I don't mind the Ankiel signing at all. At least he has shown SOME production. If he can be anything like he was in 07-08, he immediately upgrades the middle of out lineup.

I hope we still are making a play for Erik Bedard too, as that is the same sort of thing.

I like the 1 year roll, why not, see what happens.

I hope we try to get bedard

Anyone think Guillen isn't going to be a Royal after this move? or that more moves are ahead? perhaps callaspo or dejesus?

Dayton Moore sure loves his low OBP hitters coming off terrible years.

That was my first thought as well. Outfield is now kind of crowded with DDJ, Podsednik and Ankiel. I heard Dayton the other day say something to the effect that if Guillen couldn't get his stamina up enough to be an outfielder that they would DH him, but that they would also like to look at Callaspo at DH because they want his bat in there too.

Maybe Ankiel is insurance after Trey blows out Meche's arm?

seriously though i think guillen has to be next to go, he isn't healthy

What the hell? Is this a joke? That circus midget (I mean that literally) honest to god signed Ankiel?

You are wrong old wise one. The only time Ankiel hits home runs is on pitchers mistakes. The "book" on him is solid. Breaking balls in and off speed stuff low and away with heaters up in the strike zone. You hit those spots you will get a strikeout every time.

The Ankiel of 2007 is gone. Maybe he will learn to lay off those pitches with the Royals but even a benching in St. Louis didn't make him change his approach at the plate.

But one year $3.2 mil you didn't break the bank and if he gets it together has an upside.

I have to agree that there's no guarantee that Ankiel will hit worth a damn for the Royals.

But I like the signing for a couple of reasons. First of all, anything that increases the chances that Jose Freaking Guillen will be gone is a good move. I also think Rick Ankiel's story is inspirational because he was such a talented young pitcher who melted down and then overcame some prettty big odds to return to the majors as a power-hitting center fielder.

I don't know if Rick Ankiel will do ANYTHING for the Royals, or if he will even crack the starting lineup, but at least they picked up a player I can root for, and they signed him for a single year for a reasonable amount of money. I can't root for assholes like Jose Guillen. And if there's any chance that Ankiel can come close to the numbers he put up in 2007 and 2008, then this will be a good move by Dayton Moore. Of course, since Dayton Moore doesn't make very good moves, it's hard to be optimistic that this will work out any better than most of his free agent signings.

I just hope he and Zach stay away from each other. Remember when Zach announced that he used to cry himself to sleep holding a baseball bat because he wanted to be an everyday hitter so bad? It's easy to imagine Zach watching Rick Ankiel hit a few home runs and then yearning to be an everyday hitter again. That's the LAST thing this team needs.

I wish Rick all the luck in the world. I hope he hits 290, 35 hrs, and 110 RBI's for you guys...

Little inside info...he and Colby Rasmus couldn't stand each other - very personal - and that was one of the reasons the Cards didn't resign him. Colby is the golden boy.

Anyway, I am not a Royals fan, but I wish him well.

:ZZZ:

Rany and his statics (uzi) suggest this signing will cost the royals 1.5 games next year

As a Cardinals fan -- Good, I don't want him around anymore. Ankiel's a good kid and a hard worker, but the Cardinals have invested 10 years and tens of millions into him. They've gotten all of 1 good season as a SPer and 1 solid season as an OFer...and countless distractions.

From the 'back alley' bullpen sessions to his surgeries to his conversion to OF (and more surgeries), there's just a constant din surrounding the guy. He's entirely too erratic and I just don't care to deal with it anymore.

From a Royals perspective - good luck. Ankiel was a guaranteed K in clutch situations. If you had a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs, he was going to hack wildly at whatever breaking ball in the dirt or fastball above the letters you threw him. His plate discipline is some of the worst I've ever seen and his swing is simply waaaaaay too long to let him get away with it. Even in 2008 he was a guy that I didn't trust a bit up there. With 400 ABs and 25 HRs he STILL only managed 71 RBI hitting from RBI slots for most of the season (over 300 of his ABs came from 4/5/6 in the order) He'd hit a bunch of HRs that didn't really matter, then swing through a cockshot fastball with runners on in the late innings.

His defense was passable in the OF. He takes poor routes to the ball but he's fearless and incredibly athletic so he'll often be able to dive or otherwise make a miraculous adjustment to catch a ball that should've been a far easier play to make. Ultimately he gets the job done, he's just a bit of an adventure out there. His throwing arm is one of the best I've ever seen, but that goes without saying.

His upside is that he'll occasionally get absolutely red-hot. During those stretches he's still not going to hit a good pitch, but he'll fight it off. Rather than hacking over top of a slider in the dirt, he'll just nick it and stay alive. He'll do that for 5 or 6 pitches until the pitcher hangs a breaker or gets a little too much plate with a fastball. He's a valuable guy to have hitting 6th for you when he gets in that groove. Unfortunately for him and KC, I think those will be less and less frequent because pitchers simply don't throw him strikes anymore and he doesn't make them. We'll see if he's willing to alter his approach a bit.

I think he's a worthwhile risk for 1 yr. He certainly fits Moore's trend of not giving a rip about OBP. But he's a great guy and a tireless worker. He'll fit well in KC but he probably won't be nearly as productive as you would hope. I wish him nothing but the best, but I'm happy that he's gone.

Tony Pena Jr to the Bullpen!!!!!

I ****ing wish. It's about all the value he has to this team anymore. He can't field, he can't hit. Might as well try to sharpen his pitching skills.

Well, besides the fact that TPJ is a Giant now, I'd say you're right.

You really don't ever get anything right, do you?