He's Gone, our Zach has left the building. I had been praying all along that this wouldn't happen before the season started, but recent events all but killed any prospect of this happening and so the Royals did what they had to do. Without worrying too much about the specific prospects, this is pretty much the best possible outcome for everyone involved. It was finished fast, we didn't have to drag it out for another week and in the end everyone should be happy, perhaps most of all Zach Greinke.
Zach now finds himself on a club that will compete and, in my opinion, could make it to the World Series if no one gets hurt and they all perform at their peak levels and Philly chokes (lots of ifs but they have a pretty solid base). He will be surrounded by players that have won previously and who are professionals; as opposed to the rag-tag group of mutts that he has spent the last few years playing with. Its Milwaukee, he doesn't have to worry about the big stage, pressure or rabid fans AND he gets to swing the bat (I'll start the over under on Greinke HRs next year at 3). The Royals don't have to face him next year - barring the most unlikely world series match-up in history - and as a Royals fan you can still root for Greinke; Toronto, Texas and especially New York would have been tough to stomach. For Zach, it couldn't have turned out better and if you still hold a little bit of love for him as a fan it's a fitting place for him as well.
The Royals got, more or less, what they wanted; a defensive whiz SS and a possible legit starting CF (the "up-the-middle" guys) AND they got rid of Yuniesky, which is no small feat by itself. If Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain can play their as advertised above average defense and resemble something approaching the level of major league hitters, then they will be as valuable as Greinke would have been next year. The pitchers sound good in theory and if one turns out to be who is projected to be, along with the position players, the Royals will probably win long-term in the deal. The players we got in return have a surprising amount of big league experience, I had foreseen the Royals picking-up players that we wouldn't see for a year, but we might actually see three of the four play the whole season at the big-league level, which would be a big surprise and make the deal much more palatable. They're dirt cheap, we save the $27 mil on Greinke's contract and get a bunch of league minimum players, I'm not sure what the savings mean at this point, but in 2011 the Royals could conceivably spend big-time bucks on a worthy free-agent or go the predictable Billy Butler long-term extension route.
The relatively sweet and quick ending to this story should leave Royals fans and Zach Greinke relieved and able to enjoy the Holiday season a bit more. It's sad to see him go, but he's definitely in a better place now, and most likely so are the Royals.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
They like me, they really like me
Dayton Moore awoke Tuesday morning to see that his IPhone had 37 missed calls and 14 new voice mails, the Powder Blue Room was able to intercept some of the voice mails and conversations, the following is a text version of what transpired:
Dayton Moore's IPhone Voice Mail #5:
Brain Cashman (BC): Dayton, this is Brian Cahman from the New York Yankees, I'd appreciate it if you'd give me a call at your earliest convenience, this is my unlisted number DO NOT give it out under any circumstances and call me back from a pay phone.
Dayton Moore (DM) returning BC's message: Hi Mr. Cashman, this Dayton Moore, General Manager of the Kansas City Royals returning your phone call.
BC: Dayton, you can call me Brian now, I need your help, you've got to give me Greinke. Are you calling from a secure phone? I'm in Montana in my panic room, 1000 ft underground, no one knows where I'm at. I had to flee after Cliff Lee signed with the Phillies, the Steinbrenners are threatening castration. I think George has returned from the dead to haunt my dreams, I haven't slept for 50 hours, I can't go back without Zach Greinke.
DM: Well Brian, I'm going to tell you what I've told everyone, let me get my calling sheet for GMs who find themselves in these situations; "We are not actively pursuing a trade with insert player X, I mean Zach Greinke, we will certainly entertain all reasonable offers, but..."
BC: Dayton, cut the bullshit, you like prospects, I don't care about them, you want to talk about the achievements of 20 years olds, I have to win the World Series every year! Do you understand that I'm calling from the the New York Yankees, I just gave $50 mil to a senior citizen. We buy players, that's great if you want to develop them for us, we'll just buy them for $100 mil 5 years later. You can have ANYONE in our minor league system, no problem, I just can't go home until I have Zach, please Dayton they're going after my family next.
DM: Uh...We're not actively shopping Zach, if you have an offer please contact me with said offer and we can discuss it.
BC: Are you an f-ing robot, didn't you hear me? You can have anyone, take our top 5, just give me Zack so I can sleep you little Monkey!
DM: Hold on Brian, I've got another phone call coming in...
BC: F$## You, !!!!!!!!!##$$^&&&&&J####kljd....
(DM puts BC on hold to take the incoming call, wondering if this was really Brian Cashman, the same guy who just last week said he was too busy to go grab lunch at the GM meetings, and who previously made him use his secretary for all communication, or was it Theo Epstein and Bill James prank calling him again)
DM: Good afternoon, Dayton Moore Head General Managing person for the Kansas City Royals.
Nolan Ryan (NR): Dayton, good buddy, it's Nolan Ryan, how's things up there in KC, I hear its colder than a well diggers ass up in your neck of the woods.
DM: Who is this really? I'm the General Manager of a Major League Baseball team with the most talented minor league players in the game, I don't have time to joke around.
NR: Dayton, are you bat shit crazy? This is Nolan Ryan, used to pitch a little bit, now I own the Texas Rangers.
DM: REALLY!!?? The Nolan Ryan, I have to say sir I'm a big fan, I believe this is the first time we've actually spoken, how can I help you?
NR: Dayton, look here, you ain't talked to that Yankee bastard Cashman yet, have ya? Never mind, listen you've got that horse of yours that I'm lookin to get over here to our team, what it'll it take to make this happen?
DM: I believe you've been misinformed Mr. Ryan, I'm a baseball General Manager, I don't have any horses.
NR: Dayton, are you high, Zach Greinke, I need him in Texas, now I know you want a bunch of little ponies for that big stud of yours and I think we got just the group of young bucks you need, what do you say you come down to my ranch, we'll go hunting with some former presidents and make this happen.
DM: I'm sorry, but I don't own a gun, maybe we could meet at my office.
NR: What is wrong with you son? Whatever, call my secretary and set it up.
(Dayton hangs up his IPhone, forgetting about Brian Cashman, thinking he is the most popular man in the world, he finally gets to talk with people who have nothing to do with the Braves organization, he is now a real live GM, tears form in his eyes as begins to watch more minor league film of Eric Hosmer and Mike Montgomery)
The time is now Dayton, this is why GMs get paid the big bucks, choose wisely because you will probably never be this popular again. Everyone is waiting on your call as to what to do with Zach Greinke, the ball is in your court now.
Seriously, could this guy have gotten any luckier? This decision might literally make or brake the Royals as a franchise and this is the guy who gets to make the decision, thankfully Greinke's stock might be so high right now that he can't screw this one up, or can he? What do you do if you're Dayton?
Dayton Moore's IPhone Voice Mail #5:
Brain Cashman (BC): Dayton, this is Brian Cahman from the New York Yankees, I'd appreciate it if you'd give me a call at your earliest convenience, this is my unlisted number DO NOT give it out under any circumstances and call me back from a pay phone.
Dayton Moore (DM) returning BC's message: Hi Mr. Cashman, this Dayton Moore, General Manager of the Kansas City Royals returning your phone call.
BC: Dayton, you can call me Brian now, I need your help, you've got to give me Greinke. Are you calling from a secure phone? I'm in Montana in my panic room, 1000 ft underground, no one knows where I'm at. I had to flee after Cliff Lee signed with the Phillies, the Steinbrenners are threatening castration. I think George has returned from the dead to haunt my dreams, I haven't slept for 50 hours, I can't go back without Zach Greinke.
DM: Well Brian, I'm going to tell you what I've told everyone, let me get my calling sheet for GMs who find themselves in these situations; "We are not actively pursuing a trade with insert player X, I mean Zach Greinke, we will certainly entertain all reasonable offers, but..."
BC: Dayton, cut the bullshit, you like prospects, I don't care about them, you want to talk about the achievements of 20 years olds, I have to win the World Series every year! Do you understand that I'm calling from the the New York Yankees, I just gave $50 mil to a senior citizen. We buy players, that's great if you want to develop them for us, we'll just buy them for $100 mil 5 years later. You can have ANYONE in our minor league system, no problem, I just can't go home until I have Zach, please Dayton they're going after my family next.
DM: Uh...We're not actively shopping Zach, if you have an offer please contact me with said offer and we can discuss it.
BC: Are you an f-ing robot, didn't you hear me? You can have anyone, take our top 5, just give me Zack so I can sleep you little Monkey!
DM: Hold on Brian, I've got another phone call coming in...
BC: F$## You, !!!!!!!!!##$$^&&&&&J####kljd....
(DM puts BC on hold to take the incoming call, wondering if this was really Brian Cashman, the same guy who just last week said he was too busy to go grab lunch at the GM meetings, and who previously made him use his secretary for all communication, or was it Theo Epstein and Bill James prank calling him again)
DM: Good afternoon, Dayton Moore Head General Managing person for the Kansas City Royals.
Nolan Ryan (NR): Dayton, good buddy, it's Nolan Ryan, how's things up there in KC, I hear its colder than a well diggers ass up in your neck of the woods.
DM: Who is this really? I'm the General Manager of a Major League Baseball team with the most talented minor league players in the game, I don't have time to joke around.
NR: Dayton, are you bat shit crazy? This is Nolan Ryan, used to pitch a little bit, now I own the Texas Rangers.
DM: REALLY!!?? The Nolan Ryan, I have to say sir I'm a big fan, I believe this is the first time we've actually spoken, how can I help you?
NR: Dayton, look here, you ain't talked to that Yankee bastard Cashman yet, have ya? Never mind, listen you've got that horse of yours that I'm lookin to get over here to our team, what it'll it take to make this happen?
DM: I believe you've been misinformed Mr. Ryan, I'm a baseball General Manager, I don't have any horses.
NR: Dayton, are you high, Zach Greinke, I need him in Texas, now I know you want a bunch of little ponies for that big stud of yours and I think we got just the group of young bucks you need, what do you say you come down to my ranch, we'll go hunting with some former presidents and make this happen.
DM: I'm sorry, but I don't own a gun, maybe we could meet at my office.
NR: What is wrong with you son? Whatever, call my secretary and set it up.
(Dayton hangs up his IPhone, forgetting about Brian Cashman, thinking he is the most popular man in the world, he finally gets to talk with people who have nothing to do with the Braves organization, he is now a real live GM, tears form in his eyes as begins to watch more minor league film of Eric Hosmer and Mike Montgomery)
The time is now Dayton, this is why GMs get paid the big bucks, choose wisely because you will probably never be this popular again. Everyone is waiting on your call as to what to do with Zach Greinke, the ball is in your court now.
Seriously, could this guy have gotten any luckier? This decision might literally make or brake the Royals as a franchise and this is the guy who gets to make the decision, thankfully Greinke's stock might be so high right now that he can't screw this one up, or can he? What do you do if you're Dayton?
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Yes, we are that predictable
The double meaning embedded in the title goes both for the Royals and the Powder Blue Room, yes we're going to talk about the Jeff Francouer and Melky Cabrera signings, because that is just what a reputable Royals blogger does, even if they know full well that the item has already been talked about to death. Only within this micro realm of sports news would the signing of two outfielders for less than the price of Carl Crawford's bonus garner so much attention and scorn. There is no way to spin this in a positive light; we are that pathetic, predictable and hopeless (both the Royals and their followers), but in the long run this signing won't affect anyone. Apparently we've added two more of the worst offensive players to our already inept battling line-up, probably because that is just the best we could do. It hurts to be so helpless.
The problem really isn't the money or the production of these two players, it is just the fact that we are so frickin obvious; not only is there the whole ex-Brave & Dayton Moore combo, but we did the EXACT same thing last year. What happened here is just a classic case of boredom at the GM meetings, when people stopped calling Dayton Moore to ask about Zach Grienke because he was asking for the entire AA starting line-up from the teams' minor league system, he noticed the reminder on his Outlook calendar telling him to call Francouer's agent. His agent probably had this standard one-year $2.5 mil package that he offered every team in need of an outfielder, Dayton simply said "I'll take it!" Then when Melky's agent noticed this he called Dayton and offered Cabrera for the last minute half price blue light special and Dayton couldn't say no. Most likely our beloved owner told Moore that his budget was no more that what he saved on the DeJesus contract and thus Dayton took that to mean that he Had to spend somewhere around $5 mil, basically what Theo Epstein and Brian Cashman had as a travel and food budget to sign free agents. Working with this in mind, Dayton took his Wal-Mart allowance money and weighed his options; old middle relievers, back-up catchers, fourth outfielders, hmmmm??? He took deep personal stock of his previous actions and judged that his relief pitcher and catcher track record of signings hadn't worked out so well, but he felt that with last year's minor success of Scott Posednik (and to a much lesser degree Rick Ankiel) he was on a roll with outfielders and pulled the trigger on these two guys.
Really what options did the guy poor guy have? I wan't to mock him, but he couldn't even have afforded to resign either of the two catchers he let go last year, would you rather see him bring in another Juan Cruz? Should we have opened up the bank and signed, let's say...Juan Uribe for 3 yrs $25 mil, if he would accept the generous offer to come play for our awful team instead of the Dodgers? We're a long way from even being able to consider going crazy and throwing $125 mil at a premier free agent and most mid tier free agents would ask for an extra year or 20% on their contract because we have become about the least attractive place to sign in all of baseball. So I'm not sure what the hell you do with that kind of money in this insane market. We now have complied an outfield consisting of the biggest group of sad-sack losers that you could possibly put together. Melky, Alex and Frenchy have fallen so far from the big time promise they once held that maybe this collective group therapy will just work. Most likely it will not work and if they all play the whole season the Royals will be contending for the worst outfield ever assembled (I know there is someone out there who's got this stat???).
I wish that I could be angry about this, but I'm just not that concerned with who will be roaming the Royals outfield this year because more likely than not, they will not be very good; be it Mitch Maier, Gregor Blanco, Jarrod Dyson, Melky or Frenchy. I just hope that one day we'll be able to do something as crazy as offering 32 year old outfielders with two years of big league experience $127 mil, but for now this is the best we can do. Please don't trade Greinke!!!
The problem really isn't the money or the production of these two players, it is just the fact that we are so frickin obvious; not only is there the whole ex-Brave & Dayton Moore combo, but we did the EXACT same thing last year. What happened here is just a classic case of boredom at the GM meetings, when people stopped calling Dayton Moore to ask about Zach Grienke because he was asking for the entire AA starting line-up from the teams' minor league system, he noticed the reminder on his Outlook calendar telling him to call Francouer's agent. His agent probably had this standard one-year $2.5 mil package that he offered every team in need of an outfielder, Dayton simply said "I'll take it!" Then when Melky's agent noticed this he called Dayton and offered Cabrera for the last minute half price blue light special and Dayton couldn't say no. Most likely our beloved owner told Moore that his budget was no more that what he saved on the DeJesus contract and thus Dayton took that to mean that he Had to spend somewhere around $5 mil, basically what Theo Epstein and Brian Cashman had as a travel and food budget to sign free agents. Working with this in mind, Dayton took his Wal-Mart allowance money and weighed his options; old middle relievers, back-up catchers, fourth outfielders, hmmmm??? He took deep personal stock of his previous actions and judged that his relief pitcher and catcher track record of signings hadn't worked out so well, but he felt that with last year's minor success of Scott Posednik (and to a much lesser degree Rick Ankiel) he was on a roll with outfielders and pulled the trigger on these two guys.
Really what options did the guy poor guy have? I wan't to mock him, but he couldn't even have afforded to resign either of the two catchers he let go last year, would you rather see him bring in another Juan Cruz? Should we have opened up the bank and signed, let's say...Juan Uribe for 3 yrs $25 mil, if he would accept the generous offer to come play for our awful team instead of the Dodgers? We're a long way from even being able to consider going crazy and throwing $125 mil at a premier free agent and most mid tier free agents would ask for an extra year or 20% on their contract because we have become about the least attractive place to sign in all of baseball. So I'm not sure what the hell you do with that kind of money in this insane market. We now have complied an outfield consisting of the biggest group of sad-sack losers that you could possibly put together. Melky, Alex and Frenchy have fallen so far from the big time promise they once held that maybe this collective group therapy will just work. Most likely it will not work and if they all play the whole season the Royals will be contending for the worst outfield ever assembled (I know there is someone out there who's got this stat???).
I wish that I could be angry about this, but I'm just not that concerned with who will be roaming the Royals outfield this year because more likely than not, they will not be very good; be it Mitch Maier, Gregor Blanco, Jarrod Dyson, Melky or Frenchy. I just hope that one day we'll be able to do something as crazy as offering 32 year old outfielders with two years of big league experience $127 mil, but for now this is the best we can do. Please don't trade Greinke!!!
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