Quatraro & Sweeney had to have approved this Chapman deal, right? Or do GMs sign controversial free agents without consulting anyone? At any rate, the guy seems to be a clubhouse cancer--just who the Royals DON'T need around their young pitchers!
Remember a few years back when the Royals (Dayton Moore) seemed interested in signing an Oregon college pitcher who had been charged and pleaded guilty to child sexual assault? The media was loud against it. People wrote letters to the editor against this guy. They did not hire him. I’m glad. I actually wrote a letter to Dayton Moore saying that they’d lose me as a fan if they hired this guy. If I’d known they were even looking at Aroldis Chapman, I’d have written already.
love your updates, David, and was eagerly awaiting another Royals fan's take on this Chapman signing. aaaaand we're on the same page: W.T.F. I'm not going to watch when he pitches for us, which sucks but c'mon this dude just seems like a huuuuge prick not worth our time. they better flip him at the deadline
Nice Jewels today. I’m going the other way on this one and loving the Chapman signing! Not for Chapman the player or person. Why do the Royals need another lefty who CANT throw strikes when that spot is already filled by Amir Garrett? Is he a problem, yes. Will he be a problem….most likely if history is any indication. BUT……this might be the first time all offseason I’ve felt like the Royals have viewed a player as a commodity first. This IS NOT A move DM would have made. No way he lets Chapman into the Bible study clubhouse. I know you’ve said JJ is different, and you have your sources…but for the outsider after the O’Hearn fiasco and no roster moves, THIS was a different move. And for that I’m happy. Chapman, eh, I don’t care the name of the player, I’m just excited its a move that wouldn’t have been made last year and Quantaro/Sweeney appear to be putting there stamp on decisions finally now.
The Chapman thing - Yeah, that's a tough one. I do believe there is something to be said for 'he served his time and everyone deserves a second chance', there's also a part of me that says he's probably just a bad guy.
This is different than the Ambiorix Burgos situation: Presumably his true colors came out after he was in the organization. With Chapman; the historical record is already there. We're bringing him aboard with knowledge in hand of it. Also, as you pointed out, there's rather historical AND recent behavior to look at. That's a track record, not a one-off. Personally, I'm a "when in doubt, let someone else give him the second chance" kind of guy so I don't like it.
Good to hear we're working on a long-term deal for Singer. I think with better Coaching (it can't be worse, can it?) he and the rest of the staff will get better. The difference is that Singer has shown us a ceiling (and maybe Lynch has too) that is worth getting excited about. I don't mean a flash (we've seen flashes from all of em'), I mean a consistent ceiling. I also think it sends a solid message to the Young Guns that we'll spend long-term money to build a winner. Let's lock him up!
Your Coaching Insight insight that we appear to be making decisions based off the new Coaching staff and they seem to be going with known quantities is the same thought I've been having. I'm down with it for two reasons: 1) these Coaches have track records of winning more than us and 2) again, I think it sends a positive message to our current players that former players want to come back and work with these Coaches again.
And as for those extra 4 lbs Lesky; protein and fat - no carbs. That's the key, so skip the pizza and dedicate yourself to Wings, Fried Chicken and of course, Arthur Bryant's (sausage, no sauce)!
The whole thing makes no sense to me. I get your argument for the baseball side of it, but even if he pans out well enough to get traded at the deadline, what's the point of adding another prospect that will most likely amount to nothing? I know all prospects are lottery tickets, but the Royals haven't fared all that well with these kinds of deals recently. Plus, if you're going to accept the blowback and lean into your inner skeeviness, why not make a run at Bauer instead? That's definitely not a personal endorsement of signing Bauer, but the baseball argument makes more sense. They both most likely did despicable things, a certain portion of the fanbase would be upset, but at least Bauer is still good. And whatever his off-field failings are, and they appear to be many, I wouldn't be super worried about him quitting on the team midseason, which, unless he comes out and immediately returns to his prime form (setting himself up for a trade to a contender), I can almost guarantee will happen with Chapman. Either way, this whole saga is eroding the optimism I felt when they made front office & coaching staff changes. I'm still hopeful the latter will make a positive impact, but this deal is baffling to me.
Mr. L, I understand the flipability (sic) of Chapman, but is it also possible that the team has a trade set sending away someone like Barlow, and that CHapman is signed as a kind of insurance?
Good call on the Bove/Winder connection. Good to see they are at least talking about dealing Taylor and there is actual interest! I wonder who leaked the report - probably the Twins to talk down the ask?
So it sounds like to you Tracy that the salary matters. In other words, he can have a job, it just can’t pay that much. Fair enough. So the lower the salary then, the less we expect of the person. So how much do you get paid? Now tell me your worst sin? Because maybe you’re not worthy of that job. All these people passing judgment need to look in the mirror. You know nothing about Chapman except what the papers report. Granted haven’t heard much good, but do you really know him enough to say he’s not worth the salary? I guess he so bad a person he only gets to earn minimum wage. What’s that say about minimum wage earners? The guy has a skill and he paid his dues.
Even with bringing in Johan, the royals should be beating at the Pirates door in regards to Miguel Andujar. Even if it means outright releasing Dozier this spring - that money is already gone - I don't see how Andujar wouldn't start at 3B on *this* team.
Quatraro & Sweeney had to have approved this Chapman deal, right? Or do GMs sign controversial free agents without consulting anyone? At any rate, the guy seems to be a clubhouse cancer--just who the Royals DON'T need around their young pitchers!
Remember a few years back when the Royals (Dayton Moore) seemed interested in signing an Oregon college pitcher who had been charged and pleaded guilty to child sexual assault? The media was loud against it. People wrote letters to the editor against this guy. They did not hire him. I’m glad. I actually wrote a letter to Dayton Moore saying that they’d lose me as a fan if they hired this guy. If I’d known they were even looking at Aroldis Chapman, I’d have written already.
Reminds me of the Chuck Knoblauch signing some 20+ years ago.
love your updates, David, and was eagerly awaiting another Royals fan's take on this Chapman signing. aaaaand we're on the same page: W.T.F. I'm not going to watch when he pitches for us, which sucks but c'mon this dude just seems like a huuuuge prick not worth our time. they better flip him at the deadline
Nice Jewels today. I’m going the other way on this one and loving the Chapman signing! Not for Chapman the player or person. Why do the Royals need another lefty who CANT throw strikes when that spot is already filled by Amir Garrett? Is he a problem, yes. Will he be a problem….most likely if history is any indication. BUT……this might be the first time all offseason I’ve felt like the Royals have viewed a player as a commodity first. This IS NOT A move DM would have made. No way he lets Chapman into the Bible study clubhouse. I know you’ve said JJ is different, and you have your sources…but for the outsider after the O’Hearn fiasco and no roster moves, THIS was a different move. And for that I’m happy. Chapman, eh, I don’t care the name of the player, I’m just excited its a move that wouldn’t have been made last year and Quantaro/Sweeney appear to be putting there stamp on decisions finally now.
The Chapman thing - Yeah, that's a tough one. I do believe there is something to be said for 'he served his time and everyone deserves a second chance', there's also a part of me that says he's probably just a bad guy.
This is different than the Ambiorix Burgos situation: Presumably his true colors came out after he was in the organization. With Chapman; the historical record is already there. We're bringing him aboard with knowledge in hand of it. Also, as you pointed out, there's rather historical AND recent behavior to look at. That's a track record, not a one-off. Personally, I'm a "when in doubt, let someone else give him the second chance" kind of guy so I don't like it.
Good to hear we're working on a long-term deal for Singer. I think with better Coaching (it can't be worse, can it?) he and the rest of the staff will get better. The difference is that Singer has shown us a ceiling (and maybe Lynch has too) that is worth getting excited about. I don't mean a flash (we've seen flashes from all of em'), I mean a consistent ceiling. I also think it sends a solid message to the Young Guns that we'll spend long-term money to build a winner. Let's lock him up!
Your Coaching Insight insight that we appear to be making decisions based off the new Coaching staff and they seem to be going with known quantities is the same thought I've been having. I'm down with it for two reasons: 1) these Coaches have track records of winning more than us and 2) again, I think it sends a positive message to our current players that former players want to come back and work with these Coaches again.
And as for those extra 4 lbs Lesky; protein and fat - no carbs. That's the key, so skip the pizza and dedicate yourself to Wings, Fried Chicken and of course, Arthur Bryant's (sausage, no sauce)!
So the Royals have signed the final remnants of the mortal remains of Aroldis Chapman. *yawn*
The whole thing makes no sense to me. I get your argument for the baseball side of it, but even if he pans out well enough to get traded at the deadline, what's the point of adding another prospect that will most likely amount to nothing? I know all prospects are lottery tickets, but the Royals haven't fared all that well with these kinds of deals recently. Plus, if you're going to accept the blowback and lean into your inner skeeviness, why not make a run at Bauer instead? That's definitely not a personal endorsement of signing Bauer, but the baseball argument makes more sense. They both most likely did despicable things, a certain portion of the fanbase would be upset, but at least Bauer is still good. And whatever his off-field failings are, and they appear to be many, I wouldn't be super worried about him quitting on the team midseason, which, unless he comes out and immediately returns to his prime form (setting himself up for a trade to a contender), I can almost guarantee will happen with Chapman. Either way, this whole saga is eroding the optimism I felt when they made front office & coaching staff changes. I'm still hopeful the latter will make a positive impact, but this deal is baffling to me.
Mr. L, I understand the flipability (sic) of Chapman, but is it also possible that the team has a trade set sending away someone like Barlow, and that CHapman is signed as a kind of insurance?
Chiefs and Dolphins fans sure did/are cheering on Tyreek Hill and he's known for a "checkered past". A lot of good comments here.
As a first-time attendee of spring training this year, I was hoping you would be sharing some of your wisdom on the subject.
Good call on the Bove/Winder connection. Good to see they are at least talking about dealing Taylor and there is actual interest! I wonder who leaked the report - probably the Twins to talk down the ask?
Juice is worth the squeeze. Fantastic movie quote from The Girl Next Door. Love it!
So it sounds like to you Tracy that the salary matters. In other words, he can have a job, it just can’t pay that much. Fair enough. So the lower the salary then, the less we expect of the person. So how much do you get paid? Now tell me your worst sin? Because maybe you’re not worthy of that job. All these people passing judgment need to look in the mirror. You know nothing about Chapman except what the papers report. Granted haven’t heard much good, but do you really know him enough to say he’s not worth the salary? I guess he so bad a person he only gets to earn minimum wage. What’s that say about minimum wage earners? The guy has a skill and he paid his dues.
Even with bringing in Johan, the royals should be beating at the Pirates door in regards to Miguel Andujar. Even if it means outright releasing Dozier this spring - that money is already gone - I don't see how Andujar wouldn't start at 3B on *this* team.