A question for KC fans

by Rajah358 on Sep 22, 2008 6:51 PM EDT Comment 37 comments

Just wondering if there is any news on why Butler has missed the last three games. I would imagine unless he is hurt there is no reason for a 22 year old talent sitting going into the last full week of the season. Looks like KC is giving Shealy an extra long look,Kaaihue hasn't even been given a fair shot. Just looking for some info on the direction KC is going here. Any thoughts?

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i don't think he's hurt

I know he is slumping though after playing well in July and August. Plus they want to give Shealy and Kila Monster a look. Really wouldn’t think much of it at this point…

That said, I wouldn’t be shocked if Billy was traded this winter. Would not shock me one bit.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Sep 22, 2008 10:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Regarding the trade

I hope not. A core of Gordon-Moustakas-Butler-Hosmer is way too good to trade away.

by InclineInvestments on Sep 22, 2008 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not if you need more than four players for your major league roster...

which the Royals emphatically do. This is a team that is giving serious time to Russ Gload and Tony Pena Jr.

If ever there was a team that needed quantity over quality, it’s the Royals.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 23, 2008 2:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pena has barely played since June...

Gload…you have a point. But it looks like it is over.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Sep 23, 2008 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are ther rumors?

Of him being dealt this winter ?

by Rajah358 on Sep 23, 2008 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Supposedly

Dayton offered Seattle Billy Butler for Yuniesky Betancourt a year or two ago.

Your call on who is dumber – Dayton for offering, or Bavasi for rejecting.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Sep 23, 2008 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no one ever accused the Royals of knowing what the hell they were doing

They’re run almost as poorly as my Pirates…..almost

Go Pirates!!!

by cool hand Charlie on Sep 23, 2008 11:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I love...

how when a player underperforms and gets benched, it’s not his fault, it’s the organizations. Especially if that player was loved on this site. Fact of the matter is, Butler is not playing well right now. It’s just possible that he may never develop into anything more than a AAAA hitter with limited power and no glove. So, of course the Royals are exploring other options. They have to. They can’t afford to put all their chickens in one basket right now.

I have always believed that an everyday starting 1B must have one of two things: Power or a great glove. Some first basemen always have the ability to go off for 35+ homers a year. Some, like Mark Grace, couldn’t crack 20. But he could dig balls out of the dirt better than any other 1B in the 90s. He made his team better than way (and he hit a lot of doubles). Right now, it’s not looking like Butler has either of those qualities. The only time he ever hit 30+ homers in one season in the minors is when 25 of them came at High Desert… where everyone hits homeruns. This year, in 430 at bats in the majors, he only has 10 HRs. Shealey has more than half of that in only 56 at bats.

Isn’t it just possible that KC sees something that you all don’t?

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Sep 23, 2008 12:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough

But the Royals have absolutely nothing to lose by playing Butler right now. Playing Gload and Shealy isn’t the answer or a long term solution for their offense. I don’t believe they are putting “all their chickens is one basket” either. Butler’s 22 and I guessing that it will be a few years before we know what type of hitter he will be. As far as his power numbers in he minors he has been pretty young at each level and I have read many many people on here say power usually develops last

by Rajah358 on Sep 23, 2008 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again, G-Load hasn't played in a long time

They’re playing their two internal 1B candidates to see if one has a chance to start next year. It’s not like washed up crap is playing instead of Billy.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Sep 23, 2008 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Come on

Do you really think Shealy is part of the future? How do you get a look at an internal option like Kaaihue, when he has only started 4 games in Sept. Gload has one less start in Sept than him thats 3 too many. It’s not like they are running him out there every day. If there resting Butler fine, if there trying to protect him from a prolonged slump fine. The point is they don’t need a long look at Shealy he is 29 and they have had him since the end of 2006 when he had a similar Sept. Kaaighue and Butler should be playing the majority of games in Sept. And they are not.

by Rajah358 on Sep 23, 2008 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

For a team that’s so colossally bad, the Royals are really unwilling to play Butler, let him take his lumps, and hope he figures out how to hit for power. Considering that his lack of defense makes him a pretty poor trading chip, he really needs to play even if they don’t consider him part of the long-term plan.

Personally, I think he ought to be part of the long-term plan, as he could well be Edgar Martinez redux.

by Fanon on Sep 23, 2008 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uh yea

I do think Shealy is part of the short term future (2 or 3 years). It was a big time mistake to not call him up earlier.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Sep 23, 2008 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you really think Shealy

would perform at this level for an entire season? I’m not prepared to put “all my chickens in that basket”

by Rajah358 on Sep 23, 2008 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

obviously not

But I think Shealy can hit .280, decent OBP, 25 homers. Great? No. But pretty good.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Sep 23, 2008 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not at this level...

but he likely gives them a better shot next year than Butler does. Remember, Shealy has never been given a fair shot in the majors. Butler has more than 200 career more at bats than Shealy. But he has performed better in his chance.

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Sep 24, 2008 2:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But Shealy*** has...

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Sep 24, 2008 2:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shealy just happens

to be hot, it’s a rather small sample size. Like I said I Don’t think Shealy needs this long of a look. Especially when they have Butler and Kaaihue. Kaaihue is actually getting shafted more.

by Rajah358 on Sep 24, 2008 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just happens to be hot?

Why are streaks and sample sizes always used on this blogsite to explain why players that are not well-loved here are doing well, or ones that are loved here aren’t doing well?

Granted, Shealy is on a bit of a hot streak right now… I don’t think anyone expects him to hit like he has been for a full season (to do so would challenge Bonds for the single season HR record). But what about his past makes it look like he can’t be a solid everyday 1B? Is it the career 310/400/570 statline he has put up in the minors? Is it the fact that in almost every season, with the exception of last year when he was injured, he hits 20+ homers?

It has taken him four seasons to finally get enough major league at bats to equal out a season, and even though he doesn’t have the greatest statline (not bad, but not good) he has never really been given a chance to be in the line-up every day to see what he can do.

Giving up on Shealy while he is productive just because he (recently) turned 29 years old, while at the same time continuing to give Butler at bats just because he is 22 is not the smartest way to run an organization. Youth is great… but production is key.

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Sep 24, 2008 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well your argument to go with production

over development for the Royals just doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t see the point of playing Shealy everyday over Butler and Kaaihue. When both players are more important to long term success. If your gonna use minor league numbers Butler’s line is 336/416/561 so whats the point there . I don’t have anything against Shealy. I just don’t know why a team so far form contention would prefer him.

by Rajah358 on Sep 24, 2008 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm confused

Are you really arguing that it’s better for the long-term future of the Royals to invest in Ryan Shealy rather than Billy Butler? I can understand the argument that it’s better to ride Shealy now, and maybe even send Butler back to AAA (though I think it’s probably better to keep Butler up in the majors anyway), but yeah, that Butler is significantly younger than Shealy is a pretty good reason to stick with him through his present difficulties.

www.loftylantern.com

by OldProspects on Sep 25, 2008 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For how long?

How long do you stick with a kid before realizing that they may just not have what it takes to succeed in the majors? One more year? Two more? Three? Do you want to foster a team attitude that sucking is okay, because if you are young you will play anyways? Even over players who are producing. Butler has like 750+ career at bats if I remember correctly. He has been given more of a shot than a lot of kids have been. What happens if he never develops and Shealy moves on and becomes an annual 280/350/510 hitters with 25HR a year for the next five or six years? Shealy has proven himself to have a lot more power than Butler in his time in the majors. I think he has earned this playing time.

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Sep 25, 2008 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Butler is 22 years old

what exactly do you want form a him. have you actually given up on him?

by Rajah358 on Sep 25, 2008 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You seem overly concerned

With losing Shealy who might,might have 2 or three good years. But you seem content to give up on Butler because he has more AB’s. I know Butler isn’t a sure thing. I just don’t know why you would give up on a 22 year old.

by Rajah358 on Sep 25, 2008 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Am I the only one who is impressed by Butler’s production as a 22 year old? Most guys his age are in AA or AAA and he is holding his own in the big leagues. People need to remember that the MAJORITY of guys do not come in and dominate the way Longoria has. Youngsters need time to develop and learn the ins and outs of MLB.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Sep 25, 2008 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

re:

AMEN!

by Rajah358 on Sep 25, 2008 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is a joke, right?

Since Ryan Shealy has left Coors Field, he has had 417 ABs in which he has hit 34 XBH. In 762 major league at bats, has hit 65. Shealy’s OPS has been .786, .594 and 1.029 in 62 ABs. I agree with all of the other points being made, and generally speaking I think your point is valid that teams should consider using the decent players that they have rather than just prospects. But we’re talking about Ryan Shealy and Billy Butler here.

www.loftylantern.com

by OldProspects on Sep 25, 2008 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"All their chickens in one basket"?

The phrase is “all their eggs in one basket.” Referring to the fact that if you drop that one basket, your eggs will be smashed to flinders and you will have none left.

Chickens do not break when you drop them. Putting all your chickens in one basket is probably a good idea (I don’t know, I’m not a farmer).

I think you’re confusing the phrase with “counting one’s chickens before they hatch,” which is a different sin, albeit one that MLB teams are also known to commit. See, eg, the Yankees of this season putting too much hope on their pitching prospects to carry the rotation.

Although the real reason the Yankees are out of the playoffs is their inexplicable refusal to DH Bobby Abreu.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 23, 2008 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok, Im laughing

Chickens do not break when you drop them. Putting all your chickens in one basket is probably a good idea (I don’t know, I’m not a farmer).

Well played.

by alskor on Sep 23, 2008 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dd it on purpose....

I know the difference between the two phrases. But since we are all baseball fans, I thought others might like the idea of a little Yogi-ism or Stengel-ese type of mistake with an old saying. I always knew Oakland fans had no sense of humor :P

"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile

by Boxkutter on Sep 24, 2008 2:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No sense of humor?

You obviously never watched their offense this year!!!!!!

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Sep 24, 2008 4:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Apparently alskor disagrees with this assessment

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Sep 24, 2008 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

The Royals are not playing him because he is exhausted and/or tired. Rather than go through a prolonged slump to end the season, they want to him to build on what he did in the second half and start fresh next year.

Also, maybe there is a undisclosed injury.

It is like saving a pitcher from losing 20 games or setting the strikeout mark [as a hitter].

by BBFan1 on Sep 23, 2008 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

there is no

way the royals give up on him… you just don’t do that over one season… he’ll be starting at 1b or DH opening day next year barring something unexpected. just beause he didn’t become ryan braun out of the gate doens’t mean he is going to suck.

"If you were a hot dog, would you eat yourself?"

by Trobone on Sep 24, 2008 1:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Excatly

I think people forget how young he is

by Rajah358 on Sep 24, 2008 9:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

core issue

I think the main issue is that the Royals have too many 1B/DH guys right now. Gload has a guaranteed deal and is signed through 2009, so he is around for another year. Add Butler, Shealy, and Kaaihue to the mix and there are three guys who need MLB at bats to continue their development. This is a logjam and – other than Butler – none of them have much trade value.

Hopefully the Royals can figure out which one they want before Hosmer is ready.

by count sutton on Sep 24, 2008 5:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs