Sorry for my absence lately, but what was I supposed to say? Here’s some encapsulated thoughts:
Zack Greinke, revisited: I didn’t have a whole lot to say about the Greinke signing when it happened, because I was too delirious with joy to muster any more than a “WOOOOOO!”
No matter what happened, D. Zackary Greinke was likely going to define Dayton Moore’s time as Royals GM. Because Greinke did sign the extension, Moore is guaranteed to not be a failure, no matter what else happens (or has already happened…Kyle Mike Willie Farncobsquist!). If he had not been able to negotiate an extension, bad things would happen. Sure, maybe he could have worked out some blockbuster trade that would give the Royals a real boost in the long run, but that’s not horribly likely. In that situation, other GMs would know that Greinke wanted out of KC, and Moore wouldn’t have leverage.
BUT, as we all know, Greinke will remain a Royal for 4 more years, and lead us to the promised land. Now all we have to worry about with him is whether he’ll start on Opening Day, or if we’ll have to wait an extra day to see him in action again.
Mark Teahen at 2nd?: Some people are pretty unhappy about this little experiment. For my part, I really don’t care what the team tries in Surprise. If it works, that’s pretty cool, because it justifies Teahen’s salary and roster spot. If it doesn’t…eh, they’ll figure something out, maybe a trade. I can’t say anything about this that Rany didn’t already say better and more thoroughly here.
Baseball This Week on KCSP: I made a brief appearance on BBTW with Greg Schaum earlier tonight. If you missed it, the podcast will be available soon, right here. Schaum referred to me twice as a “great” blogger. High fives!
Tim Scott: Tim Scott (the between-innings emcee at The K) thinks I’m too negative here. It’s winter…I’ll have bright, happy things to say pretty soon.
Brian Bannister avoided arbitration: I’m glad to have avoided arb, but I would kind of want to be a fly on the wall at his arb hearing, if it came to that. I wonder what statistical support he’d use to make his case. As it stands, he’s still a Royal, so I can still wear my Banny powder blue jersey. Heck yes.
And, as Poz pointed out, having Bannister around looks even better when the guy we gave up to get him does things like this. And, if you’re at a computer where NSFW language is OK, check out this lolcat-style summation of the situation from my dear friend Mitch (who has an excellent blog of his own).
Real life: A new real-life job has sapped away much of my blogging time for the moment. Things will get back to normal soon. In the meantime, if I’m not posting here, you can find some new stuff every couple of days at my other sports site, Getting to First Base.
Lastly: Keep an eye out at Royals Authority. They’ve been teasing some big news lately, and I think I know what it is. Good stuff.
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3 comments
Ron
February 6, 2009 at 7:08 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
One signing doesn’t make Moore a success. Just like Guillen along didn’t make him a failure. Or the signing of Blooquist didn’t make him a failure. Or the singing of Farnsworth didn’t make him a failure. Or trading for Jacobs…
One act doesn’t definse success or failure. But Moore has certainly defined failure with his numerous bad transactions.
One good signing doesn’t make him a success. He’s still a failure at being GM of the Royals.
It’s the entire picture, not just the bright spot that catches your eye.
SL
February 6, 2009 at 9:06 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
I think overall Dayton Moore has been a success, building a foundation. A lot of the bloggers in baseball focus too much on stats without having the slightest understanding of chemistry, the human element, and the importance of being a team. If stats were so important, the 1996-2000 Yankees were not a great stats team but simply won with not so impressive stats from Scott Brosius or Paul O’Neill. If you review their past OPS, it was not very impressive. No one on the championship teams compares with the resume of A-Rod, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, and the numerous free agents the Yankees signed after their last World Series win in 2000. But they won and won 4 out of the 5 world series.
So, before being down on Willie Bloomquist, Mike Jacobs, and Kyle Farnsworth, lets give Trey Hillman and Dayton Moore the benefit of the doubt of these decisions. After all, I feel so much more confident than the Allard Baird years.
Minda Haas
February 6, 2009 at 10:43 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Ron, I didn’t say signing Greinke singlehandedly made Moore a success. I said it ensured he wouldn’t be a failure. Small difference, I know, but I just wanted to clarify that I *don’t* think Moore is an A+ GM just because he signed an extension that should have been obvious. I wouldn’t go so far as to say he’s a failure, as you said.
SL, It’s winter. I can’t analyze “chemistry” without seeing these players play together. All I have are their stats, which mostly suck. We’ll see what happens in April – September.