1) Find someone to usurp David Glass

2) Find another manager who can do what Pena did. (No, you can't have him back)

Ok here is my best try at this:

1) Fire Buddy Bell and find a coach who is good with young players and who will understand that he will be playing with a young team for a couple years.

2) Trade Mike Sweeney, he's gonna have to eat a lot of contract but just get rid of him. Also trade DeJesus you could get decent value for him. Target young pitching with both deals. Berroa could be moved too if you could get anything of value.

3) Sell off any players over 32 to the highest bidder.

4) Take any money saved and give it to the scouting department to find international players and sign the best possible talent in the draft.

5) Figure out if Teahan can play second base, or even a corner outfield spot.

6) Sit back and wait for your core of good talent to be ready and then once there ready call them up and build the team around them

7) Do whatever you can to figure out how to get Grienke comfortable.

No stupid Reggie Sanders type signings. If you dont have a player ready yet for the position sign a bench level player to a 1 year deal to do it.

Acquire proven winner Tony Clark to fill the team's void at 1B/DH.

Stabilise the bullpen and clear the surfeit of third basemen by trading Mark Teahen for ace closer Armando Benitez.

1) Trade Sweeney and Berroa
2)
3) Make Profits!

1.) Put DeJesus back in CF to maximise his value. Gathright should ride the bench.

2.) Trade Teahen to the team most fooled by his hitting this year. Perhaps the Angels if Ramirez re-signs with the Cubs, and if Aybar's stock has gone down enough perhaps you could acquire him to replace Berroa.

3.) Cut off Berroa's legs and arms to improve his fielding.

4.) Play Justin Huber the whole year. Let Gordon and Butler play their way onto the team. If they don't produce (yeah right) another year in the minors won't hurt them.

1.) Put DeJesus back in CF to maximise his value. Gathright should ride the bench.
2.) Trade Teahen to the team most fooled by his hitting this year. Perhaps the Angels if Ramirez re-signs with the Cubs, and if Aybar's stock has gone down enough perhaps you could acquire him to replace Berroa.
3.) Cut off Berroa's legs and arms to improve his fielding.

1. Trade Gathright if at all possible. If you can get a bundle for DeJesus trade him instead, but start with Gathright.

2. Trade Teahan for pitching. MN is not a bad partner even if they are in the division.

3. That's mean. Part him out, which both helps the sick and improves infield defense.

If by "pitching" you mean "lots of pitching prospects who might reach the majors in 2008", the Phillies are your Teahen trade partners.

Have Angel Berroa killed. No one will trade for him.

Sign Toe Nash, that guy is the shiznit.

Distract David Glass by hinting that the workers at a Wal-Mart in Oshawa, Ontario are trying to start a union.

Give Larry Johnson a tryout. Hey, Larry's local, and the Bo Jackson thing worked out.

3) Sell off any players over 32 to the highest bidder.

You'd need replacements. Starting 12 year olds is one of the bigger reasons that got the Royals into this mess.

1.) Put DeJesus back in CF to maximise his value. Gathright should ride the bench.

Agreed, pretty much. I think Gathright is the ideal fifth outfielder -- pinch-runner, "pinch-bunter", defensive sub, and not a terrible CF for a DeJesus off-day every now and then. But of course, getting good value for him on the market (as mentioned at #7) would be ideal.

4.) Play Justin Huber the whole year. Let Gordon and Butler play their way onto the team. If they don't produce (yeah right) another year in the minors won't hurt them.

Where at? As it stands, not at DH, not at 1B. Perhaps at LF or RF, but those slots have strong candidates, too. I like Brown/DeJesus/Huber in my own little world.

---

Regarding Mark Teahen: As I'll never grow weary of mentioning, I'd love to give him a tryout at SS and 2B, but considering that won't happen, I'd really like to give him a shot to start everyday at an corner outfield spot. Other teams aren't dumb; his trade value is lower than what the Royals think it should be, I'm sure. If Moore absolutely demands to move him, perhaps giving him a strong Spring Training/first month before trading him would be best.

-cut Berroa

-pay Sweeney's freight, get b-pitching prospects for him

-Justin Huber and Andrew Sisco for Eric Aybar, or Huber for Macier Izturis.

-sign Rod Brarjas (murders hte ball at the K)

-throw cash at one reliabley average-above averge starter, sign one "take a flyer" pticher, and three lesser Bobby Madtish-type "flyers".

-Trade Gathright, German starts in left.

1. Hire somebody to take out Berroa so we don't have to watch him or pay him.
2. Trade Huber for some middle infield help or bullpen help
Middle Infield: Angels for preferably Willy Aybar but I'll take Sean Rodriguez
Bullpen: Twins for Crain, or am I dreaming? We can package up some prospect for Crain too. He can be our closer.
3. Trade some trash to the Nationals for Ryan Church, the guy need some help getting out of that terrible setup. You can move DeJesus back to CF. Church is more than adequate at LF and has intriging power potential(I know he's 28). While he probably won't cost anything meaningful as Nook Logan is starting for the Nats over him.
4. Try to trade Teahen, though I doubt you'll get the perceived high value for him.
5. Free Agency: try to sign a reliable SS, and I don't mean Royce Clayton. I'll be okay with Alex Gonzalez if it means I won't be seeing any Angel Berroa. Take a chance on 1 expensive pitchers(like the Chris Carpenter, Jon Lieber, Wade Miller of the world) and a couple lower level guys like Bobby Keppel, Bobby Madrich.

Names of the high end guy: Tony Armas Jr., Bruce Chen(sad that he's high end for us), Byung Hyun Kim, Wade Miller, Kip Wells

Of course I would dream of us signing Mark Mulder, but that would never happen.

That's about it for now

What about Angel Sanchez everyday at SS? Too soon? He's still so raw and barely 23, but you can see why the scouts like him and if he fills in some, you could see him adding some pop whree none currently exists. Blanco does not have that potential.

He's already got a big-league quality glove and arm.

Addition by contraction.

Rotation mix of Baerlocher, Bautista, Bernero, Greinke & R. Hernandez, O. Perez (not averse to a CHEAP project/veteran)

Internally generated relief corp to include Ryan Braun, Shane Loux, Mike Wood, Nelson, Burgos, etc...

C Phillips
1B Shealy/Sweeney/Huber
2B Grudzi
3B Teahan
SS Blanco/cheap veteran platoon
LF E. Brown
CF Dejesus
RF R. Sanders
DH Huber/Sweeney/Shealy
Super Sub: German (4-5 games per week)

Manager: Frank White, Jr.

This is a care-taker lineup until Gordon, Butler, Hochevar, et.al are ready...

That is a good list there gravy. I think what the Royals have to do is just fill positions as cheap as possible until there elite prospects can take them over. You dont want anyone on the team who would block Butler or Gordon. I really think Teahan should be tried at second base. I think he is athletic enough to do it. At second too if he could hit .280 with 20 or so homers and like 10 steals that would be a very good second baseman.

Why can't any of the Royals fans spell Teahen?

Give Larry Johnson a tryout. Hey, Larry's local, and the Bo Jackson thing worked out.

Chiefs safety Jarrod Page was drafted by the Rockies, Brewers and Angels, as high as the 5th round.

2. Trade Teahan for pitching. MN is not a bad partner even if they are in the division.

Trade Huber for some middle infield help or bullpen help...... Twins for Crain, or am I dreaming?

As a Twins fan, I think one of the things the Twins should really do in the offseason is to find a trade for a cheap, competant 3rd baseman. And the Royals are near the top of my list of teams to deal with too. I wouldn't complain about trading Crain for one of them.


My advice to Moore is to forget about the offense, find a cheap good defensive shortstop (or Blanco), and spend the rest of your time working on the pitching (come on, they are 200 runs away from being even an average pitching staff). As far as that goes, I'd look for a good veteran catcher to help out the young pitchers, and take a hard look at the pitching coach. Add a cheap starting pitcher and 3 relievers and see if you can use them to piece together 2/3 of a pitching staff while you acquire and develop more pitching over the next couple years.

I think what the Royals have to do is just fill positions as cheap as possible until there elite prospects can take them over.

The problem with this is the potential for a 110-115 loss season that will really alienate the fan base. I don't know if the Royals can afford to do that.

-- MWE

What I would do as Dayton:

1. Explore trade offers for Mark Teahen. I'm not sure what you could get for him, but if you can get a promising pitcher or two, I'd do it. Philadelphia, Minnesota and the Cubs seem like possible trading partners.

2. Let Redman, Minky and Bako go. Non-tender Runelvys. Release Angel Berroa. He is a sunk cost and will not get better. Plus it sends a message - the era of waiting for "potential" is over.

3. Trade Joey Gathright for pitching. Florida (for Ricky Nolasco? Sergio Mitre?) and Atlanta could be possibilities.

4. Sign SS Alex Cora (or Craig Counsell), RHP David Riske, and RHP Salomon Torres.

That would give you a payroll of about $45 million next year. Glass has authorized $55 millio, so either pocket the extra cash for 2008 or invest it in Carribbean scouting.

2007
C John Buck
1B Ryan Shealy
2B Mark Grudzielanek
3B Mark Teahen (if traded, Esteban German until Gordon is ready)
SS Alex Cora or Craig Counsell
LF Emil Brown
CF David DeJesus
RF Justin Huber (wow, that's a godawful outfield defense)
DH Mike Sweeney

Bench: C Paul Phillips or Matt Tupman, IF Andres Blanco, IF Esteban German of Jeff Keppinger, OF Shane Costa, OF Mitch Maier or Chad Allen

SP Odalis Perez
SP Luke Hudson
SP Jorge de la Rosa
SP Zack Greinke
SP Mike Wood/Brandon Duckworth/Bob Keppel until Scott Elarton comes off the DL

RP Joe Nelson
RP Jimmy Gobble
RP Todd Wellemeyer
RP Salomon Torres
RP David Riske

Andrew Sisco, Ambriorix Burgos, Ryan Braun, Luke Hochevar, Tyler Lumsden all waiting in AAA to be called up. Alex Gordon gets called up mid-season.

Sweeney and Grudzielanek and possibly Emil Brown are all traded mid-season.

2008
C John Buck?
1B Ryan Shealy
2B Angel Sanchez/Esteban German/Jeff Keppinger
3B Alex Gordon
SS Alex Cora/Andres Blanco
LF Chris Lubanski/Mitch Maier/Shane Costa
CF David DeJesus
RF Justin Huber
DH Billy Butler

SP Odalis Perez
SP Zack Greinke
SP Luke Hochevar
SP Tyler Lumsden/Luke Hudson/Jorge de la Rosa

Geez, I forgot about Reggie. Trade his ass for a bag of baseballs.

Rotation mix of Baerlocher, Bautista, Bernero, Greinke & R. Hernandez, O. Perez (not averse to a CHEAP project/veteran)

Denny Bautista (who I assume is mentioned here) is now in the Colorado Rockies organization.

Why can't any of the Royals fans spell Teahen?

I think most people who follows the Royals gave up spelling after Mark Grudzielanek and Doug Mientkiewicz were signed.

Geez, I forgot about Reggie.

So did the rest of the MLB. A bag of baseballs is being generous.

Oh, were that I was David Glass!

1) Trade or release any players making more than $1 million a year.

2) Sit back and enjoy the free revenue-sharing money that arrives by the truckload every year

3) Pour the approximately $30 million in clean new bills into a giant pile in the atrium of your primary mansion.

4) Remove clothes

5) MONEYBATH!

6) Appear at winter meetings to lobby for more revenue-sharing.

Garth is posting now? There goes the neighborhood.

I wonder about all of you internet whiz kids spending all your time doing this stuff. The last thing I wanted to do when I was 18 was sit on my computer all day. I do it now but at my age it's OK to be a dork as long as I know it, I guess. I'm not saying your efforts won't pay off. I'm sure they will. I just think it's odd. A sign of the times apparently.

As for the Royals, they need to take a cue from the Florida Marlins. Play the talented kids, service time be damned. The fans will understand.

Also, my wife hates how on the KC broadcasts, their on-screen scoreboard is HUGE! It's really distracting. At least make it transparent. I would watch more Royals games if I didn't have to deal with her bugging me about that.

-- Jake

There goes the neighborhood.

Funny thing Jake...I said the same thing about the beat-gentrification of Hoboken...:)

Dude, I finally tried the Fried Oreos at the Hoboken arts and crafts street festival the other day. It's an oreo inside a zepole. It's ridiculous but damn tasty. I had to be wheeled home there was so much good food. Did you go to check out any of the local bands?

It's an oreo inside a zepole.

Jake, that's become quite the stomach stapler down the Jersey Shore...sors I missed out on seeing the NY Dolls during the A-C fest on Washington....bummer.

Garth is posting now? There goes the neighborhood.

You've just earned yourself a 2500-word Luft hate piece one of these days. Mark my words.

I wonder about all of you internet whiz kids spending all your time doing this stuff.

Sort of. Most of the kids my age are on the internet all the time, but they're spending time destroying their brains by living on Facebook and MySpace. At least my way I get to destroy my brain in the name of baseball.

Nothing says 'failing Western Civ' like BBTF.

Most of the kids my age are on the internet all the time, but they're spending time destroying their brains by living on Facebook and MySpace. At least my way I get to destroy my brain in the name of baseball.

Just FYI, Garth — I'm doing all three. I'm in the former two because everyone's badgered me into them, and it's a decent way to keep up with folks I rarely get a chance to see. But about half my free time online is spent reading baseball news and stats, or posting here.

Sort of. Most of the kids my age are on the internet all the time, but they're spending time destroying their brains by living on Facebook and MySpace

Myspace has whores though. Don't you ever go to Meat's page?

My younger sister showed me her myspace page the other day and it just didn't make any sense to me. Makes me feel old.

Dear Royals Fans,

cc: Dayton Moore, President Kansas City Royals


Before we can trade our best player of 2006, Royals fans should really learn how to spell his name. Wow, honestly, we are gonna trade half a season of great ball from a player you all cannot even spell for reliable starting pitching? Anyways...

1) Trade Grudzielanek (If I were a betting man, I would put money on this happening, soon) Steve German can play 2B, and many others on this team as well.

2) Dayton Moore is stuck w/some ugly Baird era contracts. It will take another year for most to be gone, deal with it. Reggie, Sweeney and Berroa are going nowhere, its sad, but most people realized the inevitably way too long ago unfortunately.

3) In contrast to most others in this posting, give Joey Gathright a full half season of Plate appearances and if his OBP does not exceed 325 then move him off the major league club, until then he needs a chance with continuity on one team.

4) Acquire best free agent pitching talent considering economic efficiency and frugality (ie, Glass budget and the consideration that 2007 is still a transition year at best)

5) Read Reggievison's #26 post and to remind yourself of Wal Mart ball perpetrated by our benevolent owner.

6) Trade all loose ends to any team willing to give up pitching below the age of 30. (see further: Dayton Moore trades of 2006)



Jeffrey Needham
jneedham@ku.edu

1) Replace that garbage they call BBQ at the Gates stand with an Arthur Bryants.

2) Trade Berrora to McDonalds for a McValue Fry

3) Dont spend another dime celebrating the 85 team, it's getting embarrasing.

4) Win the central

Who is Steve German?

-Who is Steve German?
Steve German = Steve Deutsch = Esteban German

3) In contrast to most others in this posting, give Joey Gathright a full half season of Plate appearances and if his OBP does not exceed 325 then move him off the major league club, until then he needs a chance with continuity on one team.

I'd prefer the Royals move DeJesus back to center. If that's not feasible, Moore should try very hard to get Ryan Langerhans from Atlanta.

I'd prefer the Royals move DeJesus back to center.

I agree. Given the crowded corner outfield contenders in the future with Justin Huber, Mark Teahen, Shane Costa, Chris Lubanski, Mitch Maier, and even Billy Butler, I don't think DeJesus can cut it as a LF. Considering he can't cut it as a LF and Gathright has shown no consistant ability to cut it as a CF, I think a DeJesus-back-to-CF move is best at this point. Like I've said before, there certainly is room for a Gathright-type of player on the roster, but I just don't think it's an everyday starting job. And that said, if another team thinks he is worth an everyday starting job, the Royals can certainly get some decent talent in a trade.

I'll take your be royal j,

Estaban has a much greater chance of getting moved than Grudz.

furthermore, moore's not really all that stuck with bad contracts, I doubt he'll have a problem trading reggie, or cutting berroa.

Honestly, I don't see how Royals fans can end this season on anything less than a happy note.

The days of this team being the butt of a joke are over.

3) Dont spend another dime celebrating the 85 team, it's getting embarrasing.

Behold. It is written.

Revive eighty-five.

Dear Daytin Moore:

1) Keep Teahan. We aren't good enough to trade major league quality hitters.

2) Give Beroa a catcher's mitt, and two months of winter ball. Scared straight is the way to teach Angel...he also might recognize two strike, 58 foot sliders.

3) Forcibly convert Mike Sweeny to Islam; a little hate can go a long way in this game.

4) Make Runelvis a closer. If Tod Jones can do it, so can Fatty.

5) Cheerleaders.

6) Dollar beers.


Live long and prosper.

My younger sister showed me her myspace page the other day and it just didn't make any sense to me. Makes me feel old.

Link?

Bring back the powder blue road uniforms. It may not help much on the field, but it will hearken back to the glory years.

Link?

Link.

Bad fits: Berroa, Sanders, Sweeney, Brown (maybe not Brown). Trade any or all of them for what the market will bear.

Most urgent position: shortstop. Mediocrity is perfectly acceptable, since it would add multiple wins over the current lineup.

Biggest priority: pitching in general. This year's staff was almost perfectly replacement level. Every run above replacement is thus a run better than this year. Stars would be fine, but the staff has so many weaknesses that a wholesale churning is needed. Stockpile every pitcher who projects above replacement that you can get your hands on. Again, mediocrity is a big improvement over the status quo. A league-average ERA would represent a 16 game improvement, so there's a big potential payoff for anything you can do here.

The offense could use tinkering at a couple of positions, but it seems like it's on a sound footing until the prospects arrive. The offseason should focus on acquiring pitchers and a shortstop.