Mike Sweeney appreciation thread - Page 3

Dr. Johnny Fever · 06-13-2005, 09:03 AM

I'm more than a little tired of listening to people bash Mike Sweeney. He's always hurt, he doesn't slide hard enough into the catcher, he's got an iron glove.... bla, bla, bla... get real.

Mike Sweeney has done nothing to deserve the shit so many so called Royals fans often like to sling his way. These idiots that demand he be traded for prospects, that he's soft, that he isn't the perfect mix of Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio. These are the same fans that whine about losing every good player we have to free agency because the Royals can't or won't pay them enough to stay around. The same people who constantly bitch about our "minor league roster" but are more than willing to part with the best player on the team so we can get more minor leaguers.

Listen up folks...and you know who you are. When an opposing pitcher looks over the Royals' line-up, who do you think makes them make any adjustments outside of doing whatever the hell they want to do? Ruben Gotay? Mark Teahen? Terrance Long? David DeJesus? No...Mike Sweeney is the only bone-fide threat in the line-up. Mike Sweeney is the only guy that the opposing team doesn't want at the plate with runners on. Mike Sweeney is the only guy who can make the opposing pitcher sweat a little... just a little.

Mike Sweeney could have bolted KC like so many before him, long ago. He didn't have to sign a contract extension to stay in a small market, on a bad team, with little or no real future playoff aspirations...but he did. All he asked was that his employers do everything they could do to field a winning team for ONE season. He didn't ask for a championship or he's gone. He didn't even demand that the Royals win the weakest division in baseball. He asked that they show the same kind of commitment to winning and dedication to the team for ONE season that he has shown. ONE DAMN SEASON! That's all it took for Sweeney's new contract extension to go into effect. His team met the challenge two years ago, finished over .500 and have done little but back-pedal ever since... but is Mike demanding a trade? No. Instead he's getting in his team-mates faces, leading by example and trying to win.

Sure, Sweeney has had some injury problems. I'm pretty certain that it hasn't been because he WANTS to be injured. I'm reasonably confident that he doesn't feel like his team doesn't need him or that he's just acting like a prima donna who tired of being on the field and wants some time off. No, Mike Sweeney wants to play. He wants to help his team-mates get better. He wants to win...in Kansas City. Not in New York or Boston or LA.... IN KANSAS CITY! HE'S HERE BECAUSE HE CHOOSES TO BE! HE'S THE ONE BONA-FIDE STAR WHO HASN'T USED KC AS AN AUDITION TO GET A BIG FAT PAYCHECK IN A SPOTLIGHT CITY!

Mike Sweeney is a good guy too. Not just a run of the mill good guy... but a really good guy. He's a part of the community. He's a team player. He's the real deal.

No, he isn't the best first baseman in baseball... but he's not the worst either. Yes, his back problems have been frustrating for Royals fan. You think maybe they've been even more frustrating for him though? I imagine his back would give out from time to time carrying the entire franchise on it for so long... then getting shit from fans for how he does it.

Mike Sweeney deserves better. From his front-office, from his team-mates, from mlb as a whole, but mostly from Royals fans who are too busy whinning about his imperfections too see the big picture. Mike Sweeney is the face of a mostly faceless organization. He's done nothing but work hard, play hard and promote Kansas City. He wants nothing more than to win.....HERE. That alone makes him more worthy than any of his recent predecessors of our loyalty and appreciation.

beavis · 06-13-2005, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beer me

You mean like that closed door meeting he called all of his team-mates into a month or so ago and proceeded to rake them over the coals for the way they were playing?

Why do I get the feeling a "rake over the coals" involves a lot of "gosh darnits" followed by a "lets us a pray".

Dr. Johnny Fever · 06-13-2005, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beavis

Why do I get the feeling a "rake over the coals" involves a lot of "gosh darnits" followed by a "lets us a pray".

Well I don't know about that... could be.... I just remember seeing the article on the Royals web site I believe that said he yelled and threw things and got in their faces.

PunkinDrublic · 06-13-2005, 02:50 PM

Sweeney is my favorite Royals player but I wouldn't be upset if we traded him for some younger talent to a contender. I also wouldn't begrudge him if he wanted to be traded to a contending team. Sweeney's an awesome hitter when he's on and is a hell of a good guy so I'd root for whoever the Royals traded him to with the exception of the White Sox, Yankees or Cardinals.

tk13 · 06-13-2005, 03:09 PM

There was a pretty respectable poster over on the kcroyals.com board... he went to the games in San Fran earlier this week. He's a Royals fan but I guess he also follows the Giants since they are his hometown team. He was hanging around after a game the other night and Mike Sweeney came out and was talking to his family or somebody that was at the game. I guess this guy chatted him up a little bit, and said something to the effect of "Well if you do leave Kansas City we'd welcome you here"... something to that effect, and Sweeney fired back "But that's the thing, I really don't want to be traded." I believe it, we'll see what happens though.

Really in my heart, I don't want to see him traded. I just wish he'd stay healthy. If he did it'd be really hard to see him go... but it's hard to pay somebody that much money when they only play 100-120 games every year. Especially when he still has the value to return some very good prospects. His contract runs out in 2007... so hopefully his money will be off the books in time that we can throw some money at some of these young guys. If we still have him when that time comes I'd welcome us re-signing him at a much lower cost if he still wants to be here. He's a great hitter, a great clutch hitter too... he carried the team on his back for a while there earlier in the season when the offense was struggling. Just wish he could stay healthy. Regardless of what happens, I do think he'll be a Royals HOF'er someday, and I'll cheer him all the way when that time comes.

Dr. Johnny Fever · 06-13-2005, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

There was a pretty respectable poster over on the kcroyals.com board... he went to the games in San Fran earlier this week. He's a Royals fan but I guess he also follows the Giants since they are his hometown team. He was hanging around after a game the other night and Mike Sweeney came out and was talking to his family or somebody that was at the game. I guess this guy chatted him up a little bit, and said something to the effect of "Well if you do leave Kansas City we'd welcome you here"... something to that effect, and Sweeney fired back "But that's the thing, I really don't want to be traded." I believe it, we'll see what happens though.

Really in my heart, I don't want to see him traded. I just wish he'd stay healthy. If he did it'd be really hard to see him go... but it's hard to pay somebody that much money when they only play 100-120 games every year. Especially when he still has the value to return some very good prospects. His contract runs out in 2007... so hopefully his money will be off the books in time that we can throw some money at some of these young guys. If we still have him when that time comes I'd welcome us re-signing him at a much lower cost if he still wants to be here. He's a great hitter, a great clutch hitter too... he carried the team on his back for a while there earlier in the season when the offense was struggling. Just wish he could stay healthy. Regardless of what happens, I do think he'll be a Royals HOF'er someday, and I'll cheer him all the way when that time comes.

Well said. I think it's really cool how he makes those comments about not wanting to be traded. Seems like other teams fans can see his value more than many of his own teams fans... which is sad.

Pitt Gorilla · 06-13-2005, 03:54 PM

What could Sweeney say in a closed-door meeting? "You know, if I was out there, I'd be running my ass off. Well, not too hard, cause of the back, you know. But, I'd be thinking about running hard and..."

**penguinz** · 06-13-2005, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beer me

Well I don't know about that... could be.... I just remember seeing the article on the Royals web site I believe that said he yelled and threw things and got in their faces.

Did he throw his helmet at anyone?

06-13-2005, 09:03 AM
Dr. Johnny Fever stax of wax Join Date: Feb 2004 Casino cash: $10004900	Mike Sweeney appreciation thread I'm more than a little tired of listening to people bash Mike Sweeney. He's always hurt, he doesn't slide hard enough into the catcher, he's got an iron glove.... bla, bla, bla... get real. Mike Sweeney has done nothing to deserve the shit so many so called Royals fans often like to sling his way. These idiots that demand he be traded for prospects, that he's soft, that he isn't the perfect mix of Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio. These are the same fans that whine about losing every good player we have to free agency because the Royals can't or won't pay them enough to stay around. The same people who constantly bitch about our "minor league roster" but are more than willing to part with the best player on the team so we can get more minor leaguers. Listen up folks...and you know who you are. When an opposing pitcher looks over the Royals' line-up, who do you think makes them make any adjustments outside of doing whatever the hell they want to do? Ruben Gotay? Mark Teahen? Terrance Long? David DeJesus? No...Mike Sweeney is the only bone-fide threat in the line-up. Mike Sweeney is the only guy that the opposing team doesn't want at the plate with runners on. Mike Sweeney is the only guy who can make the opposing pitcher sweat a little... just a little. Mike Sweeney could have bolted KC like so many before him, long ago. He didn't have to sign a contract extension to stay in a small market, on a bad team, with little or no real future playoff aspirations...but he did. All he asked was that his employers do everything they could do to field a winning team for ONE season. He didn't ask for a championship or he's gone. He didn't even demand that the Royals win the weakest division in baseball. He asked that they show the same kind of commitment to winning and dedication to the team for ONE season that he has shown. ONE DAMN SEASON! That's all it took for Sweeney's new contract extension to go into effect. His team met the challenge two years ago, finished over .500 and have done little but back-pedal ever since... but is Mike demanding a trade? No. Instead he's getting in his team-mates faces, leading by example and trying to win. Sure, Sweeney has had some injury problems. I'm pretty certain that it hasn't been because he WANTS to be injured. I'm reasonably confident that he doesn't feel like his team doesn't need him or that he's just acting like a prima donna who tired of being on the field and wants some time off. No, Mike Sweeney wants to play. He wants to help his team-mates get better. He wants to win...in Kansas City. Not in New York or Boston or LA.... IN KANSAS CITY! HE'S HERE BECAUSE HE CHOOSES TO BE! HE'S THE ONE BONA-FIDE STAR WHO HASN'T USED KC AS AN AUDITION TO GET A BIG FAT PAYCHECK IN A SPOTLIGHT CITY! Mike Sweeney is a good guy too. Not just a run of the mill good guy... but a really good guy. He's a part of the community. He's a team player. He's the real deal. No, he isn't the best first baseman in baseball... but he's not the worst either. Yes, his back problems have been frustrating for Royals fan. You think maybe they've been even more frustrating for him though? I imagine his back would give out from time to time carrying the entire franchise on it for so long... then getting shit from fans for how he does it. Mike Sweeney deserves better. From his front-office, from his team-mates, from mlb as a whole, but mostly from Royals fans who are too busy whinning about his imperfections too see the big picture. Mike Sweeney is the face of a mostly faceless organization. He's done nothing but work hard, play hard and promote Kansas City. He wants nothing more than to win.....HERE. That alone makes him more worthy than any of his recent predecessors of our loyalty and appreciation.
Posts: 34,865

06-13-2005, 02:50 PM	#33
PunkinDrublic Stay down bitch! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Plano, TX Casino cash: $4420670	Sweeney is my favorite Royals player but I wouldn't be upset if we traded him for some younger talent to a contender. I also wouldn't begrudge him if he wanted to be traded to a contending team. Sweeney's an awesome hitter when he's on and is a hell of a good guy so I'd root for whoever the Royals traded him to with the exception of the White Sox, Yankees or Cardinals. __________________ Disappointing my parents since 1976
Posts: 9,543

06-13-2005, 03:09 PM	#34
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $-1747500	There was a pretty respectable poster over on the kcroyals.com board... he went to the games in San Fran earlier this week. He's a Royals fan but I guess he also follows the Giants since they are his hometown team. He was hanging around after a game the other night and Mike Sweeney came out and was talking to his family or somebody that was at the game. I guess this guy chatted him up a little bit, and said something to the effect of "Well if you do leave Kansas City we'd welcome you here"... something to that effect, and Sweeney fired back "But that's the thing, I really don't want to be traded." I believe it, we'll see what happens though. Really in my heart, I don't want to see him traded. I just wish he'd stay healthy. If he did it'd be really hard to see him go... but it's hard to pay somebody that much money when they only play 100-120 games every year. Especially when he still has the value to return some very good prospects. His contract runs out in 2007... so hopefully his money will be off the books in time that we can throw some money at some of these young guys. If we still have him when that time comes I'd welcome us re-signing him at a much lower cost if he still wants to be here. He's a great hitter, a great clutch hitter too... he carried the team on his back for a while there earlier in the season when the offense was struggling. Just wish he could stay healthy. Regardless of what happens, I do think he'll be a Royals HOF'er someday, and I'll cheer him all the way when that time comes.
Posts: 56,653

06-13-2005, 03:54 PM	#36
Pitt Gorilla Banned! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NOT Columbia, MO 65201 Casino cash: $-19806	What could Sweeney say in a closed-door meeting? "You know, if I was out there, I'd be running my ass off. Well, not too hard, cause of the back, you know. But, I'd be thinking about running hard and..." __________________ Your son is a bench warmer because of your weak genetics not because of the coach Norlin Mommsen is disgusting.
Posts: 47,360