Plottydawg
05-25-2007, 01:04 PM
2008 Kansas City Royals Preview
by off-beat writer Mathias Platcek
Another season rolled in on the Great Plains, and sequentially rolled out another losing season. Things did not change in Kansas City in 2007. The hitting came somewhat alive, but the pitching was godawful, even with the trade deadline pickup of former Baltimore Oriole Erik Bedard.
However, things look to brighten in 2008. For starters, the lid came off of Royals GM Dayton Moore’s spending cap in the off-season. Riding the coattails of another below .500 season (72-90), Moore snapped in the process. “We are going to win now,” he proclaimed in a November press conference. Gone are locker room cancers Emil Brown and Reggie Sanders. Add in the departed category good guys Mike Sweeney and Jason LaRue. “We gave this team a makeover in 2007 and it didn’t work,” said Moore, “who is to say we couldn’t do it in 2008?”
Indeed Moore did overhaul the ball club. Spending escalated an amazing 200% on the free agent market, highlighted by the late free-agent acquisition of 1B/DH Frank Thomas (.314 BA, 50 HR, 137 RBI with Toronto). Thomas will definitely add some punch to a punchless Royal offense (28th in batting average, 29th in HR’s in 2007). But Moore was not done there. “Angel Berroa sucked too,” Moore claimed. Exit Berroa, enter Oakland SS Marco Scutaro (.276 BA, 8 HR, 41 RBI). Scutaro is also flawless with the glove, as he was third in the American league with just 12 errors in 679 chances. He will team up with Royal stalwart 2B Mark Grudzielanek to form a formidable middle infield. On the hot corner lies second-year man Alex Gordon (.289 BA, 18 HR, 74 RBI). Gordon rallied to put up decent numbers in his first season after stumbling out of the blocks with a .178 batting average up till mid-June. On the other end looms rookie Salvador Marquez. Marquez and Thomas will split time at first base about 75/25. Marquez is a truly raw, young (age 19) but powerful prospect out of the Mexican League. “This Marquez guy can knock the hell out of the baseball,” said Moore.
The outfield also received some makeover work. Gone are Brown and Sanders, and enter Angel legend Garret Anderson (.313 BA, 28 HR, 100 RBI in Anaheim) and Royal minor league uber-talent Billy Butler. Butler is out until mid-July with a torn tendon in his ankle, but Anderson will immediately contribute both in the clubhouse and outfield. Anderson will team up with solid defenders David DeJesus and Mark Teahen to shore up an outfield that was riddled by errors and bonehead plays. Look for utility player Esteban German and Joey Gathright to see playing time as well.
The spending did not stop with the batters. Pitching also cost some cash, led by another former Angel legend, RP Scot Shields. Shields shores up a very shaky bull pen. His salary of 1.7 million is more than the rest of the relievers combined. “We needed some desperate help in the pen, and Scot gives us that guy we can give the ball to in the 8th inning,” said Moore. The rotation changes a little as well, Bedard assumes the role as staff ace, with 2007 pick-up Gil Meche falling to the two spot. The rest of the starters are Odalis Perez, Zach Greinke, and former Royal number one, Scott Elarton. Brian Bannister can also start in spot situations. Bannister will be seen mainly in long relief.
The Royals did the most to help their cause in the 2007 off-season. They also did the most to help themselves in 2008. However, this finally may be the year Kansas City crawls out of the AL Central cellar.
by off-beat writer Mathias Platcek
Another season rolled in on the Great Plains, and sequentially rolled out another losing season. Things did not change in Kansas City in 2007. The hitting came somewhat alive, but the pitching was godawful, even with the trade deadline pickup of former Baltimore Oriole Erik Bedard.
However, things look to brighten in 2008. For starters, the lid came off of Royals GM Dayton Moore’s spending cap in the off-season. Riding the coattails of another below .500 season (72-90), Moore snapped in the process. “We are going to win now,” he proclaimed in a November press conference. Gone are locker room cancers Emil Brown and Reggie Sanders. Add in the departed category good guys Mike Sweeney and Jason LaRue. “We gave this team a makeover in 2007 and it didn’t work,” said Moore, “who is to say we couldn’t do it in 2008?”
Indeed Moore did overhaul the ball club. Spending escalated an amazing 200% on the free agent market, highlighted by the late free-agent acquisition of 1B/DH Frank Thomas (.314 BA, 50 HR, 137 RBI with Toronto). Thomas will definitely add some punch to a punchless Royal offense (28th in batting average, 29th in HR’s in 2007). But Moore was not done there. “Angel Berroa sucked too,” Moore claimed. Exit Berroa, enter Oakland SS Marco Scutaro (.276 BA, 8 HR, 41 RBI). Scutaro is also flawless with the glove, as he was third in the American league with just 12 errors in 679 chances. He will team up with Royal stalwart 2B Mark Grudzielanek to form a formidable middle infield. On the hot corner lies second-year man Alex Gordon (.289 BA, 18 HR, 74 RBI). Gordon rallied to put up decent numbers in his first season after stumbling out of the blocks with a .178 batting average up till mid-June. On the other end looms rookie Salvador Marquez. Marquez and Thomas will split time at first base about 75/25. Marquez is a truly raw, young (age 19) but powerful prospect out of the Mexican League. “This Marquez guy can knock the hell out of the baseball,” said Moore.
The outfield also received some makeover work. Gone are Brown and Sanders, and enter Angel legend Garret Anderson (.313 BA, 28 HR, 100 RBI in Anaheim) and Royal minor league uber-talent Billy Butler. Butler is out until mid-July with a torn tendon in his ankle, but Anderson will immediately contribute both in the clubhouse and outfield. Anderson will team up with solid defenders David DeJesus and Mark Teahen to shore up an outfield that was riddled by errors and bonehead plays. Look for utility player Esteban German and Joey Gathright to see playing time as well.
The spending did not stop with the batters. Pitching also cost some cash, led by another former Angel legend, RP Scot Shields. Shields shores up a very shaky bull pen. His salary of 1.7 million is more than the rest of the relievers combined. “We needed some desperate help in the pen, and Scot gives us that guy we can give the ball to in the 8th inning,” said Moore. The rotation changes a little as well, Bedard assumes the role as staff ace, with 2007 pick-up Gil Meche falling to the two spot. The rest of the starters are Odalis Perez, Zach Greinke, and former Royal number one, Scott Elarton. Brian Bannister can also start in spot situations. Bannister will be seen mainly in long relief.
The Royals did the most to help their cause in the 2007 off-season. They also did the most to help themselves in 2008. However, this finally may be the year Kansas City crawls out of the AL Central cellar.