tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post6210511312001246274..comments2023-11-02T08:28:08.286-05:00Comments on Rany on the Royals: Ponson vs. Hochevar.Ranyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09713226276377020284noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-56994688457837909992009-04-04T23:10:00.000-05:002009-04-04T23:10:00.000-05:00Rany, it's very unlike you to have missed the obvi...Rany, it's very unlike you to have missed the obvious reasoning behind this decision: the Royals can send Hochevar and Bannister to Omaha and keep them; if they try to send Ponson and HoRam to Omaha, they lose them. Now, I can guarandamntee you the Royals don't make it through the season without an injury to a starting pitcher. In this scenario, they call up Hochevar or Bannister. If they start The Edsternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-59189440303461824632009-04-03T19:26:00.000-05:002009-04-03T19:26:00.000-05:00Fellow Royals Fans: Thanks for standing alongside ...Fellow Royals Fans: Thanks for standing alongside me in supporting of our beloved team! It hasn’t been easy having last made the playoffs in 1985 and watching every team but Expos/Nationals reach them since, failing to finish even 2nd in our division since 1995 and only enduring one winning season in 14 years. Our time will eventually come – I hope. Cheers to hoping we erase all this in 2009!Justin Andrew Andersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-20833852830194526212009-04-03T08:55:00.000-05:002009-04-03T08:55:00.000-05:00Thank you Keith, for being another voice of reason...Thank you Keith, for being another voice of reason. KK has been in our system for 6 years now. How many people were excited by him before last year?? NOONE! He was an extra body, nothing more. <BR/><BR/>Now that he had a Phil Hiatt type year in the minors, everyone thinks he's just a starting opportunity away from instant stardom in the big leagues! How'd that work for Phil Hiatt? <BR/><BRAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-50373412780644768342009-04-03T07:38:00.000-05:002009-04-03T07:38:00.000-05:00You guys complaining about DM's offseason are all ...You guys complaining about DM's offseason are all going to look foolish if/when Jacobs has a big year this year. He is tearing it up (and walking) in spring training. Besides, everyone knows the Royals rushed all their prospects to the big leagues too fast, yet you all seem to think Kila will be an instant all-star. Remember he really has only had 1 good professional season so far. Lets see him keith jerseynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-91174590962429146962009-04-03T01:28:00.000-05:002009-04-03T01:28:00.000-05:00And they need to tell him that we don't care what ...And they need to tell him that we don't care what Borass says, if he doesn't toe the company line and start making adjustments he won't be getting very far any time soon. That being said, he is far more preferable than Ramirez. What about Ramirez would make anyone on earth say "starting rotation talent"? I very much hope the Royals are keeping something quiet, like the fact that Hochevar will Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05192767447154625411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-64418931609046687122009-04-03T01:25:00.000-05:002009-04-03T01:25:00.000-05:00As depressing as most of this post is, it always m...As depressing as most of this post is, it always makes me happy to see a new post here. Especially tonight. I'm in a cheap hotel room in Ohio (first leg of a trip that culminates in US Cellular Field on Opening Day), I can't sleep because of thin walls and loud neighbors, but I turn on the iPod Touch (shockingly, the cheap hotel has free WiFi) to find new posts by both Posnanski and Rany. That Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13312404601698917806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-23059520107235123402009-04-03T01:22:00.000-05:002009-04-03T01:22:00.000-05:00I couldn't believe what I was hearing when I heard...I couldn't believe what I was hearing when I heard that Hochevar was being sent down to the minors after the spring he had, which wasn't bad. Trey Hillman is lefty-crazy, I've heard him say before that you have to have AT LEAST 2 lefty's in your starting rotation to be a playoff team. Pardon Moi Trey, this is just false. A good right handed pitcher (Hochevar) is certainly better than a bad Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05192767447154625411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-85098370742803924012009-04-03T01:20:00.000-05:002009-04-03T01:20:00.000-05:00First of all, the non-sequitor statistical compari...First of all, the non-sequitor statistical comparison of Soria vs. K-Rod was right on the money. Soria is one of the three most desirable closers in baseball, along with Paps and Nathan.<BR/><BR/>As for the Ponson and Ramirez situation... <BR/><BR/>As stated before in a previous comment, Greinke and Meche were among the league leaders in quality starts last year with 23 and 21 respectively. Waltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-2525841538825308962009-04-02T22:05:00.000-05:002009-04-02T22:05:00.000-05:00whichever anonymous mentioned GMDM looking to 2011...whichever anonymous mentioned GMDM looking to 2011 might not be that far off. he's made enough noise in free agency and through trades to emanate the idea that he is concerned with winning this year, but a lot of the signings/trades have been at positions that lend to the idea that they are only keeping the seat warm while the prospects get reps in A-ball (i.e. Jacobs for Kila, Ponson and RamirezJared Launiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01827521147160335949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-9098609682864282982009-04-02T20:03:00.000-05:002009-04-02T20:03:00.000-05:00Rany, I got to hear the first 30 seconds of your i...Rany, I got to hear the first 30 seconds of your interview on 810 this evening before I had to get out of my car... could you post a quick synopsis of what you talked about?Daniel Wesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11122828577925113174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-29593397825896366352009-04-02T17:37:00.000-05:002009-04-02T17:37:00.000-05:00Once a team falls either 10 games under five hundr...Once a team falls either 10 games under five hundred or 10 games back in the standings, IT'S OVER!<BR/><BR/>In the last 15 years, the Royals have usually been 10 back or 10 under by June 1st! In other words, the hope is gone and there is no reason to go to the ballpark in June, July, August or September! School's out ...season's done!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-82174844880716620682009-04-02T16:32:00.000-05:002009-04-02T16:32:00.000-05:00I do not want to see the Royals lose with a bunch ...I do not want to see the Royals lose with a bunch of old overpaid hacks like Sidney Ponson. That was the problem with the non-exploding Gload in the first place.<BR/><BR/>If we're going to lose, let's lose with home-grown players like Hochevar or fan favorites like Banny. And I think we're less likely to lose as much with those two as starters than with HoRam and Sir Sid.<BR/><BR/>Ponson will be Juanchohttp://mundofreaky.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-60609434357344489612009-04-02T16:27:00.000-05:002009-04-02T16:27:00.000-05:00Tommy Goodtimes:Awesome.Especially the blog-within...Tommy Goodtimes:<BR/><BR/>Awesome.<BR/><BR/>Especially the blog-within-a-blog factor. Bloguette?Shelbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04514566296885869946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-87407539805682345262009-04-02T16:16:00.000-05:002009-04-02T16:16:00.000-05:00The back of KC's rotation is going to be a problem...The back of KC's rotation is going to be a problem no matter who they throw out there. Hochevar a possible exception, and would be worth the shot though and I feel he earned it. I hope he keeps his confidence up. Other than that GMDM left it alone this off season for some reason. How can you really think a cast of HoRam, Ponson, Banny, etc would get it done on a consistant basis. None of Seannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-43542294911691012942009-04-02T15:50:00.000-05:002009-04-02T15:50:00.000-05:00Steak, I didn't mean to sound elitist, we're all R...Steak, I didn't mean to sound elitist, we're all Royals fans here, and I apologize. That being said, I don't think you understand how big an issue Ponson being the #4 is. It means he will throw the first ever pitch at the new Kauffman stadium. When Royals stadium was opened in 1973, Paul Splittorff pitched a gem to open the stadium. Now, for the newly renovated Kauffman, lard-butt Sidney Kila-Tonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11314731185030501602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-29704721254773418572009-04-02T15:37:00.000-05:002009-04-02T15:37:00.000-05:00For those who are ripping DMGM's offseason, I have...For those who are ripping DMGM's offseason, I have a few questions:<BR/><BR/>1. If he's had such an awful offseason, are you then predicting the Royals will be better or worse this year? By how many wins each way?<BR/><BR/>2. Have any of you considered that a player's willingness to sign here might still play a role in who we get and don't get?Unknown Royals Fanhttp://unknownroyalsfan.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-10398398277913295402009-04-02T12:59:00.000-05:002009-04-02T12:59:00.000-05:00Rany and everybody else, sorry this isn't related ...Rany and everybody else, sorry this isn't related to the current post.<BR/><BR/>I was thinking about closers today and how they and their "saves" are overrated. Just last year Frankie Rodriguez set the single-season saves record and was widely considered the best closer in baseball and many thought it wasn't close. However, just a cursory statistical evaluation proves otherwise. Look at this..Tommy Goodtimesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-53423045862102048232009-04-02T12:32:00.000-05:002009-04-02T12:32:00.000-05:00I think that AxDxMx has it exactly right. The onl...I think that AxDxMx has it exactly right. The only way to find out if Ponson can give you anything before his May 1 deadline is to make him the 4th starter so that he can pitch regularly. That would mean pitching Luke in the 5 spot and only getting two starts. So put him in Omaha until either Ponson has a very early flame-out or until they need a 5th starter on a regular basis.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04661305550086071181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-61505541834121252462009-04-02T12:04:00.000-05:002009-04-02T12:04:00.000-05:00Rany,I think the honest answer from Dayton involve...Rany,<BR/>I think the honest answer from Dayton involves him admitting that we have no chance at the division in 2009, he's thinking more 2010 and 2011. Perhaps with that in mind, the idea of Hoch getting less time in the majors and the thought of him improving in the minors make more sense. We, as fans, think they have a shot in 2009, however the GM might feel very differently with realistic Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-52799907403898760922009-04-02T10:47:00.000-05:002009-04-02T10:47:00.000-05:00I'm sick and tired of hearing about the Jacobs tra...I'm sick and tired of hearing about the Jacobs trade and how it would have been better to play Kila. The guy is not proven! You have no idea what KK will do in the big leagues. Jacobs is a proven commodity who is tearing up Spring Training. Worst case scenario, the absolute worst case, is we deal him at the deadline when we are out of it and then let KK play. I think a lot of people are Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-34046381621161741242009-04-02T10:14:00.001-05:002009-04-02T10:14:00.001-05:00With the exception of the Cruz signing GMDM has ha...With the exception of the Cruz signing GMDM has had a dreadful off-season. Trading for Crisp was nice until he rushed out and overpaid for Farnsworth. Signing Bloomquist and Ramirez was beyond comprehensible. Trading for Jacobs when you had Kila will end up being an overall bad move that will be hidden by comparing Jacobs performance to Royals 1B's did last year. <BR/><BR/>It comes down to GMDM kcghosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06362423366736243156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-25438888783520660172009-04-02T10:14:00.000-05:002009-04-02T10:14:00.000-05:00With the exception of the Cruz signing GMDM has ha...With the exception of the Cruz signing GMDM has had a dreadful off-season. Trading for Crisp was nice until he rushed out and overpaid for Farnsworth. Signing Bloomquist and Ramirez was beyond comprehensible. Trading for Jacobs when you had Kila will end up being an overall bad move that will be hidden by comparing Jacobs performance to Royals 1B's did last year. <BR/><BR/>It comes down to GMDM kcghosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06362423366736243156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-36194631811382211722009-04-02T10:04:00.000-05:002009-04-02T10:04:00.000-05:00So who is the prospect you hear we are getting for...So who is the prospect you hear we are getting for Gload, Rany?Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-21746564755403254352009-04-02T09:55:00.000-05:002009-04-02T09:55:00.000-05:00Steak, that is exactly how Dayton Moore screwed up...Steak, that is exactly how Dayton Moore screwed up. Instead of waiting to see how the free agent market shook out, he rushed to acquire mediocre and sub-mediocre players for more than their performance and production is worth. Sure no one knew that good players could be had so cheaply, but that doesn't excuse rushing to overpay crap like Farnsworth and Ramirez and trading talent for the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3129904004334636055.post-56700372148090760792009-04-02T08:29:00.000-05:002009-04-02T08:29:00.000-05:00So far, I've yet to see any indication at any leve...So far, I've yet to see any indication at any level that Hochevar is ready to be a Major League pitcher. In fact, I'm seeing more indication that he's just another great selling job by Scott Boras. Barring a tremendous collapse by the 4-5 slots in the rotation, I'd be perfectly delighted to let Luke stay in Omaha long enough to win 15. Jimmy Gobble never learned how to win at the professional Unknown Royals Fanhttp://unknownroyalsfan.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com