By Jack Dempsey
AAA Omaha: Omaha Royals 7, Memphis Redbirds 2
Kila Ka’aihue
Notable Performances:
CF Rick Ankiel: 2-for-5, 2 R, HR (4), 2 RBI (9) (.288) – Celebrated his 31st birthday Monday. Ankiel is recovering from a quad injury. He has a three-game hitting streak but has only one walk in 59 at-bats.
LF Alex Gordon: 1-for-3, 2 R, HR (14), RBI (44), BB (.320) – 1.034 OPS in Omaha with 20 doubles and 14 home runs.
1B Kila Ka’aihue: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 HR (20), 4 RBI (67) (.310) – Drilled a two-run homer and a solo home run.
3B Mike Moustakas: 1-for-4, 2B (.150) – Now 3-for-20 in Omaha with one extra-base hit (a double).
SS Ed Lucas: 2-for-4 (.335) – I really like this guy. He’s basically Willie Bloomquist without the speed and with more power.
SP Bryan Bullington: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K (2.84) (W, 7-2) – 78 pitches, 49 strikes for the former first overall draft pick.
RP Blaine Hardy: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (1.80) – 2008 draft pick out of Lewis-Clark State.
RP Greg Holland: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (4.09) – Western Carolina righty has allowed one earned run in last 10 games.
Notable Opposing Performances:
C Bryan Anderson: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB (.271)
2B Ruben Gotay: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI (42) (.285)
AA Northwest Arkansas: Arkansas Travelers 7, Northwest Arkansas Naturals 6
Eric Hosmer
Notable Performances:
LF Jarrod Dyson: 2-for-2, R, 2 RBI (5), 2 BB, SB (3) (.417) – 50th rounder from 2006 is a 25-year-old fleet-footed outfielder.
1B Eric Hosmer: 3-for-5, 2 R, 2B, HR (3), 3 RBI (7) (.429) – Third home run in four games (and three days) for Northwest Arkansas. He posted a .974 OPS in Wilmington. His home run was a two-run blast in the sixth inning.
SP Aaron Crow: 5 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K (5.60) – 90 pitches and 57 strikes for the guy struggling with control and command. Dayton Moore himself stated that the long layoff didn’t help him in that regard.
RP Blake Johnson: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (5.44) – Curveball guy is a former L.A. Dodgers prospect. He came to the Royals in the Odalis Perez trade…remember?
RP Brandon Sisk: 0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (4.37) (L, 4-3) – Azusa Pacific lefty has now allowed nine earned runs in his last 0.2 innings. Ouch!
RP Rowdy Hardy: 0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (4.40) (BS, 3) – Austin Peay product and soft-tossing lefty.
Notable Opposing Performances:
3B Ryan Mount: 1-for-4, R, RBI (33) (.250)
SP Michael Anton: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K (4.11)
A+ Wilmington: Wilmington Blue Rocks 2, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 0
Bryan Paukovits
Notable Performances:
SS Christian Colon: 0-for-3, BB, E (6) (.227) – First rounder this year was the quickest to sign since Billy Butler (for a first-rounder)
C Wil Myers: 1-for-4, RBI (14) (.362) – .915 OPS in Wilmington this year but has defensive issues, to say the least.
RF Nick Francis: 2-for-3, R, BB, SB (4) (.273) – 12 BB, 42 K, 16 XBH for Wilmington. He was suspended at the beginning of the year.
SP Bryan Paukovits: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (4.44) (W, 2-2) – Really adapting well after a couple rough starts to begin his Wilmington tenure.
RP Kevin Chapman: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (0.00) (H, 1) – 2010 draftee has now tossed two scoreless frames for Wilmington.
RP Barry Bowden: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (1.89) (S, 9) – 25-year-old has dominated but is old for his level.
Notable Opposing Performances:
SP Randall Delgado: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K (2.76) (L, 4-7)
A Burlington: Burlington Bees vs. Dayton Dragons (Postponed, rain)
This game will not be made up.
RHP Tyler Sample has been named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for the week of July 12-18. Sample made one start during that time span, an outing against the Dayton Dragons on Saturday where he tossed seven scoreless innings, holding the opposition to one hit while striking out five and walking three. Sample is a third-round draft pick from 2008 out of Mullen High School in Colorado.
R Idaho Falls: Idaho Falls Chukars 4, Great Falls Voyagers 3 (10 inn.)
Cheslor Cuthbert
Notable Performances:
DH Cheslor Cuthbert: 1-for-4, 2 R, HR (1), RBI (1), BB (.250) – 17-year-old Nicaraguan player hit a HR in his first at-bat for Idaho Falls.
LF Tim Ferguson: 2-for-4, R (.330)
SP Mike Mariot: 6 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K (2.48)
RP Jason Mitchell: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (2.79) (BS, 1)
RP Alex Rivers: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (0.75) (W, 1-1)
R Burlington: Princeton Rays 7, Burlington Royals 5
Alex Llanos
Notable Performances:
CF Alex Llanos: 2-for-5, R, 2B (.253)
1B Geoff Baldwin: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI (7) (.133)
SS Alex McClure: 2-for-4, RBI (11) (.265)
SP Leonel Santiago: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K (2.38)
RP Jonathan Keck: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K (4.09)
RP Cole Lohden: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (1.65) (BS, 2) (L, 0-2)
RP J.J. Leaper: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (0.00)
R Arizona League: AZL Royals 2, AZL Cubs 1
Mike Montgomery
Notable Performances:
3B Daniel Mateo: 2-for-4, 3B, RBI (10) (.235)
SS Michael Antonio: 0-for-4 (.267)
DH Jin-Ho Shin: 0-for-4 (.267)
2B Jose Rodriguez: 2-for-3, R (.262)
SP Mike Montgomery: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (0.00) – Two quick innings for the #1 pitching prospect in the organization, according to, well…virtually everyone.
RP Allen Caldwell: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (16.20)
RP Yordani Ventura: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K (3.97) (W, 2-1)
RP Tyler Gatrell: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (0.00) (S, 6)
Notable Opposing Performances:
RP Carlos Zambrano: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (0.00) – He pitched the third inning. He is recovering from “madman syndrome.”
By the way, outfielder Shane Costa (remember him???) is rehabbing for the AZL Royals. He is 13-for-36 (.361, .918 OPS) with a homer and six RBI in 11 games for the Surprise affiliate. He is a 2003 draft pick out of Cal-State Fullerton. Come on, Shane! Make it back to K.C.! Let’s start riding the Costa bandwagon! Who is aboard? Let’s go!
R Dominican Summer League: DSL Royals 6, DSL Pirates 4
By Jack Dempsey
i am aboard the Costa train. never got a chance.
I know the norm isn’t to summarize Dominican Summer League games, but i’ll point out that Carlos Garcia now has 38 stolen bases in 44 attempts over 43 games. Of course, this being the ultrapitcher-friendly Dominican league, he has a hitting line of 247/373/295. He went from 5 for 11 in 43 games last year, to 38 for 44 in 43 games this year. A bit hard to keep up a pace of one steal attempt per game and an 86% success rate.
When do you start worrying about the errors by colon? I know the stick will come around, but what about the glove? Hosmer is on fire! Any concerns about moustakas? When are these soria and ddj deals going to happen?
What are the chances if Dyson and Robinson continue to progress that they end up in the same OF together? It would be like Vince Coleman and Willie McGee. it seems like a lot of ground would get covered in the OF. If Hosmer took 1st, Butler at DH, Aviles 2nd, Colon SS, Moose 3rd, Myers RF, Dyson CF, Robinson LF, and Pina at C (or Lavarnway when we trade DeJesus to the Red Sox). Lucas/Kila/Maier/Pina on the bench. That is a very likeable and solid team.
“C Wil Myers: 1-for-4, RBI (14) (.362) – .915 OPS in Wilmington this year but has defensive issues, to say the least”
what are his defensive “issues” exactly? i check out his stat line every game and i’ve only noticed ONE passed ball from him. S.Perez has more than he does (at least what i’ve noticed)
but there must be something wrong…or is people just copying anothers view? i see NO reason that he can’t be a ML catcher. very talented athelete…if Brayan Pena can do it, then i’m sure Wil Myers can as well…
From Schaum: I imagine you are looking at his stat line from Wilmington…His defensive stats were not kind to him at Burlington (if someone has those numbers please) He has a very good arm but is still learning the position….I am of the belief that he should spend this year at catcher and go to instructs as a C and a decision should be made at that time whether to move him to RF or stay at C for 2011….
Saying Brayan Pena and catcher in the same sentence really is not fair…There is no way you could survive (on a decent team) with Pena at C…so coming Myers to him would not be a good thing and would be all the more reason to move him
What was the thinking behind getting Cheslor Cuthbert promoted to Idaho Falls? I was expecting him down in Arizona all season.
from Schaum: Kevin Goldstein from BP told me that the reviews on him were glowing…so, I think being aggressive with his talent is fine….
are* not is* sound like an uneducated horse…
from Schaum: If you are the grammar police…you will love this site…I have Steve Sax disease with then/than….so if it makes you happy to come onto sites and discuss grammar this will be a perfect “uneducated” place for you
By the way…I hope u know I am joking with you here…I realize that I type so fast and get excited and post without proof reading quite a bit…but Ms. Jeter (my English teacher I adored) would be embarrassed at what my once shining grammar has become
Doubt we will ever see Costa in a KC uni again. Too many injuries has set him back. Probably safe to say that one of the trades this season would bring back an OFer or two, really dampering his chances.
Perez has 9 passed balls in 528 innings caught & his CSP is 43%. Perez and Myers are both very good & that’s a nice problem for KC to have.
Page 5 for catching info:
http://wilmington.bluerocks.milb.com/documents/2010/07/19/12401852/1/gamenotes719.pdf
thanks for the info LAS. from the game notes, box scores, etc that i’ve read, i’ve never noticed Myers to stand out as a bad catcher. i still see no reason he can’t be a good ML catcher.
greg – what are your thoughts on W.Myers and his catching potential….?
From Schaum:
I answered that on one of your previous posts…take a look and let me know if you do not see it
greg. thanks…just found it. i was talking about my grammer. but like you said, sometimes we type so fast, we don’t really think it thru sometimes. and i typically never read my post before submitting.
like you, i would be receiving an improbable “F” for my posts on this site!
i agree 100% with you about Myers at Catcher. they need to stick with it or change…after a decision has been made THIS YEAR or at least before 2011 starts (like you said).
whats the latest trade rumors and do you really think DeJesus, Soria and others will be traded? the deadline is fast approaching…
How bout this lineup:
1. D-Rob CF
2. Colon SS
3. Butler DH
4. Hosmer LF
5. Moose 3b
6. Myers RF
7. Kila 1b
8. Austin Romine C(when dejesus goes to the yanks)
9. *insert future speedy second baseman from draft, maybe Zack McPhee* 2B
Myers had 17 passed balls in 47 games behind the plate at Burlington. Scouting reports continue to say that he is just very raw defensively so far as footwork goes. He does have a good arm, though.
In response to Gabe G… what’s even better than that, IMO is if Myers can cut it at C, opening up an OF spot for Gordon as I still think he can be a high OBP/SLG guy in the majors. Not the 2nd coming most of us salivated over a few years ago, but a solid guy to knock in some runs.
On another topic, which of the teams needing OF help most needs a CF? It seems to me that the increased time for DJ in CF is by design… almost like Theo (or Sabean?) said, “I’d like to see if he can still handle CF before I pull the trigger on a deal.” Just a tought.
Jeb-
I think the Royals should run Dejesus in CF and Guillen in RF everyday from now till the trade deadline. Increase the value of both of them. If Jose can still play RF his value increases bc he can go to the National League as well.
Jeb, I hadn’t though of that, but it makes sense. I would like to see us trade DeJesus to the Red Sox. I think their farm system is more likely to yield a better return than the Padres. I am also for a corresponding trade of Soria to the Yankees. All the prospects acquired in the two trades should have us really set to compete in 2012.
Although, keeping Soria wouldn’t bother me. I think DeJesus is playing as good as he can so we should sell high. Soria is a stud on a team friendly contract. We trade him only if we can get the right pieces to go with our future 2012 team.
I don’t get the love for Dyson. He turns 26 on August 15, has no power, has never hit well except for a brief stint at Burlington last year. Orlando on the other hand is hitting well, has both some pop and great speed and has a very good defensive reputation. He won’t turn 25 until November 1st. He also is likely to be slow developing as he is from Brazil. Dyson is 5-9 and Orlando is 6-3–I like Orlando’s upside much better than Dyson, but D Robinson who turns 23 on Sept. 28th is the best prospect in my opinion.
I’d prefer this lineup:
CF D. Robinson
SS C. Colon
1B E. Hosmer
DH B. Butler
3B M. Moustakas
RF W. Myers
LF B. Eibner
C S. Perez (until we have someone better)
2B J. Bianchi (see above)
Bench: Pina, Kila, Lough, Gordon, Aviles
Rotation:
Greinke
Montgomery
Lamb
Crow
Dwyer
Pen:
Baumann
Hardy
Keating
Chapman
Coleman
Soria
Based on those future lineups, let’s be optimistic about Myers at C. How about:
CF D Robinson
LF Gordon (He’d see a ton of fastballs and his speed doesn’t hurt you)
RF Hosmer
DH Butler
3B Moustakas
C Myers
1B Ka’aihue
SS Colon
2B Bianchi/M. Antonio?
I’m good with that rotation and bullpen.
In any trade with any team Dayton should be thinking right handed strikeout major league ready pitchers or right handed power hitting right fielder. Strikeouts and Home Runs win ballgames. I think Myers can be similar to Mauer because he is athletic and given time he will learn the position. Which in my mind would complete the 2012 line-up
cf Robinson Switch
lf Gordon Left
Rf right handed power dude right
3b Moose Left
ss Colon/Yuni(yes I said it) Right
2b Aviles/Colon Right
1b Hosmer Left
C Myers Left
DH Butler Right
4 left handers
4 right
1 switch
all with pop in their bat other than Robinson
I question whether anything Big D said was serious. First, you claim strikeouts and home runs win ballgames. Home runs do… but I don’t understand how a strikeout is better than a ground out. In most situations, it has the same effect (or a better effect). Then you have foul outs, pop outs, shallow fly outs, line drives right at somebody… the strikeout just is not that valuable MOST OF THE TIME. Then you have the audacity to mention Yuni in the Royals future lineup. You must be joking. Then you talk about this right handed power dude. Who the heck is that? Kyle Blanks? I feel sorry for whoever gets the job of teaching that guy how to hit. I think you need to worry less about what side of the plate they bat. But if it’s a huge deal, we could theoretically still have Callaspo… and I believe Eibner is a switch hitter (could be wrong).
After some checking, it seems that Eibner is a right handed hitter. I guess it works if you’re looking for a right handed power bat. It does seem that power is one of his few strengths as a hitter.
Hey guys hate to be the devils advocate but 1st dayton since taking over as royals gm has be awful at making trades. To date we only have 2 guys on the roster came via trade calaspo and betencourt. One is considered the worst ss in the game and the other is a nice bat without a position to play. 2nd any team in 2012 that doesn’t have good vetern leadership like soria, ddj, zack, billy, luke and so is not going to be good. It generaly takes young guys about 2-3 yrs to develop into productive major leg players and even after that most players prime yrs are 26 to 32. So has I have said before I say it again it makes no since to trade players in there prime.
KCRobert, so you think when the Rangers traded Texiera in his prime that was a bad trade? They got tons of talent in that trade that is now helping them win the AL West because they trade Mark for prospects that would be ready when the team was ready to win.
I am not saying DDJ is as good as Tex by any means; however, he could net us some prospects that could help when we are ready to compete in 2012. You trade players in their prime when (1) you can’t resign them and they might accept arbitration, or (2) as is our case, you have a terrible MLB club and need prospects for the future.
kcrobert, Brian Bannister, Kyle Davies, and Chris Getz were acquired via trade.
Geo your right forgot about those guys but that still doesn’t give me much confidince in dayton’s abilty to get a good deal done. Ben who says zack, hoachaver, butler, ddj, soria won’t resign. 3 of them already signed extensions before. In any case if ddj, zack, or soria keep playing like they are they will certinaly be type a fa and would net us 1st rd compenstion picks. We have been drafting well the last few years and I’m willing to bet dayton can turn those picks into solid players. Last ben I would say the rangers run this year has more to do with signing vlad away from la and teaming him with hamilton than those prospects your speaking of…
Yuni and Callapso were also results of Dayton trades. Dayton seems to have an okay record on trades, he hasn’t really given away any budding stars. He’s lost a few solid major league guys though (see JP Howell, Ram Ram). Nunez is really the one I wish DM hadn’t traded. He also has a knack for turning nothing into something. Horam into Orlando, Lumdsen into Parraz. It’s the signing free agents where I don’t trust DM at all.
I agree with kc robert on the hitting side but on the pitching side their prospects help a lot.
It absolutely makes sense to trade soria and dejesus.
It seems that every discussion turns into should we trade soria or ddj. haha
getting concerned with moose…
KCRobert,
You wouldn’t say that Escobar and Feliz have anything to do with the Rangers success? Andrus is around 21 and plays unbelievable defense and Feliz is just flat out nasty. They also got Salty who is a bust and Matt Harrison, who still may turn into a good pitcher.
If KC can work a deal with Boston and get two of their prospects to go with their young core that is better than what you are proposing. One, those two players will be closer to the majors than our draft picks. Two, we have a better idea of those two players actual talent. Three, they will be ready with our current core. NOW, is the time to DeJesus. He having a career year and we should sell high.
I am neutral on selling Soria but if we get a good deal why not? We are misusing him as a closer anyway.
Sorry got my SS prospects mixed up, meant to say Andrus.
Dayton does seem to be ok at making trades. At least he isn’t being manipulated by other GMs. What we’ve seen is some good trades and some bad trades for the players we get, but he hasn’t given away any players of ours that have turned into solid major leaguers. So, at least we aren’t giving up any stars.
Ben,
The rangers did get some good talent for tex but again vlad changing teams and having a great year has put them over the top in that div. There other parts are nice but they didn’t do anything before vlad got there. Anyway ddj won’t get us those types of prospects maybe soria or zack but we have traded superstars in there prime before for the promise of next year and it has never worked out. We have been in this rebuilding mode since 95 and only 1 season above 500 it is just not working maybe we should try a diffrent approach is all I’m suggesting.
I agree. I would love a .500 season, but this team is not going to get even close to it. This team is TERRIBLE. I have friend who think this is a good team. Our pitching is terrible and our offense is average. Having Lerew, Chen, Marte, and really Wood and Hughes on our pitching staff is catching up to us. Also, Banny and Davies are not having good years and it is time to cut ties with them. I think trading Banny to the Padres would be great. I think he would fit in out there in Petco. We can do whatever we want with Davies. I am tired of seeing him pitch.
That being said, I don’t know if 2011 is going to be any better. Maybe Hochevar and Meche come back and we have a solid starting 3. I doubt it. That is why I am shooting for 2012. That is the year I think we can be .500 and then start competing in 2013 and beyond. 2012 might be good if Dwyer and Montgomery get some time after the all-star break in 2011. I don’t think Lamb will arrive until 2012. We will also have Hosmer, Moose, Gordon, Kila, and maybe Colon and Myers by 2012. That is a solid core.
Ben love the optimism for the future but a team full of rookies will be just as bad to watch as this team is now. Wich is why I keep insting on keep around some of our productive guys to help these kids get here. To be honest I keep tell people that I belive that its more likely that this team is competive in 2014 or 15 and that’s a very long ways away.
KCrobert, I agree with maybe 2014. What I don’t agree with is to keep average guys around until then so fans think we have a shot at .500. Trade average guys for prospects. If we are smart, we can find good veterans to compliment them for cheap. Also, a trade of DDJ just opens the door for Gordon to come back up. I am fine with that, especially if a team like the Red Sox meet Dayton’s high asking price for DDJ.
Well I didn’t know on this website that I’d have to defend the strikeout. Chris, here are the reasons that a strikeout is better than a groundout.
1. You can’t control where a ground ball goes.
2. Runners can move up on a ground ball
3. Zack Greinke Strikeout pitcher, Brian Bannister pitches to contact which would you rather have?
If you look at all of the division winners since 2000 they have lead their division in 2 categories: Strikouts and Home Runs. Again home runs and strikouts win.