Luke Hochevar Called Up

by Havok1517 on Sep 3, 2007 8:59 PM EDT Comment 28 comments

KANSAS CITY -- The Kansas City Royals made a series of roster moves today and announced several more moves for tomorrow. Prior to tonight's game in Texas, the Royals reinstated outfielder Mark Teahen from the 15-day disabled list, and recalled right-handed pitchers Kyle Davies and Leo Nunez from Wichita (AA). All three players will be in uniform for tonight's game.

In addition to today's moves, tomorrow the Royals will recall 2006 first overall selection Luke Hochevar and first baseman Justin Huber, and purchase the contracts of catcher Paul Phillips and first baseman Craig Brazell. All four players will join Kansas City from the Triple-A Omaha roster.

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070903&content_id=2 187510&vkey=pr_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc

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Get him a few innings in the bigs.

by doublestix on Sep 3, 2007 8:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

bad idea

clearly not ready, do they want him to become another Chris George, Jimmy Gobble, or Jim Pittsley.

by Bravesin07 on Sep 3, 2007 9:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's a September call up

I doubt it will ruin him...besides, he's put together back to back excellent starts in AAA. A cup of coffee with the big club can't hurt.

by ajohnst1 on Sep 3, 2007 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey "buddy"

Can't become one of those guys until you complete the "Suck in the big leagues" portion of the deal bro... gotta call him up.

Seriously, Luke will be alright. He may have been overated AND overdrafted but, that doesn't meen he can't pitch.

by casejud on Sep 3, 2007 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Glad to see

Brazell get rewarded for his outstanding season in AAA, even though I doubt he will get called up again in 2008.

Hey fish, leave those kids alone!

by The Congo Hammer on Sep 3, 2007 9:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

let's hope

he hits about 6 hr in the next month

Curtis Granderson fan

by jrose643 on Sep 3, 2007 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yep

Cal Pickering #2

by ScottAZ on Sep 4, 2007 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pickering

Had much better discipline than Brazell, and really had all the skills to be a good major league hitter. I'm not sure why he never got more of a chance.

by ajohnst1 on Sep 4, 2007 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

re

Pick can really only blame himself. He was screwed over for years before finally get a real shot with the Royals in 2004. He played well enough in Aug/Sept of that year to enter Spring as their fulltime DH against righties. He got off to an awfull start, something like 1-30 before getting sent down to AAA to regain his stroke. It didn't come back and that was that. Even with the terrible start, if he would have played well in AAA in 2005, he would have been called back up, instead he played terrible and never got the call again.

by ScottAZ on Sep 4, 2007 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

they need to trade Huber

he's buried in that farm system and likely wont get much of a legit shot. should've gotten more chances the past couple yrs

by rayver723 on Sep 3, 2007 10:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What type of trade value would Huber have to

other teams? I can see KC looking to deal Huber with pitcher or two to improve offense.

by daveyork on Sep 3, 2007 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yankees are a good fit

They need a 1st baseman for next year. Lots of expandable pitchers. I don't see Phillips starting next season.

by hallofamer2000 on Sep 3, 2007 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't look now...

but old man Giambi has been on a conditioning plan bud. He's been making some real good plays out there. I agree they could use a righty bat at first who can really hit and is cheap like huber though but, we all know the Yankees don't have the imagination to make a move like that right? :)

by casejud on Sep 3, 2007 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Giambi

I'm pretty sure Giambi will be DH next year. Yes, he's been excellent, but it could be solely because he's been off for a few months.

I'm thinking that was sarcasm on the last sentence, but not 100% sure.

by hallofamer2000 on Sep 3, 2007 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

The Yankees don't usaully go make a smart move to fill a small role on thier team though they tried with Josh Phelps. I wasn'i being sarcastic. i f they were run intelligently they should win 120 games a year with that payroll. Love their team though and they are really assembling some pitching talent.

by casejud on Sep 3, 2007 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

This thread has really little to do with either Huber or the Yankee 1b.. but ...

I think the Yankees idea is to try out Wilson Betemit at 1st next year, it makes some sense if they could work out his swing a bit this winter, the dude is 25 and has awsome power from the left side and fairly atheltic despite getting fatter, they probaly should just screw the switch hitting and go all left on him.

They also have a few prospect that might warrent a look next year.

as long as the Yankee starting 1B next year isn't Doug spellinbee or AAAAndy Phillips i think it's fine.

by RollingWave on Sep 4, 2007 2:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I read

Betemit is going to get a lot of time there the rest of the year. Any chance he sticks?

by Rajah358 on Sep 4, 2007 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No love for

Shelley Duncan? He's been great since his callup and mashed in the minors. He's not exactly young but look at his brother Chris, who was a late bloomer himself. He's definitely got the bloodlines, and I bet he'll be spending a lot of his offseason working with Mark McGwire.

by mateodh on Sep 4, 2007 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

anyone question KC's choice?

i like the K's Hochevar has racked up, but he wasnt exactly dominating in AA/AAA. unlike yrs bfore, teams are more aggressive in promoting and getting a quick return on their top picks . definiitely taking a risk here

by rayver723 on Sep 3, 2007 10:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

what is the risk?

i don't get what the risk is. the minor league season is over and he is only going to pitch a few innings in a mop up role. i don't see how it is anything but positive.

by fewgoodcards on Sep 3, 2007 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

He's been very good in his last 4 starts anyways...

by doublestix on Sep 3, 2007 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+2

What is the downside? He can get around the big league environment and have a month to get over the "I'm in the big leagues" attitude that many rookies have. Hochevar will be an important part of Royals rotation in 2008 if not out of spring training, then later in the year. It is good for him to get a taste of it now. I do hope KC limits his innings.

by daveyork on Sep 3, 2007 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs