2012 Royal Wrap-Up

Another extremely disappointing baseball season is now behind us and I have some post season thoughts I would like to share.

I have always been a Kevin Seitzer fan.  I was happy when he was hired and for a certain kind of team, he is a terrific hitting coach.  If you have a young, untalented team with no power, Seitzer’s philosophy of middle-to-opposite field hitting is a sound hitting theory.  When you have a team of young, talented guys with very nice power upsides, it’s not that great.  Under Seitzer, Kansas City has been in the top four in the AL in batting average the last three years.  They have also been in the top half in doubles the last 3 years (top three in 2011 and 2012).  Unfortunately, the Royals have also been toward the bottom of the AL in runs scored (except for 2011 when they finished 6^th) and home runs.  Seitzer had success with guys like Escobar and Getz, and he deserves some credit for turning Alex Gordon in the right direction.  He had a lot less success with guys with bigger swings, like Hosmer, Moustakas, and Franceour.  I don’t count Billy Butler because I have a feeling Country Breakfast is pretty much his own hitting instructor.  I like Seitzer but I agree the Royals need to go a different direction with the personnel on this team.

On October 3^rd, Rany Jazayerli broke down the Royals long history of avoiding walks on offense on his excellent blog http://www.ranyontheroyals.com/.  I could not agree with him any more that this is a problem that needs to be fixed organizationally. 

Billy Butler should now be considered one of the top right handed hitters in the AL right now.  His .313/.373/.510 averages slash line is outstanding and he threw in 29 HR and 107 RBI just for kicks.  He is now truly a middle of the line-up hitter in a potentially potent line-up.  Butler is just 26 years old with a .300 career average, and already has over 3500 AB, over 100 HR, over 200 doubles, and almost 500 RBI.  His best years are quite possibly still ahead of him.

The Royals are filled with exciting, under-30, budding stars.  None are more exciting to watch than Salvador Perez and Alcides Escobar.  Both were much better than expected on offense and both are as fun to watch on defense as any players at their positions in all of baseball.  Both are signed long term so I am thrilled at the prospect of watching them on a daily basis for many years to come.

Speaking of terrific defensive play, Alex Gordon has solidified himself as maybe the best defensive left fielder in all of baseball.  This link, http://www.royalsreview.com/2012/10/4/3452656/the-most-valuable-royal, provides some sources if anyone watching didn’t believe what their eyes were telling you.  Also, Mike Moustakas is a MUCH better defensive player than anyone thought he would be.  He has good hands and a rifle for an arm. 

If the Royals are going to contend soon, youngsters Hosmer and Moustakas MUST take big steps forward in 2013.  A lot of the immediate future of the Kansas City Royals is tied up with these two guys. 

Do you know what team holds the record for most strikeouts from a bullpen in a season?  Well, it is the 2012 Kansas City Royals with 535.  What an impressive effort by a very young group of relief pitchers. 

I will disbelieve any thought that the Royals are serious about winning if they do not cut Luke Hochevar.  He is awful and has been for many years now.  I cannot bear the thought of him in a Royals uniform next season.

It will be a very interesting off season this year as we will see just how hard the Royals pursue starting pitching.  Free agent aces will seldom, if ever, sign with small market teams.  Those small market teams just can’t afford to compete with the big boys in offering big, long contracts to pitchers.  Small market teams just cannot take the same chances on these contracts as the Yankees, or Red Sox, or Dodgers can.  It is a fact.  That doesn’t mean Kansas City can’t make serious runs at pitchers who would slot in as number two or three starters.  If they could somehow add two number 2 starters, I would be ecstatic. 

Finally, Royals fans took a bit of grief nationally for relentlessly riding Robinson Cano during the All-Star festivities.  I had absolutely zero problems with the fans for letting Cano know they were displeased with him for not picking Billy Butler for the Home Run Derby.  Cano twice stated he would, then didn’t.  He should be accountable for lying to fans.  In a great story, these same fans, on the last day of the season, robustly cheered rival Miguel Cabrera when he officially won the first Triple Crown in 45 years.  Royals fans cheered the Detroit Tiger long and loud enough that Miggy gave them a curtain call in appreciation, also recognizing the tribute the Royals players and staff also paid him by their applause as well.  Cabrera was sincerely appreciative of the ovation.  It was a touching moment all around.  Royals’ owner, discount king David Glass, should need little more proof how hungry local fans are for something to cheer about.  Kansas City was a great baseball town at one time, before David Glass squeezed out all hope.  These fans deserve better. 

An a related topic, I have a hard time listening and reading to all of the debate around the MVP.  Miguel Cabrera won the first Triple Crown since 1967.  There is a reason it hasn’t been done in 45 years.  Poo-poo the Triple Crown categories all you want.  It is still an amazing accomplishment for the offensive leader of a divisional winner and for there even to be an argument is just plain silly.  I love stats as much as anyone; I get in what ways Trout had a great, historic season, but SO DID MIGUEL CABRERA!!!  He has been one of the most consistent run producers in recent years and was a total team players, switching positions with little or no complaint (unlike a certain former Marlin), and playing better than expected.  Please put this argument to bed and just give Miggy the MVP trophy. 

Thanks for reading.

Signings for the Future

The Royals’ General Manage Dayton Moore seems to be taking a page out of John Hart’s General Managing handbook.  Hart, of course, was the GM for the Cleveland Indians in the 1990’s.  Hart found himself loaded with a stable of young stud players such as Kenny Lofton, Carlos Baerga, Jim Thome, Omar Vizuel, and Albert Belle, just to name a few.  Hart aggressively signed his young players to early, long term contracts, locking them up and buying out their arbitration years.  The Indians were very successful and these players made the Indians an AL powerhouse in the 90’s.

Dayton Moore has spent much of this spring locking up some of his younger players to long term contracts.  Moore started off by signing 21-year old catching phenom Salavador Perez to a club friendly, 5 years, $7 million deal, plus club options for 3 more years and up to nearly $20 million more.  The Royals are forecasting Perez to be an above average MLB catcher and were willing to buy out his arbitration years at slightly below market value.  If Perez proves to be a catching stud muffin, the Royals will be able to lock him up for 3 more years at below market value.  Of course, Perez promptly went down with a torn meniscus, which will set back his development 3 months.  Still, Moore’s thinking was sound.

Next, the Royals bought shortstop Alcides Escobar out of his arbitration years with a 4-year, $10 million signing.  In addition, the Royals hold two options years for an extra combined $11.75 million.  Escobar may never be a great hitter but he is so incredible with his glove.  The Royals have NEVER had a shortstop with the defensive skills of Escobar.  I love watching this dude with the leather.  He makes the routine plays and he makes the fantastic plays.  His range is terrific in every direction and he has a rocket launcher for an arm.  It wouldn’t surprise me if Escobar eventually develops into a guy who can consistently hit around .275 with 10-12 home runs.  He has the speed to swipe 25-30 bases a year as well.  Make no mistake though; this contract for his defense.  The Royals again guaranteed long term money in exchange for locking up a top notch defensive player through the arbitration years and if Escobar can improve his overall hitting, Kansas City will have a terrific shortstop below market value through 2017.

This last week, Moore finally locked down Alex Gordon.  Gordon was drafted second overall in 2005 and was immediately (unfairly) crowned the savior of the organization.  After ripping through minor league pitching, Alex Gordon struggled in the majors with both poor performances and injuries.  At times, he looked like a colossal bust.  In 2011, he finally broke out, hitting .303 with 23 homers and 87 RBI and winning a Gold Glove in left field.  Gordon finally showed the talent that made him a top two draft pick.  Moore signed Gordon to a 4-year, $37.5 million deal, with a player option for a 5^th year for an additional $12.5 million.  This signing was as much of a public relations coup as anything else.  Fans wanted Alex Gordon signed long term.  The Royals went out on a limb with Gordon because he has only had one very good year.  Now he is locked up for 4 years. If he performs as he did in 2011, this contract pays Gordon fair market value.  If Gordon falters, Moore and the Royals may regret this deal.

What is important to the long suffering fans of the Royals, who have watched the team ship off their best players year after year with poor returns, is that Kansas City is putting forth the effort and money to lock these players up long term.  Another star, Billy Butler, was extended in 2011 and he is locked up through 2014, with a club option for 2015.  Young stars like Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakus have just finished their rookie seasons and are under team control for 5 years.  Dayton Moore has a core set of players he can build upon.  By signing these longer contracts, he is trying to fray the costs down the road.  It will be difficult for Kansas City to ever have a $100 million payroll, so taking a few chances on some players now can only be a good thing.  Even if some of these players do not pan out completely, these contracts are not going to be crippling.  The Royals want to try to keep some long term cash in reserve in case Hosmer and Moustakus turn into the players the organization hope they can.  I am sure Moore is making an effort to lock up Hosmer as well, but signing a guy of that caliber of talent will not be easy. 

It is a delicate balance for small markets teams to lock up cash for long periods of time and to be competitive.  Teams like the Royals have a hard time convincing stars to sign with their team and coming up with enough money.  Small market teams have to develop their own players and find a way to keep them long term.  Two decades ago, John Hart made up the blueprints; Dayton Moore is trying to copy his results.  Hopefully, he can add a World Series Championship that eluded Hart and the Indians.

Read movie and tv reviews at jawsrecliner.blogspot.com and check posts on the Royals at bigbrotherbaseballproject.blogspot.com.  Get twitter updates @jawsrecliner