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.
Friday, June 18, 2010
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.
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