAMEOUTS:

Mark Davis
Bob Hamelin
Chad Durbin (thanks to Tony Muser letting him throw 144 pitches in a game)

ALRIGHT, BUT NOT AS GOOD AS ADVERTISED:

Clint Hurdle
Chuck Knoblauch

I'm going to add a 4th category:

VETS BROUGHT IN WAY PAST THEIR PRIME, AND IT SHOWED

Harmon Killebrew
Orlando Cepeda
Reggie Sanders

by loyal2s dad on Feb 1, 2007 10:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Rich Gale

Gale must stand free of any criticism due to his heroism in helping people after the Hyatt skywalk collapse (if I remember correctly, he was serving as a celebrity bartender that night). That also led to an injury more forgivable but almost as weird as the Mark Quinn kung-fu injury: he walked out of the Hyatt unscathed, but then cut his hand on a beer/soda can he was opening because he was so shaken up by the experience.

Rich Gale is a hero. Criticism of him will only embolden the enemy.

by CentralChamps2009 on Feb 1, 2007 10:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rich Gale

Check out Rich Gale's page on baseball-reference.com -- one of the statistical comparables listed for Gale's career is none other than ... gasp ... Gil Meche.

by tfn on Feb 2, 2007 12:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good lists

I'll add:

LONG STRETCHES OF BAD PLAY:

Onix Concepcion
Angel Salazar
Jackie Hernandez
Brent Mayne
Jose Lima
David Howard

EPIC FLAMEOUTS:

Angel Berroa?
Juan Gonzalez
Gary Thurman
Jim Pittsley
Jeff Austin
Jose Rosado
Mark Quinn

ALRIGHT, BUT NOT AS GOOD AS ADVERTISED:

Michael Tucker
Gregg Jeffries
Felix Jose
Storm Davis
Roberto Hernandez

VETS BROUGHT IN WAY PAST THEIR PRIME, AND IT SHOWED

Vida Blue
Juan Gonzalez
Bill Buckner
Terry Pendleton
Dave Henderson

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 1, 2007 11:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

VETS BROUGHT IN PAST THEIR TIME....

I can't help but remember sitting in the seats behind the Royals dugout on opening day 2004.

Benito Santiago from afar is a bit scary. Up close, he is like 85 years old. Until the ninth, he was the only Royal to show up, going 2-4 w/ 3 rbi.

An aside, remember how that game ended?

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=200404050KCA

Worst Royal ever...Mendy Lopez, ph homerun to win it in the bottom of the ninth.
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=lopezme01

by kjfinkes on Feb 1, 2007 5:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pop-up Perez

How can Niefi Perez not be on this list? He was worse for a longer period of time than most of those guys and yet his defensive 'prowess' caused us to part with future World Series MVP Jermaine Dye.

Pop-up Perez gets my vote.

by howserfan on Feb 1, 2007 10:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Definitely Neifi Perez

I would give dishonorable mention to many players who came in return for Royals stars, including Mike Wood, Blake Stein, Brad Rigby, Chris Stynes, and Bip Roberts.

After the Royals traded Joyner for Roberts, his first comment was, "I don't want to play in the Midwest". He then showed it for almost two seasons.

by jbrocato on Feb 1, 2007 10:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Some of the worst seasons

Worst seasons ever by a Royals regular by OPS+

SS Angel Salazar 1987 .205/.219/.246 2 HR 21 BI 23 OPS+
SS Onix Concepcion 1985 .204/.255/.245 2 HR 20 BI 38 OPS+
SS Neifi Perez 2002 .236/.260/.303 3 HR 37 BI 40 OPS+
LF Chuck Knoblauch 2002 .210/.284/.300 6 HR 22 BI 46 OPS+
2B Jose Lind 1993 .248/.271/.288 0 HR 37 BI 48 OPS+
SS Angel Berroa 2006 .234/.259/.333 9 HR 54 BI 48 OPS+
DH Bob Hamelin 1995 .168/.278/.312 7 HR 25 BI 52 OPS+
C Brent Mayne 2001 .241/.283/.313 2 HR 20 BI 52 OPS+
SS David Howard 1996 .219/.291/.305 4 HR 48 BI 53 OPS+
SS David Howard 1992 .224/.271/.283 1 HR 18 BI 54 OPS+
RF Jermaine Dye 1998 .234/.270/.336 5 HR 23 BI 54 OPS+
SS Jackie Hernandez 1970 .231/.281/.282 2 HR 10 BI 56 OPS+
LF Willie Wilson 1978 .217/.280/.278 0 HR 16 BI 56 OPS+
C Brent Mayne 2002 .236/.309/.310 4 HR 30 BI 56 OPS+
SS Jackie Hernandez 1969 .222/.278/.282 4 HR 40 BI 57 OPS+
SS Mendy Lopez 1998 .243/.286/.325 1 HR 15 BI 57 OPS+
2B Frank White 1990 .216/.253/.307 2 HR 21 BI 58 OPS+
LF Vince Coleman 1994 .240/.285/.340 2 HR 33 BI 59 OPS+
SS Angel Salazar 1986 .245/.266/.326 0 HR 24 BI 59 OPS+

We've had some crappy shortstops in our franchise history - Jackie Hernandez, Onix Concepcion, Angel Salazar, David Howard, Neifi Perez, Angel Berroa....even Fred Patek put up some really terrible years.

Worst season ever?
Bobby Floyd 1972 .179/.209/.201 0 HR 5 BI 23 OPS+ (134 ABs!)

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 1, 2007 11:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

And pitchers

Worst season ever by a Royals starting pitcher by ERA+:

Jose Lima 2005 5-16 6.99 168 IP 62 ERA+
Chad Durbin 2000 2-5 8.21 72 IP 62 ERA+
Mike Hedlund 1972 5-7 4.78 113 IP 64 ERA+
Rich Gale 1981 6-6 5.40 101 IP 67 ERA+
Ted Power 1988 5-6 5.94 80 IP 68 ERA+
Vida Blue 1983 0-5 6.01 85 IP 68 ERA+
Jim Rooker 1972 5-6 4.38 72 IP 69 ERA+
JP Howell 2005 3-5 6.19 72 IP 70 ERA+
Chris George 2003 9-6 7.11 93 IP 71 ERA+

10.Wayne Simpson 1973 3-4 5.73 59 IP 72 ERA+
11.Mark Gubicza 1991 9-12 5.68 133 IP 73 ERA+
12.Zack Greinke 2005 5-17 5.80 183 IP 74 ERA+
12.Mark Gardner 1993 4-6 6.19 91 IP 74 ERA+
12.David Frost 1982 6-6 5.51 81 IP 74 ERA+
15.Runelvys Hernandez 2006 6-10 6.48 109 IP 75 ERA+
15.Mike Wood 2004 3-8 5.94 100 IP 75 ERA+
15.Charlie Leibrandt 1989 5-11 5.14 161 IP 75 ERA+

Interesting how much better our pitching was at the onset of the franchise than now.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 1, 2007 11:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Alex Gordon

I mean, really, he hasn't even proven that he can HIT Major League pitching. And don't even get me started about his lack of leadership skills.

But really, folks, Niefi Perez. Me and my buddies actually enjoyed Niefi. We turned him into a drinking game. Every time he scratched himself, which was often (nay, constant) we chugged or took that shot or whatever. Let's just say that that man got us pretty tipsy on many-an-occasion. Seriously.

by The Mustache of Balboni on Feb 1, 2007 11:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Nice on the Gordon comment. Thanks Dick Kaegel!

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 1, 2007 12:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

RoyalsRetro really read my mind...

Just what is it with this franchise and crappy shortstops? The only ones I can recall that were anywhere near good at all were Greg Gagne, U L Washington, and Fred Patek (some of the time)

That's not exactly an illustrious list for nearly 40 years of players at one position, is it?

by loyal2s dad on Feb 1, 2007 11:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

C'mon, man

First you call out Rich Gale, and now you (by omission) disrespect Kurt Stilwell and Jay Bell? I don't even know who you are anymore!

by CentralChamps2009 on Feb 1, 2007 2:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gagne was pretty good as well

random

but acceptable

FIRE BELL

by FireBell on Feb 1, 2007 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Definitely Neiffi Perez...

No doubt it has to be the Neiffmister. A close second would be the epic Royal's career of David Howard.

If it weren't for baseball I'd be working.

by pd on Feb 1, 2007 11:53 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Juan Gone

Not only for his bad play but for the money he cost us. The whole deal stunk. The Royals thought they were bringing in the former 2x MVP Juan Gonzalez and actually signed the Juan Gonzalez who was most famous for selling oranges at a roadside stand in LA.

by EricConley on Feb 1, 2007 11:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

but...

i'd worship anyone i saw wearing a Juan Gone jersey

FIRE BELL

by FireBell on Feb 1, 2007 11:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

terrence long is up there

and about a million pitchers

great stuff

FIRE BELL

by FireBell on Feb 1, 2007 11:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jim Pittsley

Really the name says it all. Also on the epic scope of awesomely bad trades Neifi Perez and Ed Hearn come to mind, but looking through these lists there are two many to mention (Runelvyz, Jeff Granger, Berroa, etc.)

lordbyronk

by lordbyronk on Feb 1, 2007 12:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Don't dis the Pitts

He won the only game I ever saw at the K. He gets a pass from me.

Albie Lopez is high on this list for me, and I reserve a special degree of loathing for Jason Grimsley, who always seemed to let inherited runners score before getting down to business. What, were they distracting him or something?

For position players, Angel Salazar sucked, as did David Howard and Neifi - seems shortstop has always been our biggest problem position. I'll give Berroa a pass for having a RoY-worthy season, unlike these others.

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

by cmkeller on Nov 27, 2007 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

David Howard

Because he was terrible and could not bunt (however we were told many a time that he was the best bunter on the team) and we protected him instead of Jeff Conine in the expansion draft.

by Stook on Feb 1, 2007 1:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Glad to see Howard

His name has thankfully popped up a couple of times, thus confirming one of my picks for all-time worst Royal. I guess I'm old-school and not all SABRmetric, because it wasn't his stats that led me to this (although I'm glad that the stats support me), but just observing his game.

Quintessential David Howard moment for me: A fried and I are up in Omaha back in '92 watching a game, and Howard is BY FAR the fan favorite, as he was apparently the only player who had already been up to "the show." I was amazed by how unjustified this love was: He was far and away slower than literally every other player on the field and did nothing, at least in this game, to justify his lofty spot in the heart of the Omaha faithful. While a slugger may be forgiven his lack of speed, a light-hitting shortstop has no excuse.

Man, that guy was in all respects terrible, yet was allowed to be the only player to post two of the top 10 worst years by OPS+ in team history. Wow, just...wow.

by CentralChamps2009 on Feb 1, 2007 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Too easy, incomprehensible, and heartbreaking

Pitchers:

Chris George, 2003 7.11 ERA, 39/44 K/BB, yet for some inexplicable reason finished with a winning record at 9-6.

Miguel Batista, 2000 2 W 6 L 7.74 ERA 30/34 K/BB, Who would have thought that he'd develop into a serviceable (and versatile) major league pitcher?

Chris Fussell, 1999 0 W 5 L 7.39 ERA 37/36 K/BB
Horrendous/not ready young pitcher that for some reason had Royals fans drunk with optimism, which happened a lot. See Blake Stein, Chad Durbin, Jim
Pittsley, Jeff Granger. I will now cry myself to sleep.

The 1999 closers:
Jeff Montgomery, 1999 1 W 4 L 6.84 ERA, 12 saves in 19 save opportunities

Scott Service, 1999 5 W 5 L 6.09 ERA, 8 saves in 15 opportunities.

Ex-Mariners arms:
Dave Fleming, 1995 1 W 6 L 5.96 ERA 40/53 K/BB
Mariners fans remember him as the guy who won 17 games and posted a 3.39 ERA in his rookie season. Had arm trouble after, the Royals picked him up...the rest is tragic history.

Mac Suzuki, 1999 2 W 5 L 6.79 ERA 68/64 K/BB
Was supposed to be a younger Hideo Nomo with the Mariners. Didn't pan out, the Royals pick him up...don't know what happened to him. Seppuku?

Basically, the Royals' 1999 pitching staff made me want to bludgeon myself in the head repeatedly. What sucks the most is our lineup was killer that year, but the staff couldn't win games, couldn't strike people out, issued too many walks, too many home runs, couldn't hold leads, and couldn't close out games.

Out with the old:

Andy Sisco, 2006 1 W 3 L 7.10 ERA 52/40 K/BB

Maybe I include him because he has haunted my recent memory, but he was HORRENDOUS last year. Furthermore, I don't understand how he was allowed to pitch in 65 (yes, 65!!!) games yet amass an ERA over 7 and even spend a brief stint at Omaha to suck there too. Unbelievable. I'm glad he's gone.

Position players:

Most have already been named, but I'm surprised people didn't throw David Howard's name out there. At least he could field, but to say that he wielded a light bat would be an understatement. He played 143 games in 1996, and in a celebration of mediocrity, walloped .219/.291/.305, in 420 at bats, with only 23 extra base hits. That's a celebration of offensive futility that would make Joey Gathright jealous.

Also, in 1997 our third base platoon of former Red Sox All Star Scott Cooper and A's castaway Craig Paquette was terrible.

by nycroyal on Feb 1, 2007 1:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

lots of "great" names on that list

werent the 90s fun?

the madness of Chris George, the Royals randomly picking up Suzuki, a parade of horrible closers and relievers

awesomeness

FIRE BELL

by FireBell on Feb 1, 2007 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wasn't Suzuki our Pitcher of the Year

one year? I'm sure he at least led the team in Ks once.

by BrRoyal on Nov 27, 2007 3:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

scott service

havent heard that name in awhile

or Chris Fussell

damn

by LeoBloom on Feb 1, 2007 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

David Howard

Sorry, I can't let this guy go. The more I think about him, the more horrendous he becomes. He was a wannabe David Eckstein before David Eckstein even existed, which is just pathetic.

Furthermore, he symbolizes the 1990's Royals organization. For reasons that defied logic he was a front office favorite, an "organizational guy." The Royals justified playing him by coming up with bullshit reasoning, citing his ability to bunt and do the little things. I even remember Herk Robinson referring to him as a "lunch pail" guy. Are you serious??? David Howard? Maybe he was a Lone Ranger lunch pail guy because Howard looked like he wasn't a shade past 12 years old.

Final bit of randomness: Does anyone remember David Howard's one moment of fame on that crappy SNL skit with Mike Sweeney, where he pops in with a keg and says, "where's the party?" What a loser.

I officially challenge David Howard to a fight.

by nycroyal on Feb 1, 2007 2:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

SNL!

I DO remember that! Its odd that Sweeney had the keg. I think Grudz was in that sketch as well.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 1, 2007 2:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

you tube should solve this

but i doubt it

we need to setup this David Howard fight

by royalsreview on Feb 1, 2007 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

NYCRoyal vs. David Howard

Mr. Howard, if you are reading this...bring it. I'll even take you on in a bunting competition to make it fair, with Royals trivia as the rubber match.

by nycroyal on Feb 5, 2007 9:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

SNL

tries to keep clips off YouTube.

by BrRoyal on Nov 27, 2007 3:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh man

It just hit me. Yes I do remember that...

It seems that Grudz made an appearance in the skit as well.

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/97/97ibaseball.phtml

"Mark Grudzielanek: [ puts his arm around Mom ] Hi, sweetheart. I'm Mark Grudzielanek."

Bah ha ha ha. Brilliant.

by The Mustache of Balboni on Feb 1, 2007 3:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

quite being a fag

priceless

i can picture that sentence being said about a 1,000 times a day in baseball clubhouses

by LeoBloom on Feb 1, 2007 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

More on shortstops

I should have included Jay Bell in the list of good shortstops - that makes four (Washington, Bell, Gagne, and Patek). I can't put Stillwell on the list of the good - just not good enough with the glove.

David Howard will always be somewhat famous because he was the batter when Edmonds, playing for the Angels, made what I still consider to be the greatest catch I've ever seen.

by loyal2s dad on Feb 1, 2007 3:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Bo Jackson

could kinda fit on the flame out list, but at least it was due to injury instead of being a true flameout.

by loyal2s dad on Feb 1, 2007 3:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

he was too good

he actually delivered, if only for a short while

by LeoBloom on Feb 1, 2007 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Here's another

Hal Morris. Although that wonderful running batting stance did provide plenty of worthless singles.

by tater on Feb 1, 2007 5:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Query

Even though one was a pitcher and the other most decidedly not, weren't Jerry Spradlin and Hal Morris in fact the same person?

by CentralChamps2009 on Feb 1, 2007 5:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Totally unrelated and I apologize

But the fellows at deadspin pretty much overtook a Bill Simmons column on the ESPN Conversation dealie-who.

I've been border-line rolling for about twenty minutes.

http://myespn.go.com/conversation/story?id=2750790

And so I suppose this post isn't completely irrelevant, I'm gonna drop the name Brad "Winless" Voyles.

by The Mustache of Balboni on Feb 1, 2007 6:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

kevin mcreynolds

lazyiest man ever to play for the royals util angel berroa

by jh1307 on Feb 1, 2007 7:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Holy crap

I tried to block this guy out of my mind until I saw this story:

Albie Lopez of the 12.7 ERA.

by monkeybad on Feb 1, 2007 10:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Old Vets...

It would probably be great loads of memory lane bliss to continue the old vets past their prime theme...

Gaylord Perry
Vida Blue
Kirk Gibson
Juan Gone (this is still just sad)

continue?

by grandllama on Feb 1, 2007 11:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Angel Berroa gets my vote....

by grudz69 on Feb 2, 2007 12:13 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, Berroa is best SS in the 21st century

Anybody would be better than Neifi Perez!

by jbrocato on Feb 2, 2007 7:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My vote still stands.... Vote for Bullrroa

by grudz69 on Feb 2, 2007 12:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What about Jeff Suppan

I know everyone is high on him right now being that he was just the World Series MVP but his line with the Royals was pretty awful.

Jeff Suppan career with the Royals:

39-51 4.79ERA 122HR allowed 29 hit batters 288BB

If it wasn't for the fact that he was pretty durable (134 starts and 852 innings pitched) people would look at him as the kind of guy to throw on this list.

by EricConley on Feb 2, 2007 12:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

World Series MVP

was Eckstein not Suppan, but Suppan was the NLCS MVP.

As for the worst, its gotta be the Albie Lopez years. That was the worst. Darrel May was pretty bad too, as were a lot of other guys. Its kinda bad that I kind just sit here and rattle of names of horrible royals from the last 5 years.

by wildthang on Feb 2, 2007 2:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How about this collection?

According to Baseball Reference, this was our most common starting infield in 1991:

1B Todd Benzinger
2B Terry Shumpert
3B Bill Pecota
SS Kurt Stillwell

Ahhhh, the good ol' days of Stillwell to Shumpert to Benzinger. How Mayberry, White, Brett and Patek could ever stand up to this infield in the collective memory of Royals fans is beyond me.

by CentralChamps2009 on Feb 2, 2007 2:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Benzinger

As I put up the last post, I realized that I had absolutely no recollection at all of Todd Benzinger as a major leaguer, let alone as a Royal. Some random surfing brought me to this from the cincinnati.com Prep Sports site:

Off diamond, Benzinger a gem of a coach
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former Red follows brother's lead to basketball coaching success

By Tom Groeschen
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Todd Benzinger caught the final out of the 1990 World Series for Cincinnati. The Reds have skidded mostly downhill since, but Benzinger is back at the top of his profession....

Todd Benzinger, 38, is head coach of the Seven Hills girls basketball team, which is 9-0 and ranked No.4 in the Enquirer's DivisionsII-IV area coaches poll. The Stingers are No.12 in this week's Ohio Associated Press DivisionIV poll.

It is clear his baseball acumen is nothing compared to the legendary status awaiting him as a legend of Ohio High School Girls Basketball.

by CentralChamps2009 on Feb 2, 2007 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How many times

can a person say "legend" in one sentence?

by CentralChamps2009 on Feb 2, 2007 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Todd Benzinger!

Benzinger typified the no-power, no-walk, no-field, empty batting average 1B we collected in the 80s and 90s.

Todd Benzinger, Hal Morris, Pat Tabler, Gerald Perry, Carmelo Martinez, Dave McCarty, Wally Joyner (although Wally at least walked and could field)

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 2, 2007 2:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that

made me laugh
out
loud!

by RoyalRoy on Feb 2, 2007 2:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Eureka

I've finally realized why I can't remember any of these guys as Royals--I had stopped buying baseball cards by then. For forever in my mind:

Pat Tabler is a Cleveland Indian
Gerald Perry is an Atlanta Brave
and Carmelo Martinez? Well, um, I thought he was a forward for the Nuggets until I remembered that was Carmelo ANTHONY. Who the heck is Carmelo Martinez?

by CentralChamps2009 on Feb 2, 2007 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Joyner

"best throwing first baseman I've ever seen."
whichever Royals announcer was talking after Wally threw a ball.

by buddyball on Feb 3, 2007 6:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Juan Samuel

Not really the worst, just another of the endless number of guys who came to KC to watch their careers go from life support to eulogy. Again, I cannot remember him actually being a Royal, despite Baseball Reference assuring me otherwise.

by CentralChamps2009 on Feb 2, 2007 2:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

WTF Transaction Page!

Juan Samuel:

September 8, 1995: Traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Kansas City Royals for a player to be named later. The Kansas City Royals sent Phil Hiatt (September 14, 1995) to the Detroit Tigers to complete the trade.

November 2, 1995: Granted Free Agency.

The Royals were 23.5 games back on Sept. 8. Why the hell did they pick up Juan Freakin Samuel???

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 2, 2007 2:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

he was a:

proven vet
established winner
good baseball guy

by RoyalRoy on Feb 2, 2007 2:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not that this justifies it.....

They were in the Wild Card hunt.

by Tarnished Crown on Feb 2, 2007 6:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

You're right. Didn't even realize that. They were 62-60, tied with Seattle for the Wild Card, half a game up on the Yankees.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 3, 2007 3:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

mendy lopez

by RoyalRoy on Feb 2, 2007 2:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Mendy

belongs on no list due to his opening day "shot heard round the world" against the white sox several years back.

by wildthang on Feb 2, 2007 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

by far the most awesome

Royals game I've ever attended. Mendy will always live on in my heart.

by royaldaddy on Nov 27, 2007 6:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

awesome game

Hillman, you're on notice.

by FireBell on Nov 27, 2007 6:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Does Eli Marrero count?

Didn't we trade him for some skittles and a fun-pack of cola???

by The Mustache of Balboni on Feb 2, 2007 4:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

gawd

i remember actually thinking Eli was gonna be good

he definitely sucked hard as a royal

by royalsreview on Feb 2, 2007 10:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Is it me or...

does anyone think think that this is really, really bad that we will sit here and come up with how bad we have been (based on the players we have had) over the last 15 years? I mean..I've had to hold back Terry freaking Leach until I realized that his numbers don't look that bad (comparatively).

And when David Howard isn't the worst, then we have some serious problems!

by Stook on Feb 3, 2007 4:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

the franchise totally collapsed

from a high level

someone should really write a book aboyt it

by LeoBloom on Feb 3, 2007 1:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

THE MUSTACHE OF BALBONI

brought this up about 30 comments ago... but the comments on the latest simmons column are hilarious

http://myespn.go.com/conversation/story?id=2750790

you're with me wingo

by royalsreview on Feb 3, 2007 5:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Tuffy Rhodes????

by buddyball on Feb 3, 2007 6:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Dermal "Dee" Brown

For a guy who was as hyped as he was Dee Brown really sucked as a Royal. Never panned out at all.

by EricConley on Feb 5, 2007 7:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

This guy made me want to make calls to the pen...

Dan Reichert. Man, was he awful.

Million-dollar stuff, five-cent head.

Another awful "player" to don the Royal blue....Rico Rossy. Of course, put him in a Mariner future-ama uni and he turns into Jim Rice...

by JayhawkTom on Feb 5, 2007 9:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

WARNING

This thread is not for the faint of heart. Memories of players mentioned may induce vomiting, high blood pressure and agony.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Nov 27, 2007 12:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Clint Hurdle Came

With such high expectations; he is the big flameout to me. My oldest brother and his wife were friends of Hurdle's aunt and uncle, so I heard a lot about him before he even played minor league ball. When the SI cover came out, I figured he was the real deal. He wasn't horrible, but he fell further below expectations than any other Royal I can recall.

Being a fan is irrational, but what is the alternative?

by philofthenorth on Nov 27, 2007 1:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

there's only one SS on this team

and that's me. Neifi can sit on the bench and cry about not playing every day. The Angels can't carry my jock. I am immortal!

by David Howards Legacy on Nov 27, 2007 4:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

neifi and Juan-Gone and Roberto

wasn't Roberto Hernandez just a BS(Blown Save) Machine... im not sure if it was him or not

by kcroyalsfan12 on Nov 27, 2007 5:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

yea, dude was terrible

but amazingly is still in baseball

Hillman, you're on notice.

by FireBell on Nov 27, 2007 6:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Albie Lopez

Anyone who is told they are no longer part of the team before the game is over has to make the list. I don't see how it gets much worse than Larue, but Brandon Berger was awful.

by royaldaddy on Nov 27, 2007 6:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i was always a berger believer...

he was the early 00s Huber

Hillman, you're on notice.

by FireBell on Nov 27, 2007 6:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

does anyone else think Worst Royals Ever

Should totally be a panel discussion at Fanfest?

by royalsreview on Nov 27, 2007 6:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

No

I think the macabre fascination with bad players, bad seasons, bad drafts, bad trades and bad FA signings by Royals fans is one of the most odd and dysfunctional qualities of the Royals fanbase. I've never understood what fans get out of accentuating the negative.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Nov 27, 2007 6:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The problem is that...

You get very little discusson when you ask who was the BEST Royal ever. I mean, that's a classic "Is the Pope Catholic?" question.

So during the long, cold winter, we discuss something else. Doesn't mean we're obsesses with the negative.

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

by cmkeller on Nov 27, 2007 7:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You have to rehash the past a bit

To realize your mistakes and prepare for the future. It's a little cynical, yes, but macabre and dysfunctional? No. The true dysfunction has come from the Royals franchise over the past 15 years.

"I'm tired of all these stupid a$$ questions every day. Why the f**k would I hit Brett for Miller?" The rest is history.

by DC Royal on Nov 28, 2007 12:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

perhaps you don't rehash like I rehash

Or do you not believe burning these players in effigy qualifies as macabre or dysfunctional?

Anyway, off to buy some lighter fluid for my Rico Rossy totem.

by marbotty on Dec 2, 2007 11:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have no idea why

But for some reason Joe Mays popped in my head the other day. I had nearly forgot he was ever a Royal.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Nov 27, 2007 8:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

quantity vs (lack of) quality

Is there a way to get a list of who managed the most negative VORP during their time as a Royal? I really want to take this self-hating stuff to the next level.

by Moose Tacos on Nov 28, 2007 3:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hm

I'm surprised no one mentioned LaRue and his historically terrible season last year. One of the most embarrassing individual efforts I have ever seen...and I've been following the franchise since 1977.

But still, I think pride of place here has to go to Perez or Howard for longevity of suckitude unbalanced by any year of even mediocrity.

by BlueEyesAustin on Nov 28, 2007 6:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs