And now even the prospects are giving up

[tyton75]

Duffy just quit baseball..

what does THAT say about the Royals?


do we love the headcases or what

[tyton75]

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/24/1833690/one-of-royals-top-prospects-quits.html

SURPRISE, Ariz. | Left-handed pitcher Danny Duffy, one of the Royals’ top prospects, left camp late Tuesday night after informing club officials that he was quitting baseball.

“Danny informed us (Tuesday) that his desire is to leave baseball at this time to reassess his life priorities,” assistant general manager J.J. Picollo confirmed in a statement released by the club.

“Should Danny decide in the future to return to the game, we will be happy at that time to discuss the possibility.”

Club officials say Duffy’s decision appears unrelated to a recent injury -- a strained left elbow -- that was expected to prevent him from pitching in games until mid-May.

Duffy, 21, is ranked by Baseball America as the eighth-best prospect in the organization after going 19-10 with a 2.49 ERA in 52 games since his selection in the third round of the 2007 draft.

His resume includes an appearance in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game.

Duffy was expected to open the season at Class AA Northwest Arkansas and was generally viewed as the organization’s most-advanced pitching prospect.

The Royals cited Duffy as the pitcher of the year in 2008 at Class A Burlington after he helped the Bees win the Midwest League title by going 6-1 with a 0.99 ERA in his final 11 starts.

Duffy was a Carolina League All-Star last season after going 9-3 with a 2.98 ERA at Class A Wilmington.

To reach Bob Dutton, send e-mail to bdutton@kcstar.com. Follow his updates at twitter.com/Royals_Report.



Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/24/1833690/one-of-royals-top-prospects-quits.html#ixzz0j751LAmZ

[gblowfish]

Just when you think the Royals have hit rock bottom...
Dayton Moore grabs a shovel.

[ChiTown]

Just when you think the Royals have hit rock bottom...
Dayton Moore grabs a shovel.

ROFL

[Valiant]

Meh, it really sucks.. but here is hoping he just pulls a Greinke and wins a Cy Young with us..

[Reaper16]

Why the fuck can't I be a fan of real sports franchises?

[kysirsoze]

Why the **** can't I be a fan of real sports franchises?

QFT

The best part is looking all my Cardinals/Yankees/Dodgers fan friends in the face after stories (plural) like these come out.

[DeezNutz]

On a positive note, at least he's not quitting on the field, like a host of Royals before him.

[alnorth]

I know the cool thing to do is to blame the Royals and DM for everything that happens to them, but why in this case?

This looks like a fluke to me. What do you expect the Royals to do when they evaluate prospects? A full mental health evaluation, including sessions with psychiatrists to explore their motivation to play baseball?

Claiming this says anything at all, good or bad, about the royals seems really silly, it would be like blaming the bad winter we had on the Royals, as if they had something to do with our snowfall.

[Reaper16]

I know the cool thing to do is to blame the Royals and DM for everything that happens to them, but why in this case?

This looks like a fluke to me. What do you expect the Royals to do when they evaluate prospects? A full mental health evaluation, including sessions with psychiatrists to explore their motivation to play baseball?

Claiming this says anything at all, good or bad, about the royals seems really silly, it would be like blaming the bad winter we had on the Royals, as if they had something to do with our snowfall.
I agree. This is not the fault of anyone running the franchise.

This is the fault of the curse placed on the franchise by God. Motherfuck you, God.

[kysirsoze]

I know the cool thing to do is to blame the Royals and DM for everything that happens to them, but why in this case?

This looks like a fluke to me. What do you expect the Royals to do when they evaluate prospects? A full mental health evaluation, including sessions with psychiatrists to explore their motivation to play baseball?

Claiming this says anything at all, good or bad, about the royals seems really silly, it would be like blaming the bad winter we had on the Royals, as if they had something to do with our snowfall.

You're probably right. I blame an ancient gypsy curse. That's the only logical reason for the amount of crap that has been heaped on the Royals franchise for the last couple decades.

Seriously though, as bad as things have been, it's hard not to see a connection when strange things like this happen. It's one of those rare occasions where shit rolls up hill.

[kysirsoze]

I agree. This is not the fault of anyone running the franchise.

This is the fault of the curse placed on the franchise by God. Mother**** you, God.

no no. Gypsies. Let's keep the blame where it belongs.

[Mr. Arrowhead]

i prolly quit too, if i was part of this franchise

[DeezNutz]

I'm with alnorth, inclined to put this in the "fluke" category.

But this fucking franchise has had a lot of "flukes," starting with Greinke, Hosmer's vision, and Duffy's want-to, etc.

Eventually, enough "flukes" suggest a trend of dumbassery.

[alnorth]

I agree. This is not the fault of anyone running the franchise.

This is the fault of the curse placed on the franchise by God. Mother**** you, God.

Seems reasonable to me. I also blame God for these bizarre strokes of bad luck. What unholy act were we responsible for to bring this wrath?

[kysirsoze]

I'm with alnorth, inclined to put this in the "fluke" category.

But this ****ing franchise has had a lot of "flukes," starting with Greinke, Hosmer's vision, and Duffy's want-to, etc.

Eventually, enough "flukes" suggest a trend of dumbassery.

I'll take a few more "flukes" like this please!:)

[DeezNutz]

Yeah, me too, but I'd prefer not to have to pry first-round pitchers off John Deere's and out of the batting cage.

[alnorth]

Saw an interesting post about the minor league lifestyle elsewhere that could be relevant, and that got me thinking about this.

The life of a minor league baseball player actually sucks quite a lot. They do not get paid worth a damn, the travel is brutal, and they usually have to work odd jobs to survive. The top-end talents are able to deal with it better than the vast majority because of the signing bonus. (This kid got something in the mid-300k range)

If you start playing baseball in high school only because your friends are doing it, its sort of a cool thing to do to pass the time. If you go from there to finding you are good enough to be drafted and put your name in because hey, maybe you'll be rich someday. If thats your background, the sheer amount of suck that is involved in the poverty-ridden minor league grind can be intimidating.

The guys who dont get the big bonuses put up with years of this struggle because they really love the game, and they are willing to sacrifice to chase the dream. It is very weird to see someone with talent who could reasonably expect to make it, and who got an ok signing bonus not just put up with it. But, if that guy didn't really LOVE baseball to begin with, I guess I could see where he might say "Screw it" after 2 years, especially since he signed right out of high school and is now only 20. Kids do stupid things all the time and regret it the rest of their lives when they are older and wiser.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

I agree. This is not the fault of anyone running the franchise.

This is the fault of the curse placed on the franchise by God. Motherfuck you, God.

You deserve it for Denkinger :)

[Phobia]

This looks like a fluke to me. What do you expect the Royals to do when they evaluate prospects? A full mental health evaluation, including sessions with psychiatrists to explore their motivation to play baseball?


Absolutely. I applied for and was offered a $50k job in St. Louis about 15 years ago. The process was 2 days and involved everything you just mentioned - for a $50k job.

I held out for $4k more because I had another offer for more money and they wouldn't budge.

So, yeah when you're evaluating prospects in that salary ballpark, yes I do expect you to have psychiatrists and everybody else get into their head.

[Sure-Oz]

Dang, this is really devistating news

FML

I think he's making a huge mistake, he has a bright future in baseball.

[Deberg_1990]

Absolutely. I applied for and was offered a $50k job in St. Louis about 15 years ago. The process was 2 days and involved everything you just mentioned - for a $50k job.

I held out for $4k more because I had another offer for more money and they wouldn't budge.

So, yeah when you're evaluating prospects in that salary ballpark, yes I do expect you to have psychiatrists and everybody else get into their head.

whoa? Phil in a Royals thread???

[gblowfish]

Someone in the organization ought to make this kid hang out with Colt Griffin for about 48 hours, then ask him if he wants to reconsider.

[gblowfish]

Dang, this is really devistating news

FML

I think he's making a huge mistake, he has a bright future in baseball.

The news is devastating, as well as devistating :D

[Sure-Oz]

The news is devastating, as well as devistating :D

damnit:thumb:

[Reaper16]

You deserve it for Denkinger :)
I've got a javelin with your name on it just waiting to be thrown. Also it has "Game 7: 11-0" on it. Also I will hire Bret Saberhagan to throw the javelin.

[Phobia]

whoa? Phil in a Royals thread???

Heh, yeah. I had no idea who Duffy was so I clicked in.

[alnorth]

Absolutely. I applied for and was offered a $50k job in St. Louis about 15 years ago. The process was 2 days and involved everything you just mentioned - for a $50k job.

I held out for $4k more because I had another offer for more money and they wouldn't budge.

So, yeah when you're evaluating prospects in that salary ballpark, yes I do expect you to have psychiatrists and everybody else get into their head.

I simply do not believe you were given the full deep mental evaluation I am envisioning, which would take far more than 2 days anyway. Anyone can fake their way through an interview or quick session. They may even really believe they are eager to get started, before they actually find out what is involved.

We also are not talking 3 or 4 candidates to fill 1 post. We are talking literally hundreds of players that have to be looked at and ranked on the board, with potentially minutes to find out who you really have to choose from. Its not like this kid was a first-rounder where we had a lot of time to know he'd be available, this was in the 3rd round.

[Demonpenz]

maybe he just needs neffi perez to give him a haircut during the game

[Demonpenz]

I thought maybe Duffy was hillary duff.

[keg in kc]

I'd be surprised if there isn't some psyche evaluation involved in the draft process.

[CoMoChief]

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/24/1833690/one-of-royals-top-prospects-quits.html

SURPRISE, Ariz. | Left-handed pitcher Danny Duffy, one of the Royals’ top prospects, left camp late Tuesday night after informing club officials that he was quitting baseball.

“Danny informed us (Tuesday) that his desire is to leave baseball at this time to reassess his life priorities,” assistant general manager J.J. Picollo confirmed in a statement released by the club.

“Should Danny decide in the future to return to the game, we will be happy at that time to discuss the possibility.”

Club officials say Duffy’s decision appears unrelated to a recent injury -- a strained left elbow -- that was expected to prevent him from pitching in games until mid-May.

Duffy, 21, is ranked by Baseball America as the eighth-best prospect in the organization after going 19-10 with a 2.49 ERA in 52 games since his selection in the third round of the 2007 draft.

His resume includes an appearance in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game.

Duffy was expected to open the season at Class AA Northwest Arkansas and was generally viewed as the organization’s most-advanced pitching prospect.

The Royals cited Duffy as the pitcher of the year in 2008 at Class A Burlington after he helped the Bees win the Midwest League title by going 6-1 with a 0.99 ERA in his final 11 starts.

Duffy was a Carolina League All-Star last season after going 9-3 with a 2.98 ERA at Class A Wilmington.

To reach Bob Dutton, send e-mail to bdutton@kcstar.com. Follow his updates at twitter.com/Royals_Report.



Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/24/1833690/one-of-royals-top-prospects-quits.html#ixzz0j751LAmZ

AAWWWWWWWWWWWWWESSSSSOME

[CoMoChief]

Someone in the organization ought to make this kid hang out with Colt Griffin for about 48 hours, then ask him if he wants to reconsider.

Who's Colt Griffin?

[DeezNutz]

Who's Colt Griffin?

Exactly.

(This exchange has gone over many of the younger posters' heads at 100 mph.)

[Deberg_1990]

Exactly.

(This exchange has gone over many of the younger posters' heads at 100 mph.)

heh....shows how long the Royals have been bad.

[Reaper16]

Who the fuck doesn't know Colt Griffin? Don't people read anymore?

[ChiTown]

Who is Hillary Rhodham Duffy?

[Silock]

Well... this sucks.

[DeezNutz]

Who the **** doesn't know Colt Griffin? Don't people read anymore?

Some of us, like myself, can't.

[Frazod]

Some of us, like myself, can't.

Imagine Nuke LaLoosh from Bull Durham, except instead of going to the show he goes to the DL and then quits.

[ChiefsCountry]

Did Colt ever get higher than Burlington?

[GoHuge]

Imagine Nuke LaLoosh from Bull Durham, except instead of going to the show he goes to the DL and then quits.Who is this Bull Durham you speak of? I don't get it.

This is just another thing that seems to be symptomatic with this organization. Nobody even thought to check if Hosmer could even see!! Give him millions of dollars at 18 years-old because of his bat and somebody misses one of the most important things for a hitter??? See ball.......hit ball......F***!!!!!

Give this kid some time. Maybe when he gets out and sees that playing baseball for a living aint that bad of a gig. Especially if you turn into a good lefty starter. We gave Zack all the support and time he needed......and Zack was way the fuck off the reservation. Turned out well for all parties. I've got a feeling that baseball has defined this kid all his life. If he wants to leave and get some perspective on life I say good luck!! He's only 20. Christ I didn't know shit back then.

[Miles]

Did Colt ever get higher than Burlington?

Looks like he made it up to Wichita as a reliever.

[L.A. Chieffan]

I dont feel too bad for Royals fans. The last Dodgers WS was only 3 years after you guys and we're expected to compete every year.

Still, you do have shitty luck in the draft

[DeezNutz]

I dont feel too bad for Royals fans. The last Dodgers WS was only 3 years after you guys and we're expected to compete every year.

Still, you do have shitty luck in the draft

WTF?

Have you guys been in the playoffs recently? Over .500?

We're the bottom of the fucking barrel. Don't ever try to steal our pain!

[WilliamTheIrish]

Who the **** doesn't know Colt Griffin? Don't people read anymore?

It's CoMo.

[Frazod]

Who is this Bull Durham you speak of? I don't get it.

:spock:

You've got to be fucking kidding me.

[L.A. Chieffan]

I guess we suck in our own special ways...

[Miles]

I dont feel too bad for Royals fans. The last Dodgers WS was only 3 years after you guys and we're expected to compete every year.

Still, you do have shitty luck in the draft

Not winning the WS in over 20 years is a hell of a lot different than not making the playoffs during that same time.

[DeezNutz]

In fairness, Dodgers fans probably aren't quite sure how good they have it, since they arrive in the 2nd and leave by the 7th.

[L.A. Chieffan]

Not winning the WS in over 20 years is a hell of a lot different than not making the playoffs during that same time.

The Dodgers never even won a playoff GAME until just a couple of years ago

[L.A. Chieffan]

In fairness, Dodgers fans probably aren't quite sure how good they have it, since they arrive in the 2nd and leave by the 7th.

Oh, I was trying to keep it civil but I see how it is.

At least we actually have fans SHOW UP to the games.

[DeezNutz]

Oh, I was trying to keep it civil but I see how it is.

At least we actually have fans SHOW UP to the games.

To look at yourselves. Fucking beautiful people...

[L.A. Chieffan]

To look at yourselves. Fucking beautiful people...

Fuck yeah. I sat a couple of rows in front of some pornstar i wacked off too not an hour before first pitch yo

[Sure-Oz]

What a joke of a pick Colt was, wow he throws 100 omg !111

[DeezNutz]

**** yeah. I sat a couple of rows in front of some pornstar i wacked off too not an h our before first pitch yo

LMAO.

Glad you stipulated that it was "before" the game.

[WilliamTheIrish]

You deserve it for Denkinger :)

CLANG!

[The sound of a ball hitting Matt Holiday's steel glove]

[GoHuge]

:spock:

You've got to be ****ing kidding me.Yes I'm fucking kidding you. Sorry I guess I should have put out a sarcasm meter.

:spock:

[Frazod]

Yes I'm fucking kidding you. Sorry I guess I should have put out a sarcasm meter.

:spock:

Hey, you never know. There are probably people here born after it came out who have never heard of it.

[Dottefan]

I try to stop caring about the Royals..but every spring they drag me back in..damn.

[teedubya]

He is just getting a jump on April, when most of the other Royals quit.