The Royals

[EMAWesome]

Also, Lough is pretty damn good. What's he hitting, like .300?

Yeah, it's around that ballpark figure, but his defense is just lights out. No way Francouer could have made those plays.

It'd be nice to see KC cut him and find a strong bat for the 2nd base.

Like the one they have sitting in Omaha ? 

Dude has been hitting very well for the last like 20 games.  Unfortunately, he's not good at playing 2B, which may be more important than hitting.

As Slimz pointed out a few pages ago, KC is tops in the league defensively (by UZR - which is the most positively regarded, however still flawed defensive metric out there)...despite this, we are still struggling to achieve .500

I, and countless other SABR fans will argue that as important as defense is, decreasing one position defensively for the sake of increasing offensively, on a team that struggles as mightily in scoring runs as KC does is a no brainer.

And I don't think it would be a drastic drop off either...Elliot Johnson currently ranks 8th in UZR @ 2B (min 90 innings played), which is admittedly higher than I thought he would be, but that above average defense also cones with a sub .550 OPS to make a player w/ a .2 WAR on the season. For reference, Chris Getz ranks 14th defensively by UZR @ 2B, an OPS of .490 and a WAR of -.1, so while Elliot IS an improvement it isn't much of one.

Elliot is a good guy to have to spell Johnny G @ 2B, as well as give Escobar/Moose the rare day off, but he is no more of a starting 2B than Getz. If defense is that much of a concern @ 2B, we can always sub Elliot in the game in the 8th/9th in close games that we are winning...

Last point I'll make is that KC is full of flyball pitchers...Santana has our highest GB% of any starter, at 47.5%, and he ranks 37th in MLB in that category, more reason to be more than willing to sacrifice a little D for a guy that could conceivable be .700 OPS player offensively (currently he is @ .801 for Omaha this season) @ the MLB level.

That's all well and good but dude is a career .253/.655 hitter at the MLB level and keeps getting beat out by Getz, for whatever reasons.  He probably deserves another shot before we write him off but he's been in this rotation for a while...   (Tearing up MiLB pitching and struggling against MLB pitching.)  Also, they've been working him out in LF some so that suggests hus defense is a pretty serious issue.

He has 376 Career PA's at the MLB level. He gets beat out by Getz because GMDM traded for Getz & has tried to justify that shitty trade (not that Teahen was much of a chip).

Again, 376 Career PA's

[sys]

i hope someone punches wade davis in the face.

[bones129]

i hope someone punches wade davis in the face.

This one's definitely on Wade.

[EMAWesome]

i hope someone punches wade davis in the face.

This one's definitely on Wade.

Would be nice to have an offense that could bail out the occasional terrible start though! Luckily the Fresh Prince gave us 5 solid innings, so the bullpen isn't wrecked going forward

[bones129]

Can this team ever score with the bases loaded??

[sys]

at least moose got has his obs up over .600.

[WillieWatanabe]

GUYS.

Bob Dutton ?@Royals_Report 2m

#Royals designate OF Jeff Francoeur for assignment. Recall 2B Johnny Giavotella from Class AAA Omaha

[bones129]

GUYS.

Bob Dutton ?@Royals_Report 2m

#Royals designate OF Jeff Francoeur for assignment. Recall 2B Johnny Giavotella from Class AAA Omaha

Johnny had 7 HR, 38 RBI and was hitting .289 at Omaha. Can't hurt, and Frenchy was...well, what Frenchy was.

[Kat Kid]

If the Royals get .655 OPS out of their 2b that would be great.  Would take.

[sys]

GUYS.

Bob Dutton ?@Royals_Report 2m

#Royals designate OF Jeff Francoeur for assignment. Recall 2B Johnny Giavotella from Class AAA Omaha

 

[wetwillie]

This is change we can believe in.

[WildcatPower]

French quarter? The usual French surrender to superior forces, again.

[EMAWesome]

I wonder who shed more tears in that room...Ned, GMDM or Frenchy...my $$ is on GMDM

It only took him 78 days, but he finally has the roster that he should have broken Surprise with*

(with the exception of Chen & Hochevar here for $9M instead of Coleman & Teaford here for <$1M.

Interesting roster note...with the release of Xavier Nady & Frenchy...the only OF'ers on the current 40 man roster are in KC...not a single 40 man roster OFer @ the MiLB level...we do only have 39/40 on that roster, but Paulino will take up one of those spots when activated from 60 day DL...it is just another example at how incompetent GMDM is at roster construction.

[EMAWesome]

From MLBTR...

One team that has at least discussed acquiring the Phillies' Chase Utley is the Royals.  Kansas City would love to stabilize their lineup and/or second base situation with someone of Utley’s caliber.  Meanwhile, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. says that he wants the second baseman to retire in a Phillies uniform, if possible.

Let us pray that Johnny G comes up & hits right away to put these talks to bed...Utley is nice, but old & not under contract and I have zero faith in GMDM being able to get him for less than Yordano Ventura +

[jtksu]

From MLBTR...

One team that has at least discussed acquiring the Phillies' Chase Utley is the Royals.  Kansas City would love to stabilize their lineup and/or second base situation with someone of Utley’s caliber.  Meanwhile, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. says that he wants the second baseman to retire in a Phillies uniform, if possible.

Let us pray that Johnny G comes up & hits right away to put these talks to bed...Utley is nice, but old & not under contract and I have zero faith in GMDM being able to get him for less than Yordano Ventura +

I've always been a big Johnny G fan so I really hope he can start hitting at the MLB level... Plus, it would make me feel much better if we had a really strong nucleus of kids from our farm system. I feel like any idiot with deep pockets can assemble a team with other people's talent but the really strong teams draw heavily from the draft pool.

[EMAWesome]

From MLBTR...

One team that has at least discussed acquiring the Phillies' Chase Utley is the Royals.  Kansas City would love to stabilize their lineup and/or second base situation with someone of Utley’s caliber.  Meanwhile, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. says that he wants the second baseman to retire in a Phillies uniform, if possible.

Let us pray that Johnny G comes up & hits right away to put these talks to bed...Utley is nice, but old & not under contract and I have zero faith in GMDM being able to get him for less than Yordano Ventura +

I've always been a big Johnny G fan so I really hope he can start hitting at the MLB level... Plus, it would make me feel much better if we had a really strong nucleus of kids from our farm system. I feel like any idiot with deep pockets can assemble a team with other people's talent but the really strong teams draw heavily from the draft pool.

I'm all for acquiring pieces from other teams...but not when we are still on the fringe of competing when it is a guy like Utley whose contract is worth $15,285,714 this year, and is a FA this offseason, especially when it will cost good prospects to get him.

I'd much rather trade for one of the following 2B that have multiple years of team control...this highest ranking prospect in our system that plays 2B with any regularity is Christian Colon @ #20, and he is regarded as a UI at best...unless Johnny G picks it up, or we are ready to give Falu another shot @ 2B (again, more of a UI than anything), we have to find a long term solution.

Logan Forsyth - SD
Their 2B of the future is Jed Gyorko, and while Forsyth never lived up to his Rd1 DP status (he's now 26, so he's just entering his 'prime'), he has played very well this year while filling in for an injured Gyorko (.822 OPS in just 77 PA's)...could be had relatively cheap, I'm thinking Will Smith type + a middling prospect...he isn't much of a defender, ranking 22 among 2B in UZR w/ minimum of 150 IP. He is under team control through 2017

Jose Altuve - HOU
They aren't gonna trade him, and if they did he wouldn't come cheap, but I think he is the best 2B that MIGHT be available...His .711 OPS comes with a good deal of speed (18 steals vs 5 CS) and he's still young (23)...he is a bit of a butcher in the field with a UZR ranking of 23 @ 2B, right behind Mr. Forsyth...I think getting him would take two of our top-1o prospects...something like Cuthbert + Selman, and even that might not be enough. He is under team control through 2017

Gordan Beckham - CHW
We have a history of trading w/ the White Sox...maybe we can give them Getz back, since neither have been the same since they parted! Beckham was the player I had the Royals taking w/ the 3rd pick in that draft in my shadow draft, instead they took Hosmer, which to this point has worked out better (GMDM got me once)...I think Beckham has a chance to have a career arc similar to Alex Gordon, and the ChiSox are terrible, and the fanbase is turning on him in particular. Under team control through 2015

Dustin Ackley - SEA
This would be a HUGE gamble, but it could pay off monster...he has regressed mightily this year, to the point of demotion earlier this season. He put up a cumulative 4.0 WAR over the '11 & '12 seasons but this year has been a train wreck for him...if he can be had cheap I'd endorse a deal for him. SEA signed him to a club friendly deal, so that may enhance his trade value...signed through '14 & only owed $4.4 M total for this year & next.

[Kat Kid]

From MLBTR...

One team that has at least discussed acquiring the Phillies' Chase Utley is the Royals.  Kansas City would love to stabilize their lineup and/or second base situation with someone of Utley’s caliber.  Meanwhile, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. says that he wants the second baseman to retire in a Phillies uniform, if possible.

Let us pray that Johnny G comes up & hits right away to put these talks to bed...Utley is nice, but old & not under contract and I have zero faith in GMDM being able to get him for less than Yordano Ventura +

I've always been a big Johnny G fan so I really hope he can start hitting at the MLB level... Plus, it would make me feel much better if we had a really strong nucleus of kids from our farm system. I feel like any idiot with deep pockets can assemble a team with other people's talent but the really strong teams draw heavily from the draft pool.

I'm all for acquiring pieces from other teams...but not when we are still on the fringe of competing when it is a guy like Utley whose contract is worth $15,285,714 this year, and is a FA this offseason, especially when it will cost good prospects to get him.

I'd much rather trade for one of the following 2B that have multiple years of team control...this highest ranking prospect in our system that plays 2B with any regularity is Christian Colon @ #20, and he is regarded as a UI at best...unless Johnny G picks it up, or we are ready to give Falu another shot @ 2B (again, more of a UI than anything), we have to find a long term solution.

Logan Forsyth - SD
Their 2B of the future is Jed Gyorko, and while Forsyth never lived up to his Rd1 DP status (he's now 26, so he's just entering his 'prime'), he has played very well this year while filling in for an injured Gyorko (.822 OPS in just 77 PA's)...could be had relatively cheap, I'm thinking Will Smith type + a middling prospect...he isn't much of a defender, ranking 22 among 2B in UZR w/ minimum of 150 IP. He is under team control through 2017

Jose Altuve - HOU
They aren't gonna trade him, and if they did he wouldn't come cheap, but I think he is the best 2B that MIGHT be available...His .711 OPS comes with a good deal of speed (18 steals vs 5 CS) and he's still young (23)...he is a bit of a butcher in the field with a UZR ranking of 23 @ 2B, right behind Mr. Forsyth...I think getting him would take two of our top-1o prospects...something like Cuthbert + Selman, and even that might not be enough. He is under team control through 2017

Gordan Beckham - CHW
We have a history of trading w/ the White Sox...maybe we can give them Getz back, since neither have been the same since they parted! Beckham was the player I had the Royals taking w/ the 3rd pick in that draft in my shadow draft, instead they took Hosmer, which to this point has worked out better (GMDM got me once)...I think Beckham has a chance to have a career arc similar to Alex Gordon, and the ChiSox are terrible, and the fanbase is turning on him in particular. Under team control through 2015

Dustin Ackley - SEA
This would be a HUGE gamble, but it could pay off monster...he has regressed mightily this year, to the point of demotion earlier this season. He put up a cumulative 4.0 WAR over the '11 & '12 seasons but this year has been a train wreck for him...if he can be had cheap I'd endorse a deal for him. SEA signed him to a club friendly deal, so that may enhance his trade value...signed through '14 & only owed $4.4 M total for this year & next.

The best idea would be to get Utley though.  The Royals need an elite bat now.  Say what you will about the Shields trade, but what is done is done and they need to win now.  No turning back.

[EMAWesome]

At what cost? I'm OK w/ the $$, because it isn't my $$. But lets say we do trade for him...do you really think we are going to pony up the $12-$15M a year it is going to take to sign him for a 2 year extension?

Doubtful, especially if the do decide to make a run at extending Sheilds and/or Santana (also doubtful)

We'd be right back in the same spot next Spring, going in to Spring Training with Getz, Elliot & Johnny G, only we'd be light 2-3 good prospects.

If we were 4 games over .500 right now, I'd say hell yea, it's worth a shot on Utley, but we aren't, we are 4 games UNDER .500, in 3rd place, and 7 Games out in the wild card...making a run at ALMOST getting to the playoffs is NOT worth mortgaging the future for a rental like Utley

[jtksu]

Do not want Beckham.    Also, he looks like the bad guy from Major League 2.

[Kat Kid]

At what cost? I'm OK w/ the $$, because it isn't my $$. But lets say we do trade for him...do you really think we are going to pony up the $12-$15M a year it is going to take to sign him for a 2 year extension?

Doubtful, especially if the do decide to make a run at extending Sheilds and/or Santana (also doubtful)

We'd be right back in the same spot next Spring, going in to Spring Training with Getz, Elliot & Johnny G, only we'd be light 2-3 good prospects.

If we were 4 games over .500 right now, I'd say hell yea, it's worth a shot on Utley, but we aren't, we are 4 games UNDER .500, in 3rd place, and 7 Games out in the wild card...making a run at ALMOST getting to the playoffs is NOT worth mortgaging the future for a rental like Utley

They are probably not going to get him because Rueben Amaro is a dumbass.  But if they did it there is no way they have to give up 2-3 prospects to get him for less than half a season.  They could probably do it for one reliever and a mediocre prospect if they are doing it right.

[jtksu]

Radio dudes said Gio has been playing all over the place this year, including a lot at third lately.

[j-von]

This is going well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bones129]

Bottom of the order getting it done today. Lough and Gio with two hits and two ribbie's apiece already.

[EMAWesome]

At what cost? I'm OK w/ the $$, because it isn't my $$. But lets say we do trade for him...do you really think we are going to pony up the $12-$15M a year it is going to take to sign him for a 2 year extension?

Doubtful, especially if the do decide to make a run at extending Sheilds and/or Santana (also doubtful)

We'd be right back in the same spot next Spring, going in to Spring Training with Getz, Elliot & Johnny G, only we'd be light 2-3 good prospects.

If we were 4 games over .500 right now, I'd say hell yea, it's worth a shot on Utley, but we aren't, we are 4 games UNDER .500, in 3rd place, and 7 Games out in the wild card...making a run at ALMOST getting to the playoffs is NOT worth mortgaging the future for a rental like Utley

They are probably not going to get him because Rueben Amaro is a dumbass.  But if they did it there is no way they have to give up 2-3 prospects to get him for less than half a season.  They could probably do it for one reliever and a mediocre prospect if they are doing it right.

Do I need to remind you who our GM is? And why would PHI trade for a reliever when they are out of it this year? They will be looking for a stockpile of prospects, and GMDM is the type of sucker to give them to them for 2 months of Utley

Radio dudes said Gio has been playing all over the place this year, including a lot at third lately.

They had him play 3rd when Moose was playing like a little leaguer to have some semblance of a back up plan

[bones129]

Lough and Gio now each 3 for 3.