Comments on: The Royals Signed Jeff Francis

By: Ted

Ted — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 15:30:13 +0000

So I know that lots of Royals fans have a soft spot in their hearts for the Cardinals, but I am not one of them. And I am loving this Pujols drama. When they extended Holliday with that ridiculous contract, my first thought was, “how in the world will they afford Pujols now?” As a baseball fan, I kind of hope Albert stay in St Louis, but as a boy from KC who loathes St Louis, I really really want him to sign somewhere else. Can you imagine the craziness if both Prince Fielder and Pujols were available? Oh man that would be fun to watch.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 15:04:17 +0000

%, we have gone around slot about bloomquist. And you know I disagree. I am very happy he signed somewhere else. I would rather have players that can play one position above average than a guy that can play 6 positions mediocre. You need to have a utility player like that in the NL bc of all the double switches, but it isn’t necessary in the AL.

Great signings this week by Moore. He is having a great offseason. Go royals!

By: Razor

Razor — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 19:29:17 +0000

% – you are right. Unfortuanately the Royals are and have been treading water waiting on the prospects for awhile. I am hoping that this being Yost’s first spring training, he can change the mindset of this team. It’s not a switch you can just flip on. He’s gotta get this team competitive and get them to play hard and play to win on every play, every at bat, every pitch. That needs to be the mindset of the team when the prospects start arriving so they know what is expected of them. Some of this should come from team leadership but that’s hard with all the turnover. Butler is the only veteran who’s producing and wants to step into that role. I’ve heard Moose is that kind of player and should help. It’s an area they have been sorely lacking recently.

As for Bloomquist, I agree with you. He was not much of a favorite, especially in the blogs but he was a good veteran utility man, good baserunner and played hard. Every team needs a guy like that. Unfortunately, he was over used by Hillman. More of an everyday player and I don’t think he is strong enough as a player for that role.

By: % (In the UK)

% (In the UK) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 18:17:13 +0000

Razor-Thats a fair point you make there but i still feel that when you have too many of these guys all the inevitable chopping & changing isnt good for the development of any kind of blend within the side as a whole or to the nurturing of a culture of a long term winning mentality for the team!

Great too see Wee Willie Bloomquist picked up by the D-Backs who signed him on Thursday for $1.05 Million with a mutual option for one year,this is the kind of player our talent of 2012 could have learnt a heck of a lot from for virtually peanuts & is twice the value of any of the off season purchases weve brought in!

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 17:32:57 +0000

Personally I like the 1 year contracts, gives the Royals a chance to sign these guys and get some prospects at the deadline if they perform. Albeit I didn’t agree with the Ankeil/Farnsworth trade to Atlanta cause I feel like the Royals got the blunt end of the trade. And I didn’t like the Greinke trade cause I feel like the Royals could have gotten better prospects for him but we will just see in the future. I could see Francis leading the team in wins this season. On another note I think DM needs to deal Soria, I know we can get some major prospects for him.

By: Razor

Razor — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 17:05:46 +0000

I think you will almost always get the maximum effort and motivation from one year contract guys cause they are playing for a big contract next year. And in some cases they are playing for their baseball life. The down side, if they put up big numbers they’ll be chasing the bigger contract next off-season and you may have trouble signing them. The lack of motivation can be just the opposite. The guy signs a big $, multi-year deal and is now set financially so he can just coast. What’s his motivation other than personal pride. If doesn’t happen often but it does, i.e. Adrian Beltre. Got the big contract back in 2005. Had an OPS of 1.017 in LA in 2004 (a contract year) had only been above .800 once in prrevious 6 yrs. Next 5 yrs with Seattle only above .800 once then last year (contract year) puts up a .919 and gets another big contract. Now there’s you lack of motivation.

By: % (In the UK)

% (In the UK) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:46:31 +0000

The only danger is when signing guys on the cheap & on short term contracts is that you never know what there motivation levels are,some (think Willie Bloomquist) are going to be great & professionals to the very end,others will just be on the take for a quick buck & with little commitment to the club.

One things for sure is unless Dayton Moore is a perfect mind reader it will always be hit & miss & therefore you will never get constancy of performance,both within a season & from year to year!

I think this is what ultimately frustrated Greinke “just give us a competitive team that has a chance of winning” & is beginning to frustrate me,having said that i like Francis & like thye trade!

By: Ted

Ted — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 02:26:48 +0000

Francis and Chen; two lefties, oh my. DM struggles to squeeze a lefty into the rotation every year, and for 2011 he has managed to sign two for a total of $4 million guaranteed, and they might very well be our best starters of the season.

As horrid as this rotation looked three weeks ago, I am now intrigued. I don’t think the rotation will be any good, but Miner, Chen and Francis have me wondering what this rotation will give us. With Hoch, Davies, et al, I felt confident in what to expect. Sure, maybe Mazzaro would be better than expected, or maybe Hochevar would take a big step forward, or something, but for the most part the season’s headlines were set, as in “Royals rotation struggles again, gives up six runs in five and a third innings.” Now, though, there is intrigue. And, I have to say, DM continues to build enough mystery into this next season to get me interested. Now I am wanting to watch some Royals baseball.

By: Razor

Razor — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 00:20:22 +0000

This means they have to make two roster moves now. My guess would be Chavez and maybe Maier or Hughes.

By: Razor

Razor — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 00:18:17 +0000

I agree. I like all the moves he’s made this off-season except for the Cabrera deal. I think he jumped the gun on that one. I just read where they signed Bruce Chen for 1 year. All of a sudden the rotation is not the mess it was a week ago. Still not great though. I really like the way he’s addressed the organizational needs and done it on the cheap. Buying time on the cheap I guess you could say.