Royals *** Official 2016 Royals Repository, Version 1 *** - Page 126

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.

KevB · 06-13-2016, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

I mean, it's 1B. It's where you put your fat guy who owns a glove that can hit. The fact that Hosmer refuses to want to learn another position kind of pisses me off. He is quick for his size, he has a big arm. Yet he plays 1B, where defensive prowess doesn't matter as much as the other positions.

The guy is a gold glove, All Star big leaguer who is about to make serious bank. Why would he want to change positions, and for that matter, why would we ask him to? Due to his left-handedness, he's probably just a left fielder if not a 1st baseman (very few make late transitions to right field). And he's obviously not playing in left for us. I don't understand why this is even a topic. He's an outstanding defensive player, and even at 1st that has value. Ask Esky and Moose if it matters if Hos is over there instead of a slug.

tk13 · 06-13-2016, 02:02 PM

Zobrist took less money to go to the Cubs. I don't know how many times people are going to have to mention that. Maddon's there, and Zobrist grew up in Illinois. I feel like the next four years we're going to hear this "should've re-signed Zobrist" fantasy over and over and over again.

Chiefspants · 06-13-2016, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

Zobrist took less money to go to the Cubs. I feel like the next four years we're going to hear this "should've re-signed Zobrist" fantasy over and over and over again.

I would wager the next two. If he regresses people will suddenly forget this argument. Just like when Melky got busted for roids and Wil Myers didn't become Barry Bonds.

siberian khatru · 06-13-2016, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

Zobrist took less money to go to the Cubs. I don't know how many times people are going to have to mention that. Maddon's there, and Zobrist grew up in Illinois. I feel like the next four years we're going to hear this "should've re-signed Zobrist" fantasy over and over and over again.

I'm already tired of it.

Prison Bitch · 06-13-2016, 02:11 PM

Nobody has the slightest clue what went on in Zobrists (or Cuetos) mind. But supposing it's true, it doesn't change the fact we made bad moves this winter.

Zo (2.9) + Cueto (2.8) = 5.7 war
Soria (0.3) + Gordon (0.1) + Gopher Ball (0.1) + Young (-0.8) = -0.3 war

Yeah, we spent 180M on guys who have been worthless so far. Literally, replacement level.

tk13 · 06-13-2016, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

I would wager the next two. If he regresses people will suddenly forget this argument. Just like when Melky got busted for roids and Wil Myers didn't become Barry Bonds.

Very possible. He does have great plate discipline, so he might age okay at the plate, we'll see.

Still, the argument of counting dollars is completely disingenuous because the Cubs didn't offer the most money. He was bent on going to the Cubs.

BWillie · 06-13-2016, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevB

The guy is a gold glove, All Star big leaguer who is about to make serious bank. Why would he want to change positions, and for that matter, why would we ask him to? Due to his left-handedness, he's probably just a left fielder if not a 1st baseman (very few make late transitions to right field). And he's obviously not playing in left for us. I don't understand why this is even a topic. He's an outstanding defensive player, and even at 1st that has value. Ask Esky and Moose if it matters if Hos is over there instead of a slug.

I think he would make more money in RF. The only reason he isn't good at it is because he doesn't want to be. He has the physical tools to do it. There is really a small difference in a great defensive 1B and a below average one. Compare that to the difference between a great SS and a bad one and it's astronomical.

tk13 · 06-13-2016, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Nobody has the slightest clue what went on in Zobrists (or Cuetos) mind.

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.

Prison Bitch · 06-13-2016, 02:28 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.

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

Discuss Thrower · 06-13-2016, 02:32 PM

Zobrist isn't dumb enough to publicly say "Yeah, me and my family have no interest in playing for one particular major league team. **** those assholes." right during contract negotiations.

KevB · 06-13-2016, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

I think he would make more money in RF. The only reason he isn't good at it is because he doesn't want to be. He has the physical tools to do it. There is really a small difference in a great defensive 1B and a below average one. Compare that to the difference between a great SS and a bad one and it's astronomical.

He's played first base since he was a kid. Suggesting he now move to a new position, after establishing himself as a gold glove first baseman is bizarre. And if you think the difference between Hos at 1st instead of Billy Butler is a small one, then I don't know what to tell you. It's absolutely less valuable than some other positions, but that doesn't mean it doesn't matter.

KevB · 06-13-2016, 02:38 PM

At the end of the day, performance isn't predictable. Had we re-signed Zobrist and he faltered, and Gordon signed with the Cardinals and he stayed healthy and played well --- this place would have been a zoo. It very well could have happened that way, you just don't know.

As a GM, you hope to get more right than wrong and then catch lightning in a bottle for a stretch. That's exactly what happened.

KevB · 06-13-2016, 02:40 PM

If we really want to get back to discussing an ongoing problem that can be fixed right now, I see Esky is back in the 2 hole tonight. What's it going to take to move him down? He's all but admitted that he's lost right now with his sacrifice bunting early in games. Put Colon or Fuentes up in the 2 hole.

ChiefsCountry · 06-13-2016, 02:44 PM

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

Prison Bitch · 06-13-2016, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

Zobrist isn't dumb enough to publicly say "Yeah, me and my family have no interest in playing for one particular major league team. **** those assholes." right during contract negotiations.

Duh. Nor is he going to say after signing somewhere "Yeah, me and my family has no particular interest in playing for the team I signed with."

04-03-2016, 09:48 AM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1560308	* 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: 21,144

06-13-2016, 02:02 PM	#1877
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1812500	Zobrist took less money to go to the Cubs. I don't know how many times people are going to have to mention that. Maddon's there, and Zobrist grew up in Illinois. I feel like the next four years we're going to hear this "should've re-signed Zobrist" fantasy over and over and over again.
Posts: 54,975

06-13-2016, 02:11 PM	#1880
Prison Bitch Rabbi Goldmann Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $5450159	Nobody has the slightest clue what went on in Zobrists (or Cuetos) mind. But supposing it's true, it doesn't change the fact we made bad moves this winter. Zo (2.9) + Cueto (2.8) = 5.7 war Soria (0.3) + Gordon (0.1) + Gopher Ball (0.1) + Young (-0.8) = -0.3 war Yeah, we spent 180M on guys who have been worthless so far. Literally, replacement level.
Posts: 87,025

06-13-2016, 02:32 PM	#1885
Discuss Thrower "You like to drink?" Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: "I like to drink." Casino cash: $3066869	Zobrist isn't dumb enough to publicly say "Yeah, me and my family have no interest in playing for one particular major league team. ** those assholes." right during contract negotiations. __________________ Chiefs 2016 Opponents: Home: JAX, TEN, NO, TB, NYJ. Away: HOU, IND, ATL, CAR, PIT Chiefs 2017 Opponents**: Home: BUF, MIA, PHI, WSH, AFC North. Away: NE, NYJ, NYG, DAL, AFC South
Posts: 42,841

06-13-2016, 02:38 PM	#1887
KevB Agree to Disagree Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: The State of Euphoria Casino cash: $10026612	At the end of the day, performance isn't predictable. Had we re-signed Zobrist and he faltered, and Gordon signed with the Cardinals and he stayed healthy and played well --- this place would have been a zoo. It very well could have happened that way, you just don't know. As a GM, you hope to get more right than wrong and then catch lightning in a bottle for a stretch. That's exactly what happened.
Posts: 14,446

06-13-2016, 02:40 PM	#1888
KevB Agree to Disagree Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: The State of Euphoria Casino cash: $10026612	If we really want to get back to discussing an ongoing problem that can be fixed right now, I see Esky is back in the 2 hole tonight. What's it going to take to move him down? He's all but admitted that he's lost right now with his sacrifice bunting early in games. Put Colon or Fuentes up in the 2 hole.
Posts: 14,446

06-13-2016, 02:44 PM	#1889
ChiefsCountry The Insider Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks Casino cash: $2128752	8 first basemen make more than highest paid right fielder. Hosmer is 12th highest paid first basemen and he is still in arbitration years.
Posts: 49,708