HOSMER MOVING UP

[BigCatDaddy]

Kila down Hosmer up tomorrow Per Yost on 810 during the post game news conference.

[alnorth]

... and Cleveland won again in extra innings. God damn it, Oakland you suck.

Guess Hosmer will just have to help us try to sweep Oakland this weekend while the Indians step up to battling the Angels @ CA.

[Stewie]

Here comes Hosmer — and that's just the start

By SAM MELLINGER

The Kansas City Star



JOHN SLEEZER

Kansas City Royals Eric Hosmer connects on a home run during Thursday's spring training intrasquade game on February 24, 2011, in Surprise, AZ. John Sleezer/The Kansas City Star






Eric Hosmer is here now in Kansas City, bringing the future with him, and you think you’re excited? Hosmer told a friend he was so fired up he felt like crying.

The biggest news of the Royals season so far means the next five months will be judged and dissected much differently. Mission 2012 is real now, it’s legitimate, and if you don’t believe it, you can come out to Kauffman Stadium tonight to see for yourself.

Hosmer will be the big guy starting at first base and probably hitting fifth or sixth, 6 feet 4 and 230 pounds with the kind of swing that literally gives baseball people goosebumps.

“This guy will hit and he’ll play great defense and he’s getting his feet wet at the same time,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore says. “And, he doesn’t have to be the guy.”

The Royals beat the Orioles 9-1 on Thursday, and even on a team that’s first in the American League in runs and batting, a 21-year-old hitting phenom makes things better.

There is so much going on here, so much above and below the surface. The Royals are sending a clear message about what they think can be accomplished this season, about what is expected and about what they think of maneuvering around baseball’s complicated salary structure.

The Royals have holes that Hosmer cannot fill unless he dusts off that 95-mph fastball from his high school days, but this move means the Royals are at least open to the idea of opening their overstuffed drawer of high-end pitchers in the minor leagues with visions of making a run in the weak American League Central.

Hosmer is done with the minor leagues, nothing left to prove after graduating with an absurd .439 batting average, .525 on-base percentage and .582 slugging percentage in 26 games at Class AAA.

All around baseball, there are folks in the industry nodding. Hosmer was in some scouts’ conversations about the Cactus League’s best player. They throw around comparisons like Joey Votto and Jason Heyward and even Adrian Gonzalez.

Just the other day, a longtime scout was telling the story about a former big-league pitcher who faced Hosmer recently and said he’d never pitched against a more intimidating presence.

This is all true, and yet baseball is constructed in a way that this still wasn’t a no-brainer. Kila Ka’aihue is the organization’s longest tenured player, and it turns out he had about a month of regular duty to prove himself before being demoted. That’s at least rough, and probably a bit unfair.

There are financial consequences, too. This move probably will cost the Royals money, one more crack in the outdated view that David Glass still runs the franchise like a Wal-Mart store. Assuming the Royals keep him until his free-agency after the 2017 season, this could cost them an extra $10 million-$15 million if the sport’s salary arbitration rules stay the same in the next collective-bargaining agreement.

But that’s all minutiae at the moment, because the baseball world is getting acquainted with a far different type of Royals franchise than the one Jay Leno used to reference in his monologues.

The same franchise that once promoted a pitcher nobody in the clubhouse had ever heard of for a start at Yankee Stadium to save a few hundred grand is now potentially costing itself a fortune by not waiting five more weeks to promote Hosmer.

One of the frustrations of Royals decision-makers has always been the lack of options. You don’t become the losingest franchise in the last decade without some guys who should be replaced, but too often the Royals didn’t have better choices.

Now, Ka’aihue is hitting .195 and playing mediocre defense while Hosmer is hitting better than .400 and playing great defense, so a change is made.
“We’ve said that all along,” Moore says. “You want to have as much competition as possible, and you’ve got to have guys pushing. You want to get to that point.”

The joke during spring training was that the Cactus League’s best team was the 2013 Royals, but this is now the look of a franchise that thinks it can win much sooner than that, and you know what?

If you believe the team the Royals need to beat is currently below them in the standings — first-place Cleveland’s chances are directly tied to pitchers Josh Tomlin and Justin Masterson continuing their overwhelming success — then they’re in a good position.

Because even if you think this 17-14 start is above the Royals’ talent level, you also must recognize that today’s lineup with Hosmer in it will be more talented than the one yesterday without him, and the roster in two months will be more talented than the one today.

There’s plenty more on the way. Mike Montgomery will probably be up soon, followed by Danny Duffy, strengthening a rotation that happens to be this team’s biggest current need.

Everett Teaford or Jesse Chavez (who is showing good signs after lowering his arm slot) are among a handful of pitchers who could be called up if any of the current relievers get hurt or struggle.

Mike Moustakas will be promoted, too, and Johnny Giavotella gives the Royals options if Mike Aviles or Chris Getz falters.

In other words, this is a complicated decision that can and will be taken as a celebration of the Royals’ potential. The most important takeaway is what it means about the Royals’ future:

It’s coming a little faster than expected, and there’s a lot more on the way.


Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/05/05...#ixzz1LZSIoiw3

[eazyb81]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

Johnny eierman. Draft him in the second.

Make him a second baseman and let him scream through the system. But I'm a homer for that kid.
Posted via Mobile Device

Eierman is a very nice prospect, probably the best out of the state this year. He is set to go to LSU to play ball, so I wonder how signable he is.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

Eierman is a very nice prospect, probably the best out of the state this year. He is set to go to LSU to play ball, so I wonder how signable he is.

for the right money he WILL sign.

i just guessing but 2 would get it done, most likely a little cheaper.

the royals know the number

[eazyb81]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

for the right money he WILL sign.

i just guessing but 2 would get it done, most likely a little cheaper.

the royals know the number

Yeah i'm sure they do. I would love to add him and Bubba Starling in this year's draft.

Greg Schaum has been hyping Eierman up for a year now, and I know he has contacts in the Royals scouting dept.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by Stewie

Here comes Hosmer — and that's just the start

By SAM MELLINGER

The Kansas City Star



JOHN SLEEZER

Kansas City Royals Eric Hosmer connects on a home run during Thursday's spring training intrasquade game on February 24, 2011, in Surprise, AZ. John Sleezer/The Kansas City Star






Eric Hosmer is here now in Kansas City, bringing the future with him, and you think you’re excited? Hosmer told a friend he was so fired up he felt like crying.

The biggest news of the Royals season so far means the next five months will be judged and dissected much differently. Mission 2012 is real now, it’s legitimate, and if you don’t believe it, you can come out to Kauffman Stadium tonight to see for yourself.

Hosmer will be the big guy starting at first base and probably hitting fifth or sixth, 6 feet 4 and 230 pounds with the kind of swing that literally gives baseball people goosebumps.

“This guy will hit and he’ll play great defense and he’s getting his feet wet at the same time,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore says. “And, he doesn’t have to be the guy.”

The Royals beat the Orioles 9-1 on Thursday, and even on a team that’s first in the American League in runs and batting, a 21-year-old hitting phenom makes things better.

There is so much going on here, so much above and below the surface. The Royals are sending a clear message about what they think can be accomplished this season, about what is expected and about what they think of maneuvering around baseball’s complicated salary structure.

The Royals have holes that Hosmer cannot fill unless he dusts off that 95-mph fastball from his high school days, but this move means the Royals are at least open to the idea of opening their overstuffed drawer of high-end pitchers in the minor leagues with visions of making a run in the weak American League Central.

Hosmer is done with the minor leagues, nothing left to prove after graduating with an absurd .439 batting average, .525 on-base percentage and .582 slugging percentage in 26 games at Class AAA.

All around baseball, there are folks in the industry nodding. Hosmer was in some scouts’ conversations about the Cactus League’s best player. They throw around comparisons like Joey Votto and Jason Heyward and even Adrian Gonzalez.

Just the other day, a longtime scout was telling the story about a former big-league pitcher who faced Hosmer recently and said he’d never pitched against a more intimidating presence.

This is all true, and yet baseball is constructed in a way that this still wasn’t a no-brainer. Kila Ka’aihue is the organization’s longest tenured player, and it turns out he had about a month of regular duty to prove himself before being demoted. That’s at least rough, and probably a bit unfair.

There are financial consequences, too. This move probably will cost the Royals money, one more crack in the outdated view that David Glass still runs the franchise like a Wal-Mart store. Assuming the Royals keep him until his free-agency after the 2017 season, this could cost them an extra $10 million-$15 million if the sport’s salary arbitration rules stay the same in the next collective-bargaining agreement.

But that’s all minutiae at the moment, because the baseball world is getting acquainted with a far different type of Royals franchise than the one Jay Leno used to reference in his monologues.

The same franchise that once promoted a pitcher nobody in the clubhouse had ever heard of for a start at Yankee Stadium to save a few hundred grand is now potentially costing itself a fortune by not waiting five more weeks to promote Hosmer.

One of the frustrations of Royals decision-makers has always been the lack of options. You don’t become the losingest franchise in the last decade without some guys who should be replaced, but too often the Royals didn’t have better choices.

Now, Ka’aihue is hitting .195 and playing mediocre defense while Hosmer is hitting better than .400 and playing great defense, so a change is made.
“We’ve said that all along,” Moore says. “You want to have as much competition as possible, and you’ve got to have guys pushing. You want to get to that point.”

The joke during spring training was that the Cactus League’s best team was the 2013 Royals, but this is now the look of a franchise that thinks it can win much sooner than that, and you know what?

If you believe the team the Royals need to beat is currently below them in the standings — first-place Cleveland’s chances are directly tied to pitchers Josh Tomlin and Justin Masterson continuing their overwhelming success — then they’re in a good position.

Because even if you think this 17-14 start is above the Royals’ talent level, you also must recognize that today’s lineup with Hosmer in it will be more talented than the one yesterday without him, and the roster in two months will be more talented than the one today.

There’s plenty more on the way. Mike Montgomery will probably be up soon, followed by Danny Duffy, strengthening a rotation that happens to be this team’s biggest current need.

Everett Teaford or Jesse Chavez (who is showing good signs after lowering his arm slot) are among a handful of pitchers who could be called up if any of the current relievers get hurt or struggle.

Mike Moustakas will be promoted, too, and Johnny Giavotella gives the Royals options if Mike Aviles or Chris Getz falters.

In other words, this is a complicated decision that can and will be taken as a celebration of the Royals’ potential. The most important takeaway is what it means about the Royals’ future:

It’s coming a little faster than expected, and there’s a lot more on the way.


Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/05/05...#ixzz1LZSIoiw3

Good read. This pumps me up.

[milkman]

So, let me ask, if Hosmer pans out, when the dust settles and he works his way into the batting rotation, will he eventually be hitting in the 3, 4 or 5 hole?

If Gordon keeps hitting, can you move him out of the 3 hole?

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by milkman

So, let me ask, if Hosmer pans out, when the dust settles and he works his way into the batting rotation, will he eventually be hitting in the 3, 4 or 5 hole?

If Gordon keeps hitting, can you move him out of the 3 hole?

Ideally, Gordon would be two, Hosmer 3, and Butler 4. Long-term, ideal would be Moose at 4 and Butler at 5.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Ideally, Gordon would be two, Hosmer 3, and Butler 4. Long-term, ideal would be Moose at 4 and Butler at 5.

I don't see Gordon as a an ideal #2.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by milkman

I don't see Gordon as a an ideal #2.

Why is that? He's a prototype, IMO. Good average, lot of speed, tons of doubles, and not many HRs.

[KCUnited]

Oakland, TIME TO DIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Why is that? He's a prototype, IMO. Good average, lot of speed, tons of doubles, and not many HRs.

I could be wrong, but in watching Gordon this season, I think his home run numbers will start to go up.

Looks like a 20-25 homer guy.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Ideally, Gordon would be two, Hosmer 3, and Butler 4. Long-term, ideal would be Moose at 4 and Butler at 5.

2012

1. Giavotella - 2B (currently batting .285 at Omaha)
2. Gordon - LF
3. Hosmer - 1B
4. Moose - 3B (currently batting .245, but coming around big time after a VERY slow start in his first 15 games)
5. Butler - DH
6. Francouer - RF
7. Cain - CF (Currently batting .294 in Omaha)
8. Pena - C
9. Escobar - SS

This gives me serious wood...........

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by eazyb81

Yeah i'm sure they do. I would love to add him and Bubba Starling in this year's draft.

Greg Schaum has been hyping Eierman up for a year now, and I know he has contacts in the Royals scouting dept.

that would be a WOW first two rounds.

eierman could play a great second base IMO.

that could potentially fill two holes. with starling too.


people have hinted that eierman could pass colon pretty quickly, though i dont know the reasoning behind that.

[OmahaChief]

Here comes the Hos Stepper!