Hochevar Promoted To AAA

by eazyb81 on Jul 11, 2007 9:23 AM EDT Comment 66 comments

http://www.kansas.com/sports/wranglers/story/119333.html

Personally I think this is a great idea, as a move out of the Texas League might do wonders for him, a la Jered Weaver.

Weaver had a very blah tour through the Texas League, but really turned it on once he got to the PCL. I wouldn't be shocked if Hochevar followed suit.

0 recs | Comment 66 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

he'll be in the majors by august

they are going to rush the hell out of him I think now and it's going to backfire a la J.P. Howell.

by Bravesin07 on Jul 11, 2007 9:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re:

So you think KC is going to promote him to the majors after a 3 week stint in AAA ball? What on Earth would give you that idea?

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jul 11, 2007 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm

I don't know if it's wise to use 'think' and 'KC' in the same sentence. Can you explain how they have handled Butler this year and Huber in the past????

by sungod7 on Jul 11, 2007 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yikes

Are we really gonna go there? Why does a simple post about a promotion turn into a "bash the Royals" contest?

Butler came up to fill a role on the big league squad - I don't see what the issue was. He's a DH and no more, so he didn't get regular playing time during road interleague games.

Not sure what the beef is with Huber, he's hardly an elite prospect. He has a minor league OPS under 800 at 25 years old and can't play a defensive position.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jul 11, 2007 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Was going to be an OF. Called up. Didn't play. Sent down to be a 1B. Called up, didn't play. Was going to be sent down because *gasp* Sweeney was coming back then was kept up when **gasp* Sweeney went down again.

Sure Huber wasn't ever a great prospect but he dominated AA in 05, still carried a .900 OPS in AAA, but was never given a real opportunity with the big club. Instead they deal for the equally uninspiring Ryan Shealy.

by sungod7 on Jul 11, 2007 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sigh

Butler played, he just didn't play every single day because - as I already mentioned - the R's were playing road interleague games. His defense is awful, and apparently it took a MLB promotion to realize that he is not suited for the field.

He is now playing everyday as a DH, and should slot in there for the next 6+ years - assuming of course that his career is not ruined because the Royals dared to sit him for a few games on a MLB bench. The horror!

Yes, Huber dominated in 05. He has also been mediocre ever since. I'm sure that's the fault of Royals management as well.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jul 11, 2007 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sigh

Are you the Royals apologist? I guess they have been unfairly criticized???

Why call up Butler during interleague? Why say you are going to play him every day and not? Why does it take a MLB promotion to realize he can't play the field?

Butler is the everyday DH now only because Sweeney is injured. It's quite sad that any roster decision hinges on Sweeney.

I'm quite sure it's managements fault they traded for Shealy when they had an in house player that could do no worse and was 2 years younger.

by sungod7 on Jul 11, 2007 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No

But I'm also not an ignoramus that is going to call the Royals stupid for every questionable decision.

Frankly, I think you're making mountains out of molehills.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jul 11, 2007 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

Molehills will pile up over 15 years or so of incompetence! The infield of Shealy/Pena is much more formidable than Huber/Berroa!

by sungod7 on Jul 11, 2007 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to jump in here

But anything is more formiddable than Berroa. One of the worst players I have ever seen.

Mike Zagurski Fan Club

by Grrranderson on Jul 11, 2007 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

GASP!

Berroa APOLOGIST!?!?!?!?!?

by playingwithfire on Jul 11, 2007 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pena

Berroa sucks, but Pena's current line fall right in with Berooa's career line.

by sungod7 on Jul 11, 2007 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

defense?

by playingwithfire on Jul 11, 2007 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Defense?

Is there defense in the AL? I thought it was a softball league where everyone just waited around for the 3 run jimmy jack.

When a team actually announces it's going to dump their current SS and will trade for an upgrade I usually expect it to be a bit more significant.

by sungod7 on Jul 11, 2007 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who the hell

was available last offseason? And what would it cost to get him?

by playingwithfire on Jul 11, 2007 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

riiiiiiiight

Pena's defense is gold glove caliber. Berroa was no where near league average. Pena gives a damn and is trying and wants to give better, Berroa didn't.

Pena's line is close to Berroa's career line...yea...take out Berroa's magical 2003 fluke. Then take a look.

by doublestix on Jul 11, 2007 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure

Pena is an upgrade with the glove, but it's going to take more than improving the defense a bit to make the team respectable. Those upgrades have to be better hitters too and they simply aren't much of an upgrade if any from Huber/Berroa.

Actually Berroa's 04 & 05 don't look any different than Pena right now either. Would I rather have Pena? Sure. I was just expecting something more from Dayton Moore.

by sungod7 on Jul 11, 2007 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha

Pena is a utility player at best. I'm glad JS got Cordier from KC who could be a sleeper in two years, maybe a future closer.

by Bravesin07 on Jul 11, 2007 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LMAO

You're projecting a player as a future closer who:

A. is out for the season with TJ

B. is 21 years old

C. has a total of 87 IP since 2004, 0 above low A ball.

Do everyone a favor and go away.

by Bowser on Jul 11, 2007 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

Tony Pena Jr. is hitting .280 with GG defense while Berroa hit .234 with horrible defense last year. How is that not a significant upgrade. Also, when did this diary become a diary about bashing the Royals and DM. Also, Bravesin07 are you still sour about DM leaving the Braves, every chance you get, you bash the Royals.

by adschofield on Jul 11, 2007 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

name

the SS you think we should get, and what you think we had to give up for them.

by playingwithfire on Jul 11, 2007 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Point

What is the point in that? Nobody here really knows who was available and what it would have taken to get him. My reply wasn't meant to bash Pena, but more to point out that I see no reason Hoch couldn't get promoted this year. I didn't realize I was defending the hated Braves07 so excuse me if I interrupted the flame war.

Pena is an upgrade, but a small one that isn't significant enough in a division like this. If the change is just for change sake I would have been just as happy with Angel Sanchez, barring injury of course. Probably not as good as Pena and probably wasn't ready but he has a good glove and wouldn't cost anything.

by sungod7 on Jul 11, 2007 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

newsflash

Cordier isn't anything

by playingwithfire on Jul 11, 2007 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably true

But Pena isn't either!

by sungod7 on Jul 11, 2007 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

better than

what we had.

by playingwithfire on Jul 11, 2007 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know about all that

Cordier went down for TJS, but he had possibly the second highest ceiling arm in the system (after Hochevar) before doing so.

by aCone419 on Jul 11, 2007 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and

I couldn't care less about Bravesin's problem here. I do get annoyed by him sometimes but not enough to get me all riled up.

by playingwithfire on Jul 11, 2007 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Indeed

Pena is just as bad as Berroa with the bat, and his defense isn't that great of an improvement. Would still have rather had Cordier in the system.

by KCSlayer on Jul 11, 2007 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hindsight 20/20

the Shealy deal was widely acclaimed at the time, and most would say it's precisely the sort of deal the Royals should be making more of. Huber is nada, in any case.

as for Butler, a few days in AAA or in MLB here or there is insignificant -- the hysterics people get into over such things are just sillly

by scooter on Jul 11, 2007 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Point

The ultimate point is there is nothing ridiculous about expecting Hoch to be called up this year. If the Royals can't commit to a plan with Butler then why would one expect something decisive with Hoch?

by sungod7 on Jul 11, 2007 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who, huber?

Shealy plays 3 times better defensively than Huber. I think I play better defense at 1B than Huber. Or Butler.

by playingwithfire on Jul 11, 2007 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Go away

by Bravesin07GOAWAY on Jul 11, 2007 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You are a lame.

by NYYLover1000 on Jul 11, 2007 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1.

Additionally, I don't understand everyone picking a fight with a guy who has his own opinion and frequently has good ideas. Bad ones too, but who's perfect? It's like there's some sort of rampant inferiority complex where if an opinion seems slightly excitable or exaggerated or, hell, abrasive, then everyone gangs up and picks on the one person like in a lower school recess.

Be a bigger man and let the occasional "he's done" comment fly. He has as much a right to be a prospector, and has as much right to an opinion, as anyone on this board.

by mroak89 on Jul 11, 2007 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

BravesIn07!

has as much a right as me or any other guy here.

If you want to kick me out go ahead. That's cool & the gang. Otherwise well, ...

ps: I'm drunk

by pedrophile on Jul 12, 2007 2:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you're the best

i would only kick you out if jessica alba or scarlett jjoohhaannssoonn (sp?) demanded it as a prerequisite for posting their phone numbers & photos on this site.

by mroak89 on Jul 12, 2007 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...

even then I'd tell them nudes or fuck off.

by SenorGato88 on Jul 12, 2007 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I probably lied there.

by SenorGato88 on Jul 12, 2007 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i debated going that far

and i regret that i didn't. excellent work all around, boys.

by mroak89 on Jul 13, 2007 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

you ever see the Britney nudes? Damn, not so hot after all. I guess being the town bike does that to you.

by pedrophile on Jul 13, 2007 2:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Um

Why would they "rush the hell out of him"? Not going to happen. He'll likely pitch in Omaha for the rest of the season (+ playoffs if necessary). Then pitch out of the KC pen for the rest of the way...

by doublestix on Jul 11, 2007 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

a September cup of tea at best.

by playingwithfire on Jul 11, 2007 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In America

we drink coffee, not tea. If we want to be accurate.

by The Gottfather on Jul 11, 2007 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

dude

iced tea

by pedrophile on Jul 11, 2007 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow...

J.P. Howell didn't have half the talent that Hochevar has, and also keep in mind that the previous front office rushed players like Howell, and that Dayton Moore has shown no inclination to rush players. If Dayton thinks it's the right move, then I trust the decision 100%

by adschofield on Jul 11, 2007 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Hochevar

This guy has BUST written all over him; whereas Mike Bowden is the opposite.

by HumboltThunderbolt on Jul 11, 2007 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

huh

LMFAO

by playingwithfire on Jul 11, 2007 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

who would write "TSUB"....

....all over Mike Bowden? That just seems random. I'm not even sure what it means.

by bleedjaxblue on Jul 11, 2007 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Touche

Nice sir, very nice.

by ajohnst1 on Jul 11, 2007 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you realize Hochevar is much more polished and...

talented than Howell was at this time? The guys is a good pitcher and should be solid in the MLB. Moore has a plan for the Royals, and it's too early to criticize.

Everyone needs a critic, but when Bravesin07 is your critic, you should always re-evaluate how you do things... Really, no seriously... wait, Moore is a MLB GM, what do you do for a living Bravesin07? My guess is that you don't make half the money he does, you don't have a 10th of the responsibility he does, and I'm sure the guy let alone most of us don't really care to hear or see your opinions splashed over this page...

Alcohol helps people be honest, it's good that I just finished bartending a double and I'm reading this garbage...

"Standard disclaimer: it's baseball, even if he's cooked, someone'll overpay." -drjayphd

by JT12340 on Jul 12, 2007 5:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

good move

Starting his statsheet anew will be good for his confidence.

by limozeen on Jul 11, 2007 10:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

He should also benefit from some better defense and a better pitcher's park in the PCL. He was getting lit up in Wichita...his ERA was two runs better on the road.

Despite the hitters being more advanced, I think this is where Hochevar proves he's a top prospect.

by ajohnst1 on Jul 11, 2007 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wichita

Now that Hochevar and Lubanksi have been promoted, are the Wichita Wranglers the worst upper-level minors team?

The best prospect left is arguably Mike Stodolka, a 25 year old pitcher-turned-1st baseman.

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jul 11, 2007 12:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Springdale?

I believe they are moving to Springdale next year so they are going out of Wichita with quite a thud. Was a fun team to watch last year anyway.

by sungod7 on Jul 11, 2007 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

Founder of the Rowdy Hardy Fan Club

by eazyb81 on Jul 11, 2007 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

re

This kind of sucks for me because I live in Wichita and Hoch was about the only reason to go to LD Stadium. This 2nd half of the season is not going to pretty.

Like what was posted above, they're moving to Arkansas next year leaving Wichita as the largest city in the US that doesn't have MLB affiliated baseball. It doesn't suprise me though since this town doesn't support anything. Our 30 million dollar amusement park that opened in May closed ALREADY.

Any opinions on whether independent league ball is worth watching?

by Wonderlic on Jul 11, 2007 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs