Comments on: Failsafe

By: royalsnextyear

royalsnextyear — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:30:20 +0000

I have an idea? Why dont we get rid of a starting rotation and put everybody in the pen. I will say this, the rotation went from the worst of all time to just the worst in the majors. Keep are heads up we are getting better.

By: Danny Davis

Danny Davis — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:17:48 +0000

Jim, do you really think with the pitching market the way it ended up that Chen was legitimately going to get a 10 million dollar deal? I’m not a complete hater, but gosh I cannot lie when I say the signing is frustrating. I realize there is the slight possibility that he is able to again, reproduce similar results to the past two years, despite worse statistical projections, aging, and the fact that he has been injured the past two years. I just don’t think that is a good possibility. Every signing is a risk, or a gamble if you will, and I just don’t think the Chen one is a very good one.

By: jim fetterolf

jim fetterolf — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:15:00 +0000

DanL, makes sense. I think Crow should start at Omaha and either dominate his way to the bigs as a starter or be available for call as a reliever. I also think JaKKKKe probably starts in Springdale for a couple of months. Nice to have possibilities. Wonder if Dwyer and Will Smith show enough this spring to make Omaha to start.

By: DanL

DanL — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 23:38:13 +0000

With so many options for filling the bullpen, the question becomes how best to use the talent. I think you can come to two significantly different bullpens depending on if you want to win this year versus win in 2013.

If I were the GM, I would target 2013 as the big year instead of what it seems like Yost is thinking. To have the best five man starting rotation in 2013, I would have Crow, Monty, Adcock, Teaford, JakeO pitch in Omaha this year – telling them, when they dominate AAA, we’ll move somebody off the ML rotation.

By: jim fetterolf

jim fetterolf — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:51:40 +0000

“But of course you and Dick Kaegel believe everyone is in the best shape of their lives”

Haven’t heard anything on injuries to Chen, although Sanchez, Broxton, and Mijares are coming back from them. Do you have some inside information?

“It’s hard to imagine Chen in anyone’s rotation that is trying to win.”

You probably thought that the previous two years, as well as were the statistically outraged over the signings of Frenchy and Melky last year. There’s just a certain niche of bloggers and posters who are incensed at about anything GMDM does. You, at least, have better manners than a lot of them:)

“Chen would have been even a better deal on a 1year 2mil deal which would have been closer in line.”

Given his last two years, $10 mil per year would have been more in line. I think the Royals got a good enough deal. Like for any athlete, we’ll just have to see.

By: Axl

Axl — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:01:58 +0000

Chen would have been even a better deal on a 1year 2mil deal which would have been closer in line. But of course you and Dick Kaegel believe everyone is in the best shape of their lives, and no one will regress. It’s hard to imagine Chen in anyone’s rotation that is trying to win. He will be pushed out I could see by the half way point this year, and the Royals will be stuck paying the bill.

By: jim fetterolf

jim fetterolf — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:43:12 +0000

“you guys are gonna get fwar’d to death!”

If you prefer bWAR, Oswalt’s for the last two years was 4.5, Chen’s 4.6, and that with Oswalt pitching in a weaker league. Edwin Jackson had 4.8 the last two years, with over half his starts in the NL. Chen looks like quite a deal and if he’s the worst starter we have, the Royals probably win the division.

By: Sean

Sean — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:59:19 +0000

I love the bullpen layout and it’s gonna be a great thing to have if the games are manageable through 6.

Chen. Ballsy bringing him up…you guys are gonna get fwar’d to death! Did you know he’s only 1 game worse than Edwin Jackson or Roy Oswalt? Plus he’s allegedly hilarious enough that the mediocre body of work is bundled in to 9.5 million. Untradeable and the loss of the comp pick are so hard to swallow when you think about it.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:47:25 +0000

The season hasn’t even started, and it already looks like Chen’s contract is a headache. Chen is basically guaranteed a rotation spot this year. What happens if Hochevar, Sanchez, Paulino, Duffy, and Mendoza are hands down better than Chen? What happens at the all star break when Monty, Odorizzi, Dwyer, or W.Smith is ready? Chen was good for the last 2 years, but signing him to a 2 year deal at 9 mil was just not smart.

Good bullpen piece. You have to love the options.

By: scott h

scott h — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:29:04 +0000

Great read Clark. Man I’ve been looking at the Box scores from the games and it seems like we have a real battle for spots in the rotation now. the way Mendoza and Crow have pitched along with Duffy’s first outing if I were f’N Bruce Chen I’d be nervous about starting in the Show this year. That goes to show you even if your the best pitcher on a team the previous year, that was still last year. I cant wait till we start trimming down and get to see who is seriously competing for the last 2 spots.
ABH I would trade nobody from the pen unless we are in the chase in July. injuries plagued our pitchers last year never know when you are going to need 1 arm or 5.