The Royals

[steve dave]

yeah, he's definitely a top 10 all time royals hitter. but when you throw in pitchers and put fielding and base running into the equation it becomes more questionable.

[steve dave]

lets do rankings on individual abilities:

hitting: top 10
pitching: tied for last
base running: tied for last
fielding: lowest quartile
nicknames: first place

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

yeah, he's definitely a top 10 all time royals hitter. but when you throw in pitchers and put fielding and base running into the equation it becomes more questionable.

alright, fair enough. there are a few pitchers in the top 10. maybe 3-4, and billy is probably not in the top 6-7 for hitting and fielding.

if i say top 15 is there any argument? doesnt sound as cool but whatever.

[mocat]

lets do rankings on individual abilities:

hitting: top 10
pitching: tied for last
base running: tied for last
fielding: lowest quartile
nicknames: first place

he's in the top 25, but it's not like if a few teams lose ahead of him he's thinking about making the 4-team playoff

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

billy butler has more playoff stolen bases than bo jackson does.

[_33]

For sure somebody is going to have to step up next year to replace Billy's contributions.  Especially in the double play and fly balls to the warning track department.

[Cartierfor3]

lets do rankings on individual abilities:

hitting: top 10
pitching: tied for last
base running: tied for last
fielding: lowest quartile
nicknames: first place

There was a game this year where we were getting blown out where Ned said afterwards Billy was gonna come in and pitch. Really wish it would've happened.

[EMAWmeister]

For sure somebody is going to have to step up next year to replace Billy's contributions.  Especially in the double play and fly balls to the warning track department.

C-, not a particularly great Royals fan. Still a good Cats fan though.

[Cartierfor3]

And I wouldn't say Billy's a top 10 all time Royals player, for the reasons mentioned infinity times (fielding/baserunning) the past few seasons. Although his 2012 season was one of the best offensive seasons in team history. That being said, Sweeney was a better hitter, and guys like Beltran and Damon would've had higher career number than him had they played here longer, and were better players than him as Royals. Plus, there are more than a few pitchers who I would put ahead of Billy's career as a Royal.

I think its ok to be a fan of him, flawed as he was as a player, appreciate his contribution to the Royals and the that he was part of the magic of 2014. Its also ok to be ready for him to move on. Mellinger's article got it right today.

[_33]

For sure somebody is going to have to step up next year to replace Billy's contributions.  Especially in the double play and fly balls to the warning track department.

C-, not a particularly great Royals fan. Still a good Cats fan though.

I'm a much better Royals fan than you.  Sorry I can't get all weepy about Billy leaving.  He had an awful 2014.

[Dr Rick Daris]

you know who absolutely never ever gets credit at being a stud royal while he was a royal? danny tartabull. five years of complete baseball mashing stud city usa. do royals fans remember and care? apparently not.

[Cartierfor3]

Top 26 Royals, judging them by career.

1. Brett
2. White

NEXT TIER, 3-8 in some order:
Gordon
Wilson
Otis
Sabrehagen
Splitorff
Leanord

NEXT TIER, 9-15 in some order:
McCrae (Hal duh)
Beltran
Damon
Sweeney
Appier
Butler
Greinke (wasn't here long, but Cy Young stud)

NEXT TIER 16-21 in some order:
Quisenberry
Gubiza (#2 all time in IP WOW)
Patek
Busby
Mayberry
Bo Jackson

NEXT TIER 22-26 in some order:
Cone (Cy Young, but not here long)
Tartabull
Soria
Holland
Gura

Guys like Wathan, Dejesus, Randa, Al Fitzmorris etc are high on like games played and hits and stuff but were so average that they don't make my list. Salvy, Escobar, Cain, Hos, Moose, Yordano, Duffy, all could be on this, some as soon as next year but just haven't played enough IMO. Fun exercise thanks for asking me to make this. Billy is in the 9-15 tier but probably 14th or 15th IMO. That's very good and we should applaud him.

edit: somehow I forgot Bo freaking Jackson.

[Cartierfor3]

you know who absolutely never ever gets credit at being a stud royal while he was a royal? danny tartabull. five years of complete baseball mashing stud city usa. do royals fans remember and care? apparently not.

He's a top 26 all time Royal IMO.

[EMAWmeister]

For sure somebody is going to have to step up next year to replace Billy's contributions.  Especially in the double play and fly balls to the warning track department.

C-, not a particularly great Royals fan. Still a good Cats fan though.

I'm a much better Royals fan than you.  Sorry I can't get all weepy about Billy leaving.  He had an awful 2014.

Well it's clearly evident that I am better than a C- Royals fan, so that is just not correct.

[Dr Rick Daris]

you know who absolutely never ever gets credit at being a stud royal while he was a royal? danny tartabull. five years of complete baseball mashing stud city usa. do royals fans remember and care? apparently not.

He's a top 26 all time Royal IMO.

yeah and apparantly a full ten spaces behind damon. i'm guessing you guys are related or friend of friend type thing. because damon that far over danilo is a joke and not a very funny one at that.

[Cartierfor3]

RD you are more than welcome to make your own list and I am ok with adjusting mine if you need to make some corrections.

Also:

The Royals had a pitcher named Bill Butler http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=111823#gameType='R'&sectionType=career&statType=2&season=2014&level='ALL'

 

[Ghost of Stan Parrish]

Top 20 all-time Royals by WAR:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/KCR/

1. Brett
2. Planet Ape
3. Amos Otis
4. Willie Wilson
5. Sabes
6. Gubicza
7. Frank White
8. Alex Gordon
9. Hal McRae
10. Grienke
11. Dennis Leonard
12. Quiz
13. Beltran
14. Splitt
15. Sweeney
16.  Leibrandt (!)
17. Mike Jeff Montgomery
18. Mayberry
19. Patek
20. Gura

EDIT to fix dumb-dumb typo.

[nicname]

you know who absolutely never ever gets credit at being a stud royal while he was a royal? danny tartabull. five years of complete baseball mashing stud city usa. do royals fans remember and care? apparently not.

also on pretty good teams that were also overlooked, because Oakland and Minnesota were busy going to the world series every year.

From 85-91 (Tartabull was 87-91) the AL west was in 6-of-7 world series, and won 4 of them.

[TownieCat]

Top 26 Royals, judging them by career.

1. Brett
2. White

NEXT TIER, 3-8 in some order:
Gordon
Wilson
Otis
Sabrehagen
Splitorff
Leanord

NEXT TIER, 9-15 in some order:
McCrae (Hal duh)
Beltran
Damon
Sweeney
Appier
Butler
Greinke (wasn't here long, but Cy Young stud)

NEXT TIER 16-21 in some order:
Quisenberry
Gubiza (#2 all time in IP WOW)
Patek
Busby
Mayberry
Bo Jackson

NEXT TIER 22-26 in some order:
Cone (Cy Young, but not here long)
Tartabull
Soria
Holland
Gura

Guys like Wathan, Dejesus, Randa, Al Fitzmorris etc are high on like games played and hits and stuff but were so average that they don't make my list. Salvy, Escobar, Cain, Hos, Moose, Yordano, Duffy, all could be on this, some as soon as next year but just haven't played enough IMO. Fun exercise thanks for asking me to make this. Billy is in the 9-15 tier but probably 14th or 15th IMO. That's very good and we should applaud him.

edit: somehow I forgot Bo freaking Jackson.

Your assessment of Quisenberry is the most mind boggling thing I've ever read in this thread. He's your avi for crying out loud!

[Cartierfor3]

Top 20 all-time Royals by WAR:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/KCR/

1. Brett
2. Planet Ape
3. Amos Otis
4. Willie Wilson
5. Sabes
6. Gubicza
7. Frank White
8. Alex Gordon
9. Hal McRae
10. Grienke
11. Dennis Leonard
12. Quiz
13. Beltran
14. Splitt
15. Sweeney
16.  Leibrandt (!)
17. Mike Montgomery
18. Mayberry
19. Patek
20. Gura

WAR is a good stat but cannot be used alone to judge. Also, its Jeff Montgomery dumb dumb.

[Cartierfor3]

Your assessment of Quisenberry is the most mind boggling thing I've ever read in this thread. He's your avi for crying out loud!

There's a difference between favorite and best

[nicname]

Tartabull averaged an 885 OPS over his five seasons in KC.

George Brett and Sweeney are the only other Royals to touch that since. Sweeney surpassed it.

Danny was a crapty fielder tho.

Speaking of Sweeney. He was one of the few dudes who could hit the ball hard AND had the giant swing-aiming circle on Major League Baseball featuring Ken Griffey Jr., so you know he's a true stud of studs.

[Dr Rick Daris]

RD you are more than welcome to make your own list and I am ok with adjusting mine if you need to make some corrections.

Also:

The Royals had a pitcher named Bill Butler http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=111823#gameType='R'&sectionType=career&statType=2&season=2014&level='ALL'

 

i just think you should flip those two and again don't think that tartabull ever gets the credit he deserves from royals fans. numbers clearly favor tartabull, but damon played in all those east coast world series games after he left so hey do whatever you want.

[nicname]

predictos for Melk Man are 5/65 range.

WHY SO MUCH!!!

[Dr Rick Daris]

Tartabull averaged an 885 OPS over his five seasons in KC.

George Brett and Sweeney are the only other Royals to touch that since. Sweeney surpassed it.

Danny was a crapty fielder tho.

Speaking of Sweeney. He was one of the few dudes who could hit the ball hard AND had the giant swing-aiming circle on Major League Baseball featuring Ken Griffey Jr., so you know he's a true stud of studs.

well in fairness, at least he played the field most of the time and while he was just an average right fielder, he wasn't really that bad.

also, dt fast fact- he was drafted and came up with seattle as a middle infielder.