I'm not confident.

3.5 back after 81. Last year 5 back. So progress. On pace for 84 wins.

Tigers have 3 with the A's and 2 with the Dodgers in Detroit and then 4 with the Royals at Kauffman before the AS break. They also have 4 in Detroit with Tampa Bay.

They'll win 9 of those.

Fine, as long as the 4 that they lose are against us.

That'd be awesome, but realistically, I have them losing 2/3 to the A's, splitting with the Dodgers and Royals, and sweeping the Rays.

If Butler dropped trou and took a dump on home plate, it would be only slightly more disgusting than what I've seen him do at the plate lately. WTMF?

He's hitting .330 with an .843 OPS in June.

It looks like a few more teams are falling back and might be sellers at the deadline. I'm just not sure if we are buyers on anything major.

We won't be. The pieces we need to stay on course are the only players other teams would want in a trade of any significance.

I'm not sure the FO will admit to making any mistakes with their lineup, esp Moose. Assuming they have the balls to admit Aoki isn't getting it done, 1) they aren't moving anything to replace him, 2) they like Dyson and Maxwell so much they might try a platoon with those guys.

They like Moose so much that they sent his ass down to Omaha, DFA Maxwell and the only reason he is here is because Aoki is out.

Royals just DFA'd Maxwell and Ciriaco, brought up Colon and signed Raul Ibanez.

Royals fans should hope they replace Maxwell with Aoki. Aoki is batting over .350 against LHP. Dyson is batting over .300 against RHP and about .211 against LHP. Maxwell can't hit either. Platooning Dyson and Aoki makes the most sense to me.

Maxwell is gone. Just signed Raul Ibanez, also Christian Colon was just called up.

That's hilarious that we signed Ibanez. Still can't believe his old ass hit 29 dingers last year.

Are you being serious right now?

I had started to think Christian Colon was just a myth. Wasn't convinced the guy even existed.

Well then.

I am not expecting much from Ibanez.

I'm more excited about the Colon call up than anything.

This is the best chance he's ever going to get to prove himself, that's for sure

Link?

Looks like he was hitting .296 down in Omaha

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Royals have signed Raul Ibanez to a big-league deal, and called up Christian Colon. Ciriaco and Maxwell were DFA&#39;d.</p>&mdash; Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughStar/statuses/483664314998337536">June 30, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/kc/r...2&vkey=news_kc
KANSAS CITY -- The Royals signed free agent outfielder/designated hitter Raul Ibanez to a Major League contract on Monday. In addition, they recalled infielder Christian Colon from Triple-A Omaha and designated infielder Pedro Ciriaco and outfielder Justin Maxwell for assignment.

Ibanez, 42, signed with the Angels prior to this season but was given his outright release on June 21 and cleared waivers three days later. He played in 57 games for the Angels, batting .157 with five doubles, two triples, three homers and 21 RBIs. But Ibanez is one of two active players with 300 career home runs and 50 career triples, the other being Carlos Beltran of the Yankees.

The left-handed-hitting Ibanez spent three seasons with the Royals, from 2001-03, hitting .294 with 37 doubles, 24 homers and 103 RBIs during the 2002 season, helping him earn the Joe Burke Special Achievement Award from the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Ibanez was also named an All-Star starter in 2009 while with Philadelphia and has participated in 44 postseason games with three different teams: the Mariners (2000), Phillies (2009-11) and Yankees (2012).

Colon, 25, was the Royals' first-round Draft pick (fourth overall) in 2010 and was hitting .296 in 74 games at Triple-A Omaha this season, with 14 doubles, four homers and a .360 on-base percentage. He ranks 12th in the Pacific Coast League with 48 runs scored, while his 14 steals are tied for 11th in the league. Colon was named the Omaha Player of the Year in 2013, hitting .273 with 12 doubles, 12 homers and a .335 on-base percentage.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Welcome back Raul! The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash">#Royals</a> have signed Raul Ibanez to a Major League contract.</p>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/statuses/483663824138956800">June 30, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>KC has also recalled infielder Christian Colon, who is in the Majors for the first time.</p>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/statuses/483664041282252800">June 30, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Justin Maxwell and Pedro Ciriaco have been designated for assignment. Ibanez will wear #18 and be in uniform tonight at Minnesota.</p>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/statuses/483664383826857984">June 30, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

FINALLY getting the Christian Colon era rolling.

Look at the first round of the 2010 draft and look how many players haven't even reached the big leagues yet


http://www.baseball-reference.com/dr...1&year_ID=2010

Such a crapshoot

Don't get how Ibanez fits. I hope they're not going to play him in the OF at all. And even if they did (shudder), he's not a platoon partner for Dyson. He's not going to platoon with Butler at DH (or he shouldn't). So he's just a PH?

Lol, Ibanez. I like the signing for depth, but how many home runs did the guy hit from when we let him go until now?

Excited to see what Colon can do.

He could give Hosmer a break from time to time at first, I think. But DH or pinch is where he'll make his hay (if he makes any at all) with us.

I was thinking the same thing. Another left handed bat off the bench with power is the only thing I can think of.

My thinking is they are signing Ibanez for shot maybe he would work before the the trade deadline comes up. If anything he cant do no worse than Maxwell.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Dayton Moore stopped short of referring to Raul Ibanez as a bench player. He believes Ibanez can help in RF, LF and, yes, at first base.</p>&mdash; Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughStar/statuses/483673878099550210">June 30, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

What did it take to get Giancarlo Stanton last year?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Leaked info from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> database, per Deadspin, reveals <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Marlins?src=hash">#Marlins</a> offered Giancarlo Stanton last year to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a> for Correa and Springer.</p>&mdash; Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) <a href="https://twitter.com/BNightengale/statuses/483673876883185664">June 30, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>That &amp; maybe drop some knowledge to Hos in BP. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/bswright13">@bswright13</a> can you give me something to get behind the Ibanez signing? Pinch hitting?</p>&mdash; Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier610) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshVernier610/statuses/483674469093752832">June 30, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Since he bats left handed, it makes no sense to take Dyson's spot. Especially since Dyson has been hot against RHP. Gordon also bats left handed. It might be for him to fill in for Cain once a week against RHP.

Colon will wear #24, last worn by Tejada.

I don't get it.

By far the best news of today is that Pedro Ciriaco is finally out of here. What a worthless loser.

Lol, 1st base, wut?

When is the last time you watched a game, sport? He's been hitting extremely well for quite a while now.

BUT HES FAT AND DOESNT HIT HOME RUNZ

Ok the lack of home runs are pathetic. But, Billy has been solid for the past month.

People can complain about him being slow and a couple of base running gaffs, but his stick has been solid in June.

I don't suppose signing Ibanez would be a prelude to sending Hosmer to Omaha for a spell.

PH, can play multiple positions if for some freaky reason we need him to. Veteran presence with postseason experience is probably the biggest thing.

Leaked: 10 Months Of The Houston Astros' Internal Trade Talks

This stuff fascinates me. I already posted the stuff about Stanton but there are some Royals stuff in here too.

Omaha, no. Most certainly will see him get atleast a game off every week now

LOL, the Royals fans on Facebook are so intelligent. Check out these comments on the Ibanez signing:

"Now bench Butler."
"Bye Bye Butler!!"
"We have to have Raul as our starting right fielder."
"maybe a DH that can actually hit the ball..."
"They need to stick Ibanez in and sit Butler. He isn't worth what he's being paid."
"Even if it doesn't work, at least they tried"
"YEEEES. A good RIGHT FIELDER! Took us long enough"

Sounds like the typical fan that calls into KC sports talk shows.

The only thing that prevents me from declaring this signing totally pointless, is that Ibanez did somehow OPS almost .800 and hit 29 HR last year at the age of 41. He's sucked so far this season, but he could be worth a shot.

I have a sinking suspicion that if Ibanez hits, it is Butler, not Hosmer, who will be on the chopping block (or trading block, more likely).

I'd be happy if they'd just slide his worthless ass down a few spots in the Order. Him batting second is ****ed - he needs fewer PA's, not more.

Cain - R
Gordon - L
Butler - R
Perez - R
Hosmer - L
Escobar - R
Moustakas - L
Infante - R
Dyson - L

Won't be any worse than Maxwell - and certainly more versatile.

They want Cain in Center where his talents are best suited, he's just so valuable as a CenterFielder defensively... dyson can't play RF... Ibanez can hold it down until Ao-i-just-K'd get's back.

Raul's a placeholder, and let's Dyson do what he does best - Pinch run in the 8th for Butler.

Remember when the Royals let Ibanez walk so that they could sign Juan Gonzalez instead?

I totally disagree with this. Dyson is batting over .300 against RHP. He is good defensively with his speed. Since Ibanez and Dyson are both left handed, I'd rather have Dyson playing than Ibanez.

*sigh*

Billy Butler in June: .330/.392/.451

Dexter Fowler would be a great platoon partner for Dyson.

He's a switch-hitter who is hitting .333/.426/.481 vs. LHP this year, and .299/.390/.433 in his career.

EDIT: Well, except for his salary.

Dyson has been somewhat decent, but he's not great defensively, and Cain's value is tenfold as a centerfielder. He might be the best Defensive CF in all of baseball. He's above average in RF... forcing him to play RF is doing a disservice to the team. Dyson is a decent weapon off the bench given the situation. It makes perfect sense.

I think Cain is a smidge better in CF than Dyson, but the Gordon/Dyson/Cain outfield is by far the best defensive outfield in baseball.

They're both very, very good in CF.

Dyson runs terrible routes at times, but he's so fast he usually makes up for it.

What in the ... has this been posted?

Royals Pitchers Get Called Out By Stripper For Being Cheap Jerks

I was about to post that. Trash Dick Chen. Lol

Meh. I have a hard time taking someone who calls someone else a "trashdick" seriously.

Haven't those ho's seen the price of gas lately?

Her twitter handle is Feminist Stripper. Isn't that an oxymoron as well?

Maybe she prefers to give table dances to ladies?

What do they expect? These guys work for the Glass Family.

If I was the owner of the club, I would fire her. There is supposed to be the same unwritten rule for strip joints as there is for Vegas. What happens in a strip club, stays in a strip club.

Agreed. That's ****ed up to put that out in public.

Vey much this. I still think signing will be more of let's get hosmer or billy a
Day off here and there

Billy's gout has been acting up recently. Sometimes he needs a snack if his blood sugar starts to spike.

I think Ibanez's stint with the Royals could be short unless he substantially produces. Aoki will be back soon. And, as much as people criticize him, he has a reverse split in batting. He's batting over .350 against LHP. And since several of the Royals have substantially lower batting averages against LHP, I think he'd be a better platoon with Dyson than Ibanez.

The Royals trade Donnie Joseph to the Marlins for cash.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...ook_kc&c_id=kc

I so so so much want this for my birthday!

http://i57.tinypic.com/35b5ef8.jpg

I'm always curious as to the type of cash that trades hands. Are we talking Ruth Criss money or Sizzler money?

Man that Broxton trade looks like it kinda sucked. I hear the Royals are sending the cash they got for Joseph to the stripper in Minnesota.

I have heard that the cash could be as low as $1.00.

GMDM is wheellin and dealin' like today is the end of his fiscal year!