MLB.COM: Longtime Royals radio voice Fred White dies

RIP Fred White

Fred White, a Royals radio voice for 25 years, died Wednesday due to complications from melanoma, a day after announcing his retirement following a 40-year relationship with the club.

White teamed with Denny Matthews on broadcasts from 1973-98, and since had served as the team’s director of broadcast services and the Royals Alumni.

His retirement was due to health issues, and he died in hospice care.

The Non-Catching Molina (sjs1959) Posted: May 15, 2013 at 05:06 PM | 9 comment(s)
  Beats: broadcasting, fred white, royals

Poz: Stolen Bases And Rex Hudler

Ryan made the point that there are studies that seem to show that the stolen base is not as effective or important as people used to assume. Ryan will tell you he’s not especially a fan of some of these advanced statistics, but he’s also an open-minded guy and we have had some fun discussions and disagreements through the years. Anyway, I think he was simply making the fair point that while statistics may show that attempting steals is not necessarily a prudent play—and he concedes that this absolutely might be true—he wonders if maybe the statistics do not pick up on some of the psychological force of the stolen base and its threat, such as how it can distract a pitcher and stress out a defense.

This could make for a very interesting discussion. Unfortunately, Rex Hudler took it in kind of a different direction.

First, Rex asked if these studies about the stolen base not being as effective or important were “Sabermetrics.” I don’t know, I found that kind of funny. He said it as if “Sabermetrics” is actually a person. Ryan just said that there were such studies out there that questioned the value of the stolen base. At the time, I should add, the Royals had runners on first and third.

Then Rex Hudler basically said this: If the guy on first (Alcides Escobar) stole second base, he would be able to score on a single. If he stayed at first base, he would not be able to score on a single. But if he made it to second base, he would be able to score on a single. Which he would not be able to do if he stayed on first base. So it would be better if he was on second base. That way he would be able to score on a single. He couldn’t do that on first base. But he could on second base.

“What’s wrong with that?” he asked.

Thus endeth the dissection of stolen bases. ...
And the “stolen bases put runners in scoring position” is an argument against nothing. It is like saying the sacrifice bunt is good because it moves the runner to second and then the next guy singles him home. It is like saying the intentional walk is good because the next guy hits it into a double play. It’s like saying asking a woman out in a bar is good because you have a great date afterward and then get married and stay married for 50 years. The best case scenario isn’t an argument. It’s just the best case scenario.

So that’s my plea to Rex and some other baseball folks out there. Just learn a little something about Sabermetrics. Maybe it’s stupid, yucky math stuff figured by the pajama-wearing nerds and it sucks the heart and soul out to the game. Or maybe, just maybe, there’s something in there to talk about.

Rush Limbaugh: A Great Trip Back to the Ballpark in Kansas City

Damn pinkos everywhere!

By the way, it was Mother’s Day. I have to mention, it was Mother’s Day of course yesterday and it was Mother’s Day at the ballpark, and the players were all wearing pink something or other, pink shoes or pink sleeves. There was one guy with a pink bat.

I’m talking about this and George (Brett) said, “Have you seen the official ball for today?”

I said, “No.”

So he went and grabbed one.

The official Rawlings game ball yesterday was printed with pink ink.

So, anyway, it was a great weekend. It was a great time.

Thanks to Susan Mullen.

Chris Getz removes name from list of homerless streaks

On Tuesday night against Atlanta, Royals second baseman Chris Getz did this for the first time since 2009, for the first time in 954 at-bats ...

That would be third home run of his career, which to date spans 1,350 plate appearances.

Getz’s rare clout calls to mind current notable homerless streaks—a list from which Getz has, of course, just removed himself. Here’s the rundown from FoxSports Kansas City’s Joel Goldberg:

Ben Revere it is! Revere, it should be noted, has no major-league homers to his credit. He did manage to tally five in the minors (over a span of 403 games), the last coming in 2011.

On Tuesday night against Atlanta, Royals second baseman Chris Getz did this for the first time since 2009, for the first time in 954 at-bats ...

That would be third home run of his career, which to date spans 1,350 plate appearances.

Getz’s rare clout calls to mind current notable homerless streaks—a list from which Getz has, of course, just removed himself. Here’s the rundown from FoxSports Kansas City’s Joel Goldberg:

Ben Revere it is! Revere, it should be noted, has no major-league homers to his credit. He did manage to tally five in the minors (over a span of 403 games), the last coming in 2011.

Royals Review: Kauffman Stadium Turns 40

There was a very real fear that one or both of the teams could relocate. The report cited the “progressive” city of Atlanta, that built a multi-purpose stadium and then attracted a baseball and football team. These new stadia were all the rage with the Astrodome leading the way. Kansas City and Jackson County wanted to stake their ground. This is what they proposed:

Kansas City was thinking big. Also included in the plans were secondary proposals for a smaller arena for hockey, basketball and other events. Possible usage was listed and included: professional football, professional baseball, collegiate football and baseball, high school football championship games, NCAA and AAU track meets, professional and collegiate basketball, high school basketball, professional hockey, professional and Golden Gloves boxing, professional and collegiate wrestling, exhibition tennis, gymnastic meets, swimming and diving competitions, horse shows, soccer, bowling and curling.

The dome was to contain 49,000 fixed seats with movable stands and bleachers to provide a total capacity of 60,000. Seating for baseball would be 56,000…..

People grew frustrated that there was little movement on the stadium issue. Included in my books is a speech written by future mayor Charles Wheeler, at the time the Judge of the Western District of the Jackson County Court. Dated April 3, 1968, Wheeler expressed caution moving forward too quickly as well as disdain for a certain party whom were operating without the best interest of the citizenry at heart: Franchise owners. His speech contains this passage:

“Kansas Citians are very knowledgable about franchise owners. From their experiences with Arnold Johnson and Charles O. Finley, Kansas Citians know franchise owners can be very difficult to deal with. Since franchise owners have to be millionaires, I would like to say a few words about millionaires in general…

Millionaires generally have a great ability to make money. They spend a great deal of their time looking over ledgers. Some millionaires like to be subsidized by the public and will look for situations where they are guaranteed a alarge profit. Major league francises probably fit into this category. After all, winning was no part of Charles O. Finley’s operation. Nevertheless, his franchise more than doubled in value over six losing years in Kansas City. It is one of those rare situations in life where you can win financially, while you are losing.”

What could have been - The BarbecueDome!

There was a very real fear that one or both of the teams could relocate. The report cited the “progressive” city of Atlanta, that built a multi-purpose stadium and then attracted a baseball and football team. These new stadia were all the rage with the Astrodome leading the way. Kansas City and Jackson County wanted to stake their ground. This is what they proposed:

Kansas City was thinking big. Also included in the plans were secondary proposals for a smaller arena for hockey, basketball and other events. Possible usage was listed and included: professional football, professional baseball, collegiate football and baseball, high school football championship games, NCAA and AAU track meets, professional and collegiate basketball, high school basketball, professional hockey, professional and Golden Gloves boxing, professional and collegiate wrestling, exhibition tennis, gymnastic meets, swimming and diving competitions, horse shows, soccer, bowling and curling.

The dome was to contain 49,000 fixed seats with movable stands and bleachers to provide a total capacity of 60,000. Seating for baseball would be 56,000…..

People grew frustrated that there was little movement on the stadium issue. Included in my books is a speech written by future mayor Charles Wheeler, at the time the Judge of the Western District of the Jackson County Court. Dated April 3, 1968, Wheeler expressed caution moving forward too quickly as well as disdain for a certain party whom were operating without the best interest of the citizenry at heart: Franchise owners. His speech contains this passage:

“Kansas Citians are very knowledgable about franchise owners. From their experiences with Arnold Johnson and Charles O. Finley, Kansas Citians know franchise owners can be very difficult to deal with. Since franchise owners have to be millionaires, I would like to say a few words about millionaires in general…

Millionaires generally have a great ability to make money. They spend a great deal of their time looking over ledgers. Some millionaires like to be subsidized by the public and will look for situations where they are guaranteed a alarge profit. Major league francises probably fit into this category. After all, winning was no part of Charles O. Finley’s operation. Nevertheless, his franchise more than doubled in value over six losing years in Kansas City. It is one of those rare situations in life where you can win financially, while you are losing.”

The Baseball Show with Rany and Joe - 4/2/13

Now sponsored by Baseball-Reference.com’s Play Index!

- Joe is a character in the new MLB: The Show video game.  (So is Aaron Gleeman, BTW.)  Since Joe isn’t a video game player, he doesn’t really know the details, but he’s happy.

- Playoff predictions:
Rany: TOR, DET, LAA, TB (wild card), TEX (wild card), WAS, CIN, ARI, ATL (wild card), STL (wild card); play-ins: TB d. TEX, ATL d. STL; World Series: WAS d. TOR
Joe: TB, DET, TEX, TOR (wild card), LAA (wild card), WAS, CIN, SD, SF (wild card), ATL (wild card); play-ins: TOR d. LAA, ATL d. SF; LCS: TB d. TEX, WAS d. CIN; World Series: WAS d. TB

- Award predictions:
AL MVP: Rany: Mike Trout (LAA), Joe: Evan Longoria (TB)
AL Cy: Rany: Justin Verlander (DET), Joe: Felix Hernandez (SEA)
AL Rookie: Rany & Joe: Wil Myers (TB)
AL Manager: Rany: Jim Leyland (DET), Joe: Joe Maddon (TB)
NL MVP: Rany: Joey Votto (CIN), Joe: Bryce Harper (WAS)
NL Cy: Rany & Joe: Stephen Strasburg (WAS)
NL Rookie: Rany: Julio Teheran (ATL), Joe: Kolten Wong (STL)
NL Manager: Rany: Davey Johnson (WAS), Joe: Bud Black (SD)

Joe sings an Animotion parody.

- Justin Verlander extension: Joe doesn’t like it because in the two years between now and the time the extension kicks in, there’s too much risk of injury.  He likes the Adam Wainwright extension better because it’s only one year forward.  Rany speculates that Verlander’s ability to “dial it up” within a game indicates that he isn’t a “max effort” pitcher and thus is less likely to be injured.  Joe thinks that makes a lot of sense, but points out that there have been logical arguments why previous pitchers with solid health records would keep it up, yet they then proceeded to get hurt anyway.  Joe compares late-era Bill James to late-era Gary Busey.

- Buster Posey extension: Joe thinks that the Giants “bought high” on Posey, paying him as if he will consistently repeat 2012, which is very unlikely.  Rany thinks Posey is worth the money - “given where offensive numbers have dropped, [Posey] is very, very close to Mike Piazza as a hitter, and better as a catcher.”  Joe clarifies that he likes it better than the Verlander deal, but does feel that the Giants overpaid.

- Ned Yost’s managing: Joe criticizes Yost’s decision not to pinch-hit George Kottaras for Jeff Francoeur against closer Addison Reed on Opening Day.  Rany doesn’t like it either, but points out that most current managers also wouldn’t have pinch-hit with their sole backup catcher.  Rany: “The state of managing in baseball, overall, generally sucks.”

Free Szymborki! Dan on the Royals and the AL Central

For all of you dying to hear Dan Szymborki - with no pay wall restrictions and no annoying Fan Graphs formatting - explain to hopeful Royals fans why they will finish fourth in the AL Central this season. 

Newhan: K.C.‘s 21-6 Record: Illusion or Reality?

If I’m not mistaken…that was John Newland’s spooky intro for OSB’s “The Devil’s Laughter” episode.

Was it important for the Royals to win in the spring, to prove that the enthusiasm created among the young players by the veteran additions, translated to the field?

“Absolutely,” Moore said in our interview.

“The Royals haven’t been to the playoffs since 1985 (and have had only one winning season since ‘95), and so we’re consistently reminded of the need to create a winning culture.

“We know that on April 1 our record goes back to zero, but winning as we have in the spring is definitely, I believe, a reflection of our talent and quality depth.”

...“I feel like our younger, position players responded immediately,” Moore said. “The rotation now has a presence to it, and our entire camp had a more stable feel and sense of stability.

“The one thing that should allow our young players to continue to mature at their natural rate is the better starting pitcher. We should be able to compete more effectively from the first day to the last.”

Moore and staff took over in mid-season of 2006. Gordon and Butler were in double A, “and I thought we were looking at an eight to 10 year process of building from within and developing the waves of players that would allow us to make a move of the type we did in trading Wil Myers.

“As I mentioned, it’s a narrow window in which you have quality young players under club control or signed to long term contracts, and we felt we had reached the point where we could enhance that nucleus by creating a veteran presence in our rotation that would enable us to build a winning culture that the city has been without for too long—at least on the baseball field.”

Kansas City Royals’ Hall of Fame voting shenanigans: Jimmy Gobble (5.23 career ERA) second in early results

People voted for Sanjaya too.

Apparently, a rogue element of jokesters has organized itself with the intent on getting longtime bad left-hander Jimmy Gobble elected to the Kansas City Royals’ Hall of Fame.
This year’s list of candidates includes Bo Jackson, Darrell Porter, Kevin Seitzer, John Wathan, Jermaine Dye and Al Cowens, and all except one — Bo — are running behind Gobble as of Tuesday night. Jimmy has been gobbling up online votes at a 20 percent-plus clip. Bo leads with over 40 percent.

Gobble, not that you need to be reminded of the hard numbers because you remember the generally stinky results, finished his career with a 5.23 ERA in 235 major league appearances for K.C. His first nine starts were OK in 2003 for the last Royals team to finish over .500, and he had a good ERA out of the bullpen as a specialist in 2007. He is friends with Zack Greinke, so he’s probably a good guy.
Gobble was the 43rd overall pick of the 1999 draft and, at one time, was rated by Baseball America the No. 50 prospect in Major League Baseball. So he could have been somebody but, as far as ballplayers go, he was a below-average left-handed pitcher. I’m being really nice here — Gobble was a turkey!

And someone out there thinks it’s HEE-larious that Gobble is even on the ballot in the first place, so why not embarrass the Royals more by making it look like he has a chance to win? The Royals HOF (located inside of Kauffman Stadium) has admitted 25 members (including groundskeeper George Toma) since it opened in 1986. So it’s exclusive. And the Royals, though kids today might not believe it, have an actual tradition that includes some great players — such as Porter, who deserves to be enshrined.

Schoenfield: Will Eric Hosmer turn into a great player?

After he blew apart my “DiMythio’s Sphinct-O-Matic Nine” team? Why should I care now…

For the first list, I looked at players since 1969 who had at least 1,000 plate appearances through their age-22 season. The players clustered from a 97 OPS+ to 103 include Roberto Alomar, Lou Whitaker, Ruben Sierra, Chet Lemon, Adrian Beltre and Buddy Bell. Good players, although they all played key defensive positions. They also included Rick Manning, Wil Cordero and Chris Speier. Washington was actually at 106—exactly where his career mark ended up. George Brett was also at 106. Brett won a batting title at 23 and then started hitting for power at 24. Hosmer probably won’t turn into George Brett, but George Brett didn’t look like George Brett at 22, either.

For the second list, I looked at all 22-year-olds since 1969 who had 500 plate appearances. There are 146 of them; Hosmer’s OPS+ of 82 ranks 124th, right below Jerry Remy (and right above Jose Reyes). Only two of the players below or right above Hosmer were first basemen, one being Daric Barton, who hit .226 for the A’s in 2008. Most of the players are middle infielders, catchers or center fielders.

There are a few interesting names to point out, however:

  - Ryne Sandberg, 1982 Cubs (90 OPS+): Sandberg hit .271/.312/.372 as a rookie third basemen. He’s obviously a different type of player than Hosmer—moved to second base, more speed—but the point is Sandberg wasn’t all that great as a 22-year-old. His power developed at 24, and he turned into a Hall of Famer.
  - Robin Ventura, 1990 White Sox (83 OPS+): This was Ventura’s rookie year, so he didn’t have the year of major league experience like Hosmer did; he hit a pedestrian .249/.324/.318. His walk rate was similar to Hosmer’s, and neither struck out much. (Hosmer struck out more but plays in an era with more strikeouts.) The next year Ventura hit .284/.367/.442 and increased his home runs from five to 23.
  - Dale Murphy, 1978 Braves (80 OPS+): The other first baseman, Murphy showed power (22 home runs), but hit just .224 and led the NL in strikeouts. Similar build to Hosmer—tall and lean—although Murphy was athletic enough to eventually move to center field and become a two-time MVP. (Hosmer did steal 16 bases in 17 attempts, so it’s not like he’s Prince Fielder out there.)
  - Larry Parrish, 1976 Expos (80 OPS+): Like Hosmer, Parrish played pretty well as a 21-year-old and then regressed at 22. He had a string of productive years starting at age 24.

One other guy worth mentioning is Johnny Damon, who posted a 73 OPS+ at 22 after playing better at 21. After hitting 17 home runs his first three seasons, he hit 18 at 24. But, again, he’s a much different type of player.

Posnanski: The Unbeatable Kansas City Royals

Practice? We talkin’ about practice?

Now, let me make this clear: I believe this 10-game spring training winning streak means almost exactly nothing. It means about as much as an NBA player making 20 three-pointers in a row during warmups or an NFL kicker making a 68-yard field goal in pre-game. It might buoy the confidence a bit. It might sell a couple more early season tickets. It might help create a more positive atmosphere in the clubhouse. But that’s it. The Royals began last year by losing their first 10 home games in the regular season — THAT means something.

But … hey winning 10 in a row is better than losing 10 in a row. And there is something exciting about this team. That exciting thing is, paradoxically, something kind of boring: For the first time in what seems like forever, the Royals don’t enter a season needing miracles. They don’t need some crazy-good year from Emil Brown or Dan Reichert, they don’t need supernatural comebacks from Chuck Knoblauch or Jose Lima, they don’t need for anybody to transform into one of the Avengers. Few are expecting the Royals to really compete for a playoff spot this year … and they might not. But for the first time in forever, they COULD compete without an inconceivable series of magic tricks and freak occurrences and James Bond luck….

Does this mean the Royals definitely will compete in 2013? Of course it doesn’t. They still need all the things teams need — they need to stay healthy, especially in the starting rotation. They need for some young players to break through and get better, Hosmer in particular. They need for some veterans to repeat what they’ve done in the recent past. They need some luck. But these are the things all teams need going into a season. As one Royals executive said Tuesday, “This camp feels more businesslike than any I can remember.” That might not sound like much, but having been around the Royals for a long time I thought what he was really saying was: “Hey, look, we actually have good players.”

Dutton: Can Jeff Francoeur recover from a tough season?

I hate when a non-Kansas City Star newspaper can’t spell career.

Francoeur is vowing a big comeback year after sabermetricians - and fans - dubbed him the worst everyday player in baseball.

“The thing that keeps me positive is I know I’ve had good years,” he said. “I’ve hit 30 home runs. I’ve driven in 100 runs. I’ve hit .290. I know I can do it. It’s a matter, for me, of being able to be consistent.

“I’m at that age, 29, where I should be getting into my prime. Not going the other way. That has fueled me and driven me a lot this off season, and it’s been a good drive.”

... Francoeur again tinkered with his swing in the off season. One benefit of his new workout approach, he believes, is it enables him to use a heavier bat, which he contends will aid in maintaining a more-direct swing.

“I’m using a 35-33 now,” he said, “up from a 34-311/2. I’ve jumped up quite a bit, but I feel like it’s helped me not wrap it back there (around the head) and making me long to the ball.

“Now, I’m just going straight back instead of turning. I think these are little things, but I’m a repetition guy. Billy (Butler) can just roll out of bed and hit. I need the repetition. I need to feel it. So every day, I need to do the same thing.

“That’s why you watch Gordo, and he’s the perfect guy. He’s the same guy every day, and I’ve got on that plan. I feel he’s going to make me a lot better baseball player.”

Francoeur is, traditionally, a slow starter in spring games, but he is putting a priority this spring on reversing that trend as the Royals move through the early days of their Cactus League schedule.

“I’m coming out raking,” he vowed. “No doubt. Now, I might hit .100 this spring, but I’ll be ready. Here’s the deal: I heard Lance Berkman say that his best year was a year when he hit .400 in spring and carried it over into the season.

“I’m so excited to get out there and see where I’m at and put together a good year. This is the first year I can’t wait for spring games. The best way to erase bad memories is to get out there and play.”

Motor City Bengals: Kyle Lohse Speculation

Anybody got some Lohse change?

Every signing that [the Indians] have made has surprised folks that they were willing and able to spend the money and come with the certainty that NOW the Indians must be tapped out. Maybe they aren’t… and Lohse is a definite fit for a team that basically pitched itself out of the division race last season. The draft pick wouldn’t matter a bit – if I’m not mistaken, all they would lose would be a fourth rounder. The Kansas City Royals are another team that obviously can’t afford to put more money into payroll – but would probably make a great fit for Lohse.

Former Royal Brian McRae to appear in horror movie

They mean an actual horror movie, not a comeback with the current Royals.

Former Royals outfielder and Blue Springs High School graduate Brian McRae is set to appear in a horror movie called “Gravedigger.”

Couldn’t be that Brian McRae, right? The International Movie Database (imdb.com) cast list includes that McRae, who played for the Royals from 1990-94, before going to the Cubs, Mets, Rockies and Blue Jays.

McRae won’t be the only former major leaguer in the flick. Billy Sample, who played seven of his nine seasons in the majors with the Texas Rangers, will star as mayor Benjamin Barnes. Jim Leyritz, who spent nine of his 11 seasons in the major leagues with the Yankees, also has a part in the movie.

MLB Dodgers’ Greinke a ‘baseball junkie’

Almost immediately after Melvin informed Greinke of his trade to the Angels, Greinke asked him, “Who did you get?” Melvin replied: Shortstop Jean Segura and right-handers John Hellweg and Ariel Pena.

Greinke said he didn’t know who those players were, but liked the deal for the Brewers after he heard more about them. He earlier had told Melvin that the team’s farm system was short on power arms, “guys who could throw 100 out of the bullpen.” And shortstops, he said, are the “hardest guys to get.”

Jon Bois: Superlatives for the most ridiculous Costacos Brothers sports posters

LEAST INTERESTING POSSIBLE CONSTELLATION

A face appeared in the heavens. “BEHOLD!” it said. The people of the world stared and trembled. “I AM PETE HARNISCH!” it bellowed. The people of the world said, “oh,” and went back to whatever they were doing.

Dyson’s goal is 50 steals in 2013 - KansasCity.com

Goals and dreams are nice things.

Royals only promising to ‘Come To Play’ in 2013

I guess “Our Time” is over?

No brash promises this year from the Royals, not even after overhauling their battered rotation in the offseason.

The club’s 2013 slogan, announced Monday, is “Come To Play,” which is notable primarily for its toned-down expectations after a 12-game losing streak last April turned 2012’s “Our Time” theme into a punchline.

“The idea behind it is a dual thing,” said Toby Cook, the Royals’ vice president for community affairs and publicity. “We want to communicate that every one of our guys, every game, will come to play – ready to give it their all.

“The secondary idea behind it is that it’s an invitation for fans that when they come to the ballpark, they need to be prepared to play – to get involved in it. We’re all in this together.”

The Kansas City Royals made the NRA enemies list somehow

Thank God, then, for the NRA.  A few minutes ago I saw people tweeting about the “enemies list” they apparently keep. In the NRA’s parlance, a list of “National Organizations with Anti-Gun Policies.”  Which, sure, if you’re an advocacy group you understandably want to keep a list of people who oppose your agenda, so fair enough. But the list is pretty hilarious, mostly because it goes way beyond actual opposition groups who work to counter the NRA’s agenda and seems to include just about anyone who has ever had a thought about gun ownership that runs counter to the NRA.

Indeed, it has a list of “celebrities” — and since Louie Anderson is on it, that term is defined EXTREMELY loosely. Heck, it has two “Family Feud” hosts on there and doesn’t even include Richard Dawson or Ray Combs. And don’t give me that “because they’re dead!” baloney. Nora Ephron is on the list and she’s dead. Boyz II Men is on the list and they’ve been dead since the early 90s.

Anyway, if you scroll down the list long enough — and you really should — you get to this one:

Kansas City Royals
David Glass, CEO
P.O. Box 419969
Kansas City, MO 64141
Pro Baseball Team

Which, I don’t even know. The Royals haven’t been a threat to anything and haven’t stood for anything since at least the late 80s. But I guess their pitching staffs for the last 20 years have shown an institutional aversion to high caliber firepower, but that’s stretching it a bit. Really, I’m perplexed.  Worth noting while we’re at it that former MLBer Mike Torrez is on the list too. Guessing lots of bitter fans of the 1978 Red Sox are in the NRA.

Phillies sign Yuniesky Betancourt to a minor-league deal

Will be interesting to see what Dayton Moore gives up to acquire him this summer.

The Phillies have signed shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt to a minor-league deal, the team announced. The deal comes with an invitation to spring training.

The 31-year-old Betancourt hit .228/.256/.400 in 228 plate appearances with the Royals last season. During his eight-year career, Betancourt has seen time with the Mariners, Royals and Brewers. In 3,869 career plate appearances, Betancourt has a .266/.290/.392 career slash line.

KoK: George Brett Spins Baseball Yarns

Always good to hear some thromboss tails from Brett.

On Rickey Henderson: “I hated that guy, but we are now very cordial. I don’t send him Christmas Cards, he don’t send me Christmas Cards, but we get along.” Brett then relayed a story about the final days of the 1990 Batting Title race where Henderson had ducked four pitchers down the stretch of the season and then called Brett a “weenie” in his book for only playing half of the final game of the season. “He called me a ‘weenie!’”

On Morganna, the Kissing Bandit: “Somebody showed me that picture the other day. That was strange. But not as strange as when I retaliated later that night down in the River Quay.”

On Pranks: “I remember one really hot day here and John Shulock was umpiring second base and he was asking the ball boy to bring him out some water. And I went up to Dick Howser’s office where the hard liquor was kept and I got a bottle of vodka. I said ‘give this one to John Shulock.’ And I’m watching and he takes a big old gulp. It’s 130 [degrees] on the turf, Sunday afternoon game and he just starts downing it and then he starts choking and spitting it out. And the reason I did it to him because I ran into him at Strouds the night before and we both left about 3:00 in the morning. Thought it’d be good for him.”

Kansas City Star: Court Reinstates Lawsuit Over Royals’ Hot Dog Toss

Is it still funny when someone gets hit in the eye?

John Coomer allegedly suffered a detached retina and other injuries when a foil-wrapped hot dog flung by Royals mascot Sluggerrr smacked him in the left eye. A jury ruled in March 2011 for the Royals, finding that being struck by airborne groceries was an inherent risk that Coomer assumed by buying a ticket. The Missouri Western District Court of Appeals disagreed, however.

“The risk of being hit in the face by a hot dog is not a well-known incidental risk of attending a baseball game,” the court ruled. “Consequently, a plaintiff may not be said to have consented to, and voluntarily assumed, the risk by attending the game.”

Police Raid Home of Local “Crazy Utility Player” Guy

While police officers on the scene say the house had a musty smell of urine and fecal material, all of the utility players appear to have been well-fed and cared for. Donald Leius, director of the Major League Players Association, a non-profit group dedicated to finding homes for players, is not surprised. “We could always count on Dayton to help. Finding a home for all our players can be difficult, but Dayton specialized in the hard cases, the ones nobody else wanted. Whenever we would get a little full here at our shelter, we would call Dayton in to take a look. He specifically asked for the ones with little to no power and the ones who nobody else had looked at. Don’t be too hard on him. He’s a good guy.”

Neighbors aren’t as quick to praise Moore. “Frankly, it’s a little creepy.” said Jean Patek, who lived across the street from Moore. “He would spend all night long sitting on the swing on his front porch with a bunch of utility players running around in his front yard. He would then stare at anybody who walked by, not saying anything. Where did he get them all? It just didn’t seem right.”

Boston Globe: The Best Rosters in baseball heading in to 2013

“1. Washington Nationals — Obtaining a leadoff man and center fielder in Denard Span just made this roster even more impressive. Hard to beat the young core of Bryce Harper, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa, Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, and Drew Storen. They added righty Dan Haren. If they don’t re-sign Adam LaRoche, Michael Morse starts at first base. They’re likely to add another arm to the bullpen.

....

10. Kansas City Royals — A talented, athletic group of young, core players is coming together. They finally have a bona fide No. 1 starter in James Shields. You can’t be completely sold on the rotation, but on paper it’s better than it has been in years. The bullpen has some outstanding arms. The Royals may make the leap over .500 and into contention.”

Former AL MVP Miguel Tejada says he has deal with Royals

Former AL MVP Miguel Tejada has reached a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals and says he is ready to return to the majors.

The 38-year-old infielder got a one-year contract that will be worth $1.1 million if he makes the big leagues. There is an additional $400,000 in performance bonuses.

The six-time All-Star last played in the majors in 2011 with San Francisco, hitting .239 with four home runs and 26 RBIs in 91 games.

“I’m very pleased with this. The contract with the Royals is a done deal,” Tejada told The Associated Press. ” I’m going to try to help this team and their younger players. I’m so happy because this is what I was aiming for, a chance to get back to the majors.”

Thanks to Carlos.