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?