If we make it out of Arpil still mathematically in contention I would be shocked. What is going to make this team even worse is the Skipper and his ever-changing lineups and idiotic decisions.

the moves this offseason are so meh its ridiculous...i dont think we have improved anything really. We'll see....i just think DM is a joke, he hasn't shown shit yet

Wait until Hillman pinch runs for our 2 best hitters with bases loaded in a tie game in the middle of the 7th.

He'll be fired mid-season. Pretty confident about this.

Dayton has assembled an historically bad lineup, and someone is going to have to fall on that sword when it finally becomes apparent to Dayton that what he's done sucks ass.

Don't get me wrong, Hillman is terrible. But I don't know if there's been another manager in the history of the game that's been more set up for failure than him this season.

We've made moves to get worse. Almost unfathomable, but it's true.

I can't for the life of me figure out what Moore is thinking? This seems to me to be just a repeat of last year's offseason. Couple old guys get overpaid and hope.

****, if you want to sign an older player to a 1 year deal then we should have been after Vladdy. At least get someone who can pound the ball.

How the hell did we end up with such an assclown at GM? I was really excited when we got this 'prosect' to come here

i hate being a royals fan sometimes...i love this team almost as much as the chiefs and tigers. I haven't seen fun baseball since 1994 and well **** baseball

He would've just been our new Juan gone

Did we ever get that pitcher we were going after? The one who was good but coming off an injury?

Which one is that? Bedard?

We got the gold-plated goose, that's for damn sure.

I figure when Moosetacos and Hosmer flame out, Moore will officially be on the hot seat. Three high-priced busts in a row: Hochevar, Moosetacos, and Hosmer should put anyone on alert.

And I think the Crow selection was a big mistake, but that's another story.

Yea, I think so.

I don't have a problem with Mossetacos or Hosmer being drafted. I DO however have a problem with Moosetacos AND Hosmer being drafted.

JFC, why would we draft guys who could come up in a couple seasons??? 2 guys that young was a mistake.

Who did you want instead of Crowe?

Moose Tacos and Hosmer are the only hope right now....the drafts have really killed us...i have almost no faith in anyone becoming good out of our minors. We got lucky that Butler has atleast shown he is a solid player

You can't take those guys, while passing on elite catching prospects. Talk about draft value and need intersecting.

And before the Hosmer selection, Rany had a great breakdown for why Smoak had to be the choice between the two.

I dont think he has signed anywhere. I would like to take a flyer on him honestly, but DM would rather sign 38 year old pitchers or guys that havent played in 2-3 years

Green. No question. Take the college SS.

Dayton talks shit about "the process" but his entire draft philosophy has changed since getting to KC.

Trust what, mother****er? You're not even sure what you're doing.

I have argued and argued and argued for the last 10+ years that this team needs a REAL catcher. You just don't see too many teams in the playoffs with bad catchers. In fact I would say most of the best catchers in the game are in the playoffs or at least contending every year.

I'd like to see him as well. He could be a great pickup if he is healthy and can return to prior-injury level.

His process seems to be to draft guys that still have 4-5 years in AA\AAA, and then wait another 3-4 as they aclimate to the ML's. You would think the Gordon experiment would have shown this team a rookie is not going to save this team. Didn't work with Grienke, didn't work with Gordon and ain't going to work the Hosmer and Moosey. And it didn't work with the pitcher we signed a couple eyars ago. He is so good I forgot his name. Oh yea, Hochevar.

Just think about how much more encouraged we'd be about the future of the team if we had a second-year Wieters or a Posey ready to take over as a n00b?

Instead, we just paid decent $$$ to get, literally, the worst starting catcher in MLB.

I really was leaning towards that pick as well....atleast the value could possibly be there with Crowe

When he got here: HS, high-upside guys. This was the process.

As of '09, he's on record as saying that college players are the way to go.

Ass. Clown.

We can play Jason Kendall drinking games at the park, groundouts, hit by pitches, broken ankles we take shots

I would probably never touch a player who sat out a year. Dude would have to be otherworldly special, and Crow isn't.

This post should be in the life insurance thread.

ROFL

As for Crow, i hear you there but Hochevar had 12ks and a shutout and well he still sucks

True, but unlike last season, you've only gotten marginally worse.

It's nowhere near the massive cluster!@#$ of 2009.

While Moore didn't do any one thing as stupid as say, signing Mike Hampton or Mo Vaughn, I've never seen a GM miss on every single move like Moore did in 2009.

In all sincerity, I think the Royals will win a few more games than they did in 2009 if for no other reason than the fact that they simply couldn't buy a break last year. Every time a reliever missed a pitch it ended up over the wall. Every little bobble turned into an unearned run.

While they're somehow less talented than last year's model, I think they'll manage to avoid 100 losses this year.

Our catching position had the most HR's, we will be an extremely weak team

You only say this because it's like a morbidly obese man gaining 20 pounds. Big deal, huh?

I don't think we were unlucky last year. When Farnsworth misses with straight-as-an-arrow 95, it's supposed to go over the fence.

We're going to see the effects of one full season of the worst everyday player in the Bigs (Betancourt), who will be competing for this honor with newly acquired Kendall. And, Guillen's broke dick will be another year older and thus more spry.

Here's how Royals fans have to define success this year:

1. Greinke maintains his status as a legit #1 (on any team)
2. Butler continues to prove himself an impact, middle-of-the-order bat.
3. Soria stays healthy and his usual self.
4. Hillman doesn't injure any of our pitchers before he's fired after the break.
5. Someone else emerges. Singular. Who? Good ****ing question.
6. Players on the farm continue to develop. Arguably the most important element on this list.

I will be shocked if this team avoids 100.

Starts with the ownership and GM, this organization is a blackhole, i just dont see how it gets better with our assclowns running the ship

Simple - you fired Allard Baird.

Baird was a very very good baseball guy.

Glass simply wouldn't let him operate. Glass is the guy that vetoed the Sweeney for Ervin Santana trade. Glass is the guy that wouldn't even let him pay slot for draft picks. Baird was even more hamstrung by having the misfortune of being forced to deal Damon, Dye and Beltran. No GM as going to come out of that purge without blood on him.

Glass has come up large over the last few years and Moore has proven an incompetent boob. At the same time, it would have been very interesting to see what Baird could've done with the same advantages Glass has provided Moore. Epstein snapped Baird up fairly quickly, if he's good enough to be Epsteins #2, that says a lot about him, IMO.

Good luck, dude.

I've been making the same argument for Baird once it became glaringly obvious that Dayton Moore was dumb as ****.

(post not directed at Sure-Oz, who is one of the best Royals posters on the site)

DM proved how awesome his powers were by signing Guillen to that huge contract and then grabbing Kyle Farnsworth for 9 mill.....I can't wait till he is fired as our GM

I agree that Baird was setup for failure and Glass is the biggest POS in kc or arkansas where the hell he is

Thanks for the compliment Deez, it just sucks being a royals fan sometimes...just no sign of hope.

Herges gets non-roster invite to KC camp

Veteran hurler split time between Rox, Indians in 2009

By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com

01/11/10 4:26 PM EST

KANSAS CITY -- If relief pitcher Matt Herges makes the Royals' roster this year, he'll do it at the grand age of 40.

The Royals signed the veteran right-hander on Monday to a Minor League contract for 2010 with an invitation to Major League Spring Training. He becomes the 20th non-roster player invited to work out with the 40-man roster at Surprise, Ariz.

Herges divided last season between the Indians and the Rockies, working in 30 games with a 3-1 record and a 3.55 ERA in 34 2/3 innings.

He's also pitched for the Dodgers, Expos, Padres, Giants, D-backs and Marlins, compiling an 11-season record of 43-35 with 34 saves and a 3.91 ERA.

Herges got a late start in the Majors, breaking in at 29 with the Dodgers in 1999. The next year, he posted an 11-3 record for them in 55 relief appearances and the only four starts of his career. In 2004, Herges took over the closing role for injured Robb Nen and notched 23 saves for the Giants. Herges reached the World Series with the Rockies in 2007, and in seven postseason innings, he didn't allow a run.

A product of Illinois State University, Herges signed with the Dodgers in 1992 as a non-drafted free agent. Born in Champaign, Ill., he'll observe his 40th birthday next April 1, four days before the season opener.

Here are the other non-roster players invited to Major League Spring Training:

Pitchers -- Bryan Bullington, Adam Bostick, Jorge Campillo, Bruce Chen, Phil Humber, John Parrish, Nelson Payano, Francisco Rosario, Josh Rupe, Brad Thompson.

Catchers -- Edwin Bellorin, Cody Clark, Steve Lerud, Vance Wilson

Infielders -- Wilson Betemit, Irving Falu, Ernesto Mejia

Outfielders -- Buck Coats, Scott Thorman

Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

I think this has been one of the most depressing, uninspiring offseasons in recent memory.

I REALLY like the signing for the Cuban pitcher, but would have liked to see us make a run at Chapman, the other Cuban pitcher, for $5MM a year. Those are the risks I think a team like the Royals needs to make. Making a trade push for Brandon Morrow, or calling the Angels to see if they would consider moving some of their young MI depth (Aybar, Izturis, Kendrick) would have also been welcome. I hate giving money to these stopgaps with absolutely no upside whatsoever. Sickening.

I saw the headline and though "Surely that's not Matt Herges...."

I was wrong.

Though I'll give Moore credit for one thing - I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by Brad Thompson. When he has his sinker working, he's a very gritty competitor and a great guy to have on a staff. The Cardinals front office jerked that guy around for years and he just never could get a good idea of his role.

I think he could give the Royals a pretty quality 4th or 5th starter. He could also make a strong swingman. He doesn't quite have setup man stuff, but he'd make a good 7th inning guy.

Why give Chapman 5 per when you can give Kendall 3? It's not like Pena, whom you already control for far less money, would be a better option.

Where is the minister of common sense in the offices at the K?

I really don't understand it at all. I have had a lot of conversations with my friend that works with the Royals, and he is in the same place. Said the entire place is just depressed about it.

The word around Kauffman is that somehow Glass LOST money last year, despite having the best attendance in some time. Apparently, he told DM this year that he wasn't going to spend any money on FAs.

First, I'd have to see the books to believe that.

But let's say it's true. Not knocking your friend, just saying. Then that makes it all the more important for Moore to make savvy moves. Don't piss down your leg and waste money on Kendall. Make intelligent moves with actual upside, as you suggested.

Back to the initial point, though. If true, Glass has to sell the team. If they move, which I doubt, but if they do, I don't care.

There is alot of people in Kansas City that would love to cheer the Royals and cheer hard and show up to the games. I think there are alot of people around here that love baseball and want the Royals back...it's been way too damn long. I hope i'm not too old or dead before it happens. Atleast i was 6 when they won the World Series, too bad i didn't give a shit about anything but he-man and gijoe cartoons

Agree on all counts. I have argued with him many times about this, and have said it is impossible that he lost money this year, but made money the year before. Makes no sense.

I will say they have fired many of the top paid VPs in the organization though to save money there, so there may be something to this. Something definitely doesn't add up though.

The economy was in the tank. Glass isn't going to go broke tomorrow but I don't find it far fetched at all that decreases in things like advertising, etc. caused the team to not make as much money as the year before.

His received over 100 million in revenue sharing alone. And attendance was up.

If he took a loss, which I doubt, it had to be by a ****ing fraction. Consider it a late bill for previous sins.

I say the guy try his best to get the best team out there...

this franchise needs to continue to draft well to have any hope, we are ****ed otherwise.

this thread depresses me

We just better hope that Hosmer and Moosetacos get going. We are going to need them to be legitimate bats. It looks like we could have some decent pitching coming up to add with Greinke, but since we have no idea how to make smart signings for guys with upside in FA, we can't afford to miss on any more draft picks.

I would hate to waste Zack, we already wasted what could be his best season ever (not that a drop off would be huge) but last season just doesn't happen all the time

Well with the success baseball has had the last couple years it'd have to be hard to lose money, but I think people greatly underestimate the operating cost of a professional sports franchise.

But I think the $100 million number is a bit exaggerated too though. I'd guess somewhere between 70-80 million? But who really knows, it's all speculation. I was under the impression that they got about 30-35 million from the general revenue sharing and another 30-ish million from the luxury tax. Then consider they spent about $80 million in payroll this year, and blammo.

Royals Near Agreement With Paul Carlixte

By Tim Dierkes [January 12 at 3:25pm CST]

Dayton Moore's second "top five" international free agent signing is likely to be Dominican shortstop Paul Carlixte, writes ESPN's Keith Law. Law says the Royals and Carlixte are near an agreement exceeding $1MM.

Law notes irregularities found by MLB's age investigation, but his source says Carlixte is a "great-looking shortstop with soft hands and a very quick bat."

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Is Jose Guillen hurt yet?

It was Stark last year who said that each team was getting approximately $105 million in revenue sharing. Dude's a pretty reputable source.

But, again, who really knows. Since no one will open up the books or dispute the figure, I'm going on the assumption that it's accurate.

LOL I can't wait to see the Royals lose 100 games. I have been on strike against the Royals, and most specifically Dayton Moore for the last year. I successfully went to zero games last year.

That's good news...

From Baseball America:

While the big league club just completed a decade of futility, there is hope for the Royals' future. Six of the Royals Top 10 Prospects are pitchers and the position players provide plenty of intrigue. The list leads off with lefthander Mike Montgomery whose fastball touches 94-95.

Here's the problem - you already wasted him.

Butler is a legitimate hitter, but Hosmer and Moustakas need at least another year in the minors, probably 2 (potentially 5). Moustakas just struggled at High A; that certainly looks like a guy that has another 2 or 3 minor league seasons before he gets a look. Hosmer was absolutely abysmal outside of rookie short-season ball, he's another guy that looks a long way off.

But let's be wildly optimistic and say that they'll be in the bigs by 2011 to get their rookie knocks out of the way. They'll probably then experience a bit of a sophomore slump in 2012, followed by legitimate strides in 2013.

In the incredibly unlikely event that both guys pan out according to plan, I still can't imagine you'll see them as legitimate run producers until about 2013. Greinke's last season under this contract is 2012.

Unfortunately, the Royals cupboard is so bare in the high minors that Zack Greinke is as good as wasted already. They just don't have anyone in AA or above that looks like they'll develop into a legitimate major leaguer. Unless Alex Gordon becomes what he was supposed to be, David Lough becomes a true #3 hitter w/ a mix of power and speed and Billy Butler develops 30 HR pop, the Royals will remain well behind Zack Greinke's development curve.

I think Greinke will be very effective beyond 2012. Don't you?

Sure.

In Boston.

I will not hear this.

2011 needs to be a respectable season, and large sums of money need to be sent his way.

This. Along with a soundproof panic room personally installed for him.

He'll be a $20 mil/season pitcher if he stays healthy; there's no way the Royals would match that. I think that's also when Dice-K comes of Boston's books and the Yankees will probably be looking to replace Pettite. Burnett's a FA in 2013, so the Yankees wouldn't have to worry about being hamstrung by his deal. You'll get a bidding war out of the AL East.

Even if the Royals come up with the coin, there's the possibility that the draw of the NL (and batting) gets to be too much for him. The Mets will be getting long in the tooth in their rotation and you know that he'd salivate over the prospect of pitching in that park. The Braves will have Lowe and Hudson off their payroll, can't you see them making a move for the southerner to pair with Tommy Hanson? The Dodgers are always on the prowl, though they'll probably be looking at extensions for Kershaw, Kemp, Ethier and Broxton around that time, so they may be tapped out. Hell, the Cards will drop $27 million in salary in 2012 as that's when Carpenter and Lohse's deals end...

Sorry boss, but I don't see any chance in the world that he comes back to KC if he stays healthy for the next 3 seasons.

Are you guys seriously not excited about Jordan Parraz, Mario Lissan and Blake Johnson?

And I wouldnt mind picking up a guy like Brad Ausumus for a year or two...

Brad Ausmus AND Jason Kendall? FML

Yea, im not a big fan of the kendall signing, but i thought Brad was better.. :banghead:

Please tell me this is sarcasm.

Mario Lissan is a utility infielder at his absolute apex. Blake Johnson will struggle to latch on as a 5th starter.

Parraz has some interesting upside but largely on the strength of one good season in the Texas League (a hitter's paradise). He'll certainly need to repeat it before I consider him a legitimate prospect.

You can't let a bidding war begin in the first place.

In '11, assuming Moore and Hillman haven't caused his arm to fall off, I'm offering 5 for 90, and I think that 6 for 108 would get it done.

Teams simply cannot lose home-grown, elite talent like Greinke.

Apparently Brandon Jones of the Braves has been DfA.....the royals need to get this guy. It makes too much sense omg the OBP would be so against DM

Brandon Jones-OF- Braves Jan. 12 - 4:34 pm et

Braves designated OF Brandon Jones for assignment.
What was once one of the top prospects in the organization was cleared in order to make room for Eric Hinske on the team's 40-man roster. Jones, 26, was 4-for-13 in five games with the Braves last season, but spent the majority of the year with Triple-A Gwinnett, batting .281/.360/.419 with seven home runs and 57 RBI.

mlbtraderumors.com

Royals Considering Gomes, Thames
By Tim Dierkes [January 12, 2010 at 8:08am CST]

The Royals are looking to add a power hitter, writes Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The bat would slot into right field or the DH spot, depending on the health of Jose Guillen. Morosi names Jonny Gomes and Marcus Thames as two players of interest who could fit into Dayton Moore's limited budget.

Gomes, 29, was non-tendered by the Reds after hitting .267/.338/.541 in 314 plate appearances. 35% of those PAs came against left-handed pitching, keep in mind. Gomes would be best-served as a DH, as his limited defensive work in the outfield corners grades poorly. We haven't heard about much of a market for Gomes, aside from seemingly mild interest from the Reds and Yankees.

Thames, 33 in March, hit .252/.323/.453 in 294 plate appearances for the Tigers and was cut loose in November. He saw lefties even more often than Gomes. The main defensive difference between the two is Thames' 239.3 career innings at first base. The Indians and Blue Jays were named as interested parties in mid-December, though the Tribe may be out after signing Austin Kearns and Shelley Duncan.

Though not mentioned by Morosi, free agents Gary Sheffield and Jermaine Dye also fit the profile of right-handed bats with pop and limited defensive ability.

If Johnny Gomes is a power hitter, I've really lost touch with baseball.

Isnt Blake Johnson one of the best prospects in our system?

And Parraz i think will be the shit, he has been good since 2006 in the minors...

We have an advantage with ZG. He's totally loved here, and he does not like to talk to the media. The locals will let him do that, but the NY and BOS media coverage would drive him crazy.

He could go to a mid-market team that could shell out some serious cash like the Brewers, or perhaps the Angels (who is the red-headed stepchild of the Dodgers in LA). But, my sense is that he really does not care that much about getting the biggest contract possible, and there will be certain markets that he just is not interested in playing in.

ZG could legitimately be a life-long Royal. The key is whether he thinks the team will be competitive when it comes time to signing again.

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/new...t=.jsp&c_id=kc

Yost hired by Royals as advisor
Former Brewers manager has Atlanta connection

By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
KANSAS CITY -- Ned Yost, former manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, has been hired by the Royals as a special advisor to baseball operations.

Yost, 54, who managed the Brewers from 2003 to Sept. 15, 2008, was dismissed when the club had an 83-67 record and was in second place. During his tenure, Milwaukee had a 457-502 record.

From 1991-2002, Yost was a coach for Atlanta, serving eight years as bullpen coach and four years as third-base coach for Braves manager Bobby Cox. A catcher, Yost played in the Majors in 1980-85 for Milwaukee, Texas and Montreal.

Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Great, here's hillmans successor....bravesification!11

Interesting hire, and I think your last sentence may be more true than you believe.

.

Hillman to be fired July 12th.

Yost is a very good manager.

Trey Hillman should be fired once the ink on Yost's contract dries.

Hillman should bring back the rat tail

I agree.

I think Neddy got ****ed in Milwaukee. He's a very astute Manager - unlike the tard we currently employ.

Now, if we could somehow make that a package firing with Moore, I'd be ecstatic.

I dont think any manager can win crap with the players our gm brings in

That's not part of the process.

And, honestly, I'd prefer for Hillman to be the fall guy for Moore's most recent failings. No reason to bloody another body. There will be plenty of time for this later, I'm sure.

And hope that, somehow, Dayton gets shit canned ASAP.