Comments on Rany on the Royals: Reason #7: The Hitter.

Unrelated to your post, but worth watching in '08 ...

2008-03-28T15:58:15.574-05:00

Unrelated to your post, but worth watching in '08 is the defense. I've read how the fundamentals have improved, but in the spring training games I attended this year, the defense is dreadful. What's worse are the balls which are misplayed. These don't show up in the box score, but there are a lot of catchable balls the "fall in." You've been warned.

I'm certainly not defending Pierre, but the compar...

2008-03-24T14:37:11.099-05:00

I'm certainly not defending Pierre, but the comparisons to Berroa and Pena couldn't be more wrong.

Pena's OBP has never gone above .284, Pierre's OBP has never gone below .326. Berroa's best OBP is .338, just a bit above Pierre's worst season. Pierre's best OBP, however, is .378.

Pierre had pretty decent numbers in 2001, 2003 and 2004. (100+ RS, 200+ H, more BB than K -- and

Juan Pierre finished third, first, second, second ...

2008-03-24T13:29:32.833-05:00

Juan Pierre finished third, first, second, second and first in outs the last five years. And he'd had two particularly atrocious years before getting the contract, so it's not like the Dodgers were taken off guard. And all indications are that he's going to start the season instead of Ethier.

It's strange; I went to Dodgers games when I was still in the womb, and didn't start following

Pierre, as far as I know, has an OBP somewhere in ...

2008-03-24T03:45:48.484-05:00

Pierre, as far as I know, has an OBP somewhere in the lofty area of Berroa's or Pena's. The exact opposite of what you want from a leadoff hitter.

Pierre shows no patience and for a guy with no pow...

2008-03-24T03:09:24.958-05:00

Pierre shows no patience and for a guy with no power, patience is a very key thing. He also doesn't really swipe that successfully, which is a key thing for a base-stealer. It might not be a good point to bring up considering we can only dream about the day that gathright improves enough to steal as ineffectively as Pierre.

Dare I ask why it would be a bad thing for Joey Ga...

2008-03-23T21:12:38.386-05:00

Dare I ask why it would be a bad thing for Joey Gathright to be like Juan Pierre? (besides the obvious fact that he is excessively overpaid)

Butler is the best pure hitter the Royals have had...

2008-03-23T20:00:41.808-05:00

Butler is the best pure hitter the Royals have had since Brett. As far as what he is going to do when they discover his weaknesses, I think he'll be alright since he doesn't have any.

As far as him in the field goes, I saw him out there last year and didn't think he was that bad. He didn't seem to look stupid at any time. I thought he might have been at 1B coming out of ST but I guess

One other thing Billy has going for him: he looks...

2008-03-23T04:29:02.101-05:00

One other thing Billy has going for him: he looks like a 21-year-old Theodore Cleaver.

Hey, does Mr. Butler need a nickname?

The Beav, anyone?

Can't stay away from your fantastic blog Rany. D...

2008-03-22T18:49:20.587-05:00

Can't stay away from your fantastic blog Rany. Does Rob ever post here?

I love your optimism for Billy B. And I'd love even more to share it. Color me blue with Royal skepticism, but I think it's still too early to count him as a guy who's going to approach a .900 - 1.000 OBPS every year (which is where I think his potential lies--.320, 28 HR, 95 RBI....somewhere in there). He's

It is really hard not to love Young William. I ho...

2008-03-22T17:54:31.949-05:00

It is really hard not to love Young William. I hope he is the second coming of Chr--I mean, Brett.

Maybe when Gathright said he wanted to be like Jua...

2008-03-22T17:02:52.465-05:00

Maybe when Gathright said he wanted to be like Juan Pierre he meant he wanted to be grossly overpaid, too??

I am really enjoying the blog. I was upset that R...

2008-03-22T15:18:16.880-05:00

I am really enjoying the blog. I was upset that Rob and you ended the other one. However, the regular postings by you are carrying the torch and have exceeded all expectations. Keep up the great work. It is refreshing that Rob isn't around to rain on every ounce of hope.

The Royals actually cut a deal with Butler and sig...

2008-03-22T12:20:35.527-05:00

The Royals actually cut a deal with Butler and signed him for around $400K below slot. Unless Philip Hughes becomes a significantly better player than Butler, the Royals got the best value of the round.

Great post Rany.

2008-03-22T10:03:41.432-05:00

Great post Rany.