Royals *** Official 2016 Royals Repository, Version 1 *** - Page 127

duncan_idaho · 04-03-2016, 09:48 AM

And so it begins: The Royals' second straight attempt to repeat as AL Champions, and first attempt to repeat as World Series champions.

In this thread, we'll track all non-gameday action. Roster moves, prospect news, etc.

I'll start the thread as usual, with division rivals thoughts. I still like KC to repeat as AL Central champs. Here's how I see the rest of it shaking out:

2) Indians - they have the pitching (and seem to have at least semi-Kluber-ed Cody Anderson, who added 3 mph to his fastball in the offseason). Will the offense hold up? I think this is a team that ends up looking a lot like the 2014 Royals. Francisco Lindor will solidify their IF defense over the full season, and is a help with the bat. I think this club is still a year away from really breaking through - the offense still has a lot of question marks - but I like them to nab a wildcard spot.

Key Player(s): Michael Brantley. When Brantley returns - and how he hits when he does - will be critical to the Indians' ability to be good enough on offense.

Jason Kipnis. Kipnis has been an enigmatic offensive performer for the past several years. If he finally has a good offensive campaign from start to finish, Cleveland could make real noise.

Something of interest to me: For all the acclaim the Twins' farm system gets, I look at the Indians young players, and would much rather have them. Brad Zimmer is going to be a very good all-around CF. Clint Frazier has huge power potential and should arrive soon (2017). Lindor is a young stud.

3) Tigers - Old and dependent on a few stars. If Verlander and Sanchez are healthy and effective, they will be playoff contenders. I'm sure JD Martinez will continue to hit roid-aided bombs. I'm also pretty sure Victor Martinez's days as a huge power threat are gone.

Key player: Justin Verlander. Detroit people would have you believe he figured out how to succeed without his big fastball in September of last year. If that's true, and he returns to dominant form, Detroit will likely contend again.

Something of interest to me: Will Jose Iglesias stay healthy and not try to kill teammates in the dugout? His defense makes the whole group much better.

4) Twins - They won't lead the division or be in playoff contention for as long this year, but Minnesota will avoid the cellar.

Key Player: Miguel Sano. Huge power, huge K rate. Can he continue to drive the ball and be a plus offensive player? Probably needs to cut that 35 percent K percentage to do so.

Something of interest to me: Will teams challenge Sano inside with hard stuff? Working away, away, just lets his power play up. Also - will Mike Berardino continue to be the biggest beat writer homer in MLB?

5) White Sox - still managed by a shitty manager who can't control his clubhouse (The blame for the LaRoche thing really should fall on him, not the GM). Still have a shitty overall defense and a lot of douchebags on the team. They will once again look better on paper than they actually perform.

Key player: Carlos Rodon. The White Sox need Rodon to take a big step forward to make an actual move this season. He's got the talent...

And, as always, here are the prospects.

Duncan’s Top 20 for 2016:

Spoiler!

1. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, BOTH: Tools, tools, tools. RA has tools galore. At his best, he’s an All-Star SS who plays elite D, hits 15-20 HR, swipes 40 bags, and is an ideal 1, 2 or 3 hitter. At his worst, I think he looks a lot like Alcides Escobar. Plate discipline is his biggest challenge at this point, but evaluators are confident that will come with time. Clear No. 1
2. Kyle Zimmer, RHP: He’s pitching again and staying healthy, which is nice. He’s pitcing out of the bullpen to build back his arm strength, which is less nice. But still has that high upside, just a lower floor now. Ideally, the team will use him as a bullpen weapon in September (because he has earned it) and then give him a chance to transition back to starting for 2016.
3. Bubba Starling, CF, RH: Starling has been up and down this year but put himself back on the map by greatly improving his K rate while also improving across the slash line as a hitter. His defense and baserunning are MLB ready; if Starling can work himself into a league average hitter, he can be a solid MLB regular who plays great D in CF while hitting 15 HR and swiping 20 bags.
4. Miguel Almonte, RHP: Still love the body, FB/CH combo. Results aren’t eye popping, but he’s still low enough and early enough in the development to prize those things over performance. Still a solid No. 3 starter upside, and just a year and some change away from potentially being ready to contribute at the MLB level.
5. Jorge Bonifacio, RF, RH: Emilio’s little brother got off to a horrible start in 2015 but has heated up as the season went on. He also is translating BP power to game power for the first time, with 15 HR just past the mid-way point of his season. Despite his disappointing 2014, he has a chance to build his way back into legit prospect status – and still is only 22. Next challenge for him should be Omaha, but that may wait for the start of the 2014 season.
6. Scott Blewett, RHP: Blewett has a nice two –pitch mix already and is off to a strong start. With his size (6-6) and a good fastball/curveball combo, Blewett could eventually turn into a good No. 3 starter, with a MLB-average changeup.
7. Nolan Watson, RHP: The Royals’ 2015 sandwich pick is a polished prep arm who is adding velocity and explosiveness to a good, polished base. Likely to move quickly.
8. Ashe Russell, RHP: The 2015 top pick probably needs more work than Watson, but the upside is really nice. Again, advanced two-pitch mix that will depend on him adding a changeup. Could be a very good NO. 2 if it all adds up.
9. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1B/DH, RH: The Balbino came out of basically nowhere in 2015 to earn a Futures Game spot. Big power and an improved two-strike approach have turned the late bloomer into a legit prospect. He’s blocked at the MLB level currently by Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales, but Fuenmayor’s combination of power hitting and good average/strike zone control makes him intriguing.
10. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, RH: Cheslor probably is not going to be the star KC was hoping for when signing him out of Nicaragua, but he does look like he can be a solid reserve for an MLB club. Good defense at 3B paired with a solid plate approach and some gap power plays fine off the bench. He becomes a lot more interesting if they think he can stick as a 2B, which they have experimented with.

Spoiler!

11. Chase Vallot, C/DH/1B: I really like Vallot’s power and plate discipline combo. His bat will probably force him from behind the plate, but he’s held his own despite being extremely young for every level he has faced.
12. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, OF, RH: Escalera-Maldonado earned a promotion to Wilmington at age 20, which is pretty advanced movement for that age. He’s an athletic outfielder who has shown some plate discipline at an early age, which is encouraging. Doesn’t sound like he can stick in CF long term for KC, but his bat has become one to watch.
13. Pedro Fernandez, RHP: I haven’t seen much of him, but like the reports I’ve heard on his fastball and general makeup. Could become the next Almonte/Mondesi, though he’s more likely to land in the pen than either of them.
14. Elier Hernandez, OF, RH: Elier Hernanez teamed with Escalera-Maldonado in breaking out at Low-A and earning a promotion to Wilmington. It’s still early for this guy – he is just 20 years old – but he doesn’t take walks and hasn’t developed the prodigious power many thought he had the potential for. Still worth watching.
15. Hunter Dozier, 3B, RH: Dozier is reworking his swing mid-season, which generally will cause production to do what his has done: Nose dive. The changes he made entering the season (seemingly geared towards increasing his power production) were a disaster, and now he’s trying to get back to what he used to be. Still looks great and checks most of the scouting boxes, but the performance hasn’t matched, and it almost knocked him out of the list.
16. Christian Binford, RHP: After a breakthrough 2014, Binford struggled mightily at AAA and suffered a demotion. His upside remains similar – a back-end starter who can eat innings – but Binford’s lack of velocity and reliance on command have caught up to him so far.
17. Marten Gasparini, OF, SH: Gasparini is intriguing because of his speed and athleticism. He’s a LOOOOONG ways from the majors and young for his level, but reports on his bat speed, swing, and speed remain positive enough to keep him on the bubble.
18. Eric Skoglund, LHP: Skoglund had a nice year at Wilmington. I'm skeptical because his K rate is lower than I like to see for a guy at A+ - just 7/9, and usually guys lose a strikeout or two/9 as they move up the chain from there - but he has excellent control, walking 1.17 batters/9. 6-7 lefties with great control who get lots of ground balls - like Skoglund - have a chance to overcome bad K rates.
19. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/LF: A lefty stick with power, O'Hearn was a savings signing as an 8th round pick, but a change in his approach increased his power - while increasing his K rate. After Vallot, probably the best pure power prospect in the Royals system.
20. Josh Staumont, RHP: I was terrified of this guy's control problems, and he walked nearly a batter an inning in his pro debut (32 BB in 40 1/3 IP). Staumont's nasty, nasty stuff (plus-plus fastball, plus slider) could make him a very good late-inning reliever who strikes out more than a batter an inning, if he can develop average or slightly below-average control. If he really masters the control, you're talking about a potential Greg Holland type, but that's a TALL task.

Lex Luthor · 06-13-2016, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

https://mobile.twitter.com/FlannyMLB...67968008826880

You're right as usual, PB. A tweet from Jeffery Flanagan carries a lot more weight about Zobrist's intentions than a direct quote from Zobrist.

Prison Bitch · 06-13-2016, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lex Luthor

You're right as usual, PB. A tweet from Jeffery Flanagan carries a lot more weight about Zobrist's intentions than a direct quote from Zobrist.

That tweet IS a direct quote from Zobrist, twerp.

**Dartgod** · 06-13-2016, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

That tweet IS a direct quote from Zobrist, twerp.

And it was made 3 DAYS after the Royals won the World Series. Looooong before he started contract negotiations with anyone.

Surely you are not that dense. Although I wouldn't put it past you.

BWillie · 06-13-2016, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

8 first basemen make more than highest paid right fielder. Hosmer is 12th highest paid first basemen and he is still in arbitration years.

Baseball is stupid. I have no other response than that, it's super easy to be a 1B. Almost anybody can do it that is tall. Alot of guys can't possibly play in the OF due to their tools and skills.

I think we are now seeing a shift of paying 1B less though. The trend will continue, I suspect.

What I'm saying is if Hosmer was versatile, and could play 1B and both the OF. He would be of more value. There is just no reason he shouldn't be able to do it.

**srvy** · 06-13-2016, 04:04 PM

I don't care what you all say I Miss Zobrist! And the what ifs are silly. Zobrist has had a far better career than Gordon and most likely finish his steady as Gordon will finish his with the bat as always up and down. Brief moments of brilliance followed by long stints of swinging and missing. Comparing those two is crazy their careers have taken completely different levels of success, Zobrist could be mentioned as HOF worthy Gordon not so much.

Oh and as far as Cueto goes he is where he needs be AL bats pound him over the long haul.

**SAUTO** · 06-13-2016, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

Baseball is stupid. I have no other response than that, it's super easy to be a 1B. Almost anybody can do it that is tall. Alot of guys can't possibly play in the OF due to their tools and skills.

I think we are now seeing a shift of paying 1B less though. The trend will continue, I suspect.

What I'm saying is if Hosmer was versatile, and could play 1B and both the OF. He would be of more value. There is just no reason he shouldn't be able to do it.

Chiefspants · 06-13-2016, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srvy

I don't care what you all say I Miss Zobrist! And the what ifs are silly. Zobrist has had a far better career than Gordon and most likely finish his steady as Gordon will finish his with the bat as always up and down. Brief moments of brilliance followed by long stints of swinging and missing. Comparing those two is crazy their careers have taken completely different levels of success, Zobrist could be mentioned as HOF worthy Gordon not so much.

Oh and as far as Cueto goes he is where he needs be AL bats pound him over the long haul.

.267/.347/.432
.268/.358/.434

Help me out here, which one is which?

Here, we'll break it down by WAR too (at Age 31)

At Age 31: 29.8 Career WAR
At Age 31: 27.8 Career WAR

**srvy** · 06-13-2016, 04:29 PM

Any reason you selected age 31?

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Al Bundy · 06-13-2016, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

Baseball is stupid. I have no other response than that, it's super easy to be a 1B. Almost anybody can do it that is tall. Alot of guys can't possibly play in the OF due to their tools and skills.

I think we are now seeing a shift of paying 1B less though. The trend will continue, I suspect.

What I'm saying is if Hosmer was versatile, and could play 1B and both the OF. He would be of more value. There is just no reason he shouldn't be able to do it.

You never saw Mike Jacobs play?

duncan_idaho · 06-13-2016, 04:37 PM

Once the Cubs became heavily interested in Zobrist and made him a strong, competitive offer, that situation became much like Gordon and KC. It would have taken a back-breaking offer to sway him elsewhere.

Talking about it like it was a simple choice between Gordon or Zobrist is living outside reality.

Re: Hosmer... Have you watched him try to shag flies? Did you see the games he played in RF a few years ago?

He has no instincts out there. He was brutal. Horrible routes, couldn't read the ball off the bat. Instincts matter in baseball, especially on defense. If he got demoted and spent a season learning it all over again and he worked at it as maniacally as Alex Gordon, he might have become a good RF. It's more than just having the physical tools, though.

As for Dayton's offseason, it doesn't have the magic dust sprinkle his 2014/15 one did, that's for sure.

I still like Kennedy and think he's going to be a solid addition when all is said and done. He's had back-to-back bad starts ... On the road... In HR-happy parks.

KC rightfully builds its staff with flyball pitchers to play to its home park. Sometimes, that bites you based on matchup.

Chris Young was a cheap signing, but it hasn't worked so far. If they dialed his role back and used him as a long reliever/piggy back, might still get some production there.

Soria has been about as expected. He isn't unhittable like Davis or Herrera, but he still is a pretty effective reliever who is above average.

Three years on him probably is going to hurt before all is said and done, but it also makes sure they're at least 3-deep with good arms in 17, too.

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duncan_idaho · 06-13-2016, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srvy

Any reason you selected age 31?

Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk

You can run it for 2011-2015 (last five years) and get basically the same thing.

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**srvy** · 06-13-2016, 04:41 PM

Well?

Very misleading considering Alex was out nearly half a season with the leg. Nice try though its not that Alex isn't appreciated for what he is but on a whole I choose Zobrist.

Speaking of Alex are we coming up to the end of his 15 days on disabled list. Anyone hear how he is coming along?

KChiefs1 · 06-13-2016, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

Really? Zobrist is from Illinois and loved playing for Maddon.

But don't take it from me.

"In the end, our heart wanted to be in Chicago as a family," Zobrist said. "I wanted to play for this team, wanted to play for Joe Maddon again, and I want to win a championship as a Chicago Cub."

"I think in the end, the main thing that we talked about kind of at the beginning of the process that was going to be important is proximity to [Nashville], where we live, proximity to my family. I grew up in Illinois, my wife's family, all those things."

Unless you think he's just a lying sociopath. Him and his wife don't strike me as that, but good luck with that theory.

Heyward also took less money to play for Maddon & the Cubs too.

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KChiefs1 · 06-13-2016, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srvy

Well?

Very misleading considering Alex was out nearly half a season with the leg. Nice try though its not that Alex isn't appreciated for what he is but on a whole I choose Zobrist.

Speaking of Alex are we coming up to the end of his 15 days on disabled list. Anyone hear how he is coming along?

Alex Gordon will begin hitting off a tee today. There's still no set timeline for his return, Ned says.

per Rustin Dodd

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BWillie · 06-13-2016, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

You never saw Mike Jacobs play?

I saw Billy Butler play and it was even somewhat passable for that fat ass.

04-03-2016, 09:48 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1730308	* Official 2016 Royals Repository, Version 1 * And so it begins: The Royals' second straight attempt to repeat as AL Champions, and first attempt to repeat as World Series champions. In this thread, we'll track all non-gameday action. Roster moves, prospect news, etc. I'll start the thread as usual, with division rivals thoughts. I still like KC to repeat as AL Central champs. Here's how I see the rest of it shaking out: 2) Indians - they have the pitching (and seem to have at least semi-Kluber-ed Cody Anderson, who added 3 mph to his fastball in the offseason). Will the offense hold up? I think this is a team that ends up looking a lot like the 2014 Royals. Francisco Lindor will solidify their IF defense over the full season, and is a help with the bat. I think this club is still a year away from really breaking through - the offense still has a lot of question marks - but I like them to nab a wildcard spot. Key Player(s): Michael Brantley. When Brantley returns - and how he hits when he does - will be critical to the Indians' ability to be good enough on offense. Jason Kipnis. Kipnis has been an enigmatic offensive performer for the past several years. If he finally has a good offensive campaign from start to finish, Cleveland could make real noise. Something of interest to me: For all the acclaim the Twins' farm system gets, I look at the Indians young players, and would much rather have them. Brad Zimmer is going to be a very good all-around CF. Clint Frazier has huge power potential and should arrive soon (2017). Lindor is a young stud. 3) Tigers - Old and dependent on a few stars. If Verlander and Sanchez are healthy and effective, they will be playoff contenders. I'm sure JD Martinez will continue to hit roid-aided bombs. I'm also pretty sure Victor Martinez's days as a huge power threat are gone. Key player: Justin Verlander. Detroit people would have you believe he figured out how to succeed without his big fastball in September of last year. If that's true, and he returns to dominant form, Detroit will likely contend again. Something of interest to me: Will Jose Iglesias stay healthy and not try to kill teammates in the dugout? His defense makes the whole group much better. 4) Twins - They won't lead the division or be in playoff contention for as long this year, but Minnesota will avoid the cellar. Key Player: Miguel Sano. Huge power, huge K rate. Can he continue to drive the ball and be a plus offensive player? Probably needs to cut that 35 percent K percentage to do so. Something of interest to me: Will teams challenge Sano inside with hard stuff? Working away, away, just lets his power play up. Also - will Mike Berardino continue to be the biggest beat writer homer in MLB? 5) White Sox - still managed by a shitty manager who can't control his clubhouse (The blame for the LaRoche thing really should fall on him, not the GM). Still have a shitty overall defense and a lot of douchebags on the team. They will once again look better on paper than they actually perform. Key player: Carlos Rodon. The White Sox need Rodon to take a big step forward to make an actual move this season. He's got the talent... And, as always, here are the prospects. Duncan’s Top 20 for 2016: Spoiler! 1. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, BOTH: Tools, tools, tools. RA has tools galore. At his best, he’s an All-Star SS who plays elite D, hits 15-20 HR, swipes 40 bags, and is an ideal 1, 2 or 3 hitter. At his worst, I think he looks a lot like Alcides Escobar. Plate discipline is his biggest challenge at this point, but evaluators are confident that will come with time. Clear No. 1 2. Kyle Zimmer, RHP: He’s pitching again and staying healthy, which is nice. He’s pitcing out of the bullpen to build back his arm strength, which is less nice. But still has that high upside, just a lower floor now. Ideally, the team will use him as a bullpen weapon in September (because he has earned it) and then give him a chance to transition back to starting for 2016. 3. Bubba Starling, CF, RH: Starling has been up and down this year but put himself back on the map by greatly improving his K rate while also improving across the slash line as a hitter. His defense and baserunning are MLB ready; if Starling can work himself into a league average hitter, he can be a solid MLB regular who plays great D in CF while hitting 15 HR and swiping 20 bags. 4. Miguel Almonte, RHP: Still love the body, FB/CH combo. Results aren’t eye popping, but he’s still low enough and early enough in the development to prize those things over performance. Still a solid No. 3 starter upside, and just a year and some change away from potentially being ready to contribute at the MLB level. 5. Jorge Bonifacio, RF, RH: Emilio’s little brother got off to a horrible start in 2015 but has heated up as the season went on. He also is translating BP power to game power for the first time, with 15 HR just past the mid-way point of his season. Despite his disappointing 2014, he has a chance to build his way back into legit prospect status – and still is only 22. Next challenge for him should be Omaha, but that may wait for the start of the 2014 season. 6. Scott Blewett, RHP: Blewett has a nice two –pitch mix already and is off to a strong start. With his size (6-6) and a good fastball/curveball combo, Blewett could eventually turn into a good No. 3 starter, with a MLB-average changeup. 7. Nolan Watson, RHP: The Royals’ 2015 sandwich pick is a polished prep arm who is adding velocity and explosiveness to a good, polished base. Likely to move quickly. 8. Ashe Russell, RHP: The 2015 top pick probably needs more work than Watson, but the upside is really nice. Again, advanced two-pitch mix that will depend on him adding a changeup. Could be a very good NO. 2 if it all adds up. 9. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1B/DH, RH: The Balbino came out of basically nowhere in 2015 to earn a Futures Game spot. Big power and an improved two-strike approach have turned the late bloomer into a legit prospect. He’s blocked at the MLB level currently by Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales, but Fuenmayor’s combination of power hitting and good average/strike zone control makes him intriguing. 10. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, RH: Cheslor probably is not going to be the star KC was hoping for when signing him out of Nicaragua, but he does look like he can be a solid reserve for an MLB club. Good defense at 3B paired with a solid plate approach and some gap power plays fine off the bench. He becomes a lot more interesting if they think he can stick as a 2B, which they have experimented with. Spoiler! 11. Chase Vallot, C/DH/1B: I really like Vallot’s power and plate discipline combo. His bat will probably force him from behind the plate, but he’s held his own despite being extremely young for every level he has faced. 12. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, OF, RH: Escalera-Maldonado earned a promotion to Wilmington at age 20, which is pretty advanced movement for that age. He’s an athletic outfielder who has shown some plate discipline at an early age, which is encouraging. Doesn’t sound like he can stick in CF long term for KC, but his bat has become one to watch. 13. Pedro Fernandez, RHP: I haven’t seen much of him, but like the reports I’ve heard on his fastball and general makeup. Could become the next Almonte/Mondesi, though he’s more likely to land in the pen than either of them. 14. Elier Hernandez, OF, RH: Elier Hernanez teamed with Escalera-Maldonado in breaking out at Low-A and earning a promotion to Wilmington. It’s still early for this guy – he is just 20 years old – but he doesn’t take walks and hasn’t developed the prodigious power many thought he had the potential for. Still worth watching. 15. Hunter Dozier, 3B, RH: Dozier is reworking his swing mid-season, which generally will cause production to do what his has done: Nose dive. The changes he made entering the season (seemingly geared towards increasing his power production) were a disaster, and now he’s trying to get back to what he used to be. Still looks great and checks most of the scouting boxes, but the performance hasn’t matched, and it almost knocked him out of the list. 16. Christian Binford, RHP: After a breakthrough 2014, Binford struggled mightily at AAA and suffered a demotion. His upside remains similar – a back-end starter who can eat innings – but Binford’s lack of velocity and reliance on command have caught up to him so far. 17. Marten Gasparini, OF, SH: Gasparini is intriguing because of his speed and athleticism. He’s a LOOOOONG ways from the majors and young for his level, but reports on his bat speed, swing, and speed remain positive enough to keep him on the bubble. 18. Eric Skoglund, LHP: Skoglund had a nice year at Wilmington. I'm skeptical because his K rate is lower than I like to see for a guy at A+ - just 7/9, and usually guys lose a strikeout or two/9 as they move up the chain from there - but he has excellent control, walking 1.17 batters/9. 6-7 lefties with great control who get lots of ground balls - like Skoglund - have a chance to overcome bad K rates. 19. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/LF: A lefty stick with power, O'Hearn was a savings signing as an 8th round pick, but a change in his approach increased his power - while increasing his K rate. After Vallot, probably the best pure power prospect in the Royals system. 20. Josh Staumont, RHP: I was terrified of this guy's control problems, and he walked nearly a batter an inning in his pro debut (32 BB in 40 1/3 IP). Staumont's nasty, nasty stuff (plus-plus fastball, plus slider) could make him a very good late-inning reliever who strikes out more than a batter an inning, if he can develop average or slightly below-average control. If he really masters the control, you're talking about a potential Greg Holland type, but that's a TALL task.
Posts: 21,098

06-13-2016, 04:04 PM	#1895
srvy Fight, build, win! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: KC Casino cash: $1651250	I don't care what you all say I Miss Zobrist! And the what ifs are silly. Zobrist has had a far better career than Gordon and most likely finish his steady as Gordon will finish his with the bat as always up and down. Brief moments of brilliance followed by long stints of swinging and missing. Comparing those two is crazy their careers have taken completely different levels of success, Zobrist could be mentioned as HOF worthy Gordon not so much. Oh and as far as Cueto goes he is where he needs be AL bats pound him over the long haul.
Posts: 24,366

06-13-2016, 04:29 PM	#1898
srvy Fight, build, win! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: KC Casino cash: $1651250	Any reason you selected age 31? Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk __________________ "The victim stance is a powerful one. The victim is always morally right, neither responsible nor accountable, and forever entitled to sympathy."
Posts: 24,366

06-13-2016, 04:37 PM	#1900
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1730308	Once the Cubs became heavily interested in Zobrist and made him a strong, competitive offer, that situation became much like Gordon and KC. It would have taken a back-breaking offer to sway him elsewhere. Talking about it like it was a simple choice between Gordon or Zobrist is living outside reality. Re: Hosmer... Have you watched him try to shag flies? Did you see the games he played in RF a few years ago? He has no instincts out there. He was brutal. Horrible routes, couldn't read the ball off the bat. Instincts matter in baseball, especially on defense. If he got demoted and spent a season learning it all over again and he worked at it as maniacally as Alex Gordon, he might have become a good RF. It's more than just having the physical tools, though. As for Dayton's offseason, it doesn't have the magic dust sprinkle his 2014/15 one did, that's for sure. I still like Kennedy and think he's going to be a solid addition when all is said and done. He's had back-to-back bad starts ... On the road... In HR-happy parks. KC rightfully builds its staff with flyball pitchers to play to its home park. Sometimes, that bites you based on matchup. Chris Young was a cheap signing, but it hasn't worked so far. If they dialed his role back and used him as a long reliever/piggy back, might still get some production there. Soria has been about as expected. He isn't unhittable like Davis or Herrera, but he still is a pretty effective reliever who is above average. Three years on him probably is going to hurt before all is said and done, but it also makes sure they're at least 3-deep with good arms in 17, too. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ "You gotta love livin', cause dying is a pain in the ass." ---- Sinatra
Posts: 21,098

06-13-2016, 04:41 PM	#1902
srvy Fight, build, win! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: KC Casino cash: $1651250	Well? Very misleading considering Alex was out nearly half a season with the leg. Nice try though its not that Alex isn't appreciated for what he is but on a whole I choose Zobrist. Speaking of Alex are we coming up to the end of his 15 days on disabled list. Anyone hear how he is coming along?
Posts: 24,366