<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Cain is fine. &quot;I&#39;m not hurt,&quot; he said, then went back to Clash of Clans. Yost is resting him to he can face LHP Lester in Sunday&#39;s day game.</p>&mdash; Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughStar/statuses/490586934608400384">July 19, 2014</a></blockquote>
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anyone feeling lucky enough to start today's game thread? We need about a 5 or 6 game winning streak

Damon, Dye, Beltran, Sweeney and Randa made beautiful music together at the plate. But our pitchng back then was atrocious.

Maybe we should get Wily Mo Pena back from Japan. This was in the Japanese All-Star Game. He can still hit a fastball 10 miles.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4TnqldRxzbE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

One of the farthest balls I have ever seen hit at the K was by him. It just kind of disappeared into the night never to be heard from again.

There's plenty of doubt about that, because it's not true. Your objective is to score more runs than the opponent however method you are best at. Run differential = win/loss record, not just ERA. In fact, Bill James said that hitting is more valuable than pitching anyway on balance.

Next, he'll tell the media he swears he's playing at the same weight he was his senior year of high school.

Not a power bat or homerun machine : Check!

Has a pitiful BA: Check!

On the rare occasions he does get a hit, it's invariably NOT with guys on:
Check!

Because, when we do have somebody on base, you've got a 50/50 pick'em on him either grounding into a double play or otherwise fail to move the runners, or God forbid, drive them in to score:
Check!

Has nothing to offer if his bat is cold because he isn't fit to spell a guy at any position- especially on this team:
Check!

And, to top it off, he's a detriment to our singles happy to score offense because he's only in scoring position from 3rd. Second to home may as well be a 10k to that fatass even entertaining the thought of scoring from 2nd. His chances of successfully attempting to do this are probably the lowest in MLB: Check!


Double Playotamus can **** off and ride pine simply based on the above!

This team sucks cause of Butler Hosmer and Moose. Period.

Especially when they were supposed to become leaders.

I don't know how they can look the pitching staff in the eyes.

with average players we are a playoff team. Possibly winning a series.


To make matters worse: coach/gm/owner will not man up and correct problems during the season.

Thankfully butler will/should be gone.
moose hopefully will be.
Hosmer unless he wants to play for peanuts should follow. This diva mentality needs gone

This...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Salvador Perez is sitting out with a right groin strain. The team hopes he can return soon.</p>&mdash; Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughStar/statuses/490873872536059904">July 20, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

= L

Perhaps it also means that he's ready to save his knees for "his future" (where ever that may be). I know, I know, sorry....

He is signed through 2019, so we have him for a long time.

Welp

So is Perez a future 1st Baseman?

That or a DH

If there's one thing DM ever did right it is signing Perez to that ridiculously team-friendly contract.

They've sucked worse with Butler and Hosmer having good seasons.

With all the incessant bitching about Hosmer, why does Gordon get away with it. He's just as suspect this season as Hosmer.

Hosmer has a 15 game hitting streak. Recently he's not trying to kill the ball

@jonmorosi: Royals have interest in trading for Marlon Byrd, sources say, but it's no longer certain they will be deadline buyers. They are 48-48.

Let the estate sale begin!

... No.

Alex Gordon is an above-average offensive player and has been the most valuable defensive player in MLB this season. According to Fangraphs, only two players have been more valuable all-around players than Alex Gordon (Mike Trout and Troy Tulowitzki). According to Baseball Reference, he's still top 15.

Eric Hosmer is a below-average offensive player, especially for the position he plays. He's been hitting a little bit of late, but the Royals need(ed) him to be a .500 SLG player and run producer in the middle of the lineup.

Royals look like toast to me, though. The combination of inadequacy running the show (Ned Yost, Dayton Moore) and key offensive players (Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler) failing is just too much to overcome.

I was hopeful before the season that they had improved the team. The pitching and defense have been what I expected. I expected the offense to be at least a little bit improved from last year, but the failings of Hosmer, Butler, Moustakas and Aoki have torpedoed that chance.

This season is over...yeah a potential .500 season for an all in season

What kind of return could the Royals get for trading Hosmer, Gordon and Shields right now?

What kind of return could the Royals get for trading Hosmer, Gordon and Shields right now?

What kind of return could the Royals get for trading Hosmer, Gordon and Shields right now?

Really? Hosmer hit 302 last season. Gordon hit 265. But keep making excuses for a 30+ yr old Gordon.

This.

This.

Other than our young arms, I would prefer Salvy and Gordon remain.

With respect to Alex, it's debatable, simply depending on what you actually could get in return- which I fear that this club isn't going to be pulling off some sort of stunning trade that is disproportionately a steal for the Royals.

Either we're talking about multiple trades, or a handful of teams have the farm system to work with the talent without completely poaching most of their own bluechip up and coming guys. The Cubs come to mind, and I have little doubt that they are not looking to move talent from their farm system for established / older MLB roster guys.

TIME TO BE SELLERS

Hosmer had a nice season last year, or a nice 2/3 of a season, really.

But batting average is not the end-all, be-all. If you're comparing two players on batting average alone, you're doing it wrong.

I'm not making any excuses for Alex Gordon. He's been a better player than Eric Hosmer this year, and it really isn't close. Gordon has been one of the best players in baseball, period, to this point. Your claim that he has been just as suspect as Hosmer this year is patently ridiculous (almost as ridiculous as the team continuing to hit Gordon down in the lineup and give him fewer ABs than Hosmer).

I'd almost rather fug a tranny than watch the royals anymore

**** this team. That is all. Fire Moore now. New GM has 11 days to sell it down and rebuild.

Looks like the Royals fans have to wait a bit longer than usual after the All-Star break to start watching Major League Baseball again...

Can we realistically get anything for Butler? Who would want him as an everyday DH. Most teams are platooning that position. Maybe Baltimore???

They've had all the energy of a weak beer fart out of the gates so far. Just get the **** out of Boston and find a way to hit again.

He would be a good fit for Baltimore, where warning track power translates to home runs.

Road Back To .500: Part XI

Over reaction Planet like always.

Oh, you bet. These guys are going to turn it on any day now.

http://confoundedinterest.files.word...bezm.gif?w=585

Yeah, once he decides he wants out and somebody's willing to pay, the Royals will let him go for two kids who won't work out from some double-A team.

I think they'll need to trade Salvy sooner than later.

thank god I had shit to this this weekend...didn't have to watch baseball

I would be shocked if they trade Salvador Perez any time in the next 5 years. MAYBE they trade him when he's in the last year of his deal or in that offseason, but he's so valuable and the contract is so reasonable, it's hard to see any reason to trade him.

This... Gold with the son yesterday, and carpet cleaning/shampooing today. Golf is ALWAYS a great idea, but in this case even carpet cleaning was a great idea too.

Not that anybody in the Royals organization cares enough to explode and call-out the most guilty parties (perhaps where the problem really begins), but either way, well, nothing!

That'll all change when he lets it be known that he wants out. Perhaps not in pubic at first, but he'll get there if need be - you know the timely Tweet etc.... But it has to be sinking in with players like him that this team won't ever do enough to get the job done. They'll make a move, maybe two, come up with goofy slogans, count on a certain cross-section buying the crap, count on certain people staying loyal no matter what, but never all the moves they need to make to make this team a winner.

This team is an investment for Glass, so profit comes first, then if they can get a few wins in the process, that' cool too. He's a ****er for sure! He sets a VERY bad tone to say the least.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Alex Gordon was fuming after the game. He questioned his team’s lack of intensity and energy. “We need to look in the mirror,” he said.</p>&mdash; Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughStar/statuses/490973033767923712">July 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Though Yost did call a team meeting to address the players after the loss. So there is that.</p>&mdash; Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughStar/statuses/490976849330454528">July 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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So.. yeah this team is coming apart, Gordon see's the team lacks intensity..

well I knew we were done after the 1st inning when we gave up a run.

good thing I decided to golf instead of watch that snooze fest

I'm glad Gordon's pissed...he been here awhile with all the losing and Billy knows he won't be back.

If this lineup was 9 Gordons they'd be in first place, easy

This team is 3.5 games out of a playoff spot. If Dayton Moore is even thinking about selling he should be strung up outside the George Brett statue. This shouldn't even be a debate. If they go out and lose 5 or 6 of 7 this week though, it could be.

I'm hopeful they turn it around but yeah, not gonna happen

I don't disagree bro, but ****.

Would we really be any worse off if we sold high on Shields?

I'd start fielding offers and cash in on an overpay.

I'm not sure they would get much better of an offer than the comp pick they would get by hanging on to him.

Agree.

But if they can get someone to give them a Samardzija deal...gotta take it.

That's not homerism or optimism. It's 3.5 games. That's one good week of baseball. They had a hot week or two about a month ago and were in 1st place. If someone gives you a Samardzija type deal maybe you listen about Shields. I'm not sure that'll happen though. Trading Gordon or Hosmer or anyone else is crazy. It's basically throwing in the towel during a 4-5 football season when you're one game out of a WC spot.

Last year after 97 games this team was 5 games under, and 9 games out of a WC spot. This year they're 3.5 and there are less teams to hop... Toronto's come back to earth, the Yankees are missing two of their best pitchers, we still have several games against Cleveland and Seattle has to battle Oakland/Anaheim. Dayton should be out there trying to wheel and deal for help to overtake these teams. His job should depend on it.

Kaboom. Good post.
A lot of baseball left.

Can't argue with that. I'd never trade Gordon. I'd make him walk. He's the type of guy we should dangle that 5 year, 90M extension in front of.

Shields is really the only guy I'm talking about.

That being said...if Dayton is trying to buy anything, he needs to buy some ****ing bats. Anything. The A's find shit off the scrap heap all of the time. They literally platoon every single player on that team...they find 5 catchers and convert them to everything. Stephen Vogt is a guy no one has ever heard of, is a catcher, absolutely rakes right handed pitching, and will play C, OF and 1B for that team.

Stephen ****ing Vogt.

Can we please find a few Stephen Vogts?

I get the pessimism on here, that's fine...but that tweet from Morosi ticks me off. He makes it sound like there's some doubt within the Royals about whether they're buyers or sellers. Maybe that's not the case. When has a front office ever given up 3.5 games out of a playoff spot?

CHI SOX

White flag trade of July 31, 1997

Any of you guys who live in Phoenix want to hit the Royals here in early August (5/6/7)? We can get some cheap outfield seats for like $15! But really, I'll probably go to two games. Let me know.

This team is done. They aren't magically going to start hitting. Time to sell Shields.

I went to brunch, watched 5 hours of Open, then golfed myself this afternoon. At the turn I saw the tv was on the Royals: 6-0 in the 5th. I just laughed, bought a granola bar and an apple, and went back to something that makes me happy.


This shit franchise doesn't deserve any more of my time so unless they go on a 10-5 runner to get back in I'm out. I'm sure that'll make Duncan and Bundy happy. You guys can debate if they should trade Shields or not, but this GM tried to " swim upstream" with payroll hitting mid market status. And that'll change drastically next year.

Until September, that's always true.

/béisbol

I'm out of town until the 7th but might be down that night. If these guys totally go in the shitter the next two weeks maybe not though.

Big Smoke would rather read a Deberg thread than watch em.

Time to see if Glass is telling the truth. Need a new Manager, and a new a GM to pick him.

I'd sell Shields either way. If we can get a better return than whatever value a 30s pick is...I'd pull the trigger...yesterday.

I wonder if the Yanks or Cards would give us some crazy deal for Shields...I'd def be listening on him.

Cards are too smart. Yankees? Well they probably have nothing to give us.

But so uhm yeah! If the Cards wanna give us Taveras for Shields and Holland...cool. Deal. Yesterday.

I'm super glad he was mad. I've said it with both the Chiefs and the Royals, somebody has to be the outwardly emotional leader. Nether team has their "Ray Lewis", they just take losses WAAAAY too in stride. And occasionally it needs to be public, it's a sport, it has fans, if there's only yelling going on behind the scenes, well then it's either not helping or not happening.

And the fatty needs to be either called-out in public or NOT CALLED to be in the dugout with the team (much less play). I know he feels picked on, but he's the one player with ONE JOB, and like it's been for the last couple of years, he's a joke to the other team - not a threat in the least.

That's a good rational take. But I would certainly shop the Fatty while allowing another player to DH. At this point he's a liability to let play. And no, he WON'T come around...

shop him? What are we going to get for the "least valuable player in the AL?"

Nothing. He has zero trade value. We could eat the rest of his salary and trade him for a non-prospect but what's the point?

Just DFA the mother ****er and be done with it.

Go get Carlos Quentin and Ian Kennedy from the Padres.

and then trade Shields

For whom? That would cost a nice prospect grab.

Hell, a couple of high risk high reward lowball guys would be fine with me. A couple of guys with holes but show signs of being mashers is a-ok with me to take a flyer on.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...cle771525.html

Good article...should put on some heat. Someone paste I'm mobile