Comments on: Kansas City Royals 2010 Positional Review: First Basemen

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:21:38 +0000

Billy is not the problem on this team. He’s one of few that even take professional at bats. That being said, the dp’s list doesn’t prove anything in my opinion. If you want to post a list to show the top hitters hit into dp’s often, also list everyone on this list with their home run and rbi totals. Billy is the best hitter we got, but he would more than likely be a 6th hole hitter on a competitive team. I dont see how really. Bottomline, if KC had 8 other positions improved in the lineup, people would appreciate Billy alot more.

By: Clark Fosler

Clark Fosler — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:34:17 +0000

airgoesit – let’s keep in mind that we are talking about a player with a .388 on-base percentage and almost a 1-1 walk to strikeout ratio (69 to 78).

Andy – Travis Hafner and Paul Konerko were terrible in their first 200 major league at-bats, too. Given the Royals’ situation heading into 2011, we can afford to truly find out if Kila is, indeed, terrible by playing him everyday to start the season.

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:18:25 +0000

Kila is terrible. Billy is the only young player that has developed through the Royals system on the team right now that has proven he belongs in the bigs. He is a legit 3 or 4 hitter if he had another big bat around him.

By: Graham

Graham — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:14:30 +0000

Nick, I get what you are saying about the GIDP, however, it is frustrating when a player like Butler continually hits into momentum killing DPs. I’d feel the same if Pujols was a Royal, although he gets a little forgiveness because of the HR thing he does. Out of curiosity, in the list mentioned above, where do those other 7 (minus Pujols) hit in the order? Are they all #3/#4 hitters as well? If so, maybe I’ll stop griping about the GIDP and start complaining about the lack of HRs.

By: nick scott

nick scott — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 19:31:53 +0000

butlers GIDP can be summed up like this

1. team that gets a lot of singles
2. player that hits the ball instead of striking out
3. slow runner

Good players normally end up at the top of the GIDP list. It’s blown way out of proportion. Here is the list of players at the top of the mlb in GIDP

1. billy butler
2. michael cuddyer
3. pablo sandoval
4. adrian beltre
5. Albert pujols
6. derrick lee
7. ty wiggington
8. torii hunter
9. derek jeter

its a pretty good list of players.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 18:52:36 +0000

I like Butler alot as a hitter, but not as a 1B. I blame the GIDP’s on Seitzer. He tries to coach everyone the same, and he can’t do that with Butler. Butler needs to learn how to get a little lift on the ball. I’ll take a .290-.300 avg with more doubles and hrs over his .310-.320 avg with 80 GDIP. If Kila turns it on to start next season, they can throw him or Butler out for tradebait. Or is Hosmer athletic enough to play LF? Hosmer, Dyson/D.Rob., Myers in the outfield to start 2012? They are going to have to have a speedster out there to make up for the corners.

By: Nick Scott

Nick Scott — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 17:34:32 +0000

On what basis do you think billy butler is “average”? I think butler is a prototypical 3rd hitter and would be one of the best in the league. Plus he is still very young. I don’t think I’ll ever get the anti-billy butler sentiment.

By: kcghost

kcghost — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:44:40 +0000

One of the problems with being a Royals fan is we desperately want someone to be great rather than merely good. And it is tough to adjust to a 240 pound gap hitter.

My plan for 2011 would be for Kila to be the 1B until such time as he shows he can’t handle it. If Hosmer continues to tear up the minors and Kila produces we can then trade Kila before the trading deadline or the off-season.

By: airgoesit

airgoesit — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:04:07 +0000

As one of the persons that give BB a hard time, he gets it because he’s a) out of position and b) doesn’t profile as a #3 or 4 hitter. I think he’s peaked defensively, and let’s be honest, it’s still below average. And he’s standing in the way of 2-3 prospects when the DH slot is WIDE open for his exceptional capabilities with the bat.
The heat chart also indicates he refuses to take walks…in fairness, just like every other Royal. So he swings away with men on base, makes a ton of contact, but doesn’t hit HRs. Instead, a good portion of the time its a GIDP. The later of which KILLS this team. Move him to #5 or 6 and let him protect guys that are running up pitch counts, getting on base and hitting dingers. (those guys don’t exist yet, but they’re coming, soon)