Scotts 2 Cents

April 7, 2009

The Kansas City Royals 2009 Outlook

Filed under: Baseball, Sports — Scott @

I keep hearing the Royals as the “sleeper pick” to win the AL Central. I just don’t see it.
I’ve been a Royals fan for my entire life and as a high school student enjoy winning the World Series in ‘85 very much but it’s been a little lean since then. So let me say up front – I really hope I’m wrong.
But….are kidding me?

One of the arguments is that the division is really weak. Since when? Exactly a year ago this time the AL Central was considered the best division in baseball. Now, just a year later it’s winnable by the Royals??? Wow – that’s a stretch.

The one thing I hear that I agree with might be that the offensive is better. Well, that doesn’t take much. Jacobs hadn’t hit over 20 HRs in his career and so last year he hits 32 and is the power savior of this team??? Better than Ross Gload certainly but I don’t expect him to hit 30 HRs and he strikes out WAY too much. Crisp is a nice addition, but does an extra 20 stolen bases really mean 20 more wins in a season…I don’t think so. Teahen was terrible most of the season last year with the bad and 2 of our better hitters in DeJesus and Guillen will (not might, will) miss at least 20 games each with injury. And the other BIG IF that everyone points to is Alex Gordon and Billy Butler blossoming. Same thing we heard last season and it didn’t really happen. Maybe it will this year, finally.
And I didn’t even mention how terrible the defense is in the infield. Teahen at 2nd, Jacobs at 1st and one year ago Aviles wasn’t considered good enough to be a minor league shortstop now he’s the answer for the Royals at short???

But in order to win you need pitching – isn’t that the age old adage…pitching wins. So lets look at the Royals staff on Opening Day in 2009. Even though they struggled at times in spring training I’ll give Meche and Grienke the benefit of the doubt that they’ll be solid and Grienke could be great this year. And although I somewhat cavalierly say they are givens, those are few more decent size “ifs” and I haven’t even gotten to the problems. #3 starter Kyle Davies. He had a good September last season and a good spring this season. And don’t we always hear that we shouldn’t evaluate players in September and March???
And now is when I get really pessimistic. Sidney Ponson and Ramirez as 4th and 5th starters while OVERALL #1 draft pick from a few years ago couldn’t make the majors and one of the Royals top pitchers 2 years ago in Brian Bannister also finds himself in the minors.
Everyone just assumes Soria will be nails again as the closer and perhaps that’s one of the shorter stretches in the scenario that has the Royals not sucking this season but he’s had one good year, one. Not to mention the entire bullpen getting to him is new from the very successful bullpen of ‘08.
And, oh yes – this team has absolutely no depth and a 2nd year manager who still thinks you win games in the AL by stealing bases (which we aren’t very good at) and playing defense (which we got a lot worse at) and still thinks Japanese baseball is the same thing as MLB.
So like I said, I hope I’m very wrong about a lot of things but I just don’t see it with this team.

I predict 74 wins. IF a lot goes well could they go .500, yes – so 81 wins and IF 90 can win the division they’re still 9 games away from getting to that number. Even if you believe 90 games wins the division, there is no way I see the Royals winning 90 games even if A LOT of big if’s go the right way. In the perfect storm, maybe, juts maybe but there is very little to even point to that perfect storm.

October 15, 2008

The New K – Royals Upgrade Kauffman Stadium – Finally

Filed under: Baseball, Sports — Tags: , , , , — Scott @

Don’t even get me started on the vote that decided an over priced rennovation to a 35 year old stadium was a better option for the Royals than a Downtown stadium.  Or the ridiculous scare tactics and lies used in the extensive advertising campaign to pass the ridiculous deal that led to rennovations instead of exploring the glorious potential of a brand new Downtown stadium.  How’s the Sprint Center and Power & Light District working out??? Wish you could vote again don’t you Kansas Citians?  And I won’t mention the failed years of horrible drafting based only on signability that has crippled this team so badly it’s sad.  Today is about optimism.  Today is about the new stadium. 

In April of 2009 the Royals claim that the new stadium will be complete and in full glory on opening day against the Yankees.  And along with that will come several new seating options.  The 2 I’m excited about are the Diamond Seats and Diamond Boxes.  The Diamond Seats are the sections directly behind home plate.  All new padded seats, in seat service, a private entrance to the stadium and full access to the Diamond Club Lounge.  And Diamond Boxes bring back old school box seating with all the same amenities of Diamon Seats plus the added advantage of $20 in food/merchandise credit including on every Diamond Box ticket.  I’m very excited about these seats – hoping to have a pair in both sections and can’t wait for the K in 2009!

March 5, 2008

Brett Favre Retirement

Filed under: NFL Football, Sports — Tags: — Scott @

I’m kind of glad something came up that I wanted to write up. I really hadn’t had anything to compelling that I wanted to spout off about and was kind of bummed. I was going to try to avoid my first post being political but the day after the Ohio and Texas primaries I thought that was all I’d have. But instead Brett Favre retirement mania strikes.

First let me say that I’m not 100% convinced this is a done deal. The soap opera that has been Favre retirement talk in the past years makes me believe there is a chance, although slim that we haven’t heard the end of this. That being said it’s as close to a done deal as we’ve seen with Favre to say the least.

I guess my first thought is – at least it’s over. We no longer have to hear will he or won’t he, should he or shouldn’t he. He’s retired, it’s done. Unfortunately the reality now sets in that the NFL is losing one of it’s all-time greatest players. And when I say greatest I mean on many fronts. Toughest, most fun to watch, and most talented. I’m not going to list the stats and yes I know the INTs are a black mark on the resume but Favre made plays better than anybody who ever played the game. Does this mean I think he’s the best QB of all-time? It does not. Success is measured in many ways but let’s keep in mind that football is a team game and the ultimate goal of that game was to win the Super Bowl. Montana won 4. Case closed. Elway won 2 so as a long time Kansas Citian and Chiefs fan it pains me to say Elway would be ahead of Favre on any mythical list of the best all-time. But you won’t get through too many more QBs on any such list without having Favre there.

The NFL won’t be the same next year and the Packers won’t be the same without Favre. That doesn’t mean they might not be better even but they won’t be the same. I don’t anticipate Aaron Rodgers ducking under a sure sack, rolling to his right and flipping the ball back handed with his left hand to a TE 8 yards down field. Or while being dragged down throwing into the corner of the end zone for a TD. Now maybe it’s a good thing that he won’t be trying but seeing Favre try such things – often succeeding – will leave a void in the highlights each week.

Brett Favre was a special player. He was tough, he was exciting and he truly enjoyed the game, he loved simply playing. A lot of players like to say “I’d play for free” but most don’t really mean it, especially in today’s game. I think Brett Favre would have paid them for the chance to play. His final game in the snow at Lambeau was fitting and in a sad ironic way the fact that his last last past was an INT seems appropriate. Even more poetic is that it was in OT of the NFC Championship game.

Brett Favre will be missed. He will be missed by me, by fans of football, by fans of good guys, by fans of America and Brett Favre will be missed by the NFL.

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