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Okay, let's get the 'Scott Podsednik's wife in a bikini at every game' out of the way right now.
There is a very high level of the 'winter doldrums' descending on the Royals' blogsosphere as we wait for spring training to begin. Part of that is it is simply that time of year and part is that the Royals made a number of moves this off-season, almost none of which were of the exciting variety.
Last week, we took a quick look at my perception of the 25 man roster that is likely to break camp at the end of March. Last Friday, the official Royals site had comments from Trey Hillman that included, but were not limited to:
- Getz will be a second baseman first, then shortstop.
- Callaspo will be at second, then short
- Fields will be a third baseman and some left field and we might throw him over to right, too.
In the discussion of trying Getz at shortstop (a position Chris claims to have played a lot 'pretty decently' in the minors), Hillman also talked about waiting for Mike Aviles to get healthy, but never once mentioned Yuniesky Betancourt.
While all that is moderately intriuging and certainly gives us indication that we might see the same lineup two days in a row, maybe three times all next year, it probably does not make many of you any more excited about 2010 then my discussion of the 25 man roster did last Monday.
So, today, what wouldmake you excited? Let me focus that a little more: what ONE move could be made by the Royals that would get you excited about 2010? This move could be an acquisition, a signing, maybe even just a position change or promotion of a minor leaguer. Is there one?
While no one move is going to vault this team into contention, I think it might be possible to at least raise hopes that we have something to look forward to in 2010 besides Zack Greinke every fifth day and hoping to avoid 100 losses. Maybe there is no one move that will generate interest beyond the usual anticipation of a new season, but throw some out there because I want to be interested.
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Comments
- Hillman Fired
- Guillen Released
- Trade acquiring under 30, above average MLB player
- Acquiring LHP for rotation so they will finally shut up about it
1. Pods repeating last season's performance
2. DDJ being DDJ
3. Butler improving
4. Ankiel hitting 25 + homers with a .270+ BA (Guillen cut or traded)
5. Callaspo at DH
6. Getz with a .350+ OBP with 30+ SBs
7. Gordon busting out ala Billy Butler
8. Kendall being mediocre is good enough
9. Aviles returning to form and replacing Yuny
Meche and Greinke becoming a solid 1-2 with an ERA below 3.50
The pitching staff being in the league top half in ERA.
Great minor league seasons from Moose, Hosmer, Crow et al with promotions mid season for all
There isn't another single transaction that would do it for me, though a combination of trading/releasing the blockers (Betancourt and Guillen) would get me excited again.
-Tejada makes the rotation
-Dejesus in Center
-Ankiel in Right
-ANYONE but Yuni/Kendall at SS and Catcher
-Jose Guillen, in a fit of generosity, pays every penny of his contract back to the Royals and retires.
I feel these to be quite reasonable.
I would like a LH SP signed by mid spring training. Jose traded or released, and Fields/Callaspo DH.
Oh yes, and somehow getting rid of Kyle Farnsworth. I hate him so, so much.
2. Gil Meche Cy Young
3. Rick Ankiel breaks Royals HR record
4. Guillen cut
5. Hillman fired
6. Cruz proves last year was injury related and returns to the good Juan Cruz
7. A young pitcher emerges Crowe -Hochevor etc
8. Disco hayes gets a legit shot in pen
9. David Lough call up in May and proves valuable piece
10. Trade deadline -Pods- is gone for a prospect
11. Callaspo with a 2nd Tier prospect lands us a near major league ready talent
12. Royals hire a real sabermetician and use them, Glass Jr is sent packing
13. Butler and grienke solidfy they were not fluke years- both all stars
14. Another strong draft
no problem right?
I would much rather have Getz and Callaspo at short and second, and not have Betancourt on the roster. I can't see there being much difference between Betancourt's awful glove and moving Getz over there, and I'd certainly rather have Getz's bat in the lineup.
Cutting Guillen could open the door for a Fields/Kila righty/lefty platoon at DH with both also being able to spell guys at the corners (between the two of them). Obviously, neither are going to set the world afire with their glove work, but between them, they have first, third, left, and right covered (crappily, but they're bodies).
I would simply be excited if they would continue to aquire young pitching. I realize we have many other areas of need. I can stomach the umpteenth 90-loss season in a row. But I don't think I can stomach another season of no identify. I am so sick of this organization having no indentity...no one single thing that they excel and have pride in. And no apparent focus to change that. With Zack and Soria we have a start at building a real strength. Aside from Will Myers (and the returns are anwfully early on him) we have nothing real exciting on the way from the position players. Pitching could be another story. Build on it. Get us in the position to "deal from an area of strength"....some future leverage for the other areas when the time comes. And give us something to be proud of.
To that end resolve the spring roster logjam with trades for more young pitchting A / AA level pitching prospects. Then in July, if Banny, Gil, DDJ, or whoever...can stir up more
interest then do the same...trade for pitching. Same for the next offseason.
In addition to that...give me this year:
--Grienke in the CY race again (even if its a bit of a step backwards from last years unreal #'s). still solid ace.
--Meche - sub 4 era, '07,'08 type K's per 9. solid # 2
--Hoch figures out what made him a special pitcher those 4 or 5 outings last yr (what was it 14k's or something sick in one game, a ridiculously small amount of pitches in another) and what didn't work the rest. He gets the era in the high 4's. Shows he wasn't a bust as a overall # 1 pick.
--Banny can stretch out what he did thru two/thirds the '09 season thru the whole season this time. Hard not to root for him.
--Crack top 5 (at least top half) of the american league in some key staff stats like era, k's per 9, whip, opponents ba\obp
--Crow and Montgomery (probably less realistic with his age) impress all yr and get a late season call up. Show well and are ready to crack the rotation full time in '11.
-Out of Arguelles, Duffy, Mellville, Lamb, Dwyer, Coleman, and Sample - 4 out of 7 stay on track to arrive late '11 thru early '13
-Draft Top College level pitching prospect this summer in Rd.1
A lot has to go right with that list ...but at least its a high level strategy. Hey...a strategy...I could get excited about a strategy.