Free Billy Butler (Again!)

by samjjones on May 25, 2007 8:44 AM EDT Comment 19 comments

In 33 games, he's now .333/.469/.623 with 9 homers and an impressive 28/15 walk/strikeout ratio, including 14/2 in his last 10 games.

Does Dayton Moore really think anybody is going to give him anything greater than a C level prospect for Emil Brown at this point? Butler needs to be challenged by big-league pitching.

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Agree

He needs to be in the show. He has nothing left to prove in the minors. He can get acclimated to the major league pitching while producing some offense for them. They are on a winning streak now (8 for 10).

by ChrisRef19 on May 25, 2007 8:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

no reason

they wait another month and they keep him another year.

Pretty much a no-brainer.

by Galt on May 25, 2007 9:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Seems obvious to me

but I'm guessing we will see at least three more threads just like within the next month or so.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on May 25, 2007 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He is not

PLAYING LEFT FIELD ANYMORE. Emil Brown means nothing. Mike Sweeney does. That's it.

by doublestix on May 25, 2007 9:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Let me rephrase

HE DID play LF last night because Jason LaRue is on a rehab and was DH'ing. They wanted Craig Brazell's bat in the lineup, and he can only play 1B. So they shoved Butler in LF for a couple games until LaRue is back with the big club.

by doublestix on May 25, 2007 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have to agree...

I understand the arb. clock, and for a team that is not challenging for anything this year, I guess it makes sense.

Nevertheless, it is TRULY frustrating to have a young kid ripping the ball and have him wasting away in the minors.

My only fear is that with all these changes of position, Butler's confidence is going to wane.

I guess 1b/DH is going to be his new position permanently? Has he looked that bad in the OF? Seems terribly disappointing to not at least give him half a season in the bigs in LF.

by NewKidInTown on May 25, 2007 9:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

5 years from now

or even two years from now, It won't matter for shit that whether he gets called up tomorrow or next month.

by wildthang on May 25, 2007 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

actually

A prospect can have his growth stunted when he is not appropriately challenged. The worst possible scenario for the Royals is that Butler is either a) too overmatched or b) not challenged enough and it reuslts in his growth being stalled.

I think the Royals just need to be careful there. Ultimately, the prospect's performance and not economics should determine how he is handled.

by count sutton on May 25, 2007 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i agree

with everything you said count. But I have a problem with the way Butler is being handled. My problem is Drayton. He knows how and when a player is ready to be called up. He did it for a decade or so with Atlanta. The Braves always seem to know when to call a guy up, and they usually do it when the player needs a push or is ready. This is only my opinion, but Bulter is clearly ready for the bigs. If it were me Id want him to room with Gordon and let those two grow together and become the corner stone for KC. It seems like Drayton is afraid to pull the trigger here and bring Butler back up because he didnt instantly mash the ball when he was called up.

Just my thoughts here.

Take care

by tbach81 on May 25, 2007 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So...

in Butler's case, or any case for that matter, do you truly believe that his development will be retarded if the Royals DARE to keep him in AAA for the rest of his 21 year old season?

That's outright laughable.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on May 25, 2007 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

laugh away then

by count sutton on May 25, 2007 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

everyone here needs to stop confusing "frustrating a player and stunting his growth" with "I'm a ridiculously impatient prospect fan who can't wait a few months to see my favorite prospect"

if Billy can't handle a few months -- or even the whole year -- in triple-A without collapsing as a player, then a few other minor speedbumps he was bound to hit in his career would have been as good as brick walls for him also

by bleedjaxblue on May 25, 2007 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, Yes

He's been pretty awful at left, the guy doesn't have a chest, he's flat from neck down to the belt, he's not the most athletic type.

by playingwithfire on May 25, 2007 10:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Matt Stairs

has a similar body type and hasn't been a butcher in the outfield over the past 10 years.

by samjjones on May 25, 2007 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Andrew Miller

Rather then start a new thread, I figured I would just write it here. Why is this kid going down again? I know they had to make room for Bonderman, but why not send someone else down and give this kid a shot?

by ChrisRef19 on May 25, 2007 10:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

short answer...

they don't need him.

they're already in 1st place, durbin has been pitching quite well, and maroth is starting to find his form after missing most of last year.

rogers is due back in another month or 2, at which point they'll have to bump somebody (durbin), and that'll be tough enough as it is.

Miller still needs to work on his location and his secondary pitches, no reason not to give him another few months to do so without worrying about results and let him focus on improving his weak areas?

just my $.02

by djshelto on May 25, 2007 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

Good point. Thanks for the response.

by ChrisRef19 on May 25, 2007 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Butler

Is blocked not only by Sweeney but by Shealy as well. I know Shealy struggled earlier and could definately slump again. But there is no rush to bring him up and have Butler, Sweeney and Shealy on the team.

by chard11 on May 25, 2007 1:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Have some patience

Butler will get his chance, and although he is better than the players he is being blocked by, the team is not really a contender yet and they don't want to start his clock running early as he is at the core of their future. He won't be stunted by crushing triple-A pitching for only another month or so.

Hey fish, leave those kids alone!

by The Congo Hammer on May 25, 2007 3:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs