Sitting at my desk working, I realized I haven't done my first (of the season) Sunday game-day preview. We're going to make these brief, to-the-point, and full of witty humor (hopefully). At least, that's the plan. The truth is there never really is a plan around here. If you've read Beer League for any decent amount of time, you probably know that it's quite a "flexible" site. Plans come along, they change, they morph, and normally they don't turn out like they were expected to. That being said, it's the plan to make previews excitingly subtle.
The Jags are coming into town this weekend. Actually, they're probably already here. But, in all honesty, with the way that franchise is going, it wouldn't be surprising if the team booked a one-way train trip to St. Joseph with the idea that KC played their regular season games on the same turf as their training camp days.
Regardless of the Jag's leadership downfalls, they will find their way to 1 Arrowhead Dr and they will show up to play. Yes, they may be starting a 50 year old man who's cell phone rang as he was mowing the back 40 (here's to you, Todd). Yes, their defense may not be able to stop O.J. Simpson in a white Bronco (but really, who can?). However, the Jags are a professional football team (really?). They will show up to make their best, most assertive effort to win.
Now that that's out of the way, let's break it down like Ursher (purposely mispelled). Furthering the Ursher agenda, the "DJ gonna make ya fall in love again" if you ain't feelin' the Chiefs' love recently. Not like it's a difficult call, but KC takes this one in Dior s-t-y-l-e today (if you got the "Blank Check ref' just there, congrats).
Look for Haley on the sidelines with a big smile today. He's going to be watching his RB's taking over the game as well as "letting out" the leash on Cassel. Matt, welcome to the NFL. Today is your official intro. KC is primed like Jiffy Lube. They're pumped like a Spalding. They're stoked like a 3 year old on Christmas morning. And, they're yoked like "The Sitch". That. Just. Happened.
KC throws up a W today with a convincing 28-13 victory. Enjoy!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Tuesday Afternoon Recliner Recap
If you're reading this blog (which you obviously are), you've most likely heard the phrase "Monday Morning Quarterback". Usually, this term refers to a synopsis of the past weekend's football action. Well, in true Beer League style, "Tuesday Afternoon Recliner Recap" is being unveiled today as Beer League's own version of this quick Chiefs game "brief" and opinion sesh (Yes, sesh).
After having a couple days to calm down from the blown Brandon Flowers call, I've decided against sending the long and elaborate hate mail note (which was carefully scripted with individually cut letters from a slew of leftover magazines...You know, real villain-type stuff) to the officiating crew from Sunday. Of course, any coach in his/her right mind would go into their spiel on how the game wasn't decided by any single factor, rather a series of factors which, if different, may have achieved a more desirable result. But, we know very well that's coachspeak for, "Ya, I couldn't believe the call either and you can bet we'll be making an official complaint later this week". Rant over.
Looking at purely the box score, it's quite easy to speculate as to "why" we lost the game--allowing 21 fourth quarter points is not the most efficient way to slap a W up on the board. In fact, the number of teams who have allowed 21 points in the fourth quarter and still won is... Well, ok, I'm not actually going to look the exact number up. It would seriously cut into the spell of creativity I'm currently under and possibly ruin the rest of this post. So, (off the record) you can just take my word that it's probably not a very large number.
Speculation as to why or how the Chiefs lost aside, it would be difficult to find a fan, analyst, coach or writer out there not searching E*Trade frantically for stock in the Kansas City Chiefs. If you're curious, they haven't officially began carrying it, but the rumor is the IPO could be kicking off sometime next week. The buzz around the Chiefs has evolved from it's pre-pubescent, gangly, non-confident week 1, 2 and 3 days to it's current stage of roided out excitement.
In all honesty, that's no stretch of the truth. It's not often a team can look so good losing a game--a frequently echoed sentiment which the TV crew began during the their broadcast. More importantly, the players believe they're good. Has Beer League asked them? No. Do we need to? Not really. Even casual fans watching Sunday must have noticed the intensity, passion, and swagger the team displayed on the field.
All the preaching from Haley and Co. about everyone having a job to do, a role to fill, and a great attitude to hold onto is very blatantly coming to life amongst our boys in red. Sometimes a great blueprint can seem monotonous, bland and over-played. Sometimes it can feel like the "construction" may never actually be completed. And, sometimes things come together so perfectly, it can seem too perfect. Scott Pioli came here with his proven blueprint for success. Piece by piece. Brick by brick. Shingle by Shingle. This house is going up. Get your hard hats ready.
After having a couple days to calm down from the blown Brandon Flowers call, I've decided against sending the long and elaborate hate mail note (which was carefully scripted with individually cut letters from a slew of leftover magazines...You know, real villain-type stuff) to the officiating crew from Sunday. Of course, any coach in his/her right mind would go into their spiel on how the game wasn't decided by any single factor, rather a series of factors which, if different, may have achieved a more desirable result. But, we know very well that's coachspeak for, "Ya, I couldn't believe the call either and you can bet we'll be making an official complaint later this week". Rant over.
Looking at purely the box score, it's quite easy to speculate as to "why" we lost the game--allowing 21 fourth quarter points is not the most efficient way to slap a W up on the board. In fact, the number of teams who have allowed 21 points in the fourth quarter and still won is... Well, ok, I'm not actually going to look the exact number up. It would seriously cut into the spell of creativity I'm currently under and possibly ruin the rest of this post. So, (off the record) you can just take my word that it's probably not a very large number.
Speculation as to why or how the Chiefs lost aside, it would be difficult to find a fan, analyst, coach or writer out there not searching E*Trade frantically for stock in the Kansas City Chiefs. If you're curious, they haven't officially began carrying it, but the rumor is the IPO could be kicking off sometime next week. The buzz around the Chiefs has evolved from it's pre-pubescent, gangly, non-confident week 1, 2 and 3 days to it's current stage of roided out excitement.
In all honesty, that's no stretch of the truth. It's not often a team can look so good losing a game--a frequently echoed sentiment which the TV crew began during the their broadcast. More importantly, the players believe they're good. Has Beer League asked them? No. Do we need to? Not really. Even casual fans watching Sunday must have noticed the intensity, passion, and swagger the team displayed on the field.
All the preaching from Haley and Co. about everyone having a job to do, a role to fill, and a great attitude to hold onto is very blatantly coming to life amongst our boys in red. Sometimes a great blueprint can seem monotonous, bland and over-played. Sometimes it can feel like the "construction" may never actually be completed. And, sometimes things come together so perfectly, it can seem too perfect. Scott Pioli came here with his proven blueprint for success. Piece by piece. Brick by brick. Shingle by Shingle. This house is going up. Get your hard hats ready.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Picking Up the Pieces
After roughly 2 months of complete inactivity at Beer League, it's time to pick up the pieces and begin again. Many readers have expressed their concerns over never again having the opportunity to set up camp under a nice shade tree in their favorite neighborhood park (laptop, notebook, or cellular device in hand) on a perfectly warm, yet gently breezy afternoon while they indulge in the latest "Down on the Farm Report". After which they experience a slight chill, devour the sunlight, become filled with complete and utter joy, then meander tenderly through the grass towards the closest ice cream vendor. Mint-chocolate chip? Double brownie fudge? Or, just plain vanilla? Do you actually have an ice cream stand in your neighborhood park? Did anyone actually articulate this experience in an e-mail? It doesn't matter. The point here is the fans have spoken loudly and clearly. Beer League is coming back in full force.
But, baseball season is over! (I know, I know. You're not technically supposed to begin with the word "but". But, I actually enjoy using it that way and it's my blog. If you want, you can start your own blog on proper English and writing techniques. But, my guess is nobody will read it.) Anyway, you're probably wondering how the site will continue with baseball season nearing it's end--at least as far as the Royals are concerned. The answer is exciting and fan-driven. It's come to my attention that many readers enjoy the current content of the site, which is great! However, they sometimes don't fully understand the constant baseball references and statistics. This is why Beer League has made the decision to expand the brand.
Expand the Brand? Can you explain that, please? Definitely. The site will continue to cover important Royals news including prospects, player and personnel acquisitions, and all other pertinent information to fans. In addition, beginning this week a Kansas City Chiefs Gameday Preview will become a regular weekly post. Don't worry, a more creative title will be crowned when the actual post goes up.
Ok. So, we've got Royals coverage. We will have Chiefs coverage. Is that it? The site goes into a Rip Van Winkle-style slumber for 2 months and only ONE new line of business? Not so fast. What you're about to read may cause a tremendously substantial obsession with Beer League Sports Talk (come on, like you didn't have one already?). This is the part geared towards those faithful readers who have tried, and tried, and tried to enjoy the site without that "die-hard" passion for the developmental side of baseball.
Enough ranting. Let's get back to the introduction of Beer League's newest, hippest, and most edgy line of blogging-- Meat and Potatoes. This new addition will focus on a multitude of eateries ranging from the bar and grill atmosphere to the walk-in sandwich shop to the world of fine dining. Ok, just messing with the fine dining. Some of the eatery-reviews will center around "gameday" experience, some will center around "hang-out" experience, some will center around "quality of satiation" (both food and drink), and all will come with ratings, recommendations and additional information. No schedule will accompany this new line, however an estimate of 1 Meat and Potatoes review per week can be expected.
As this new segment is an evolving and generally unexplored area for Beer League, tinkering, toying, and playing may be present from week to week. With that, it's a refreshing and exciting time for the whole Beer League community. Please "tune-in" this weekend to check out the Chiefs preview.
Time to dust off the bookmark on your toolbar for Beer League Sports Talk. Maybe it's a bit chilly for the shade tree and ice cream, but a night-time fire and your favorite blanket should do the trick. The pieces have been picked up and the site is ready to roll.
But, baseball season is over! (I know, I know. You're not technically supposed to begin with the word "but". But, I actually enjoy using it that way and it's my blog. If you want, you can start your own blog on proper English and writing techniques. But, my guess is nobody will read it.) Anyway, you're probably wondering how the site will continue with baseball season nearing it's end--at least as far as the Royals are concerned. The answer is exciting and fan-driven. It's come to my attention that many readers enjoy the current content of the site, which is great! However, they sometimes don't fully understand the constant baseball references and statistics. This is why Beer League has made the decision to expand the brand.
Expand the Brand? Can you explain that, please? Definitely. The site will continue to cover important Royals news including prospects, player and personnel acquisitions, and all other pertinent information to fans. In addition, beginning this week a Kansas City Chiefs Gameday Preview will become a regular weekly post. Don't worry, a more creative title will be crowned when the actual post goes up.
Ok. So, we've got Royals coverage. We will have Chiefs coverage. Is that it? The site goes into a Rip Van Winkle-style slumber for 2 months and only ONE new line of business? Not so fast. What you're about to read may cause a tremendously substantial obsession with Beer League Sports Talk (come on, like you didn't have one already?). This is the part geared towards those faithful readers who have tried, and tried, and tried to enjoy the site without that "die-hard" passion for the developmental side of baseball.
Enough ranting. Let's get back to the introduction of Beer League's newest, hippest, and most edgy line of blogging-- Meat and Potatoes. This new addition will focus on a multitude of eateries ranging from the bar and grill atmosphere to the walk-in sandwich shop to the world of fine dining. Ok, just messing with the fine dining. Some of the eatery-reviews will center around "gameday" experience, some will center around "hang-out" experience, some will center around "quality of satiation" (both food and drink), and all will come with ratings, recommendations and additional information. No schedule will accompany this new line, however an estimate of 1 Meat and Potatoes review per week can be expected.
As this new segment is an evolving and generally unexplored area for Beer League, tinkering, toying, and playing may be present from week to week. With that, it's a refreshing and exciting time for the whole Beer League community. Please "tune-in" this weekend to check out the Chiefs preview.
Time to dust off the bookmark on your toolbar for Beer League Sports Talk. Maybe it's a bit chilly for the shade tree and ice cream, but a night-time fire and your favorite blanket should do the trick. The pieces have been picked up and the site is ready to roll.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Down on the Farm
Is the glass half empty or half full? How can you tell? The only way to truly know the answer to this question is to witness the glass being filled--to eyeball each drop as it marginally builds towards the rim. Some drops may be bigger than others, some may taste a bit better, and some may look a little more "sparkly". In a glass of water, there's enough room for all kinds of drops. It's important to remember that when the glass finally does fill up, some of those "sparkly" drops may have splashed out, evaporated, or leaked from the bottom. However, when the water line reaches the rim of the glass, it's time to drink up!
Much like this glass of water, a baseball farm system is judged by it's "fullness". Most teams around the league can boast about this ultra athletic outfielder buried deep in their system, or that towering power righty they just drafted. But, in most cases these players are complete "projectables" who may or may pan out at the next farm level. The true indication of a complete farm system is the continued productivity of these "projectable" players as the move up through the higher levels of the farm.
If a team has 8 of its top 10 prospects below the AA level, their system may look promising, but it will not be ranked high overall. On the other hand, when those players begin competing at the higher levels of the farm, the opinion of that farm system can quickly change.
In the Royals' case, the latter is true. Since drafting Moustakas in 2007, fans have been patiently watching each drop fall into the glass. Fans have been promised certain things about certain players. They've been told that it's a process and to stay patient.
With the promotion of Moustakas to AAA, fans can take a deep sigh of relief--"Moose" is just one step away from debuting at third base at the K. After a slow hit-less start, he's shot two solo homers and is beginning to find his groove in Omaha. Will he join the Royals this year? No. He will most likely finish the year at AAA while honing his skills both at the plate and the bag. Next June looks like his launch point.
So, what does this really mean? It means that Dayton Moore has successfully filled our farm system at all levels--something which is highly regarded throughout the league. It means the talent is almost ready to construct a truly home-grown Major League squad. It's a process which was used by Bobby Cox to build the Braves' 90's dynasty. Anybody remember that Chipper Jones kid? He was a high school short stop who panned out as an All-Star third baseman. It's no coincidence that Dayton's first "real" draft pick (he selected Hochevar in 2006 just weeks after being hired) was a player (Moose) who follows that same blueprint. It's a process which Dayton Moore witnessed while working alongside Cox. It also means the Royals will have the "talent firepower" to trade for missing pieces. This process works.
Baseball Prospectus recently came out with their updated top 50 prospect list. Can you guess which team had 3 players listed in the top 20? Yes, the Royals. Let's review players who made this list.
AAA 3B Mike Moustakas= .336 26(2B) 23(HR) 78(RBI) 27BB-47K
-Beer League has raved about this kid all season long. There really isn't much more to say except a quote passed along from one of our followers, Travis Sigg. "During batting practice for the Futures Game, the announcers hadn't seen a player mash the ball the way Moose was since Barry Bonds."
AA 1B Eric Hosmer= .352 31(2B) 6(3B) 10(HR) 58(RBI) 12(SB) 46BB-40K
-As good as Moustakas has been this year, a lot of scouts believe Hosmer is an even better hitter. Scary, right?
AA SP Mike Montgomery= 5-1 53(IP) 58(K) 2.01(ERA) 0.90(WHIP)
-Despite not playing for half the season so far due to elbow stiffness, Monty still got the nod for the 26th spot. A rep from Baseball Prospectus said he would have placed Montgomery as the highest overall pitching prospect had he been healthy.
A+ SP John Lamb= 8-5 110(IP) 128(K) 1.38(ERA) 0.99(WHIP)
-If Lamb keeps up this phenomenal pace, he may end up as out top rated prospect going into 2011. That's a lot of praise considering the other guys on this list.
A+ C Wil Myers= .299 23(2B) 2(3B) 10(HR) 59(RBI) 10(SB) 58BB-68K
-Wil is quickly becoming the top catching prospect in the game. His bat is excellent. His athleticism is out of this world. As long as the defense continues to develop, he'll be collecting All-Star votes for the next 15 years.
The process has been long and hard to watch. It's been a painful ring in the ear of fans. It's been tiring and overwhelming. It's finally time to start planning to reap the benefits. Come 2012, fans will wait no longer.
Much like this glass of water, a baseball farm system is judged by it's "fullness". Most teams around the league can boast about this ultra athletic outfielder buried deep in their system, or that towering power righty they just drafted. But, in most cases these players are complete "projectables" who may or may pan out at the next farm level. The true indication of a complete farm system is the continued productivity of these "projectable" players as the move up through the higher levels of the farm.
If a team has 8 of its top 10 prospects below the AA level, their system may look promising, but it will not be ranked high overall. On the other hand, when those players begin competing at the higher levels of the farm, the opinion of that farm system can quickly change.
In the Royals' case, the latter is true. Since drafting Moustakas in 2007, fans have been patiently watching each drop fall into the glass. Fans have been promised certain things about certain players. They've been told that it's a process and to stay patient.
With the promotion of Moustakas to AAA, fans can take a deep sigh of relief--"Moose" is just one step away from debuting at third base at the K. After a slow hit-less start, he's shot two solo homers and is beginning to find his groove in Omaha. Will he join the Royals this year? No. He will most likely finish the year at AAA while honing his skills both at the plate and the bag. Next June looks like his launch point.
So, what does this really mean? It means that Dayton Moore has successfully filled our farm system at all levels--something which is highly regarded throughout the league. It means the talent is almost ready to construct a truly home-grown Major League squad. It's a process which was used by Bobby Cox to build the Braves' 90's dynasty. Anybody remember that Chipper Jones kid? He was a high school short stop who panned out as an All-Star third baseman. It's no coincidence that Dayton's first "real" draft pick (he selected Hochevar in 2006 just weeks after being hired) was a player (Moose) who follows that same blueprint. It's a process which Dayton Moore witnessed while working alongside Cox. It also means the Royals will have the "talent firepower" to trade for missing pieces. This process works.
Baseball Prospectus recently came out with their updated top 50 prospect list. Can you guess which team had 3 players listed in the top 20? Yes, the Royals. Let's review players who made this list.
AAA 3B Mike Moustakas= .336 26(2B) 23(HR) 78(RBI) 27BB-47K
-Beer League has raved about this kid all season long. There really isn't much more to say except a quote passed along from one of our followers, Travis Sigg. "During batting practice for the Futures Game, the announcers hadn't seen a player mash the ball the way Moose was since Barry Bonds."
AA 1B Eric Hosmer= .352 31(2B) 6(3B) 10(HR) 58(RBI) 12(SB) 46BB-40K
-As good as Moustakas has been this year, a lot of scouts believe Hosmer is an even better hitter. Scary, right?
AA SP Mike Montgomery= 5-1 53(IP) 58(K) 2.01(ERA) 0.90(WHIP)
-Despite not playing for half the season so far due to elbow stiffness, Monty still got the nod for the 26th spot. A rep from Baseball Prospectus said he would have placed Montgomery as the highest overall pitching prospect had he been healthy.
A+ SP John Lamb= 8-5 110(IP) 128(K) 1.38(ERA) 0.99(WHIP)
-If Lamb keeps up this phenomenal pace, he may end up as out top rated prospect going into 2011. That's a lot of praise considering the other guys on this list.
A+ C Wil Myers= .299 23(2B) 2(3B) 10(HR) 59(RBI) 10(SB) 58BB-68K
-Wil is quickly becoming the top catching prospect in the game. His bat is excellent. His athleticism is out of this world. As long as the defense continues to develop, he'll be collecting All-Star votes for the next 15 years.
The process has been long and hard to watch. It's been a painful ring in the ear of fans. It's been tiring and overwhelming. It's finally time to start planning to reap the benefits. Come 2012, fans will wait no longer.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Down on the Farm
With this weekend being our nation's most celebrated Patriotic holiday, we'd like to take a moment (before the baseball talk) to recognize the constant struggle, perseverance and sacrifice our uniformed men and women endure around the world. Please remember our great nation's soldiers tomorrow while you're enjoying fireworks, family and participating in good old fashioned American fun. And, as a favor to Beer League, throw in a "Pledge of Allegiance", "Star Spangled Banner", "America the Beautiful", or any other Patriotic song. That being said; stay safe, savor the taste of your favorite ice cold beverage, and have a fantastic Fourth of July!
Speaking of the 4th, this weekend roughly marks the halfway point for Major League Baseball. As you're reading this, your crazy Uncle Jerry is probably in the next room ranting and raving about his beloved Cardinals and their chances of winning the NL Central. Oh wait, their chances are actually pretty good. Maybe he's not so crazy. Or, maybe you're just jealous because every year he "knight's" his Cards and you have to sit back and take it because you know whatever comes out of your mouth in defense of your Royals will end up sounding like a Ron White comedy routine.
Wouldn't it be great to be able to sit down across the table from Uncle Jerry and talk about how the Royals are actually above 500 and have a promising chance of being more than just a flickering flash in the pan (Hello 2003. We knew you'd pop your head in there. Now, go away)?
If you read last week's farm report, you understand the "process" set in place by Dayton Moore and Company. You also understand that the Royals are still two years away from being competitive. In honor or your Uncle Jerry, we're going to give you the ammunition necessary to participate in an epic battle of back-and-forth smack talk--looking forward to 2014.
It's July 4th, 2014. Maybe you've got a Boulevard Wheat in hand. Maybe its an ice cold Mountain Dew. Or, maybe you're not thirsty and you're munching on a fresh batch of Chex Mix. Whatever the case, your Royals are sitting at 46-34 and have a strong 5 game lead on the division. It's a team with a lot of young talent and a few sprinkled veterans to keep them in line (a la 2008 Rays). The town of Kansas City is salivating, and it ain't because of the BBQ. They remember 1985 and how it felt. They remember the celebratory riots, the 10 decibel eruption of excitement after that nerve racking 9th inning, and the hugging and sprinting through the streets with strangers they'll never see again in their lives. The air is full of adrenaline and they can smell it. They want it. They need it.
Ok, maybe that smell IS barbeque afterall--that doesn't change the strong desire and passion those 2014 Kansas Citians have pulsing through their veins. So, without further ado, let's introduce you to your future Royals.
Catcher= Wil Myers
-At 19, Myers just got his promotion papers to High A (Wilmington). He's a player with 5 good tools. He hits for average, hits for power, runs like a gazelle, has an outfitted Civil War cannon as his right arm, and he's got the defensive potential to be great. The bat's going to be there. His defense is developing more at each level he climbs in the minors and should be relatively polished by this time. MLB Comparison: Brian Mccann with wheels
First Base= Eric Hosmer
-Hosmer is a 20 year old power lefty with eagle-eye plate discipline and Golden Glove-caliber defense. His glove could have played first base in the Majors out of high school, but his power was raw and his bat needed some polishing. After a down 2009, he's absolutely spraying the ball to the outfield with almost 30 doubles, 6 triples and 5 homers--all while hitting a smooth 349.
MLB Comparison= Casey Kotchman with much better power
Second Base= Johnny Giavotella
-Coming out of college (New Orleans), Gia was was a crafty hitter with a tenacious personality on the field. The tenacity is still full-fledged, but the bats been up and down. He's hitting for average and seeing the ball extremely well, but his power numbers have taken a dive. Likely, this is a down trend before an up trend and he'll rediscover his gap power. He should be able to smack between 10-18 homers at the Major League level.
MLB Comparison= Poor man's Dustin Pedroia
Third Base= Mike Moustakas
-He's 21 and already the best player in the Texas League. Everyone raves about the "crack" of his bat. He's finally put it all together in his third year and looks like he should pan out as one of the better hitters in the Majors. He'll never win a Gold Glove, but his offense will be good enough to make you forget about his 18 errors. MLB Comparison= Jim Thome
Short Stop= Christian Colon
-Colon is "fresh meat" at High A (Wilmington). His numbers aren't even worth talking about until the end of this season. He's an all around player who does everything above average and nothing great. Some scouts are worried he won't stick at short stop. None of these scouts are employed by the Royals. MLB Comparison= Placido Polanco with more pop
Left Field= Alex Gordon
-We know the story. He was the next George Brett at one point. He struggled at third base through his first 3 professional seasons and has now been moved to left. The word out of Omaha is that he looks natural roaming the outfield and his confidence has returned at the plate as a result. It sounds like a great combo. MLB Comparison= Can we hope for a Ryan Braun type turn around?
Center Field= Derrick Robinson
-Robinson might be the best overall athlete in anyone's farm system. If he wasn't playing center field at Double A (NW Arkansas), he'd most likely be playing defensive back in the NFL (turned down a scholarship to play for the Gators). While he'll never hit many over the fence, he speed should provide the opportunity for plenty of doubles, triples and stolen bases. He's also hitting for average after a tweak in his stance. MLB Comparison= Jacoby Ellsbury
Right Field= Brett Eibner
-As of right now, Eibner (drafted in the second round this year) hasn't signed. But, the Royals would not have drafted him if they didn't believe they'd be able to ink him. Besides, they're one of the few teams who will let him do what he wants to do--hit. Eibner is an ultra athlete with a truly outstanding arm. His speed-size combo is a freakish attribute that causes scouts to drool. When it comes to hitting, the massive raw power is just waiting to explode. However, he's aways going to collect strikeouts like your little brother collected Pokeman cards.
MLB Comparison= Matt Kemp
DH= Billy Butler
-He's already one of the best all-around hitters in the game, and he should continue to improve. In 2014, he will most likely learned to lift the ball a little better and compete each year for the batting title. A 300 average and 30 homers should be a normalcy.
With Dayton Moore's tendency to trade away young arms in order to fill holes elsewhere, it's nearly impossible to predict which guys will be around in 4 years. Just know that Greinke will still be around. Quiet down. We understand the royals have a history of trading away their best players, but Zack wants to be here. He understands the process in place and will resign when his current deal is up. The rest of the rotation will be filled with a combination of the many talented and exciting young arms (6 lefty starters in the farm system) in the Minor Leagues.
Well, that should just about do it. You should have everything you need to battle it our verbally with crazy Uncle Jerry. Although, you may want to wait 4 years before you do it. And, make sure you confront him with your new-found knowledge before he polishes that 6 pack.
2014. 2014. 2014. Just keep repeating it like a mantra. It's going to happen. You hear it here first.
Enjoy your Holiday. Take it easy on the bottle rocket wars. Keep the ice fresh and the coolers stocked. Fill up on brauts, dogs and burgers. And, above everything else, salute the brave men and women who have served or are currently serving in the military.
God bless the USA!
Speaking of the 4th, this weekend roughly marks the halfway point for Major League Baseball. As you're reading this, your crazy Uncle Jerry is probably in the next room ranting and raving about his beloved Cardinals and their chances of winning the NL Central. Oh wait, their chances are actually pretty good. Maybe he's not so crazy. Or, maybe you're just jealous because every year he "knight's" his Cards and you have to sit back and take it because you know whatever comes out of your mouth in defense of your Royals will end up sounding like a Ron White comedy routine.
Wouldn't it be great to be able to sit down across the table from Uncle Jerry and talk about how the Royals are actually above 500 and have a promising chance of being more than just a flickering flash in the pan (Hello 2003. We knew you'd pop your head in there. Now, go away)?
If you read last week's farm report, you understand the "process" set in place by Dayton Moore and Company. You also understand that the Royals are still two years away from being competitive. In honor or your Uncle Jerry, we're going to give you the ammunition necessary to participate in an epic battle of back-and-forth smack talk--looking forward to 2014.
It's July 4th, 2014. Maybe you've got a Boulevard Wheat in hand. Maybe its an ice cold Mountain Dew. Or, maybe you're not thirsty and you're munching on a fresh batch of Chex Mix. Whatever the case, your Royals are sitting at 46-34 and have a strong 5 game lead on the division. It's a team with a lot of young talent and a few sprinkled veterans to keep them in line (a la 2008 Rays). The town of Kansas City is salivating, and it ain't because of the BBQ. They remember 1985 and how it felt. They remember the celebratory riots, the 10 decibel eruption of excitement after that nerve racking 9th inning, and the hugging and sprinting through the streets with strangers they'll never see again in their lives. The air is full of adrenaline and they can smell it. They want it. They need it.
Ok, maybe that smell IS barbeque afterall--that doesn't change the strong desire and passion those 2014 Kansas Citians have pulsing through their veins. So, without further ado, let's introduce you to your future Royals.
Catcher= Wil Myers
-At 19, Myers just got his promotion papers to High A (Wilmington). He's a player with 5 good tools. He hits for average, hits for power, runs like a gazelle, has an outfitted Civil War cannon as his right arm, and he's got the defensive potential to be great. The bat's going to be there. His defense is developing more at each level he climbs in the minors and should be relatively polished by this time. MLB Comparison: Brian Mccann with wheels
First Base= Eric Hosmer
-Hosmer is a 20 year old power lefty with eagle-eye plate discipline and Golden Glove-caliber defense. His glove could have played first base in the Majors out of high school, but his power was raw and his bat needed some polishing. After a down 2009, he's absolutely spraying the ball to the outfield with almost 30 doubles, 6 triples and 5 homers--all while hitting a smooth 349.
MLB Comparison= Casey Kotchman with much better power
Second Base= Johnny Giavotella
-Coming out of college (New Orleans), Gia was was a crafty hitter with a tenacious personality on the field. The tenacity is still full-fledged, but the bats been up and down. He's hitting for average and seeing the ball extremely well, but his power numbers have taken a dive. Likely, this is a down trend before an up trend and he'll rediscover his gap power. He should be able to smack between 10-18 homers at the Major League level.
MLB Comparison= Poor man's Dustin Pedroia
Third Base= Mike Moustakas
-He's 21 and already the best player in the Texas League. Everyone raves about the "crack" of his bat. He's finally put it all together in his third year and looks like he should pan out as one of the better hitters in the Majors. He'll never win a Gold Glove, but his offense will be good enough to make you forget about his 18 errors. MLB Comparison= Jim Thome
Short Stop= Christian Colon
-Colon is "fresh meat" at High A (Wilmington). His numbers aren't even worth talking about until the end of this season. He's an all around player who does everything above average and nothing great. Some scouts are worried he won't stick at short stop. None of these scouts are employed by the Royals. MLB Comparison= Placido Polanco with more pop
Left Field= Alex Gordon
-We know the story. He was the next George Brett at one point. He struggled at third base through his first 3 professional seasons and has now been moved to left. The word out of Omaha is that he looks natural roaming the outfield and his confidence has returned at the plate as a result. It sounds like a great combo. MLB Comparison= Can we hope for a Ryan Braun type turn around?
Center Field= Derrick Robinson
-Robinson might be the best overall athlete in anyone's farm system. If he wasn't playing center field at Double A (NW Arkansas), he'd most likely be playing defensive back in the NFL (turned down a scholarship to play for the Gators). While he'll never hit many over the fence, he speed should provide the opportunity for plenty of doubles, triples and stolen bases. He's also hitting for average after a tweak in his stance. MLB Comparison= Jacoby Ellsbury
Right Field= Brett Eibner
-As of right now, Eibner (drafted in the second round this year) hasn't signed. But, the Royals would not have drafted him if they didn't believe they'd be able to ink him. Besides, they're one of the few teams who will let him do what he wants to do--hit. Eibner is an ultra athlete with a truly outstanding arm. His speed-size combo is a freakish attribute that causes scouts to drool. When it comes to hitting, the massive raw power is just waiting to explode. However, he's aways going to collect strikeouts like your little brother collected Pokeman cards.
MLB Comparison= Matt Kemp
DH= Billy Butler
-He's already one of the best all-around hitters in the game, and he should continue to improve. In 2014, he will most likely learned to lift the ball a little better and compete each year for the batting title. A 300 average and 30 homers should be a normalcy.
With Dayton Moore's tendency to trade away young arms in order to fill holes elsewhere, it's nearly impossible to predict which guys will be around in 4 years. Just know that Greinke will still be around. Quiet down. We understand the royals have a history of trading away their best players, but Zack wants to be here. He understands the process in place and will resign when his current deal is up. The rest of the rotation will be filled with a combination of the many talented and exciting young arms (6 lefty starters in the farm system) in the Minor Leagues.
Well, that should just about do it. You should have everything you need to battle it our verbally with crazy Uncle Jerry. Although, you may want to wait 4 years before you do it. And, make sure you confront him with your new-found knowledge before he polishes that 6 pack.
2014. 2014. 2014. Just keep repeating it like a mantra. It's going to happen. You hear it here first.
Enjoy your Holiday. Take it easy on the bottle rocket wars. Keep the ice fresh and the coolers stocked. Fill up on brauts, dogs and burgers. And, above everything else, salute the brave men and women who have served or are currently serving in the military.
God bless the USA!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Down on the Farm
Since being hired as General Manager, Dayton Moore's reassurance to fans has rested on the laurels of "the Process". Moore was given the reigns of the organization (this is only in theory of course because he has almost no control over the checkbook) weeks before the 2006 first year player draft. So what? Well, this means he's been given the opportunity of using 5 rule 4 drafts (first year players), 5 rule 5 drafts (unprotected players from other MLB teams), 4 off seasons to sign international talent, 4 off seasons to sign free agent players, and he's approaching his 5th trade deadline opportunity--all shots at improving the team.
These five methods of bringing in new players are designed to allow teams of both winning and losing natures to garner an "equal" chance to rebuild, reload and reassess their rosters. Dayton has dipped his interest into all five categories in his duration as General Manager with some success and some failure.
Some of his failures include sending away bullpen arms like J.P Howell, Jeremy Affeldt, Leo Nunez, and Ramon Ramirez. Of the four, Affeldt is the easiest to swallow as he's been up and down since leaving Kansas City. On the other hand, Howell and Ramirez have experienced tremendous success for contending teams. Oh, and how about that Nunez kid? (he's only one of the more dominating closers in the league for the Marlins)
Remember when Jorge de la Rosa possessed plus stuff, but just couldn't find his control? He's found it in Colorado. We received "future considerations" in return for a guy who would be the Royals' third or fourth starter today. However, if you really do remember this guy in a Royals uniform; you probably remember the same sort of frustration we experience with guys like Kyle Davies and Luke Hochevar. Davies and Jorge are comparable, but the difference between Jorge and Hochevar is that Luke has truly electric "stuff". He's a pitcher who will contribute as a solid number two behind Greinke once he masters his control. Would anyone be devastated if we sent Davies packing for cash in return, then followed that move by bringing up a kid like Montgomery, Crow, or Lamb? Didn't think so.
So, what about a few of the successful trades Dayton has pulled the trigger on? In 2006, the Royals sent Mike MacDougal to the White Sox for farmhands Tyler Lumsden and Daniel Cortes; Both of which have since been moved to other organizations. Lumsden packed his bags and headed to Texas in exchange for Jordan Parraz (currently in Omaha and hitting well as an outfielder). And, Cortez? He was part of the deal which brought Yuniesky Betancourt to Kansas City. Not a fan of our new "toolsy" short stop? We'd be willing to bet you'd much rather see Yuni out there than, say, TPJ (rec specs included).
Many fans were outraged with Dayton after he traded away Cortez, who was considered one of the Royals' top pitching prospects. However, certain personal problems initiated the notion of getting rid of him, and since the trade, he hasn't been nearly as dominant. In a similar transaction, Moore sent Dan Guitierrez (a top 10 prospect) to the Rangers in return for catcher Manny Pina and outfielder Tim Smith. While Guitierrez served a 50 game drug suspension, Smith recently got the AA All-Star vote and Pina (also AA) looks to be on the fast track to the Majors.
Finally, we'll discuss his two most successful trades: Ambiorix Burgos for Brian Bannister and Billy Buckner for Alberto Callaspo. Any discussion needed? Both players the Royals received have become major contributors in the past couple years. Both players the Royals sent away have failed to make any impact for their respective teams.
As far as trades go, a fair grade for the Royals organization would be a C+. In the world of trading, you win some and you lose some. It seems for each bad trade made, Dayton has made up for it with a good one.
Now, let's talk about the Rule 5 draft. Every year, teams have the opportunity to pluck away unprotected players from other teams. Guess who currently has the best Rule 5 pick in history under contract? That's right--the Mexicutioner himself was a selection of Dayton Moore out of the Padres organization. Soria was the epitome of a high risk, high reward gamble as he came to KC with an injury history. Since then, he's been selected as an All-Star and become the career saves leader amongst Mexican born players. At only 26, Soria looks to be a staple of the franchise for a long time to come (if he isn't used as trade bait first).
Free agency is a discussion which basically begins and ends with two players: Jose Guillen and Gil Meche. These two (extremely) high priced players have offered mixed results. At the end of each of their contracts, the Royals will have spent over 90 million dollars combined on the couple. This number is most likely the reason David Glass's wallet has remained tight over the past two years--virtually puting a hold on all major free agency acquisitions.
In the meantime, Dayton has decided to aggressively pursue a different tact by concentrating the budget on the Rule 4 draft and international signings. We examined the most recent draft in last week's farm report, so today we'll look at the Royals' draft strategy since 2006 as well as international signings.
The Royals have invested heavily in the international market the past two years. The three most notable signings have been 21 year old left-handed starting pitcher Noel Arguelles, 17 year old third base prospect Cheslor Cuthbert, and 18 year old catching prospect Jin-Ho Shin.
Arguelles is currently on the shelf after pitching for 18 months straight internationally and for scouts, but when he returns, he should adjust quickly to low A and projects as a number two starter. Cuthbert is the definition of a "project" player. He possesses plenty of raw power and decent range at third base, but has a long way to go. Shin (Korean) was regarded as the top catching prospect on the international market. All three players were considered great signings as they were coveted by any team with enough money to dish out. We can view these guys as a supplement to the draft. They are players who, if able to enter the draft, scouts dubbed as having the potential to go anywhere from round one to round five.
Every year, over a thousand amateur players are available in the draft. These players consist of high school seniors, all junior college players, college juniors and seniors, and any independent league baseball players. The MLB draft differentiates itself from drafts in basketball and football by allowing players to enter, be drafted and then decide not to sign their contract (allowing them to either go on to college, return to college, or play independent ball).
These stipulations often cause players to slide due to sign-ability concerns; meaning they possess a certain price tag which needs to be met in order for that player not to honor their college commitment. In essence, a high school player worthy of being drafted in the top 10 could easily slide to the second or third round. Teams with the necessary budget may then select these players and elect to pay them well over slot to secure their signature.
Additionally, often times a player may be drafted two or three times; once out of high school, once after their junior year, and again after their senior year. What's the advantage of paying an amount over the recommended slot price?
Let's say player X is a high school pitcher from Texas. He's a 6'5", 180 pound power righty with a firm commitment to be a Longhorn. Weeks before the draft, his agent notifies all MLB teams that his signing price will be a non-negotiable three million dollars. Still, even if a team is willing to pay the three million, a chance remains that the player will choose his commitment to Texas over playing professionally. On talent alone, player X is top 10 caliber. However, because of the risk involved, he slips to the third round.
This exact scenario is one which the Royals have been chasing the past 4 years in the draft. Instead of pursuing big time free agents or resigning current players who might cost a pretty penny, Dayton and his management and scouting team have decided to invest a large bulk of the budget in these types of players.
In 2007, we saw the Royals select Mike Moustakas second overall. He was considered an extremely high risk to sign. In 2008, they followed the same pattern selecting Eric Hosmer with the third overall selection. These weren't the only high risk high school players selected. Others include Dan Duffy, Hilton Richardson, Derrick Robinson, Bryan Paukovits, Michael Montgomery, Tyler Sample, Tim Melville, John Lamb, William Myers, Crawford Simmons, Michael Antonio (2010), Jason Adam (2010), and Johnathon Gray (2010). Interesting to note that all players on this list are top 25 prospects for the Royals, with 5 being in the top 10.
Now that we've explained the "process" in detail, let's summarize; The Royals have had so-so success with Major League transactions, but it's not the Majors which have been their focus. Dayton is a general manager with the eye of a scout and a real talent for building a farm system. So, while certain Major League moves have contributed to the "process" (Soria, Greinke's deal, and solidifying Butler's bat in the lineup), there's no question the Royals are building for the future. When will this "future" come to fruition?
We've seen a demotion and position switch of Alex Gordon from third to left field in order to loosen him up mentally and set his bat on fire. Additionally, this move paves the way for Moustakas to earn the hot corner job as early as next season. Another position switch may be on the horizon with the emergence of Eric Hosmer. Although he may not see the Majors until 2012, his rise to the top may push Butler to the DH spot.
The rest of the "future" outfield is on its way with Robinson filling in at center and Brett Eibner (2010) most likely making the shift from center to right field.
The "future" infield is still missing three of its five parts: Catcher, second base and short stop. Wil Myers has developed into one of the top catching prospects in the game and will fill the catching void in a few years. Until then, Manny Pina will keep his spot warm. Second base should be filled by Johnny Giavotella (Dustin Pedroia Jr.), and with today's official announcement of Christian Colon's signing--we have our short stop of the future.
With all position players accounted for, a look into the starting rotation is up next. Our "Ace" is in place and will sit a top of this talented rotation of youngsters: Luke Hochevar, Mike Montgomery, John Lamb, Dan Duffy and Aaron Crow. Obviously, a rotation consists of five and not six pitchers. Beer League fully expects the Royals to trade one or more of these pitchers in an effort to fill other various voids on the field. As Dayton always says, "pitching is the currency of baseball".
While the results on the Major League level have been uninspiring to say the least, the Royals' farm system is full of upside, potential and success. Last week, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals were awarded with the first half league title. This award automatically qualifies them for postseason play--a promising sign as many of our highly touted prospects play on the team.
Remember the year 2012. Keep it in mind. The fate of the Royals organization and its chances at making a series run depend on the continued development of the aforementioned players. And, just like every Friday, here's a list of the farm system's top performers:
AAA
LF Alex Gordon= .333 14(2B) 1(3B) 10(HR) 32(RBI) 6(SB) 38BB-52K
1B Kila Ka'aihue= .313 14(2B) 12(HR) 46(RBI) 65BB-47K
RF David Lough= .274 8(2B) 6(3B) 8(HR) 30(RBI) 6(SB) 10BB-39K
RP Blaine Hardy= 2-1 43(IP) 31(K) 1.27 (ERA) 0.81(WHIP)
AA
3B Mike Moustakas= .350 21(2B) 18(HR) 66(RBI) 22BB-36K
CF Derrick Robinson= .292 11(2B) 6(3B) 24(RBI) 30(SB) 29BB-50K
2B Johnny Giavotella= .283 16(2B) 3(3B) 1(HR) 24(RBI) 9(SB) 34BB-34K
1B Clint Robinson= .301 26(2B) 1(3B) 12(HR) 50(RBI) 33BB-45K
LF Paulo Orlando= .316 10(2B) 5(3B) 3(HR) 26(RBI) 14BB-28K
RP Louis Coleman= 2-1 48(IP) 52(K) 2.23(ERA) 0.93(WHIP)
SP Mike Montgomery= 5-1 53(IP) 58(K) 2.01(ERA) 0.98(WHIP)
SP Edgar Osuna= 6-2 80(IP) 55(K) 2.59(ERA) 1.10(WHIP)
High A
1B Eric Hosmer= .358 24(2B) 6(3B) 4(HR) 43(RBI) 10(SB) 33BB-27K
SP Chris Dwyer= 4-3 73(IP) 77(K) 2.95(ERA) 1.27(WHIP)
SP John Lamb= 5-5 81(IP) 91(K) 1.76(ERA) 1.11(WHIP)
Low A
C William Myers= .287 16(2B) 1(3B) 10(HR) 43(RBI) 9(SB) 45BB-51K
SP Tyler Sample= 2-3 63(IP) 53(K) 4.00(ERA) 1.44(WHIP)
SP Bryan Paukovits= 3-3 62(IP) 65(K) 3.32(ERA) 0.95(WHIP)
Keep your heads up Royals fans. The best has yet to come. Twenty five years of losing and witnessing unattractive baseball is enough to make watching reruns of Bananas in Pajamas exciting. The "process" is working. It's slow. It takes time. In just five years, Dayton Moore and his staff have transformed one of the worst minor league systems in baseball to a consensus top 5 farm. The crops will be ripe for picking in 2012. Patience is a virtue. And, this time it's going to pay off.
These five methods of bringing in new players are designed to allow teams of both winning and losing natures to garner an "equal" chance to rebuild, reload and reassess their rosters. Dayton has dipped his interest into all five categories in his duration as General Manager with some success and some failure.
Some of his failures include sending away bullpen arms like J.P Howell, Jeremy Affeldt, Leo Nunez, and Ramon Ramirez. Of the four, Affeldt is the easiest to swallow as he's been up and down since leaving Kansas City. On the other hand, Howell and Ramirez have experienced tremendous success for contending teams. Oh, and how about that Nunez kid? (he's only one of the more dominating closers in the league for the Marlins)
Remember when Jorge de la Rosa possessed plus stuff, but just couldn't find his control? He's found it in Colorado. We received "future considerations" in return for a guy who would be the Royals' third or fourth starter today. However, if you really do remember this guy in a Royals uniform; you probably remember the same sort of frustration we experience with guys like Kyle Davies and Luke Hochevar. Davies and Jorge are comparable, but the difference between Jorge and Hochevar is that Luke has truly electric "stuff". He's a pitcher who will contribute as a solid number two behind Greinke once he masters his control. Would anyone be devastated if we sent Davies packing for cash in return, then followed that move by bringing up a kid like Montgomery, Crow, or Lamb? Didn't think so.
So, what about a few of the successful trades Dayton has pulled the trigger on? In 2006, the Royals sent Mike MacDougal to the White Sox for farmhands Tyler Lumsden and Daniel Cortes; Both of which have since been moved to other organizations. Lumsden packed his bags and headed to Texas in exchange for Jordan Parraz (currently in Omaha and hitting well as an outfielder). And, Cortez? He was part of the deal which brought Yuniesky Betancourt to Kansas City. Not a fan of our new "toolsy" short stop? We'd be willing to bet you'd much rather see Yuni out there than, say, TPJ (rec specs included).
Many fans were outraged with Dayton after he traded away Cortez, who was considered one of the Royals' top pitching prospects. However, certain personal problems initiated the notion of getting rid of him, and since the trade, he hasn't been nearly as dominant. In a similar transaction, Moore sent Dan Guitierrez (a top 10 prospect) to the Rangers in return for catcher Manny Pina and outfielder Tim Smith. While Guitierrez served a 50 game drug suspension, Smith recently got the AA All-Star vote and Pina (also AA) looks to be on the fast track to the Majors.
Finally, we'll discuss his two most successful trades: Ambiorix Burgos for Brian Bannister and Billy Buckner for Alberto Callaspo. Any discussion needed? Both players the Royals received have become major contributors in the past couple years. Both players the Royals sent away have failed to make any impact for their respective teams.
As far as trades go, a fair grade for the Royals organization would be a C+. In the world of trading, you win some and you lose some. It seems for each bad trade made, Dayton has made up for it with a good one.
Now, let's talk about the Rule 5 draft. Every year, teams have the opportunity to pluck away unprotected players from other teams. Guess who currently has the best Rule 5 pick in history under contract? That's right--the Mexicutioner himself was a selection of Dayton Moore out of the Padres organization. Soria was the epitome of a high risk, high reward gamble as he came to KC with an injury history. Since then, he's been selected as an All-Star and become the career saves leader amongst Mexican born players. At only 26, Soria looks to be a staple of the franchise for a long time to come (if he isn't used as trade bait first).
Free agency is a discussion which basically begins and ends with two players: Jose Guillen and Gil Meche. These two (extremely) high priced players have offered mixed results. At the end of each of their contracts, the Royals will have spent over 90 million dollars combined on the couple. This number is most likely the reason David Glass's wallet has remained tight over the past two years--virtually puting a hold on all major free agency acquisitions.
In the meantime, Dayton has decided to aggressively pursue a different tact by concentrating the budget on the Rule 4 draft and international signings. We examined the most recent draft in last week's farm report, so today we'll look at the Royals' draft strategy since 2006 as well as international signings.
The Royals have invested heavily in the international market the past two years. The three most notable signings have been 21 year old left-handed starting pitcher Noel Arguelles, 17 year old third base prospect Cheslor Cuthbert, and 18 year old catching prospect Jin-Ho Shin.
Arguelles is currently on the shelf after pitching for 18 months straight internationally and for scouts, but when he returns, he should adjust quickly to low A and projects as a number two starter. Cuthbert is the definition of a "project" player. He possesses plenty of raw power and decent range at third base, but has a long way to go. Shin (Korean) was regarded as the top catching prospect on the international market. All three players were considered great signings as they were coveted by any team with enough money to dish out. We can view these guys as a supplement to the draft. They are players who, if able to enter the draft, scouts dubbed as having the potential to go anywhere from round one to round five.
Every year, over a thousand amateur players are available in the draft. These players consist of high school seniors, all junior college players, college juniors and seniors, and any independent league baseball players. The MLB draft differentiates itself from drafts in basketball and football by allowing players to enter, be drafted and then decide not to sign their contract (allowing them to either go on to college, return to college, or play independent ball).
These stipulations often cause players to slide due to sign-ability concerns; meaning they possess a certain price tag which needs to be met in order for that player not to honor their college commitment. In essence, a high school player worthy of being drafted in the top 10 could easily slide to the second or third round. Teams with the necessary budget may then select these players and elect to pay them well over slot to secure their signature.
Additionally, often times a player may be drafted two or three times; once out of high school, once after their junior year, and again after their senior year. What's the advantage of paying an amount over the recommended slot price?
Let's say player X is a high school pitcher from Texas. He's a 6'5", 180 pound power righty with a firm commitment to be a Longhorn. Weeks before the draft, his agent notifies all MLB teams that his signing price will be a non-negotiable three million dollars. Still, even if a team is willing to pay the three million, a chance remains that the player will choose his commitment to Texas over playing professionally. On talent alone, player X is top 10 caliber. However, because of the risk involved, he slips to the third round.
This exact scenario is one which the Royals have been chasing the past 4 years in the draft. Instead of pursuing big time free agents or resigning current players who might cost a pretty penny, Dayton and his management and scouting team have decided to invest a large bulk of the budget in these types of players.
In 2007, we saw the Royals select Mike Moustakas second overall. He was considered an extremely high risk to sign. In 2008, they followed the same pattern selecting Eric Hosmer with the third overall selection. These weren't the only high risk high school players selected. Others include Dan Duffy, Hilton Richardson, Derrick Robinson, Bryan Paukovits, Michael Montgomery, Tyler Sample, Tim Melville, John Lamb, William Myers, Crawford Simmons, Michael Antonio (2010), Jason Adam (2010), and Johnathon Gray (2010). Interesting to note that all players on this list are top 25 prospects for the Royals, with 5 being in the top 10.
Now that we've explained the "process" in detail, let's summarize; The Royals have had so-so success with Major League transactions, but it's not the Majors which have been their focus. Dayton is a general manager with the eye of a scout and a real talent for building a farm system. So, while certain Major League moves have contributed to the "process" (Soria, Greinke's deal, and solidifying Butler's bat in the lineup), there's no question the Royals are building for the future. When will this "future" come to fruition?
We've seen a demotion and position switch of Alex Gordon from third to left field in order to loosen him up mentally and set his bat on fire. Additionally, this move paves the way for Moustakas to earn the hot corner job as early as next season. Another position switch may be on the horizon with the emergence of Eric Hosmer. Although he may not see the Majors until 2012, his rise to the top may push Butler to the DH spot.
The rest of the "future" outfield is on its way with Robinson filling in at center and Brett Eibner (2010) most likely making the shift from center to right field.
The "future" infield is still missing three of its five parts: Catcher, second base and short stop. Wil Myers has developed into one of the top catching prospects in the game and will fill the catching void in a few years. Until then, Manny Pina will keep his spot warm. Second base should be filled by Johnny Giavotella (Dustin Pedroia Jr.), and with today's official announcement of Christian Colon's signing--we have our short stop of the future.
With all position players accounted for, a look into the starting rotation is up next. Our "Ace" is in place and will sit a top of this talented rotation of youngsters: Luke Hochevar, Mike Montgomery, John Lamb, Dan Duffy and Aaron Crow. Obviously, a rotation consists of five and not six pitchers. Beer League fully expects the Royals to trade one or more of these pitchers in an effort to fill other various voids on the field. As Dayton always says, "pitching is the currency of baseball".
While the results on the Major League level have been uninspiring to say the least, the Royals' farm system is full of upside, potential and success. Last week, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals were awarded with the first half league title. This award automatically qualifies them for postseason play--a promising sign as many of our highly touted prospects play on the team.
Remember the year 2012. Keep it in mind. The fate of the Royals organization and its chances at making a series run depend on the continued development of the aforementioned players. And, just like every Friday, here's a list of the farm system's top performers:
AAA
LF Alex Gordon= .333 14(2B) 1(3B) 10(HR) 32(RBI) 6(SB) 38BB-52K
1B Kila Ka'aihue= .313 14(2B) 12(HR) 46(RBI) 65BB-47K
RF David Lough= .274 8(2B) 6(3B) 8(HR) 30(RBI) 6(SB) 10BB-39K
RP Blaine Hardy= 2-1 43(IP) 31(K) 1.27 (ERA) 0.81(WHIP)
AA
3B Mike Moustakas= .350 21(2B) 18(HR) 66(RBI) 22BB-36K
CF Derrick Robinson= .292 11(2B) 6(3B) 24(RBI) 30(SB) 29BB-50K
2B Johnny Giavotella= .283 16(2B) 3(3B) 1(HR) 24(RBI) 9(SB) 34BB-34K
1B Clint Robinson= .301 26(2B) 1(3B) 12(HR) 50(RBI) 33BB-45K
LF Paulo Orlando= .316 10(2B) 5(3B) 3(HR) 26(RBI) 14BB-28K
RP Louis Coleman= 2-1 48(IP) 52(K) 2.23(ERA) 0.93(WHIP)
SP Mike Montgomery= 5-1 53(IP) 58(K) 2.01(ERA) 0.98(WHIP)
SP Edgar Osuna= 6-2 80(IP) 55(K) 2.59(ERA) 1.10(WHIP)
High A
1B Eric Hosmer= .358 24(2B) 6(3B) 4(HR) 43(RBI) 10(SB) 33BB-27K
SP Chris Dwyer= 4-3 73(IP) 77(K) 2.95(ERA) 1.27(WHIP)
SP John Lamb= 5-5 81(IP) 91(K) 1.76(ERA) 1.11(WHIP)
Low A
C William Myers= .287 16(2B) 1(3B) 10(HR) 43(RBI) 9(SB) 45BB-51K
SP Tyler Sample= 2-3 63(IP) 53(K) 4.00(ERA) 1.44(WHIP)
SP Bryan Paukovits= 3-3 62(IP) 65(K) 3.32(ERA) 0.95(WHIP)
Keep your heads up Royals fans. The best has yet to come. Twenty five years of losing and witnessing unattractive baseball is enough to make watching reruns of Bananas in Pajamas exciting. The "process" is working. It's slow. It takes time. In just five years, Dayton Moore and his staff have transformed one of the worst minor league systems in baseball to a consensus top 5 farm. The crops will be ripe for picking in 2012. Patience is a virtue. And, this time it's going to pay off.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Draft Night Eve
With the draft under 24 hours away, it's that time--time to put together Beer League's attempt at guessing who will go where; otherwise known as a "mock draft".
Before we go into the actual picks, let's examine the ground rules used to determine the players chosen. First, only the lottery picks were analyzed. Second, choices were based on both need and overall player value.
Unfortunately, in a lot of cases, teams value high ceiling over actual team needs. This makes it extremely difficult to accurately predict who will go where. This is opposite of the NFL draft where a team with a major hole at a primary position is likely to fill that position with their first selection.
Additionally, draft day trades occur constantly and throughout both rounds. This process alters who goes at what slot as teams will work out a deal prior to picking.
Taking all of this into consideration, the Washington Wizards are officially on the clock:
Wizards= John Wall
-An obvious pick here as Wall is one of the more special talents to come out in a long time. He will run the point from day one, pushing Gilbert Arenas aside to the shooting guard spot (assuming they can't trade him).
76ers= Evan Turner
-The Sixers could absolutely go with a guy like Favors or Cousins here after trading away Samuel Dalembert. However, Spencer Hawes is a developing young center and they do have guys like Elton Brand, Marreese Speights, Jason Smith and Thadeous Young who can all play in the post. Turner fills a need at the wing position as a point-forward. His handle and scoring ability will take pressure off of young Jrue Holiday.
Nets= Derrick Favors
-With Brook Lopez and Yi Jianlian already on the roster, this threesome would make one of the best young post rotations in the NBA. This pick depends a lot on what the Nets believe they'll draw in from free agency. (Remember Beer League's take on a certain super star heading to the Nets? We think he'd enjoy this young, complimenting big man rotation)
Timberwolves= Wesley Johnson
-He's been their guy since day one and we don't see anything changing.
Kings= Demarcus Cousins
-After acquiring Dalembert, Cousins joins Sacramento as a perfect offensive compliment to Dalembert's post defense. Don't forget about Jason Thompson who may have something to say about one of these guys' playing time. Add these three to Tyreke Evans and Casspi, and a nice corp of young players might be looking to get the Kings out of the lottery for 2011.
Warriors= Al-Farouq Aminu
-The ultra athletic small forward may have the highest ceiling in the draft. Can he put it all together and become the superstar Golden State is hoping for?
Pistons= Greg Monroe
-This versatile center fits nicely with the players already on Detroit's roster. They could go defensive here with Aldrich or Udoh, but Monroe seems to have more of a balanced pro game and they'd be stoked if he fell this far.
Clippers= Paul George
-The Clippers have a solid core of veteran players in Kaman, Baron Davis, and Drew Gooden. They also have a young crop of talent in Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, and Blake Griffin. George brings massive offensive upside and versatility to this staff and would look to see plenty of time at the small forward spot.
Jazz= Luke Babbitt
-Babbitt is a tall, slender forward who knows how to score. There may never be enough toys for Derron Williams to play with, but Babbitt is a nice one.
Pacers= Gordon Heyward
-This pick may be a slight stretch, but he's a local product and fits well with Indiana's roster. Mike Dunleavy anybody?
Hornets= Xavier Henry
-The Hornets are Chris Paul's team and he needs weapons to dish to. Peja is nice. He's got talent in the post with Emeka and David West. Now, it's time to get a sweet shooting lefty.
Grizzlies= Avery Bradley
-Assuming Rudy Gay sticks around, the Grizzlies have no gaping holes. Bradley is the best high upside athlete left on the board. We're sure he can find something positive to do in Memphis.
Raptors= Cole Aldrich
-Chris Bosh is likely getting out of town via free agency. Drafting Cole to play center allows Bargnani to shift to his more natural forward position and gives the Raptors a defensive anchor in the post.
Do we really expect to score a 100% on the "mock"? No. But, wouldn't it be cool if we did?
Before we go into the actual picks, let's examine the ground rules used to determine the players chosen. First, only the lottery picks were analyzed. Second, choices were based on both need and overall player value.
Unfortunately, in a lot of cases, teams value high ceiling over actual team needs. This makes it extremely difficult to accurately predict who will go where. This is opposite of the NFL draft where a team with a major hole at a primary position is likely to fill that position with their first selection.
Additionally, draft day trades occur constantly and throughout both rounds. This process alters who goes at what slot as teams will work out a deal prior to picking.
Taking all of this into consideration, the Washington Wizards are officially on the clock:
Wizards= John Wall
-An obvious pick here as Wall is one of the more special talents to come out in a long time. He will run the point from day one, pushing Gilbert Arenas aside to the shooting guard spot (assuming they can't trade him).
76ers= Evan Turner
-The Sixers could absolutely go with a guy like Favors or Cousins here after trading away Samuel Dalembert. However, Spencer Hawes is a developing young center and they do have guys like Elton Brand, Marreese Speights, Jason Smith and Thadeous Young who can all play in the post. Turner fills a need at the wing position as a point-forward. His handle and scoring ability will take pressure off of young Jrue Holiday.
Nets= Derrick Favors
-With Brook Lopez and Yi Jianlian already on the roster, this threesome would make one of the best young post rotations in the NBA. This pick depends a lot on what the Nets believe they'll draw in from free agency. (Remember Beer League's take on a certain super star heading to the Nets? We think he'd enjoy this young, complimenting big man rotation)
Timberwolves= Wesley Johnson
-He's been their guy since day one and we don't see anything changing.
Kings= Demarcus Cousins
-After acquiring Dalembert, Cousins joins Sacramento as a perfect offensive compliment to Dalembert's post defense. Don't forget about Jason Thompson who may have something to say about one of these guys' playing time. Add these three to Tyreke Evans and Casspi, and a nice corp of young players might be looking to get the Kings out of the lottery for 2011.
Warriors= Al-Farouq Aminu
-The ultra athletic small forward may have the highest ceiling in the draft. Can he put it all together and become the superstar Golden State is hoping for?
Pistons= Greg Monroe
-This versatile center fits nicely with the players already on Detroit's roster. They could go defensive here with Aldrich or Udoh, but Monroe seems to have more of a balanced pro game and they'd be stoked if he fell this far.
Clippers= Paul George
-The Clippers have a solid core of veteran players in Kaman, Baron Davis, and Drew Gooden. They also have a young crop of talent in Eric Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, and Blake Griffin. George brings massive offensive upside and versatility to this staff and would look to see plenty of time at the small forward spot.
Jazz= Luke Babbitt
-Babbitt is a tall, slender forward who knows how to score. There may never be enough toys for Derron Williams to play with, but Babbitt is a nice one.
Pacers= Gordon Heyward
-This pick may be a slight stretch, but he's a local product and fits well with Indiana's roster. Mike Dunleavy anybody?
Hornets= Xavier Henry
-The Hornets are Chris Paul's team and he needs weapons to dish to. Peja is nice. He's got talent in the post with Emeka and David West. Now, it's time to get a sweet shooting lefty.
Grizzlies= Avery Bradley
-Assuming Rudy Gay sticks around, the Grizzlies have no gaping holes. Bradley is the best high upside athlete left on the board. We're sure he can find something positive to do in Memphis.
Raptors= Cole Aldrich
-Chris Bosh is likely getting out of town via free agency. Drafting Cole to play center allows Bargnani to shift to his more natural forward position and gives the Raptors a defensive anchor in the post.
Do we really expect to score a 100% on the "mock"? No. But, wouldn't it be cool if we did?
Friday, June 18, 2010
Down on the Farm : All-Star Edition
Before we go into today's article, we need to announce a few changes and updates to the site. First off, the scheduling format has undergone a face-lift. The new format will be two bookend posts on Monday and Friday. Monday will alternate between fantasy sports and national interest and Friday will continue to be the Royals' farm report. Additionally, while Wednesday's post has been "eliminated", a third "ghost" post will appear periodically as news and events permit. These ghost-posts will spotlight major events such as breaking news, drafts, or anything else especially of note. Thanks for your patience. Now, on to the important stuff!
The buzz around the MLB, and especially surrounding Kansas City, for the past year has centered around the site of the 2012 All-Star game. With the recent renovations to the "K", Kansas City believed itself to be a player in the race for the All-Star game. This past week, commissioner Bud Selig reiterated those sentiments by awarding the home of jazz and barbecue with their first All-Star game in 37 years.
Aside from this event carrying enormous economic rewards (an estimated 70 million dollar boom), a very quiet underlying factor seems present; Dayton Moore's plan from the "get-go" has been to begin competing in 2012 with home-grown talent, and to be fully "organic" by 2014.
What does this mean? Well, it's supposed to mean his draft selections are expected to begin blossoming into the Majors within the next calender year. The first wave of this talent should include names like Moustakas, Colon, Hardy, Robinson, Pina, Coleman, Montgomery, Crow and Dwyer. Guys like Eric Hosmer, Johnny Giavotella, John Lamb, and Brett Eibner are supposed to become the second wave.
So, with Dayton's plan coinciding with Kansas City playing host to the Major League All-Star game, an interesting possibility arises. Could one of these young names represent the Royals as part of the American League team in 2012? A long-shot? Sure. But, Possible? Absolutely! Remember that Evan Longoria kid coming up as a rookie and taking the league by storm? Also, remember he accomplished this feat in the most difficult division in baseball?
If you've followed Beer League's farm reports each Friday, you've probably recognized a few players (or more) taking full advantage of their opportunities and mashing in the Minors. Guess who else has recognized this? The rest of the Minor Leagues. Kansas City had fifteen minor leaguers selected to All-Star teams at three different levels. Beer League has followed or covered eleven of the fifteen. Who are they?
*indicates a player on Beer League's top 10 prospects list
AA
*3B Mike Moustakas= .344 17(2B) 15(HR) 57(RBI) 20BB-30K
-As one of the youngest players in the Texas League (21), Mike ranks in the top 3 of most offensive categories.
CF Derrick Robinson= .299 10(2B) 6(3B) 24(RBI) 28(SB) 28BB-47K
-The speedy, athletic center fielder continues to have success with the stick. Anyone catch his web gem on ESPN?
2B Johnny Giavotella= .273 14(2B) 3(3B) 19(RBI) 8(SB) 30BB-34K
-The power is still not showing up this season, but fear not, the pop is present (somewhere). Everything else looks on par as he continues to collect hitting stats.
1B Clint Robinson= .285(AVG) 24(2B) 1(3B) 10(HR) 46(RBI) 31BB-43K
-The only drawback on Clint is his age (1985).
OF Paulo Orlando= .293(AVG) 8(2B) 4(3B) 2(HR) 20(RBI) 9BB-26K
-Athletic Brazilian seems to progress each year with the stick.
OF Tim Smith= .301(AVG) 8(2B) 5(HR) 22(RBI) 17BB-15K
SP Edgar Osuna= 6-2 75(IP) 54(K) 2.76(ERA) 1.11(WHIP)
-Another successful Rule 5 draft pick for Dayton Moore?
*SP Mike Montgomery= 5-1 50(IP) 55(K) 1.98(ERA) 0.98(WHIP)
-After a stint on the DL, he's back and ready to blow away more hitters.
SP Mario Santiago= 5-5 69(IP) 37(K) 2.33(ERA) 1.21(ERA)
A+
*1B Eric Hosmer= .352 23(2B) 5(3B) 3(HR) 40(RBI) 9(SB) 28BB-26K
-When he finally realizes his power, watch out for Hosmer. He will lack nothing.
C Salvador Perez= .262 11(2B) 1(3B) 3(HR) 22(RBI) 1(SB) 9BB-17K
SP Alex Caldera= 6-4 74(IP) 71(K) 3.25(ERA) 1.27(WHIP)
SP Christopher Dwyer= 3-3 64(IP) 64(K) 3.22(ERA) 1.29(WHIP)
A-
*C William Myers= .290 16(2B) 1(3B) 10(HR) 43(RBI) 8(SB) 39BB-50K
-Hello Brian McCann Jr.
SP Bryan Paukovits= 3-3 61(IP) 65(K) 3.08(ERA) 0.88(WHIP)
Totals
C= 2
1B= 2
2B= 1
3B= 1
OF= 3
P= 6
It's important to keep in mind that players such as Dan Duffy, John Lamb, and Manny Pina did not get selected due to three different reasons: Duffy hasn't played yet this year, Lamb has played at two different levels, and Pina has been injured the past few weeks. All three players would have been selected had these circumstances been different.
So, could a perfect storm erupt? Could Moustakas become the next Longoria? Only time will tell, but if this year's performance is any indication, "Moose" looks to be destined for a hellacious hitting career.
Let's hope he can get it going early enough to represent the boys in blue on the American League team in 2012.
The buzz around the MLB, and especially surrounding Kansas City, for the past year has centered around the site of the 2012 All-Star game. With the recent renovations to the "K", Kansas City believed itself to be a player in the race for the All-Star game. This past week, commissioner Bud Selig reiterated those sentiments by awarding the home of jazz and barbecue with their first All-Star game in 37 years.
Aside from this event carrying enormous economic rewards (an estimated 70 million dollar boom), a very quiet underlying factor seems present; Dayton Moore's plan from the "get-go" has been to begin competing in 2012 with home-grown talent, and to be fully "organic" by 2014.
What does this mean? Well, it's supposed to mean his draft selections are expected to begin blossoming into the Majors within the next calender year. The first wave of this talent should include names like Moustakas, Colon, Hardy, Robinson, Pina, Coleman, Montgomery, Crow and Dwyer. Guys like Eric Hosmer, Johnny Giavotella, John Lamb, and Brett Eibner are supposed to become the second wave.
So, with Dayton's plan coinciding with Kansas City playing host to the Major League All-Star game, an interesting possibility arises. Could one of these young names represent the Royals as part of the American League team in 2012? A long-shot? Sure. But, Possible? Absolutely! Remember that Evan Longoria kid coming up as a rookie and taking the league by storm? Also, remember he accomplished this feat in the most difficult division in baseball?
If you've followed Beer League's farm reports each Friday, you've probably recognized a few players (or more) taking full advantage of their opportunities and mashing in the Minors. Guess who else has recognized this? The rest of the Minor Leagues. Kansas City had fifteen minor leaguers selected to All-Star teams at three different levels. Beer League has followed or covered eleven of the fifteen. Who are they?
*indicates a player on Beer League's top 10 prospects list
AA
*3B Mike Moustakas= .344 17(2B) 15(HR) 57(RBI) 20BB-30K
-As one of the youngest players in the Texas League (21), Mike ranks in the top 3 of most offensive categories.
CF Derrick Robinson= .299 10(2B) 6(3B) 24(RBI) 28(SB) 28BB-47K
-The speedy, athletic center fielder continues to have success with the stick. Anyone catch his web gem on ESPN?
2B Johnny Giavotella= .273 14(2B) 3(3B) 19(RBI) 8(SB) 30BB-34K
-The power is still not showing up this season, but fear not, the pop is present (somewhere). Everything else looks on par as he continues to collect hitting stats.
1B Clint Robinson= .285(AVG) 24(2B) 1(3B) 10(HR) 46(RBI) 31BB-43K
-The only drawback on Clint is his age (1985).
OF Paulo Orlando= .293(AVG) 8(2B) 4(3B) 2(HR) 20(RBI) 9BB-26K
-Athletic Brazilian seems to progress each year with the stick.
OF Tim Smith= .301(AVG) 8(2B) 5(HR) 22(RBI) 17BB-15K
SP Edgar Osuna= 6-2 75(IP) 54(K) 2.76(ERA) 1.11(WHIP)
-Another successful Rule 5 draft pick for Dayton Moore?
*SP Mike Montgomery= 5-1 50(IP) 55(K) 1.98(ERA) 0.98(WHIP)
-After a stint on the DL, he's back and ready to blow away more hitters.
SP Mario Santiago= 5-5 69(IP) 37(K) 2.33(ERA) 1.21(ERA)
A+
*1B Eric Hosmer= .352 23(2B) 5(3B) 3(HR) 40(RBI) 9(SB) 28BB-26K
-When he finally realizes his power, watch out for Hosmer. He will lack nothing.
C Salvador Perez= .262 11(2B) 1(3B) 3(HR) 22(RBI) 1(SB) 9BB-17K
SP Alex Caldera= 6-4 74(IP) 71(K) 3.25(ERA) 1.27(WHIP)
SP Christopher Dwyer= 3-3 64(IP) 64(K) 3.22(ERA) 1.29(WHIP)
A-
*C William Myers= .290 16(2B) 1(3B) 10(HR) 43(RBI) 8(SB) 39BB-50K
-Hello Brian McCann Jr.
SP Bryan Paukovits= 3-3 61(IP) 65(K) 3.08(ERA) 0.88(WHIP)
Totals
C= 2
1B= 2
2B= 1
3B= 1
OF= 3
P= 6
It's important to keep in mind that players such as Dan Duffy, John Lamb, and Manny Pina did not get selected due to three different reasons: Duffy hasn't played yet this year, Lamb has played at two different levels, and Pina has been injured the past few weeks. All three players would have been selected had these circumstances been different.
So, could a perfect storm erupt? Could Moustakas become the next Longoria? Only time will tell, but if this year's performance is any indication, "Moose" looks to be destined for a hellacious hitting career.
Let's hope he can get it going early enough to represent the boys in blue on the American League team in 2012.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Big XII - Spotlight on the Future
Following the latest breaking news concerning the Big XII is like sitting outside during a Kansas thunderstorm-- it's an unexpected mix of rain, hail, raging winds, cloud-to-dirt lightning, and booming thunder. Only in this case, it's more a blender of swirling rumors, sketchy reports, and unfounded "tweets" all followed up by random and dicey pieces of possible scenery-reversing news bits.
Taking all of this into consideration, Beer League has put together a three part break down of potential realignment situations. While reading, keep in mind that at any moment (even while this is being written) the landscape of possibilities could receive a ground-shaking blow.
This three part saga is organized in order of most desirable to least appealing.
Scenario One: The Big XII becomes the Big Ten
-With Nebraska and Colorado already throwing in the towel in hopes of bigger and brighter...dollar signs; KU, MU, KSU, ISU, OSU, OU, BU, UT, A & M, and TECH remain. This possibility remains in tact after a last minute plea by Dan Beebe to Texas and company beginning last night. The sticking point with the new deal is the increase in revenue from television contracts. Also, schools will be able to negotiate their own television deals--something Texas covets to a great degree. Additionally, various reports have indicated A & M's strong desire to move into the Southeastern Conference and out from the shadow of its long time "big brother", Texas. A departure of A & M would undoubtedly bring the Big XII to an explosive end, resulting in a final bow of Texas on its way to the Pac-10. Resulting in...
Scenario Two: Splitting the Big XII between the Pac-10 and Mountain West
-Since the Big XII's inception, it's been a little-kept secret that Texas is the ringleader, the MVP, and (quite honestly) the bully of the conference. What the Longhorns want, the Longhorns get. Without A & M in the picture, Texas understands the lack of appeal offered by the remaining Big XII and would opt for a partnership towards the west. The Pac-10 would welcome Texas in a heartbeat as a major boost to its conference in all aspects. Riding the Longhorns' coattails out of town would be a follow-the-leader lineup of Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State. That makes 15 schools for the Pac-10 (remember Colorado has already accepted the Pac-10's invite). It's believed that a contingent offer was placed on the table to KU assuming a Texas A & M spurn. With KU, the Pac-10 grows to their desired "Super Conference" number of 16. But, it's just not that easy. Why? Other reports have indicated a Pac-10 desire of the Salt Lake City television market, placing Utah as the firm 16th member. Leading into...
Scenario Three: The Mountain West garners an increase in basketball RPI
-In this scenario, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State join the Pac-10 with Utah. This leaves slim pickings for other BCS conferences to choose from, allowing the Mountain West Conference to step in and "save the day" by offering a 3-way rivalry-saving invite of KU, KSU, and MU. The additions of these three schools automatically qualifies the Mountain West to become a BCS conference--something they've been fighting towards for some time. The conference has already added Boise State in an effort to make itself more appealing. Unfortunately, despite gaining BCS standing, it may prove more difficult to convince high profile recruits in football and basketball to join a conference in which they'd play in empty (basketball) road venues like Texas Christian and Colorado State.
While rumors have been floating about a possible merger with the Big East and invites being extended to KU, KSU and MU, this doesn't make sense geographically, economically or academically (remember the "student" comes before the "athlete" in "student-athlete"). As tempting as it sounds to create a "super" basketball conference, the pieces just don't seem to add up.
As predicted in paragraph two, news just broke out of Dallas Morning News that Texas has declined an invite to the Pac-10. The source in the story appears to be Pac-10 commissioner, Larry Scott.
Based on this report, Scenario One is actually the most likely now with Texas staying put. Also, this indicates that Texas A & M will concrete itself as the tenth member of the Big XII...Or whatever the new name might be.
Although this is the latest news, keep in mind that nothing has been certain during the past week. And, nothing will be certain until the dotted line is signed.
Taking all of this into consideration, Beer League has put together a three part break down of potential realignment situations. While reading, keep in mind that at any moment (even while this is being written) the landscape of possibilities could receive a ground-shaking blow.
This three part saga is organized in order of most desirable to least appealing.
Scenario One: The Big XII becomes the Big Ten
-With Nebraska and Colorado already throwing in the towel in hopes of bigger and brighter...dollar signs; KU, MU, KSU, ISU, OSU, OU, BU, UT, A & M, and TECH remain. This possibility remains in tact after a last minute plea by Dan Beebe to Texas and company beginning last night. The sticking point with the new deal is the increase in revenue from television contracts. Also, schools will be able to negotiate their own television deals--something Texas covets to a great degree. Additionally, various reports have indicated A & M's strong desire to move into the Southeastern Conference and out from the shadow of its long time "big brother", Texas. A departure of A & M would undoubtedly bring the Big XII to an explosive end, resulting in a final bow of Texas on its way to the Pac-10. Resulting in...
Scenario Two: Splitting the Big XII between the Pac-10 and Mountain West
-Since the Big XII's inception, it's been a little-kept secret that Texas is the ringleader, the MVP, and (quite honestly) the bully of the conference. What the Longhorns want, the Longhorns get. Without A & M in the picture, Texas understands the lack of appeal offered by the remaining Big XII and would opt for a partnership towards the west. The Pac-10 would welcome Texas in a heartbeat as a major boost to its conference in all aspects. Riding the Longhorns' coattails out of town would be a follow-the-leader lineup of Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State. That makes 15 schools for the Pac-10 (remember Colorado has already accepted the Pac-10's invite). It's believed that a contingent offer was placed on the table to KU assuming a Texas A & M spurn. With KU, the Pac-10 grows to their desired "Super Conference" number of 16. But, it's just not that easy. Why? Other reports have indicated a Pac-10 desire of the Salt Lake City television market, placing Utah as the firm 16th member. Leading into...
Scenario Three: The Mountain West garners an increase in basketball RPI
-In this scenario, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State join the Pac-10 with Utah. This leaves slim pickings for other BCS conferences to choose from, allowing the Mountain West Conference to step in and "save the day" by offering a 3-way rivalry-saving invite of KU, KSU, and MU. The additions of these three schools automatically qualifies the Mountain West to become a BCS conference--something they've been fighting towards for some time. The conference has already added Boise State in an effort to make itself more appealing. Unfortunately, despite gaining BCS standing, it may prove more difficult to convince high profile recruits in football and basketball to join a conference in which they'd play in empty (basketball) road venues like Texas Christian and Colorado State.
While rumors have been floating about a possible merger with the Big East and invites being extended to KU, KSU and MU, this doesn't make sense geographically, economically or academically (remember the "student" comes before the "athlete" in "student-athlete"). As tempting as it sounds to create a "super" basketball conference, the pieces just don't seem to add up.
As predicted in paragraph two, news just broke out of Dallas Morning News that Texas has declined an invite to the Pac-10. The source in the story appears to be Pac-10 commissioner, Larry Scott.
Based on this report, Scenario One is actually the most likely now with Texas staying put. Also, this indicates that Texas A & M will concrete itself as the tenth member of the Big XII...Or whatever the new name might be.
Although this is the latest news, keep in mind that nothing has been certain during the past week. And, nothing will be certain until the dotted line is signed.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Down on the Farm
Every Friday, Beer League brings you some sort of farm update. This week, we're going to review the MLB Rule 4 draft (amateur players), 25 statistical player updates, and a brand new top 20 prospect list.
Coming into the 2010 season, many scouting corporations such as Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus ranked the Royals farm system somewhere in the middle of the pack. After picking in the top of the first round for nearly a decade, this was terrible news to Royals fans. If true, this news meant that despite the Royals' chances at top talent in the draft, they had failed to successfully scout and sign the real top players.
Even more disappointing was that (again, if true) Dayton Moore came to our franchise with the track record of being a scouting and farm-building expert. He took chances on drafting high school players like Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer with his 2007 and 2008 top 5 selections. Why were these picks so risky? High school players notoriously have high demands due to the immense amount of leverage they control. They are able to enter the draft, garner a top 5 selection, and (if they don't get the money they want) still honor their commitment to play college ball. If this happens, the team which selected that player will be compensated with the same pick in the following year's draft.
Regardless, our middle-of-the-pack ranking was due to these two players' combined lack of stellar production. Their 2009 stat lines left a lot to be desired by companies like Baseball America and especially the Royals.
In this unique situation, the Royals had two seemingly good explanations for their coveted young players' lack of statistics. For Moustakas, the organization understood he was playing in an extreme pitchers park with swirling wings. These aren't the kind of swirling winds which aid hitters in certain MLB parks (cough, NY). They are the type which push the ball back and keep it from the fence. "Moose" still mustered 16 homers, though.
Hosmer's story was a bit different. He mysteriously took a hiatus from playing while the local radio shows and Royals blogs tried to determine the reason. Finally, we learned he was having difficulty seeing the ball at the plate and needed special glasses. The amount of time required to get back into the game caused everyone to become skeptical.
Fortunately, both "Moose" and "Hos" are mashing, raking, and any other syllable for domination of the plate--actual stat lines will be shown below. This emergence of our "top hitting prospects" caused many people from these scouting organizations to re-evaluate their opinions on KC's farm system. Before the draft, we were thought of as a top 10 system.
Speaking of the draft, let's take a look at some of the key picks in 2010.
Round 1, pick 4: SS Christian Colon, Cal State Fullerton
-The separation of talent in this year's draft was no secret. The top 3 were chiseled far away and above the rest. So, picking at 4 had its drawbacks. However, the Royals believe they selected the short stop of the future in Colon. In fact, most other MLB teams believe the same thing. No, he's not a toolsy freak like other high profile short stops, but he plays good fundamental baseball. He understands the game at an alarmingly high degree and has the leadership skills to become a positively vocal part of the Major League foundation. He should hit for average (as shown by his amateur stats) and some nice pop (16 homers as a junior this year). At 6 feet and about 190, he sports an athletic frame. Some think he may have to shift to second base if he let's his body go at all.
Player Profile= Placido Polanco (with pop)
Round 2, pick 4: CF Brett Eibner, Arkansas
-Eibner was on many team's boards as a first rounder...as a pitcher. He only pitched minimally in college, but the belief was if he focused and honed in on his pitching ability, he had endless potential. Why were the Royals able to snag him in the second round? Eibner wants to hit, and the Royals drafted him to do just that. He brings a ton of power from the right side (21 homers this year) and progressed nicely each year he was at Arkansas. The best part? He'll showcase this mashing ability as a toolsy center fielder. Remember that arm teams raved about? Imagine him beading balls in to the catcher from deep center. Is it just a bonus that he's got loads of speed and athletic ability. Sounds like the Royals' kind of player, huh?
Player Profile= Matt Kemp-ish
Round 3, pick 4: SS Michael Antonio, HS
-Another short stop? Yes. This kids quite a bit different than Colon. He was a pre-season high school All-American this year, only to let down just about every MLB team with his mediocre performance as a senior. He's looked at as a project. He's very raw, but the Royals believe they got the best player on the board here.
Player Profile: Too Raw to Tell
Round 4, pick 4: LHP Kevin Chapman, Florida
-This is a very exciting pick. After going through Tommy-John surgery early in his college career, Chapman rebounded to have an excellent year in 2010. He lights up the guns in the mid to upper 90's and looks to have closer-type stuff.
(FYI-no more player profiles)
Round 5, pick 4: RHP Jason Adam, HS
-Adam is a guy a lot of scouts thought would go in the second round. He has a commitment to play for Missouri, but supposedly about a million dollars can change that. Did I mention he's a local kid? Blue Valley North West. Lot's of upside here!
All in all, the Royals selected 1 second baseman, 1 first baseman, 7 short stops, 7 catchers, 9 outfielders, and 26 pitchers. There were 9 high school players selected and the rest were either college of community college guys.
Interesting to note that before the draft the Royals publicly stated they would look to draft short stop depth, catching depth, and lots of arms. Looks like they stuck to it.
Speaking of depth, let's take a look at the top 25 performers down on the farm in no particular order:
*indicates a blue chip prospect/player
AAA
*LF Alex Gordon= .370 9(2B) 1(3B) 10(HR) 29(RBI) 5(SB) 29BB-36K
1B Kila Ka'aihue= .315 8(2B) 11(HR) 36(RBI) 50BB-36K
OF David Lough= .278 7(2B) 5(3B) 5(HR) 23(RBI) 5(SB) 9BB-28K
OF Jordon Parraz= .257 13(2B) 3(HR) 27(RBI) 5(SB) 26BB-35K
*RP Blaine Hardy= 2-0 36(IP) 25(K) 0.50(ERA) 0.67(WHIP)
AA
*3B Mike Moustakas= .354 15(2B) 13(HR) 50(RBI) 17BB-25K
*CF Derrick Robinson= .277 6(2B) 5(3B) 20(RBI) 26(SB) 28BB-43K
*2B Johnny Giavotella= .269 13(2B) 2(3B) 17(RBI) 8(SB) 25BB-27K
C Manuel Pina= .265 7(2B) 4(HR) 21(RBI) 18BB-16K
SP Edgar Osuna= 5-2 65(IP) 44(K) 1.66(ERA) 1.00(WHIP)
*SP Aaron Crow= 2-5 65(IP) 40(K) 5.68(ERA) 1.65(WHIP)
*RP Louis Coleman= 2-0 40(IP) 38(K) 2.25(ERA) 0.90(WHIP)
*SP Mike Montgomery= 5-1 50(IP) 55(K) 1.98(ERA) 0.98(WHIP)
High A
*1B Eric Hosmer= .361 22(2B) 5(3B) 2(HR) 37(RBI) 9(SB) 27BB-23K
C Salvador Perez= .284 11(2B) 1(3B) 3(HR) 22(RBI) 1(SB) 9BB-14K
SP Christopher Dwyer= 3-3 64(IP) 64(K) 3.22(ERA) 1.29(WHIP)
*SP Timothy Melville= 2-6 58(IP) 55(K) 5.86(ERA) 1.37(WHIP)
RP Buddy Baumann= 2-0 32(IP) 37(K) 2.48(ERA) 1.32(WHIP)
RP Patrick Keating= 2-0 30(IP) 41(K) 1.19(ERA) 0.92(WHIP)
RP Barry Bowden= 2-3 26(IP) 30(K) 1.71(ERA) 1.18(WHIP)
*SP John Lamb= 4-4 64(IP) 71(K) 1.55(ERA) 1.06(WHIP)
Low A
*C Wil Myers= .289 14(2B) 1(3B) 10(HR) 43(RBI) 8(SB) 38BB-43K
*CF Hilton Richardson= .193 6(2B) 3(3B) 4(HR) 20(RBI) 19(SB) 12BB-41K
*SP Tyler Sample= 2-3 54(IP) 47(K) 4.47(ERA) 1.51(WHIP)
SP Bryan Paukovits= 3-3 54(IP) 59(K) 3.31(ERA) 0.98(WHIP)
Finally, after taking players' production thus far and the draft into consideration, we'll present to you the Beer League Top 10 Prospect List:
1. SP Mike Montgomery- A long, tall, lanky lefty who brings the heat and puts it where he wants it. Has a minor triceps injury (soreness) but should return soon.
2. 3B Mike Moustakas- Absolutely no denying his production with the stick. You know that special "crack" of the bat scouts rave about? He's got it. And, oh ya, a batting average in the mid 300's. Oh, and don't forget he's finally learned strike zone discipline. Scary.
3. C Wil Myers- A true 5 tool prospect, and his bat has finally come alive this year. He'll probably progress slowly as he learned the fundamentals of professional catching, but watch out... the kid can rake and run.
4. 1B Eric Hosmer- As we've said before, his glove plays in the Majors right now. Additionally, he's maintaining a batting average above 360 while he uses the entire field with his bat. The home run power is lacking right now, but keep in mind the park he plays in. A promotion to Northwest Arkansas would most likely result in a monster increase in balls over the fence.
5. SS Christian Colon-Already? Yes! His bat plays that well and his defense won't take any time to adjust. He's an all-around player who will be fun to follow during his ascent to the Bigs.
6. SP Aaron Crow- He's struggling to locate his pitches and is getting blown up currently because of it. Keep in mind he was out of baseball for nearly a year and is still shaking the rust off. The stuff is certainly there. However, we'll only be able to use the rust as an excuse for so long.
7. SP John Lamb- Another lefty creeping up towards the top 5. The word on Lamb is his pinpoint control. A guy who can locate from the left with stamina is a scary thing. He continues to demolish hitting after his promotion. The more he does it, the higher he goes.
9. SP Dan Duffy- We mentioned his return in a post last Friday. It should be too long until we see this former top pitching prospect make a run at his previous title. Oh ya, he's also a lefty!
10. RP Blaine Hardy- He gets the nod over others because of his assignment to AAA. Nobody could touch him in AA, and he's continuing the trend in Omaha. At 22, and coming from the left side, it's likely he'll make more than a few appearances out of the Royals' bullpen in 2010. Keep an eye out!
Coming into the 2010 season, many scouting corporations such as Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus ranked the Royals farm system somewhere in the middle of the pack. After picking in the top of the first round for nearly a decade, this was terrible news to Royals fans. If true, this news meant that despite the Royals' chances at top talent in the draft, they had failed to successfully scout and sign the real top players.
Even more disappointing was that (again, if true) Dayton Moore came to our franchise with the track record of being a scouting and farm-building expert. He took chances on drafting high school players like Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer with his 2007 and 2008 top 5 selections. Why were these picks so risky? High school players notoriously have high demands due to the immense amount of leverage they control. They are able to enter the draft, garner a top 5 selection, and (if they don't get the money they want) still honor their commitment to play college ball. If this happens, the team which selected that player will be compensated with the same pick in the following year's draft.
Regardless, our middle-of-the-pack ranking was due to these two players' combined lack of stellar production. Their 2009 stat lines left a lot to be desired by companies like Baseball America and especially the Royals.
In this unique situation, the Royals had two seemingly good explanations for their coveted young players' lack of statistics. For Moustakas, the organization understood he was playing in an extreme pitchers park with swirling wings. These aren't the kind of swirling winds which aid hitters in certain MLB parks (cough, NY). They are the type which push the ball back and keep it from the fence. "Moose" still mustered 16 homers, though.
Hosmer's story was a bit different. He mysteriously took a hiatus from playing while the local radio shows and Royals blogs tried to determine the reason. Finally, we learned he was having difficulty seeing the ball at the plate and needed special glasses. The amount of time required to get back into the game caused everyone to become skeptical.
Fortunately, both "Moose" and "Hos" are mashing, raking, and any other syllable for domination of the plate--actual stat lines will be shown below. This emergence of our "top hitting prospects" caused many people from these scouting organizations to re-evaluate their opinions on KC's farm system. Before the draft, we were thought of as a top 10 system.
Speaking of the draft, let's take a look at some of the key picks in 2010.
Round 1, pick 4: SS Christian Colon, Cal State Fullerton
-The separation of talent in this year's draft was no secret. The top 3 were chiseled far away and above the rest. So, picking at 4 had its drawbacks. However, the Royals believe they selected the short stop of the future in Colon. In fact, most other MLB teams believe the same thing. No, he's not a toolsy freak like other high profile short stops, but he plays good fundamental baseball. He understands the game at an alarmingly high degree and has the leadership skills to become a positively vocal part of the Major League foundation. He should hit for average (as shown by his amateur stats) and some nice pop (16 homers as a junior this year). At 6 feet and about 190, he sports an athletic frame. Some think he may have to shift to second base if he let's his body go at all.
Player Profile= Placido Polanco (with pop)
Round 2, pick 4: CF Brett Eibner, Arkansas
-Eibner was on many team's boards as a first rounder...as a pitcher. He only pitched minimally in college, but the belief was if he focused and honed in on his pitching ability, he had endless potential. Why were the Royals able to snag him in the second round? Eibner wants to hit, and the Royals drafted him to do just that. He brings a ton of power from the right side (21 homers this year) and progressed nicely each year he was at Arkansas. The best part? He'll showcase this mashing ability as a toolsy center fielder. Remember that arm teams raved about? Imagine him beading balls in to the catcher from deep center. Is it just a bonus that he's got loads of speed and athletic ability. Sounds like the Royals' kind of player, huh?
Player Profile= Matt Kemp-ish
Round 3, pick 4: SS Michael Antonio, HS
-Another short stop? Yes. This kids quite a bit different than Colon. He was a pre-season high school All-American this year, only to let down just about every MLB team with his mediocre performance as a senior. He's looked at as a project. He's very raw, but the Royals believe they got the best player on the board here.
Player Profile: Too Raw to Tell
Round 4, pick 4: LHP Kevin Chapman, Florida
-This is a very exciting pick. After going through Tommy-John surgery early in his college career, Chapman rebounded to have an excellent year in 2010. He lights up the guns in the mid to upper 90's and looks to have closer-type stuff.
(FYI-no more player profiles)
Round 5, pick 4: RHP Jason Adam, HS
-Adam is a guy a lot of scouts thought would go in the second round. He has a commitment to play for Missouri, but supposedly about a million dollars can change that. Did I mention he's a local kid? Blue Valley North West. Lot's of upside here!
All in all, the Royals selected 1 second baseman, 1 first baseman, 7 short stops, 7 catchers, 9 outfielders, and 26 pitchers. There were 9 high school players selected and the rest were either college of community college guys.
Interesting to note that before the draft the Royals publicly stated they would look to draft short stop depth, catching depth, and lots of arms. Looks like they stuck to it.
Speaking of depth, let's take a look at the top 25 performers down on the farm in no particular order:
*indicates a blue chip prospect/player
AAA
*LF Alex Gordon= .370 9(2B) 1(3B) 10(HR) 29(RBI) 5(SB) 29BB-36K
1B Kila Ka'aihue= .315 8(2B) 11(HR) 36(RBI) 50BB-36K
OF David Lough= .278 7(2B) 5(3B) 5(HR) 23(RBI) 5(SB) 9BB-28K
OF Jordon Parraz= .257 13(2B) 3(HR) 27(RBI) 5(SB) 26BB-35K
*RP Blaine Hardy= 2-0 36(IP) 25(K) 0.50(ERA) 0.67(WHIP)
AA
*3B Mike Moustakas= .354 15(2B) 13(HR) 50(RBI) 17BB-25K
*CF Derrick Robinson= .277 6(2B) 5(3B) 20(RBI) 26(SB) 28BB-43K
*2B Johnny Giavotella= .269 13(2B) 2(3B) 17(RBI) 8(SB) 25BB-27K
C Manuel Pina= .265 7(2B) 4(HR) 21(RBI) 18BB-16K
SP Edgar Osuna= 5-2 65(IP) 44(K) 1.66(ERA) 1.00(WHIP)
*SP Aaron Crow= 2-5 65(IP) 40(K) 5.68(ERA) 1.65(WHIP)
*RP Louis Coleman= 2-0 40(IP) 38(K) 2.25(ERA) 0.90(WHIP)
*SP Mike Montgomery= 5-1 50(IP) 55(K) 1.98(ERA) 0.98(WHIP)
High A
*1B Eric Hosmer= .361 22(2B) 5(3B) 2(HR) 37(RBI) 9(SB) 27BB-23K
C Salvador Perez= .284 11(2B) 1(3B) 3(HR) 22(RBI) 1(SB) 9BB-14K
SP Christopher Dwyer= 3-3 64(IP) 64(K) 3.22(ERA) 1.29(WHIP)
*SP Timothy Melville= 2-6 58(IP) 55(K) 5.86(ERA) 1.37(WHIP)
RP Buddy Baumann= 2-0 32(IP) 37(K) 2.48(ERA) 1.32(WHIP)
RP Patrick Keating= 2-0 30(IP) 41(K) 1.19(ERA) 0.92(WHIP)
RP Barry Bowden= 2-3 26(IP) 30(K) 1.71(ERA) 1.18(WHIP)
*SP John Lamb= 4-4 64(IP) 71(K) 1.55(ERA) 1.06(WHIP)
Low A
*C Wil Myers= .289 14(2B) 1(3B) 10(HR) 43(RBI) 8(SB) 38BB-43K
*CF Hilton Richardson= .193 6(2B) 3(3B) 4(HR) 20(RBI) 19(SB) 12BB-41K
*SP Tyler Sample= 2-3 54(IP) 47(K) 4.47(ERA) 1.51(WHIP)
SP Bryan Paukovits= 3-3 54(IP) 59(K) 3.31(ERA) 0.98(WHIP)
Finally, after taking players' production thus far and the draft into consideration, we'll present to you the Beer League Top 10 Prospect List:
1. SP Mike Montgomery- A long, tall, lanky lefty who brings the heat and puts it where he wants it. Has a minor triceps injury (soreness) but should return soon.
2. 3B Mike Moustakas- Absolutely no denying his production with the stick. You know that special "crack" of the bat scouts rave about? He's got it. And, oh ya, a batting average in the mid 300's. Oh, and don't forget he's finally learned strike zone discipline. Scary.
3. C Wil Myers- A true 5 tool prospect, and his bat has finally come alive this year. He'll probably progress slowly as he learned the fundamentals of professional catching, but watch out... the kid can rake and run.
4. 1B Eric Hosmer- As we've said before, his glove plays in the Majors right now. Additionally, he's maintaining a batting average above 360 while he uses the entire field with his bat. The home run power is lacking right now, but keep in mind the park he plays in. A promotion to Northwest Arkansas would most likely result in a monster increase in balls over the fence.
5. SS Christian Colon-Already? Yes! His bat plays that well and his defense won't take any time to adjust. He's an all-around player who will be fun to follow during his ascent to the Bigs.
6. SP Aaron Crow- He's struggling to locate his pitches and is getting blown up currently because of it. Keep in mind he was out of baseball for nearly a year and is still shaking the rust off. The stuff is certainly there. However, we'll only be able to use the rust as an excuse for so long.
7. SP John Lamb- Another lefty creeping up towards the top 5. The word on Lamb is his pinpoint control. A guy who can locate from the left with stamina is a scary thing. He continues to demolish hitting after his promotion. The more he does it, the higher he goes.
9. SP Dan Duffy- We mentioned his return in a post last Friday. It should be too long until we see this former top pitching prospect make a run at his previous title. Oh ya, he's also a lefty!
10. RP Blaine Hardy- He gets the nod over others because of his assignment to AAA. Nobody could touch him in AA, and he's continuing the trend in Omaha. At 22, and coming from the left side, it's likely he'll make more than a few appearances out of the Royals' bullpen in 2010. Keep an eye out!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
World Cup Preview
For starters, thanks to BB for giving me the opportunity to grace his blog with my 2010 FIFA World Cup: South Africa Outlook.
Now to the good stuff...
USA! USA! USA! (with the BUZZING VUVUZES drowning out my chanting)
Yes, I am chanting for the men representing the Stars and Stripes. And, yes, they are actually at the World Cup with the idea of competing and winning in mind. So long 1990! Here in America, we are no longer happy with just "being there". Every World Cup includes that same scenario; a smaller nation who's ecstatic for simply being involved in the group stages. Now, 20 years further down the road (from 1990), the Americans come to South Africa with serious business to take care of.
The rest of the world now sees the United States as being capable of hanging with the "big boys".
Proof: Confederations Cup last summer in Africa. The US knocked off the world's top team, Spain. They also lead Brazil 2-0 at half in the championship game. Through small-scale, our squad's confidence grew immensely as a result of the time spent in Africa last summer. Additionally, Brazil and Spain are both heavy favorites to win the World Cup in 2010.
The US soccer team is not a team full of players from the MLS anymore; many of our prominent players reign from Europe or bring experience from other international clubs.
I look at Clint Dempsey as the perfect example of this newly-gained experience. Clint is a very skilled and emotional player. His game seemingly elevates every time he plays for his club team, Fulham in the EPL. US soccer fans continually find themselves saying, "wish he'd be spectacular in a US jersey". Okay, I admit it; I'm one of those fans...I hate and hate on Clint (look at it as constructive criticism)--trashing his defense, hustle, and ball-hogging habits. Then, very quickly he shuts us up when he puts one in the back of the net.
As important as Dempsey is to the team, it's actually Landon Donovan who's far more important than any other player.
Landon, unlike the majority of the US World Cup roster, has been to 2 different World Cups. Donovan treated each Cup differently, while taking something new from each. First, he seemed shell-shocked and content with his World Cup debut. Next, he got a bigger taste and had a better idea of what to expect after the US advanced from their group stage. Still though, he didn't seem to have a complete grasp of what it would take to really make a run at the World Cup finals.
FLASHFORWARD! Currently, Landon couldn't be playing better soccer. He's been making a solid impact while on loan to Everton in the EPL, and finally admits to maturing both on and off the field. The US needs Donovan to be on top of his game throughout the 2010 World Cup. Otherwise, we may find ourselves in a precarious situation. I firmly believe Landon is ready to carry the "Yankees" on his back en route to the Promise Land.
This brings me to June 12th, 2010. The journey to this day has been long, but now a new chapter begins. BRING ON ENGLAND!
Here is my outlook for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa:
Group A-- France, Mexico, South Africa, and Uruguay
Team to Beat= France. Even though they qualified for the WC on a handball goal, they are still the best team in this group. They will be without striker Benezma, but the French will look to Anelka, Ribery, and Henry for their scoring.
Player to Watch= Steven Pienaar, South Africa. Pienaar has solidified his presence amongst the world stage, and the Everton midfielder should put on quite a show for his home nation.
Sleeper= South Africa. Chew on this for a sec or two...Never in WC history has the host nation not advanced past group play. Just saying...
Top 2 Advancing= South Africa and Uruguay.
Group B-- Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, and South Korea
Team to Beat= Argentina. The Argentinians are definitely one of the favorites to be crowned champion. There is no denying the talent on the pitch, but will their coach (Diego Maradona) hold them back?
Player to Watch= Lionel Messi, Argentina. Enough said.
Sleeper= Nigeria. Skilled EPL strikers Yakubu and Martinis are forces to be reckoned with.
Top 2 Advancing= Argentina and Nigeria
Group C-- Algeria, England, Slovenia, and United States
Team to Beat= England. Obviously, England is a heavy favorite to advance out of group C. The English are a real force to be reckoned with and cannot be taken lightly. The only thing England doesn't have is David Beckham, and that's a good thing. Watch out for the English.
Player to Watch= Wayne Rooney, England. This guy is a beast. Nobody in this group will be able to stop him. Wayne is the real deal.
Sleeper= Slovenia. Don't forget about Slovenia. They made it into the WC by beating an elite Russian squad in a tiebreaker.
Top 2 Advancing= England and United States.
Group D-- Australia, Germany, Ghana, and Serbia
Team to Beat= Germany. The Germans are clearly the front-runners of group D. Germany is poised to advance out of their group, which could draw a match up with the United States in the round of 16.
Player to Watch= Dejean Stankovic, Slovenia. The veteran inter Milan midfielder will be called upon by the Serbs for leadership and scoring. After a poor showing last World Cup in 2006 with only 1 goal scored, Stankovic will be looking to make his mark.
Sleeper= Australia. Led by the EPL midfielder Tim Cahill, the Aussie's are gaining confidence on the world stage. Australia will need to play lights out to advance out of the group, but anything is possible.
Top 2 Advancing= Germany and Serbia
Group E-- Cameroon, Denmark, Netherlands, and Japan
Team to Beat= Netherlands. Holland is absolutely loaded; they come to South Africa with championship aspirations. The Netherlands really doesn't have a weak spot on the roster, making them a very dangerous team.
Player to Watch= Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon. Eto'o is such a joy to watch on the pitch, making defenders look stupid-silly. Eto'o must come to play for Cameroon to have a real shot.
Sleeper= Denmark. The Danes are in South Africa flying under the radar, and they love it. Denmark is relishing the underdog role in their group; with an opening match against the Netherlands, they have a great opportunity to make an early splash.
Top 2 Advancing= Netherlands and Cameroon
Group F-- Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, and Slovakia
Team to Beat= Italy. Oh, those Italians! Yep, they still seem as old as our grandparents, but they are also still legit. Italy is looking to defend their WC title from 2006, but have a large bulls-eye on their back.
Player to Watch= Andrea Pirlo, Italy. His nagging calf injury could be a problem, but the ageless wonder is still looking to make a difference for Italy in group F. It looks like Pirlo is going to be out for the first 2 group matches, but hopes to be back in time for Slovakia.
Sleeper= Paraguay. Italy is the talk of this group, and deservedly so. Yet, Paraguay comes to South Africa with a legitimate team and chance to advance form this not-so-tough group. They will be without striker Salvador Cabanas, who was stabbed at a bar in Mexico. You can bet they will be playing with heavy hearts and with a desire to win one for their teammate.
Top 2 Advancing= Italy and Paraguay.
Group G-- Brazil, Ivory Coast, North Korea, and Portugal (The Group of Death)
Team to Beat= Brazil. Okay, so group G is absolutely loaded with talent. Portugal and Ivory Coast are no slouches, but they also aren't on Brazil's level. Like always, Brazil is the team to beat.
Player to Watch= Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast. Drogba is easily one of the most entertaining players in the world, but could be limited this go around. He recently broke his arm. This should not hold him out of play, so look for him to be making plays on the field sporting a cast.
Sleeper= Portugal. Every year you expect more than you get from Portugal. Led by the 2nd best soccer player in the world, Christiano Ronaldo, this could be Portugal's year. I decided to make them my sleeper instead of favorite since they seem to enjoy choking.
Top 2 Advancing= Brazil and Portugal.
Group H-- Chile, Honduras, Spain, and Switzerland.
Team to Beat= Spain. Spain is probably the top favorite to win the WC. Exceptional talent + high expectations = Pressure. The Spanish will handle the pressure fine, breezing through group H.
Player to Watch= Cesc Fabregas, Spain. The Arsenal midfielder is surrounded by veteran talent. He should show his superb skill during group play, helping Spain on its quest for a WC title.
Sleeper= Honduras. What an interesting situation for Honduras! They qualified for the WC last second due to the US scoring an equalizing goal against Costa Rica. If Honduras can take care of Chile and the Swiss, I like the possibilities of them shocking the world and advancing out of group H.
Top 2 Advancing= Spain and Chile.
...............................................................................
The following ROUND OF 16 is a hypothetical scenario based on my predictions of each group:
South Africa DEF Nigeria
England DEF Serbia
Netherlands DEF Paraguay
Brazil DEF Honduras
Argentina DEF Uruguay
United States DEF Germany
Italy DEF Cameroon
Spain DEF Portugal
QUARTER FINALS:
England DEF South Africa
Netherlands DEF Brazil
Argentina DEF United States
Spain DEF Italy
SEMI-FINALS:
Netherlands DEF England
Argentina DEF Spain
THIRD PLACE GAME:
Spain DEF England
FINAL:
Argentina DEF Netherlands
CHAMPION= ARGENTINA
Now to the good stuff...
USA! USA! USA! (with the BUZZING VUVUZES drowning out my chanting)
Yes, I am chanting for the men representing the Stars and Stripes. And, yes, they are actually at the World Cup with the idea of competing and winning in mind. So long 1990! Here in America, we are no longer happy with just "being there". Every World Cup includes that same scenario; a smaller nation who's ecstatic for simply being involved in the group stages. Now, 20 years further down the road (from 1990), the Americans come to South Africa with serious business to take care of.
The rest of the world now sees the United States as being capable of hanging with the "big boys".
Proof: Confederations Cup last summer in Africa. The US knocked off the world's top team, Spain. They also lead Brazil 2-0 at half in the championship game. Through small-scale, our squad's confidence grew immensely as a result of the time spent in Africa last summer. Additionally, Brazil and Spain are both heavy favorites to win the World Cup in 2010.
The US soccer team is not a team full of players from the MLS anymore; many of our prominent players reign from Europe or bring experience from other international clubs.
I look at Clint Dempsey as the perfect example of this newly-gained experience. Clint is a very skilled and emotional player. His game seemingly elevates every time he plays for his club team, Fulham in the EPL. US soccer fans continually find themselves saying, "wish he'd be spectacular in a US jersey". Okay, I admit it; I'm one of those fans...I hate and hate on Clint (look at it as constructive criticism)--trashing his defense, hustle, and ball-hogging habits. Then, very quickly he shuts us up when he puts one in the back of the net.
As important as Dempsey is to the team, it's actually Landon Donovan who's far more important than any other player.
Landon, unlike the majority of the US World Cup roster, has been to 2 different World Cups. Donovan treated each Cup differently, while taking something new from each. First, he seemed shell-shocked and content with his World Cup debut. Next, he got a bigger taste and had a better idea of what to expect after the US advanced from their group stage. Still though, he didn't seem to have a complete grasp of what it would take to really make a run at the World Cup finals.
FLASHFORWARD! Currently, Landon couldn't be playing better soccer. He's been making a solid impact while on loan to Everton in the EPL, and finally admits to maturing both on and off the field. The US needs Donovan to be on top of his game throughout the 2010 World Cup. Otherwise, we may find ourselves in a precarious situation. I firmly believe Landon is ready to carry the "Yankees" on his back en route to the Promise Land.
This brings me to June 12th, 2010. The journey to this day has been long, but now a new chapter begins. BRING ON ENGLAND!
Here is my outlook for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa:
Group A-- France, Mexico, South Africa, and Uruguay
Team to Beat= France. Even though they qualified for the WC on a handball goal, they are still the best team in this group. They will be without striker Benezma, but the French will look to Anelka, Ribery, and Henry for their scoring.
Player to Watch= Steven Pienaar, South Africa. Pienaar has solidified his presence amongst the world stage, and the Everton midfielder should put on quite a show for his home nation.
Sleeper= South Africa. Chew on this for a sec or two...Never in WC history has the host nation not advanced past group play. Just saying...
Top 2 Advancing= South Africa and Uruguay.
Group B-- Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, and South Korea
Team to Beat= Argentina. The Argentinians are definitely one of the favorites to be crowned champion. There is no denying the talent on the pitch, but will their coach (Diego Maradona) hold them back?
Player to Watch= Lionel Messi, Argentina. Enough said.
Sleeper= Nigeria. Skilled EPL strikers Yakubu and Martinis are forces to be reckoned with.
Top 2 Advancing= Argentina and Nigeria
Group C-- Algeria, England, Slovenia, and United States
Team to Beat= England. Obviously, England is a heavy favorite to advance out of group C. The English are a real force to be reckoned with and cannot be taken lightly. The only thing England doesn't have is David Beckham, and that's a good thing. Watch out for the English.
Player to Watch= Wayne Rooney, England. This guy is a beast. Nobody in this group will be able to stop him. Wayne is the real deal.
Sleeper= Slovenia. Don't forget about Slovenia. They made it into the WC by beating an elite Russian squad in a tiebreaker.
Top 2 Advancing= England and United States.
Group D-- Australia, Germany, Ghana, and Serbia
Team to Beat= Germany. The Germans are clearly the front-runners of group D. Germany is poised to advance out of their group, which could draw a match up with the United States in the round of 16.
Player to Watch= Dejean Stankovic, Slovenia. The veteran inter Milan midfielder will be called upon by the Serbs for leadership and scoring. After a poor showing last World Cup in 2006 with only 1 goal scored, Stankovic will be looking to make his mark.
Sleeper= Australia. Led by the EPL midfielder Tim Cahill, the Aussie's are gaining confidence on the world stage. Australia will need to play lights out to advance out of the group, but anything is possible.
Top 2 Advancing= Germany and Serbia
Group E-- Cameroon, Denmark, Netherlands, and Japan
Team to Beat= Netherlands. Holland is absolutely loaded; they come to South Africa with championship aspirations. The Netherlands really doesn't have a weak spot on the roster, making them a very dangerous team.
Player to Watch= Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon. Eto'o is such a joy to watch on the pitch, making defenders look stupid-silly. Eto'o must come to play for Cameroon to have a real shot.
Sleeper= Denmark. The Danes are in South Africa flying under the radar, and they love it. Denmark is relishing the underdog role in their group; with an opening match against the Netherlands, they have a great opportunity to make an early splash.
Top 2 Advancing= Netherlands and Cameroon
Group F-- Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, and Slovakia
Team to Beat= Italy. Oh, those Italians! Yep, they still seem as old as our grandparents, but they are also still legit. Italy is looking to defend their WC title from 2006, but have a large bulls-eye on their back.
Player to Watch= Andrea Pirlo, Italy. His nagging calf injury could be a problem, but the ageless wonder is still looking to make a difference for Italy in group F. It looks like Pirlo is going to be out for the first 2 group matches, but hopes to be back in time for Slovakia.
Sleeper= Paraguay. Italy is the talk of this group, and deservedly so. Yet, Paraguay comes to South Africa with a legitimate team and chance to advance form this not-so-tough group. They will be without striker Salvador Cabanas, who was stabbed at a bar in Mexico. You can bet they will be playing with heavy hearts and with a desire to win one for their teammate.
Top 2 Advancing= Italy and Paraguay.
Group G-- Brazil, Ivory Coast, North Korea, and Portugal (The Group of Death)
Team to Beat= Brazil. Okay, so group G is absolutely loaded with talent. Portugal and Ivory Coast are no slouches, but they also aren't on Brazil's level. Like always, Brazil is the team to beat.
Player to Watch= Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast. Drogba is easily one of the most entertaining players in the world, but could be limited this go around. He recently broke his arm. This should not hold him out of play, so look for him to be making plays on the field sporting a cast.
Sleeper= Portugal. Every year you expect more than you get from Portugal. Led by the 2nd best soccer player in the world, Christiano Ronaldo, this could be Portugal's year. I decided to make them my sleeper instead of favorite since they seem to enjoy choking.
Top 2 Advancing= Brazil and Portugal.
Group H-- Chile, Honduras, Spain, and Switzerland.
Team to Beat= Spain. Spain is probably the top favorite to win the WC. Exceptional talent + high expectations = Pressure. The Spanish will handle the pressure fine, breezing through group H.
Player to Watch= Cesc Fabregas, Spain. The Arsenal midfielder is surrounded by veteran talent. He should show his superb skill during group play, helping Spain on its quest for a WC title.
Sleeper= Honduras. What an interesting situation for Honduras! They qualified for the WC last second due to the US scoring an equalizing goal against Costa Rica. If Honduras can take care of Chile and the Swiss, I like the possibilities of them shocking the world and advancing out of group H.
Top 2 Advancing= Spain and Chile.
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The following ROUND OF 16 is a hypothetical scenario based on my predictions of each group:
South Africa DEF Nigeria
England DEF Serbia
Netherlands DEF Paraguay
Brazil DEF Honduras
Argentina DEF Uruguay
United States DEF Germany
Italy DEF Cameroon
Spain DEF Portugal
QUARTER FINALS:
England DEF South Africa
Netherlands DEF Brazil
Argentina DEF United States
Spain DEF Italy
SEMI-FINALS:
Netherlands DEF England
Argentina DEF Spain
THIRD PLACE GAME:
Spain DEF England
FINAL:
Argentina DEF Netherlands
CHAMPION= ARGENTINA
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
All-Stars Folded Twice
First off, I'd like to apologize for not getting this material up yesterday per the schedule. Unavoidable technical and strategical difficulties prevented updates to the site. On the bright side, this week will be more action packed than the new Karate Kid movie. That's a guarantee. Although, maybe a re-phrase is in order after recently hearing Bill Cowher's take on guarantee's...
"You can put (expletive) in a box and slap a guarantee on it"...
...Maybe that's not an exact quote, but you get the idea. Regardless, we're going to cram this week and bring you four straight days of posts. On top of our usual, but somewhat off-schedule Fantasy Monday, National Interest Wednesday and Farm Report Friday, Beer League will feature it's first guest writer--World Cup enthusiast Isaac Hodges. We're expecting a top-tier write up on Thursday spotlighting this major sports event, so please stop in and enjoy.
Today's write up after the jump.
..............................................................................
Sitting at just over a third of the way through the 2010 Major League Baseball season, it's time to take a look at this year's All-Star forecast. Instead of just purely predicting which player(s) will represent each team, Beer League is going to take a two-fold approach. First, we'll choose each team's biggest fantasy player based on statistical production in the most pronounced fantasy categories. Second, a player will be selected from each team based on his real-life, win-producing impact.
What's the point? Isn't an All-Star an All-Star? And, aren't All-Star's chosen based on fantasy voting?
Slow down. Holster your Nerf guns. Let's just talk it out. The point of this system is to present to you a unique prospective. Frankly, it's somewhat tiring seeing the same guys over and over again, and, all due respect set aside; it's a little boring. Whatever happened to breakout seasons, defense winning championships, and fair and equal representation? Ok, maybe the MLB has addressed that third factor. Heck, maybe they've addressed all three. After all, they do allow the fans to control the rosters.
Here at Beer League, we like having the control. We love calling the shots. And, we thoroughly enjoy long walks on the beach, pina colladas with little umbrellas, pocket-sized puppies and...what? Maybe a "GOTCHA!" would be in order if each one of you didn't just imagine yourselves walking down the shoreline at sunset with a fruity drink in hand while you watch your tiny K-9 frolic in the slightly crashing waves.
Okay. In all seriousness, let's get back to business. We've got baseball to discuss, and without further ado, here is your 2010 Beer League All-Star Team...folded twice, of course.
Arizona Diamondbacks:
Fantasy Impact= 2B, Kelly Johnson- In a usually weak crop of fantasy players, Johnson has used his change of scenery to emerge as one the the (gulp!) leaders of the pack. On pace for over fifty doubles and over thirty homers, we just can't argue with his fantasy success so far. Although, we'd really, really like to.
Winning Impact= SP, Dan Haren- Yes, the numbers are down (or up depending on how you look at it), but they're trending in the right direction. Bottom line here is the six wins. Justin Upton is the other candidate, but with the way he's struggled with the stick, it's not feasible right now to select him to this year's Beer League All-Star Team. Besides, poll the GM's around the league. Dennis-the-Menace's piggy bank says they'd covet the Pepperdine product as their number one on the hill.
Atlanta Braves:
Fantasy Impact= No question here. It's not debateable. It's...It's...a rookie!? Yes. Jason Heyward runs away with this selection. Please try and find an argument to the contrary. We'll be waiting. Ok. We've waited long enough. Next!
Winning Impact= It's a sweep! If the stats don't get the message across, the eye test will. Despite a game every now and then where he must just enjoy hearing the ump call him out on strikes, he's barreling towards exceptional numbers. That's exceptional in general, not just for a rookie. His cannon in right just makes this pick that much easier.
Baltimore Orioles:
Fantasy Impact= Ty Wigginton. Reasoning? Well, there's only one--it's got to be somebody...
Winning Impact= Buehler?...Buehler?...Nope. We refuse.
Boston Red Sox:
Fantasy Impact= Kevin Youkilis. Was it an easy choice? Uh huh. Are there others? Uh huh. Is he skipping down the lilly-laden path towards MVP? Uh huh.
Winning Impact= In the AL East it's all about the runs. The Sox realized this after a change-of-approach toward a not-so-successful-Bill-James- driven shift which netted them a losing record. When did they start to pull it together? It was about the time their bats starting whiffing and grounding out less and their balls started landing in the gaps and over the fence more. Who's been the most successful Bostonian at doing just this? One hint: It's the same guy who's eye-balling a shot at the MVP title.
Chicago Cubs:
Fantasy Impact= Ready to feel slightly sick to your stomach? Marlon Byrd and Alfonso Soriano are blowing the rest of the Cubbies away in the fantasy world. Yuck. However, Beer League rules don't allow players in wheel chairs to participate. So, that leaves Byrd. Congrats Marlon!...We guess.
Winning Impact= It appears a change of scenary has lit a fire under Carlos Silva's... shoulder. He's undefeated and refuses to give out free passes to first. Seriously, we tried. He won't budge. You've got to earn your trip to the basepaths the way your grandpa earned that Caddy--through plenty of hard work and loads of determination. Interesting note; despite swearing we saw him play for the Mariners previously, we can't locate this fact anywhere in his resume. He's seemingly erased those memories from the history books and wants the baseball world to believe he went straight from Minnesota to Chicago. Did he?
Cincinnati Reds:
Fantasy Impact= Leading one of the hottest offenses in the National league is Joey Votto. He may have disapeared from the baseball scene for a while last season. And, he may have disapeared form your Christmas list because of it. However, the one place he hasn't disapeared from is the production line. He continues to churn out a plethora of singles, doubles, homers and clutch rbi's. Check your fantasy roster. If he's not your first baseman, you probably wish he was.
Winning Impact= While Votto would be the easy choice, it's necessary to look at what's producing Cincy's wins. Joey was an emerging monster last year, yet they didn't seem to win at a large rate. What's different this year? The re-emergence of Scott Rolen appears to be the difference that's got the Red's competing for the Central. Thus, the gritty vet is getting the nod here. Nice to see you again, Scott.
Cleveland Indians:
Fantasy Impact= Shin-Soo Choo. He's contributing in five categories. Unfortunately, his teammates may complicate the development of his RBI total.
Winning Impact= Hmmm.
Colorado Rockies:
Fantasy Impact= As much as we'd like to give TT the nod here... As big of fans of his as we are here...Must choose U-B-A-L-D-O J-I-M-E-N-E-Z.
Winning Impact= Eleven wins, sub-one ERA and WHIP totals, two complete games, two shut-outs, AND keeping batters harnessed below a two hundred batting average? Yes. Give him the nod here too.
Chicago White Sox:
Fantasy Impact= Paul Bunyan. Errr. Konerko. The guy just...keeps...jacking. He's already at seventeen homeruns, he's healthy, and he's walking. Wonder if all that walking has kept his blood sugar low...
Winning Impact= What did the White Sox think they were getting in Alex Rios? Don't know. They were probably hoping he could return to his future MVP type numbers of his earlier years with Toronto. Fortunately for them, they found lightning in a bottle. He's doing a bit of everything, and doing it well. No doubt, he's the best all-around player on the South side.
Detroit Tigers:
Fantasy Impact= Miquel Cabrera. He's quite possibly the best offensive fantasy player this year. The best part? He's just now hitting his prime.
Winning Impact= Justin Verlander. He's baaaaaack! After getting roughed up early, the guy just keeps getting stronger.
Florida Marlins:
Fantasy Impact= Normally this would be a no-brainer. Normally, H-Ram would be making you feel fantastic and giddy about taking him early in the first round. Abnormally, he's not producing at that level yet this season. Instead, Josh Johnson says, "not in my house". Nobody is getting the ball over the fence against Johnson. He's building on prior success and is currently one of the better pitching options in fantasy.
Winning Impact= No, the run-producing, power-hitting short stop hasn't been puting up his normal numbers. But, Hanley's got five tools, right? Right. He's still got the glove and range to shut down the middle... Even if he does kick a ball every now and then.
Want more? You do, don't you? Good. Come back tomorrow for the rest of the Beer League All-Star lineup.
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Chime the bells. Blow the whistle. Alert the Media. It's round two of the Beer League All-Star lineup announcements. Instead of the usual anecdote or content-preceding attempt at humor, today it's time to just get down to business. Which reminds me; a quick preview for tomorrow's bonus post is in order. Tune in for a different take on "The Chosen One", Stephen Strasburg's world famous debut and what's around the corner for the real life human torch.
First up, Houston!
Houston Astros:
Fantasy Impact= Due to the ineptly shallow crop of left fielders for fantasy this year, Carlos Lee gets the nod here. Exciting? No. But, you understand what you're getting here. If not, look under "career slugger who's averaged 28 homers, 100 RBI and over 30 doubles over his 11 year career". Then, cross reference that with "how to adjust in your mid 30's". You should find a nice, happy medium.
Winning Impact= Man, so many to choose from. Big Puma. The aforementioned Carlos Lee. Or, the toolsy kid with an awesome name, Hunter Pence. Nah. Let's get creative and select Roy Oswalt. Why? Let's say they are actually able to trade his fatty contract to a desperate contender. Say, the Yankees. If we think really hard and creatively, we can begin to imagine what might happen 3 to 4 years down the road if they get a decent booty. Shucks! It was worth a try. Ok, default to the kid with the cool name. Congrats...Hunter Pence.
Kansas City Royals:
Fantasy Impact= What is about to be said may only be read by mature audiences. If you believe yourself to have a weak stomach, please skip to the next paragraph and never come back to or reference this portion of the post. Folks, it's Jose Guillen. You'll now be given a moment to grab some wet napkins, towels or whatever else you may need to clean yourself up a bit before we go on... Ready? Ok. The reasoning here might make you feel slightly better about the selection. The reasoning is that hopefully you traded Guillen when his stat line indicated he was on the verge of a career year. Hopefully you traded him for max value and got a stud like Matt Holliday, Justin Upton, or any number of first or second tier guys that may have been struggling. And, hopefully you weren't the one trading for him.
Winning Impact= It doesn't matter that the Royals players seem to disagree with Beer League's selection here. Facts are Facts. Zack Greinke still gives the boys in blue the best chance at winning every time he steps on the mound. Everyone is freaking out about his lack of "stuff", but remember he is a consummate professional and doesn't enjoy seeing 8 losses in his line. He'll find a way to correct whatever mechanics are slacking, and return to prominence. Ok, maybe that's a stretch. He's still in KC, after all.
LA Angels:
Fantasy Impact= With center field being a premium position, this has to go to Torii Hunter.
Winning Impact= With center field being a premium position, this has to go to Torii Hunter. (No, that was not a typo. He's dominated the position offensively and defensively for years and deserves the utmost respect.)
LA Dodgers:
Fantasy Impact= Dr. Dre. Not the singer/rapper/composer/marketing guru or whatever else he does, but the right fielder. Ethier took the months of April and May, wrapped them up neatly, and launched them into outer space with a note that read, "Who's your daddy?" The finger issue will resolve itself and he'll adjust.
Winning Impact= The entire outfield. It tops the Majors in every way possible. Kemp and Ethier defend the outfield like Rajon Rondo did in the fourth quarter of Game 2. Manny is always being Manny, of course. But, he's allowed that luxury. All three guys know how to control the plate. Yes, it's our first "team" award.
Milwaukee Brewers:
Fantasy Impact= Being part of the Ryan Braun fan club, it's extremely difficult not to choose the "Hammer" here, but we just can't. Second base is historically weak. Therefore, Casey McGehee's emergence is critical. Well, at least this year. The Crew has him on the third bag, which will relieve him of his second base eligibility for next year. However, that doesn't change the fact that he's a top two second base-eligible player this year and doesn't look like he'll fall out of the top three.
Winning Impact= Another guy with a cool name, Yovanni Gallardo. Only, he's not just getting the call here because of his name. Do you know how to spell domination? Gallardo does.
Minnesota Twins:
Fantasy Impact= The lumberjack himself, Justin Morneau. Is anyone else completely and utterly scared when he steps up to the plate?
Winning Impact= The Twins say their prayers daily that Joe Mauer opted not to play quarterback for Florida State. The rest of the league has been hoping the past 6 years have been a bad dream. He is simply the best all-around player in the Majors. And, that's nothing to be taken lightly. (Side note: He too is a bit of a lumberjack)
New York Mets
Fantasy Impact= After a down year last season, David Wright has rebounded and enthused those who took a chance on him in this year's draft. Third base is a bit rocky as far as depth goes, so Wright's projected 40 doubles, 30 homers, 100 RBI and .280 batting average look good on any team.
Winning Impact= In real life, the msot difficult position to come by is a true short stop. Jose Reyes is just that. His power seems to have been somewhat depleted recently, but he still has all 5 of the most important tools in baseball (remember doubles and triples count too!). And, he's oh-so-fun to watch.
More coming after the jump.
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Here we go. Day 3 of the Beer League All-Star lineup announcements. There's quite a bit of information included in this 3 part post so we wanted to make sure you had time to keep up. Today will wrap up the final third of the two teams.
New York Yankees:
Fantasy Impact= Whether you credit his outstanding start to the new ball park, his "baseball prime", or any number of other explanations, Robinson Cano is keeping jaws dropped this season. His current pace for 50 doubles, 33 homers, and 126RBI is only made more impressive by his astonishing .376 batting average clip. Are you a believer?
Winning Impact= The offense is great in New York, but you could put Barney and Friends in pinstripes and they'd slam a few out of the park. Therefore, CC Sabathia is the key to wins. Statistically, Phil Hughes is better, but CC gives these boys a legitimate shot every fifth day.
Oakland A's:
Fantasy Impact= It's a grim outlook. Daric Barton gets the nod as a doubles machine who knows how to take a walk. He's probably not on your team, and for good reason...You probably don't have any A's on your team, and for good reason.
Winning Impact= True team ball. The whole roster gets this selection. Honestly, who will represent their team in the real MLB All-Star game?
Philadelphia Phillies:
Fantasy Impact= R-O-Y H-A-L-L-A-D-A-Y (reference article number one from Beer League)
Winning Impact= Chase Utley has belonged in this category since he broke into the majors. The guy is a true winner, a pure baseball player, and a production machine. He's set the standard for second basemen and will continue to do so until he retires.
Pittsburgh Pirates:
Fantasy Impact= You've seen it before; center field is a premium position. That makes "Cutch" a premium player. He doesn't snag a lot of RBI's, but he'll delve into just about every other category.
Winning Impact= As the most exciting, most prolific and most impactful player on the roster, "Cutch" gets the nod here too. Seriously, have you seen him play?
San Diego Padres:
Fantasy Impact= If you have many Padres on your fantasy team, you're probably not at the top of the standings. The only player really worth holding onto is Adrian Gonzalez. You can always hope he gets traded to a contender at the deadline. We'd all like to see a spike in RBI opportunities, wouldn't we?
Winning Impact= Nobody really knows how San Diego keeps winning, and there's not really a "key". Here's to another team nomination. We're going to need to order a few more Beer League jerseys.
Seattle Mariners:
Fantasy Impact= You waited patiently. You wondered if it'd be worth it. Now, you know. Cliff Lee has come back from injury with a vengeance. Not only is the stuff still there, now he's adding heavily to your strikeout category as well. Stud.
Winning Impact= See "Impact, Fantasy".
San Francisco Giants:
Fantasy Impact= No brainer. Lincecum, right? Wrong. There's a new sheriff in town. His name is Matt Cain, and his hands are the size of a polar bear's...at least according to Lince-chump. He's shown flashes before and it's finally come together. Too bad that Halladay guy is in the NL now.
Winning Impact= A little twist here as offense doesn't seem to exist in the Bay Area--Buster Posey. He's provided a much needed spark since getting the call up. He makes constant and solid contact with the stick and looks like he'll be a candidate for 30 doubles this year as a leader of the offense.
St. Louis Cardinals:
Fantasy Impact= He's been the number one pick for a few years now. They call him the "Machine". He could blast a rolling baseball 400 feet. Enough said.
Winning impact= As a converted reliever, it still seems surreal seeing Adam Wainwright get the best of almost every batter he faces. Again, it's just a shame that guy Halladay is in he NL.
Tampa Bay Rays:
Fantasy Impact= In all seriousness, hope you got them all. Really.
Winning impact= It is beautiful to watch this team play. They've got to be the favorite in the AL. Selection goes to their manager, Joe Maddon.
Texas Rangers:
Fantasy Impact= Since Nolan Ryan, it's been about offense in Arlington. With triple eligibility in the outfield, Josh Hamilton is begining to really heat up. As long as those knees hold up, he looks to redeem his slow start by rewarding his owners with 30 homers and 100 RBI. Start looking forward to it.
Winning Impact= As nice as most of the pieces are for the Rangers, if you watch the games, Vlad seems to be the biggest difference-maker at the plate. It doesn't matter what the situation is, he seems to take advantage of it. They took a chance on his health and it's paying dividends.
Toronto Blue Jays:
Fantasy Impact= Vernon Wells is the man. He's also our pick.
Winning Impact= Vernon Wells again. Can he keep it up? Probably not. He's on pace for over 60 doubles and almost 30 homers. However, his re-awakening is prompting the Jays to score some runs. Even if he doesn't stay on his current pace, he will remain their difference-maker.
Washington Nationals:
Fantasy Impact= Tempting to already put Stephen Strasburg here. Well, what the hay? Let's do it! Stephen Strasburg it is. Despite his pitch count and innings limits, he's going to be great. If you didn't catch his first start, make sure to see the next one against Cleveland.
Winning Impact= Maybe as early as next season, this will be Strasburg as well. Unfortunately, the limitations on his counts this year will limit his ability to really impact the win column. Zimmerman is still the man at the hot corner, and he's our man too.
This concludes the 2010 Beer League All-Star Lineups. After 3 days of analyzing and making picks, it's finally over. Why does it seem like everything related to the game of baseball takes forever? Because, it does. If you're not already, get used to it.
"You can put (expletive) in a box and slap a guarantee on it"...
...Maybe that's not an exact quote, but you get the idea. Regardless, we're going to cram this week and bring you four straight days of posts. On top of our usual, but somewhat off-schedule Fantasy Monday, National Interest Wednesday and Farm Report Friday, Beer League will feature it's first guest writer--World Cup enthusiast Isaac Hodges. We're expecting a top-tier write up on Thursday spotlighting this major sports event, so please stop in and enjoy.
Today's write up after the jump.
..............................................................................
Sitting at just over a third of the way through the 2010 Major League Baseball season, it's time to take a look at this year's All-Star forecast. Instead of just purely predicting which player(s) will represent each team, Beer League is going to take a two-fold approach. First, we'll choose each team's biggest fantasy player based on statistical production in the most pronounced fantasy categories. Second, a player will be selected from each team based on his real-life, win-producing impact.
What's the point? Isn't an All-Star an All-Star? And, aren't All-Star's chosen based on fantasy voting?
Slow down. Holster your Nerf guns. Let's just talk it out. The point of this system is to present to you a unique prospective. Frankly, it's somewhat tiring seeing the same guys over and over again, and, all due respect set aside; it's a little boring. Whatever happened to breakout seasons, defense winning championships, and fair and equal representation? Ok, maybe the MLB has addressed that third factor. Heck, maybe they've addressed all three. After all, they do allow the fans to control the rosters.
Here at Beer League, we like having the control. We love calling the shots. And, we thoroughly enjoy long walks on the beach, pina colladas with little umbrellas, pocket-sized puppies and...what? Maybe a "GOTCHA!" would be in order if each one of you didn't just imagine yourselves walking down the shoreline at sunset with a fruity drink in hand while you watch your tiny K-9 frolic in the slightly crashing waves.
Okay. In all seriousness, let's get back to business. We've got baseball to discuss, and without further ado, here is your 2010 Beer League All-Star Team...folded twice, of course.
Arizona Diamondbacks:
Fantasy Impact= 2B, Kelly Johnson- In a usually weak crop of fantasy players, Johnson has used his change of scenery to emerge as one the the (gulp!) leaders of the pack. On pace for over fifty doubles and over thirty homers, we just can't argue with his fantasy success so far. Although, we'd really, really like to.
Winning Impact= SP, Dan Haren- Yes, the numbers are down (or up depending on how you look at it), but they're trending in the right direction. Bottom line here is the six wins. Justin Upton is the other candidate, but with the way he's struggled with the stick, it's not feasible right now to select him to this year's Beer League All-Star Team. Besides, poll the GM's around the league. Dennis-the-Menace's piggy bank says they'd covet the Pepperdine product as their number one on the hill.
Atlanta Braves:
Fantasy Impact= No question here. It's not debateable. It's...It's...a rookie!? Yes. Jason Heyward runs away with this selection. Please try and find an argument to the contrary. We'll be waiting. Ok. We've waited long enough. Next!
Winning Impact= It's a sweep! If the stats don't get the message across, the eye test will. Despite a game every now and then where he must just enjoy hearing the ump call him out on strikes, he's barreling towards exceptional numbers. That's exceptional in general, not just for a rookie. His cannon in right just makes this pick that much easier.
Baltimore Orioles:
Fantasy Impact= Ty Wigginton. Reasoning? Well, there's only one--it's got to be somebody...
Winning Impact= Buehler?...Buehler?...Nope. We refuse.
Boston Red Sox:
Fantasy Impact= Kevin Youkilis. Was it an easy choice? Uh huh. Are there others? Uh huh. Is he skipping down the lilly-laden path towards MVP? Uh huh.
Winning Impact= In the AL East it's all about the runs. The Sox realized this after a change-of-approach toward a not-so-successful-Bill-James- driven shift which netted them a losing record. When did they start to pull it together? It was about the time their bats starting whiffing and grounding out less and their balls started landing in the gaps and over the fence more. Who's been the most successful Bostonian at doing just this? One hint: It's the same guy who's eye-balling a shot at the MVP title.
Chicago Cubs:
Fantasy Impact= Ready to feel slightly sick to your stomach? Marlon Byrd and Alfonso Soriano are blowing the rest of the Cubbies away in the fantasy world. Yuck. However, Beer League rules don't allow players in wheel chairs to participate. So, that leaves Byrd. Congrats Marlon!...We guess.
Winning Impact= It appears a change of scenary has lit a fire under Carlos Silva's... shoulder. He's undefeated and refuses to give out free passes to first. Seriously, we tried. He won't budge. You've got to earn your trip to the basepaths the way your grandpa earned that Caddy--through plenty of hard work and loads of determination. Interesting note; despite swearing we saw him play for the Mariners previously, we can't locate this fact anywhere in his resume. He's seemingly erased those memories from the history books and wants the baseball world to believe he went straight from Minnesota to Chicago. Did he?
Cincinnati Reds:
Fantasy Impact= Leading one of the hottest offenses in the National league is Joey Votto. He may have disapeared from the baseball scene for a while last season. And, he may have disapeared form your Christmas list because of it. However, the one place he hasn't disapeared from is the production line. He continues to churn out a plethora of singles, doubles, homers and clutch rbi's. Check your fantasy roster. If he's not your first baseman, you probably wish he was.
Winning Impact= While Votto would be the easy choice, it's necessary to look at what's producing Cincy's wins. Joey was an emerging monster last year, yet they didn't seem to win at a large rate. What's different this year? The re-emergence of Scott Rolen appears to be the difference that's got the Red's competing for the Central. Thus, the gritty vet is getting the nod here. Nice to see you again, Scott.
Cleveland Indians:
Fantasy Impact= Shin-Soo Choo. He's contributing in five categories. Unfortunately, his teammates may complicate the development of his RBI total.
Winning Impact= Hmmm.
Colorado Rockies:
Fantasy Impact= As much as we'd like to give TT the nod here... As big of fans of his as we are here...Must choose U-B-A-L-D-O J-I-M-E-N-E-Z.
Winning Impact= Eleven wins, sub-one ERA and WHIP totals, two complete games, two shut-outs, AND keeping batters harnessed below a two hundred batting average? Yes. Give him the nod here too.
Chicago White Sox:
Fantasy Impact= Paul Bunyan. Errr. Konerko. The guy just...keeps...jacking. He's already at seventeen homeruns, he's healthy, and he's walking. Wonder if all that walking has kept his blood sugar low...
Winning Impact= What did the White Sox think they were getting in Alex Rios? Don't know. They were probably hoping he could return to his future MVP type numbers of his earlier years with Toronto. Fortunately for them, they found lightning in a bottle. He's doing a bit of everything, and doing it well. No doubt, he's the best all-around player on the South side.
Detroit Tigers:
Fantasy Impact= Miquel Cabrera. He's quite possibly the best offensive fantasy player this year. The best part? He's just now hitting his prime.
Winning Impact= Justin Verlander. He's baaaaaack! After getting roughed up early, the guy just keeps getting stronger.
Florida Marlins:
Fantasy Impact= Normally this would be a no-brainer. Normally, H-Ram would be making you feel fantastic and giddy about taking him early in the first round. Abnormally, he's not producing at that level yet this season. Instead, Josh Johnson says, "not in my house". Nobody is getting the ball over the fence against Johnson. He's building on prior success and is currently one of the better pitching options in fantasy.
Winning Impact= No, the run-producing, power-hitting short stop hasn't been puting up his normal numbers. But, Hanley's got five tools, right? Right. He's still got the glove and range to shut down the middle... Even if he does kick a ball every now and then.
Want more? You do, don't you? Good. Come back tomorrow for the rest of the Beer League All-Star lineup.
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Chime the bells. Blow the whistle. Alert the Media. It's round two of the Beer League All-Star lineup announcements. Instead of the usual anecdote or content-preceding attempt at humor, today it's time to just get down to business. Which reminds me; a quick preview for tomorrow's bonus post is in order. Tune in for a different take on "The Chosen One", Stephen Strasburg's world famous debut and what's around the corner for the real life human torch.
First up, Houston!
Houston Astros:
Fantasy Impact= Due to the ineptly shallow crop of left fielders for fantasy this year, Carlos Lee gets the nod here. Exciting? No. But, you understand what you're getting here. If not, look under "career slugger who's averaged 28 homers, 100 RBI and over 30 doubles over his 11 year career". Then, cross reference that with "how to adjust in your mid 30's". You should find a nice, happy medium.
Winning Impact= Man, so many to choose from. Big Puma. The aforementioned Carlos Lee. Or, the toolsy kid with an awesome name, Hunter Pence. Nah. Let's get creative and select Roy Oswalt. Why? Let's say they are actually able to trade his fatty contract to a desperate contender. Say, the Yankees. If we think really hard and creatively, we can begin to imagine what might happen 3 to 4 years down the road if they get a decent booty. Shucks! It was worth a try. Ok, default to the kid with the cool name. Congrats...Hunter Pence.
Kansas City Royals:
Fantasy Impact= What is about to be said may only be read by mature audiences. If you believe yourself to have a weak stomach, please skip to the next paragraph and never come back to or reference this portion of the post. Folks, it's Jose Guillen. You'll now be given a moment to grab some wet napkins, towels or whatever else you may need to clean yourself up a bit before we go on... Ready? Ok. The reasoning here might make you feel slightly better about the selection. The reasoning is that hopefully you traded Guillen when his stat line indicated he was on the verge of a career year. Hopefully you traded him for max value and got a stud like Matt Holliday, Justin Upton, or any number of first or second tier guys that may have been struggling. And, hopefully you weren't the one trading for him.
Winning Impact= It doesn't matter that the Royals players seem to disagree with Beer League's selection here. Facts are Facts. Zack Greinke still gives the boys in blue the best chance at winning every time he steps on the mound. Everyone is freaking out about his lack of "stuff", but remember he is a consummate professional and doesn't enjoy seeing 8 losses in his line. He'll find a way to correct whatever mechanics are slacking, and return to prominence. Ok, maybe that's a stretch. He's still in KC, after all.
LA Angels:
Fantasy Impact= With center field being a premium position, this has to go to Torii Hunter.
Winning Impact= With center field being a premium position, this has to go to Torii Hunter. (No, that was not a typo. He's dominated the position offensively and defensively for years and deserves the utmost respect.)
LA Dodgers:
Fantasy Impact= Dr. Dre. Not the singer/rapper/composer/marketing guru or whatever else he does, but the right fielder. Ethier took the months of April and May, wrapped them up neatly, and launched them into outer space with a note that read, "Who's your daddy?" The finger issue will resolve itself and he'll adjust.
Winning Impact= The entire outfield. It tops the Majors in every way possible. Kemp and Ethier defend the outfield like Rajon Rondo did in the fourth quarter of Game 2. Manny is always being Manny, of course. But, he's allowed that luxury. All three guys know how to control the plate. Yes, it's our first "team" award.
Milwaukee Brewers:
Fantasy Impact= Being part of the Ryan Braun fan club, it's extremely difficult not to choose the "Hammer" here, but we just can't. Second base is historically weak. Therefore, Casey McGehee's emergence is critical. Well, at least this year. The Crew has him on the third bag, which will relieve him of his second base eligibility for next year. However, that doesn't change the fact that he's a top two second base-eligible player this year and doesn't look like he'll fall out of the top three.
Winning Impact= Another guy with a cool name, Yovanni Gallardo. Only, he's not just getting the call here because of his name. Do you know how to spell domination? Gallardo does.
Minnesota Twins:
Fantasy Impact= The lumberjack himself, Justin Morneau. Is anyone else completely and utterly scared when he steps up to the plate?
Winning Impact= The Twins say their prayers daily that Joe Mauer opted not to play quarterback for Florida State. The rest of the league has been hoping the past 6 years have been a bad dream. He is simply the best all-around player in the Majors. And, that's nothing to be taken lightly. (Side note: He too is a bit of a lumberjack)
New York Mets
Fantasy Impact= After a down year last season, David Wright has rebounded and enthused those who took a chance on him in this year's draft. Third base is a bit rocky as far as depth goes, so Wright's projected 40 doubles, 30 homers, 100 RBI and .280 batting average look good on any team.
Winning Impact= In real life, the msot difficult position to come by is a true short stop. Jose Reyes is just that. His power seems to have been somewhat depleted recently, but he still has all 5 of the most important tools in baseball (remember doubles and triples count too!). And, he's oh-so-fun to watch.
More coming after the jump.
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Here we go. Day 3 of the Beer League All-Star lineup announcements. There's quite a bit of information included in this 3 part post so we wanted to make sure you had time to keep up. Today will wrap up the final third of the two teams.
New York Yankees:
Fantasy Impact= Whether you credit his outstanding start to the new ball park, his "baseball prime", or any number of other explanations, Robinson Cano is keeping jaws dropped this season. His current pace for 50 doubles, 33 homers, and 126RBI is only made more impressive by his astonishing .376 batting average clip. Are you a believer?
Winning Impact= The offense is great in New York, but you could put Barney and Friends in pinstripes and they'd slam a few out of the park. Therefore, CC Sabathia is the key to wins. Statistically, Phil Hughes is better, but CC gives these boys a legitimate shot every fifth day.
Oakland A's:
Fantasy Impact= It's a grim outlook. Daric Barton gets the nod as a doubles machine who knows how to take a walk. He's probably not on your team, and for good reason...You probably don't have any A's on your team, and for good reason.
Winning Impact= True team ball. The whole roster gets this selection. Honestly, who will represent their team in the real MLB All-Star game?
Philadelphia Phillies:
Fantasy Impact= R-O-Y H-A-L-L-A-D-A-Y (reference article number one from Beer League)
Winning Impact= Chase Utley has belonged in this category since he broke into the majors. The guy is a true winner, a pure baseball player, and a production machine. He's set the standard for second basemen and will continue to do so until he retires.
Pittsburgh Pirates:
Fantasy Impact= You've seen it before; center field is a premium position. That makes "Cutch" a premium player. He doesn't snag a lot of RBI's, but he'll delve into just about every other category.
Winning Impact= As the most exciting, most prolific and most impactful player on the roster, "Cutch" gets the nod here too. Seriously, have you seen him play?
San Diego Padres:
Fantasy Impact= If you have many Padres on your fantasy team, you're probably not at the top of the standings. The only player really worth holding onto is Adrian Gonzalez. You can always hope he gets traded to a contender at the deadline. We'd all like to see a spike in RBI opportunities, wouldn't we?
Winning Impact= Nobody really knows how San Diego keeps winning, and there's not really a "key". Here's to another team nomination. We're going to need to order a few more Beer League jerseys.
Seattle Mariners:
Fantasy Impact= You waited patiently. You wondered if it'd be worth it. Now, you know. Cliff Lee has come back from injury with a vengeance. Not only is the stuff still there, now he's adding heavily to your strikeout category as well. Stud.
Winning Impact= See "Impact, Fantasy".
San Francisco Giants:
Fantasy Impact= No brainer. Lincecum, right? Wrong. There's a new sheriff in town. His name is Matt Cain, and his hands are the size of a polar bear's...at least according to Lince-chump. He's shown flashes before and it's finally come together. Too bad that Halladay guy is in the NL now.
Winning Impact= A little twist here as offense doesn't seem to exist in the Bay Area--Buster Posey. He's provided a much needed spark since getting the call up. He makes constant and solid contact with the stick and looks like he'll be a candidate for 30 doubles this year as a leader of the offense.
St. Louis Cardinals:
Fantasy Impact= He's been the number one pick for a few years now. They call him the "Machine". He could blast a rolling baseball 400 feet. Enough said.
Winning impact= As a converted reliever, it still seems surreal seeing Adam Wainwright get the best of almost every batter he faces. Again, it's just a shame that guy Halladay is in he NL.
Tampa Bay Rays:
Fantasy Impact= In all seriousness, hope you got them all. Really.
Winning impact= It is beautiful to watch this team play. They've got to be the favorite in the AL. Selection goes to their manager, Joe Maddon.
Texas Rangers:
Fantasy Impact= Since Nolan Ryan, it's been about offense in Arlington. With triple eligibility in the outfield, Josh Hamilton is begining to really heat up. As long as those knees hold up, he looks to redeem his slow start by rewarding his owners with 30 homers and 100 RBI. Start looking forward to it.
Winning Impact= As nice as most of the pieces are for the Rangers, if you watch the games, Vlad seems to be the biggest difference-maker at the plate. It doesn't matter what the situation is, he seems to take advantage of it. They took a chance on his health and it's paying dividends.
Toronto Blue Jays:
Fantasy Impact= Vernon Wells is the man. He's also our pick.
Winning Impact= Vernon Wells again. Can he keep it up? Probably not. He's on pace for over 60 doubles and almost 30 homers. However, his re-awakening is prompting the Jays to score some runs. Even if he doesn't stay on his current pace, he will remain their difference-maker.
Washington Nationals:
Fantasy Impact= Tempting to already put Stephen Strasburg here. Well, what the hay? Let's do it! Stephen Strasburg it is. Despite his pitch count and innings limits, he's going to be great. If you didn't catch his first start, make sure to see the next one against Cleveland.
Winning Impact= Maybe as early as next season, this will be Strasburg as well. Unfortunately, the limitations on his counts this year will limit his ability to really impact the win column. Zimmerman is still the man at the hot corner, and he's our man too.
This concludes the 2010 Beer League All-Star Lineups. After 3 days of analyzing and making picks, it's finally over. Why does it seem like everything related to the game of baseball takes forever? Because, it does. If you're not already, get used to it.
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