Royals Potpourri II
Once again I have several thoughts on the Royals, but none of them amount to an entire article. So here it goes:
The Logo: This has been on my mind for a while. Can we go back the crown logo with the R instead of the current crown logo with the KC? I have no real reason except nostalgia. Maybe we can start a twitter movement. Stranger things have happened over a #countrybreakfast.
The Gangs All Here: With the call up of Johnny Giavotella and Salvador Perez the Royals have placed a player making their MLB debut in 2011 as starters in all of the infield positions. The only one who didn’t get a hit in their first game was Eric Hosmer. He seems to be making up for that. I’m a little worried about Mike Moustakas inability to get over the Mendoza Line. He just looks lost at the plate.
The Royals are now the youngest team in the majors. Remember, sink or swim, this is the youth movement we’ve been waiting for. There will be growing pains. We need to remember that, including myself, when they make boneheaded plays. Especially plays that cost games.
Happy Trails: Many Royals fans have long said as long as Kyle Davies is in the rotation that the front office wasn’t serious about contending. Kyle Davies was released this week. This needs no other explanation. However, I have two questions. Who are the other teams interested in signing or trading for Kyle Davies? I hope one of them was the Wichita Wingnuts. Secondly, As Royals fans who will be our new Wipping Boy? Because…
Hochocinco to Cool Hand Luke: I’ll be honest. Luke Hochevar is not my favorite Royal. I’m not sure why. I would like think it was his holdout, signing bonus, and then subsequent sucktitude in the majors. But that hardly makes him unique to major leaguers. I have more favorable feelings for players that have had similar contract negotiations. At the beginning of the season I vowed that I would call Luke Hochevar, Hochocinco as long as his ERA remained above 5.00, or cinco. Since the All-Star Break Luke Hochevar has pitched like the ace he’s supposed to be. Lowering his ERA to 4.79. Hopefully this will continue. The Royals need as much starting pitching as they can get if they’re going to be competitive in 2012 and open their playoff window. But if it doesn’t, take notice Royals Fan Wipping Boy is currently an unfilled position.
Joakim Soira Ain’t Right: I know, you’re probably thinking, “thanks Captain Obvious.” You don’t have to be a Stathead to know that closers in baseball are like running backs in the NFL. The have short shelf lives. They have a two or three year window of absolute dominance and then they fall back to the pack. Not that they can’t get guys out anymore, but they can’t do it with enough consistency to hold the closers role. I fear we’ve reached that point with Soria. My logical response to this would be to elevate Crow to that position. But do you do that instead of making him a starter. Either way, I hope the front office is looking for another long term closer.
It’s August: And I’m still watching Royals games with interest. It’s the young guys. If you’re going to be a terrible baseball team, you might as well be terrible, young, and interesting. I’ll probably keep this interest up the rest of the season, except when the Chiefs are playing. One game a week verse six takes some precedents…and they’ve already opened their play off window.