It’s pretty easy to point out all the bad decisions the Royals organization made over the years. But they’ve made some right decisions and one of them was to make Luke Hochevar a reliever.

With all the improvements the Royals made to the starting rotation, moving Hochevar to the bullpen was a no-brainier. In his 127 games as a starter, Hochevar had a 5.45 ERA, giving up 94 home runs and a 2.08 SS/BB ratio. Last year, he lead the American League with 118 earned runs, which isn’t a good stat. His inconsistency as a starter frustrated the Royals fan base and I’m sure if frustrated Hochevar too. Sure, a lot of fans wanted the Royals to release Hochevar earlier this year. Despite his issues, it would be foolish to release Hochevar without giving him a chance in the bullpen.

And so far Hochevar’s move to the bullpen has worked out. In six games over 8.2 innings, he has a 1.04 ERA with only one earned run (a solo home run) and a 3.67 SO/BB ratio. One of the knocks on Hochevar as a starter was his tendency to lose focus, which allowed him to give up big innings. But pitching an inning or two and being on call to pitch every day appears to give Hochevar the focus he needs to get batters out and be an asset to the team.

But paying 4.56MM a year for a middle reliever is a high price to pay. Hochevar will be a free agent after the 2014 season. If Hochevar continues his success as a reliever, perhaps the Royals can offer Hochevar a contract for a few years and a lower per year salary. Now that’s something Hochevar might have a problem with, seeing his agent is Scott Boras. And if Hochevar is successful as a reliever, he might think he can be successful as a starter again. But unless the Royals put him back in the rotation (which I don’t think is a good idea), Luke Hochevar’s future is being a reliever, which is best for the team and for Hochevar.

The St. Louis Cardinals have a solid starting rotation that includes two ace-caliber pitchers, a couple of decent No. 3 and No. 4 starters, and a bevy of young flamethrowers. However, they might be in better shape if they re-sign their best starter from last year – Kyle Lohse.

Photo By Erika Lynn

Lohse posted a 16-3 record with a team-leading 2.84 earned-run average and was a strong candidate for the Cy Young Award in 2012. His contract expired at the end of the season, but no team has shown any strong interest in signing the 34-year-old righthander.

Part of the problem for Lohse could be a new system put in place by Major League Baseball in 2011 that gives teams compensation picks if they make qualifying offers to their free agents and those players are signed by another team. Teams have recently been more reluctant to sign a high-priced free agent because they’ll have to give up a draft pick and a portion of their draft money.

Perhaps his asking price is simply too high. Scott Boras represents Lohse, and Boras is known to try any imaginable tactic to drive up the price for teams to sign his clients. This strategy cost Lohse the last time he was a free agent.

Lohse put together a 9-12 record in 2007 with the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies, but he hit the open market that offseason looking for a big, multi-year contract. As Spring Training camps opened in 2008, Lohse was still hunting for a job when the Cardinals signed him to a one-year, $4.25-million deal that was designed to be an opportunity for Lohse to try to maximize his value for the following offseason.

It worked. Lohse went 15-6 with a 3.78 ERA in 2008, and the Cardinals re-signed him to a four-year, $41-million extension later that season.

The Cardinals might be reluctant to sign Lohse because they want the compensation draft pick, which would be cheaper to sign than a free agent pitcher. But, the franchise could find short- and long-term benefits if they re-sign Lohse.

Lohse could return to the Cardinals with a fairly reasonable deal since no other teams have stepped forward with an offer, and the move could help them beyond next year if Adam Wainwright decides to leave as a free agent. Wainwright is going to command at least a near-record contract if he has a good season, and he is almost certainly going to be more expensive than Lohse.

Theoretically, the Cardinals could sign Lohse to a contract in the neighborhood of four years and as much as $70-80 million. That would still likely be less than half of what Wainwright will make in his next contract. Plus, the Cardinals have several young pitchers who could fill rotation spots if Wainwright decides to leave.

If all that were to happen, the Cardinals could open the 2014 and 2015 seasons with a rotation led by Lohse, followed by Jaime Garcia, Joe Kelly, Lance Lynn and Shelby Miller. That also doesn’t include pitchers such as Trevor Rosenthal or Carlos Martinez.

Granted, that would be a very young rotation, and Garcia’s shoulder problems remain a question at this point. But, there is undoubtedly enough talent in that rotation for the team to be successful, and it would be a heck of a lot cheaper than keeping Wainwright.

Some people might say re-signing Lohse this year is unreasonable, but it could pay off in the long term. The Cardinals would have much more money to spend on a solid middle infielder and veteran players who often play key roles that help win games late in the regular season and playoffs.

Although Lohse’s contract this year could create some sticker shock, it would be minimal compared to the gasping-for-air feeling Cardinals fans could experience if the team tries to sign Wainwright to a long-term contract next year.

Ligament Replacement Surgery—known better by the moniker “Tommy John Surgery”—is almost a foregone conclusion for Major League pitchers today. Teams practically build their rotations and, many times, entire seasons around when, not if, a certain pitcher will need to take a year or two off for an elbow rebuild. In 2012, the most famous case is that of Stephen Strasburg of the first place Washington Nationals. But the St. Louis Cardinals may have a similar case to review regarding their ace Adam Wainwright.

Saturday, the Nationals announced Strasburg will be shut down for the rest of 2012, including any postseason games the Nats might play. Strasburg underwent his procedure on September 3, 2010—two full years ago. Conventional wisdom suggests a pitcher needs anywhere from 12-18 months of rehab before he is truly ready to return to form on the mound, and most hurlers don’t feel back to 100% until two years after the surgery. Technically, Strasburg should be hitting his stride right about now. Imagine the boost the Nats would be getting from that, assuming they were close to where they currently are. Instead, they’re forced to go the rest of the season without their de facto ace. Arguments and hindsight from both sides are numerous: should he have rehabbed at all in 2011…should he have started 2012 late…the Nationals are doing this to protect his and their futures…this is just another power flex from Scott Boras…how can the Nats do this to their fanbase…how can they not do it…etc.

The Cards are in a somewhat similar situation with Wainwright, though the scales are vastly different. The righty underwent his procedure February 28, 2011, and was in training camp less than one year later. Wainwright started the Cards’ home opener—albeit to little success—and hasn’t missed a start yet. As the 2012 season progressed, Wainwright seemed to get stronger. Aside from the occasional hiccup, he looked to be inching closer to pre-surgery form right before our eyes. Cardinal coaching and front office eyes, however, were no doubt laser-focused on his health the entire time. And while the Cardinals also have to ponder the future, their perspective is quite different: coming off a World Series victory that punctuated perpetual success under Tony La Russa, followed by a complete sea-change with the transition to Mike Matheny…losing Chris Carpenter at the start of 2012…could Wainwright have rested a few more months and joined the team mid-year…only having Wainwright under contract one more season, with designs on trying to re-sign him…the Cards are still in a dogfight for a return to the postseason…etc.

Ironically, the two pitchers’ last few outings have been similarly bad. Strasburg pitched well against the Cards last week, but that start was bookended by giving up five earned runs in each of two outings—one of five innings, one of three. Wainwright’s last two starts have been even worse: six earned runs in less than three innings and five earned runs over five innings. Under normal circumstances, these events could be looked at as a slump or even just a radar blip for two pitchers so obviously better than the numbers they posted. But is it more than just irony that Strasburg’s stumble came as he inched closer to the 160 IP limit the Nats originally discussed, or that Wainwright seems to be losing gas as he hits 18 months since his surgery?

Wainwright has said that failing to repeat the proper arm slot has led to his bump in the road, not soreness or fatigue. But fatigue is sometimes just as much a symptom of mechanical issues as anything else. And even if he cannot perceive something being off—or simply can’t fix it—Wainwright runs the risk of injuring himself in other areas.

That’s not to say the Cardinals have to shut down Wainwright like the Nationals are doing for Strasburg. Even with all the similarities, the two cases have differences too: namely, Wainwright being a veteran, being older, not being as much of a power pitcher, etc. But the situation definitely bears watching, especially if Wainwright’s starts continue to go badly. And if Carpenter ends up able to pitch at all in 2012, perhaps that’s a scenario where Waino can at least get some extra rest.

Every pitcher is different, so it’s tough to assign hard numbers and come up with the right answer every time. And any ill effects for these two teams either way are still weeks to months away from being truly known, if they ever are at all. No team should ever give up on a season, especially one that includes a legitimate shot at postseason play. The Nationals know what price they were willing to pay regarding Strasburg, and they believe they just hit their limit. Do the Cardinals know their price regarding Wainwright? Will they know when they’ve hit it?

Chris Reed also writes for InsideSTL Mondays and Bird Brained whenever he feels like it. Follow him on Twitter @birdbrained.

After more than a year of anxious anticipation, Kansas City Royals fans finally saw (via an Internet box score) Bubba Starling in action.

Let the hand-wringing begin.

The Royals top-rated prospect and the number one outfield prospect as ranked by mlb.com, fanned three times in five at bats in his first ever game as a pro at rookie league Burlington.  And that after months of contract negotiations, Nebraska Cornhusker football practices, a fall season cut short by injury, and an embarrasing arrest.

A hamstring injury kept him out of the first nine of Burlington’s 68 games, and kept Royals fans in a state of panic that their local phenom would fall short of their lofty expectations.  Any roadblock is not good for Starling. He’s old for a high-school draftee – he’ll be 20 on August 3 – and has a decidedly steep learning curve before him, coming from a Kansas high school.

Well, the wait is finally over. Now the scrutiny can begin in earnest. When you’re the number one pick (and a multi-millionaire), you can’t hide in anonymity at the rookie-league level. Starling will have all eyes on him as he sinks or swims as a professional ballplayer.

Starling went into the draft as the darling of the Kansas City area. But he burned some of that collatoral when he and Scott Boras toyed around last summer, wasting time Starling could have put into becoming a better player. The arrest and the injuries have all taken some of the shine off Starling’s star.

Time will tell if he warrants the cash, the rankings, and the anxious attention of Royals fans.

By signing a five-year extension with Kansas City, Carlos Beltran ensures that he will finish his career as a life-long Royal and will be firmly established as the second best player in team history.

Having spent 14 years patrolling centerfield of Kauffman Stadium, Beltran hopes his career will end on a more competitive note.

“We’ve lost a lot during the last decade here in KC, but with all the talent we’ve got coming up, I really think we’ll compete for championships before I’m done,” Beltran said.

Despite being slowed by injuries, Beltran has been one of the few bright spots for the Royals. When outfield mates Jermaine Dye and Johnny Damon sought greener pastures in the early 2000s, Beltran chose to stay in KC, joining George Brett and Frank White as the faces of the franchise.

“Sure I could have made some more money somewhere else, but I always wanted to be a guy who played his whole career for one team,” Beltran said upon signing the contract extension. “Some things are more important than money. Who knows where I’d be right now if I’d listen to that money-grubbing Scott Boras.”

Ok, so the reality is that Beltran is now a Cardinal. He’s also an ex-Giant, ex-Met, ex-Astro, and of course, ex-Royal. Beltran is now 34 and might possibly finish his career in St. Louis.

Beltran left KC at age 27, having played five and half seasons in a Royals’ uniform. Because of injuries and the natural decline of skills, Beltran played his best baseball before the age of 32. About half that time was spent in Kansas City.

Sadly, KC just missed out on some of Beltran’s best seasons – 2006 to 2008. In those seasons he won three Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers, made two All-Star appearances, and in 2006 finished fourth in the MVP balloting.

I really shouldn’t blame Beltran for his departure from KC. The team wasn’t paying top talents at the time, and they knew they had to deal Beltran when they could get a good return. It’s not his fault that the three players KC got in the trade (Mark Teahen, Mike Wood and John Buck) didn’t help the team rebuild.

What Beltran can provide the Cardinals and where Beltran stands among the greats of history are topics for another article.

But what interests me is just where Beltran would rank if he had played the same seasons, with all the same production, and with all the same injuries and decline of skill, in KC.

Here are Beltran’s career numbers compared to the best in Royals history:

Games – 1768 Beltran would rank 6^th currently and could move to 3^rd this season behind Brett and White.
At Bats – 6767 Beltran would currently be in 5^th place.
Runs – 1184 Beltran would already be in 2^nd place on the team list, with only Brett’s 1583 to shoot for.
Hits – 1917 Racking up hits isn’t exactly Beltran’s game. Even so, he would rank 6^th on the team list and could move into 2^nd this season. Only Brett and White collected more than 2000 hits.
Doubles –390 Beltran would be in 4^th place at present.
Triples – 73 Beltran would be a distant 3^rd behind Brett’s 137 and Willie Wilson’s 133.
Home Runs – 302 Beltran’s home run total might be different if he’d spent his entire career playing in Kauffman stadium. But for the sake of this game, we’ll give him full credit. Amazingly, only one other Royal has more than 200 homers – Brett with 317. Beltran would, in 2012, become the Royals all-time home run leader.
Runs Batted In – 1146 Beltran would trail only Brett, who drove in 1595 runs.
Stolen Bases – 293 Beltran is one of the most efficient base stealers in the game, but thievery numbers are down from the Royals golden years. Even so, he would rank behind only Wilson (612), Amos Otis (340), and Freddie Patek (336). In reality, Beltran ranks 6^th in team history.
Average – .283 Of players with more than 4000 at bats in a Royals uniform, Beltran would sit fourth, behind Brett (.305), Mike Sweeney (.299), Hal McRae (.293), and Wilson (.289).

Without a doubt, Beltran would rank as the second greatest player in Royals history, and by some measures could be considered THE greatest.

It’s been hard over the past decade for Royals fans to resist delving into a lot of “what ifs:” what if the Royals had kept the outfield of Beltran, Dye and Damon together; what if they could have held onto Joe Randa and Raul Ibanez, what if Mike Sweeney had stayed healthy…

I’m sure millionaire professionals like Carlos Beltran don’t waste time on “what ifs.” But if Beltran did, he might wonder what his legacy would be had he stayed in KC. He might think that players who jump from team to team during the prime of their careers are quickly forgotten. But players who grow up and grow old with the same team can become legends.

Already rated number one in baseball, the Royals’ minor league machine just got a jolt of electricity.

By selecting Bubba Starling, the Royals energized their fan base in two ways. To one of the few positions where they lack depth and talent on the farm, the Royals can add a player with seemingly limitless physical talent. And they can add to their system a hometown hero.

No, make that a hometown legend.

Though he’s from the suburbs on the Kansas side, Starling’s exploits have been well documented and popularized in KC for several years. A multi-sport star with a small-town persona, Starling takes the popularity of Alex Gordon and Aaron Crow to another level.

Gordon and Crow were both from the general region and grew up Royals fans. But they both gained their fame on college ball fields miles from KC. Starling, on the other hand, is one of the greatest high school athletes in the history of Kansas City.

I was ecstatic about the choice for several reasons.

Not only might it add the most talented position player in the draft to the Royals’ already stocked farm system, but it might deny the Nebraska Cornhuskers their prize quarterback recruit.

If Starling should decide to sign with the Royals, he’ll need to do it before Aug. 15. But he will first need to decide whether or not he will report to NU for summer workouts on July 10. The Royals seem confident they can sign Starling, but fans should prepare for tense negations.

Should they lose Starling, the Cornhuskers can consider it an exit-fee for leaving the Big 12.

But the drafting of Starling means several other things as well.

1) The Royals aren’t scared of Scott Boras anymore.

In the 1990s, the Royals were accused of drafting players based more on sign-ability than on top-tier talent. Then in the early 2000s, the Royals had famous standoffs with the ruthless Boras over Johnny Damon and Carlos Beltran. It seemed the Royals just didn’t have the guts to duke it out for the best players, be they already on the team, or in the draft.

But with Boras clients like Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer in the fold, the Royals have shown they are willing to deal. The team doesn’t seem scared off by the big signing bonus Starling will command, nor by the NU scholarship in his back pocket.

Not only have the Royals taken on high-stakes negations for players in recent drafts, but they’ve opened the coffers for Latin talents like Noel Arguelles, Chelsor Cuthbert as well as pitchers from the Dominican. It shows the Royals are serious about developing the farm system at all levels and via every means possible.

2) The Royals are truly taking a long-range approach.

With several key prospects just a phone call away, the Royals could have been tempted to go for a quicker fix. There were several hot college pitchers still available when the Royals number came up. And college star third baseman Anthony Rendon, projected in the top two draftees by some, was sitting there as well.

But the Royals went with a player that may take a long time to develop. Chances are Starling may not sign until August and may not suit up until 2012. Having played against a low level of competition in high school, he may need lots of seasoning against better pitching. At best, he probably won’t sniff the bigs until 2015. Probably more like 2016. That’s a long wait for a team that stinks currently.

But to further illustrate their commitment to the distant future, the Royals picked high schoolers with all of their first five picks. Addressing another position of need, they were able to draft the third catcher taken at the 65^th slot. They took two high school right-handed pitchers in the third and fourth rounds, then took a shortstop with the fifth pick.

3) The Royals got amateur baseball’s most brilliant non-pitcher.

If there’s one thing I hate, it’s when words that aren’t even real words suddenly pop up all over the place. Nearly every article I read about the Gardner-Edgerton product over the past few weeks described him as “toolsy.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen that word anywhere before, but now it’s almost synonymous with Starling.

Much as I despise the word, the sentiment is clear – Starling possess a combination of physical skills that set him apart from every player in this draft. Perhaps from the players in most recent drafts as well. If you believe the legends, he has a combination of speed and power to be the next Mickey Mantle.

Comparing Starling to any hall of famer is premature. But it seems safe to say the Royals haven’t had anyone with his kind of five-tool talent since Carlos Beltran.

Had any of the four pitchers taken ahead of Starling fallen to number five, the Royals would have been sorely tempted. But one senses the Royals really wanted to draft the hometown boy. When the first four picks went as they did, the KC brass must have let out a sigh of relief.

I certainly did. I have never been this excited to follow a Royals draftee. I’ll be holding on with white knuckles until he signs. But if and when he does, the number one farm system in baseball will have a new favorite star in Starling.

PLAYER PROFILE

Mike Moustakas

Mike Moustakas
Third Base
AAA Omaha Royals
21 years old
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 230 lbs.
Drafted by Royals in the 1st round (second overall) of the 2007 MLB Draft

The newest member of the Omaha Royals is the obvious choice to feature in this week’s Royals Farm Report. Mike Moustakas is one of the hottest prospects in baseball, and he tore up Double-A in the first half of the season, earning him a promotion this week to the Triple-A squad.

In fact, if Moustakas continues to progress at the current pace, we won’t be able to call him a “prospect” much longer. All indications are that the 21-year-old slugger will get a serious look in Spring Training, and many speculate he could be the Opening Day third baseman for the 2011 Kansas City Royals.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Moustakas was drafted as a shortstop straight out of high school, the second overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. A highly-touted Scott Boras client, Moustakas produced drama soon after the draft, waiting until 11 minutes before the deadline to accept a $4 million signing bonus from the Royals.

But early on in his professional career, Moustakas failed to live up to his lofty expectations. For two seasons he wallowed in Single-A, causing many Royals fans to write him off as a bust. But in 2010 Moustakas earned a spot on the AA-Northwest Arkansas roster. With the Naturals, he started to look more like the natural talent scouts had expected him to be.

Over 66 games, Moustakas batted .347 with 21 home runs and 76 RBI to go with a 1.100 OPS. He won a spot in the Futures Game during All-Star week. And he has provided a new hope to Royals fans, who in the recent past have had little.

Moustakas is now a part of a power-packed lineup in AAA-Omaha, featuring Kila Ka’aihue, a newly-rejuvenated Alex Gordon and Rick Ankiel, serving a rehab assignment with the O-Royals.

The next several weeks will be crucial to Moustakas’ development. He’ll be facing tougher competition and a new round of pitchers. If he can continue his early-season form, the sky is the limit for the young infielder.

MiLB WEEKLY ROUNDUP

AAA – Omaha Royals
Record to date: 49-41, first place in the PCL American North
The past week: 2-1 during the short week surrounding the All-Star Break.
Transactions: Mike Moustakas was promoted to Omaha from AA-Northwest Arkansas; Irving Falu was placed on the temporarily inactive list; Devon Lowery skipped Double-A and was sent to Omaha from A+ Wilmington; and Chris Hayes was placed on the disabled list.
Coming up: The O-Royals complete a four-game set on the road against Nashville over the weekend, before moving to Memphis for four games. They come back home to face Newark next weekend.

AA – Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Record to date: 7-12 in the second half (third place), 55-33 overall
The past week: 1-3, including a loss to San Antonio that ended a seven-game winning streak
Transactions: Nick Van Stratten was placed on the DL; Mario Santiago was placed on the Temporary Inactive List for the 2010 Caribbean and Central American Games; Mike Moustakas was promoted to AAA-Omaha; Jarrod Dyson was received from A+ Wilmington; and Henry Barrera was optioned to Northwest Arkansas after completing a rehab assignment in Wilmington.
Coming up: The Naturals face Springfield this weekend at home before moving on to face the Arkansas Travelers on the road. Next weekend, they host Springfield again.

A+ – Wilmington Blue Rocks
Record to date: 14-7 in the second half (first place), 46-45 overall
The past week: 3-2 on the week; two games were postponed due to rain and wet conditions.
Transactions: Adrian Ortiz was placed on the temporarily inactive list; Danny Duffy was promoted to Wilmington from Idaho Falls; Devon Lowery was assigned to AAA Omaha from Wilmington; Rene Oriental was promoted to Wilmington from A- Burlington; Jarrod Dyson was sent up to Northwest Arkansas; Kevin Chapman was assigned to Wilmington from Kansas City; Eric Hosmer was placed on the reserve list, then reactivated; and Ryan Stovall was sent down to Burlington.
Coming up: The Blue Rocks finish the weekend at home vs. Frederick before a three-game set at Myrtle Beach and four games at Kingston.

POSITION PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Wil Myers, Catcher, A+ Wilmington Blue Rocks

Wil Myers

.400 AVG (4-for-10), 4 RBI, 6 Base on Balls, Triple
19-year-old catcher Wil Myers is one of the most exciting prospects in the organization right now. Selected by the Royals in the third round of the 2009 draft, Myers earned a promotion to A+ Wilmington last week. Since then, he’s been terrific. Although he is not a dominant power hitter, Myers hits well for average and calls a good game behind the plate.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Gaby Hernandez, RHP, AAA Omaha Royals
1-0, 6.2 IP, 1 earned run, 11 K, 1 BB
The Royals claimed Hernandez off waivers from the Red Sox in March, and he’s been a serviceable arm in the Omaha rotation ever since. His season numbers aren’t spectacular – a 7-5 record with a 5.55 ERA. But he has 80 strikeouts in 110.1 innings pitched and only 36 walks. He was spectacular this week, with a win on the road against Nashville. Hernandez could be a sleeper candidate for the big-league rotation in the coming years.