Royals Retrospective

2011-07-11T10:32:00.007-06:00

#27 Steve Busby

Steve was perhaps the greatest pitcher in franchise history – Steve Busby. Busby had a tremendous arm, but injuries capped his talent to a brief, but brilliant career. He would rank much higher on this list but for the fact he basically pitched just three full seasons in the big leagues.

Busby was primarily a two-pitch pitcher, almost exclusively relying on his fastball and slider.

I’m a big believer in trying to make things simple; I wasn’t trying to stand out there and choose between five pitches, so I tried to make it real basic and throw a lot of strikes.

Steve Busby was a southern California kid, graduating from Fullerton High School, the son of a former professional football player. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants out of high school, but elected to attend USC to play for their historic baseball program, and possibly play for the historic football team as well. The football career never panned out when Busby injured his knee, but he did become a standout pitcher under legendary baseball coach Rod Dedeaux. His Trojans won back-to-back championships in 1970 and 1971, with Busby on the mound in Omaha for the 1971 Championship Game.

The Royals selected Busby in the second round of the 1971 draft and he immediately impressed, allowing just three earned runs (albeit eleven unearned runs) in forty innings of work in A ball in his first professional season. The next year, Busby found himself back in Omaha, this time as a member of the Royals top minor league affiliate. He finished the year with a 3.19 ERA in 217 innings with a league leading 221 strikeouts. He was a September call-up, pitching a complete game victory in his very first start, foreshadowing the workmanlike effort he would display in his Major League career. He would make five big league starts – completing three of them – with a 1.58 ERA. On October 3, a few days after his 23rd birthday, he finally suffered his first loss.

Busby figured to be in the rotation in 1973, but he simply dazzled new Royals manager Jack McKeon, going two starts in spring training without allowing a hit (again, a foreshadow of things to come), and finishing with a 0.60 ERA in thirty innings of Grapefruit League action. His performance earned the rookie an Opening Day start in his native Southern California against the Angels. Busby would struggle in that start, and in his next three starts, failing to make it past the second inning in an April 20th game against the White Sox.

In his next start, Busby took an 8.04 ERA with him to Detroit to face the Tigers, the defending American League East champions. He tossed the first no-hitter in Royals history – walking six, but allowing just seven balls to leave the infield. It was just his tenth career Major League start.

"I was so wild that game that every time I threw a strike, it was a surprise. But I never really considered it a strong possibility until the ninth inning. I knew what was going on, but it wasn't until the ninth inning that it started to creep into the forefront of my mind. Then I just had fun."

Despite the no-no, Busby would continue to struggle, dropping five straight games in May, leaving his ERA close to six. Busby would begin to turn things around in the hot summer months, winning eight of ten decisions in July and August, including a thirteen strikeout performance against Milwaukee on July 10. He would end the year with a mediocre 16-15 record and a 4.23 ERA, but his 174 strikeouts were ninth in the league. His 105 walks, however, were seventh in the league. Nonetheless, Busby finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and was named Rookie Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News. The Royals were counting on the young right-hander to be part of their push for contention in 1974.

“There’s no reason Busby can’t win 25 games. He won 16 last year. Now he knows the hitters, his control is better and he has confidence in himself.”
-Royals Manager Jack McKeon

Busby initially struggled in April, but got things going in May, winning four straight starts thanks in part to a newly developed curveball. On June 19 in Milwaukee, Busby walked Brewers first baseman George Scott in the second inning on a 3-2 pitch. That would be the only baserunner he would allow all night. He retired 27 of 28 hitters to record his second career no-hitter.*

*Bill James devised a formula for predicting the likelihood of a pitcher tossing a no-hitter. Steve Busby was the least likely pitcher to throw two no-hitters, out of all the pitchers with multiple no-hitters.

“I wasn’t nervous as much as fighting myself to keep my concentration. But this was my biggest thrill of all, bigger than last time, because this was my type of game. I didn’t make a whole lot of bad pitches and made them hit the ball. That’s what I have to do to help the ballclub.”

Busby would go on to toss a pair of three hit shutouts over the next few weeks and in July was named to his first All-Star game. He reeled off eight wins in nine starts over the summer and finished the year with a franchise record twenty-two wins. He was a workhorse for the Royals, making thirty-eight starts and completing twenty of them. His 292 1/3 innings pitched were ninth in the league. Busby significantly improved his control, dropping his walks per nine innings from 4.0 to 2.8, sacrificing strikeouts, which also fell from 6.6 per nine innings to 6.1

“I feel it would be a sin not to use our defense. Instead of going for strikeouts, I try to throw strikes, to make batters hit the ball.”

Busby earned the Opening Day start in 1975, and got off to a terrific start that season, winning seven of his first ten decisions and tossing back-to-back complete game shutouts in May. He reeled off four straight wins in June that included a ten-inning outing against the Indians and a twelve-inning outing against the Angels. In his next start against Texas, Busby noticed his arm felt different. It didn’t have the strength it once did. The problem lingered with him all season, although he continued to pitch well, throwing five complete games after that point. He would finish with eighteen wins, eighteen complete games and a career best 3.08 ERA.

Wins Above Replacement, American League Pitchers 1973-1975
1. Bert Blyleven MIN 22.2
2. Gaylord Perry CLE-TEX 20.9
3. Nolan Ryan CAL 16.7
4. Catfish Hunter OAK-NYY 15.7
5. Wilbur Wood CHW 15.6
6. Luis Tiant BOS 15.1
7. Jim Kaat MIN-CHW 15.1
8. Steve Busby KCR 15.1
9. Jim Palmer BAL 14.9
10. John Hiller DET 13.8

The soreness in his arm did not subside in the spring of 1976, so the Royals placed Busby on the disabled list to begin the year. He came back in mid-April and bounced back with a complete game win against the Yankees in May. But many observers noticed his fastball had lost its zip. Questions began to arise as to whether Busby was already finished.

“I hate to feel like I’m costing the other 24 guys on the team money. But I am. Every bad pitch I make, every mistake – its bad for everybody. My arm felt good tonight. It feels good now. It doesn’t hurt. But what difference does it make? What’d I do with it? The results are all that count.”

After his complete game, he made just one start in which he pitched into the seventh – and it would be his last of the season. He had torn his rotator cuff. In July, the team announced his season was over and he would undergo surgery – the first player to undergo such surgery by Dr. Frank Jobe.

Busby would pitch just three innings in 1977 – all in a minor league rehab start, before injuring his knee. By then the Royals had already written him off. They were contending for championships, and had already acquired right-hander Jim Colborn to replace Busby.
“They couldn’t count on me, and I don’t blame them. I couldn’t count on myself.”

Busby surprised observers by making the 1978 rotation and won his first start. But he was knocked around in his next three starts and was optioned to the minors. In 1979, he made the team as a long reliever and spot starter, making twelve starts. He posted a 3.63 ERA but walked 64 in 94 innings. His fastball velocity was noticeably down.

Busby underwent knee surgery in the spring of 1980, but was healthy enough to make the team as a reliever. He was sent to Omaha in June, but came back to make six starts in July and August. On August 26, he allowed five runs in six innings, but defeated the Brewers for his first win of the year. His ERA was 6.17. A few days later, the Royals gave him his unconditional release.

The next spring, Whitey Herzog – who had managed Busby in Kansas City and was now at the helm in St. Louis – offered Busby a tryout. At the end of spring training, the Cardinals gave Busby a chance to pitch for their top minor league affiliate. Busby elected to retire. He was thirty-one years old.

Managers Jack McKeon has born a lot of the criticism for Busby’s injuries with many claiming McKeon was asleep at the wheel, allowing his young right-hander to pitch until his arm fell off. Busby disputes accounts he was allowed to throw as many as 200 pitches an outing, but with his lack of command, and the number of complete games he threw, it is likely he threw between 100-130 pitches nearly every time out.

However Busby was not alone in his ridiculous workloads. Recall this was a much lower offensive environment than at any time since then, so pitchers did not necessarily need to go max-effort on every hitter. It was fairly routine for pitchers to go over 250 innings pitched in a season – 254 pitchers tossed at least 250 innings in a season in the 1970s. From 1973-1975 – Busby’s peak seasons – nineteen pitchers tossed more innings than his 791. Pitchers on that list include those that battled injuries in their 30s – Jim Palmer, Andy Messersmith, Catfish Hunter, and those that lost their effectiveness in their 30s – Vida Blue, Carl Morton, Ken Holtzman. But it also includes many that were very effective well into their 30s – Nolan Ryan, Bert Blyleven, Tom Seaver. Its not clear this divide is any different than a list of the top twenty pitchers from a decade ago, when pitchers began to be more protected with pitch counts.

It is quite possible that Busby was going to suffer injuries no matter what – that there was something about his delivery, something about his arm – that lent itself to breaking down. It is also quite possible that if Busby has his injury today, it is identified earlier and recovers much better. In any case, Busby appears to be at peace with what happened.

"I would've liked to have seen what would've happened. That's part of the deal, part of the business. It's not easy to deal with, but it happens. I was fortunate to be on some good ballclubs and be around a bunch of great guys. I'd never give that back.”

2010-08-24T12:11:00.004-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#28 Tom Gordon

1988-1995
79-71 4.02 ERA
1149 2/3 IP 999 K 587 BB

Before Joakim Soria, before Jeremy Affeldt, there was Tom Gordon.

Tom "Flash" Gordon was a quiet, unassuming pitcher young pitcher with a wealth of talent that the Royals never seemed sure what to do with. Was he a starter? Was he a reliever?

Tom stood just five-foot-nine and gave hitters a steely gaze when on the mound. He skyrocketed through the Royals minor league system with a devastating knee-buckling curveball. He learned the curve from his father, a one-time Negro League pitcher. Gordon learned it by repeatedly flipping a baseball into a trash can.

''It wasn't just throwing it into the can. I had a 7-foot fence between myself and the can and I had to get it over the fence....A lot of people have their own way of doing it; that was one of the ways I did. It took a full two years to learn.''

Tom Gordon was from Avon Park, Florida, the birthplace of Royals legend Hal McRae and a place filled with poverty, drugs and violence. The Royals selected Gordon out of high school in the sixth round of the 1986 Amateur Draft. Tom struggled mightily with his command in his first two pro seasons, walking 89 batters in 131 innings. But that curveball made him nearly unhittable and in 1988 he began to harness his control.

He began the year in A ball with Appleton (Wisconsin). After seventeen starts and a 2.07 ERA, the Royals promoted him to AA Memphis. Gordon would make just six starts there, winning them all, giving up just two earned runs in 47 1/3 innings of work. He was then moved up to AAA Omaha, where he won all three of his starts, giving up just three runs in 20 1/3 innings. For the year, he had pitched at three different levels of professional baseball, going 16-5 with a 1.55 ERA. In 186 minor league innings, Gordon struck out an amazing 263 hitters.

The Royals, in a playoff race with the Oakland Athletics, called Gordon up to the big leagues in September. He performed admirably, giving them three shutout relief appearances and a quality start in Oakland before being roughed up against the Mariners to end the year. Even Major League hitters were dazzled by his curve, striking out eighteen times in just 15 2/3 innings. Baseball America named Gordon its Minor League Player of the Year.

''He has a curveball that no one can hit. Slow, fast, or in between, they don't hit it. If we could teach it, we'd have everyone throwing it.''
-Royals General Manager John Schuerholz

Despite having Gordon throw over two-hundred innings in 1988, the Royals debated whether to keep him as a starter, or move him to the pen and make him a closer. The feeling was that with only a plus fastball and a plus curveball, Gordon lacked the repertoire to succeed as a starter.

"I had a lot of inconsistency because I was really only a two-pitch pitcher. To find that third pitch -- a changeup -- was something I knew I needed to do, but I couldn't get a grasp of it."

Gordon began the year in the bullpen, the perceived weakness of the team heading into the seasons. Gordon struggled with his command but overall pitched well, and combining with another young reliever named Jeff Montgomery, they turned the middle relief innings into a team strength.

By the All-Star break, Gordon had a 3.14 ERA with ten victories out of the pen - although six of those wins were due to him blowing the lead. Royals manager John Wathan finally put Gordon into the rotation on July 17, and Gordon responded with a ten strikeout performance over eight innings in a 3-2 win over Milwaukee. Two starts later, he hurled a complete game shutout over the eventual American League East champs. It would be the first of five consecutive wins by Gordon, giving him a 16-4 record and a 2.57 ERA with only five weeks left in the season.

Then Flash hit the wall. He would drop his next five decisions, giving up five or more runs in four starts. He ended the year 17-9 with a 3.64 ERA and would finish second in Rookie of the Year balloting behind Orioles reliever Gregg Olson and ahead of a young man named Ken Griffey Jr.

"For me, the easiest adjustment was coming from the minor leagues as a starter and going to the bullpen, because it didn't matter to me how I got to the big leagues. I didn't care if I was pitching middle relief or set-up or whatever. I think that transition was a lot easier because I didn't try to over-emphasize anything. I just went out there and pitched. But once they asked me to start, that was a tough transition."

Gordon spent the entire 1990 season solidly in the rotation, and responded with a decent, albeit not great, season. He won twelve games, posting a 3.73 ERA and 175 strikeouts in 195 1/3 innings, but walked 99 hitters.

''He does lack confidence, and at times you have to reinforce it. All last winter, he wondered if he was going to be in the big leagues - after winning 17 games. 'I don't think the league has caught up to him yet. His biggest problem has been walks. He has to keep confidence in his stuff.''
-Royals Manager John Wathan

The emergence of rookie Kevin Appier and the signing of free agent Mike Boddicker meant Gordon would open the 1991 season back in the pen. But an early injury to Mark Gubicza thrust Gordon back into the rotation and he responded with a thirteen strikeout performance in Yankee Stadium. That start would begin a sizzling stretch where he gave up just eight earned runs in six starts over 48 1/3 innings.

"I just love pitching. I feel like I can be a No. 1, 2 or 3 starter, but I know what my role is for the Royals."

Gordon faltered in June and by July had lost his spot in the rotation to Luis Aquino. He would pitch as a long-reliever/set-up man the rest of the season, posting a 2.73 ERA as opposed to his 4.77 ERA as a starter.

Gordon opened the 1992 season in the rotation, but by May his ugly 5.64 ERA sent him back to the pen. He would struggle all season, ending with a 4.59 ERA. In 1993, he was back in the pen, only to end the year in the rotation pitching well (3.36 ERA in fourteen starts). The Royals were growing impatient with his inconsistency.

Most Strikeouts/9 innings, Royals History (min. 100 starts)
1. Tom Gordon 1988-1995 - 7.82
2. Zack Greinke 2004-2010 - 7.61
3. Kevin Appier 1989-2004 - 7.12
4. Gil Meche 2007-2010 - 6.91
5. Jose Rosado 1996-200 - 6.05

Gordon was left in the rotation for all of the 1994 season and responded with a decent season - 11-7, 4.35 ERA in twenty-four starts before the strike happened. When play resumed, the Royals were in cost-cutting mode following the death of owner Muriel Kauffman. Gordon became trade bait, with rumors that the Royals might even non-tender him. They instead offered him a contract and kept him as their #2 starter behind Appier, instead cutting costs by dealing Cy Young winner David Cone.

Gordon struggled mightily to begin the year. But three complete game, one earned run performances in June helped resurrect his season. Unfortunately, the Royals only one won of those starts, and the team struggled to give Gordon much run support. The team's struggles began to wear on Gordon.

"I don't like to lose, and these guys (teammates) don't like to lose either. I'm sick of this. We heard in spring training that we weren't supposed to be a good team. But we are a good team. We need to do what it takes to win games."

The Royals would finish a distant second place to the Indians, thirty games back. Gordon would take a 3.97 ERA into the last game of the season, a tilt with the juggernaut Indians in Jacobs Field. Gordon would last just one inning, giving up ten runs, lifting his ERA to 4.43 in what would be his last start in a Royals uniform.

Gordon explored free agency that winter, and left the door open to staying in Kansas City, despite the cost-cutting.

"They actually offered something to my agent that was a 63 percent pay cut. How in the heck do you accept that? I've always found Herk to be one of the most gracious people I have ever met. I love Kansas City, and I know we can work out a deal."

Instead, the Royals were ready to part ways.

"I think Flash would like to stay here. But we are not going to be able to pay him."
-Royals General Manager Herk Robinson

Gordon would sign a two year, $5.8 million deal with Boston. After a season and a half of being a mediocre starter, Gordon was named the Red Sox closer late in 1997. In 1998, he led the league in saves and inspired a Stephen King novel.

"Come on, Tom", she whispered. "Come on, Tom, one two three, now. You know how it goes."

But not tonight. Gordon opened up the top of the ninth by walking the handsome yet evil Yankee shortstop, Derek Jeter, and Trisha remembered something her father had once told her: when a team gets a lead-off walk, their chances of scoring rise seventy-five percent.

If we win, if Tom gets the save, I'll be saved.
-"The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon"

2010-07-14T09:03:00.010-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#29 Cookie Rojas

1970-1977
.268/.314/.346
880 Games 25 HR 332 RBI

Octavio Victor Rojas* was a Cuban born second-baseman and a long-time National League starter whose career appeared washed up when the Royals took a chance on him. Rojas rewarded their faith by rejuvenating his career, becoming a four-time All-Star, and one of the first fan favorites in Royals history. Rojas wore spectacles that gave him more the appearance of a librarian than an All-Star baseball player. He was never a flashy player, instead willing to let others share the spotlight, while providing quiet leadership. Bill James ranked him as the 69th best second baseman in history.

*-The nickname "Cookie" comes from the Spanish word "Cuqui", a popular nickname in Cuba that of course American sportswriters had to Anglicize.

Rojas was born in Havana, Cuba, signing with the Reds as a seventeen year old, despite his father's insistence that he become a doctor. Rojas rose through the ranks, eventually playing for his hometown Havana Sugar Kings, the AAA affiliate of the Reds in those heady days before the fall of Batista. His minor league numbers were a bit underwhelming, although his defense carried him to a cup of coffee in 1962. That winter, he was dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies for reliever Jim Owens.

"I was sitting at a table in Johnny Antonelli's restaurant with (Cincinnati Manager) Fred Hutchinson and Bob Lemon. I had permission from (General Manager) John Quinn to trade just about anybody on the roster and I whispered to Hutch, 'I'll give you (pitcher) Jim Owens for Cookie Rojas.'

"Hutch asked for 15 minutes, then came back and tried to get me to take Don Zimmer instead of Rojas. I told him that I didn't want Zimmer, and he said, 'OK, you've got Cookie.'

"Now, we've just made this monumental deal in which nobody knows who Cookie Rojas is and Hutch says, 'Who's going to have the guts to announce it?' He also says, 'I think you should throw in some money.' I said, 'How much?' He says, 'Four bits.'

"So I took out a dollar bill, ripped it in half and gave him half, which is how we got Cookie Rojas for Jim Owens and half a buck."
-Phillies Manager Gene Mauch

The Phillies had an All-Star at second base in Tony Taylor, so Rojas spent much of the 1963 season coming off the bench. In 1964, Rojas was used as a utility player, spending seventy games in the outfield and hitting .291/.334/.394 overall with just seventeen strikeouts in 377 plate appearances.

Rojas got off to a hot start in 1965, spending much of the year over .300, and that summer he was named to his first All-Star team. He forced his way into the starting second baseman job by the end of the year and finished the year with a career high .303 batting average.

"Cookie played like he practiced...He was always very well prepared. He had average speed, marginal power and marvelous hands. He worked at becoming adept at situation baseball....If the ball had to be bunted, if it had to be directed with the bat, he could do it against any and all people....Cookie practiced better than any player I ever had. He made himself into a winning player and a successful player."
-Phillies Manager Gene Mauch

"Cookie wasn't much of a hitter when he came to the Phillies, but he made himself into a .300 hitter. He learned quickly, faster than most."
-Phillies Pitcher Jim Bunning

Rojas spent the next four seasons as a utility player for the Phillies, playing mostly at second base, although he was versatile enough to play everywhere on the field. He was even called on to catch and pitch - tossing one scoreless inning. At second, Rojas teamed up on the field with Phillies shortstop Bobby Wine, who performed, as Dodgers announcer Vin Scully dubbed, "the plays of Wine and Rojas."

"When I was asked if I could play center field I said yes. When I was asked if I could play third base, I said yes. I never said no."

Rojas' average slumped to .232 in 1968 and .228 in 1969 and in October of 1969 he was dealt to St. Louis in a blockbuster that sent Dick Allen to the Cardinals for Curt Flood, Tim McCarver and Joe Hoerner.*

*-This is the trade where Flood refused to report, leading to the famous Supreme Court case - Flood v. Kuhn, which helped pave the way for free agency.

Rojas served as a bench player for the Cards, but after just twenty-three games and a .106 batting average, they had enough. The Royals were looking for some vets to lead their roster of youngsters and acquired Rojas for young outfielder Fred Rico. Upon being traded, Rojas contemplated retirement, but ultimately decided to play for the upstart Royals.

The Royals plugged him in at second base and he immediately hit, collecting hits in eleven of his first thirteen games, including a 4-for-4 performance against the Angels. He would hit .260/.296/.326 in 98 games with the Royals, solidifying second base for the young team.

That winter, Rojas decided to play Winter Ball and drop fifteen pounds. For the first time in his career, a team was expecting him to play every day at second base and he wanted to be ready. He was also expected to be a mentor for young shortstop Fred Patek.

Rojas got off to a sensational start, and was hitting .315 at the All-Star break. Left off the All-Star ballot*, Royals fans led a successful write-in campaign, and Rojas became just the ninth player to play in the All-Star Game for both the National and American League squads.

*-For some reason back then, not every team had a starter on the ballot. Odd.

Rojas ended the year right at .300, reaching career highs in on-base percentage and slugging percentage at .357 and .406, respectively. He committed just five errors all season and finished fourteenth in MVP balloting.

"The best second baseman I've seen this year is Cookie Rojas of Kansas City. Rojas may not range on defense like [Rod] Carew and [Davey] Johnson...But he's outhitting them all and, as a big plus, he's been the inspirational leader of the most improved team in the league."
-Ted Williams

Rojas was an All-Star second baseman with the Royals for the next three seasons, teaming up with Patek to provide solid defense up the middle.

"They were the first guys I ever saw work the play where, on a ground ball up the middle, the second baseman gets to it, backhands it and flips it to the shortstop with a backhand motion of the glove."
-Denny Matthews

Rojas would never again be a .300 hitter, hitting .263/.314/.346 in his time with the Royals, but remember this was a dead-ball era in which infielders were not expected to hit much at all. His OPS+ for his stint in Kansas City was 83.

By 1976, Rojas was 36 and his skills had eroded. The Royals had a promising young infielder by the name of Frank White and Rojas was asked to mentor him - which he did, with total grace.

"Cookie was probably the first player who showed me what being a professional ballplayer was all about...It was Cookie who took Frank White under his wing and taught him how to take his job away."
-Buck Martinez

By 1976, Rojas was a utility player, supporting Frank and his teammates from the bench. The young team he had helped mentor for several years had matured into a playoff team. The night the Royals clinched the American League Western Division title, Rojas and Patek jumped into the Royals Stadium fountains in ebullient celebration.

Rojas retired after the 1977 season at the age of 38. He went into coaching, and was considered the fan's choice to manage the Royals upon the firing of Whitey Herzog. He eventually got his chance to manage in 1988 when he was named interim manager of the California Angels, leading the team to a 75-79 mark.

"I came in with a reputation of not being able to hit and I developed a reputation as a winning player who would do anything and play anywhere to help you win, who could not only contribute with his bat and glove but with the experience he passed along to the other players. And the more I played, the more determined I became to remain in the game when I retired."

The popular player was also part of the initial Royals Hall of Fame Class, inducted in 1987. He has also been inducted in the Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Fame and the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame.

Rojas now serves as an analyst for the Spanish language broadcast of Florida Marlins baseball. His son Victor, a Kansas City native, is a host for MLB Network.

"The more they said no, the more I told myself yes. Either you quit or work harder."

"For a guy they said couldn't play, I think I did a pretty good job."

2010-05-13T13:39:00.001-06:00

I previously looked at how the Royals could create the 1985 World Championship ballclub by looking at the modern equivalent of that team's hitters. Today, I'll show the modern equivalents of the pitching staff.

George and Sabes are excited about The Process

The Rotation

1985 Bret Saberhagen 20-6 2.87 ERA 235 IP 158 K 145 ERA+ 6.7 WAR
2009 Felix Hernandez 19-5 2.49 ERA 238 IP 217 K 174 ERA+ 6.9 WAR

Zack seems like the obvious comparison since physically they seem so similar – great athletes, pinpoint control, mid-90s fastball, terrific off-speed stuff. But when Zack was 21, he was enduring one of the most miserable seasons in Royals history, while when Sabes was 21, he was on "Good Morning America" with his World Series MVP trophy. Felix seems more appropriate for having terrific success at such a young age, although he hopes to avoid the same injury problems that plagued Sabes.

1985 Charlie Leibrandt 17-9 2.69 ERA 237 IP 108 K 155 ERA+ 6.3 WAR
2009 Cliff Lee 14-13 3.22 ERA 231 IP 181 K 131 ERA+ 6.6 WAR

Both were lefties who did not throw particularly hard, but could eat up innings. Both saw their careers in jeopardy around age 26-27 following a demotion to the minors. And both found renewed success once they began trusting their defense and becoming more of a groundball pitcher.

1985 Danny Jackson 14-12 3.42 ERA 208 IP 114 K 122 ERA+ 3.6 WAR
2009 John Danks 13-11 3.77 ERA 200 IP 149 K 123 ERA+ 2.9 WAR

Danks was 24, Jackson was 23. Both are lefties. Both were fairly promising young pitchers. If you take the ratio of strikeouts per inning in 2009 (0.76) and divide it by the strikeouts per innings in 1985 (0.58) and multiply it by Jackson’s strikeout total (114) you get 149 – exactly Danks’ total. Weird.

1985 Bud Black 10-15 4.33 ERA 205 IP 122 K 96 ERA+ 1.6 WAR
2009 Joe Saunders 16-7 4.60 ERA 186 IP 101 K 98 ERA+ 1.2 WAR

Both were lefties that did not strike out many (Black actually has a higher K/9 ratio of 5.3 to Saunders’ 4.9). Both had enjoyed very good seasons prior to this one – Black posted a 17-10 3.12 ERA in 1984, while Saunders posted a 17-7 3.41 ERA in 2008. Black would soon become a free agent bust with the San Francisco Giants. I would not at all be surprised to see some team overpay for Saunders.

1985 Mark Gubicza 14-10 4.06 ERA 177 IP 99 K 102 ERA+ 2.1 WAR
2009 Johnny Cueto 11-11 4.41 ERA 171 IP 132 K 97 ERA+ 1.6 WAR

Goobie was 22, Cueto was 23. When you adjust for strikeout ratios, they are nearly identical. Gubicza would become a two-time All-Star, a twenty-game winner with 131 career victories.

The Bullpen

1985 Dan Quisenberry 8-9 2.37 ERA 129 IP 54 K 175 ERA+ 4.1WAR
2009 Michael Wuertz 6-1 2.63 ERA 78 IP 102 K 167 ERA+ 2.4 WAR

Quite frankly there is no Dan Quisenberry. The days of three-inning "firemen" relievers has been replaced by the one-inning "closer.’ There is no submariner succeeding with a miniscule 3.8 strikeouts per nine innings with pinpoint control, throwing in excess of 120 innings per year. Quiz’s 4.1 WAR greatly exceeds what any reliever did in 2009, doubling even the WAR of Mariano Rivera (2.0). Michael Wuertz is perhaps the closest equivalent, but even he is a far cry from what Quiz could do. Wuertz strikes out way more than Quiz, and also walks more. But they are both at their best when they’re getting ground balls, and Wuertz was one of the most valuable relievers in baseball last year.

1985 Joe Beckwith 1-5 4.07 ERA 95 IP 80 K 102 ERA+ 0.5 WAR
2009 Scott Linebrink 3-7 4.66 ERA 56 IP 55 K 100 ERA+ 0.2 WAR

Both were early 30s relievers that their clubs had overpaid for (Royals sent three minor leaguers to the Dodgers for Beckwith, the White Sox paid $19 over four years for Linebrink). Both were perfectly mediocre relievers.

1985 Mike Jones 3-3 4.78 ERA 64 IP 32 K 87 ERA+ -0.4 WAR
2009 Jensen Lewis 2-4 4.61 ERA 66 IP 62 K 91 ERA+ -0.3 WAR

Both were young, former high round picks (Jones was a first rounder, Lewis a third rounder), who struggled to stay in the big leagues as relievers. Jones would never pitch in the big leagues after the 1985 season.

1985 Mike LaCoss 1-1 5.09 ERA 40 IP 26 K 82 ERA+ -0.2 WAR
2009 Juan Cruz 3-4 5.72 ERA 50 IP 38 K 78 ERA+ 0.0 WAR

Both had been pretty effective relievers earlier in their career, but were just terrible upon signing with the Royals as a free agent. Both struggled with command in their first season in Kansas City. LaCoss would be let go after the year, but would be fairly effective again.

1985 Steve Farr 2-1 3.11 ERA 37 IP 36 K 135 ERA+ 0.6 WAR
2009 Evan Meek 1-1 3.45 ERA 47 IP 42 K 120 ERA+ 0.3 WAR

Farr had bounced around the league, being discarded by the Pirates and Indians before the Royals turned him into an effective reliever. Meek was discarded by the Twins, Padres and Rays before the Pirates gave him a chance to sign in their pen. Farr was a more versatile pitcher – able to be a long reliever, spot starter or closer, while Meek seems to fit more as a setup reliever or closer.

In conclusion, I think it is clear that Dayton Moore is well on his way to re-creating the template that brought Kansas City its only World Championship. He is only missing four things:

1. A George Brett/Albert Pujols-caliber hitter
2. An outstanding rotation on par with Felix Hernandez/Cliff Lee/John Danks/Johnny Cueto/Joe Saunders
3. A rubber-armed throwback fireman reliever who doesn’t walk anyone and induces tons of ground balls
4. A time machine to bring 1985-style baseball to 2010

These are mere minor obstacles. Dayton has already assembled many of the same hitters and even similar relievers as the '85 club. A Plaza parade is only a matter of time. Trust the Process.

2010-05-04T12:03:00.001-06:00

Recreating the 1985 Royals

1985 was a glorious year. Mikhael Gorbachev assumed control of the USSR, leading to a warming of relations between the Americans and Soviets. Tetris was released, helping kids waste countless hours. And "Back to the Future" was released, showing America that time travel was possible with a DeLorean, some plutonium, and a flux capassiter. That October, a plucky little team from Kansas City would stun the baseball world by storming back from 3-1 deficits in both the League Championship Series and the World Series to become World Champions.

Great Scott! In the future, the Royals are run by idiots!

The Royals organization has failed to make a single post-season since that magical year, although it has spent much of its time trying to recreate that magic. What would our club look like today if we did recreate that championship-winning roster? Who are the modern day equivalents of George Brett, Daryl Motley, Bud Black?

Read on, and you'll see how it is possible to recreate the 1985 Royals. And maybe, just maybe, the Process will begin to make more sense to you.

Catcher

1985 Jim Sundberg .245/.308/.381 10 HR 35 BI 88 OPS+ 0.8 WAR
2009 Ivan Rodriguez .249/.280/.384 10 HR 47 BI 73 OPS+ 0.3 WAR

Both Sundberg and Rodriguez were both excellent defensive catchers (quite possibly two of the greatest ever) whose skills had eroded by this point, but still had a reputation for handing young pitchers well. Ivan was the much better hitter over his career, but by this point, their slash lines were nearly identical.

First Base

1985 Steve Balboni .243/.307/.477 36 HR 88 BI 111 OPS+ -0.9 WAR
2009 Mike Jacobs .229/.297/.401 19 HR 61 BI 83 OPS+ -0.5 WAR

That’s really not fair to Steve Balboni since he posted a much higher slugging percentage, and a higher on-base percentage in a much lower offensive environment. But its hard to find another player much like Steve Balboni these days (where happened to all the fat guys with mustaches in MLB?). The "grip it and rip it if its anywhere near the strike zone" mentality is only employed by a few select hitters and Mike Jacobs is one. Jacobs 2008 season (.247/.299/.514, 32 HR, 108 OPS+ -0.3 WAR) is actually much closer to what Balboni was able to accomplish. It is also remarkable that Balboni was able to club thirty-six home runs (still a franchise record!) and yet still post a negative WAR.

Second Base

1985 Frank White .249/.284/.414 22 HR 69 BI 89 OPS+ 1.9 WAR
2009 Mark Ellis .263/.305/.403 10 HR 61 BI 86 OPS+ 1.6 WAR

Ellis is not as skilled defensively as Frank White, but among his contemporaries he is considered one of the best, despite his curious lack of Gold Gloves. Both players were in their early 30s in these respective seasons with their defense starting to slip a bit, albeit still above average (Total Zone has White at 6 and Ellis at 5 for these respective seasons). Frank was enjoying a power peak at this point in his career while Ellis has seen his power begin to dip a bit, but both carried double digit home run power and double digit stolen base speed.

Third Base

1985 George Brett .335/.436/.585 30 HR 112 BI 178 OPS+ 8.0 WAR
2009 Albert Pujols.327/.443/.658 47 HR 135 BI 188 OPS+ 9.2 WAR

I was going to put Alex Rodriguez, but figured that is really unfair since A-Rod posted worse offensive numbers (.286/.402/.532 30 HR 100 BI) in 2009 in a much better offensive environment than George did in 1985. Oh and George is a gritty gamer who once played post-season ball with his ass on fire, while A-Rod is a big stupid choke artist who slaps the ball out of the first basemen’s mitt and doesn’t respect the unwritten rules of the game. The only thing they share in common is they both defecate on themselves. Only George does it at the Bellagio in the winter, while A-Rod does it every October.

In 1985 George posted a 178 OPS+ . Here are the list of guys who posted a 178 OPS+ or better in 2009.

Pujols, Albert

That is all. Albert actually is a better comparison if you are comfortable moving him back to third for the purposes of this exercise. They even share a similar walk-to-strikeout ratio. George clogged the bases with 103 walks, whiffing just 49 times. Albert walked 115 times to 64 strikeouts. They were also above average defenders (Albert is actually excellent, but at an easier position) and pretty good base-stealers. They were both clutch when it mattered and great leaders in the clubhouse, although while Albert serves God and raises a family of special needs children, George in his prime was out on the Plaza getting plowed with Jaime Quirk and Kansas City’s finest female groupies.

Shortstop

1985 Onix Concepcion .204/.255/.245 2 HR 20 BI 38 OPS+ -1.2 WAR
2009 Ronny Cedeno .208/.256/.337 10 HR 38 BI 57 OPS+ –1.1 WAR

Onix Concepcion and Ronny Cedeno were each well-regarded prospects who had hit for some decent power in the minors, but did not see that offensive success translate to the major league level. Both had good defensive reputations and both were fairly awful base-stealers. Cedeno has at least managed to eclipse Concepcion’s career length – Onix would manage just one MLB plate appearance after the 1985 season.

Left Field

1985 Lonnie Smith .257/.332/.358 6 HR 48 BI 90 OPS+ 1.2 WAR
2009 Willie Harris .235/.364/.393 7 HR 27 BI 101 OPS+ 1.2 WAR

Both Smith and Harris had bounced around a bit, although Lonnie had a much higher pedigree as a former All-Star, while Harris has been a journeyman utility player. Lonnie stole many more bases (52 for Smith just 11 for Harris). Willie is a better defender (they didn’t call Lonnie "Skates" for nothing). But both could get on base a bit, cause a bit of havoc on the bases, with non-embarrassing power. I don’t anticipate Willie to ever consider murdering his general manager however.

Center Field

1985 Willie Wilson .278/.316/.408 4 HR 43 BI 97 OPS+ 1.3 WAR
2009 Scott Podsednik .304/.353/.412 7 HR 48 BI 98 OPS+ 1.8 WAR

Scottie P. enjoyed a resurgence last year, and has kept it up this year, while 1985 was Willie’s last good year as a full-time starter. He was no longer able to hit .300, and thus, lost a lot of his value. Both Wilson in 1985 and Scott in 2009 were average fielders. Both known for their basestealing, Willie had the clear edge in steals - 43 to 30.

Right Field

1985 Daryl Motley .222/.257/.413 15 HR 70 BI 80 OPS+ -0.8 WAR
2009 Rick Ankiel .231/.285/.387 11 HR 38 BI 76 OPS+ 0.0 WAR

Daryl enjoyed a breakout season in his first full year in the big leagues in 1984, posting a 109 OPS+ with 15 HR and a .441 slugging percentage. Rick Ankiel enjoyed a breakout season in his first full year as a hitter in the big leagues in 2008, posting a 119 OPS+ with 25 HR and a .509 slugging percentage. Both would fall back to earth hard the next season with awful on-base percentages that hurt much of their value. Motley would soon be out of the league. Ankiel will no doubt be employed by the Royals for many, many seasons.

Designated Hitter

1985 Hal McRae .259/.349/.450 14 HR 70 BI 118 OPS+ 0.4 WAR
2009 Magglio Ordonez .310/.376/.428 9 HR 50 BI 109 OPS+ 1.0 WAR

Technically Magglio still plays right field, but he profiles closest to Hal McRae for this exercise. Both were once power hitters who lost much of their power in their late 30s. Ordonez was a .300 hitter in 2009, something McRae was unable to accomplish although he had hit .300 in each of the previous three seasons. Both could draw a few walks and were difficult to strike out. McRae was known as an aggressive base-runner, a reputation I have never heard for Ordonez.

Bench:

1985 John Wathan .234/.319/.324 1 HR 9 BI 77 OPS+ 0.5 WAR
2009 Jason LaRue .240/.288/.327 2 HR 6 BI 63 OPS+ 0.3 WAR

Both were gritty catchers near the end of their careers and like Wathan, LaRue was capable of playing multiple positions.

1985 Jorge Orta .267/.317/.383 4 HR 45 BI 91 OPS+ -0.5 WAR
2009 Ross Gload .261/.329/.400 6 HR 30 BI 90 OPS+ 0.5 WAR

Does anyone doubt that Gload could beat out an infield single in a crucial Game 6?

1985 Buddy Biancalana .188/.277/.261 1 HR 6 BI 49 OPS+ -0.1 WAR
2009 Robert Andino .222/.274/.288 2 HR 10 BI 49 OPS+ -0.3 WAR

"Andino" is not as fun to say as "Biancalana" however.

1985 Pat Sheridan .228/.307/.335 3 HR 17 BI 77 OPS+ -0.1 WAR
2009 Brian Anderson .243/.328/.347 4 HR 18 BI 75 OPS+ 0.0 WAR

The Royals may have been better off convincing Sheridan to take up pitching as Anderson has done.

1985 Dane Iorg .223/.268/.331 1 HR 21 BI 64 OPS+ -0.5 WAR
2009 Craig Monroe .215/.287/.354 3 HR 16 BI 71 OPS+ -0.2 WAR

Craig doesn’t have a cooler brother named Garth though.

1985 Greg Pryor .219/.270/.272 1 HR 3 BI 50 OPS+ -0.6 WAR
2009 Cody Ransom .190/.256/.329 0 HR 10 BI 55 OPS+ -0.7 WAR

This is shaping up to be on heck of a bench.

1985 Lynn Jones .211/.261/.257 0 HR 9 BI 43 OPS+ -1.1 WAR
2009 Ryan Freel .193/.290/.216 0 HR 5 BI 36 OPS+ -0.5 WAR

Yikes.

Tomorrow, the pitchers.

2010-02-25T13:34:00.010-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#30 Al Fitzmorris

70-48 3.46 ERA
1098 IP 391 K 35 CG

So I owe whatever readers I have left an apology for my long absence. I did not intend to have over eight months between entries. I knew the next player I was going to write about. Every entry I have had some sort of angle, or something interesting to write about. And as we've gotten higher up the list, it has gotten easier as we've gotten more well-known players with longer Royals careers.

And now we have Al Fitzmorris - the writer's block of Royals players.

Al Fitzmorris was a completely unremarkable pitcher in every way. Which is not to say he was bad. If he was bad, I'd have something interesting to write about (see the David Howard entry for example). No, Fitzie was just completely mediocre. He spent eight seasons in Kansas City, as a solid reliever, then as a solid starting pitcher. He had no remarkable moments that jump out to mind, and none of his statistics seem very noteworthy. The most remarkable thing I can think about him is that when I see him on the Royals post-game shows for Metro Sports, I can't help but think I am witnessing one of the worst haircuts for anyone in the post-1980s era.

I suppose the one thing that stands out about Al is he was so strikeout-averse. He holds the record for fewest strikeouts - 0ne - in a twelve-inning game. He pitched during an offensively-depressed era in which pitchers did not need to strike out hitters as much because of a lack of power in baseball. So run totals fell as well as strikeouts. In 1098 innings with the Royals, Fitzmorris struck out just 391 hitters.

Lowest strikeouts/9 innings ratio in Royals history (min. 50 games)
1. Dan Quisenberry 1979-1988 - 3.14
2. Al Fitzmorris 1969-1976 - 3.20
3. Larry Gura 1976-1985 - 3.35
4. Paul Splittorfff 1970-1984 - 3.72
5. Don Hood 1982-1983 - 3.74
*-Brian Anderson, Jim Colborn and Chris George all were just a few games shy of qualifying, but would have been on, or nearly on this list

Al was born in Buffalo, but attended high school in San Diego. After high school, he signed with the Chicago White Sox in 1965 as a switch-hitting outfielder. In 1966, Fitz fiddled around on the pitching mound and made four appearances as a pitcher, with good results. The following season, the White Sox had him pitch full-time and he responded with a 2.28 ERA in twenty-four starts. He was promoted the following year and led the Carolina League in strikeouts with 214 while posting a 2.73 ERA. That winter, the White Sox left him unprotected in the expansion draft, where he was selected by the Kansas City Royals.

Hitting is really difficult, obviously, and being in kind of a hurry, I thought that pitching might be a better opportunity for me. I didn't have a lot of experience with it, but it was kind of either that, or maybe getting released.

There have been a few Royals pitchers that were converted position players. Joel Peralta was once a shortstop in the Athletics organization. Ron Mahay made it to the big leagues as a Red Sox outfielder. Bret Saberhagen and Zack Greinke were both talented enough at shortstop that some teams scouting them considered them for that position in the pros. The Royals were supposedly split on whether to make former first rounder Matt Smith a pitcher or first baseman (he sucked so badly as a first baseman I guess they never thought to convert him).

I am a bit surprised that no team has tried to develop a player to both pitch and hit. I am certain there is the worry that by not having him concentrate on one field, you would hurt his development. But if you take a more seasoned player that is perhaps a fringe player anyway, but it athletic enough to be effective as a hitter and pitcher, it would be a good advantage for a team needing an extra roster spot. The Brewers half-heartedly tried this a few years ago with Brooks Kieschnick, but abandoned it after one season. I have long thought teams like the Royals should at least have a position player who can pitch in blowouts and save the bullpen for a better day. Maybe this is what they had in mind for Tony Pena Jr., but he didn't stick around long enough for us to find out.

Al Fitzmorris spent most of the Royals inaugural season in Omaha, posting a 3.75 ERA in twenty-nine games before earning a cup of coffee with the big league club that September. He made the big league club to begin the 1970 season, pitching out of the pen. Fitz had a rough start, but was very good from May to July, earning eleven starts late in the year. He finished the year with a sub-par 4.44 ERA, but he did manage to toss two complete games late in the year.

Fitz improved his ERA in each of the next three seasons, lowering it from 4.17 to 3.74 to 2.83. In 1974, Manager Jack McKeon tabbed Fitzmorris for the rotation, and Al rewarded his faith by pitching back-to-back complete game shutouts, including a rare complete game shutout without any strikeouts or walks.

Complete Game Shutouts with No Strikeouts, No Walks
Jeff Ballard, Baltimore - August 21, 1989 vs. Milwaukee
Roger Clemens, Boston - July 21, 1987 vs. California
Neil Allen, Chicago White Sox - July 20, 1986 vs. New York Yankees
Mike Caldwell, Milwaukee - June 4, 1979 vs. Chicago White Sox
Dave Roberts, Chicago Cubs - May 26, 1978 vs. St. Louis
Jim Barr, San Francisco - July 23, 1976 vs. Houston
Al Fitzmorris, Kansas City - June 4, 1974 vs. Baltimore
*-as far back as Baseball-Reference has box score records!

In July he was demoted to the pen after faltering, but he bounced back with seven wins and a 2.03 ERA down the stretch in twelve starts over August and September.

By 1975, Fitz was a full-time starter, part of a young and talented Royals rotation that included Steve Busby, Dennis Leonard and Paul Splittorff. All under 30, the quartet combined to win 58 games for a Royals team that finished in second place with a club record 91 wins. Fitz was credited with sixteen of those wins, a career high for him. He completed eleven of his starts, and that's not even including an eleven inning 4-1 victory for him in September.

Fitzmorris was a fixture in the 1976 rotation for new manager Whitey Herzog, and his highlight was a ten-nning shutout 1-0 victory over the Twins. He finished second on the team in wins (15), second in innings pitched (220 1/3), second in complete games (8), and led all full-time starters in ERA (3.06).

Yet when it was time for the Royals to face the Yankees in the American League Championship, Whitey passed Fitz over.

Yeah, Whitey and I kind of got in a big argument. We were in Oakland and kind of got into it, and started screaming at each other. But what didn't make a lot of sense to me—and we had some good pitchers—is that Whitey said that if we get to the World Series, I'd be starting, because [the Reds] have a lot of right-handed hitters. The Yankees were loaded with left-handed hitters, so they had seen a lot of left-handers all year. And they hit well against them. Larry Gura pitched a pretty good ball game against them, but there was really no reason other than the personal thing between Whitey and me.

Fitz is far more gracious than I would have been. Gura had only started two games all year, and had basically no left/right split that season (lefties posted a .563 OPS, righties a .591 OPS against Gura in '76). Gura gave up four runs over eight plus innings in Game One, but in a critical Game Four, lasted just two innings.

The Royals lost a tough series with Fiztmorris spending the entire series watching from the bench. Whitey was known for getting his way when it came to personnel matters, so it was not too surprising when the Royals left their second best pitcher unprotected that winter in the expansion draft. The Toronto Blue Jays snatched him up, and dealt him to Cleveland for young catcher Alan Ashby and outfielder Doug Howard. Al posted a terrible 5.41 ERA in 1977, and was released in 1978. After nine games with the Angels, Fitz was done.

In 1979, Fitz served as a player-coach in Hawaii, the top minor league affilate of the Padres, but soon thereafter moved back to Kansas City and became an ambassador for the Royals. He can be heard on the Royals Radio Network on pre- and post-game shows as well as on Metro Sports in the Kansas City area.
It feels good to be back.

2009-12-01T10:18:00.010-06:00

A Look Back at 1989

Only twice in franchise history would the Royals win more games than they did in 1989, however by October the team was sitting at home watching the mighty Oakland Athletics dominate the post-season. Three American League Western Division ballclubs would win 90 games or more that year, more than the Eastern Division champion Toronto Blue Jays. The Royals would win the third most games in all of baseball, but in the days before the wild card, there was little recourse for a great team stuck in a great division.

The 1989 Royals had the right combination of seasoned veterans from the 1985 Championship team combined with young players in their prime. They had terrific pitching, with young arms from the minors ready to contribute. Their offense, while not great, was solid with a mix of power and speed. On paper, it looked like a complete ballclub. But they had those defending American League Champion Athletics to deal with.

1989 in a Box:

Record: 92-70 (2nd place, 7 GB)
Runs Scored: 690 (11th in AL)
Runs Allowed: 635 (3rd in AL)

General Manager: John Schuerholz
Manager: John Wathan

Attendance: 2,477,700 (6th in the AL) - 30,589 per game
Stadium: Royals Stadium

Longest Winning Streak: 9 (August 15 to 23)
Longest Losing Streak: 6 (May 17 to April 23)
How they started: The Royals got off to an uncharacteristically good start, winning six of their first eight, and finishing April with a 16-8 record.
Best month: August. The Royals went 21-8 and pulled within two and a half games of first place by the end of the month.
Worst month: July. It was the Royals only losing month that year, at 13-14.
Best game: August 26 – Kansas City 2 Oakland 0. Bret Saberhagen continued his mastery over the Athletics with a four-hit shutout and Willie Wilson surprised even himself with a 415 foot home run. The win brought the Royals to within two and a half games back of first.
Worst game: September 6 – Detroit 11 Kansas City 5. The Royals were still just two and a half games back with just a few weeks to play when they came to Detroit to play the last place Tigers. The Royals gave up 26 runs in the three game series, and were swept by a team that would go on to lose 104 games. Charlie Leibrandt, already having a terrible season, was rocked in the series finale, and the team committed three errors behind him. It was the Royals thirteenth consecutive loss in Tiger Stadium, a streak that had spanned three seasons.
Loved to face: California and Seattle. The Royals went 9-4 against the competitive Angels and hapless Mariners.
Hated to face: Cleveland. The Indians were awful that year, but they had the Royals’ number, taking eight of twelve contests.

Say Hello To: Bob Boone, Steve Crawford, Terry Leach (acquired in June), Larry McWilliams (acquired in September)
Say Goodbye To: Jaime Quirk

What Went Right: The Royals had a terrific pitching staff anchored by Cy Young winner Bret Saberhagen, who posted a league best 2.16 ERA. Rookie sensation Tom Gordon would pitch well as a starter and reliever. Jeff Montgomery emerged as a dominant closer. The Royals had four players – George Brett, Bo Jackson, Danny Tartabull and Jim Eisenreich – post an OPS+ over 120. The club stole 154 bases, third in the league.

What Went Wrong: Willie Wilson and Frank White continued to decline offensively. Just three players reached double digits in home runs. The team finished twelfth in slugging. Veteran lefties Charlie Leibrandt and Floyd Bannister struggled mightily. Injuries hit the club – only Kevin Seitzer played more than 135 games. The Royals were stuck in the same division as Oakland.

Youngsters (25 or under)— 5 (youngest semi-regular was 21 year old Tom Gordon)
Prime (26-29)—7 semi-regulars
Past-Prime (30-33)—6 semi-regulars
Old Timers (34+) — 7 (oldest was 41 year old Bob Boone)
Rookies: Tom Gordon, Luis Aquino, Matt Winters
Top Prospect— Twenty-one year old first baseman Bob Hamelin slugged .640 with sixteen home runs in 68 games for AA Memphis. Twenty-one year old lefty Dennis Moeller went 10-1 with a 2.06 ERA in seventeen starts between A ball and AA.
1989 Draft: Brent Mayne (13th overall), Ed Pierce, Andres Berumen

Best OPS+: Danny Tartabull, 128
Most Runs Created: Bo Jackson, 77
Highest Batting Average: Jim Eisenreich, .293
Lowest Batting Average: Willie Wilson, .253
Most Home Runs: Bo Jackson, 32 (4th in the league)
Most RBI: Bo Jackson, 105 (4th in the league)
Most Stolen Bases: Jim Eisenreich, 27 (9th in the league)
Moneyball Award: Kevin Seitzer, 102 walks (4th in the league)
Angel Berroa Award: Willie Wilson, 27 walks in 423 plate appearances
Best Position Player: Bo Jackson
Worst Position Player: Frank White

Most Wins: Bret Saberhagen, 23
Most Losses: Mark Gubicza, Charlie Leibrandt, 11
Most Saves: Steve Farr, Jeff Montgomery, 18
Best ERA: Bret Saberhagen, 2.16
Worst ERA: Charlie Leibrandt, 5.14
Most Innings: Bret Saberhagen, 262 1/3
Best Pitcher: Bret Saberhagen
Worst Pitcher: Charlie Leibrandt

Career Best Seasons: Bo Jackson, Jim Eisenreich, Bret Saberhagen, Tom Gordon, Jeff Montgomery, Steve Crawford
Career Worst Seasons: Charlie Leibrandt

Don’t Quit Your Day Job: Pitcher Bret Saberhagen was called on as a pinch-runner three times, scoring once. He even pinch ran for what many considered one of the greatest athletes of his generation – Bo Jackson.

Home Sweet Home: The Royals won 55 games in the friendly confines of Royals Stadium, more home wins than any team in baseball.

Hey Big Spender: The 1989 Royals fielded the highest payroll in the league at nearly $19 million. Only the Dodgers and Mets had a higher payroll in baseball.

Hall of Fame Milestone: On September 8 at home against Minnesota, George Brett singled off Twins starter Roy Smith, the 2,500th hit of his Hall of Fame career.

Season Summary

The 1988 Royals had compiled a winning record, but a slow start and clubhouse dissension buried them in the wake of a runaway Oakland club that went on to win the pennant. Kansas City still had some of the key veterans from their championship team from 1985, but those players were slowly being overshadowed by young hitters in their prime like Kevin Seitzer, Danny Tartabull, and Bo Jackson. This talented group had failed to win more than 84 games in the three seasons following Kansas City’s championship season. They had fielded competitive teams, but they lacked that final piece to the puzzle that could take them back to the top.

Winter Moves

For three years the Royals had sought a backstop to that could be their long-term catcher. With Ed Hearn not living up to his billing, and with injury concerns surrounding young minor leaguer Mike MacFarlane, the Royals looked for a free agent veteran to fill the role.

In December of 1988, the California Angels signed All-Star catcher Lance Parrish, putting long-time starter Bob Boone’s playing time in jeopardy. Boone began to look elsewhere, and when the Royals offered him a one dollar raise over his previous salary, Boone happily accepted. Boone was just the second free agent the Royals had ever signed, the first being infielder Jerry Terrell in 1978.

Having released veteran relievers Dan Quisenberry and Gene Garber the previous summer, the Royals looked for someone to fill those shoes as a stopper in the pen. They had gotten by in 1988 with journeyman reliever Steve Farr, but the Royals wanted someone with more experience as a proven closer. They flirted with free agent Dodgers lefty Jesse Orosco and Orioles righty Tom Niedenfuer, and showed interest in trading for Phillies closer Steve Bedrosian or White Sox closer Bobby Thigpen, but nothing ever materialized.

Half of baseball inquired about Royals rightfielder Danny Tartabull, and the Royals were willing to listen if the deal involved a proven closer for their pen. The Blue Jays offered hard-throwing closer Tom Henke, a Missouri native, as well as outfielder Lloyd Moseby to the Royals. The Astros also offered their closer, Dave Smith, as well as outfielder Kevin Bass. The Giants offered starting pitcher Scott Garrelts and outfielder Candy Maldonaldo, but the Royals wanted slugger Kevin Mitchell in return.. In the end, the Royals were not overwhelmed by any offers and decided to hang on to their young slugger.

There were rumors at the Winter Meetings of the Royals having talks with the Red Sox about perennial All-Star third baseman Wade Boggs. Boggs was coming off a batting title, but was also going through a publicly damaging palimony suit by Margo Adams, his mistress for four years (a Kansas City radio station would hand out masks of Margo Adams when the Red Sox were in town). Danny Tartabull was mentioned as being the main target of a possible trade for Boggs.

Talks extended into spring training with the Royals offering Seitzer and pitcher Floyd Bannister to the Red Sox. Discussions heated up and rumors began to swirl. Mets General Manager Joe McIlvane later revealed that a huge four-team blockbuster that would have sent Tartabull to the Mets, Boggs to the Royals, Mets third baseman Howard Johnson and pitcher Sid Fernandez to the Mariners, and Seattle pitcher Mark Langston to Boston came close to fruition. However, such a deal never took place. Talks between the Royals and Red Sox eventually sputtered and Boggs stayed in Beantown while the Royals opened up the season with Seitzer at the hot corner.

Out of the Gate

Despite all the trade talk, the Royals ended the off-season with virtually the same team they had ended with the previous season. Royals star George Brett was in his decline phase, but was still a well-above average player at first base. Long-time teammates Frank White and Willie Wilson were declining much more rapidly and bristled at constant talk of replacing them with younger players. The club had many young players in their prime including shortstop Kurt Stillwell, third baseman Kevin Seitzer, and power-hitting outfielders Bo Jackson and Danny Tartabull. Veteran catcher Bob Boone had been brought in to be a field general and handle the pitching staff. Pat Tabler, known for his clutch hitting, would spend most of the time at designated hitter. Infielder Brad Wellman, designated hitter Bill Buckner and outfielder Jim Eisenreich would make up the bench.

The trio of Bret Saberhagen, Mark Gubicza and Charlie Leibrandt had been together since 1984, and together they formed one of the best rotations in the league. Floyd Bannister was coming off a disappointing season after a big trade had brought him to Kansas City. The veteran lefty did have over 100 wins in his career, so the Royals were optimistic he would rebound. The Royals had a few starting pitchers in the pipeline ready to step up if called upon including minor leaguers Kevin Appier, Luis Aquino and Jose DeJesus.

The bullpen was the big question mark to open the year. The Royals were willing to let Steve Farr close ballgames, but the personnel in charge of getting the lead to him were untested. Setup man Jeff Montgomery had pitched well in 1988, but many wondered if it was a fluke. Lefty Jerry Don Gleaton had been a journeyman. The wild card was Tom Gordon, the most promising pitching prospect in the organization. He was assigned to the bullpen to begin the year, although many felt he would be in the rotation before too long.

''I don't like to brag or get overly cocky, but I feel we have the best staff in baseball. From one through nine, we're the best in baseball.''
-Manager John Wathan.

Determined not to let a slow start bury them again in 1989, the Royals won six of nine games on their opening homestand. They ended the month of April winning nine of ten. On May 3, they were 17-8, the third best record in baseball – and also the third best record in their division. Curiously, the rotation pitched poorly to begin the year, while it was the maligned bullpen that carried the club. Farr proved to be trustworthy, but it was young Jeff Montgomery, a former failed starter, who emerged as the team’s best reliever. The club also got surprisingly good performances from Steve Crawford, a reclamation project released by the Red Sox, and Terry Leach, a sidearming veteran the Royals acquired from the Mets in June.

The Odd Case of Bret Saberhagen

Let’s compare two pitchers:

Pitcher A – 19-8 2.85 ERA 237 2/3 IP 163 K 45 BB 75 ER
Pitcher B – 9-12 3.70 ERA 177 1/3 IP 111 K 38 BB 73 ER

Pitcher A is Bret Saberhagen. Pitcher B is….Bret Saberhagen. The first line is Saberhagen in odd-numbered years in Kansas City, taken as an average. He won the Cy Young in 1985 and 1989, and won 18 games in 1987. The second line is Saberhagen in even-numbered years in Kansas City, taken as an average. He struggled in 1986 and 1988 and missed fifteen starts in 1990. Sabes finally broke this mold upon leaving Kansas City, but for about eight years he had a bizarre pattern you could pretty much rely on.

Saberhagen was sensational in 1989, easily the best season of his career. He led the league in wins, ERA, innings pitched, complete games, strikeout-to-walk ratio and WHIP. He finished third in strikeouts and won his only Gold Glove. In three starts against the mighty Oakland Athletics, he gave up one earned run over 24 innings, winning all three games including one where he set a career record for most strikeouts in a game. He won fourteen of his last fifteen starts down the stretch, pitching into the seventh inning every time. He was a near unanimous selection for the Cy Young Award, the second of his career.

Bret would win just eighteen more games over the next two seasons in Kansas City, before being dealt to the Mets in an unpopular trade. But at least for 1989, an odd-numbered year, Bret was even keel.

Early Challenges

In early May, the Royals found out they would miss slugger George Brett for a month with a knee injury. Undeterred, they went on to win seven of eight ballgames, capped off by an 8-1 win over Minnesota in which Bo Jackson became the first right-handed hitter to reach the right field upper deck with a home run. That win brought the Royals in a three-way tie with the Angels and A’s for the best record in baseball.

The Royals promptly dropped six in a row, but righted the ship with a five game win streak over Memorial Day Weekend. In early June, the Royals began a six-game homestand against the two teams in front of them in the standings – the California Angels and the Oakland Athletics. The Royals would take the first game against California on a mammoth three-run home run by Bo Jackson to right field in a 6-1 victory. George Brett returned to action in the second game, and drove in two runs in a 5-4 win. The Royals would complete the sweep and tie the Angels in the standings when Bob Boone punished the team that let him go with a go-ahead three run home run in a 5-3 win.

With Oakland coming to town, the Royals had a chance to pull within a half game of first place if they could continue their streak. The opener featured a great pitching matchup between A’s starter Bob Welch and Royals starter Mark Gubicza. Jim Eisenreich would break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the eleventh with a two-out single that would put the Royals into second place ahead of the Angels. In the second game, rookie Kevin Appier, making just his second career start, would battle for his first Major League victory in the 5-3 win.

In the finale, the Royals trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth with George Brett on first. Bo Jackson would lace a double down the left field line, sending a still gimpy Brett around the bases. Third base coach Adrian Garrett waved the veteran on home, but he was thrown out at the plate. The Royals fell to two and a half games behind the A’s. They would have been in first place in any other division.

Bo’s Breakout

1989 was truly the coming out party for Bo Jackson. He had been a sensation since his days on the gridiron at Auburn University, where he won the 1985 Heisman Trophy. But many felt his baseball career was a stunt. Writers opined that it was only inevitable that Bo would give up the folly of pursuing a baseball career and would soon play football full-time.

But the detractors never counted on Bo applying himself and getting better. Bo set a Royals franchise rookie record in 1987 with 22 home runs, but his game was still very raw. He hit for a low average, struck out a ton, and made silly mental mistakes. He improved in 1988, but was still a pretty average outfielder.

In 1989, Bo was a man on a mission. He hit four home runs in a single week in April and slugged .647 for the month. He spent most of May and June battling for the home run lead in the American League. If they gave out style points for home runs, Bo would have had a huge lead. He hit the right field upper deck in Minnesota. Just two weeks after striking out four times in a game against Nolan Ryan, Bo hit a mammoth shot off the future Hall of Famer that traveled some 460 feet, the longest recorded home run in Arlington Stadium.

"In Minnesota, I saw him walk into the batting cage, take one swipe at the ball hitting left-handed and hit it in the upper deck in right field at the Metrodome. Then, the other day, he hit a ground ball up the middle, just a routine single to center field, and never stopped, turning it into a double before anyone even realized what had happened."
-John Wathan

"Players from both teams watch when Bo takes batting practice. There's always the feeling that you're going to see something you never saw before, and we don't want to miss it."
-Bret Saberhagen

Bo was the leading vote-getter for the 1989 All-Star Game, and he certainly lived up to the billing. Leading off the bottom of the first, he deposited a pitch from Rick Reuschel into the center field bleachers, 446 feet away from home plate. He became the only player other than Willie Mays to homer and steal a base in an All-Star Game and he was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

He would finish that season with a career high 32 home runs and 105 RBI, fourth in the league in both categories. His .495 slugging percentage would finish sixth in the league, and he would steal 26 bases to boot. He would also strike out a league high 171 times.

Bo would play just one more season in Kansas City, leaving Royals fans to forever wonder what could have been.

Flash of Brilliance

On July 17, the Royals inserted rookie Tom “Flash” Gordon into the rotation to make his first start. Gordon had enjoyed a meteoric rise through the Royals system, dominating three levels of minor league ball in 1988 before experiencing a cup of coffee with the big league club that September. In 1989, Gordon had picked up ten wins as a long reliever that year utilizing a devastating curveball, leading many to clamor for him to be used as a starter. On that July evening against the Brewers, Gordon dominated, striking out ten batters in eight innings for a 3-2 victory.

Flash would reel off five straight victories in August, and by the end of the month he was second in the league in victories with sixteen. But he hit a wall in September, losing five straight decisions, including three games in which he failed to escape the third inning.

“I'm trying to figure out what's the problem with my curve. It's not breaking as sharp as usual. It's getting to me. But it's gonna happen. It happens to everybody.”

The slump probably cost Gordon the Rookie of the Year award, but he would finish with a 17-9 record, the most wins ever by a Royals rookie. He finished tenth in the league in strikeouts with 153, despite spending half of the year in the bullpen. Gordon would never win more than twelve games in a season for the rest of his career, but for a few months at least, his curveball was near unhittable.

The Wild Wild West

Gordon’s win in Milwaukee put the Royals within one and a half games of the now first place Angels. But California went on a red-hot streak, winning ten of eleven to end the month of July, leaving the Royals seven and a half games back. Four American League Western Division clubs had better records than the any Eastern Division club. But this was before the days of the wild card, and the Royals had to overcome a ferocious division if they hoped to play in October.

"No doubt, we're playing in what is probably the toughest division in baseball, but there's nothing we can do about it except work hard and try to rise to the challenge.”
-John Wathan

The Royals caught fire in August, sweeping a four game series in Seattle, then coming home to host the Angels and Athletics again. Bret Saberhagen pitched brilliantly in the opener against California for a 4-2 win. Game two was delayed over an hour, but long reliever Terry Leach picked up the slack and shut down the Angels for five innings in another 4-2 victory. The next night, Tom Gordon outdueled fellow rookie Jim Abbott in a 6-4 win to extend the winning streak to nine. The Angels would avoid a sweep by winning the finale 5-0, but by then the Royals had knocked the Angels out of first place. Kansas City still trailed Oakland by four and a half games, but they would get their chance to cut into that lead the next night.

In the opener against Oakland, Mark Gubicza would blank the A’s for seven innings in a 3-1 win. In three starts against Oakland that year, Gubie would fail to allow a single run over 25 innings. Saberhagen would shutout the A’s on just four hits the next night, a 2-0 victory that would pull the Royals within two and a half games of Oakland. The Royals would drop the finale, but by then they had made clear it would be a three team race for the division title.

The Clutch of Pat Tabler

“Clutch hitting” is an amorphous concept difficult to define and even harder to ascertain. Some believe that certain players have an innate ability to rise to the occasion, while others believe the concept is a product of small sample sizes and selective observation. Critics of the concept of clutch also point out that many of the players deemed as “clutch” are simply great players who are good in all situations, clutch or non-clutch. The concept of clutch also begs the question – why don’t clutch players perform as well in non-clutch situations? Are they just not trying as hard?

If there was a poster-boy for the concept of clutch it was Pat Tabler. Overall, “Tabs” was a pretty mediocre hitter with little power for a first baseman. But with the bases loaded, Pat Tabler was like Dr. Bruce Banner transforming into the Incredible Hulk. TABLER WANT TO SMASH BALL!

It began in 1983, when Tabler went 11 for 19 with the bases loaded. The next season, he was 5 for 9. In 1985, he was near perfect, going 6 for 7 with a grand slam. His clutch took a year off in 1986, but returned the next year as Tabler went 5 for 9. In 1988, he had an insane run, going 8 for 9 with the bases jammed. That is not just good performance in the clutch, that is near automatic performance in the clutch. During those six seasons, he was an amazing 37 for 63 (.587). With the bases loaded, Tabler was more likely to get a hit than make an out.

Having an ability to hit with the bases loaded makes some intuitive sense because of the unique circumstances of the situation. A pitcher is going to be more likely to give the hitter a pitch he can handle, to avoid walking in a run. This is even more likely when a hitter like Pat Tabler and his .379 career slugging percentage is up. Perhaps Tabler had very good bat control and an ability to handle hittable pitches.

But Tabler’s clutch was not simply confined to situations when the bases were loaded. With a runner at third, late in the game with two outs, Tabler hit 89 for 205 (.434). Even in all situations with runners in scoring position, his numbers were well above his career norms. These numbers also refute the idea that Tabler’s success was a mere product of small sample size.

So perhaps Pat Tabler had some mystical ability to come through in the clutch, mesmerizing opponents with his golden locks. Or maybe he’s just a freakish outlier. Who knows?

Chasing the A’s

The Royals would sweep the Tigers to end the month of August. On September 1, they bested the Rangers 5-3 in twelve innings to pull within one and a half games of first place. They Royals headed next to Detroit to face the hapless Tigers, a golden opportunity to gain some ground on the Athletics.

Instead, the Royals were swept in Detroit, giving up twenty-six runs in the three game set. They never fully recovered. They tried to right the ship by taking five out of seven on the following homestand. But the following week they dropped four of seven on a homestand against the two worst teams in the Western Division – Chicago and Seattle. Two days later, the Athletics clinched the division.

The Royals ended the year with 92 victories, their most since 1980 and the third most wins in baseball.

In some respects, it was remarkable that the Royals had been as competitive as they were. They outperformed their Pythagorean expectation by five wins. They had numerous injuries to key players, and had just three pitchers make at least twenty starts. But they did have a pretty complete team with solid pitching and an offense that could do a little bit of everything. Had the current divisional alignment been in place in 1989, the Royals would have won the division by eleven games. Instead, they would sit at home and watch the Athletics march through the post-season and easily win a championship.

1989 Starting Lineup   AVG    OBA    SLG   HR   RBI   OPS+   RC
C Bob Boone           .274   .351   .323    1    43    92    47
1B George Brett       .282   .362   .431   12    80   123    71
2B Frank White        .256   .307   .328    2    36    80    43
3B Kevin Seitzer      .281   .387   .337    4    48   106    85
SS Kurt Stillwell     .261   .325   .380    7    54    99    60
LF Bo Jackson         .256   .310   .495   32   105   124    77
CF Willie Wilson      .253   .300   .358    3    43    85    43
RF Danny Tartabull    .268   .369   .440   18    62   128    74
DH Pat Tabler         .259   .325   .308    2    42    80    39

Bench                  AVG   OBA    SLG    HR   RBI   OPS+   RC
C Mike MacFarlane     .223  .263   .299     2    19    59    11
IF Brad Wellman       .230  .263   .287     2    12    56    12
OF Jim Eisenreich     .293  .341   .448     9    59   122    73
OF Matt Winters       .234  .320   .346     2     9    88    12
DH Bill Buckner       .216  .240   .267     1    16    43    11

1989 Starting Rotation W-L    ERA   G  GS   IP    SO  ERA+
SP Bret Saberhagen    23-6   2.16  36  35  262.3 193  180
SP Mark Gubicza       15-11  3.04  36  36  255.0 173  128
SP Luis Aquino         6-8   3.50  34  16  141.3  68  111
SP Tom Gordon         17-9   3.64  49  16  163.0 153  107
SP Floyd Bannister     4-1   4.66  14  14   75.3  73   84
SP Charlie Leibrandt   5-11  5.14  33  27  161.0  73   76

Bullpen                W-L    ERA   G  SV   IP    SO  ERA+
RP Jeff Montgomery     7-3   1.37  63  18   92.0  94  284
RP Steve Crawford      3-1   2.83  25   0   54.0  33  137
RP Rick Luecken        2-1   3.42  19   1   23.6  16  114
RP Steve Farr          2-5   4.12  51  18   63.3  56   94
RP Terry Leach         5-6   4.15  30   0   73.6  34   94

2009-08-25T10:04:00.002-06:00

PBS Working on Kansas City Athletics Documentary

Preview it here. It looks really promising. Apparently, there were other teams in the "Golden Age of Baseball" other than the Yankees, Dodgers and Red Sox!

2009-06-29T07:40:00.002-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#31 Lou Piniella

1969-1973
.286/.327/.404
700 G 45 HR 348 RBI

Today's baseball fans know Lou Piniella as a fiery manager and the star of Aquafina and DirecTV commercials. Although his base-throwing tirades have turned Lou into a bit of a caricature of himself, he has assembled an impressive managerial resume that includes playoff appearances with three different ballclubs, over 1700 wins, and a World Championship in 1990 with the Cincinnati Reds.

Many of those fans missed Lou Piniella, the ballplayer. And as a ballplayer, Lou was a competitor who maximized his talents. He put together an eighteen year career with over 1700 hits, all after four teams gave up on him and labeled him a career minor leaguer. He was a lefty-masher who hit for average with good gap power. He had notoriously bad plate discipline, but still hardly struck out. He displayed a lot of effort in the outfield, despite being one of the slowest outfielders in the league. He was a fan favorite in both Kansas City and in New York. And just as he is known for his temper as a manager, he was known for his temper as a ballplayer.

I suppose some may find it hypocritical that a manager who was known for smashing water coolers as a player would, as a manager, reprimand a player who is known for smashing water coolers. They may be right, but as a parent now, I totally understand the "do as I say, not as I do" attitude. I mean, just because I spent my college years in a drunken stupor without any ambition or thought to the future, doesn't mean my son should make the same mistake.

Louis Victor Piniella grew up in West Tampa, Florida, the grandson of Spanish immigrants. In Pony League, he played alongside Tony LaRussa. Each would go on to win more than 1500 games as a manager. After one season at the University of Tampa where he was named All-American, Lou signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1962. Just a few months later he was drafted by the Washington Senators.* He hit .310 as a 19 year old kid in A ball, but the following year the Senators dealt him to the Baltimore Orioles where he made his Major League debut, getting into four games in 1964 at the age of 20.

*-In 1962, in an effort to curb bonuses to amateurs, MLB allowed teams to draft first year players from other organizations for just $8,000 unless that player was on the MLB roster. Just one of many stupid ideas by owners.

Lou developed his reputation as a firebrand at an early age. After committing an error for a low level minor league team in Aberdeen, South Dakota, a fan rode him hard jeering that Lou would soon find his way back in the bush leagues. To which Lou responded, "Where in the fuck do you think I am?"

In 1966, the Indians re-acquired Piniella, but they would let him languish in AAA for three years, despite two .300 seasons. In 1969, the American League introduced two new franchises to the league - the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Pilots. Piniella was left unprotected for the expansion draft and one club snapped him up - the Pilots. Piniella had a great spring training, but was unliked by manager Joe Schultz and was soon made available in trade discussions.

Lou Piniella has the red ass. He doesn't think he's been playing enough...He says he knows they don't want him and he's going to quit baseball rather than go back to Triple-A. He says that once you get labeled Triple-A, that's it.
-Jim Bouton, "Ball Four"

Royals Director of Player Development Lou Gorman was familiar with Piniella from his days with the Orioles and advocated that General Manager Cedric Tallis acquire the outfielder. At the end of camp the Pilots shipped him to Kansas City for outfielder Steve Whitaker and pitcher John Gelnar. It would be one of many costly mistakes the Pilots would make that year.

Piniella not only made the Royals opening day roster, but he was the first batter in franchise history, doubling in his first at-bat with the club. The left-fielder would go 4-5 in the Royals inaugural game with a walk, run and RBI, and would win the hearts of Royals fans with his hard-nosed play.

Sweet Lou's bat turned red hot in July as he went on a thirteen game hitting streak where he hit .491 (26-53) with three home runs and 15 runs batted in. Piniella ended the year hitting a team high .282 with 11 home runs and 68 runs batted in. He led the team in doubles and triples and was second in runs batted in. For his efforts, he was named American League Rookie of the Year.

Lou avoided the sophomore jinx and got off to a sensational start in 1970. He reached safely on a hit in 23 of his first 26 games with eleven multi-hit games. A foot injury would cause him to miss some games in May, but by the end of the month he was among the top five in hitting with a .343 average. He finished the year with a .301 average - the first .300 hitter in team history - tops on the team and eighth in the league. Amazingly, Piniella never went more than two consecutive games without a hit. He slammed eleven home runs and was second on the club with 88 runs batted in.

Piniella would start slowly in 1971, missing nearly the entire month of May with a broken thumb. A career high eighteen-game hitting streak in July would lift his average from .244 to .270 where it would hover much of the remainder of the season. It would still be a down season for Lou however. He would hit .279, but with just three home runs and 51 runs batted in. A notorious "bad ball" hitter, Lou would draw just 21 walks.

He's so anxious to hit the ball, he swings at everything. Good pitches, bad pitches, inside, outside, high or low. He doesn't let anything go by. Every time he's on base, he has earned his way with the bat. He never walks.
-Royals coach George Strickland

Lou worked with Royals hitting coach Charley Lau that winter in Venezuela and tore up the winter league with a .330 clip. He went into that spring with renewed confidence.

This is the year I will find out just how well I can play baseball. I feel I'm at the point where I either remain an average player or turn the corner and become a really good one. I have to go out and prove I can become a good one.

Lou easily had his best season in a Royals uniform in 1972. He hit .312, second in the league only to Rod Carew. He finished with eleven home runs and 72 runs batted in. He led the league with thirty-three doubles on the fast new surface of Royals Stadium and was named to his only All-Star team. He also grounded into a league-leading twenty-five double plays.

Instead of turning a corner, however, Lou suffered a major decline in 1973. A dreadful May would sink his season as his average slumped to just .250. He would hit nine home runs and drive in 69 runs, but would post just a .291 on-base percentage. That winter, the thirty year old outfielder was traded to the New York Yankees for thirty-seven year old reliever Lindy McDaniel.

"Getting traded to the Yankees was the best thing that happened to me. I wasn't happy initially because I played five years in Kansas City. I lived in town and had a lot of friends in the area. It was basically a young team that was growing up together, so a lot of my teammates were still from the original expansion team, and Kansas City was a nice place to live. At the same time, coming to New York was the best thing that could've ever happened to me. If you can play in New York, you can play anywhere."

McDaniel had been a solid reliever for many years, but he was at the end of his career, and Royals fans never forgave him for being dealt for one of their favorite players. Royals General Manager Cedric Tallis made many brilliant trades in the early days of the franchise. This trade was not one of them. Lou would hit .305 in his first season in New York, winning the hearts of Yankee fans. A few years later, he would face his old teammates in Kansas City as the Yankees and Royals faced off in four American League Championship Series in five years.

Lou would spend the next eleven seasons in the Bronx before retiring in 1984 with a career .291 average. He would be named Yankees manager in 1986, replacing Billy Martin. In 1988, he was removed and named General Manager as owner George Steinbrenner hired - Billy Martin. When Martin was fired mid-season, Piniella stepped back in the dugout as manager. Ah, those were the Yankees.

Lou was a television analyst in 1989, and when Steinbrenner refused to let the Blue Jays hire Piniella, Lou decided he had enough of the Bronx. The following year he took over the Cincinnati Reds and led them to a World Championship. After three seasons in Cincinnati, Piniella took over the Mariners, leading the moribund franchise to four post-seasons, including a record-tying 116 win season in 2001. He would leave in 2003 to manage the Devil Rays, and after three losing seasons would take over the Chicago Cubs in 2007.

2009-06-16T09:33:00.003-06:00

Royals Corner: Then and Now with Jim York

There is a really great interview over at Royals Corner with former Royals pitcher Jim York. York was the first player the Royals signed to reach the big leagues. He spent two years with the Royals before being dealt with pitcher Lance Clemons for first baseman John Mayberry.

Interesting stuff in the interview, including thoughts on managers Bob Lemon and Jack McKeon, mid-season interleague exhibition games, and problems with blisters (where have we heard that before?)

Then & Now: Jim York

2009-05-22T09:13:00.005-06:00

Kansas City Athletics Who Were Royals

TusconRoyal over at Royals Review has a nice little write-up on players who enjoyed our fair city so much they spent time as a Kansas City Athletic and a Kansas City Royal. Four players made the double dip - Aurelio Monteagudo, Dave Wickersham, Ken Sanders and Moe Drabowsky.

Royals Review: I'm Going to Kansas City, Kansas City, Here I Come.....Again

2009-05-13T11:57:00.010-06:00

Strikeout Streaks

Texas Rangers slugger Chris Davis extended his streak of games in which he has struck out to twenty last night. The MLB record as far as I can tell is 34, by pitcher Vida Blue in 1971. Among non-pitchers the record-holder is Mike Cameron who struck out in 26 consecutive games in 2001. Who have been the whiffmasters in Royals history?

Longest Strikeout Streak in Royals History (non-pitchers)

1. Mark Teahen - 22 (June 16 - July 14, 2007)
2. Calvin Pickering - 21 (August 23 - September 19, 2004)
3. Bo Jackson - 16 (July 1 - 18, 1987)
4. Bo Jackson - 15 (June 7 - 22, 1987)*
4. Bo Jackson - 15 (August 22 - September 6, 1989)
4. Bo Jackson - 15 (April 11 - May 3, 1990)
7. Steve Balboni - 13 (August 23 - September 5, 1986)
7. Bo Jackson - 13 (June 25 - July 13, 1989)
9. Steve Balboni - 12 (May 29 - June 24, 1984)
9. Steve Balboni - 12 (September 24 - October 5, 1985)
9. Bo Jackson - 12 (September 27, 1986 - April 10, 1987)
9. Kevin Young - 12 (July 11 - August 4, 1996)

My thoughts:

Bo Jackson struck out a lot.
In his June 7-22, 1987 strikeout streak, Bo posted a .986 OPS during his streak, easily the best hitting performance during any of these streaks. The worst performance on this list is also Bo, during his July 1-18, 1987 streak, which he posted a .538 OPS. He struck out 31 times during that streak, tops of anyone on this list.
Pitchers Bruce Dal Canton and Bob Johnson both had seventeen game strikeout streaks, tops among Royals pitchers.
The longest streak this year by a Royals player is Miguel Olivo at six (April 7-15).
Wow, Kevin Young! Remember him?

Now, the opposite list.
Longest Streak of Games Without a Strikeout

1. Gail Hopkins - 33 (August 17, 1971 - July 8, 1972)
2. George Brett - 27 (July 2 - 30, 1976)
3. George Brett - 24 (July 29 - August 25, 1979)
4. Cookie Rojas - 22 (April 26 - May 24, 1973)
4. John Wathan - 22 (September 2, 1977 - May 5 ,1978)
4. Tom Poquette - 22 (June 9 - July 14, 1978)
7. Keith Lockhart - 21 (June 28 - July 22, 1996)
8. Vada Pinson - 20 (August 6 - September 21, 1975)
8. Pete LaCock - 20 (May 19 - July 2, 1977)
8. Pete LaCock - 20 (July 30 - August 24, 1979)

George Brett did not strike out much at all
Guys did not strike out a lot in the 70s
I'll take the strikeout guys over the non-strikeout guys.
Wow, Keith Lockhart! Remember him?

2009-05-11T09:01:00.005-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#32 UL Washington

1977-1984
757 Games
.254/.316/.347
26 HR 228 RBI

UL Washington was a long-time starting shortstop for the Royals best known for constantly playing with a toothpick hanging out of his mouth. Announcers would warn children viewing at home not to replicate UL's toothpick fetish, lest they choke to death in a toothpick accident.

"I've got a lot of people scared for me, so there's no need for me to be scared, too. I get a lot of mail saying it's a bad influence on kids. But it's okay, if they're coached right."

UL had terrific speed. He was a raw basestealer who got better and better at swiping bases, culminating in a forty-steal season in 1983. He was also very difficult to retire on a double play. In 3124 plate appearances, he grounded into just 33 double plays in his career. In comparison, Jim Rice twice topped that mark in a single season.

Bill James lists UL as the 123rd best shortstop in baseball history, right behind former Royals shortstop Kurt Stilwell. James laments that the Royals attempts to make him a switch-hitter kept UL from being a much better offensive player. UL actually posted a lower on-base percentage as a right hander, but slugged ninety points higher as a right hander, with 23 of his 27 career home runs coming from that side. .259/.309/.398. Bill asserts that right-handed, UL was "as good as Cal Ripken". I'd say that's overstating things a bit - right-handed UL was probably more like Orlando Cabrera. But I do agree that the Royals probably erred in trying to make him a switch-hitter.

UL was born in Stringtown, Oklahoma with the full name of "U L". The unique name was not an abbreviation or nickname, and I'm not sure many other people could have pulled off such a name, but UL Washington somehow made it very cool. UL was a football player in Stringtown, who had played very little baseball. His brother was an usher at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City who one day approached Royals Director of Player Development Lou Gorman and asked if the Royals would be willing to let his brother participate in their brand new "Baseball Academy". The Academy took raw athletes who were not experienced at baseball and taught them to play the game. The Academy was the revolutionary brainchild of owner Ewing Kauffman and would later produce All-Star second baseman Frank White.

Gorman agreed to have Washington come in for a try out. UL impressed the scouts with his speed and arm strength. He then took the field at shortstop to take a number of ground balls. He missed every single one. He stepped into the batter's box. He would miss pitches by a wide margin. He took various tests the Royals had compiled and failed miserably at all of them except a vision test. Many, including owner Ewing Kauffman, felt Washington was a lost cause and should be out of the program. Gorman stuck with Washington, and after UL spent a year in the academy, Gorman assigned him to Rookie ball in 1973. Washington hit .283 and made the All-Star team. By his third season, he was in AAA Omaha. In 1977, the Royals called him up for a cup of coffee.

In the spring of 1978, UL made the ballclub as a utility player. He would appear in 69 games, with 142 plate appearances, and hit .264/.314/.295 with twelve stolen bases for the division-winning Royals. In 1979, long-time shortstop Fred Patek began to decline and it became clear he would file for free agency at the end of the season. In late August, the Royals benched Patek in favor of Washington. He would reward the Royals faith on September 21 in Oakland, with four hits and two home runs, including one from each side of the plate. UL would finish the season hitting .254/.299/.358.

With Patek departing for California, UL was entrenched as the starting shortstop, teaming up with fellow Baseball Academy alum Frank White as the double-play combo. As a full-time starter, UL excelled, hitting .273/.336/.375 with twenty stolen bases. In comparison, the average American League shortstop hit .260/.309/.353 that season. UL also finished third in the league with eleven triples. The Royals again won the division and UL hit .364 against the Yankees in a sweep of the American League Championship Series. UL hit .273 in the World Series, but the Royals fell just short to the Phillies.

UL got off to a great start in 1981, but a 7-66 slump brought his average under the Mendoza Line. When the players went on strike in June, he was hitting just .210. UL rallied with a strong September when play resumed, but finished with a .227 average and was successful in just ten of twenty stolen base attempts. With Washington slumping and young Onix Concepcion playing well in the minors, UL was the subject of trade talks that winter. The Mets discussed acquiring the shortstop for outfielder Lee Mazzilli. Howeverthe Royals did not want to disrupt their double play combo and a deal was never made.

UL got off to a terrible start in 1982 and by May he was on the disabled list with a bad back and a .183 average. Onix Concepcion played well with UL out of action, and trade talks again began to swirl. Orioles veteran pitcher Jim Palmer was disgruntled and wanted out of Baltimore, and published reports had the Royals offering Washington in exchange for the former All-Star. The Royals vigorously denied such reports and when UL returned from the disabled list he was still in a Royals uniform.

"Most teams would rather have an offensive shortstop than a defensive one. So I'll just keep making the plays in the field and try to chip in where I can at the plate.''

Now healthy, UL went on a tear, hitting .329 over June and July. He slammed three home runs in a series against Baltimore in August, and hit .294 with four home runs in September to close out a career best season. UL finished with a .286 average, 10 home runs and 60 RBI, all career highs. He slugged .412 and stole twenty-three bases. According to TucsonRoyal, it was the third best season by a Royals shortstop in terms of "Wins Above Replacement Level" (WAR).

*-In the future I would like to revise this list using WAR, as it rewards players for excellence rather than sustained mediocrity. Win Shares is based largely on playing time, while WAR reflects how much better a player performed in comparison to a baseline of "replacement level." I have little doubt I would rather have one season of Chili Davis than seven seasons of Brent Mayne.

Highest OPS+ for a Royals Shortstop (min. 350 PAs)
1. Mike Aviles 2008 - 122
2. Jay Bell 1997 - 115
3. UL Washington 1982 - 106
4. Angel Berroa 2003 - 101
4. Kurt Stillwell 1988 - 101

UL slumped badly in 1983 with a .236 average, although he did steal a career high 40 bases. In 1984, he found himself on the disabled list three times, missing almost a hundred games. When healthy, he hit just .224. Onix Concepcion was playing more and more so that winter, the Royals dealt Washington the Montreal Expos for two journeymen minor leaguers.

UL hung around a few more seasons with the Expos and then the Pittsburgh Pirates before retiring in 1987. He played two seasons in the Senior Professional Baseball League before getting into coaching. He briefly served in the Royals organization and now serves in the Boston Red Sox organization.

2009-04-06T09:57:00.002-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#33 Bud Black

56-57 3.73 ERA
977 2/3 IP 508 K 16 CG

Harry "Bud" Black was a very solid left-handed starting pitcher for two Royals playoff teams including the 1985 Championship ballclub. He is now the manager of the San Diego Padres following a stint as pitching coach with the Anaheim Angels where he was credited with much of their success during their championship season of 2002.

Not many former pitchers become managers. I am not certain as to why this so. In the last decade, it has become much harder to find good pitching. Having a manager that can relate to pitchers and tutor them would seem to be a valuable asset. More importantly, most of a manager's most crucial decisions seem to revolve around handling the pitching staff. Who should start? What roles should each reliever play? How long should the starter remain in the game? Which pitching matchup is most favorable? It would seem a former pitcher might have a better sense for these things.

I think of all the current Royals, Brian Bannister has the best chance of being a good MLB manager. He seems to be a cerebral fellow, open to statistical analysis, yet still able to relate to baseball common-sense. I am not privy to his leadership skills, if he has any, but he seems to be a likeable guy. Perhaps John Buck could be a managerial candidate someday, as many catchers are, or perhaps Tony Pena Jr. follows his father's footsteps (Junior certainly hits like a Hall of Fame manager). But my money is on Bannister.

Royals Players Who Became MLB Managers
Bob Boone 1989-1990 - Royals (1995-1997), Reds (2001-2003)
Bucky Dent 1984 - Yankees (1989-1990)
Clint Hurdle 1977-1981 - Rockies (2002-present)
Buck Martinez 1969-1977 - Blue Jays (2001-2002)
Hal McRae 1973-1987 - Royals (1991-1994), Devil Rays (2001-2002)
Bob Melvin 1992 - Mariners (2003-2004), Diamondbacks (2005-present)
Lou Piniella 1969-1973 - Yankees (1986-1988), Reds (1990-1992), Mariners (1993-2002), Devil Rays (2003-2005), Cubs (2007-present)
Luis Pujols 1984 - Tigers (2002)
Cookie Rojas 1970-1977 - Angels (1988), Marlins (1996)
John Wathan 1976-1985- Royals (1987-1991), Angels (1992)

Bud Black was born in southern California, but went to high school in Washington state. He was the son of Canadian immigrants, and his father had played in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks. After pitching at Lower Columbia Junior College in Washington, Black transferred back to sunny California for San Diego State University where he played with a local kid named Tony Gwynn. In the 17th round of the 1979 Amateur Draft, his hometown Seattle Mariners selected him.

Black pitched mostly as a reliever in the Mariners system, reaching the big leagues in 1981 for a cup of coffee. That October, the Mariners picked up 3B Manny Castillo from the Royals for a player to be named later. That player was named the next March. It was Bud Black.*

*-I haven't done an exhaustive search, but I'd say this is probably the best "player to be named later" in Royals history. Manny Castillo was a light hitting infielder the Royals acquired from St. Louis in the Rule 5 Draft. The fact Seattle let a good pitcher like Black go was a pretty good illustration of how the Mariners were run in those days, as well as how great the Royals were at identifying talent.

Bud made the Royals squad out of spring training in 1982, but struggled out of the pen, earning him a demotion to Omaha in May. In the minors he became a starter, and after four successful starts, he was back in the big leagues. He dazzled the Twins in his return, giving up just one run in seven innings in a victory, then threw five shutout innings against the Athletics for another victory his next time out. Black would pitch well until missing most of the month of September. He would finish his rookie campaign with a 4-6 record and a 4.58 ERA.

"I was traded to a veteran pitching staff. Basically, I was the only left-hander in the organization under 30 years old. A left-hander who can throw strikes is a valuable commodity."

The Royals made Black a full-time starter in 1983, although he would make his first five starts for Omaha. Bud would earn a promotion by Memorial Day, and would allow just seven earned runs in his first five starts, winning three games. He finished the season with a promising 10-7 record and a 3.79 ERA.

"My philosophy was just go in and get the batter out. Don't get cute; just get the ball over and get rid of the guy."

1984 was a transitional year for the Royals. In 1983, the rotation was made up of over-30 starters like Paul Splittorff, Larry Gura, Steve Renko and Vida Blue.* In 1984, Bud Black would anchor a rotation of young, promising pitchers like Mark Gubicza, Danny Jackson and Bret Saberhagen.

*-As well as fourteen starts from a 44 year old Gaylord Perry!

Bud got the opening day assignment against the Yankees and allowed just two hits over seven innings in a 4-2 win. He would win his first three starts and fired a complete game six-hit shutout on May 23 against Chicago. He was lit up for seven runs in one inning in a 15-3 loss to Cleveland in July, but bounced back to go 7-3 and a 2.57 ERA over August and September as the Royals caught the Twins and surged into first place. The Royals would clinch the Western Division Title, but would be flattened by the Detroit Tigers in the American League Championship Series. Bud would start and lose Game One. Despite the postseason setback, Bud had enjoyed a career season. He finished sixth in the league in wins (17), ERA (3.52) and innings pitched (257).

Percentage of Starts that were Quality Starts, Royals History (min. 100 starts)
1. Bret Saberhagen 1984-1991 - 64.2%
2. Kevin Appier 1989-1999, 2003-2004 - 61.1%
3. Dick Drago 1969-1973 - 60.0%
4. Charlie Leibrandt 1984-1989 - 59.9%
5. Bud Black 1982-1988 - 57.8%
*-64.7% of Gil Meche's starts have been "Quality Starts", but he has just 68 starts as a Royal

Black once again got the opening day assignment in 1985, allowing just four hits in a 2-1 win over Toronto. The entire Royals rotation was under the age of 30, with only Black and former Reds reliever Charlie Leibrandt the only starters over the age of 23. The twenty-eight year old Black was considered the "ace" of the Royals young rotation.

''I still don't consider myself an ace like a (Steve) Carlton, (Jack) Morris or (Mario) Soto.'When you call a guy an 'ace,' I think of someone who has been in the league a number of years and is a proven winner year-in and year-out -- a guy who gets the ball 35 times a year and gets his innings."

Black found a groove in May, winning three straight starts and giving up just three runs in twenty-six innings in the process. But he hit a wall after Memorial Day, dropping seven straight decisions.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say Black is horse-bleep. But he's sure had a horse- bleep year. A couple times I saw him, he had trouble with just about every pitch he throws. And I'm talking September . . . not back in the spring."
-Anonymous scout

The Royals found themselves again in a pennant race. Despite being mired in a lousy season, Black would come up huge for the Royals by tossing a three-hit shutout against the rival Angels in the last week of the season to tie up the divisional race. The Royals would surge ahead of California the next night and would never look back en route to their second consecutive Western Division title.

Despite finishing the regular season with a disappointing 10-15 and a 4.33 ERA, Black was tapped to start Game Two of the American League Championship Series against Toronto. The Jays had struggled against left-handers all season, and Black had twice beaten the Jays with a 2.28 ERA in three starts. Black would pitch well, allowing just three runs over seven innings, but the Royals would fall in extra innings.

Black would face just a few hitters in relief in Game Three (on just two days rest!), but was huge in Game Six, providing over three innings of shutout relief as the Royals won 5-3 to even the Series. The Royals would take Game Seven and advanced to take on the cross-town Cardinals. Black would face just three hitters in relief of Game One, but started Game Four, giving up three runs in five innings for the loss.

Black had apparently impressed Toronto that October so much that his name surfaced in trade rumors between the Royals and Jays. His relief performance in the ALCS, and the Royals loaded rotation caused manager Dick Howser to move his lefty not to Toronto, but to the bullpen. Bud had a few unsuccessful starts to begin the 1986 season in place of the injured Danny Jackson, but was soon sent to the pen.

"Dick pulled me aside and said he thought I could help the club more in the bullpen. I wasn't very happy about it. I didn't believe I was relief pitcher -- not a guy who won 17 games as a starter the year before. But what are you going to say to the manager? `No Dick, you're wrong, I won't go?' Or, `Don't you think we should talk about this a little bit, Dick?'"

Black would finish 1986 with a 3.20 ERA overall, but a 2.34 ERA out of the bullpen. In 1987, he would split time between the rotation and the pen as the fifth starter in 1987, winning eight games with a 3.60 ERA despite missing a month with arthroscopic knee surgery. That winter, the Royals shopped him around to teams desperate for left-handed starting pitching. The Blue Jays, Brewers, Indians and Yankees inquired, but no deal was made. Black would pitch out of the Royals pen, but struggled mightily the first two months. On June 3, he was traded to the Indians for first baseman Pat Tabler.

Black would win thirty-six games over the next three season in Cleveland, before being dealt to the Blue Jays in a late season push for a pennant. In 1991, he signed a huge four year $10 million contract with San Francisco. He would win just thirty-four games in four seasons with the Giants. He would play one more year in Cleveland before joining the front office as a Special Assistant to the General Manager. In 1999, he was named pitching coach for the Anaheim Angels. In 2002, under his tutelage, the Angels posted the best ERA in the league and won the World Series. In 2008, he was named manager of the San Diego Padres.

2009-03-12T09:33:00.004-06:00

The 2009 Annual Royals Authority

The following is an excerpt from The 2009 Annual Royals Authority, now available online here. Craig Brown and Clark Fosler have written a tremendously detailed preview of the upcoming Royals season, a must have for any Royals fan. They were kind enough to ask me to contribute a piece on the 1989 season, which is included in the book. This was part of my "Looking Back at 1989":

The Clutch of Pat Tabler

“Clutch hitting” is an amorphous concept difficult to define and even harder to ascertain. Some believe that certain players have an innate ability to rise to the occasion, while others believe the concept is a product of small sample sizes and selective observation. Critics of the concept of clutch also point out that many of the players deemed as “clutch” are simply great players who are good in all situations, clutch or non-clutch. The concept of clutch also begs the question – why don’t clutch players perform as well in non-clutch situations? Are they just not trying as hard?

If there was a poster-boy for the concept of clutch it was Pat Tabler. Overall, “Tabs” was a pretty mediocre hitter with little power for a first baseman. But with the bases loaded, Pat Tabler was like Dr. Bruce Banner transforming into the Incredible Hulk. TABLER WANT TO SMASH BALL!

It began in 1983, when Tabler went 11 for 19 with the bases loaded. The next season, he was 5 for 9. In 1985, he was near perfect, going 6 for 7 with a grand slam. His clutch took a year off in 1986, but returned the next year as Tabler went 5 for 9. In 1988, he had an insane run, going 8 for 9 with the bases jammed. That is not just good performance in the clutch, that is near automatic performance in the clutch. During those six seasons, he was an amazing 37 for 63 (.587). With the bases loaded, Tabler was more likely to get a hit than make an out.

Having an ability to hit with the bases loaded makes some intuitive sense because of the unique circumstances of the situation. A pitcher is going to be more likely to give the hitter a pitch he can handle, to avoid walking in a run. This is even more likely when a hitter like Pat Tabler and his .379 career slugging percentage is up. Perhaps Tabler had very good bat control and an ability to handle hittable pitches.

But Tabler’s clutch was not simply confined to situations when the bases were loaded. With a runner at third, late in the game with two outs, Tabler hit 89 for 205 (.434). Even in all situations with runners in scoring position, his numbers were well above his career norms. These numbers also refute the idea that Tabler’s success was a mere product of small sample size.

So perhaps Pat Tabler had some mystical ability to come through in the clutch, mesmerizing opponents with his golden locks. Or maybe he’s just a freakish outlier. Who knows?

2009-02-22T08:42:00.001-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#34 Paul Schaal

Tim Johnson. Sixto Lezcano. Darrell Brown. Bill Almon. Ken Reitz.* Paul Schaal. What do these players have in common? They were all replaced by Hall of Famers** - Robin Yount, Tony Gwynn, Kirby Puckett, Ozzie Smith and Ryne Sandberg, respectively. While it must be an enormous burden to be the player that follows up a Hall of Famer, there is far less pressure to be the guy that precedes one. You always have a handy excuse for why you lost your job.

*-Reitz preceded Ryne Sandberg, who I was completely unaware was a third baseman in his rookie season. Second base was occupied by Bump Wills in Ryno's rookie season. The previous year it had been filled most of the time by Pat Tabler, who I was completely unaware (a) ever played for the Cubs or (b) ever played second base. Also, did you know Gary Carter was a right-fielder his rookie season?

**-Don Money, a pretty good player in his own right, was replaced by two Hall of Famers - Mike Schmidt and Paul Molitor.

Still, having a hot prospect breathing down your neck while you try to maintain your grip on your position is no picnic. Paul Schaal was in the unenviable position of trying to hold onto his job with G eorge Brett rising through the ranks in the minor leagues. Schaal was by most accounts a terrific fielder with a light bat, but could draw walks without striking out. He is tied for tenth in franchise history in on-base percentage, impressive especially considering he wasn't exactly a feared power hitter. He was no George Brett, but he was a much better placeholder than those other names mentioned.

Paul Schaal was a southern California kid who signed with his hometown Angels out of high school for a bonus of $4,000. In his second full season in the minors, he hit .328. In his third season, he hit .271 for AAA Hawaii and found himself in the big leagues for a cup of coffee. In 1965, at the age of 22, Paul Schaal was the everyday third baseman for the California Angels. He struggled with the bat, hitting just .224, but he did draw 61 walks and was renowned for his glove.

Schaal would have a solid season his sophomore season, with a .362 on-base percentage, but would slump the next season with a batting average under the Mendoza Line. In 1968, he was struck in the head with a fastball from Red Sox pitcher Jose Santiago, fracturing his skull and damaging his eye and basically ending his season. It would leave him with inner ear problems that would affect his balance the remainder of his career.

That winter, the Kansas City Royals made Schaal the 27th pick in the 1969 Expansion Draft. Schaal began the year in Omaha to regain his confidence following the beaning. He was leading the league in hitting at .374 when he was finally summoned back to the big leagues in July. He hit .263 with a respectable .346 on-base percentage in 61 games, mostly at third base. That winter, the Royals dealt veteran third baseman Joe Foy to the New York Mets in exchange for young outfielder Amos Otis, seemingly opening up the hot corner for Schaal. Schaal saw himself as a starting third baseman, but new manager Charlie Metro disagreed.

"Charlie said to the press that I'd never be an every-day player. It ticked me off but it also inspired me."

Schaal began the 1970 season on the bench with Metro moving slugger Bob Oliver from first base to third. When Metro moved Oliver back to first base in June, Schaal got a two week try-out, but failed to hit. The Royals then tried journeyman Bill Sorrell at third, with few results. Finally, Schaal got his chance in August. He hit .309 and was named Royals Player of the Month. He would start fifty of the last sixty-two games, and finish the year with a .268 average.

Schaal began 1971 firmly entrenched as the Royals slick-fielding third baseman. He hit .338 in April, erasing doubts about his bat. On July 9, Schaal was given a scare when Jim Perry brushed him back high and tight after a Fred Patek home run, bringing back memories of Schaal's painful beaning several years earlier. On the next pitch, Schaal dug in and homered off the Twins right hander.

"I somehow got out of the way; went down on my back. Even their catcher didn't know how I got out of the way. I hit the next pitch out of the park. Because of my injury a couple years earlier, it was such a great feeling to hit that homer after Perry about nailed me."

Schaal had the best season of his career that year, hitting .274 with eleven home runs, the only time in his career he would reach double digits. He finished third in the league in walks with 103, second in doubles with 31 and tenth in extra-base hits with 48. He would post a .387 on-base percentage and strike out just 51 times. He was one of just two players in the Majors that year who would play in every single game.

Most Walks in a Single Season, Royals History
1. John Mayberry 1973 - 122
2. Darrell Porter 1979 - 121
3. John Mayberry 1975 - 119
4. George Brett 1985 - 103
4. Paul Schaal 1971 - 103
*-only one other player in Royals history has drawn 100 walks in a season - Kevin Seitzer with 102 in 1989

Schaal got off to a slow start in 1972 and was never really able to get his bat going. He was barely able to keep his average about the Mendoza Line much of the year, although he did rally in September to hit .287 with 19 walks for the month. He would finish the year with a disappointing .228 average.

Schaal would rebound nicely in 1973 with a .288 average. His .389 on-base percentage would finish second on the club and his .399 slugging percentage would finish fourth on the club. In late July, Schaal would go down with an injury. A week later, the Royals would promote a young floppy-haired California kid named George Brett. He would go 1-for-4 that day against the White Sox, the first of 3,154 career hits.

Schaal would return just two weeks later, but the writing was on the wall. Paul was the starter at third for the first month of 1974, but hit just .176 to begin the year. In early May, the Royals promoted Brett and dealt Schaal back to the Angels for outfielder Richie Scheinblum.

"I've often told people that it took a Hall of Famer to take my job from me."

Schaal would just just .248 for the Angels, and was released at the end of the year. He retired from baseball at the age of 32. Upon retiring, Schaal returned to Kansas City and enrolled in the Cleveland Chiropractic Clinic. For the last thirty years he has run the Schaal Chiropractic Health Center in Overland Park.

2009-02-11T10:55:00.002-06:00

KERPLUNK!

The Single Season Hit-By Pitch Leaders in Royals History

1. David DeJesus 2007 - 23
2. Angel Berroa 2003 - 18
3. Mike MacFarlane 1994 - 18
4. Sal Fasano 1996 - 16
4. Mike MacFarlane 1993 - 16
6. Mike Sweeney 2000 - 15
7. Mike MacFarlane 1992 - 15
8. Angel Berroa 2005 - 14
9. Keith Miller 1992 - 14
10.Alex Gordon 2007 - 13

I have no idea what this means other than Mike MacFarlane sure knows how to get hit with a baseball.

2009-02-02T08:00:00.002-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#35 Dick Drago

"We are judged by what we finish, not what we start."
-Anonymous

Baseball men lament the passing of the "good ol' days" when men were men and pitchers completed all their games. I mocked them a bit in my piece on Jose Rosado, but in all honesty, I too wish that pitchers would complete more games. We like to see people finish a job well done, and there is nothing more demoralizing than seeing your ace pitcher leave in the seventh only to see a much inferior middle reliever blow the lead.

The loss of the complete game isn't because today's pitchers aren't manly men, its because the game has fundamentally changed. In 1969, when Dick Drago broke into the American League, teams averaged 5.57 strikeouts per game. Last year, they averaged 6.58 strikeouts per game. Strikeouts are extremely taxing on pitchers. They require maximum effort of delivery, and generally more pitches than allowing contact.

But today's pitchers don't have the benefit of allowing more contact. Here's what the average 7-8-9 hitters did in 1969.

7 - .246/.316/.346
8 - .228/.312/.318
9 - .157/.215/.214 (remember, these were pitchers)

Here's what 7-8-9 hitters did in 2008.

7-.258/.325/.405
8-.254/.319/.394
9-.254/.311/.367

Today's #7 hitters generally hit about as well as 1969's #5 hitters. Today's #9 hitters hit about as well as 1969's leadoff hitters. American League hitters slugged .369 in 1969. They slugged .420 last year. Its not difficult to see why it has become harder to complete games.

Most Complete Games in Royals History
1. Dennis Leonard 1974-1986 - 103
2. Paul Splittorff1970-1984 - 88
3. Bret Saberhagen 1984-1991 - 64
4. Larry Gura 1976-1985 - 61
5. Steve Busby 1972-1980 - 53
5. Dick Drago 1969-1973 - 53

Dick Drago was a finisher. Through five seasons, Drago had 53 complete games. From 2000-2008, all Royals pitchers combined had 51 complete games. The game has certainly changed.

Dick Drago hailed from Toledo, Ohio and pitched collegiately at the University of Detroit. After one year, he signed with the nearby Detroit Tigers. In his first pro season, he split time between Daytona Beach and Rocky Mount (NC) where he had the lousiest luck. He gave up 78 runs in 142 innings, but 25 of those runs were unearned. And despite his 3.36 ERA that season, he finished with a 5-14 record. Its a wonder he didn't kill any of his teammates.

The next season, Drago didn't need any help. He posted a 1.79 ERA and won fifteen games. The next year, he won fifteen games again with a 2.41 ERA. He won fifteen games again the following year for Detroit's top minor league affiliate, his hometown Toledo Mudhens.

The 1968 Tigers were World Champs with a loaded pitching staff, so there wasn't much room for the kid from Toledo. The Tigers exposed Drago in the 1969 Expansion Draft. The Kansas City Royals, looking for young talent under General Manager Cedric Tallis, selected him as the 31st player.

"I didn’t feel bad about coming to the Royals because I knew I’d get a chance to pitch here, but actually it was about as hard for me to make the Kansas City staff as it would have been to make the Detroit staff. We had a lot of good pitchers in camp...and the competition was tough."

Drago was not part of the initial rotation for the inaugural season, but by May he was starting games for the young Royals. He fired complete game victories in his first two starts, but dropped five straight starts in June. He ended the year strong, tossing six complete games in August and September, including two shutouts. He would end his rookie season with a respectable 11-13 record and a 3.77 ERA in just over 200 innings of work.

Drago tossed a complete game shutout in his first outing of the 1970 season, but he would struggle mightily over the next two months. A great September would salvage his season, but he would end with a 9-15 record and a 3.75 ERA. His 240 innings would lead the ballclub, but his fifteen losses would be sixth most in the league. That winter, the Royals tried to offer Drago to the Pirates as part of a deal that would net them shortstop Fred Patek, but Pittsburgh would insist on pitcher Bob Johnson instead.

Drago got the Opening Day assignment for the Royals in 1971 and gave up just one unearned run in a complete game win over the Angels. Unlike the previous season, he would build upon his solid start by winning seven of his first nine decisions, including back-to-back complete game shutouts in early June.

“Dick has improved quite a bit over last season. His control is better and he’s learned how to move the ball around. He’s able to win on nights when he doesn’t have his best stuff or when he’s having trouble with his control. This is a sign of maturity.”
-Royals Manager Bob Lemon

Drago tossed five complete game victories in July, then tossed three consecutive game victories in August. Drago would finish with fifteen complete games* in all, most in the history of the young franchise. He would also set a team record with seventeen wins, four shutouts, and a 2.98 ERA.

*-He would be credited with a complete game on July 30, despite pitching just four innings in a rain shortened game. He would give up just one hit - and lose.

Its amazing Drago had such success despite such low strikeout totals. In 1971 he struck out just 109 in 241 1/3 innings. As illustrated above, players struck out much less back in the early 70s, but even among contemporaries, this was awfully low. Among 83 pitchers that qualified for the ERA title in 1971, Drago was 73rd in strikeouts per nine innings at 4.06.* In comparison, the only pitcher last year who had that few strikeouts per nine innings and qualified for the ERA title was Livan Hernandez, and he had a 6.05 ERA.

*-More amazingly is that two pitchers worse than him were twenty game winners Dave McNally and M ike Cuellar who of course had terrific defenders like Mark Belanger, Paul Blair and Brooks Robinson behind them. Another was Royals fifteen-game winner Mike Hedlund, which should give you an idea of how good the Royals defense was at this time too.

Drago would get off to a brilliant start in 1972. On May 24, he went a stunning twelve innings, striking out thirteen - and lost 1-0 to the Twins. By July 7, he had a 2.36 ERA, but just a 7-7 record due to a lack of run support. He was Kevin Appier before Kevin Appier. Drago would go on to lose five straight starts, including back-to-back outings in which his teammates would fail to score him a run. He finished with a disappointing 12-17 record. His 3.01 ERA seems impressive, but it was merely league average for that season. This was just before the American League instituted the designated hitter, and the apex of anemic offenses.

In the days before the designated hitter, pitchers actually hit in the American League. Although in some cases, they used the term "hit" very loosely. Drago is the all-time leader in Royals history for at-bats by a Royals pitcher with 237, but he collected just 21 hits, good for a .077 average. Somehow though, he did draw an amazing 21 walks, which is more than Tony Pena Jr. has drawn in his career in almost three times the plate appearances.

Worst Batting Average, Royals History (min. 50 PAs)
1. Bill Butler 1969-1971 - .052
2. Dick Drago 1969-1973 - .077
3. Bruce Dal Canton 1971-1975 - .092
4. Bob Johnson 1970 - .105
5. Wally Bunker 1969-1971 - .109*

*-the worst batting average for a non-pitcher in Royals history is catcher Jim Campanis (1969-1970) who hit .146 in 148 plate appearances. Just behind him is catcher Jason LaRue at .148.

Drago would again be a workhorse in 1973, going ten innings in a loss against the Angels and completing five games in June. Drago began to falter in August, and by September he was pitching sparingly. He would claim manager Jack McKeon had given up on him. The Royals looked to deal the unhappy pitcher, and that October they shipped him to Boston for pitcher Marty Pattin.

Drago pitched in Boston for two seasons, serving as the closer for their 1975 pennant-winning ballclub. In 1976, he gave up the final home run of Hank Aaron's career. Drago would bounce around as a reliever with the Angels, Orioles, back to the Red Sox, before finishing his career with the Mariners. He would never fare as well as he did in Kansas City.

"There are two kinds of people, those who finish what they start and so on. "
-Robert Byrne

2009-01-19T11:03:00.007-06:00

"100 Greatest Royals of All-Time" mentioned on Yahoo! Sports blog!

The "100 Greatest Royals of All-Time" has attracted the attention of the mainstream media. The Yahoo! Sports Blog "Big League Stew" referenced it in the recent puzzling Hall of Fame vote of Pedro Gomez. Apparently, the fact that Jay Bell was the 100th Greatest Royal of All-Time was enough to sway Pedro Gomez into voting Bell into the Hall of Fame.

Big League Stew: Ten reasons Pedro Gomez may have voted Jay Bell for the HOF

Included on Pedro's choices for Cooperstown were Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice, who were elected, along with Andre Dawson and Lee Smith, both of whom elicit reasonable cases.

Oh, and he also voted for Jay Bell.

Wha?

No Bert Blyleven? No Tim Raines? But Jay Bell?

Yes, that Jay Bell, regarded by Royals Review as the 100th Greatest Royal of All Time for his above-average '97 campaign.

Jay Bell, who finished only 1,037 hits short of 3,000.

Jay Bell, who narrowly missed 200 homers and 100 steals.

Jay Bell, whose OPS of .759 was three whole points above league average during his two-time All-Star career.It's almost as if he's mocking the selection of Jay Bell!

Does David Brown not realize that Bell put up the greatest season ever by a Royals shortstop?

2009-01-13T22:21:00.009-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#36 Willie Aikens

1980-1983
511 Games .282/.362/.469
77 HR 297 RBI

Willie Aikens was a mighty slugger for the early 80s Royals, whose career and life were derailed by a terrible addiction to cocaine. He had terrific power, but was inept defensively. He played magnificently in the 1980 World Series, and had things bounced the Royals way, might have been Series MVP. Willie had a brief career in Major League baseball that was shortened prematurely by drug abuse. By age thirty he was washed up and out of baseball. And that would be the least of his problems.

August 9, 1983 - Kansas City Royals general manager John Schuerholz said Tuesday the FBI recently informed the team several players will be interviewed in regard to a federal investigation of a cocaine case in Kansas....

[t]he names of [Vida] Blue, 34, first baseman Willie Aikens, 28, and injured outfielder Jerry Martin, 34, surfaced on documents related to a three-month investigation of Overland Park, Kan., businessman Mark Liebel and Johnson County attorney David Roselli. The investigation apparently stemmed from drug arrests made in Dodge City, Kan., earlier this year.

Willie Mays Aikens was born in Seneca, South Carolina. He was given his famous name by the doctor who delivered him, thrusting great expectations on the newborn baby. Willie attended South Carolina State University, a historically black college and in 1975, he was taken by the California Angels in the January Amateur Draft. He opened eyes his second professional season, when he led the league in homers with 30 for AA El Paso while slugging .554. He hit .336 the next season for AAA Salt Lake City, slugging .569, while spending some time in the big leagues for the Angels.

The Angels had light hitting Ron Jackson manning first base in 1977, so its a bit puzzling why they left Aikens in Salt Lake City all season. Aikens was a liability in the field, and the Angels had slugger Don Baylor at designated hitter. Still, it appeared as if they could use his bat in the lineup. Willie would hit .326 with a league leading 29 home runs and 110 RBI in AAA while the Angels finished five games out of first.

October 14, 1983 - Willie Wilson and Willie Aikens of the Kansas City Royals were accused by the United States Attorney's office today of attempted cocaine possession, a misdemeanor, and both immediately pleaded guilty.

Amanda Meers, an assistant United States attorney, said Wilson and Aikens had been heard, in telephone calls ''intercepted by the F.B.I.,'' trying to make a cocaine purchase. Specifically, she said that on June 18, Wilson ''made a call to a residence in Johnson County for the purpose of obtaining one-fourth ounce of cocaine.''

Aikens forced his way into the Angels lineup in 1979, thanks in part to injuries to Rod Carew. Aikens hit .280 with 21 home runs, leading all rookies. Carew would return to first base the following season, and with Baylor at DH, Aikens was expendable. He was an attractive trading chip, and that winter, the Royals landed him and infielder Rance Mulliniks for outfielder Al Cowens and infielder Todd Cruz.

The Royals were all too happy to have the slugger the Angels couldn't find a place for, using him to replace the light-hitting Pete LaCock. Aikens struggled initially, hitting just .200 in April. But by June he was on fire, slamming seven home runs that month. He would finish with 20 home runs and 98 RBI, second on the team in both categories only to George Brett.

November 17, 1983 - On Thursday, U.S. Magistrate J. Milton Sullivant sentenced Royals outfielder Willie Wilson, Royals first baseman Willie Aikens and former Royals outfielder Jerry Martin to one year in prison, with nine months of that suspended. The players will will remain on probation for an additional two years. Wilson and Aikens were fined $5,000 and Martin, $2,500.

Aikens performed well in the American League Championship Series, hitting .364, but he would shine in the World Series against Philadelphia. In Game One, he would slam two two-run home runs in a losing cause. In Game Three with the game on the line in the bottom of the tenth and a tied game, the Phillies would intentionally walk Brett to pitch to Aikens. Willie made the Phillies pay with a walk-off game winning single.

In Game Four, Aikens would hit a monster two-run home run into the water spectacular at Royals Stadium, then add another solo home run in the win. But in Game Five, it would be Aikens' glove that would fail him, as a Del Unser drive would take a funny hop past Aikens into right field to tie the game. The Phillies would go on to win that game and Game Six to become champions. Aikens finished the series 8-20 with four home runs, eight RBI and six walks. He is the only player in MLB history with two multi-home run games in one World Series.

December 16, 1983 - Bowie Kuhn, the commissioner of baseball, imposed one-year suspensions without pay yesterday on four players involved with the use of illegal drugs: Willie Wilson, Willie Aikens and Jerry Martin, all of whom played last season for the Kansas City Royals, and Steve Howe of the Los Angeles Dodgers....

Aikens returned in 1981 to give the Royals the power they needed. He went on a tear in May, hitting .326 with 22 RBI in 26 games. He homered in three straight games in Boston and by the end of May he was hitting over .300 with more walks than strikeouts. He ended the year hitting .266/.377/.458 in the strike-shortened season. Aikens finished seventh in the league in home runs with seventeen, almost twice as many as any other Royals player. Pitchers wanted to avoid Aikens as much as possible, issuing 62 walks to the slugger, fifth in the league, including a league-leading twelve intentional walks.

January 3, 1984 - Willie Aikens, the former Kansas City Royal first baseman who pleaded guilty to a drug charge, began serving a 90-day sentence yesterday at a U.S. federal prison where three of his former teammates are incarcerated.

Aikens... joined pitcher Vida Blue and outfielders Willie Wilson and Jerry Martin at a minimum-security prison in Fort Worth, Tex.

Aikens would continue to hit consistently in 1982, hitting .281/.345/.457 with 17 home runs and 74 RBI, although he would suffer much of the season with a hand injury.

In 1983, Manager Dick Howser began to sit Aikens against lefties early in the year in favor of John Wathan, angering the slugger.

"He's taking a stronger bat out of the lineup for a weaker one. He's no threat like me to hit the ball out of the park. How can you substitute my bat for somebody that hits five home runs in a year? That's stupid."

Howser may have had a point though as Aikens was a lifetime .219/.298/.343 hitter against lefties. However Howser could not keep Willie out of the lineup for too long. Willie would have perhaps his finest season in 1983, hitting .302 with 23 home runs and 72 RBI.

Highest OPS+, Royals History (min. 1000 plate appearances)
1. Danny Tartabull 1987-1991 - 144
2. George Brett 1973-1993 - 135
3. John Mayberry 1972-1977 - 132
4. Willie Aikens 1980-1983 - 129
5. Hal McRae 1973-1987 - 124

Despite the power, the Royals were growing weary of Aikens poor fielding and "swing for the fences" hitting philosophy. He was a year away from free agency, so the Royals began to quietly shop him, with the anticipation that George Brett might move to first base.

March 26, 1994 - Former Royals baseball player Willie Mays Aikens was indicted Friday in federal court on five counts of selling crack and using a gun in a drug deal. The gun count carries a five-year mandatory sentence, which would be served on top of any term received for drug convictions.

Late in 1983, Aikens surfaced in a drug probe by federal investigators. Aikens and three other Royals - Willie Wilson, Jerry Martin and Vida Blue all pleaded guilty to federal drug charges. All four were suspended for one season without pay by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.

''It is stern. But something had to be done. The commissioner, I'm certain, feels justified.''
-Royals Manager Dick Howser

Even though his playing status was up in the air, the Royals managed to deal the slugger to the power hungry Blue Jays in exchange for intfielder Jorge Orta. An arbitrator later reduced the sentence and allowed the four to play beginning May 15. Aikens floundered in Toronto in 1984, and in 1985 he played in just twelve games. He also testified in the Pittsburgh Drug Trials that rocked baseball. In 1986, after just four games in the minor leagues, Willie's career was over.

September 18, 1994 - Former Royals home-run hitter Willie Mays Aikens was convicted by a federal jury Wednesday on four counts of distributing crack cocaine and one count of using a gun in a drug transaction. Aikens , 39, could face at least 15 years in prison. He is in custody and will be sentenced later in U.S. District Court in Kansas City.

Willie continued to use cocaine after his playing days, running into trouble with the law again in 1994. He was sentenced to twenty years of prison for distributing 64 grams of crack cocaine. Had he been distributing powder cocaine, he would have had to distribute 16 pounds to receive a similar sentence. His case became an oft-used example of the absurd inequity in the federal drug mandatory sentencing laws that treated crack cocaine (used more heavily by poor, black users) much harsher than powder cocaine (used more heavily by rich, white users).

In 2008, the U.S. Sentencing Commission revised their guidelines and applied them retroactively to federal inmates. A federal judge released Aikens in June.

Aikens now resides in Kansas City, working in construction, trying to piece his life back together. He wrote this letter to fans.

I had a wonderful time playing baseball in Kansas City and I truly apologize to all my fans for the behavior I endured during my drinking and drugging days back in the 1990s.

My main objective now is to truly be a role model for the people of Kansas City and around the world by speaking out against drugs and alcohol and by giving my testimony around the country how God truly saved my life. Believe it or not, but by going to prison God allowed me the time to look at myself and to make changes that are necessary to live a Godly life....

I give all Praise and Honor to my Heavenly Father. Once again I thank all my fans and the people of Kansas City for their support. May God add a blessing to your lives.

2008-12-30T13:40:00.004-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#37 Bo Jackson

1986-1990
511 Games .250/.308/.480
109 HR 313 RBI

Bo is the 37th Greatest Royal, but almost certainly the most famous. George was pretty famous too, but did he ever have a Saturday morning cartoon? Bo was a national sensation, a celebrity and a spectacle. Sometimes it is hard to separate the legend from reality. He once hit the longest home run at Royals Stadium that traveled 450 feet at the top of grassy knoll. No wait, it was 500 feet! Or did it hit I-70? He once threw out Harold Reynolds at home plate from the warning track of the Kingdome. Later in that game, he bowled over Brian Bosworth on a goal line stand!

A lot of fans no doubt feel that Bo should be higher on this list. Many like to think Bo was much, much better than he was, or project what his career "might have been" had it not been for his injury. All we can really go on however, is what he did. And his game had some faults. He hardly walked at all. He didn't hit for much of an average. He has the twelfth worst on-base percentage in Royals history for players with a minimum of 1000 plate appearances, worse than Rey Sanchez, K en Harvey or Mark Quinn. He struck out a ton. He would make sensational catches on line drives in the gap, then miss a line drive right at him the next inning.

Still, he was a once-in-a-lifetime talent, a unique blend of power and speed, and when he played, you always had the chance to see something you had never seen before. He was so famous, so incredible, you could mention just his first name and everyone would know who you were talking about.

Bo.

Bo was born Vincent Edward Jackson in Bessemer, Alabama, the eighth of ten children. He earned the nickname "Bo" from family members who described him as a "wild boar". Bo grew up in poverty like so many other children in the poor South, and without a father. He had an awful stuttering problem and frequently found himself in scuffles or general mayhem. His mother quickly whipped him into shape telling him that if he didn't change his ways, he'd end up "in jail or in hell". Bo listened to his mother.*

*-Much of this entry is taken from "Bo Knows Bo" an interesting but sometimes unintentionally hilarious autobiography from Bo with the help of the great Dick Schaap. Here is one example of such hilarity. This is an actual quote: "And when I come back, I want to be reincarnated as a dolphin - or as an F-16." (pg. 203)

When Bo was ten, he was not allowed to play Little League because he was so much better than his peers, so he played against thirteen year olds in Pony League. When he was fourteen, he played with grown men in a semipro league. He also played a number of hobbies, including track, wrestling and football. But these sports were just to pass the time until the season came for his true love - baseball.

"My first love is baseball and it has always been a dream of mine to be a major-league player."

After his senior year, Bo was drafted by the New York Yankees in the second round, and offered $250,000 to sign. Bo turned them and the University of Alabama down and instead decided to attend Auburn University.

Bo excelled on the gridiron at Auburn, but also played on the baseball team.* At first, many SEC fans thought Bo was a freakshow and rode him hard. One game in Georgia, fans heckled him for his play on the football field. Bo promptly hit a ball 385 feet that hit a 85 foot high light-tower. He then smacked two more home runs in the game and won the respect of many fans. He was drafted by the California Angels after his junior year, but Bo insisted on staying at Auburn through his senior season.

*-Take that in for a second. Bo Jackson once played with an aluminum bat. It is amazing no SEC third basemen were killed.

Bo rushed for 1,786 yards his senior year and won the 1985 Heisman Trophy. That spring, he was barred from playing college baseball midway through the year by by the NCAA for taking a paid flight to visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL team. Incensed, Bo told the Bucs to trade his rights, or else he would play baseball. When a trade to the 49ers fell through, Bo began visiting baseball teams. That June, the Royals selected Bo in the fourth round of the MLB Amateur Draft.

"I heard Ruth hit the ball. I'd never heard that sound before, and I was outside the fence but it was the sound of the bat that I had never heard before in my life. And the next time I heard that sound, I'm in Washington, D.C., in the dressing room and I heard that sound of a bat hitting the ball — sounded just like when Ruth hit the ball. I rushed out, got on nothing but a jockstrap, I rushed out — we were playing the Homestead Grays and it was Josh Gibson hitting the ball. And so I heard this sound again."

"Now I didn't hear it anymore. I'm in Kansas City. I'm working for the Cubs at the time, and I was upstairs and I was coming down for the batting practice. And before I could get out there I heard this sound one more time that I had heard only twice in my life. Now, you know who this is? Bo Jackson. Bo Jackson swinging that bat. And now I heard this sound... And it was just a thrill for me. I said, here it is again. I heard it again. I only heard it three times in my life."
-Buck O’Neil

Bo still had to decide whether or not he would accept an offer by the Bucs to be the highest paid rookie in NFL history, or ride the buses in the Royals minor leagues. He chose to ride the buses.

Bo was immediately assigned to AA Memphis. He struggled initially, going 4-45 to begin his professional career. Many began to whisper he had made the wrong choice.

Then Bo began to hit. In one minor league game, he wowed fans with a 550 monster home run shot. In 53 games, he hit .277 with seven home runs and a .473 slugging percentage. In September, he was called up to the Major Leagues.

On September 14 against the Mariners, Bo hit his first big league home run. It was a shot off of Mike Moore that has been claimed to be the longest home run in Royals Stadium history, a 475 shot that landed at the top of the grassy knoll.

Bo made the big league club to begin the 1987 season, and on April 14, he tied a team record with seven RBI to go along with two home runs. Four days later, he tied the MLB record with five strikeouts in a game. Later that month, the Los Angeles Raiders selected Bo in the seventh round, as the 183rd pick. Bo had an escape clause with the Royals to play football, but with his hitting really beginning to take off, Bo was enjoying his baseball career. Raiders owner Al Davis offered Bo the opportunity to play football part-time, once the baseball season was over.

Bo took the opportunity to become a two-sport athlete, although it did not sit well with some fans, teammates and those in the press.

"To be a great baseball player, you need a little humility. And that, to be blunt, is why Bo Jackson is heading for the door. If he has any significant success in cleats, you'll never see him back in spikes."
-Thomas Boswell

Royals fans began to boo Bo, feeling he was not committing to the team, and for playing for the hated rivals of their beloved Chiefs, the Los Angeles Raiders. Bo would slump badly the second half of the season, hitting just .188, and would sit much of September in favor of hot prospect Gary Thurman. Still, Bo's twenty-two home runs were a Royals rookie record, although he hit just .235 with an amazing 158 strikeouts.

That fall, Bo averaged seven yards a carry for the Raiders, good for 554 yards in seven games. He gave the Royals a scare when he sprained his ankle against the Chiefs. Some Royals officials began to publicly express doubt that Bo could continue in both sports. Manager John Wathan told reporters he expected Bo to start 1988 in Omaha.

Bo made the team in 1988 and got off to a very good start.* By the end of May, he was hitting over .300 with nine home runs and fourteen stolen bases. He then tore his hamstring on a groundball and missed a month of the season. Despite the missed time, he finished second on the team with twenty-five home runs and second in steals with twenty-seven swipes. He slugged .472 despite just a .246 batting average.

*-He began hitting so well, it didn't matter if he was even set in the box. Many highlight reels in 1988 featured the clip of Bo calling timeout, stepping out of the box as Orioles pitcher Jeff Ballard goes into his windup, then realizing the umpire did not call timeout, stepping back in the box and slamming a home run.

Bo got off to a great start again in 1989, hitting eight home runs in April and slugging .650. In Minnesota, he became the first right-handed hitter to ever hit a ball into the right field upper deck. A week later, he hit the longest home run in Arlington Stadium history, an amazing shot of Nolan Ryan. In July, he was the leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game. Bo led off the bottom of the first inning, and on the second pitch from Rick Reuschel, Bo slammed it 450 feet to dead center field. He became the second player ever to homer and steal a base in the All-Star Game, and he was named the game's MVP.

Bo missed two weeks in late July and nursed a sore quadricep much of the year, but he still managed to smash thirty-two home runs and 105 RBI, fourth in the league in both categories. He also led the league with an amazing 172 strikeouts. He stole twenty-six bases and threw out eleven baserunners. And he rushed for 950 yards in just eleven games with the Raiders that fall.

By 1990 Bo was a national superstar, with popular Nike ads running on the television.* The Royals were a draw, both at home and on the road. Bo and the Royals engaged in a bitter arbitration battle over his salary. Bo lost the case, and when he proposed a long-term deal with the Royals, ownership said no due to the financial problems of minority owner Avron Fogelman.

*-I would be remiss if I did not post this hilarious Youtube clip of Bo's prowess on the Nintendo game "Tecmo Bowl". Bo was quite frankly the best video game athlete of all-time and it was simply unfair for a player to choose the Raiders because of how absurdly good he was in that game.

That season, both Bo and the Royals struggled out of the gate, despite lofty expectations. Bo took our his frustration by snapping wooden bats over his knee.

"I didn't want to break bats. I really wanted to tear up the whole stadium, turn it upside down, run everybody out of the stands. I wanted to go in the dugout and throw a bat or a helmet or the water cooler - anything to get rid of the frustration."

"Sometimes I just wanted to go back to the bench and cry."

Bo began to heat up in late June, slamming seven home runs in ten games. On July 17, he hit three home runs in a game in Yankee Stadium, missing a shot at a fourth home run when he hurt his shoulder making a sensational diving catch. He would miss a month - then homer in his first at-bat off the disabled list, tying the MLB record for home runs in consecutive at-bats.

Greatest ISO in Royals History (min. 1000 plate appearances)*
1. Bo Jackson 1986-1990 .230
2. Steve Balboni 1984-1988 .229
3. Danny Tartabull 1987-1991 .228
4. Gary Gaetti 1993-1995 .224
5. Raul Ibanez 2001-2003 .201
*-ISO is slugging percentage minus batting average.

Bo would slug a career best .523 with twenty-eight home runs and 78 RBI. Despite playing in just 111 games, he would finish sixth in the league in home runs.

On January 13, 1991, the Raiders were facing the Bengals in an AFC Playoff game when Bo went up the right sideline for a run. Bengals linebacker Kevin Walker grabbed Bo's right leg, dislocating his hip and severing a blood vessel. Although not considered a serious injury at the time, it would lead to avascular necrosis, deteriorating the cartilage around the hip.

Its pretty puzzling how such a routine play could effectively end the career of such a superior athlete. Doctors have debated Bo's injury for years. Perhaps the human body was not meant to be that amazing. The cartilage and ligaments just could not withstand the power.

That March, the Royals released him, to save money on his $2.3 million contract.

"We released him quickly so we weren't committed to the year's salary. Maybe that was a little cold. But we knew his career was effectively over."
-Royals General Manager Herk Robinson

Bo, determined to prove his detractors wrong, signed with the Chicago White Sox. He would play just twenty-three games that year, although that was more than many thought he would play the rest of his career. His football career was over, and he missed the entire 1992 baseball season, but he did play in 1993 and 1994 as a fairly productive designated hitter for Chicago.

In 1995, with a work stoppage preventing the season from beginning, Bo decided he had enough. He went back to Auburn and completed his degree, then retired from the limelight.

Bo has been pretty quiet in the decade since retiring from baseball. One gets the impression he was always a bit uncomfortable in the limelight. He was a shy kid, with a stuttering problem who always stood out because of his freakish athletic prowess. People don't like to be freaks. We want to be accepted, not leered at. Maybe Bo wants to live a life of normalcy after being gawked at for so long.

Or maybe he wonders what could have been. Some think he could have developed into a Hall of Fame baseball player. Many think he was a slam dunk for the Pro Football Hall of Fame had he dedicated himself to the sport full-time. Maybe he could have been great at both. We'll never know.

2008-12-11T14:48:00.009-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#38 Wally Joyner

1992-1995
518 Games .293/.371/.434
44 HR 271 RBI

I believe Wally Joyner is the greatest Mormon in Royals history, that is, until John Buck puts together some monster seasons. Wally looked more like an accountant than a ballplayer. He had a baby-face and a gentle demeanor and did not have a body-builder physique like so many other sluggers. Nonetheless, he was one of the more feared power hitters in the league for his first two seasons. Mysteriously, that power would disappear for much of the rest of his career. He was never a great power hitter with the Royals, but he was still valuable as a player who could get on base at a great rate and provide excellent defense.

Wally went to high school in suburban Atlanta, but like many Mormons, attended college at Brigham Young University. He was selected in the third round of the 1983 draft by the California Angels. Wally hit for a high average in the minors, but was not a huge home run threat. After the 1985 season, he played winter ball in Puerto Rico. There he met hitting instructor Jose Manuel Morales, who had Joyner develop his upper body strength and modify his hitting stance.

Joyner won the Angels starting first baseman job in 1986 and got off to a sensational start. He soon became a fan favorite with the nickname "Wally World", after the fictional amusement park in "National Lampoon Vacation."* He became the first rookie to be voted into the All-Star Game and tied for the Home Run Derby crown. He became a minor celebrity, although that came with its risks. In August in Yankee Stadium, he was grazed by a knife thrown from the stands. He ended the year with a .290 average, 22 home runs and 100 RBI. Wally finished second only to Jose Canseco in Rookie of the Year balloting.

Joyner would have a monster home run season in 1987, as many hitters did. The ball was juiced* that year as many hitters like Larry Sheets, Dale Sveum, Matt Nokes and Wade Boggs had abnormal spikes in home run production. Joyner enjoyed the spike, clobbering 34 home runs, third in the league, and knocking in 117 runs.

*-Was the ball juiced? I don't know if I've ever heard a sufficient explanation for the loopy numbers of 1987.

In 1988, the offense came back down to earth and Joyner's power dropped precipitously. He hit just 13 home runs, although he hit a career high .295. His numbers would slump the next two seasons, although he would revive his career in his contract year in 1991 with a career high .301 average, 21 home runs and 96 RBI.

Joyner was still a huge fan favorite with Angels fans, but an icy relationship with Angels General Manager Whitey Herzog and owner Jackie Autry led him to look elsewhere when he filed for free agency that winter. Joyner turned down a four year $16 million deal with the Angels to sign a one year $4.2 million deal with the Kansas City Royals.

"Am I foolish to turn down so much guaranteed money? A lot of people would say yes, but this was never about money. . . . I needed time and space to get away." "I'm absolutely thrilled to have an opportunity to play with the Kansas City Royals."

Wally passed the opportunity to sign a long-term deal with the thinking he would increase his value with a great 1992 season and sign a more lucrative deal elsewhere. Joyner got off to a hot start with the Royals and in June, with his average near .300, he signed a three year extension worth $13.8 million.

He then went on a terrific slide, hitting just .233 over June and July. He ended the year hitting just .269 with a pathetic .386 slugging percentage and just nine home runs. Even worse, his defense began to slide late in the year. He committed three errors in a game against Detroit, and made a mental gaffe late in the year when he trotted off the field after only two outs had been recorded.

"I would be out in the field thinking about the next inning when I'd be up and hitting a double to right-center. I started to press, started to try and do too much."

Joyner bought a house in Kansas City in the off-season and rebounded in 1993 with a terrific season. He led the team in doubles with 36, walks with 66 and runs scored with 83. His .377 on-base percentage was tops on the club and he rebounded to slug .467 with fifteen home runs.

"I don't really consider myself a home-run hitter. I'm a contact hitter with some home-run power."

That winter, Joyner was diagnosed with spondylosis, an abnormal vertebral fixation that had been giving him back problems for the last two seasons. With George Brett retiring, Joyner was expected to hit third in the lineup and produce runs. The Royals also expected him to anchor one of the league's best infield defenses along with Jose Lind, Greg Gagne and Gary Gaetti.

After a strong start, Joyner strained his left shoulder in June. The injury limited his power, but it also caused him to be more selective and make more contact.

"I'm being selective. I'm not going to be able to swing at a lot of pitches. I'm not going to be able to swing a lot because of my shoulder so I have to be selective."

He would hit just eight home runs, but his average would reach a career high at .311. His .386 on-base percentage was eclipsed on the team only by Rookie of the Year Bob Hamelin.

Highest On-Base Percentage, Royals History (min. 1000 PAs)
1. Jose Offerman 1996-1998 .385
2. Kevin Seitzer 1986-1991 .380
3. Danny Tartabull 1987-1991 .376
4. Darrell Porter 1977-1980 .375
5. John Mayberry 1972-1977 .374
6. Wally Joyner 1992-1995 .371

After the work stoppage of 1994, the Royals went into cost-cutting move, leaving Joyner as one of the few high-priced veterans left on the ballclub for 1995. He again led the team in hitting at .310, on-base percentage at .394, doubles with 28, and walks with 69. He continued his slick fielding, committing just three errors all season. His playing time triggered a $5 million option for 1996. The Royals, looking to cut costs, dealt Joyner to San Diego for infielder Bip Roberts.

"I'm going to miss Kansas City. My family and I had a great time here, and we made a lot of friends. I'm looking forward to San Diego because I'm familiar with southern California, but I will always remember my experiences here. The Royals treated me with a lot of class.''

Joyner would play six more seasons with the Padres, Braves and Angels before retiring in 2001 with over two-thousand career hits and a lifetime .289 average.

"I still felt great when I was on deck, felt great walking back to the dugout. It was what was in between that wasn't so great anymore."

In 2005, Joyner admitted to having briefly used steroids with teammate Ken Caminiti in 1998. In 2007, he was mentioned in The Mitchell Report as having used steroids in his career, although it qualified his use as minimal.

Wally was hired by the San Diego Padres to be their hitting instructor in 2007, but surprised many when he resigned last fall. He now appears in infommercials espousing the wonders of Xocai Chocolate, and has acted in a few movies for the Church of Latter Day Saints as well as the thriller "The Darwin Conspiracy" (plot: The frozen body of a prehistoric, but super-advanced, human leads scientists to start covert DNA experiments for the development of a new race of super beings!!!! Oh, and it also stars Willie Gault and Steve Garvey. How did this not win an Oscar?)

I think many people will harp on the fact that Joyner lost his power and portray him as a disappointment for never recapturing that power. That would ignore the fact that the guy was a great contact hitter who could draw walks and play slick defense. He was a good, not great hitter and by all accounts a great clubhouse guy.

Now as for acting...

2008-12-04T13:30:00.012-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#39 Ed Kirkpatrick

1969-1973
613 Games .248/.334/.390
56 HR 245 RBI

This one surprised me as I'm sure it surprised you. How many current Royals fans have heard of Ed Kirkpatrick? Maybe ten percent?

The internet has become so integrated in our lives that it is difficult to imagine life without it. But there was a time when information was not available at our fingertips. Without the internet, I think a guy like Ed Kirkpatrick would have been completely forgotten. He was a versatile player who only sometimes started, but was pretty valuable when he did. He was one of the more integral performers in the early days of this franchise. He has largely been forgotten, but thanks to sites like Baseball-Reference, we can pay him the respect he deserves. That is part of what this site is all about as well.

Ed Kirkpatrick was the starting left-fielder in the very first Royals game and spent five seasons in Kansas City as an outfielder and catcher. He put up good numbers, but was dealt before the team rose to prominence in the 1970s. He had decent power for his era, and generally drew a fair amount of walks. In his Royals career, he posted a 104 OPS+, which means he was slightly better than the league average, which is quite valuable for a guy who can squat behind the plate.

Kirkpatrick signed with the Los Angeles Angels out of Glendora High School in 1962, lured by a $20,000 bonus. After hitting .381 in forty-five games in A ball, he was promoted to the big leagues for six at-bats at the tender age of seventeen. He bounced between the minors and the majors for the next five seasons, drawing a fair amount of walks despite being very young. He finally stuck with the Angels in 1968 and hit .230 as a spare outfielder and broke the club record with fourteen pinch-hits.

In the 1969 Expansion Draft, the Royals took future Hall of Fame reliever Hoyt Wilhelm from the White Sox. The Royals had a strategy of fielding a much younger team than the other expansion clubs, so they dealt Wilhelm to the Angels for catcher Dennis Paepke and the twenty-four year old Kirkpatrick.

Nicknamed "Spanky", Kirkpatrick started left-field in that inaugural Royals game, but he played everywhere on the field for manager Joe Gordon. In 1969, the super-sub would appear at every position but pitcher and shortstop. Kirkpatrick provided some good power in an era in which power was scarce. Late in the year, he had back-to-back two-home run games, the first Royal to accomplish that feat. Despite appearing in just 315 at-bats, he led the team with fourteen home runs. He also hit .257 with 49 RBI and drew 43 walks.

"Ed will play anyplace we ask, and he'll do a good job. When he's hitting, it doesn't matter if he faces left or right-handers. A guy like that is valuable to any club, especially a young one."
-Manager Joe Gordon

Kirkpatrick upped his home run total to eighteen the next season, second on the club. But his average suffered as he hit just .229. On August 13, he hit the second grand slam in Royals history. He spent most of his time behind the plate, catching eighty games, and led all American League catchers with 62 RBI.

Ed would suffer his worst season in a Royals uniform in 1971 as his average continued to slide down to .219. He still drew 48 walks, but hit just nine home runs. He split his time evenly between the outfield and catcher position.

He rebounded in 1972 to get off to a fast start. Despite missing much of April, he went on a tear in May, hitting home runs in three consecutive games. His hot hitting kept his batting average over .300 well into July. He went on a fifteen game tear in July going 22-57 (.386). He ended the year hitting .275 with a .365 on-base percentage and 51 walks. He put up solid numbers for a catcher, hitting nine home runs with 43 RBI.

Best On-Base Percentage as a Catcher, Royals History
Darrell Porter 1976-1980 - .372
Bob Boone 1989-1990 - .348
Ed Kirkpatrick 1969-1973 - .338
Fran Healy 1969, 1973-1976 - .337
Mike MacFarlane 1987-1994, 1996-1998 - .326

In 1973, the club re-acquired Fran Healy to be their backstop, so Kirkpatrick was sent back to the outfield. Kirkpatrick went on a tear to begin the season, going on an eighteen game hitting streak, the second longest in team history at that point. Overall, his numbers tailed off a bit, as he hit .263 with six home runs and 45 RBI as the Royals finished second in the division.

That winter, the Royals dealt Kirkpatrick in a five player deal that netted them pitcher Nellie Briles. Kirkpatrick spent the next few seasons as a bench player for some competitive Pirates ballclubs before retiring in 1978.

In 1981, Kirkpatrick was involved in a minor car accident. A blood clot lodged in his brain leading to a six month coma. He emerged from the coma paralyzed. Despite the set-back, he became a representative for Rawlings, the Sporting Goods company, and retired in California.

Kirkpatrick has not worn a Royals uniform in over twenty-five years, but he will be remembered as a valuable member of the early days of this franchise. We salute you Ed Kirkpatrick.

2008-11-14T15:14:00.016-06:00

The Best Free Agent Signings in Royals History

Last week we looked at the worst free agent signings in Royals history, today we look at the best. Again, the caveats:

1. I only included Major League free agents, not waiver wire pickups or minor league free agents.

2. I only included free agents signed from other teams, not contracts given to players already on the club.

3. I only included the initial contract figure, but not extensions.

I was also asked about Jose Guillen and Yasuhiko Yabuta on the "worst" list, but the same applies to Gil Meche and Ron Mahay on the "best" list - I'm going to hold off on putting any of them on the lists since their contracts are still ongoing. But they may very well find themselves on these lists someday.

10.David Riske
2007 - 1 year $2 million
1-4 2.45 ERA 69 2/3 Innings
8 Win Shares

Well this should give you an indication of the quality of free agents the Royals have signed throughout the years. Riske was a solid reliever who signed a one year deal with an option in the winter of 2006 after a solid career with the Indians, White Sox and Red Sox. His wife was a Kansas City native, and it is possible that was a factor in Riske's decision, although I don't know many guys willingly move closer to their in-laws.

Riske got off to a rough start, posting an ERA close to seven in April. He would not allow a run in his next eighteen appearances, then went on another ten consecutive scoreless appearance streak in June and July. He ended the year with a 2.45 ERA as the Royals showcased their first competent bullpen in almost fifteen years. That winter, Riske declined his player option and signed a three year deal with Milwaukee.

9. Kirk Gibson
1991 - 2 years $2.65 million
132 Games .236/.341/.403 16 HR 55 RBI
12 Win Shares

Gibson was just two seasons removed from his MVP season when he signed with the Royals in the winter of 1990. Knee and hamstring injuries had robbed him of playing time since his famous World Series home run, and teams were reluctant to invest much money in him. The Royals offered the outfielder a two year deal, outbidding the Brewers, Twins and Expos.

Gibson provided much needed power early in the season, slugging .545 with six home runs in April. My memory could be deceiving me, but I seem to recall Kirk Gibson hitting the longest ball I have ever seen in Royals Stadium. I don't remember if it was fair or foul, but he yanked one that cleared all of the seats in right field general admission.

He slumped badly in May, but resurrected his numbers a bit that summer. He was pretty awful defensively, and nearly cost Bret Saberhagen a no-hitter that year when a blooper hit off his glove. The official scorer ruled it an error, although some saw it differently. Injuries nagged at Gibson all year, and he was essentially dumped at the end of the year to the Pirates for reliever Neal Heaton. Still, Gibson finished second on the team in home runs with sixteen, was second in slugging at .403, and led the team in walks with 69. He had a bit of a disappointing season, but considering what the Royals paid him, it was one of the more productive free agent seasons in Royals history.

8. Matt Stairs
2004 - 1 year $1 million
126 Games .267/.345/.451 18 HR 66 RBI
11 Win Shares

Stairs wasn't given a chance to play every day in the big leagues until he was twenty-nine. When given the chance, he was a "Three True Outcomes" player, slamming home runs and drawing walks. He signed with the Royals in 2004, his fifth team in five seasons. He was coming off a season in which he had slugged .561 with twenty home runs in limited action, yet the Royals were able to sign him for the low, low price of $1 million.

Stairs was supposed to be a bat off the bench, but by Memorial Day he was playing regularly in place of the injured Juan Gonzalez. Stairs continued to slam home runs, finishing second on the team with eighteen. He also finished second on the team in RBI with 66 and led the team in walks with 49. Despite being embarrassed that such a lowly regarded free agent could be among the team leaders in several offensive categories, the Royals rewarded him with a one year contract extension.

7. Rey Sanchez
1999 - 1 year $1.1 million
134 Games .294/.329/.370 2 HR 56 RBI
12 Win Shares

Rey Sanchez had bounced around with the Cubs, Yankees and Giants as a reserve infielder before signing a one year deal to be the starter with the Royals in 1999. Sanchez was known for being a sure-handed defender, and he did not disappoint. He committed just thirteen errors all season. Offensively, Sanchez was a poster boy for the term "empty batting average." He didn't hit for any kid of power, and drew very few walks, but he hit a career high .294. The Royals rewarded him with a two year contract extension.

6. Mike MacFarlane
1996 - 2 years $1.6 million
112 Games .274/.339/.499 19 HR 54 RBI
20 Win Shares

Mike MacFarlane, a free agent? Its true. The Royals foolishly let MacFarlane, a long-time homegrown favorite, walk after the 1994 season to let Brent Mayne play every day and to trim payroll. Mac went to Boston, but suffered a disappointing season. The Royals realized their error, and were able to bring MacFarlane back at a much reduced price. Mac got off to a slow start and was under the Mendoza Line in May, but he slugged .677 in June and would finish with nineteen home runs, second on the club. His .499 slugging percentage would lead the ballclub, and he would have one of his best seasons throwing out base runners.

He would slump a bit in 1997, splitting time with rookie Mike Sweeney, but he still managed an 85 OPS+, not shabby for a catcher.

5. Greg Gagne
1993-1995 - 3 years $10.7 million
386 Games .266/.317/.392 23 HR 157 RBI
39 Win Shares

Gagne was part of the last big free agent splash the Royals made in the winter after the 1992 season. They signed Gagne, David Cone, brought in slick fielding Jose Lind, and even pursued slugger Joe Carter. The Royals were able to lure Gagne to Kansas City over his hometown Red Sox with a $10.7 million deal. The shortstop position had long been a position filled with abysmal hitters since UL Washington was let go. Gagne provided a solid, although not spectacular bat. More importantly he was a sure-handed defender that fit perfectly on a ballclub deep in pitching that played on artificial turf.

Gagne's best offensive season was his first in Kansas City. He hit .280/.319/.406 with a career high 57 RBI. He would never match those numbers, but he continued to provide excellent defense, committing just forty errors over three seasons. After 1995, the Royals could no longer afford to keep Gagne, and he left for Los Angeles, allowing the Royals to suck again at the shortstop position.

4. Mark Grudzielanek
2006-2007 - 2 years $8 million
250 Games .300/.338/.417 13 HR 103 RBI
25 Win Shares

Grudzielanek was pretty similar to Gagne. Both were gritty veterans who had played for contending ballclubs. Both were pretty average with the bat, although Grudz was much better than Gagne. Both were very sure-handed defensively, although neither made a lot of spectacular plays.

Grudz was thirty-five when he signed with the Royals. He had spent his career with the Expos, Dodgers, Cubs and Cardinals, winning many games along the way. The Royals hoped he would provide a winning attitude for their clubhouse.

"It's going to be a challenge. Don't get me wrong. It might take us a little while. But you've got to have a few people to sign on and be a part of it."

Grudz would put together two very consistent seasons as a contact hitter who did not walk much, but did not strike out much either. He didn't hit home runs, but had good gap power. More importantly, he committed just ten errors in his first two seasons as a Royal.

His solid play earned him a one year contract extension, although it now appears as if his Royals days may be over. His .300 average is still third all-time in franchise history.

3. Bob Boone
1989 - 1 year $883,001
131 Games .274/.351/.323 1 HR 43 RBI
20 Win Shares

Before he was a cantankerous, meddling manager, Bob Boone was one of the best defensive catchers in baseball. By the winter of 1988, Boone had put together an illustrious career and was coming off an excellent season. But he was forty years old and the Angels would no longer guarantee him a starting job. The Royals promised Boone a starting job in Kansas City, and offered him a one dollar raise. Boone happily accepted.

Boone didn't hit for any kind of power, but he had great plate discipline, drawing forty-nine walks. He hit .274 and struck out just thirty-seven times. He was a solid presence in the clubhouse, and threw out nearly forty percent of would-be basestealers, earning his seventh Gold Glove. The Royals would give him a more lucrative contract extension, but he would have just one more disappointing season before calling it quits and annoying Royals fans with constant lineup tinkering as manager.

2. Tim Belcher
1996 - 1 year $1.7 million
15-11 3.92 ERA 238 2/3 Innings
19 Win Shares

Belcher had put together a decent career as a workhorse starter when he signed with the Detroit Tigers. He was absolutely shelled that season and became a leper on the free agent market. He resurrected his career in Seattle, where he provided a stabilizing force in the post-season rotation for a young Mariners club. Still, he did not generate many offers that winter, and decided to return to the Midwest with the Royals on a one year deal.

Belcher would be excellent for the Royals, posting a 3.92 ERA and leading the team in wins and innings pitched. He would finish 15-11 with four complete games. The Royals would reward him with a much more lucrative two year deal, and he continued to be a very solid workhorse in their rotation.

1. David Cone
1993-1994 - 3 years $15 million
27-19 3.17 ERA 425 2/3 Innings
41 Win Shares

David Cone had long been "the one that got away". He was a Kansas City native, drafted by the Royals, but traded away just as his Major League career was just getting started. He achieved fame and fortune in New York, but after winning a World Series in Toronto, he was eager to return to his roots. Ewing Kauffman wanted to make one last push for a championship, so the ballclub went on a free agent splurge that included a three year deal for David Cone.

Cone was a tough luck pitcher at first. By the end of July of 1993, his record was a poor 6-10 despite a 3.56 ERA. But he finished the season strong with a 3.12 ERA in the second half. In 1994, few could stop Cone. After dropping his first game, he won his next eight starts in a row, including three straight complete game shutouts. He finished third in the league in ERA, second in wins, and won the Cy Young Award.

Sadly, late that summer owner Ewing Kauffman passed away. His death, coupled with the player's strike, put the team in financial uncertainty. General Manager Herk Robinson was ordered to cut payroll and David Cone was the first casualty. He was dealt back to the Toronto Blue Jays for three minor leaguers of little consequence. The Royals would not sign another major free agent until 2006.

The Royals signed David Cone when I was in the prime of my childhood - old enough to understand baseball transactions, young enough to not be jaded. I had been too young to enjoy the 1985 Championship, but the Cone signing gave me visions of future championships. But, like much of my high school days, I would be left disappointed, frustrated and confused. Cone was essentially dealt for a handful of beans, leaving me bitter for over a decade.

Now that the Royals are dipping their toe back into the free agent pool, let us hope they populate more of this list than last week's list.

2008-11-14T10:29:00.005-06:00

The Worst Free Agent Signings in Royals History

As we embark on the Hot Stove season and free agents begin to sign, let's take a look back at some free agent signings of the past for the Royals. First, we will take a look at the worst free agents. Next week, I'll look at the best.

The Royals, being one of the smallest markets in baseball, have traditionally not spent a lot of money on free agents, even back when Ewing Kauffman ran the ballclub. Occasionally the club has doled out the big money for a player, with mixed results.

For this list:

1. I only included Major League free agents, not waiver wire pickups or minor league free agents.

2. I only included free agents signed from other teams, not contracts given to players already on the club.

3. I only included the initial contract figure, but not extensions.

I didn't use any metrics, this is just sort of my opinion, so feel free to vociferously disagree or let me know if there are any glaring omissions. That's what my readers are here for!

10.Chuck Knoblauch, Albie Lopez, Joe Mays, and Brett Tomko
Chuck Knoblauch
2002 - 1 year $2 million
80 Games .210/.284/.300 6 HR 22 RBI
2 Win Shares

Albie Lopez
2003 - 1 year $1.5 million
4-2 12.71 ERA 22 1/3 Innings
0 Win Shares

Joe Mays
2006 - 1 year $2 million
0-5 8.70 ERA 23 1/3 Innings
0 Win Shares

Brett Tomko
2007 - 1 year $3 million
2-7 6.97 ERA 60 1/3 Innings
-1 Win Shares

All of these guys are pretty much the same. They were all signed to very low, but very guaranteed Major League contracts when they all probably should have been signed to non-guaranteed minor league deals for the league minimum or better yet, not brought into camp at all. They were all god awful to varying degrees and the Royals would have been better off flushing the money down the toilet.

9. Juan Gonzalez
2004 - 1 year $4.5 million
33 Games .276/.326/.441 5 HR 17 RBI
3 Win Shares

This signing gets panned more than it should in my view. It was a perfectly reasonable gamble considering where the Royals were. They were coming off their remarkable 2003 run, and needed some punch in the lineup. Gonzalez, when healthy, was still a feared slugger coming off a season in which he slugged .572 in limited action. The only question was his health. To their credit, the Royals offered him just a one year deal with a low base salary and plenty of incentives. It just didn't work out.

"Juan Gone is a slugger. A real one. He has the nickname. He has the numbers. He has the look. If they sign him, Gonzalez will be the most celebrated player the Royals have ever signed."
-Joe Posnanski

Juan Gone got off to a good start, blasting a pair of home runs in an early game against Minnesota. But he began slumping in May and late in the month he strained his back. He would never play again that season, and would bat just one more time in the big leagues, in 2005 with the Indians.

8. Storm Davis
1990-1991 - 3 years $6 million
10-19 4.85 ERA 226 1/3 Innings
6 Win Shares

Storm Davis had been a nineteen game winner for the World Champion Oakland Athletics, and was still in the prime of his career. Back then sabermetrics was pretty much confined to Bill James and a pack of loyal followers in their mom's basements, but it didn't take a mathematician to see Storm's success was due to a powerful offense and a spacious ballpark. Nonetheless, the Royals inked him to a three year deal in 1990.

"Some people say that his statistics, other than wins and losses, don't really match up, but the bottom line is wins and losses. He's a fly-ball pitcher, but we've got a big ballpark."
-John Schuerholz

Davis was a low-strikeout pitcher in Oakland and he proved that was not a fluke in Kansas City. He was hit hard and posted a 4.74 ERA in his first season with the Royals, missing a month of the season with injury. He got off to a better start in 1991, but when the Royals hired Hal McRae, Davis was bumped to the bullpen to make room for another pricey free agent, Mike Boddicker. Davis requested a trade, but no one wanted the pitcher with a 4.96 ERA. Finally, that winter Storm's old team, the Orioles, picked him up for backup catcher Bob Melvin.

7. Doug Henry and Scott Sullivan

Doug Henry
2001 - 2 years $2.9 million
2-2 6.07 ERA 75 2/3 Innings
2 Win Shares

Scott Sullivan
2004 - 2 years $4.7 million
3-4 4.77 ERA 60 1/3 Innings
3 Win Shares

Doug Henry and Scott Sullivan were rather similar. The Royals crowed "poor" for a decade, yet still spent millions on these two old, mediocre relievers. The Royals had a mess of bullpen problems under the Allard Baird regime, so that caused him to panic and seek veteran help. He signed the thirty-seven year old Henry to set-up for closer Tom Gordon. That plan fell through when Gordon signed with the Cubs. The plan fell apart even more when Henry proved he was no longer a set-up man and stunk it up for a season. The next spring, the Royals released the right-hander, eating the $1.5 million remaining on his contract.

Sullivan was signed in response to the Royals unlikely run in 2003. That team had lost quite a few close ballgames due to an injury-filled and inexperienced bullpen. So they brought in the thirty-three year old Sullivan. The sidearmer had been a workhorse with the Reds, frequently topping over 100 innings in the pen. Those innings caught up with him in Kansas City. In August of 2004, he injured his back, ending his season and ultimately his career.

6. Reggie Sanders
2006-2007 - 2 years $10 million
112 Games .259/.325/.437 13 HR 60 RBI
9 Win Shares

Despite being a great clubhouse guy and a solid starter on several playoff teams, Reggie Sanders had bounced around the league quite a bit. He had often played for winners, so it was out of character when he signed a two year deal with the Royals. Sanders was thirty-eight, but coming off a very productive, albeit injury-limited season. Still, some questioned whether bringing on Sanders and other veterans on the wrong side of thirty, was in keeping with the youth movement.

"I feel very, very comfortable saying this fits right in with our plan." -Allard Baird
Sanders provided some modest power, but produced his lowest batting average and on-base percentage since 2000. He also missed the entire month of September with injury. The next spring, the Royals looked to move the veteran, but could not find a willing taker. Sanders would play just twenty-four games in 2007 before calling it a career.

5. Jose Lima
2005 - 1 year $3.5 million
5-16 6.99 ERA 168 2/3 Innings
-2 Win Shares

LIMA-TIME!

Jose Lima had been a sensation in 2003 when the Royals plucked him from obscurity in the Atlantic League. He resuscitated his once All-Star career by winning his first seven decisions. The Royals could not afford to keep Lima, so he split for Los Angeles. But like herpes, Lima returned. The Royals, desperate for pitching, gave Lima a decent one year deal. After getting shelled opening day, Lima continued to be putrid by posting a 6.99 ERA, the third highest ERA in Major League history by a pitcher qualified for the ERA title.

4. Benito Santiago
2004 - 2 years $4.3 million
49 Games .274/.312/.434 6 HR 23 RBI
3 Win Shares

After the Royals surprising run in 2003, Allard Baird decided to complement the core of his team that had finished 83-79 with some second-tier free agent veterans. One such veteran was Benito Santiago. Santiago was just one season removed from being the backstop for the NL pennant-Giants and had even garnered MVP votes in 2002.

Santiago was still putting up productive numbers, but was thirty-nine years old. Nonetheless, the Royals handed him a two year, multi-million dollar deal. Santiago actually played fairly well through June before he was hit on the hand with a pitch and missed the rest of the season. That winter, Santiago admitted to a grand jury the reason for his productivity. The Royals found a team stupider than them to take on his contract when he was shipped to Pittsburgh for pitcher Leo Nunez. He played six games in Pittsburgh before calling it a career.

3. Mike Boddicker
1991-1992 - 3 years $9.24 million
13-16 4.38 267 1/3 Innings
12 Win Shares

This is a pretty overlooked bust in Royals history I guess because Boddicker had one decent season and has been a really nice guy who is still visible in the Kansas City community. Mike had put together a very solid career with the Orioles and Red Sox and was coming off a seventeen win season when the Royals signed him in December of 1990. It was the first free agent deal for new General Manager Herk Robinson. It was a substantial deal, but the Iowa-born Boddicker turned down even greater deals to return to the Midwest.

"Money was not the biggest issue. Contract was not the biggest issue. My family was the biggest issue. And a winning ballclub. This is a great town to raise a family."

Boddicker won twelve games with a mediocre ERA of 4.08 in his first season in KC. After just two starts in 1992, he was demoted to the bullpen. He ended the year with a 4.98 ERA in twenty-nine games. That winter he had arthroscopic surgery on his knee. While rehabbing in Omaha, the Royals sold him to the Brewers.

2. Scott Elarton
2006-2007 - 2 years $8 million
6-13 6.59 ERA 151 2/3 Innings
2 Win Shares

During the Allard Baird years, the Royals shopped for free agents the way hyenas sift through garbage. If there was a player with some pretty significant limitations to his game, the Royals were probably looking to sign him. Elarton had been a fireballer early in his career, but suffered major injuries. He reinvented himself as a junkballer and had a decent comeback in 2005 with a 4.61 ERA. Decent numbers, but with his age and his injury concerns and a lack of proven history, probably not worth sinking a lot of money into.

That's where Allard Baird stepped in. Baird, desperate to cobble together a rotation that could resemble Major League pitchers, signed Elarton to a two year deal. Elarton even won the Opening Day starting assignment, pitching well in a 3-1 loss to Detroit. After one month, Elarton had a 4.28 ERA and it looked like Allard had made a shrewd investment. After that, Scott completely collapsed and by July he was out for the year with injury. He returned in 2007 to make just nine starts before mercifully getting released with an ERA over ten.

1. Mark Davis
1990-1992 - 3 years, $14 million
9-13 5.31 ERA 167 2/3 Innings 7 Saves
4 Win Shares

Well we all knew he would be tops on this list, didn't we? Davis was the reigning Cy Young Award winner with the Padres, and in December he became the highest paid player in baseball* by signing with the Royals. The Royals had American League Cy Young Award winner Bret Saberhagen, making them the first team ever to have both reigning Cy Young Award winners.

*-Is it just me or is it kinda sad that from 1990-2006, the Royals only signed one free agent to a richer contract than Mark Davis? That was David Cone in 1994 - three years $15 million. Dayton Moore must have used the Jedi Mind Trick to get David Glass to open up the wallet.

Even if Davis had been a solid reliever with the Royals, in hindsight it seemed like a waste of resources to spend so much money on a closer. The Royals had two solid relievers in Jeff Montgomery and Steve Farr. But neither had the "Proven Closer" label or had "closer stuff"**, so the Royals were not confident letting either close out games on a full-time basis. The Royals had a very good rotation and had finished second in the league in complete games, and third in ERA. The reason they couldn't keep up with the Oakland Athletics was because they couldn't score runs. They were eleventh in runs scored and got particularly abysmal production from their designated hitter position from guys like Pat Tabler and Bill Buckner. Spending the money on a big bat would have been a much better use of money than the bullpen.

**-which is kinda curious since Dan Quisenberry was one of the greatest closers of all-time, yet never had "closer stuff."

Davis was actually pretty good his first month with the team, converting three saves in a row. He then blew a 6-2 lead against Texas.

"When you have a guy like Mark Davis, they are going to feel confident to turn the ball over to him."
-Manager John Wathan

He then blew three saves in a week in May and by the end of the month Jeff Montgomery was closing games and Davis was in long relief. He ended his first season with an awful 5.11 ERA and just six saves. He was slightly better the next season with a 4.45 ERA, but was already considered a huge bust. After thirty-six innings and an ERA over seven in 1992, the Royals finally dumped him on the Braves. Mark Davis became an infamous name in Royals lore.

2008-11-08T13:43:00.003-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#40 Brian McRae

1990-1994
614 Games .262/.313./.372
30 HR 248 RBI 93 SB

I imagine it must be difficult to work in a career field that your father is famous for excelling in. I pursued a very different career field than my father so there wasn't really any footsteps to fill. But for sons of fathers who began their own successful business, or sons of famous athletes and actors, it must be frustrating to try and shed that "son" label. Some seem to excel. Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey both became better hitters than their fathers, both of whom were quite good. Josh Brolin has seemed to surpass his father's acting career. George W. Bush....well the point is, some sons can overachieve their name.

Royals with MLB Fathers
Scott Northey 1969 (Ron)
Jim Campanis 1969-1970 (Al)
Joe Keough 1969-1972 (Marty)
Jerry Martin 1982-1983 (Barney)
Danny Tartabull 1987-1991 (Jose)
Kurt Stillwell 1988-1991 (Ron)
Bob Boone 1989-1990 (Ray)
Mel Stottlemyre Jr. 1990 (Mel Sr.)
Brian McRae 1990-1994 (Hal)
David Howard 1991-1997 (Bruce)
Chris Haney 1992-1998 (Larry)
Jose Mota 1995 (Manny)
Brett Laxton 2000 (Bill)
Dusty Wathan 2002 (John)
Brian Bannister 2007-2008 (Floyd)
Tony Pena Jr. 2007-2008 (Tony Sr.)

Royals with MLB Sons
Bob Oliver 1969-1972 (Darren)
Hal McRae 1973-1987 (Brian)
John Wathan 1976-1985 (Dusty)
Dennis Werth 1982 (Jayson)
Floyd Bannister 1988-1989 (Brian)
Bob Boone 1989-1990 (Bret and Aaron)

Brian McRae was the son of popular Royals hitter Hal McRae and you would expect lofty expectations on the young man. My memory could be off, but I don't recall there being wild expectations for him just for being Hal's son. Brian and Hal McRae were the first father-son tandem in Royals history with John and Dusty Wathan and Floyd and Brian Bannister since joining them.

"I grew up in this ballpark. I know everything about this place. I've been everywhere. In all the tunnels, all the storage rooms. I've watched games from the last seats in the upper deck. I've been running around here since 1973....We played a lot of tape-ball games in the Royals bullpen. We made up our own rules. You'd get various hits for hitting different pieces of equipment stored in the bullpen. A double or something would go off a John Deere tractor. Nobody could hit the ball over the fence. We were just kids."

Brian was born in Bradenton, Florida and split his childhood between Florida and Kansas City. He was a stand out athlete in baseball and football at both Manatee High School in Florida and Blue Springs High School in suburban Kansas City and was offered a football scholarship to the University of Kansas. He was expected to be taken in later rounds of the MLB draft, but the Royals surprised many when they took McRae in the first round in 1985 and offered him a six figure contract bonus. McRae dismissed his dreams of playing at KU and signed with the Royals.

For his first few professional seasons, McRae looked like he had been an over-reach in the draft. The switch-hitting second baseman struggled to hit for much of an average in the minors, and had little power. He stole quite a few bases, but by 1988 he was hitting just .201 for AA Memphis.

Brian moved to the outfield and repeated Memphis the next year, hitting just .227. He spent a third year in Memphis in 1990 and improved his average to .268 and reached double digits in home runs for the first time. When center-fielder Bo Jackson dislocated his shoulder in July, the Royals tried Willie Wilson and Jim Eisenreich. By August they turned to McRae to fill the position and he did not disappoint. He tripled in his very first at bat and hit .286 in forty-six games.

"He came up and did more than we thought he could do. He's got a quick bat and has some pop in it, too. He's a leadoff man now, but he may bat sixth someday. He's got a very good idea about the strike zone, and let's face it, he knows his way around the ballpark."
-Royals scout Buck O'Neill

In 1991, the Royals went young and went with rookie second baseman Terry Shumpert to replace long-time All-Star Frank White, and McRae in centerfield to replace All-Star Willie Wilson. McRae, hitting lead-off, struggled mightily to begin the year with a .143 average after one month. He rebounded a bit in May, but the team continued to struggle and in June they fired manager John Wathan and replaced him with Brian's father Hal.

"It's kind of like having your mother as your teacher in school. I'm trying to become a big league ballplayer. I can't worry about my father. I have to play for myself. That's how this game is."

The Royals responded by playing much better ball in July and August, and Brian McRae began to heat up as well. He went on a twenty-two game hitting streak that summer, the longest streak in the league that season. He would end with a modest .261 average and twenty steals. However he drew just twenty-four walks he had an on-base percentage of .288, awful for a lead-off hitter.

The Royals got off to a terrible start in 1992, dropping sixteen of their first seventeen games. McRae was part of that awful start, going 2-30 to begin the year, and failing to get above the Mendoza Line until June. He did pull off an unassisted double play in a game in August, the first outfielder to pull off the feat in almost twenty years. He would end the year with an awful .223 average, second worst in baseball among those qualifying for the batting title.

McRae would get off to a good start in 1993, hitting .300 much of the year. Brian gave some of the credit to his father, who moved him from the lead-off spot to the second spot in the lineup. He also credited good luck.

"I didn't think I swung the bat as bad as my average last year. I don't think I'm swinging as good as my average this year. "

McRae, a switch hitter, hit .322 from the right side, and just .264 from the left side. Some called for him to give up switch hitting, but he maintained he had more power from the left side. For his career he would hit .250/.328/.388 from the left side, and .290/.337/.416 from the right side.

When the Royals and Rangers met in late July they were battling close behind the White Sox for the division lead. In the first game of the series, Royals pitcher Rick Reed plunked Rangers slugger Rafael Palmeiro, angering Rangers manager Kevin Kennedy. Some clubhouse attendants at Royals Stadium told the Royals they had heard from Kennedy that he planned retaliation. Later in the series, McRae was plunked by Rangers pitcher Bob Patterson, who hadn't hit a batter in three years. McRae was enraged, but rather than head for the pitcher's mound for a scuffle, he made a dash at the Rangers dugout for Kennedy.

"I've never seen it. He surprised me...But when you tell everybody what you're going to do, you force people to do things they don't normally do. He told the world he was going to hit Brian so Brian did what he had to do. "
-Royals Manager Hal McRae

"I figured I couldn't get beat up too bad by the time our guys got over there."
-Brian McRae

Hal wanted the Royals to be more aggressive on the basepaths, even if he didn't have particularly good base-stealers. The Royals finished third in caught stealing and ninth in stolen bases. Brian was part of the equation, getting caught fourteen times to just twenty-three steals. Still, he finished hitting .282 with 12 home runs and 69 RBI, easily his best season.

Brian again got off to a sizzling start in 1994 with a pair of four hit games and a five hit game to end the month of May. McRae hit over .300 for the first half of the season, and even began drawing walks and stealing bases at a better rate. The Royals would catch fire in late July, winning fourteen games in a row. Brian would have a base-hit in all but one of those games. In August, the players went on strike and the season was cancelled. McRae would end the season hitting .273 with just 4 home runs and 40 RBI, but a career high 54 walks and 28 steals.

During the strike, owners unilaterally imposed new rules that would have made McRae a restricted free agent, with the Royals given the chance to match any offer. The Chicago Cubs offered him a three year $9 million deal. When the MLBPA and owners finally agreed to a deal, the restricted free agency plan was shelved, and McRae reverted back to arbitration status, rather than free agency status. Still, with Royals owner Ewing Kauffman having passed away the previous season, the team found itself in financial disarray. In a cost cutting move, the Royals shipped McRae to the Cubs in exchange for pitchers Derek Wallace and Geno Morones.

"It's like I'm leaving a family."

McRae would play for the Cubs for two and a half seasons before being dealt to the Mets. In 1999, he would bounce from the Mets to the Rockies to the Blue Jays. After working out with the Cardinals in 2000, McRae decided to retire and work for ESPN. He has gone on to work for MLB.com and is part owner of 810 WHB in Kansas City as well as the 810 Zone sports bar, and fills in as an analyst on Royals telecasts from time to time.

I'd say Brian has made quite a name for himself.

2008-11-04T19:50:00.005-06:00

The Royals All-Presidential Team

C Scotti Madison
1B Chuck Harrison
2B Rondin Johnson
SS UL Washington
3B Craig Wilson
LF Bo Jackson
CF Willie Wilson
RF Rontrez Johnson
Bench: C Carl Taylor, C Brian Johnson, IF Damian Jackson, OF Dwight Taylor

SP Danny Jackson
SP Bob Johnson
SP Kris Wilson
SP Ed Pierce

RP Bob Buchanan
RP Grant Jackson
RP Lance Carter
RP Mike Jackson

2008-10-23T11:29:00.001-06:00

The Ten Least Consequential White Sox Players

Not Royals-related of course, but in the same vein as the Twenty Most ObscureRoyals Players, I bring you "The Ten Least Consequential White Sox Players", from Mouthpiecesports.

Elmer Pence, 1922
1 game, 0 plate appearances, 1 putout

Pence, I assume, was sent out to right field late in the game one day. I like to think that he caught a fly ball, said “so long suckers,” and walked away with the ball, never to be seen again. Major League Baseball was not played again until 1927, when someone finally saved up enough money to go to the drug store and buy another baseball. Elmer Pence was a jerk.

2008-10-21T13:00:00.006-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#41 John Wathan

John Wathan is one of three men to both play for and manage the Royals. Hal McRae and Bob Boone are the others (Jamie Quirk managed on an interim basis when Tony Muser served a suspension in 1998). Throughout the years, Royals fans have often clamored for the team to hire a popular former player to fill the managerial position. In the early 1980s, fans were irate when the team bypassed beloved former Royals infielder Cookie Rojas to hire Dick Howser. In the late 1990s, some were upset when former Royals catcher Jamie Quirk was bypassed for Tony Muser. And more recently some fans howled when the Royals bypassed former Royals second baseman Frank White in favor of Trey Hillman.

What is the track record for franchises bringing back former regulars to manage the club? Billy Martin (Yankees), Mike Hargrove (Indians), Larry Dierker (Astros), Ozzie Guillen (White Sox), stand out to me as a success stories. Pete Rose (Reds), Joe Torre (Braves), Lou Piniella (Yankees), Jim Fregosi (Angels), Larry Bowa (Phillies), Bill Russell (Dodgers) all had ups and downs. Butch Hobson (Red Sox), Bucky Dent (Yankees) and Alan Trammell (Tigers) were disasters. So its pretty much the same as any random group of managers - some successes, some mixed results, and some disasters.

I think fans like to believe these former beloved players can restore an attitude from glory days. I'm not sure there is much basis for this belief. What can Frank White say? "Hey, we won with great pitching and George Brett carrying us on offense. Pitch like Bret Saberhagen and hit like George Brett!" I suppose Frank could be instructive in developing defensive skills, although Buddy Bell was a Gold Glove third baseman and he managed some awful defensive ballclubs.

I'm not saying Frank White is a terrible candidate for a managerial position. He may well be a terrific manager. But any argument for his candidacy should be based on his managerial philosophy, not on why we loved him as a second baseman.

Best Winning Percentage, Royals History
Whitey Herzog 1975-1979 .574
Jim Frey 1980-1981 .547
Dick Howser 1981-1986 .525
John Wathan 1987-1991 .515
Jack McKeon 1973-1975 .512

John Wathan was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but grew up in San Diego. He attended the University of San Diego and was selected in the first round of the January Amateur Draft by the Kansas City Royals in 1971. He was given the nickname "Duke" for his dead-on impersonation of John "Duke" Wayne. He hit for a good average as a catcher and by 1976 he had earned a cup of coffee with the Royals, even appearing in the 1976 ALCS as a defensive replacement.

Wathan made the big league ballclub in 1977, but played sparingly as a reserve catcher. He hit well when called upon, including a stretch in late August and September when he went 17 for 33 in the thick of the pennant run. He ended the year hitting .328 in just 119 at-bats. He appeared in four games off the bench in the 1977 ALCS, and replaced John Mayberry in Game Four when Mayberry was obviously too hung-over to play.

Wathan was again a key bench player for the Royals in 1978, hitting .300 in 67 games despite suffering a dislocated shoulder. He began spending more time at first base, filling in as a platoon partner for Pete LaCock. He started Game Four of the 1978 ALCS against lefty Ron Guidry, but went 0-3.

Wathan slumped to a career worst .206 in 90 games in 1979. Adding to his miseries was the fact his mother Mary was stabbed to death in June by John's half-brother Mark Yavorsky. Yavorsky, who had stabbed her with an antique sword, was later found not guilty by reason of insanity and was committed to an institution.

Worst OPS+ in a Season, Royals History (min. 200 PAs)
1. Tony Pena Jr. 2008 - 5
2. Angel Salazar 1982 - 23
3. Onix Concpcion 1985 - 38
4. John Wathan 1979 - 41
5. Neifi Perez 2002 - 44

Despite the setback, Wathan bounced back in a major way as the club began using him as more than a reserve catcher. He began to play the outfield, appearing in 35 games, as well as 77 more behind the plate. The result was a career best season both in playing time and productivity. Wathan hit .305 with a career high six home runs and 58 RBI. He was an adept base stealer, successful on seventeen of twenty attempts. He also became a much more patient hitter, drawing fifty walks - thirty-three more than he had drawn the previous three seasons combined! He appeared in three games of the 1980 World Series, going 2-7 with two walks, but it wouldn't be enough to overcome the Philadelphia Phillies.

With starting catcher Darrell Porter leaving the Royals as a free agent, Wathan was given the everyday catching job in 1981. He slumped to hit just .252 with little power and a large drop-off in walks. Nonetheless, the Royals stuck with him in 1982 and he bounced back to hit .270 with forty-eight walks. The Royals also set him free on the basepaths and he responded by swiping thirty-six bases, the most ever in a single season by a catcher (a record that still stands today).

Most Steals by a Catcher, Single Season
John Wathan KCR 1982 - 36
Ray Schalk CHW 1916 - 30
Jason Kendall PIT 1998 - 26
Ivan Rodriguez TEX 1999 - 25
Craig Biggio HOU 1990 - 25

Wathan continued to steal bases in 1983 with twenty-eight swipes. But his bat slumped to hit just .245. In 1984 the Royals decide to go with young prospect Don Slaught with Wathan back in his reserve role. Wathan would slump even further to .181 in 97 games. In 1985, the Royals brought in veteran Jim Sundberg, but kept Wathan on as a reserve. John hit .234 and was kept on the post-season roster, and he appeared in two games in the World Series.

In 1986, MLB teams, looking to save money, agreed to an unwritten rule that they would try to eliminate some jobs by all unofficially playing with a twenty-four man roster, a reduction of one roster spot. The Royals wanted to groom John Wathan to become their future manager and approached him about becoming a coach. They were contractually obligated to pay him anyway, so at the end of spring training, Wathan, sensing his playing career was coming to an end, agreed to become a coach.

In 1987, the Royals sent Wathan to manage their top minor league affiliate in Omaha. Earlier that winter, Royals Manager Dick Howser had resigned due to complications with a brain tumor and been replaced by former Twins manager Billy Gardner. By late August, the team was hovering below the .500 mark and ownership decided to make a change by firing Gardner. They offered the managerial position to hitting instructor Hal McRae, but McRae turned down the job, not wanting to be an "interim" skipper. The Royals then offered the job to Wathan, who accepted.

"We need to get back to the old style of running a little bit more and hitting-and-running a little bit more and not wait for something to happen."
-Royals Manager John Wathan

The Royals went 21-15 under Wathan's leadership to end the year and finished just two games back of first place. The Royals decided to make him the full-time manager in 1988. The club had high expectations, but played around .500 for much of the season. Frustrations began to set in and many players voiced concern in the clubhouse.

"It's not so much tension that I feel in the clubhouse, but it's just not that friendly, outgoing type of clubhouse."
-George Brett

"We've got big problems. I've never gone through a season like this. Never."
-Frank White

"He came to the mound and said 'I'm making a move" I said, 'Why?' He said, 'Do I need a reason?' I have no idea why he took me out, but at this point he may just be trying to protect himself."
-Bret Saberhagen

Three clubhouse fights erupted over the summer, with some saying racial tensions were in part to blame. Many players also missed the tutelage of Hal McRae, who had left to spend time with his family in Florida. McRae, Lou Piniella and John McNamara were all rumored to be candidates to manage the club in 1989. Despite the turmoil and the disappointing 84-77 record, the team renewed Wathan's contract.

The club got off to a much better start in 1989, but could not keep up with the freight train that was the Oakland Athletics. The Royals were also beset with a number of injuries to key veterans. Despite the injuries, Wathan led the club to the third best record in baseball, although it still finished a disappointing seven games out of first place.

The Royals went on a spending spree that winter in an effort to contend for a pennant. The team signed pitchers Storm Davis, Rich Dotson and Cy Young Award winning closer Mark Davis. Once again they suffered a rash of injuries to begin the year and the free agents turned out to be complete busts. Frustrations again began to mount as Wathan lashed out at his team for missing signs. Still, Wathan maintained a sense of humor when a reporter asked him if he felt he needed the patience of Job. Responded Wathan, "was Job a second baseman?"

The club finished a disappointing 75-86, their worst season since 1970. Nonetheless, the Royals resigned him for 1991.

''It may look strange, but our inclination was to do this anyhow and how it looks up to the standing of the club and the way the club is playing is less important than our feeling that it's the right decision,''
-General Manager John Schuerholz

The club again stumbled to a poor start in 1991, and on May 23, with the team in last place, Wathan was fired by new general manager Herk Robinson. He had managed more games than anyone in Royals history but Dick Howser and Whitey Herzog.*

*-Tony Muser has since passed him. How awful is it that only Dick Howser has managed more games in a Royals uniform than Tony Muser? Not even Whitey Herzog or Jack McKeon could last as long as Muser. And Whitey never had a losing season in Kansas City! McKeon had the first winning season for the young franchise! Jim Frey took us to a World Series! Muser's best season was 77-85 in 2000. And somehow they kept thinking he was good enough. He was the cockroach of Royals managers.

"John Wathan probably does not deserve full blame for this. I wish we had a more creative way to fix a situation like this."
-Robinson

The Royals immediately hired McRae, now serving as an Expos hitting coach. Wathan returned to his home in Blue Springs to spend more time with his family. Just a few weeks after he was fired, I played his son Derek's Little League team. They were a pretty elite team, and we were a team of guys who probably wouldn't play high school ball (I made it to JV!) I managed to somehow get on base. As I got to third, I looked up and saw former Royals manager John Wathan, complete in a "Bombers" uniform. It was surreal.

Wathan became a coach with the Angels in 1992, and filled in on an interim basis when Buck Rodgers was injured in a bus accident. The next year he interviewed for the manager's position with the Marlins, but failed to land the job. He was brought onto the Red Sox coaching staff in 1994 as insurance in case manager Butch Hobston was fired. He did manage one game with Boston on an interim basis, but never got the call to manage again. After a brief stint in the Royals broadcast booth, he became a scout with the organization.

"All I know is that I've been very fortunate during my career to be in the right place at the right time."

2008-10-17T08:38:00.002-06:00

2008 Revision of the Greatest Royals of All-Time

I started the list in 2006, and it will undoubtedly take me through the 2009 season to complete the list. In the meantime, players keep adding to their value and moving up the list. So here's an updated list through the end of the 2008 season:

42.Jose Offerman
43.Mark Teahen (up from #51)
44.Doug Bird
45.Jermaine Dye
46.Danny Jackson
47.Kurt Stillwell
48.Steve Farr
49.Jim Eisenreich
50.Steve Balboni
51.Jeff Suppan
52.David Cone
53.Marty Pattin
54.Jose Rosado
55.Tim Belcher
56.Brent Mayne
57.Raul Ibanez
58.Emil Brown
59.Zack Greinke (previously not on the list)
60.John Buck (up from #91)
61.Hipolito Pichardo
62.Gary Gaetti
63.Greg Gagne
64.Mark Grudzielanek (previously not on the list)
65.Steve Mingori
66.Clint Hurdle
67.Angel Berroa
68.Matt Stairs
69.Bill Pecota
70.Bob Oliver
71.Pat Sheridan
72.Jeff King
73.Gil Meche (previously not on the list)
74.Carlos Febles
75.Lonnie Smith
76.Alex Gordon (previously not on the list)
77.Roger Nelson
78.Michael Tucker
79.Tom Poquette
80.Bruce Dal Canton
81.Rich Gale
82.Fran Healy
83.Pat Kelly
84.Jaime Quirk
85.Joakim Soria (previously not on the list)
86.Luis Aquino
87.Ted Abernathy
88.Darrell May
89.Mark Littell
90.David Howard
91.Pete LaCock
92.Jim Wohlford
93.Chris Haney
94.Mike Hedlund
95.Paul Byrd
96.Tom Burgmeier
97.Jeremy Affeldt
98.Jim Sundberg
99.Kevin McReynolds
100.Jorge Orta

2008-10-15T08:08:00.002-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#42 Jose Offerman

Over the last fifteen years or so of Royals ineptitude, the team has been plagued with awful defense. Miscommunication on pop-ups, routine groundballs skipping by shortstops, and wild throws have been a staple at Kauffman Stadium.

Every summer, when the team inevitably has a particularly awful defensive game, many sports radio callers or in these modern days, bloggers, will call for the team to "stress fundamentals" or "work on defense more." They will blame the coaching staff for not stressing defense enough or for not making the team field grounders all night.

I think what these calls miss is that defense is a skill, just like any other skill in baseball. Asking a bad defensive player to get much better is about as futile as asking a .250 hitter to become a .300 hitter. Could some extra work make a difference? Sure. But we're talking about a marginal difference. Bad defensive players are bad defensive players. You either put that player on the bench or at the designated hitter position, or you look to minimize his defensive exposure by moving him to a different position or replacing him in late innings. The Royals, for all their faults in the 1990s, were able to do this when they took an awful defensive player with a good bat, and turned him into a valuable part of the lineup by moving him to a different position. That player was Jose Offerman.

Highest Lifetime Batting Average, Royals History (min. 1000 PAs)
Jose Offerman 1996-1998 .306
George Brett 1973-1993 .305
Mark Grudzielanek 2006-2008 .300
Mike Sweeney 1995-2007 .299
Kevin Seitzer 1986-1991 .294

Jose Offerman was born in San Pedro de Macorís in the Dominican Republic, where he attended Colegio Biblico Cristiano High School. In 1986, at the age of eighteen, he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1988, his first season full professional season, he hit .331 and was named "Best Prospect" of the Pioneer League. By 1990 he got a cup of coffee with the Dodgers and homered in his very first at-bat. He was named the tenth best prospect in baseball by "Baseball America."

In 1991 he got a prolonged look by the Dodgers, but hit just .195 in fifty-two games. Still considered one of the best prospects in the game, the Dodgers made him their full time shortstop in 1992. He responded by hitting .260 with a respectable fifty-seven walks, but he also committed a stunning forty-two errors - nearly twenty more than anyone else in baseball.

"When I make a bad play and make an error, nobody feels as bad as me. I really feel bad. I don't mean to make a mistake and those fans don't want to see it. I feel bad, that's the only thing I can say. "

Following his disappointing rookie campaign, Offerman received a two year contract from the Dodgers. The Dodgers did all they could to protect his young psyche, but he continued to put up disappointing numbers in 1993. He could hit for some average and drew a good number of walks, but his complete lack of power, his poor stolen base rates and his astounding number of errors brought many critics. Additionally, Offerman had a quiet attitude that many took as either a lack of aggressiveness, or outright surliness towards teammates.

"We try to talk to him and he listens, but he doesn't say a word. He never says something back to you. It makes you think, 'Did he understand what I say to him? Does he care?"
-Dodgers outfielder Henry Rodriguez

Dodgers officials thought Offerman was a changed man when he showed up in camp in 1994. Not just in demeanor, but physically as he had added twenty-five pounds to his frame, and not all of it muscle. Some also noticed a change in attitude from the youngster.

"He's not mean like he used to be."
-Henry Rodriguez

But there was no change in all, and to compound things even further, Offerman stopped hitting and was seen feuding with manager Tommy LaSorda after being asked to bunt. With his average barely above the Mendoza Line, Offerman refused to take extra batting practice to improve himself. After a brief suspension, the Dodgers demoted the surly shortstop to the minors to "regain his confidence."

Offerman returned in 1995 to get off to the best start of his career. By July he was hitting .320 and was named to his first ever All-Star Game. Nonetheless, the success didn't curb his surliness, nor the jeers he received from Dodger faithful.

"The fans can keep booing me. People can write what they want. People can say what they want. But you know, this is something they can never take away from me. I'm an all-star. I'll always be an all-star."

Offerman got involved in a dugout scuffle with teammate Eric Karros and later that summer lashed out at Los Angeles media and fans for being racist, claiming, "whenever those white guys do something, it's all right. But any time when it's another black guy, it's not all right."

Offerman ended the year hitting .287 with sixty-nine walks, easily his best offensive season ever. But his defense was still atrocious and the Dodgers were fed up with his attitude. That December, they dealt him to Kansas City for left-handed reliever Billy Brewer.*

* Yea, I'm having a Pozterisk, deal with it! I don't know if this is true or not, but it seems like the Royals have milked the Rule 5 draft better than any other team in terms of quantity of useful players (of course the Twins with Johan Santana and the Marlins with Dan Uggla have gotten more overall value). Consider they have gotten a useful situational lefty reliever (Brewer), a power hitting fourth outfielder (Jon Nunnally), a left handed reliever who was good for a year (Andrew Sisco), a pitcher who was dealt for a useful utility infielder (Esteban German) and of course one of the best closers in the game (Joakim Soria). There have been some draft picks that didn't work out (Rich Thompson, Miguel Asencio, Endy Chavez), but overall the Royals have seemingly gotten more decent players than anyone else.

This is probably a result of the Royals having such a pitiful roster that they could afford to carry more Rule 5 guys, but still, you have to give them credit for utilizing a process that gives them free talent, and for finding guys that could actually benefit the team.

Offerman replaced the sure glove of Greg Gagne at shortstop and Bip Roberts was acquired to replace Chico Lind at second base, causing a huge drop off on defense for the Royals. However, with the team finishing dead last in runs scored, they were desperate for some offense.

"If the trade-off is a little hitting I feel pretty darn good about our lineup. We don't have many out guys."
-Royals General Manager Herk Robinson

Jose started slowly, but finished the season on a tear hitting .346 over the last two months of the season. He finished the year leading the team in average (.303), on-base percentage (.384), tied for doubles (33), triples (8), runs scored (85) and walks (74). The Royals were also able to neutralize his defensive deficiencies by having him split time between shortstop, second base and first base. Offerman finished with just sixteen errors, the fewest he had committed in a full season in his career. To reward him, the Royals gave him a two year contract.

In 1997, the Royals had Offerman play second base full-time and flanked him with with veterans Jay Bell at shortstop and Jeff King at first base. Offerman was on fire in June, hitting .342. He ended the season hitting .297 and committed just nine errors in 101 games at second base.

"It's a lot more fun here than it was before, and it's one of the reasons why I'm doing well - it is the way I get treated here. ''

1998 was a contract year for Offerman and he played like it. He led the team in hitting at .315, on-base percentage at .403 and led the league in triples with thirteen. His team leading 191 hits were the most by a Royals player since Kevin Seitzer in 1987. He led the team in walks with 89 and steals with 45, and scored 102 runs. He hit safely in twenty-seven consecutive games, the second longest hitting streak in Royals history.

Most Walks in a Season by a Royals Player, 1986-2008
Kevin Seitzer 102, 1989
Jose Offerman 89, 1998
Jeff King 89, 1997
Chili Davis 85, 1997
George Brett 82, 1988

That winter, Offerman signed a huge four year $26 million deal with the Boston Red Sox.

Offerman spent three and a half largely disappointing seasons with the Red Sox before bouncing around the league from Seattle to Montreal to Minnesota to Philadelphia to the New York Mets. He was finally let go by the Mets in 2005 and unable to find work in Major League Baseball.

Unwilling to let the dream die, he signed on with the independent Atlantic League in 2007. On August 14, Offerman was hit with a pitch, to which he responded by charging the mound with his bat. He managed to break the finger of pitcher Matt Beech and caused a concussion to catcher John Nathans. Offerman was banned from the league and was arrested for assault. He was sentenced to two years of probation for second degree assault.

Sometimes bad defensive players are just bad defensive players. And sometimes jerks are just jerks.

2008-10-10T10:33:00.004-06:00

RIP Bruce Dal Canton

Former Royal Bruce Dal Canton has passed away at the age of 66. Dal Canton was a valuable swingman in the Royals pitching staff of the 1970s. He was the 75th Greatest Royal of All-Time.

Baseball Reference: Bruce Dal Canton

By all accounts, Bruce was a kind and gentle man, well loved by teammates, and a valuable teacher not only on the ballfield, but literally in the classroom just before he began his professional baseball career.

Condolences can be sent to:
Bagnato Funeral Home
50 Jefferson St.
Carnegie, PA 15106

2008-10-06T08:48:00.002-06:00

Sorry for the hiatus!

I apologize for the lack of posts over the two months. In honesty, I had a severe case of writer's block combined with a new set of obligations (school and a baby). But with Doug Bird out of the way, I can let my creative juices flow and again, and I think my son is at an age where he can start writing some of my pieces (hey, he's five months old already!) So I hope entries can appear more regularly. Thanks for sticking with the site in nervous anticipation of the 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time list and I hope to add some other segments this dreary off-season.

2008-10-06T07:07:00.012-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#43 Doug Bird

Today there is a lot of talk about whether to keep Joakim Soria as the closer, or move him to the rotation. Although Dan Quisenberry and Jeff Montgomery never started a game for the Royals, many good Royals relievers did make the transition, with varying results. One such pitcher who was probably better off remaining in the pen was Doug Bird.

Bird was a Southern California kid, taken in the third round pick by the Royals in the June Secondary Phase of the draft in 1969. He had plans to instead head to USC or UCLA to play college ball, but was convinced by a Royals scout named Spider Jorgensen (later his manager in rookie ball), that he would get to the big leagues quickly with an expansion team like the Royals.

Just a year into his professional career, it looked like Bird would have to put baseball on hold to serve his country in Vietnam.

"I got a notice to report for a physical and immediate induction into the Army. Then somebody blew up the draft board in South Pasadena. All the paperwork went up in smoke. By the time they got everything straightened out, they had switched over to a lottery system where they drew lots with birthdates on them. My numbers was in the 280s, and they never called me.

If I knew who blew up the draft board, I'd thank him, cause otherwise I'd have been gone. End of baseball career."

Bird was used primarily as a starter in the minor leagues, posting a 1.84 ERA in 22 games in 1970 with Waterloo (but finishing with an 11-9 record!) and winning fifteen games the next season in San Jose. At the end of the 1972 season he was promoted to AAA Omaha, where he pitched out of the pen for seven ballgames. After four relief appearances in Omaha to start the 1973 season, the Royals called up him up to the big leagues to pitch out of their pen.

Gene Garber had been the most called upon late inning Royals reliever to begin the year, racking up a few saves along the way. Manager Jack McKeon found his 1.21 ERA to be too valuable to be used in the pen, so he called on Garber start some games in May and June. Garber tossed two complete game victories, then was shelled in his next two starts.

Bird was used sparingly in the pen at first, but by June 6, had had posted a 1.99 ERA in 22 2/3 innings of work. McKeon was now using Bird in many close games, often times in save situations. This was in the days before Tony LaRussa had institutionalized the "closer" position, so many of these saves were more than an inning of work. And there was not really a designated "closer". Save opportunities went to Bird, Garber (who was now back in the pen), Bruce Dal Canton, Joe Hoerner - whoever had the hot hand. The best reliever was instead known as a "fireman", a guy who could come into a tight situation, ninth inning or otherwise, and put out a fire. Bird was McKeon's most trusted fireman, and along the way got a bulk of the save opportunities.

"So the manager, Jack McKeon, made me the closer. Nobody asked me, but it was okay. I preferred it to doing nothing for four days between starts."

That season the Royals enjoyed their first ever winning season, with Doug Bird leading the team in saves with twenty. It was the second most ever in a season by a Royals pitcher, and stood as the franchise record for saves by a rookie reliever until Mike MacDougal in 2003. Bird led Royals relievers with a 2.99 ERA and fifty-four appearances, despite spending the first month of the season in Omaha.

Most Saves in a Career, Royals History
Jeff Montgomery 1988-1999 - 304
Dan Quisenberry 1979-1988 - 238
Joakim Soria 2007-2008 - 59
Doug Bird 1973-1978 - 58
Roberto Hernandez 2001-2002 - 54

In 1974, Bird was again the primary fireman in the pen, but racked up just ten saves. Why? Royals starters finished fifty-four complete games, twenty coming from Steve Busby. Bird would again lead Royals relievers in ERA at 2.73 and appearances with fifty-five. McKeon even let him start a game in the last week of the season and Bird went the distance in a 2-1 loss.

By 1975 the Royals were looking to contend, but by July they were barely over .500. On July 23, they fired McKeon and hired former Rangers manager Whitey Herzog. The club got red hot over August and closed what had been an eleven game lead by Oakland to just five by September 6. Bird had been the most frequently used reliever throughout the year, collecting eleven saves along the way. Nonetheless, Whitey had Bird start the second game of a crucial doubleheader that day against the Angels. Bird responded with seven plus innings and the win, completing the sweep and drawing the Royals to within four and half games of Oakland. Bird would start three more games down the stretch, but would fail to build upon his success. The Royals would fail to catch the A's, although they did enjoy their best season ever with ninety-one wins and a second place finish.

Bird began 1976 in the pen, but May he was back in the rotation.

"I wasn't as strong as I should have been. I'd begin to fade about the sixth inning."

It didn't help that Whitey drove Bird pretty hard, as he did with all his pitchers. Bird made twenty-seven starts, and went at least eight innings in eight of those starts, including a ten inning affair against Milwaukee. Despite the long outings, Bird continued to exhibit masterful control, going 46 2/3 consecutive innings in July without yielding a walk, a team record. Bird finished the year with a 12-10 record and a 3.37 ERA in 197 2/3 innings of work. In thirty-eight games, he walked just thirty-one batters. He pitched in relief in the American League Championships Series, picking up the win in Game Four.

Whitey had Bird pitch out of the pen most of 1977, with spot starts along the way. It was clear where Bird was more effective. He posted a 2.61 ERA as a reliever and a 9.55 ERA in five starts. He led the team with fourteen saves and fifty-three appearances. In the playoffs, he appeared in three games in relief without giving up a run.

In 1978 Whitey had an experienced pen full of colorful characters. Steve Mingori was the loony lefty. Al "The Mad Hungarian" Hrabosky was known for his wild antics on the mound. Marty Pattin was known for cracking up his teammates with his "Donald Duck" impression. And then there was Doug Bird. Whitey affectionately labeled the foursome "Mungo, Hungo, Duck and the Bird." Although the other three put together the foundation for a solid pen, Bird struggled through his worst season in Kansas City, compiling a 5.29 ERA.

For the third straight year, the Royals faced the Yankees in the playoffs. The teams split the first two, and the Royals were leading the pivotal Game Three by a score of 5-4 in the eighth inning thanks to three George Brett home runs. Paul Splittorff retired the first hitter in the eighth before allowing a single to Roy White. Whitey brought in Bird to relieve. After falling behind 2-0, Bird offered up a fastball to Yankees catcher Thurman Munson that ended up 420 feet away from home plate, over the left centerfield wall.

"The story of my year. I knew he hit it good. I didn't even bother to watch."

That was the final straw for Bird in Kansas City. At the end of spring training of 1979, the Royals dealt Bird to Philadelphia for shortstop prospect Todd Cruz. Bird would bounce from the Phillies to the Yankees to the Cubs to the Red Sox.

"The Cubs made me a starter again. In my last start in '82, I tried to score from second on a hit. I collided with the catcher, flipped up in the air and came down on my right shoulder. That winter they traded me to the Red Sox. The shoulder didn't feel right. I had some good days, some bad. They talked about an operation, but I was 33. There would be a year of rehab. It wasn't worth it to me. So I quit."

Doug Bird was a solid reliever, but his stuff was so good it was worth seeing if he could contribute as a starter. Somehow, those teams back in the 70s were able to win without a ninth inning "closer." I don't know whether Joakim Soria is good enough to become a solid starting pitcher, but its probably worth finding out.

2008-08-12T13:39:00.003-06:00

A Look Back at 2000

"But now, we have an owner. We have a family that's committed to making sure that the Royals play in Kansas City forever."

-Royals owner David Glass

2000 was a fun, but frustrating season. A season in which the Royals were never out of any game, due to an explosive offense, and a bit of luck. But it was also a season in which Royals opponents were also never out of any game due to a historically awful pitching staff. This was the height of the performance-enhanced era, where home runs flew at ridiculous rates and scores looked like they came from beer-league softball games. But that is not to discount the Royals offense in 2000. They were stocked with stars - Damon, Dye, Sweeney and Beltran. It was just a matter of keeping them together long enough to start winning.

The man in charge with keeping them together was new owner David Glass. He purchased the club in the spring of 2000, and committed to fielding a winner for Kansas City. He promoted a young, hard-working former scout named Allard Baird to the position of General Manager and it looked like the Royals were embarking on a new era, to emerge from the darkness and chaos of the late 90s.

2000 in a Box:

Record: 77-85 (4th place, 18 GB)
Runs Scored: 879 (5th in AL)
Runs Allowed: 903 (13th in AL)
Park Factor: Batting - 104/Pitching - 105 (over 100 favors batters)

General Manager: Herk Robinson, Allard Baird (promoted June 17)
Manager: Tony Muser

Attendance: 1,564,847 (12th in the AL) - 19,319 per game
Stadium: Kauffman Stadium

Longest Winning Streak: 5 (May 5 to May 10 and July 18 to July 22)
Longest Losing Streak: 9 (April 14 to April 23)
How they started: After dropping their first two, they won eight of their next nine, including four straight walk-off wins. They then lost nine in a row.
Best month: May. They went 14-12 and kept their neck above .500.
Worst month: July. They went 10-17, despite a season high five game win streak.
Best game: April 12. The Royals trailed 6-0 in the seventh, but battled back with four runs to make it a close game. In the bottom of the ninth, light-hitting shortstop Rey Sanchez hit a three-run home run to win the game, the third consecutive walk-off victory for the Royals.
Worst game: May 11 or June 18. In May, the mighty Indians dropped nine runs on the Royals in the first two innings, capped off by a Manny Ramirez grand slam in a 16-0 Cleveland victory. In June, the A's dropped 21 runs on the Royals, sending them below .500 for good.
Loved to face: Baltimore. The Royals went 7-3 against the Birds, including three straight walk-off wins against them in April.
Hated to face: New York. Kansas City dropped eight of ten to the eventual World Champs.

Say Hello To: Gregg Zaun, Dave McCarty, Jeff Reboulet, Todd Dunwoody, Jorge Fabregas, Brian Johnson, Ricky Bottalico, Jerry Spradlin, Miguel Batista, Brian Meadows (acquired in July)
Say Goodbye To: Jeff Montgomery, Hipolito Pichardo, Jeremy Giambi, Scott Service, Sal Fasano, Jamie Walker (released in July), Jay Witasick (traded in July)

What Went Right: The Royals set a franchise record in runs scored, finishing fifth in the league. Mike Sweeney and Jermaine Dye put up MVP-type numbers, while Joe Randa, Johnny Damon and Mark Quinn provided a strong supporting cast.

What Went Wrong: The bullpen had twenty-six saves and thirty losses. Relievers posted a 5.59 ERA. Starters were not much better, posting a 5.43 ERA. The 5.48 team ERA was the worst in franchise history to that point.

Youngsters (25 or under)— 13 (youngest semi-regular was 22 year old pitcher Chad Durbin)
Prime (26-29)—9 semi-regulars
Past-Prime (30-33)—7 semi-regulars
Old Timers (34+)— 1 (36 year old utility infielder Jeff Reboulet)
Rookies: Mark Quinn, Chad Durbin, Dan Reichert, Kris Wilson
Top Prospect— Twenty-two year old outfielder Dee Brown hit .269 with 23 home runs and 20 steals at AAA Omaha. Eighteen year old Jimmy Gobble was 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA for High A Charleston.
2000 Draft: Mike Stodolka (4th overall), Mike Tonis, David DeJesus, Zach McClellan, Ryan Bukvich, Ruben Gotay

Best OPS+: Jermaine Dye, 135
Most Runs Created: Mike Sweeney, 136 (10th in the league)
Highest Batting Average: Mike Sweeney, .333 (7th in the league)
Lowest Batting Average: Carlos Beltran, .247
Most Home Runs: Jermaine Dye, 33
Most RBI: Mike Sweeney, 144 (2nd in the league)
Most Stolen Bases: Johnny Damon, 46 (1st in the league)
Moneyball Award: Mike Sweeney, 71 walks
Angel Berroa Award: Rey Sanchez, 28 walks in 555 plate appearances
Best Position Player: Jermaine Dye and Mike Sweeney
Worst Position Player: Rey Sanchez

Most Wins: Jeff Suppan, 10
Most Losses: Mac Suzuki, Dan Reichert, 10
Most Saves: Ricky Bottalico, 16
Best ERA: Mac Suzuki, 4.34
Worst ERA: Chad Durbin, 8.21
Most Innings: Jeff Suppan, 217
Best Pitcher: Mac Suzuki
Worst Pitcher: Chad Durbin

Career Best Seasons: Mike Sweeney, Johnny Damon, Mark Quinn, Dave McCarty, Mac Suzuki, Blake Stein, Dan Reichert, Jose Santiago
Career Worst Seasons: Carlos Beltran, Chad Durbin, Miguel Batista, Jerry Spradlin
Nicknames: "Smilin' Joe" Randa, "Dos Carlos" - Febles and Beltran. The Royals also began marketing the team as "The Blue Wave" after a number of walk-off victories.

Dodging Bullets
64 year-old Virginia Olsthoorn of Hays, Kansas was struck with a bullet after a shooter fired three shots into Kauffman Stadium on a June 13 game. One bullet hit an empty seat, one hit the back of the scoreboard, and a third passed through Olsthoorn's abdomen and lodged in her left elbow. Luckily, Olsthoorn survived, but the shooter was never identified.

Homer Heaven
On April 9, the Royals and Twins became the first teams ever to hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in the same game. Ron Coomer, Jacque Jones and Matt LeCroy all went deep in the top of the sixth, while Carlos Beltran, Jermaine Dye and Mike Sweeney duplicated the feat in the bottom of the eighth in a seven run inning. Unfortunately, the Royals efforts weren't enough to overcome a thirteen run Twins lead, and the Royals fell 13-7.

Winter Rumors
The Royals went into the off-season determined to shore up what had been an awful bullpen in 1999. They also had an eye on stocking the farm system with prospects, and possibly moving some larger contracts. Johnny Damon and Jose Rosado drew the most interest out of any Royals players at the winter meetings, as teams knew the Royals would be hard-pressed to keep either player long-term. The Cincinnati Reds inquired about Rosado, but were quickly rejected. The Seattle Mariners were supposedly interested in Damon to replace Ken Griffey Jr., but General Manager Herk Robinson denied he had been contacted. Ultimately, the Royals failed to make a splash at the winter meetings, and made minor moves like trading for reliever Jerry Spradlin and signing catcher Brian Johnson.

Later that winter they signed former Phillies closer Ricky Bottalico to replace the retiring Jeff Montgomery. They also dealt first baseman Jeremy Giambi to the Athletics to clear what had been a logjam at first base, although just a few weeks later, they acquired first baseman Dave McCarty from the Athletics. They acquired catchers Gregg Zaun and Jorge Fabregas, while dealing catcher Sal Fasano. The club also signed veteran pitcher Tyler Green and slugging first baseman Paul Sorrento to help the club. However, neither would make the club.

Some would say the Royals were simply rearranging chairs on the deck of the Titanic. Others would say they were rearranging chairs in the cockpit of the Hindenberg. In any case, these moves failed to excite the fanbase.

Perhaps the most important news to the franchise was the announcement in November that former Wal Mart CEO David Glass would submit a bid to purchase the Royals. Glass had been the Chairman of the Board of the franchise since Ewing Kauffman's death, and was his handpicked successor. His bid came on the heels of Major League Baseball rejecting the bid of New York lawyer Miles Prentice. Glass had previously decided not to pursue ownership after his cost-cutting moves as Chairman made him unpopular with fans.

I can't tell you how many phone calls and letters I've gotten from people in Kansas City encouraging me. And the encouragement, particularly from the business community, has been unanimous. It was the overwhelming response I got that caused me to reconsider.

In late April, Major League Baseball approved the sale of the club to Glass for $96 million. Glass looked to make his imprint on the club quickly. He signed manager Tony Muser to a two-year extension, promoted Allard Baird to General Manager, named his son Dan as team president, and announced his intention to sign outfielder Johnny Damon to a long-term deal. He stepped down from his position with Wal Mart, although he continued on as a full-time adviser, a position he promised Royals fans he would relinquish as well. It would be a new era for Royals baseball, but it would not be quite as rosy as Glass had envisioned.

Walk-Off Wonders
The Royals went into the 2000 season hoping the acquisitions of veterans Jerry Spradlin and Ricky Bottalico would shore up what was an awful bullpen in 1999. But it only took one game for the bullpen to lose a game, as Spradlin gave up a walk-off home run to Blue Jays third baseman Tony Batista in the bottom of the ninth after the Royals had scratched together two runs to tie the game earlier in the inning. "Walk-off" would be a familiar term for the Royals in 2000. In early April, they would go on an amazing run with four consecutive walk-off victories.

April 10 vs. Minnesota - The Royals took a 5-3 lead into the ninth only to see Ricky Bottalico give up a two-run home run to Jacque Jones. Undaunted, Johnny Damon led off the bottom of the ninth with a home run off La Troy Hawkins to win the game.

April 11 vs. Baltimore - The Royals trailed 5-2 in the bottom of the eighth when Joe Randa hammered a three run homer off Al Reyes to tie the game and give the Royals new life. The game would go into extra innings, and in the bottom of the twelfth, backup catcher Brian Johnson hit a two-run home run to give the Royals the victory.

April 12 vs. Baltimore - The Royals were down 6-0 by the Seventh Inning Stretch, but stormed back with four runs in the seventh to make things interesting. The Royals trailed by two in the bottom of the ninth when Gregg Zaun led off the inning with a walk. Mark Quinn would double, bringing the tying run to the plate. Light-hitting shortstop Rey Sanchez did the improbable, hitting a game-winning three-run home run.

April 13 vs. Baltimore - The Royals took a 5-0 lead into the seventh, but the Orioles would be the ones to storm back with four runs to tighten up the game. Ricky Bottalico would blow a one-run lead in the ninth, requiring another night of heroics from the offense. Carlos Beltran would comply with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to score Rey Sanchez, giving the Royals a fourth straight walk-off victory.

It's amazing. I've never seen anything like it.
-Rightfielder Jermaine Dye

What is going on here?
-Royals announcer Denny Matthews, on the Rey Sanchez home run

The Royals then went on the road, where they would not get the luxury of going for a walk-off victory. Confused, they lost all nine games on the road trip, failing to take a lead in any inning.

April 25 vs. Tampa Bay - The Royals returned to face the Devil Rays and took a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Perhaps reliever Dan Reichert wanted to see his teammates rejoice at home plate with another walk-off victory, or perhaps he just wasn't very good, but he coughed up the lead by allowing a solo home run to Greg Vaughn. However, in the bottom of the ninth Carlos Beltran would walk and steal second, putting the tying run on base. An intentional walk would set up a double play and bring up slugger Mark Quinn. Quinn showed his might by dribbling a grounder to pitcher Albie Lopez, seemingly ending the inning. Lopez would bounce his throw into second base, where it would skid into the outfield, allowing Beltran to score with yet another walk-off victory.

April 26 vs. Tampa Bay - The Royals would blow a 6-1 lead in the late innings, and went into the bottom of the ninth tied at six. Dave McCarty singled to get a ninth inning rally started, but Jermaine Dye wiped him out with a double play. Undeterred, the Royals would follow with three consecutive hits, including a single by Mark Quinn that would score Carlos Beltran with the game winning run.

The streak would finally end the next night when the Royals cruised to a victory against the Mariners, but the following week the Royals overcame a two run deficit with another walk-off victory against Oakland. In early May, the Royals swept the White Sox, then swept a short two game series in Detroit. They were 18-15, just half a game back of the White Sox as the Royals headed into Cleveland.

I don't want to suggest that any series in May is critical. But of course, we'd like to have a good showing against them. They've been at the top for quite a while, and they're always the team to chase.
-Royals General Manager Herk Robinson

In Cleveland, reality hit the Royals. Hard. Chad Durbin gave up nine runs in the first two innings as the Indians spanked the Royals 16-0 in what was at the time the third worst margin of loss in Royals history. The Indians would sweep the Royals, including the series finale in which the Royals would blow ninth inning and twelfth inning leads.

The Royals would tread water over the next month, staying above .500. They ripped through interleague play, taking four out of six from the Pirates, including a dominating 16-3 victory. Oakland came to town in mid-June and took the first two games against Kansas City. On the series finale, they dropped twenty-one runs on the Royals, the second most runs the Royals had ever given up and the worst margin of loss in team history. The defeat dropped the Royals below .500, a watermark they would never again meet. On that same day, the Royals announced Jose Rosado would miss the rest of the year with shoulder surgery, and that Allard Baird had been promoted to General Manager. It would be a chilling omen.

Offensive Behavior
The Royals offense was proving to be one of the best in team history with a lineup of prolific sluggers. Jermaine Dye would flirt with the Royals team home run record, eventually ending with thirty-three round-trippers. Mike Sweeney would chip in with twenty-nine of his own and rookie Mark Quinn would slam twenty, most among American League rookies. Sweeney's 144 RBI would be second in the league, Dye would drive in 118 and even Joe Randa would enjoy a 100 RBI season. Setting the table was Johnny Damon, who led the league with 136 runs scored and 46 steals. Dye and Sweeney would both score 100 runs as well. Sweeney, Dye and Damon would all hit well over .300 for the year.

Curiously absent from the offensive explosion was 1999 Rookie of the Year Carlos Beltran. Beltran slumped badly in his sophomore season, and suffered a knee injury in June. When the Royals sent him to Florida to rehab his injury, Beltran refused, causing the Royals to suspend him without pay. Beltran would eventually comply with his rehab assignment and rejoined the parent club in September.

The 2000 team would enjoy its most prolific offensive season in franchise history, scoring 879 runs, the most ever by a Royals ballclub. They scored the fifth most runs in the league, ahead of the Yankees, Rangers and Red Sox. They succeeded on offense despite drawing the fewest walks in the league and finishing eleventh in slugging. However, they were fifth in on-base percentage and struck out fifty fewer times than any other team.

In July, Jermaine Dye became the first Royals player to be voted into the All-Star team since Bo Jackson in 1989. Joining Jermaine in Atlanta was Mike Sweeney, named as a reserve. It was the first time since 1989 the Royals had sent more than one representative to the Midsummer Classic.

The Curious Case of Mark Quinn
Mark Quinn was a superstar, at least in his own eyes. A tremendous power hitter in college at Rice University, the Royals made Quinn an eleventh round draft pick in 1995. Quinn won a batting title at AA and mashed home runs at every level. But the Royals would not promote him. Finally, after leading the Pacific Coast League in hitting in 1999, the Royals finally gave him a shot. He smashed two home runs in his first game.

Quinn got a shot in 2000 with the Royals and hit .293 in his first month. In June he was still hitting .279 with good power numbers when the Royals shipped him to Omaha. His lackadaisical attitude on defense, and his baserunning gaffes had drawn the ire of manager Tony Muser. Quinn would return two weeks later and would go on to finish with a twenty home run season and finish third in Rookie of the Year balloting.

But Mark Quinn was never a serious student of the game. Although he had drawn walks, limited his strikeouts and hit for average in the minors, he got lazy in the majors and failed to adjust. He began to swing at everything, even going 192 plate appearances without a walk (and when the streak ended, Kauffman Stadium erupted in fireworks). Despite being named Defensive Outfielder of the Year in the minors, Quinn looked awful on defense in the majors, mostly due to a lack of hustle. In 2002, he sustained an injury after engaging in "kung-fu" with his brother, and by 2003 he was washed up and out of the big leagues.

Bullpen Blues
The Royals hovered close to .500 through June, but a 10-17 July sunk any dim hopes of contention. Some thought the Royals would trade star outfielder Johnny Damon, a Scott Boras client who had spurned offers to sign long-term with the Royals. After the trading deadline, however, Damon was still a Royal. Kansas City did make one deadline move, picking up soft-tossing Brian Meadows in exchange for hard-throwing reliever Jay Witasick.

Witasick and Meadows were just two of the twenty-four pitchers the Royals shuffled through during the season. The motley crew of journeymen and not-quite-ready prospects combined for a 5.48 ERA, second worst in the league. Reliever Jose Santiago was the only pitcher on the entire team who ended with an ERA under four (and even that is misleading because by some metrics, he had one of the worst seasons by a reliever in the last few decades). The staff gave up 239 home runs, most in baseball and the most a Royals team had ever yielded.

The team would rack up 56 "blown saves" between 1999-2000, leading many observers to conclude that if only the Royals had a "Proven Closer", they would be competitive. Trouble is, it wasn't just that they lacked a "Proven Closer" - it was that the entire bullpen was awful. The Royals were blowing as many leads in the seventh inning as they were in the ninth. The bullpen as a whole posted a 5.59 ERA. Closer Ricky Bottalico, who converted 16 of 23 save opportunities, posted a 4.83 ERA, one of the better marks on the team, although still pretty bad. But it was the guys setting him up - Jerry Spradlin (5.52 ERA), Jay Witasick (5.40 ERA as a reliever), and Chris Fussell (5.61 ERA as a reliever) - who were god awful.

A New Hope?
The Royals in 2000 had made some dramatic improvements. They won ten more games than they had the previous season, winning their most games in seven seasons. Their lineup looked like a premier offensive machine. The major weakness was clearly the bullpen, an area that could be addressed in the winter. With a new owner and financial stability , the Royals seemed poised to sign their young stars to long-term deals. And with Baseball America lauding their farm system as being one of the deeper systems in baseball, the future in Kansas City looked bright.

There's just an optimism and an outlook in the whole organization that we're really moving ... in the right direction.
-David Glass

Ah, dreams.

2000 Starting Lineup  AVG  OBA  SLG  HR  BI OPS+ RC
C  Gregg Zaun        .274 .390 .410   7  33 102  41
Just 34 strikeouts compared to 43 walks
1B Mike Sweeney      .333 .407 .523  29 144 131 136
Led league with 15 hit-by-pitches
2B Carlos Febles     .257 .345 .316   2  29  68  40
Second in the league in sacrifice hits
3B Joe Randa         .304 .343 .438  15 106  94  89
6th in the league in singles
SS Rey Sanchez       .273 .314 .322   1  38  61  50
Committed just four errors in 671 chances
LF Johnny Damon      .327 .382 .495  16  88 118 133
Third toughest guy to strikeout in the league
CF Carlos Beltran    .247 .309 .366   7  44  69  43
A perfect 13/13 in stolen base attempts
RF Jermaine Dye      .321 .390 .561  33 118 135 133
Fifth in the league in total bases
DH Mark Quinn        .294 .342 .488  20  72 105  82
Led AL rookies in home runs
Bench                 AVG  OBA  SLG  HR  BI OPS+ RC
C  Jorge Fabregas    .282 .320 .373   3  17  73  17
All three of his home runs came during the first week of July
C  Brian Johnson     .208 .229 .352   4  18  43   9
.747 OPS at home, .397 on the road
1B Dave McCarty      .278 .329 .478  12  53  99  42
Career highs in home runs and RBI; 1.025 OPS against lefties
IF Jeff Reboulet     .242 .325 .280   0  14  54  17
Went 3-25 in July
IF Luis Ordaz        .221 .257 .240   0  11  26   6
Committed just one error
OF Todd Dunwoody     .208 .235 .275   1  23  29  12
Was 8-16 against Oakland

2000 Pitching Staff   W-L   ERA  G GS  IP    SO ERA+ 
SP Jeff Suppan       10-9  4.94 35 33 217   128 103
Gave up league leading 36 home runs
SP Mac Suzuki         8-10 4.34 32 29 188.2 135 117
3.69 ERA on the road
SP Dan Reichert       8-10 4.70 44 18 153.1  94 108
Led the league with 18 wild pitches
SP Blake Stein        8-5  4.68 17 17 107.2  78 108
Finished strong with a 2.75 ERA in six September starts
SP Chad Durbin        2-5  8.21 16 16  72.1  37  62
8th worst ERA all-time from a pitcher with at least 70 innings
SP Jay Witasick       3-8  5.94 22 14  89.1  67  85
Dominated the heavy hitting Indians, with a 0.87 ERA
SP Brian Meadows      6-2  4.77 11 10  71.2  26 106
Went at least eight innings in three of his ten starts
SP Miguel Batista     2-6  7.74 14  9  57    30  66
Was awful as a reliever, giving up 29 runs in 17 1/3 innings

Bullpen               W-L   ERA  G GS  IP    SO ERA+
CL Ricky Bottalico    9-6  4.83 62  0  72.2  56 105
16 of out of 23 in save opportunities
RP Jerry Spradlin     4-4  5.52 50  0  75    54  92
3.40 ERA at the All-Star Break, fell apart the second half
RP Jose Santiago      8-6  3.91 45  0  69    44 130
3.19 ERA on the road
RP Chris Fussell      5-3  6.30 20  9  70    46  80
Gave up a whopping eighteen home runs
RP Kris Wilson        0-1  4.19 20  0  34.1  17 121
2.42 home ERA in 22 1/3 innings
RP Jason Rakers       2-0  9.14 11  0  21.2  16  55
Opponents had a .999 OPS against him.

2008-08-06T10:10:00.004-06:00

The 100 Greatest Royals of All-Time

#44 Jermaine Dye

Our old buddy Jermaine Dye was back in town this past weekend, as a member of the Chicago White Sox. Jermaine hasn't been a Royal in seven years, so its a bit hard to believe that he has still played more games with Kansas City than with any other team - 547 games in Royal blue, 533 with the White Sox, 394 with the A's and 98 with the Braves.

Jermaine was involved in what in my opinion is the worst trade in Royals history. The David Cone trade was bad and I have pointed out its flaws, but it wasn't abundantly clear to many at the time that Cone would become a future Cy Young winner. The Bret Saberhagen trade has been roundly criticized, but I've pointed out that with Sabes getting hurt so much, perhaps the deal wasn't all that bad. The Kevin Appier deal didn't pan out, but that was a salary dump, where the Royals lacked leverage much like the second David Cone trade, and the Brian McRae trade. No, the Jermaine Dye trade was the dumbest in Royals history.

Worst Trades in Royals History

10. P Greg Minton to San Francisco for C Fran Healy

A very overlooked trade. Healy was a modest hitter, but was actually useful as the starter for two seasons before being dealt to New York for Larry Gura (a great trade for the Royals). Minton however would go on to have a sixteen year career with 150 career saves, one of the most consistent relievers of the 1980s.

9. P Jon Lieber and P Dan Miceli to Pittsburgh for P Stan Belinda

Overlooked at the time, the Royals added Belinda to strengthen their bullpen in 1993. Belinda had "post-season experience" if the Royals ever needed that, unfortunately he wasn't too good in the regular season, posting a 4.28 ERA in '93 and an awful 5.14 ERA in '94. Miceli, meanwhile, put together a fourteen year career as a decent reliever. But it was Lieber who made this trade awful as he developed into a solid starting pitcher, winning twenty games in 2001 with the Cubs and still trucking to this day.

8. P Bret Saberhagen and IF Bill Pecota to the New York Mets for 3B Gregg Jefferies, OF Kevin McReynolds and IF Keith Miller

I've written before on how this trade wasn't quite as bad as people perceive it to be. Saberhagen was a very talented pitcher, but he was also injured quite often which reduced his value. Jefferies and McReynolds were both adequate, although not spectacular. The biggest criticism of this deal perhaps is that the Royals dealt an All-Star caliber pitcher without getting impact bats in return. Instead, they felt content getting solid starters with limited upside.

7. 1B Ken Phelps to Montreal for P Grant Jackson

Phelps today is known for being involved in another bad trade - for Jay Buhner (lampooned hilariously on "Seinfeld"). But in 1979, he was mashing home runs and drawing a ton of walks for Omaha, while the Royals were wasting their time at first with the light-hitting Pete LaCock. Rather than give Phelps a shot in 1980, the Royals instead acquired Willie Aikens, and let Phelps draw 128 walks with 23 homers in AAA. The Royals finally dealt Phelps in the winter before the 1982 season for a 39 year old Grant Jackson. Jackson pitched in twenty games for KC before getting released. Phelps wouldn't get his shot in Montreal, but in Seattle he became a twenty home run hitter who drew a lot of walks. The Royals could have used a first baseman like that in the mid-80s. And we could have dealt him to Steinbrenner for Jay Buhner!

6. 1B Cecil Fielder to Toronto for OF Leon Roberts

Big Cecil was just a nineteen year old kid coming off an impressive season in Rookie Ball when the Royals dealt him to Toronto for reserve outfielder Leon Roberts. Roberts would have one decent season before being released. Fielder was a solid reserve for some good Jays teams, but he would have to go to Japan and back before being revered as one of the league's most feared sluggers.

5. OF Johnny Damon and IF Mark Ellis in a three team trade to Oakland for P Roberto Hernandez, SS Angel Berroa and C A.J. Hinch

The Royals had an amazing amount of blown saves in 2000, and with an explosive offense, and a 77 win season, General Manager Allard Baird felt that a closer was the key piece keeping his club from serious contention. With outfielder Johnny Damon nearing free agency, he saw an opportunity to not only get value for his leadoff hitter, but fill a need in the bullpen. Unfortunately, Hernandez was less than effective as a closer, and the Royals found themselves still struggling to get to the ninth inning with a lead. To add further insult, the throw-in to the deal, Mark Ellis, turned into a solid starter at second base for Oakland, while Royals prospect Angel Berroa, aside from his rookie campaign, was largely a huge and expensive bust.

4. P Kevin Appier for P Blake Stein, P Jeff D'Amico and P Brad Rigby

Small market clubs like Cleveland, Florida, Minnesota and Oakland have mastered the art of flipping sought-after pitchers into high-upside prospects that provide the building blocks for competitive ballclubs of the future. Meanwhile, Herk Robinson's Royals were taking a highly sought-after commodity and spinning it for three pitchers, all supposedly close to MLB ready, but all too old to have much upside. But hey, they threw hard! Had the Royals dealt Appier two years earlier, they could have asked for a teams top prospects and gotten it. But Ape got hurt, hurting his value. Still, had the Royals dealt Appier to Cincinnati, a team interested in Ape, they might have gotten a young reliever by the name of B.J. Ryan. Instead, Ryan was dealt to Baltimore and the Royals ended up with three useless pitchers.

3. P David Cone and OF Chris Jelic to the New York Mets for C Ed Hearn, P Mauro Gozzo and P Rick Anderson

Again, I've written before on why this trade wasn't quite as bad as people make it out to be. When the Royals dealt Cone he looked like a relief pitcher with control issues, not a future All-Star. Still, I don't think its ever a good idea to trade a live arm for a backup catcher with injury problems.

2. P David Cone to Toronto for IF Chris Stynes, IF Anthony Medrano and P David Sinnes

Even worse than the earlier Cone deal in my opinion, because the Royals KNEW Cone was an All-Star pitcher. Sure General Manager Herk Robinson was under demands to cut payroll, but did he really have to take the first deal that came along? The Royals sold Cone for pennies on the dollar, landing a utility guy, a no-hit shortstop, and a minor league closer for the reigning Cy Young winner. Terrible.

1. OF Jermaine Dye in a three team trade to Oakland for Colorado SS Neifi Perez

The....absolute.....worst. It wasn't even a salary dump because the Royals didn't save that much money in the deal. Nor did they get any high upside players. For an All-Star Gold Glove slugger they got....a light hitting shortstop. Except they already had a slick fielding, light-hitting shortstop named Rey Sanchez. And another one in the minors named Angel Berroa. And Neifi's defense wasn't even that good.

Absolute worst.

Honorable mention: OF Pat Kelly and P Don O'Riley for 1B Gail Hopkins and OF John Matias; OF Lou Piniella and P Ken Wright to the New York Yankees for P Lindy McDaniel; ; P Atlee Hammaker, P Renie Martin, P Craig Chamberlain and IF Brad Wellman to San Francisco for P Vida Blue and P Bob Tufts; P Melido Perez, P Greg Hibbard, P Charlie Mount and P John Davis to the Chicago White Sox for P Floyd Bannister and OF Dave Cochrane; P Charlie Leibrandt and P Rick Luecken to Atlanta for 1B Gerald Perry and P Jim LeMasters; OF Brian McRae to the Chicago Cubs for P Derek Wallace and P Geno Morones

But let's move on to happier times. To get Dye, the Royals actually made one of their better trades in franchise history.

Jermaine hailed from Oakland and had been a 17th round draft pick by the Braves out of junior college, but had risen quickly through the system. In May of 1996 he was promoted to the big leagues to fill in for the injured David Justice and surprised many by hitting very well with a .281 average and a .459 slugging percentage as the Braves won the pennant. Dye had a tough post-season as a rookie starting right-fielder, hitting .179 with fourteen strikeouts in fifteen games and was blamed for distracting outfielder Marquis Grissom on a dropped flyball in Game Five.

When Justice returned, the Braves had a logjam in their outfield. They alleviated that by sending Justice and Grissom to the Indians for outfielder Kenny Lofton. They revamped their outfield even more by sending the 23 year old Dye to Kansas City along with pitcher Jaime Walker for outfielder Michael Tucker and infielder Keith Lockhart. I wrote before how coldly the trade was received in Kansas City, but it was viewed with equal skepticism in Atlanta.

I've liked Jermaine Dye as a young man with a solid future, but the Braves never made any fuss over him. Now he's gone. Now Schuerholz is looking for a right-handed outfielder for his bench. See if Jermaine Dye is available.
-Furman Bisher, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dye began 1997 as the Royals starting right-fielder, but struggled mightily and in mid-May, with his average under .200, he was demoted to Omaha. Meanwhile, Tucker was hitting .345 and the Royals looked foolish for making the deal.

Jermaine Dye is still very much the player we wanted to get. We have no regrets at all.
-Royals General Manager Herk Robinson

Dye dominated Omaha and rejoined the Royals in June. His hitting slowly improved, but he found himself sidelines for a month in July when he aggravated his hamstring. He rebounded to have a decent September, but ended the year with a disappointing .236 average and just seven home runs in 75 games.

Dye failed to make the club out of spring training in 1998, but he was joined the club in May after a stint in the minors. He again struggled mightily and in late June, Jermaine and his .213 average were sent to Omaha. He returned to Kansas City in August, but was shelved for the year in September when he tore his right cartilage getting into his car while making a trip to Wal-Mart. Dye ended the year with a .236 average and an awful OPS+ of 56. At age 24, he was beginning to look like a serious bust.

Dye had to work hard to win a starting job in 1999, but when Jeff Conine was dealt days before the opener, Dye found himself the starting right-fielder. Dye finally got off to a great April, hitting five home runs and twelve RBI over a seven game stretch. He had a thirteen game hit streak in May in which he hit .510 with three home runs. On July 4, he went 4-4 with two home runs and six RBI against Cleveland.

Jermaine is big, tall, hits the ball hard, and he runs like Dave Winfield. The way he's swinging doesn't surprise me. I always thought he had the ability to be a Dave Winfield. It looks like he's gotten to where he knows his swing.
-Royals designated hitter Chili Davis

Dye ended the year with a .294 average, 27 home runs and 119 RBI, the second most RBI in franchise history. He finished second in the league in doubles, fifth in triples, played in all but four games, and set a Royals franchise record with seventeen outfield assists. He was named Royals Player of the Year.

Jermaine proved he was no fluke by improving on his performance in 2000. He got off to a sizzling start in April, hitting .388 and slugging .847 with eleven home runs. His hot hitting continued and he was voted into his first All-Star Game.

Dye kicks at the dirt a little bit. He wiggles his bat a little bit. He faces Seattle pitcher Brett Tomko. And there's electricity. When was the last time a Royals hitter came to the plate and there was real electricity?

"Like a World Series game," Royals manager Tony Muser said of the atmosphere. And he wasn't joking. More than 36,000 stomped at the stadium Friday night.

The Royals led by a run. Carlos Febles was on second base. Dye kicked at the dirt. He wiggled the bat. The stadium vibrated a little bit.

Yes, here's Jermaine Dye , an old-fashioned superstar for Kansas City. And it's not just because he leads the American League with 11 home runs, though that's pretty cool. It's not just that he's the first player in the history of baseball to reach double figures in homers and doubles in the month of April. It's not just that he's a brilliant outfielder and hard worker and a heck of a good guy.

No, there's something more at work here. Something that has to do with charisma. "Man," teammate Joe Randa says, "he is awfully fun to watch."
-Joe Posnanski

Dye would end the year hitting .321 with 33 home runs and 118 RBI and would win his first Gold Glove. The Royals set all kinds of franchise records on offense, and with a 77-85 record, the team didn't seem that far off from actually contending.

The Royals had hopes of building on their 2000 season with a prolific offense and a proven closer in Roberto Hernandez to fix what had been an awful bullpen. Instead the team struggled out of the gate and by May the team was ten games out of first place. Dye struggled out of the gate, but that didn't prevent trade talk to swirl around him. Dye was due to become a free agent after the 2002 season and teams began to call the Royals about acquiring the slugger.

"I don't know what's going to happen. I've made it clear that I want to stay here. But I know baseball's a business. It's hard for a team like Kansas City to keep a team together."

The Yankees showed a lot of interest, with many speculating they would be willing to deal second baseman Alfonso Soriano in return for Dye. On July 25, 2001, the Royals traded Jermaine Dye to the Oakland A's in a three-team deal that netted them Rockies shortstop Neifi Perez in the stupidest deal in Royals history.

Jermaine has moved on from the A's to the White Sox, and despite playing for a team I loathe, I still root for Jermaine. He was a very likeable guy with a sweet swing, a graceful gait in the outfield, and a cannon arm. He was a treat to watch, and you felt joy knowing that he was ours, if only for a brief moment.

Yes, in many ways, you have it so much better. But I suppose in one way, Kiddo, I feel sad for you.

Out there in right field for the Kansas City Royals, that's Jermaine Dye. He hits. He fields. He throws. And he does everything with a quiet grace. Really, he is so cool. If I were 9 years old, he would be my hero. His poster would be on my wall. I would trade every Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds I had to get his card. I would write a project about him for English class.

Only you can't love him like that. Because, sooner or later, Jermaine Dye will be gone. And, the worst part is, you already know that. You gotta grow up fast in today's sports world.

Kiddo, that breaks my heart.
-Posnanski

2008-07-28T10:54:00.024-06:00

The Top Ten Greatest Kansas City Athletics of All-Time

The Royals are on a three game road trip to play the Athletics in Oakland. That team used to be our team. Charlie Finley, Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Sal Bando, Joe Rudi. Those guys got their start here, in Kansas City.

I wish I knew more about the Kansas City Athletics. There doesn't seem to be an abundance of information out there on them. But they were a big part of Kansas City sports history, a team that floundered in Kansas City for over a decade. It was our first shot at Major League sports, and many fans have fond memories of the Athletics, despite their awful play.

For whatever reason, the A's get overlooked in Kansas City now. Perhaps because they were awful, perhaps because they last played at 22nd and Brooklyn over forty years ago, or perhaps they never felt like "our team" the way the Royals, founded by Kansas City native Ewing Kauffman, feel like "our team." The A's were transients, moving from Philadelphia, spending a decade in Kansas City as a rest stop before moving further west to Oakland.

In any case, the A's did happen, and we should pay them their proper respects. The Northern League Kansas City T-Bones will honor the Kansas City Athletics on August 16. There is also apparently a PBS documentary in the works, which I am eagerly anticipating.

There have been many great names in Kansas City Athletics history. Al Pilarcik. John Tsitouris. Ray Jablonski. Vern Handrahan. Joe Pignatano. Aurelio Monteagudo. Not great players, but great names nonetheless. Kansas City was the home of three Hall of Famers - Enos Slaughter, Reggie Jackson and Catfish Hunter. Roger Maris played for the Athletics before breaking the home run record. Kansas City was also a great breeding ground for future managers - Billy Martin, Dick Williams, Dick Howser, Whitey Herzog and Tony LaRussa.

But who were the great Kansas City Athletics? Let's take a brief look at the ten greatest Kansas City Athletics, based on Win Shares.

10. John Wyatt (tied) 1961-1966
292 games 27-28 3.74 ERA 73 saves

Wyatt was a right-handed closer in an era where relievers were starting to be used in "save" situations. He collected 73 saves in just over four seasons in Kansas City before being dealt to Boston. He played in the waning days of the Negro Leagues with Indianapolis and signed with the A's as a 21 year old. I guess its kind of surprising to know the Negro Leagues continued well after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. It lasted well into the 1950s, struggling as more and more African-American players integrated Major League Baseball.

Wyatt was a solid reliever in Kansas City, enjoying his best year in 1964 when he led the league in appearances and was named to his only All-Star game. From 1962-1965, only four pitchers collected more saves than Wyatt - this despite the fact Wyatt's teams never won more than 73 games.

10. Ray Herbert (tied) 1955-1961
152 games 37-48 4.25 ERA 32 complete games
40 Win Shares

Herbert had been a pretty awful starter in over 200 innings, posting a 5.08 ERA with is hometown Tigers when the A's purchased him in 1955. He was awful in his first season in KC, posting a 6.26 ERA, but was excellent the next two seasons. Like David Cone and John Smoltz, he was determined to curse the hometown team that dealt him.

In 1960, Herbert finished in the top ten in the league in wins and ERA. After a terrible start in 1961, the A's dealt him to the White Sox in a seven player deal for former 18 game winner Bob Shaw. Shaw would win nine games in KC before being dealt again, while Herbert would win 20 games the next season in Chicago.

9. Bill Tuttle 1958-1961
450 Games .261/.342/.369
42 Win Shares

The A's acquired Tuttle from Detroit in a thirteen player deal. How come trades were so much larger back then? Less salary complications? No worries about impending free agency?

Tuttle was a centerfielder known for his defense who could draw a walk, but didn't hit for much power or average. He hit .231 in his first year in Kansas City, but rebounded to hit .300 the next year and earn MVP votes. He would slump to .256 in 1960, and in 1961, the A's dealt him to Minnesota. Tuttle was often seen on the field with a huge wad of tobacco in his mouth, but later in life his face would be disfigured by oral cancer, leading him to be a passionate advocate against chewing tobacco.

8. Dick Green 1963-1967
538 games .239/.296/.359
45 Win Shares

Green was signed by the A's out of Iowa and by the age of 23, he was their every day second baseman. He slammed 26 home runs his first two seasons with the A's, but never hit above .264 in his four seasons in Kansas City. He was a bit of a free swinger as well, striking out 110 times in 1965, the eighth most in the league. He would hit just .198 in 1967, the last season the A's would spend in Kansas City. Green would spend eleven seasons in the big leagues, all with the A's, and would be part of three World Series teams in Oakland.

Just our luck. The A's never win more than 73 games in twelve years in Kansas City. Their first year in Oakland was their first winning season since 1952. Two years later, they won 100 games. The year after that, they were World Champs. That should have been our championship parade.

7. Hector Lopez 1955-1959
586 games .278/.337/.433
51 Win Shares

Lopez was the second Panamanian ever to play Major League Baseball and was considered a national hero. He was a solid third baseman and second baseman for four and a half seasons for the Athletics before spending seven years as a fourth outfielder for the Yankees. He hit .290 with fifteen home runs his rookie season, then followed that up with an eighteen home run season. In 1958, he hit three home runs in a game against the Senators. He has the fourth most home runs and RBI in Kansas City Athletics history. In 1959, he was dealt with future twenty-game winner Ralph Terry in a five player deal that raised red flags as to how serious the A's were about winning, and how serious they were about making the Yankees winners.

After his career, Lopez became the first black manager to reach the AAA level when he managed the Buffalo Bisons in 1969.

6. Bob Cerv 1957-1960
413 games .288/.342/.509
54 Win Shares

Cerv was a standout baseball and basketball player at the University of Nebraska before joining the Yankees as a reserve outfielder. He played very sparingly until the A's purchased him from the Yankees at age 30. In his second season in Kansas City, he hit .305 with 38 home runs and 104 RBI, easily the greatest season in Kansas City Athletics history. He hit .285 with twenty home runs the next season including a three home run game in August. The Yankees realized they had made a huge mistake and asked to have Cerv back. The A's were all too willing to comply, dealing Cerv for light-hitting third baseman Andy Carey.

5. Bert Campaneris 1964-1967
500 games .261/.308/.365
62 Win Shares

Campaneris was a Cuban-born shortstop, perhaps best known for his stunt in September of 1965 where he played an inning at each position on the field. He was an immensely popular player, known for his aggressiveness and his fiery temper. In his very first Major League game in 1964, he cracked two home runs, the second player ever to do so (Mark Quinn became the third!). He was a prolific base-stealer, swiping 168 bases in four seasons in Kansas City, leading the league in three of those seasons. He finished in the top ten in triples in his three full seasons in Kansas City.

Despite being really lousy, those Athletics teams never stole many bases. Usually when a team stinks offensively now, the team will try to steal a lot of bases to "manufacture runs" and it is assumed that teams have done this forever. But the Athletics did not. Aside from Campaneris, only Dick Howser ever stole more than twenty bases in a season. In 1955, the A's stole twenty-two bases - as a team. They replicated the feat in 1958. In 1960, they stole sixteen bases. I can't help but wonder if baseball commentators in the 1950s bemoaned the lack of stolen bases and complained about how players did not play the game "the right way" like players did back in the 1930s.

4. Wayne Causey 1961-1966
689 games .270/.350/.371
74 Win Shares

Causey played all over the infield in five seasons in Kansas City after being acquired in a seven player deal from the Orioles. Causey didn't hit for a lot of power, as most infielders did not in those days, but he drew quite a few walks - second most in Kansas City Athletics history. He enjoyed two solid seasons in 1964 and 1965, hitting at least .280 each season, earning MVP votes. In 1964, he finished fourth in the league in walks, sixth in hits, fifth in doubles, and was on base more times than any other player in the league. After he slumped to .261 in 1965, Causey was dealt to the White Sox. By age 31, he was out of baseball, a brief career for a promising young infielder, much like a Kansas City player twenty years later - Kurt Stillwell.

3. Jerry Lumpe 1959-1963
715 games .279/.334./377
78 Win Shares

Lumpe was an infielder for the Yankees before the A's acquired him in 1959 in the Ralph Terry/Hector Lopez deal. He is the All-Time leader in hits and runs scored for Kansas City A's. A native Missourian, he was named the starter at second base for the A's and hit .272 in his first full season in Kansas City. He was a high contact hitter, usually drawing more walks than strikeouts. He enjoyed his finest season in 1962, hitting .301 with a career high 83 RBI, and reaching double digits in home runs for the only time in his career with ten. He was eighth in batting average and second in triples, and garnered MVP votes. He slumped to .271 in 1963, but drew a career high 58 walks. That winter he was involved in a five player deal to land Tigers slugger Rocky Colavito.

Did that trade make Kansas Citians think the A's were on the verge of competing? Colavito was coming off a down year, but he was still a serious home run threat, one year removed from an MVP-type season. And Kansas City landed him for Lumpe and two mediocre pitchers. The A's were coming off a 73 win season, their best in Kansas City. Fans then must have been as excited as we were when we landed Juan Gonzalez. Colavito actually fared well in 1964, but aside from Jim Gentile, there was little support, and the pitching was awful. After just one season, he was dealt to Cleveland.

2. Ed Charles 1962-1967
726 games .268/.337/.406
83 Win Shares

Charles was a third baseman signed by the Boston Braves, but he had All-Star Joe Adcock in front of him, so he languished in the minors for years. To deal with the racism he faced as a minor leaguer in the Deep South, he wrote poetry, earning him the nickname "The Poet." You can listen to his reading on his inspiration, Jackie Robinson, here.

He ripped at the sod along the base path
As he ran in advance of a base.
On his feet were your hopes and mine
For a victory for the black man's case.

And the world is grateful for the legacy
Which he left for all humanity.
Thanks, Jackie, wherever you are.
You will always be our first superstar.

Finally, in 1962 the Braves dealt the twenty-nine year old Charles to Kansas City where he made his Major League debut. He had a sensational rookie season, hitting .288 with seventeen home runs and 74 RBI and twenty stolen bases. He posted similar numbers in 1963, hitting .267 with fifteen home runs and fifteen steals. He slumped to .241 the next year, but managed sixteen home runs and drew a career high 64 walks. Owner Charlie Finley would move the fences on Municipal Stadium back in 1965. Charles' power numbers would slip and he would fail to hit double digits in home runs the next two seasons. He did manage a career high .286 batting average in 1966. The next season he was dealt to the awful Mets. Two years later those awful Mets would stun the baseball world as World Champs with Charles at third base.

1. Norm Siebern 1960-1963
611 games .289/.381/.463
89 Win Shares

Norm was hands down the best Kansas City Athletics player in history. He is the All-Time leader in home runs and RBI. He was a St. Louis kid who signed with the Yankees. He enjoyed two fine seasons in the Bronx before he was dealt to Kansas City along with broken down vets Don Larsen and Hank Bauer, as well as first baseman Marv Throneberry for a shortstop Joe DeMaestri, first baseman Kent Hadley, and a young outfielder named Roger Maris.

The Maris deal may seem awful now, but when Maris was dealt, he seemed like a pretty ordinary power hitter. He was an All-Star in '59 with the A's, but with just sixteen home runs, it seemed unlikely he would ever chase Babe's record.

Meanwhile, the A's got four excellent seasons out of Siebern. He led the ballclub in home runs, RBI and slugging all four years in Kansas City. He was a three-time All-Star, garnering MVP votes all three seasons. He finished in the top ten in hitting twice in Kansas City, and twice finished in the top ten in RBI. His finest season was 1962. He played every single game, hit .308, drew 110 walks, hit 25 home runs, 117 RBI and finished seventh in MVP balloting. He led the A's to 72 wins, the most they had ever won in Kansas City.

His performance fell in 1963, even though the A's improved to 73 wins. He still managed to hit .273 with 16 home runs and 83 RBI, while drawing 79 walks. At the end of the year, the A's dealt him to Baltimore for slugger Jim Gentile and cash. The A's were always strapped for cash.

So there are the greats of Kansas City Athletics history. Maybe we try to forget them and their laughably bad years like a family tries to forget the black sheep of the family who besmirches their good name. Instead, I think we should embrace them. Embrace them for their awfulness. Embrace them because they represent our first shot at the big leagues. Embrace them because they are a reflection of us - our city, our community, ourselves.

Here's to you, Kansas City Athletics.