Comments on: Tiny Pebbles and Ripples http://kingsofkauffman.com/2009/11/26/tiny-pebbles-and-ripples/ A Kansas City Royals Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More Thu, 29 Nov 2012 02:29:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Wally Fish http://kingsofkauffman.com/2009/11/26/tiny-pebbles-and-ripples/#comment-578 Wally Fish Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:09:05 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=2312#comment-578 Who would have thought the topic of Vance Wilson could generate such discourse between the two of us? J.R. House is a minor league free agent again this offseason, as is John Suomi. Assuming Brayan Pena remains in the majors for the 2010 season, only Cody Clark (8 AB) is left on the roster among the players who caught for the O-Royals last year. Pina/Clark wouldn't be a bad AAA tandem, but that puts a lot of stock in two guys who have just 3 games of AAA experience between them. I assume Dayton will add someone else to the mix from outside the organization as an insurance policy in case one or both of them falters. As far as Wilson's contract. The fact that it is a contract out of convenience (that is an excellent definition by the way) is what bothers me about it. In the end, it is a minor point of contention. If Wilson's contract, whether you think it is good or bad, is the worst thing the front office does this offseason, better days for the Royals are on their way. Who would have thought the topic of Vance Wilson could generate such discourse between the two of us?

J.R. House is a minor league free agent again this offseason, as is John Suomi. Assuming Brayan Pena remains in the majors for the 2010 season, only Cody Clark (8 AB) is left on the roster among the players who caught for the O-Royals last year.

Pina/Clark wouldn’t be a bad AAA tandem, but that puts a lot of stock in two guys who have just 3 games of AAA experience between them. I assume Dayton will add someone else to the mix from outside the organization as an insurance policy in case one or both of them falters.

As far as Wilson’s contract. The fact that it is a contract out of convenience (that is an excellent definition by the way) is what bothers me about it.

In the end, it is a minor point of contention. If Wilson’s contract, whether you think it is good or bad, is the worst thing the front office does this offseason, better days for the Royals are on their way.

]]> By: Old Man Duggan http://kingsofkauffman.com/2009/11/26/tiny-pebbles-and-ripples/#comment-563 Old Man Duggan Sat, 28 Nov 2009 07:08:54 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=2312#comment-563 Really, more so than anything else, Wilson said last season that he only wanted to play in Springdale or in KC because if he can't be in the bigs he wants to spend more time with his family. Even if it's a situation in which he only wants to play there because it's close to home and he's getting paid to play ball, I am totally behind him being there. It seems like it is a contract that is at least 90% out of convenience, but if the Royals can benefit from it, then fine. Also, I can't remember what J.R. House's contract status is, but there is also the possibility that he'll be returning to Omaha. He has produced in the past (not so much in 2009). Really, more so than anything else, Wilson said last season that he only wanted to play in Springdale or in KC because if he can’t be in the bigs he wants to spend more time with his family. Even if it’s a situation in which he only wants to play there because it’s close to home and he’s getting paid to play ball, I am totally behind him being there. It seems like it is a contract that is at least 90% out of convenience, but if the Royals can benefit from it, then fine.

Also, I can’t remember what J.R. House’s contract status is, but there is also the possibility that he’ll be returning to Omaha. He has produced in the past (not so much in 2009).

]]> By: Wally Fish http://kingsofkauffman.com/2009/11/26/tiny-pebbles-and-ripples/#comment-551 Wally Fish Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:59:57 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=2312#comment-551 OMD, I hadn't considered it from that perspective, and you make some good points. You are right that Wilson could help develop the crop of arms sure to be pitching at AA in 2010. If his presence behind the plate leads to them being more prepared for the ML experience, than he will absolutely earn his keep. Working on the assumption that his experience is helpful and the AA pitchers would benefit from it, couldn't the same be said for the AAA pitchers? In fact, you could argue that the AAA staff would be more in need of any added advantage Wilson could provide them since they, as a group, aren't as talented but are closer to pitching for the Royals. Pina does need ABs and reps, but I'm not 100% sold that he will stick in Omaha this year. I'm sure the Royals want him to, but he's never played above AA. He only has 109 games of experience at the Double-A level and he hasn't exactly lit the world on fire during that time. He probably will struggle in Omaha, and if he does, may find himself back down in AA for more development. In that scenario, Wilson's presence in AA would wind up taking reps away from Pina and further muddy the waters. OMD,
I hadn’t considered it from that perspective, and you make some good points.

You are right that Wilson could help develop the crop of arms sure to be pitching at AA in 2010. If his presence behind the plate leads to them being more prepared for the ML experience, than he will absolutely earn his keep. Working on the assumption that his experience is helpful and the AA pitchers would benefit from it, couldn’t the same be said for the AAA pitchers? In fact, you could argue that the AAA staff would be more in need of any added advantage Wilson could provide them since they, as a group, aren’t as talented but are closer to pitching for the Royals.

Pina does need ABs and reps, but I’m not 100% sold that he will stick in Omaha this year. I’m sure the Royals want him to, but he’s never played above AA. He only has 109 games of experience at the Double-A level and he hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire during that time. He probably will struggle in Omaha, and if he does, may find himself back down in AA for more development. In that scenario, Wilson’s presence in AA would wind up taking reps away from Pina and further muddy the waters.

]]> By: Old Man Duggan http://kingsofkauffman.com/2009/11/26/tiny-pebbles-and-ripples/#comment-550 Old Man Duggan Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:29:08 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=2312#comment-550 I understand the desire to have him in Omaha, but with the pitchers that are set to be coming through Springdale (thanks) this season, it can't hurt to have a catcher with Major League experience behind the dish. I think the catchers they have in Omaha already probably have a little more offensive upside, and Manny Pina, who is on the 40-man roster now, probably needs to be getting the reps that Wilson would be were he in Omaha. I understand the desire to have him in Omaha, but with the pitchers that are set to be coming through Springdale (thanks) this season, it can’t hurt to have a catcher with Major League experience behind the dish. I think the catchers they have in Omaha already probably have a little more offensive upside, and Manny Pina, who is on the 40-man roster now, probably needs to be getting the reps that Wilson would be were he in Omaha.

]]> By: Wally Fish http://kingsofkauffman.com/2009/11/26/tiny-pebbles-and-ripples/#comment-548 Wally Fish Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:51:09 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=2312#comment-548 OMD, Thanks as always for dropping in with some additional information. You are correct that he currently lives minutes away from the ballpark in Springdale, Arkansas. I was not aware of that, but it doesn't change my assessment of his signing. I'm sure he has some value as an instructor for younger players, but if that is what the Royals want him for, they should make him a coach. If he wants to play baseball, he should be in Triple-A playing against more advanced competition. He needs to be as prepared as possible to contribute in the event the Royals need to call him up. OMD,
Thanks as always for dropping in with some additional information. You are correct that he currently lives minutes away from the ballpark in Springdale, Arkansas. I was not aware of that, but it doesn’t change my assessment of his signing.

I’m sure he has some value as an instructor for younger players, but if that is what the Royals want him for, they should make him a coach. If he wants to play baseball, he should be in Triple-A playing against more advanced competition. He needs to be as prepared as possible to contribute in the event the Royals need to call him up.

]]> By: Old Man Duggan http://kingsofkauffman.com/2009/11/26/tiny-pebbles-and-ripples/#comment-547 Old Man Duggan Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:39:33 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=2312#comment-547 Wilson is actually from that town in Arkansas (I forgot the name of the town and can't be bothered to look it up), so he'll either be in AA or Kansas City. If memory serves me correctly, I think he actually doesn't want to play in Omaha. I, for one, am happy to have him working with our young farm hands in AA. Wilson is actually from that town in Arkansas (I forgot the name of the town and can’t be bothered to look it up), so he’ll either be in AA or Kansas City. If memory serves me correctly, I think he actually doesn’t want to play in Omaha. I, for one, am happy to have him working with our young farm hands in AA.

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