So, I’m might be the only fan that feels this way right now. And that’s ok. But I’m just kinda at the point with this organization that I don’t care if you got screwed in the draft. Win more games, and then you know what…one year you will be the Guardians and get a better pick unexpectedly. So, I mean, I don’t have a problem with the system. I have a problem with the organization not winning more. You are paid to win games, figure it out.
On the rule 5. I’m irritated if they don’t pick someone. But totally understand your point that it probably isn’t a big deal. I think my irritation is more that it tells me they think everyone on the roster is better than what they can pick. And maybe they are right…but I think last year showed us that who they have at the bottom of the roster isn’t very good. So if they don’t, ok….i guess.
I do think they are doing a bit of managing expectations this offseason. Which is almost always the right play. They can spend 50m….will they, who knows. But why get killed for not when you are the one that put out that expectation to begin with. I’m even a little surprised he threw out a 30m number to be honest. Unless, he’s pretty darn sure they are at least going to spend that. I guess you could always walk it back if needed.
I commented on your comment on yesterday's post, but the solution is absolutely to win more games, but that doesn't change the fact that the system has flaws. What happened did happen and you can point to a hypothetical solution moving forward, but it's still a frustrating process. It's not like the Royals are sitting around with their thumbs up their butts thinking they'll magically win more games if they can just get that top pick. The draft is designed to create parity and putting the two worst teams at four and six doesn't do that. The punishment is not getting to pick there multiple years. It shouldn't also include dropping that far back *and* losing all that slot money.
The payroll thing makes sense to me that they wouldn't give a bigger number because they can have grand plans to spend $15 million on one starter, $12 million on another, $15 million on the bullpen and then $8 million on a bat and then not be able to sign their targets. It's PR 101 here.
I do agree that they shouldn’t lose slot money. And that seems like an easy fix to be honest. You pick where the ping pong balls land…but you get the slot money of where you finished the season. That makes sense and I don’t think would be very hard. I guess my only pushback would be…isn’t the system working like they wanted? You have no incentive to lose right now which is the purpose. IDK, I’m kinda on team be competent after 7 years of this. So, my view point is jaded. Lol.
Man, I kinda like what the White Sox are doing and that concerns me. Sounds like they might move Cease…but I liked the Fredde signing. Not a lot to lose there. Just with who they are looking at…makes me just think that Salvy getting moved this offseason odds keep dropping. Why would the White Sox bring him on with a declining player when they might be re-tooling a bit. I hope for the royals they can find one…but the White Sox appear to be looking at things a little different now…which sucks for the Royals in general. They were a dumpster fire.
I think the system is generally working for one goal but not all the goals. The fact that the Royals will have picked behind all four of their division opponents in two straight drafts is ridiculous to me. There’s a way to deincentivize losing without turning too far, which I think this has.
I sort of like what the White Sox are doing, but I also don’t know how much it moves the needle for them. Let’s see what the Cease return is.
What if I told you that's very possible? I mean I think there probably is someone better, but, again, these are prospects that their respective teams have said, "nah, we're good" on. As I've said so many times, I'd clear a spot and make a pick, but it's also pretty whatever if they don't.
I'm with you on the draft. Why can't they just do it live as they draw the balls. I t seems odd to to me that the A's and the Royals are the 2 teams to get screwed both years. I thought I was over it last night, but I guess not!!!!
The Royals have to make their own breaks. The fact they are odds on favorite to finish last in their division again this year, gives them the opportunity for another poor pick. I believe that if Tampa had drafted Bubic, Kowar and company, some or all of them would be class starting pitchers by now. Perhaps one day, the Royals will learn how to make pitchers better. Just don't hold your breath.
1. My response when I saw the news about the draft lottery was identical to what happened when I watched MVS get turned around on a deep throw - again - Sunday night. All I could do was laugh at the absurdity of the world.
I liked the system when it was announced and I'm still OK with it today, even though it hasn't worked to the Royals' benefit. It disincentivizes tanking and it really disincentivizes long-term tanking. Sometimes a team that is trying to do better but stuck in a hole will get unlucky, but I can live with that.
2. GMs (regardless the sport) have very little incentive to ever tell the truth publicly. Maybe JJ was being honest about his budget; maybe not, but if he was being honest he just gave other teams a roadmap to screwing the Royals in competitive FA negotiations.
3. Maybe it's a sign that I'm spending too much time in the comment sections, but KC sports fans seem disproportionately toxic and just...dumb these days. Complaining about things that haven't even happened yet is definitely up there on my list of fan pet peeves, somewhere below "he'd do better if he wasn't so lazy" and somewhere above "Matt Nagy's play calling is terrible, he should be fired."
4 (bonus content!). I assume you saw Anne Rogers' newsletter featuring Vinne P at the Winter Meetings. I don't think I've ever seen a guy more eager to be the face of a franchise. I know Bobby is that guy based on his 2nd half performance last year and that flowing lettuce under his cap, but Vinnie is just so damned lovable. I was really impressed that he showed up for the fan appreciation day at the K, when they let fans on the field to take pictures with players before the game. I'm not sure how many injured players are going to stand out in the sun to say thanks to the fans after a 100+ loss season, but he was there and was all smiles.
Agree on all of this. And I want to add that I completely agree Vinnie is the real deal. I’d give him a 7/80 extension offer yesterday and I can almost guarantee he’d sign it.
Hmmm....on drafting 6th or 1st...after being emmediately disappointed....i think it really does not matter that much if your player development is not top notch.... and there is no top notch number 1 in this draft which is some consolation....
I also wish if they'd gotten the shaft that it would be to pick seventh over sixth just to be out of the lottery and not start that clock. But that's a smaller issue to me.
As I started to say, why are we waiting on getting BWJ signed long term. He only gets more expensive every day. It seems to me sign him now or trade him soon.
They’re not waiting. It’s an ongoing negotiation. The price isn’t going to change between now and the end of the season. They benefit from this year’s free agent market because there isn’t someone who will sign a deal that Witt can point to and say “no, I want closer to *that* now.”
I'm with you on complaining about things that haven't happened yet, but I get where people are coming from. I feel the same way at times, but if my expectation is that everything they do will fail, then I might as well root for another team.
Yeah, that's sort of where I land on it. I totally understand why the assumption is there, but part of being a fan is the (often irrational) idea that tomorrow will be better. Otherwise, you're just miserable. I can wait a day to be miserable about the Royals even if I know it's pretty likely that I will be when that time comes.
"I don’t know if this is from me maturing or not having the time to harbor sports anger like I used to, but you’ve probably figured out that I struggle a whole lot with complaining about things that haven’t happened yet."
The older I get, the more I accept how little control I actually have and that everything will work out as it should.
The older I’ve got….the more I just pick a team each year that is fun or baseball in general. Why spend your time on losers? And yes, I spend plenty of time on the Royals yet for better or worse….but I think the fair-weather fans…if there is such as thing. They do it right. Lol.
The frustrating part about the draft lottery to me is it punishes the fans at least as much as the organization. We just suffered through a miserable season and all we have is hope for the future. Don't take that away too!
I'm right there with you on the Rule 5- one would be nice, but I won't get upset when the people who do it for a living make that call. I was kind of hoping they would free up a spot in some spiffy trade bringing in a shiny new(to us) pitcher before the draft, but that ship is leaving the dock I guess. OK gotta go update, maybe royals swiftly signed a couple starters as I was writing this
I would have told you Coleman would be the closer for years to come going into last year. Stuff was always plus. Just never could really put it together here.
LOL, oh sure. I’m actually more ok if they don’t pick anyone now which seems weird. They at least give themselves the option now. If they don’t pick anyone now it’s because they don’t see anyone worth it. I’m ok with that. It’s at least not, well we have a roster full of everyone we love yet so we can’t. It’s not a problem of loving their guys too much at least. They are still being transactional. I’ll take it.
You can make the argument that if they didn't have an open spot, it's because they didn't see anyone worth it before the draft. It's not like players magically become available for this draft. The names have been known for a couple of weeks.
It's a moot point, but if they hadn't cleared a spot, wouldn't that be the same thing as clearing a spot and then not taking anyone? They give you their thoughts either way.
Ultimately yes. But the optics of it are different. If you don’t make room you are saying without a doubt that anyone out there is not any better than what you have. And I’d tell you that losing 106 games would tell you that is wrong. Lol.
You make room and still don’t select anyone. Yes, it’s telling you the same thing. But it is still being transactional. Maybe the guy you wanted went 1…ok. You can sell the fans on that and the possibility of that. You just can’t sell you lost 106 games (which is really hard) and sit pat and say..nay my roster is set. They didn’t, it was a good day even if it ultimately means nothing.
It’s been a slow offseason David. If you tell me MJ getting traded is down to 85% I’m going to bang my head against the wall. I do think Ohtani is holding everything up. But I also think…..MLB needs to just make the FA period like they did during Covid….and more how the NFL does it. I’m a baseball fan and this sucks. Lol.
It’s not about who they pick. It’s more the concept of your 106 loss roster is so good you don’t even give yourself the option of finding something. That is gone now. All is right in the world again. Hate it tomorrow if you want but this is good progress. Now, about Giolitto……
Thanks for the updates. I tend to get bogged down in the details of how the winter meetings, Rule 5, and the draft lottery work, so it's great to have someone explain it to me in layman's terms.
You did write today! Lol
So, I’m might be the only fan that feels this way right now. And that’s ok. But I’m just kinda at the point with this organization that I don’t care if you got screwed in the draft. Win more games, and then you know what…one year you will be the Guardians and get a better pick unexpectedly. So, I mean, I don’t have a problem with the system. I have a problem with the organization not winning more. You are paid to win games, figure it out.
On the rule 5. I’m irritated if they don’t pick someone. But totally understand your point that it probably isn’t a big deal. I think my irritation is more that it tells me they think everyone on the roster is better than what they can pick. And maybe they are right…but I think last year showed us that who they have at the bottom of the roster isn’t very good. So if they don’t, ok….i guess.
I do think they are doing a bit of managing expectations this offseason. Which is almost always the right play. They can spend 50m….will they, who knows. But why get killed for not when you are the one that put out that expectation to begin with. I’m even a little surprised he threw out a 30m number to be honest. Unless, he’s pretty darn sure they are at least going to spend that. I guess you could always walk it back if needed.
I commented on your comment on yesterday's post, but the solution is absolutely to win more games, but that doesn't change the fact that the system has flaws. What happened did happen and you can point to a hypothetical solution moving forward, but it's still a frustrating process. It's not like the Royals are sitting around with their thumbs up their butts thinking they'll magically win more games if they can just get that top pick. The draft is designed to create parity and putting the two worst teams at four and six doesn't do that. The punishment is not getting to pick there multiple years. It shouldn't also include dropping that far back *and* losing all that slot money.
The payroll thing makes sense to me that they wouldn't give a bigger number because they can have grand plans to spend $15 million on one starter, $12 million on another, $15 million on the bullpen and then $8 million on a bat and then not be able to sign their targets. It's PR 101 here.
I do agree that they shouldn’t lose slot money. And that seems like an easy fix to be honest. You pick where the ping pong balls land…but you get the slot money of where you finished the season. That makes sense and I don’t think would be very hard. I guess my only pushback would be…isn’t the system working like they wanted? You have no incentive to lose right now which is the purpose. IDK, I’m kinda on team be competent after 7 years of this. So, my view point is jaded. Lol.
Man, I kinda like what the White Sox are doing and that concerns me. Sounds like they might move Cease…but I liked the Fredde signing. Not a lot to lose there. Just with who they are looking at…makes me just think that Salvy getting moved this offseason odds keep dropping. Why would the White Sox bring him on with a declining player when they might be re-tooling a bit. I hope for the royals they can find one…but the White Sox appear to be looking at things a little different now…which sucks for the Royals in general. They were a dumpster fire.
But saw on mlbtrade rumors…Miami looking for a SS. Garcia anyone?!
That’s a great fit and I know there was at least some interest at the deadline.
I think the system is generally working for one goal but not all the goals. The fact that the Royals will have picked behind all four of their division opponents in two straight drafts is ridiculous to me. There’s a way to deincentivize losing without turning too far, which I think this has.
I sort of like what the White Sox are doing, but I also don’t know how much it moves the needle for them. Let’s see what the Cease return is.
I like the idea of not losing slot money, did you call Manfred?
You cannot tell me there will be pitchers available today in the Rule 5 draft that are better than what the Royals have on their 40-man roster now!!!
What if I told you that's very possible? I mean I think there probably is someone better, but, again, these are prospects that their respective teams have said, "nah, we're good" on. As I've said so many times, I'd clear a spot and make a pick, but it's also pretty whatever if they don't.
The Royals have been bad for almost 10 years now and it will be hard for them to attract high talent free agents!!!
I'm with you on the draft. Why can't they just do it live as they draw the balls. I t seems odd to to me that the A's and the Royals are the 2 teams to get screwed both years. I thought I was over it last night, but I guess not!!!!
If they hadn't had a history of making shady moves, I wouldn't even think twice, but yeah, let's see it live. Good drama too.
The Royals have to make their own breaks. The fact they are odds on favorite to finish last in their division again this year, gives them the opportunity for another poor pick. I believe that if Tampa had drafted Bubic, Kowar and company, some or all of them would be class starting pitchers by now. Perhaps one day, the Royals will learn how to make pitchers better. Just don't hold your breath.
A few quick-hit reactions:
1. My response when I saw the news about the draft lottery was identical to what happened when I watched MVS get turned around on a deep throw - again - Sunday night. All I could do was laugh at the absurdity of the world.
I liked the system when it was announced and I'm still OK with it today, even though it hasn't worked to the Royals' benefit. It disincentivizes tanking and it really disincentivizes long-term tanking. Sometimes a team that is trying to do better but stuck in a hole will get unlucky, but I can live with that.
2. GMs (regardless the sport) have very little incentive to ever tell the truth publicly. Maybe JJ was being honest about his budget; maybe not, but if he was being honest he just gave other teams a roadmap to screwing the Royals in competitive FA negotiations.
3. Maybe it's a sign that I'm spending too much time in the comment sections, but KC sports fans seem disproportionately toxic and just...dumb these days. Complaining about things that haven't even happened yet is definitely up there on my list of fan pet peeves, somewhere below "he'd do better if he wasn't so lazy" and somewhere above "Matt Nagy's play calling is terrible, he should be fired."
4 (bonus content!). I assume you saw Anne Rogers' newsletter featuring Vinne P at the Winter Meetings. I don't think I've ever seen a guy more eager to be the face of a franchise. I know Bobby is that guy based on his 2nd half performance last year and that flowing lettuce under his cap, but Vinnie is just so damned lovable. I was really impressed that he showed up for the fan appreciation day at the K, when they let fans on the field to take pictures with players before the game. I'm not sure how many injured players are going to stand out in the sun to say thanks to the fans after a 100+ loss season, but he was there and was all smiles.
Agree on all of this. And I want to add that I completely agree Vinnie is the real deal. I’d give him a 7/80 extension offer yesterday and I can almost guarantee he’d sign it.
Hmmm....on drafting 6th or 1st...after being emmediately disappointed....i think it really does not matter that much if your player development is not top notch.... and there is no top notch number 1 in this draft which is some consolation....
This does seem like a good year to get unlucky, though David's point about the lost slot money is a really good one I hadn't considered.
I also wish if they'd gotten the shaft that it would be to pick seventh over sixth just to be out of the lottery and not start that clock. But that's a smaller issue to me.
While I am complaining, I will hit on another one. Why are they w
As I started to say, why are we waiting on getting BWJ signed long term. He only gets more expensive every day. It seems to me sign him now or trade him soon.
They’re not waiting. It’s an ongoing negotiation. The price isn’t going to change between now and the end of the season. They benefit from this year’s free agent market because there isn’t someone who will sign a deal that Witt can point to and say “no, I want closer to *that* now.”
I'm with you on complaining about things that haven't happened yet, but I get where people are coming from. I feel the same way at times, but if my expectation is that everything they do will fail, then I might as well root for another team.
Yeah, that's sort of where I land on it. I totally understand why the assumption is there, but part of being a fan is the (often irrational) idea that tomorrow will be better. Otherwise, you're just miserable. I can wait a day to be miserable about the Royals even if I know it's pretty likely that I will be when that time comes.
I started my baseball journey as a Cubs fan in the early 1980s, when I was a kid. If I can endure that, I can endure anything. This is child's play.
"I don’t know if this is from me maturing or not having the time to harbor sports anger like I used to, but you’ve probably figured out that I struggle a whole lot with complaining about things that haven’t happened yet."
The older I get, the more I accept how little control I actually have and that everything will work out as it should.
The older I’ve got….the more I just pick a team each year that is fun or baseball in general. Why spend your time on losers? And yes, I spend plenty of time on the Royals yet for better or worse….but I think the fair-weather fans…if there is such as thing. They do it right. Lol.
The frustrating part about the draft lottery to me is it punishes the fans at least as much as the organization. We just suffered through a miserable season and all we have is hope for the future. Don't take that away too!
I'm right there with you on the Rule 5- one would be nice, but I won't get upset when the people who do it for a living make that call. I was kind of hoping they would free up a spot in some spiffy trade bringing in a shiny new(to us) pitcher before the draft, but that ship is leaving the dock I guess. OK gotta go update, maybe royals swiftly signed a couple starters as I was writing this
Royals trade Coleman to Astros opening up a spot on the roster. Thank the lord, they are going to select someone in the rule 5.
I would have told you Coleman would be the closer for years to come going into last year. Stuff was always plus. Just never could really put it together here.
Really looking forward to everyone hating the pick by mid May.
LOL, oh sure. I’m actually more ok if they don’t pick anyone now which seems weird. They at least give themselves the option now. If they don’t pick anyone now it’s because they don’t see anyone worth it. I’m ok with that. It’s at least not, well we have a roster full of everyone we love yet so we can’t. It’s not a problem of loving their guys too much at least. They are still being transactional. I’ll take it.
You can make the argument that if they didn't have an open spot, it's because they didn't see anyone worth it before the draft. It's not like players magically become available for this draft. The names have been known for a couple of weeks.
You expect me to go on blind faith at this point David? Concrete proof thats what it is. Lol. Fool me 17 times……its….what….idk….on me?
It's a moot point, but if they hadn't cleared a spot, wouldn't that be the same thing as clearing a spot and then not taking anyone? They give you their thoughts either way.
Ultimately yes. But the optics of it are different. If you don’t make room you are saying without a doubt that anyone out there is not any better than what you have. And I’d tell you that losing 106 games would tell you that is wrong. Lol.
You make room and still don’t select anyone. Yes, it’s telling you the same thing. But it is still being transactional. Maybe the guy you wanted went 1…ok. You can sell the fans on that and the possibility of that. You just can’t sell you lost 106 games (which is really hard) and sit pat and say..nay my roster is set. They didn’t, it was a good day even if it ultimately means nothing.
It’s been a slow offseason David. If you tell me MJ getting traded is down to 85% I’m going to bang my head against the wall. I do think Ohtani is holding everything up. But I also think…..MLB needs to just make the FA period like they did during Covid….and more how the NFL does it. I’m a baseball fan and this sucks. Lol.
By May? Just reference today's article, it's going to be hated immediately.
It’s not about who they pick. It’s more the concept of your 106 loss roster is so good you don’t even give yourself the option of finding something. That is gone now. All is right in the world again. Hate it tomorrow if you want but this is good progress. Now, about Giolitto……
And honestly, if Coleman gets it figured out good for him. We tried. Change of scenery is ok people.
Thanks for the updates. I tend to get bogged down in the details of how the winter meetings, Rule 5, and the draft lottery work, so it's great to have someone explain it to me in layman's terms.
Thanks for reading, Diane!