Comments on Rany on the Royals: Surprises, Surprises.

absolutely superb blog. you are saying what every ...

2009-04-08T12:45:21.779-05:00

absolutely superb blog.

you are saying what every royals fan was thinking. preach it.

Anonymous - you're right, Seitzer was employed by ...

2009-04-02T07:43:50.545-05:00

Anonymous - you're right, Seitzer was employed by the Diamondbacks, but wasn't he fired afer half a season? I'm not sure I'd use that in his defense in saying that he's the best batting coach the game has ever seen. Don't get me wrong, I like the move in going after him, I just don't get why everyone thinks that he's God's gift before spring training is even over. Let's give it some time

Ponson actually signed a minor league contract, so...

2009-04-01T23:30:08.351-05:00

Ponson actually signed a minor league contract, so not only can the team release him without further commitment, but unless I'm mistaken, it can also keep him in reserve in Omaha.

I tend to think the home opener looks a lot more significant on April 1st than on Oct. 1st. What will ultimately matter to the fan base is the restoration of a competitive team, not shuffling the rotation (and

The good thing is that we didn't sign Ponson to a ...

2009-04-01T18:02:36.859-05:00

The good thing is that we didn't sign Ponson to a 2 year guaranteed contract, like our standard operating procedure. We can release him at any time. I'm hoping some guy in the minors will force his way into the rotation.

Keep on drinking the kool-aid, Nathan. You're mis...

2009-04-01T16:22:01.183-05:00

Keep on drinking the kool-aid, Nathan. You're missing the point regarding the significance of this ONE DATE on the calendar. Maybe not in the win-loss column, but in the public consciousness of the city and the fan base.

Ponson is a well below average pitcher, but he may...

2009-04-01T16:16:56.328-05:00

Ponson is a well below average pitcher, but he may be above replacement level. His 1.1 WXRL in 2008 and 5.21 Pecota-projected 2009 ERA make him a typical fringe starter. I think it's unfortunate that he's on the team, because it reflects a shallow pool of MLB-ready pitching talent, but I'm not sure he's the worst option on the roster. Hochevar and Bannister need to prove they're better, and AAA

Well, it's official. Sidney Ponson is starting th...

2009-04-01T15:47:34.255-05:00

Well, it's official. Sidney Ponson is starting the home opener. What. The. Hell. The worst organization in all of baseball has somehow managed to suck all the life out of what was supposed to be a great day. I hate this move. Ponson is the newest and worst pitcher on the team and he's the starter for the home opener, grand-opening, 40th anniversary, etc, etc. This is SOOOOOO bad. What the

Alex, before he was employed by the Diamondbacks a...

2009-04-01T14:20:01.846-05:00

Alex, before he was employed by the Diamondbacks and now the Royals, many pro's came to Seitzer during the offseason to work on their hitting. He's a guy that preaches patience at the plate, unlike Mike Barnett, who basically said swing at the first close pitch you see!

It's not complete dead money if the Marlins eat a ...

2009-04-01T14:03:07.754-05:00

It's not complete dead money if the Marlins eat a portion and we get a player to be named. Besides, even if the Marlins pay $20 of his salary it's better than just flat-out cutting him and eating it all, not to mention the player we get later. Most likely he won't be of any value but Ramon Ramirez was a PTBNL and that turned out pretty well. If I had to guess on the amount we sent to the

Dave, what makes you think we're not eating Gload'...

2009-04-01T13:01:51.952-05:00

Dave, what makes you think we're not eating Gload's salary? The deal says that we're giving up "cash considerations". I bet that's cash considerations to the tune of about $1.5 mil. You don't actually think the MARLINS would be paying him, do you? Just more dead money for the Royals (Yabuta, German, Bale, Buck, Guillen, etc.).

Getting rid of Gload is a huge move in so many way...

2009-04-01T12:37:20.368-05:00

Getting rid of Gload is a huge move in so many ways. He's a good guy to have around if you're only going to give him 100 ABs or so, but he was really only taking up someone's spot on the roster at this point, not to mention his salary.

On another note, why does everyone think that having Kevin Seitzer as the batting coach will automatically raise everyone's OBP 50 points? When did he

Gload is gone, and we didn't have to eat his 1.9 m...

2009-04-01T12:23:46.754-05:00

Gload is gone, and we didn't have to eat his 1.9 million salary. I guess that means Shealy has also made the team. Nice move, Dayton.

The Royals just traded Ross Gload to the Florida M...

2009-04-01T12:20:00.468-05:00

The Royals just traded Ross Gload to the Florida Marlins. That's one worry off my mind.

Funny post. Yes, let's get Jenn Sterger to help R...

2009-04-01T08:33:49.347-05:00

Funny post. Yes, let's get Jenn Sterger to help Ryan, Paul and Frank down on the field. With 99 HD games this year that would be a treat.

If anyone is looking for some photos of the boys in blue. I have some of my Spring Training Photos up at:
http://bwc.smugmug.com/gallery/7777377_wwsUC/1/503220533_372Cd

Hopefully I don't need permission from MLB or the Royals to put my

Nathan, yes Ben Sheets is still unemployed, but fo...

2009-04-01T02:03:43.935-05:00

Nathan, yes Ben Sheets is still unemployed, but for good reason. He's already out for the year.

Isn't Ben Sheets still looking for work? The back ...

2009-04-01T01:19:56.939-05:00

Isn't Ben Sheets still looking for work? The back end of the rotation is a shambles. At least Hochevar and Bannister have some semblance of upside, but it's just hard to believe we can win many games with Ponson and HRam starting.

Royals PA Announcer: "And warming up in the bullp...

2009-03-31T23:00:24.367-05:00

Royals PA Announcer: "And warming up in the bullpen for your Kansas City Royals, your opening day starter: SIDNEY PONSON"

That just has a ring to it...

Has anyone else out there considered the fact that...

2009-03-31T22:56:54.341-05:00

Has anyone else out there considered the fact that the Royals will be celebrating the opening of their new stadium, in their 40 year anniversary season, by trotting out Sidney MF'ing Ponson in front of an opening day crowd? Have we really progressed at all? Our 4 and 5 spots are complete and utter embarrassments for a GM that preaches pitching. Pathetic.

And on the subject of what

"Pendleton-Belliard-Lemke-Bream this ain’t."Thank ...

2009-03-31T21:11:14.210-05:00

"Pendleton-Belliard-Lemke-Bream this ain’t."

Thank you so much for that understatement, Rany. I desperately needed a good laugh, and you gave me the best laugh I think I've had in a week.

Casper, both HoRam and Ponson are both groundball ...

2009-03-31T19:20:12.466-05:00

Casper, both HoRam and Ponson are both groundball pitchers (especially HoRam).

Love your work Rany. That said, I want to question...

2009-03-31T18:34:25.223-05:00

Love your work Rany. That said, I want to question something you wrote:

"Combine a league-average offense with a slightly above-average rotation and a very good bullpen, and you ought to get meaningful September baseball at the very least."

My problem with this is that you then go on to concede that the defense will likely be horrendous. Possibly really, really horrendous.

Ponson was terrible today. Who is the 5th starter ...

2009-03-31T17:56:01.503-05:00

Ponson was terrible today. Who is the 5th starter now? I wouldn't mind seeing them give Tejeda a shot.

is there statistical evidence that putting two sam...

2009-03-31T16:57:38.683-05:00

is there statistical evidence that putting two same-sided hitters together is a substantial negative? and if so is it enough of a negative to bat a worse player in front of a better player?

Personally, I'd rather have Jacobs at 1b than Ross...

2009-03-31T16:53:36.962-05:00

Personally, I'd rather have Jacobs at 1b than Ross Freakin' Gload. His defense won't be that bad. Having Seitzer working with him will increase his OBS. Everyone makes it sound like Jacobs is the worst player to put out there.....no that would be misusing Gload last year at 1B. This is all going to work out and naysayers take note, because you'll be eating crow at the end of the season.
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I was actually referring to Anonymous 2:27 stating...

2009-03-31T16:01:32.344-05:00

I was actually referring to Anonymous 2:27 stating that it was pretty much a lock that Bannister would start the season in the rotation. Davies should have Bannister's spot.