As for Leo Nunez, he looked pretty darn good. Throws 92-94 with a good looking strait change. He's also very young. The only thing I worry about is him blowing off the mound if the wind is more than 10 MPH. Listed at 6'1" 160lbs, I doubt he weighs that much soaking wet.

I would say for hitting, you've got to trade Mike Sweeney now, before he gets hurt again. Other than that, you've got to let Berroa, DeJesus, Gotay, Tehan, and the other young bats develop. Then once they figure out who the core players are, an effort has to be made to keep them.

Next batter up singles. it would have been 1st and third with one out. As it is the next batter pops up to end the game.

Pena was fuming after Berroa got doubled off, so I blame this all on him :)

Its too bad, to go from manager of the year to this.

They have a good young core of players: Grienke, Hernandez, Bautista, Dejesus, and John Buck.  I try to sign Greinke and Dejesus to deals that will extend them through their arbitration years.

I would release Emil Brown.  I think it's a joke that a 30 year old journeyman wins a starting job based on a strong spring.  He has real track record of success.  Matt Diaz earns a shot.  His K/BB scares me a little, but he's the one guy who might actually produce the way a corner outfielder should.  Diaz is 27 and has at least one good AAA season under his belt.  I'd give him a shot over guys like Aaron Guiel.

Guys on the trading block are: Jeremy Affeldt, Angel Berroa, Matt Stairs, and Mike Sweeney.

1. Affeldt - Somebody will want relief help, and whether he's a closer or a LOOGY, Affeldt will have value.
   
2. Berroa - He is coming up on arbitration and has not learned how to hit.  The rookie season was an abberation based on luck.
   
3. Stairs - Pray that someone will want a left handed bat at the deadline.
   
4. Sweeney - Somebody will want his bat. I am just speculating but the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, and Giants may look for an upgrade (the Angels are not smart enough to sit Erstad not matter what).
   
5. Lima and Anderson - Just floating the names out there, not that anyone wants them.

The Royals don't have many prospects that are MLB ready or will be soon.  Butler and Huber (who I would leave at 3B and 1B, respectively) are in High A and won't be ready for AAA until '06.  Hopefully, the trading of Affeldt and Sweeney can bring in good talent.

I would give Kyle Snyder a chance in the rotation.  I think he can do better than Lima or Anderson.  That would give 4 young starters to keep as a decent staff for the AL Central.  The Royals need to take the money saved from dealing Sweeney and SPEND!  Find some good FA and make a couple offers.  They will need a 1B and corner OF help.

As far as the draft, do not worry a ton about signability issues.  This is how the Royals ended up with Lubanski and not Granderson, who signed for similar money.  Draft the best player available.  For shorter development time, perhaps a college player for the first couple rounds could make sense here.  The Royals do some international scouting, but since Beltran, I can't seem to find any real good signings.  Step up scouting in the Dominican and South America.

I don't want to go too long so I'll stop now.  These are my basic thoughts though.

KC must decide to what to do with Sweeney.  If he is willing to be dealt, i think KC's got to move him (I believe he has a limited no trade correct?).  He just eats up budget and is otherwise trying to lead a team that isn't ready to do much of anything right now.  Especially considering he's been hot the last couple of weeks and he seems to be healthy for now.  Hopefully he can keep this up for the next 6 weeks or so when teams will really start looking for some help via trade.  This is somewhat similar to Toronto last year with Carlos Delgado.  He was eating up a huge percentage of our budget on a team that wasn't in a position to benefit fully from his presence.  Delgado was captain and had the respect of everyone in the clubhouse, but it just didn't make sense anymore.  Unfortunately he vetoed any deal.  I realize it's that much more difficult to move Sweeney because there isn't a Vernon Wells ready to step up, but having an eight figure contract on a low budget team really ties things up, no matter how beloved the player is.  

Give Ken Harvey an honest try at first and Huber isn't far.  Gotay/Murphy/Blanco/Berroa are all reasonable candidates to last up the middle though i'm unsure about their long term potential for success.  Teahen, Buck and Dejesus should be seen as permanent fixtures until they prove over time they aren't.  The corner OF spots are problematic, but they are the easiest stopgaps to fill and this team is far from a quick fix.  That's how guys like Emil Brown and Terrence Long get playing time.  With that said, i don't understand why Matt Diaz isn't getting an honest opportunity.  His future has to be seen as brighter than a guy like Emil Brown.  With that said, to help the young pitching staff, defense should be more of a consideration here than for many other teams, which might explain why Brown is playing in the first place.

Attrition is obviously high with pitchers, but KC has a nice collection of arms.  While Anderson and Lima haven't done as well as hoped, i think veteran presence is most important on a pitching staff.  If someone happens to come calling for them come the deadline, you listen, particularly if someone is ready to move up to the show to take their place.  Otherwise, you keep vets around to keep the young pitchers sane, especially the ones who are like by Greinke.  

Affeldt?  Low budget teams can't get away with hanging on to established players of questionable long term health, especially relievers.  That's for the high-budget moderately successful teams to endure.  It is often shortsighted, but you've got to worry about your present day product while keeping your future in mind.  

Unfotunately, the team is short on high ceiling position players who are ready to step up in the near future, so the light is a mere dot at the end of the tunnel, making their decision on a manager that much more crucial.

I really feel for Tony Pena.  I caught the last half of the game last night.  In the 9th, down 3-1 with less than two outs, Berroa was on second base.  the ball was hit shallow into CF and Berroa started for third.  I guess he thought it was dropping in, but Vernon Wells came in to make a fairly easy running catch and proceeded to double off Berroa at 2nd.  The camera immediately panned to Pena.  Anyone who saw that could see the helplessness and frustration in his face.

i don't really know what Frank White would bring as a manager, but as George Brett said, it would be very difficult to fire him with his history with the club.  It would almost be like saying he had 5 or 6 years to right the ship as Brett said.  That kind of stability wouldn't be that bad i suppose, but White is a question mark having never managed at the big league level.  I'm not sure Bowa's volatility would be a good fit.  Buck Martinez might be a candidate, again being an ex-Royal, but he didn't have a good experience his first time around in Toronto and i didn't think he was particularly good anyway.  Larry Dierker would be interesting if he wanted it.  I think KC should give serious consideration to a guy like Bob Brenly.

1. Trade Sweeney while his market value is high for some more arms. Sweeney deserves to play on a contender and the Royals have at least 3-4 years to contend.Justin Huber should be ready to take his place by mid-season at the very latest.
   
2. Draft Cameron Maybin in the up and coming draft.Maybin a five tool talent in centerfield will shift Dejesus to leftfield. The move will help the outfield defense plus Dejesus has a leftfielder's arm.
   
3. Avoid drafting Alex Gordon(draft Maybin). The Royals already have a surplus of 1B/3B/DH types(Teahan,Butler,Harvey,Maier,and Huber). Drafting Gordon makes no sense.
   
4. Draft college pitchers.

Then, I'd spend the rest of this year sorting through DeJesus, Gotay, Teahen etc. to see which of them deserves a contract to carry them through their arbitration years.  I've got some time to do this, but eventually it will be crucial to identify the pieces around which the team will be built, because otherwise my five-year plan will become a ten-year plan.

As for manager, I'd try and keep the "interim" tag on the guy for as long as possible because I have a hard time imagining any manager lasting from now until our first winning season.  Eventually, I want a guy with Pena's enthusiasm, a talent for developing players, and just pray that we get things turned around before he burns out too.

Lastly, I'd make Grienke the franchise and take good care of that arm, challenge Butler (but not rush him... again, what would be the point of that?) and try to draft the most advanced players I could-- no more Colt Griffins.  I would stick with a good mix of college and high school kids, but even with the preps, I'm looking for polish a la Grienke and Butler.  Preach patience throughout the organization... and to the fans.

I'd stick with Gotay, I know the guy is playing godawful, but I have seen signs of him being a decent, Furcal-type hitter and you really have few other options.  I'd stick with Buck on much the same logic (decent track record, tough position to fill), and I'd also stick with Affeldt.  Affeldt should be limited to closing.  If he's healthy enough to do it, great.  If not, it's not the world's toughest position to fill, so you didn't lose as much as you would if you were counting on him in the rotation.  Of course, you have DeJesus in CF, which is nice.  I think you gotta play Matt Diaz and see what he is.  

You have to deal Sweeney, because you have very little other trade bait, and because ultimately, you want Butler and Huber at 1B/DH anyway.  You also deal Berroa too, because he is not the answer.  Probably you're looking to deal the more valuable one, Sweeney, for a SS.  (Hanley Ramirez?  Jhonny Peralta?  Kelly Johnson?)  And you're looking to deal Berroa for a Moneyball-type OF in a non-Moneyball-type organization, who can hit in the middle of your order, but whose owners would plausibly give him up for Angel Berroa.  (The ever-popular Jason Dubois?  Jeremy Hermida?  Conor Jackson?  Scott Hairston?)  I'm willing to improvise at one of the OF positions with either Diaz or some cheapo signing, but you need one more solid guy out there, I feel.

Unfortunately, you also need pitching and I don't know how you're going to get it; you simply lack the resources.  I think you gotta hope that, in between Greinke, Runelyvs, Bautista, and your various guys in the minors, you've got three or four good starters already there.  Other than that, just gotta stay on your toes and try to pick up "unusual" pitchers, and injury reclamations a la the Reds/Red Sox of a few years ago.  I think it can potentially at least be a good enough pitching staff, if you're lucky and if your lineup (Buck, Huber, Gotay, ? SS, Teahen, ? LF, DeJesus, ?/Diaz RF, Butler) develops towards the high end of its own potential.

1. Trade Ken Harvey to the Devil Rays for Jonny Gomes.  The Rays hate Gomes because he isn't super fast.  But he draws BB's and hits for tons of power.  The Rays like high average players and Harvey was an All-star.. hah.. Lamar would do the deal.. Gimme the phone.
   
2. Andres Blanco will never hit but lots of teams have been after him.  He was mentioned with Affeldt for Kearns.  I'd throw in Snyder if they want a pitcher.. Blanco, Affeldt, Snyder for Kearns.
   
3. Shop Angel Berroa, Mike Aviles down at Wichita has a shot at 15+ HR's this year at SS.  He's a potential .300 hitter at the major league level with solid BB:K ratios if unspectacular BB:PA ratios.
   
4. Take the load off Andy Sisco.. don't give him dead arm again.. Reconvert him to a starter at Omaha next season to step into the rotation.
   
5. Promote J.P. Howell to Wichita and give him some reps in Sept.  His ERA is approaching 1.00 at the Coors Field of the California League.  He's striking out nearly 11 guys per 9 innings and routinely posts 10:1 GB:FB ratios in starts.
   
6. Trade the wild thing Macdougal if you can.
   
7. Push Gotay with Donald Murphy, Murphy is a better defender and has as high an offensive ceiling.
   
8. Put Huber at 1B, and bring Pickering back up to DH.
   
9. Trade Sweeney to the M-E-T-S for Petit and either Victor Diaz or Lastings Milledge.. If they are contending, they'll do it.  Remember Minaya's firesale for Colon.  And the Wilpon pressure to compete..
   

New Rotation:

1. Greinke
   
2. Bautista
   
3. Hernandez
   
4. Mike Wood
   
5. Jimmy Gobble

At AA/AAA for next season:(Petit & Howell)

Opening 06' rotation

1. Greinke
   
2. Bautista
   
3. Hernandez
   
4. Petit
   
5. Howell
   

if it gets decent revenew, we sign FA's. good ones (pick any position, theres nothing we don't need)

like TB, we need a batch of pitching prospects (trade Sweeney this year, though im not 100% sure because of how fans might react.. it could be deadly.  however, i'm defenitly trading Affeldt, Macdougal, Harvey)

keep Berroa/Gotay.. hope Butler and Huber develop big

whatever happens - i dont lose hope and keep remembering, its only the AL Central

It's a crime this team is saddled with Long, Marrero, and Brown. They are tying up real money and they are underperforming. Why the Royals don't give Matt Diaz the LF job just amazes me.

I don't understand the rush to dump Sweeney. If we unload him the over/under on the number of times the Royals get no-hit this season jumps to 5. The other problem with dumping him is that his contract and his value are about the same. It will be hard to talk anyone into taking his contract and to give us something good in return.

If you insist on playing Harvey (can't we just shoot this guy) you have to keep him away from most RHed pitchers. The guy has no conception of the strike zone. Just be sure that when you trade him you get something worth while.

Berroa is the same but at least he is an SS with some defensive value. If the Reds are willing to take him and some of our other debris for Kearns you gotta think about it, but remember Kearns had declined inperformance each of the last two years.

As far as I am concerned Berroa, Harvey, Affeldt, Snyder, Stairs, Brown, Marrero, Long, Lima, Anderson, Macdougal, Cerda, Graffanino, and Castillo can be unloaded for whatever you can get.

The offense will remain pathetic this season.  There isn't away around that.  There are some options though:
1.    Platoon Pickering and Harvey at 1B.
2.    DH Sweeney.  This way maybe a National League team forgets how bad he is at 1B.  This might also keep his back healthy until he can be shipped out!
3.    Give Diaz a real shot and make Emil Brown disappear.
4.    Accelerate the promotion process of Justin Huber and leave him at 1B.  
5.    Move Billy Butler to LF or 1B and let his bat move through the system.

The herd congregating around the 1B/DH roles will be thinned by dealing Sweeney and banishing Harvey once Huber is comfortable at the big league level.  Butler will have the opportunity to play LF and if that doesn't work he can settle in nicely as the DH/1B compliment to Huber.

If Butler can stick in LF you have your young slugging outfielder.  If not the attention has to be turned towards other solutions such as the signing of Rondell White a few seasons ago.  A young outfielder could also be acquired in a deal but that seems unlikely so the best bet would be to draft an advanced player through the draft with the second pick this season.

I would hire Frank White and instill a strong defensive work ethic.  The late 90's Twins come to mind.  Having the kids take infield everyday and working them might be the best bet.  Creating competition between the young players might speed up the maturation process as well.  This is why I would promote guys like Murphy and Blanco as long as they could hold their own with the big club.

Trade Block:
1.    Mike Sweeney
2.    Jeremy Affeldt
3.    David DeJesus (gasp) DeJesus will never see the Royals winning so gage interest now and see what you could bring back in return.  
4.    Anderson and Lima?  I remember hearing a sucker was born every minute.

Finally I would fire Baird and do whatever it took to hire Grady Fuson away from the Padres.  If there was no way possible I would promote (insert name here) the scout who brought Greinke and Butler to the organization.  This would be a step in the right direction for the farm system.  With that said, the emphasis needs to stay on drafting players who are close to contributing such as Greinke and Butler.  You can be sure that no quality free agents will be fighting to be the next star in KC.  

There is some talent here, but not nearly enough to actually compete in the next few years. Let's get realistic about that fact right now. First things first;

SHORT TERM

1. Trade Mike Sweeney ASAP, while he's tearing the cover off the ball and before injuries set in. Priority on getting a bonafide prospect if possible, while saving money comes second. Once the back starts aching, this possibility disappears due to contractual concerns. This will run fans the wrong way, but isn't the voluminous losing doing that anyways?
2. Play veterans everywhere as much as possible, showcasing for trades. Vets to be dealt: Graffanino, Harvey, Lima, BAnderson, Truby. Let the prospects develop in Omaha.
3. Hire puppet manager who's mandate is to do whatever I say, or he's fired. Manager must espouse patience for hitters and throwing strikes for pitchers. Repeat process for every manager throughout minors.
4. Draft either Upton/Gordon and sign with money saved on Sweeney deal. Get Glass on board with plan in job interview that landed me this position in the first place.
5. Draft mostly college talent this and every year, as lack of $$$ will necessitate constant re-supply of MLB roster through farm.
6. A quirky one; sign Rickey Henderson to play LF and assign DeJesus to sit by his side all the time. Stats show that teams with Rickey are more patient than before they signed him. After season, offer Rickey batting coach position whenever he wants it. Keep re-signing Rickey until he takes it (the batting coach job).

1. Without a doubt, the top priority (after the temporal importance of dealing Sweeney) is signing Zack Grienke to a long term deal, including 1 or 2 free agent years. Recent signings of Sheets/Santana prove this is possible for a small market team.
2. Get DeJesus signed as well, before he really busts out.
3. Sign Greg Maddux as a free agent, and (like Rickey), keep him until he becomes your pitching coach. Aside from being the smartest pitcher ever, he also spent a decade playing for Leo Mazzone.
4. Don't rush prospects so much. Have plenty of NRI's around so as to delay starting of service clocks. And for crying out loud, quit keeping obvious failures around and wishing they were something they're not.