So let's talk AL Central...

[cmh6476]

sounds like we're going to be competitive this year:

Glass promises Royals will be competitive

By DOUG TUCKER, AP Sports Writer
January 19, 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The owner of the most woeful major league team this century made a bold promise Friday to long-suffering fans.

The Kansas City Royals will not just be better in 2007, David Glass said at the team's annual forecast luncheon -- they'll be contenders in the AL Central.

"I think all of us can look forward to a competitive team this year," Glass said. "We've not had good teams in recent years, but the fans have hung in there. All we want is to have a competitive team, where every time we go out to the park we feel we have a chance to win. And I think that's what we've got this year."

Glass, who allowed his team to make moves in the free-agent market, said his peers seemed miffed when he saw them at Thursday's owners' meeting in Phoenix.

"We listened to the commissioner berate all of us for the escalating salaries and what we're doing to the economics of baseball," he said. "But all of them were all on my case complaining about the things that we're doing, we're overly aggressive, that we've got all these things going on. The more they complain, the better I like it, because they'll pay the price later on in the season."

Kansas City has lost 100 or more games in four of its last five seasons, including a 62-100 finish last year. The Royals then gave a $55 million, five-year contract to 28-year-old right-hander Gil Meche, a $5 million, one-year deal to reliever Octavio Dotel and a $2.25 million, one-year contract to reliever David Riske.

Prospect Alex Gordon seems poised to take over at third base, and hard-throwing right-hander Luke Hochevar is climbing through the system after being taken as the overall No. 1 pick in last year's amateur draft.

"I may need a scorecard to figure out who all the new players are," Glass said. "This is perhaps the most exciting team Kansas City has fielded in a long time."

New general manager Dayton Moore also has added 13 front office positions in the baseball department.

"The thing I'm most excited about is the leadership team we've put in place," said Moore, who was hired last June to replace the fired Allard Baird.

"I've told a lot of people throughout the process we did have some success in making some trades that we're excited about, acquiring free agents," Moore added. "But the leadership team we've put in place and the processes we have gone through ... that's been the most gratifying for me."

Meche is 55-44 with a 4.65 ERA in six seasons, all with the Seattle Mariners. He missed the 2001 season with a rotator cuff injury and spent 2002 in the minors.

He was 11-8 with a career-best 4.48 ERA last year and probably will start Kansas City's opener.

"Once we get to a point where we have two to three players every year come through our farm system who can compete for a spot on our 40-man roster, we'll have the potential to sustain some consistency at the major league level, without a doubt," Moore said.

"The economics of the game are what they are," he said. "It is very competitive. Certainly it's great for the players. But at the same time for us to be able to manage our payroll effectively, we have to have a great farm system. It takes four, five years to develop your farm system and get that steady flow. But there's no doubt that we'll be able to do that."

roto times does a decent job at projecting starting rotations and lineups...



1. Royals
2. Tigers
3. Chi Sox
4. Twinkies
5. Indians





it kinda sucks and its kinda cool our teams plays in the most competitive divisions in their respective sports

[007]

i don't trust anything Glass says.

[Rausch]

Right after I drive a rusty nail up my nostril and into my frontal lobe...

[cmh6476]

this isn't that bad of a lineup, fellas:

CF DeJesus
2B Grudzielanek
OF Teahen
DH Sweeney
OF Brown
3B Gordon
1B Shealy
SS Berroa
C Larue/ Buck


we need Meche to start 32 games like he did last year, win us 12 games and silence some of those critics.

Duckworth had a nice k/bb ratio, to be competitive we would really need him to double his production froma year ago (course of the season, 12-14 wins), and then a couple other guys step up as well.

It's all going to boil down to pitching, and with all the new guys on the block we just have to hope our new player and personnell know what the hell they are doing

[007]

Originally Posted by cmh6476

this isn't that bad of a lineup, fellas:

CF DeJesus
2B Grudzielanek
OF Teahen
DH Sweeney
OF Brown
3B Gordon
1B Shealy
SS Berroa
C Larue/ Buck


we need Meche to start 32 games like he did last year, win us 12 games and silence some of those critics.

Duckworth had a nice k/bb ratio, to be competitive we would really need him to double his production froma year ago (course of the season, 12-14 wins), and then a couple other guys step up as well.

It's all going to boil down to pitching, and with all the new guys on the block we just have to hope our new player and personnell know what the hell they are doing

I won't invest my fandom with them again unless they are in the hunt after the all-star break. That ownership has done nothing to make me want to watch them at this point.

[Nzoner]

I got to tell you Chad,you're the eternal optimist when it comes to KC sports,maybe you should see if Carl is hiring.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by cmh6476

this isn't that bad of a lineup, fellas:

CF DeJesus
2B Grudzielanek
OF Teahen
DH Sweeney
OF Brown
3B Gordon
1B Shealy
SS Berroa
C Larue/ Buck

Sure, this looks fine until Sweeney hurts his back reaching for a cup of Grape Gatorade, which suggests a much better topic of discussion:

What's the over/under on the first Sweeney injury of the year?

IMO, no way he gets through May.

[acesn8s]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Sure, this looks fine until Sweeney hurts his back reaching for a cup of Grape Gatorade, which suggests a much better topic of discussion:

What's the over/under on the first Sweeney injury of the year?

IMO, no way he gets through May.

Spinoff: Who plays more games Sweeney or Meche?(or any other pitcher)

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by acesn8s

Spinoff: Who plays more games Sweeney or Meche?(or any other pitcher)

Sweeney. I'm guessing he logs around 60. In and out, in and out, in and out, all year, like what goes down at Redrum's mom's house.

[acesn8s]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Sweeney. I'm guessing he logs around 60. In and out, in and out, in and out, all year, like what goes down at Redrum's mom's house.

Your optimistic.

About Sweeney, I mean.

[leviw]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Sure, this looks fine until Sweeney hurts his back reaching for a cup of Grape Gatorade, which suggests a much better topic of discussion:

What's the over/under on the first Sweeney injury of the year?

IMO, no way he gets through May.

Justin Huber is still in the plans too. Shealy and Huber will probably split at DH/1B if Sweeney goes down.

Other than that, PinkFloyd hit it on the head. I'd invest in season tickets now, even if it is a smaller game package. The future is bright.

Meche might not be the long-term answer as the No. 1 guy, but some of you fail to realize the impact of the Royals hitting the free agent market, locking onto a guy they wanted and beating other teams --bigger market teams-- out for him, convincing him that Kansas City is a place to be and, finally, signing him. Did they overpay? Maybe. Did it take money out of YOUR pocket? No.

Though the make-up and star potential is similar to the late 90s (Damon, Dye, Beltran), I beleive the Royals are through losing future all-stars to other teams. Teahen, DeJesus and Gordon will be the cornerstones of a contending team in no less than three seasons.

This season they may very well be out of contention by the All-Star break, but just remember, the Royals are headed in very much the right direction.

The saddest thing is, in three years everyone talking shit on this thread will be on the bandwagon.

[SnakeXJones]

Originally Posted by leviw

Justin Huber is still in the plans too. Shealy and Huber will probably split at DH/1B if Sweeney goes down.

Other than that, PinkFloyd hit it on the head. I'd invest in season tickets now, even if it is a smaller game package. The future is bright.

Meche might not be the long-term answer as the No. 1 guy, but some of you fail to realize the impact of the Royals hitting the free agent market, locking onto a guy they wanted and beating other teams --bigger market teams-- out for him, convincing him that Kansas City is a place to be and, finally, signing him. Did they overpay? Maybe. Did it take money out of YOUR pocket? No.

Though the make-up and star potential is similar to the late 90s (Damon, Dye, Beltran), I beleive the Royals are through losing future all-stars to other teams. Teahen, DeJesus and Gordon will be the cornerstones of a contending team in no less than three seasons.

This season they may very well be out of contention by the All-Star break, but just remember, the Royals are headed in very much the right direction.

The saddest thing is, in three years everyone talking shit on this thread will be on the bandwagon.

I disagree with Huber he won't be involved in future plans even if Sweeney goes down IMO it would be either German or Gload at the DH.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by SnakeXJones

I disagree with Huber he won't be involved in future plans even if Sweeney goes down IMO it would be either German or Gload at the DH.

I follow the Royals, not as closely as the Chiefs, but more than the average bear, and I have no fricking idea who Gload is. That can't be good. Major League is suddenly coming to mind: Who the F are those guys?

[HMc]

hey Carl is positive about next year aswell!!


KC 2007/8 WS/SB champions!!!!!11

[Sure-Oz]

I think the Dayton Moore hiring and letting him make all the moves without intereference has given me a shot atleast giving glass a chance. I understand in the past, but I think this team has real promise in the near future. The offense should be pretty damn good with the young hitters coming up. Hopefully the pitching can hold up and we can continue to stockpile good young pitchers.