3 Questions

1: What in the world is going to happen with this roster?

Looking at the infield, [Edit: added catchers] John Buck and Jason LaRue at C, Alex Gordon at 3B, Angel Berroa at SS, Mark Grudzielanek at 2B, Ryan Shealy at 1B and Mike Sweeney at DH are locks. Esteban German is a lock because he’s the only backup at 2B and SS and, when Mark Teahen is playing in RF, he’s the only backup at 3B, too. Buddy Bell reportedly likes Ross Gload, so he seems to be a lock.

That’s nine players locked in for the infield.

In the outfield, Emil Brown in LF, David DeJesus in CF and Mark Teahen in RF are locks. Bell’s going to try to get Reggie Sanders in 3-4 games a week, so it would seem he’s a lock.

There’s four players locked in for the outfield, plus I’d be surprised if Joey Gathright doesn’t make it as a defensive OF and pinch-runner. (However, Gload can play in the outfield, so perhaps Gathright is indeed on borrowed time.)

This leaves 10 slots for pitchers, five in the bullpen.

So who’s a lock here?

It seems like the 1B/DH jam of Sweeney/Shealy/Gload might be taking away from the bullpen’s potential for enough men, especially if they also keep Gathright up (thereby removing most of Gload’s OF functionality). Is this a problem?

2: So how much of a thorn will Ross Gload be in our collective side this season?

Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I think Gload’s a bad player. In fact, I think he’s too good. He is forcing the Royals to take 3 DH/1B players into the season. Also, his presence will always personify the everlasting threat that Buddy Bell will bench Ryan Shealy. A world in which Shealy’s benched in favor of Gload would only be made worse by Dayton Moore calling Justin Huber up and sending down Alex Gordon, and having Huber and Shealy play chess while on the bench while being forced to sign “Mmm Bop” by the Hansons.

So here’s an over/under for you: Plate appearances Ross Gload will have this season—175.

3: Have some free time?

Then read this right now. It is tremendous.

Also, how Royals Authority, Royals Review, H.G. Miller, Breaking 100 and Lee Warren keep regularly posting baffles me. I’ll soon be trying to kick up to regular posting, but when I’m not doing it and others are, it never ceases to amaze me. I suggest following those links for some fine analysis.