2011 Topps Gypsy Queen

Just wanted to post a pic of a cool card I pulled when busting a box of Gypsy Queen....autographed David Ortiz, with the "Happy 60th" birthday wish for Topps inscribed.

Numbered to only 60 cards (mine is 30 of 60)...I thought this was a pretty nice pull.

Jose Bautista: Fact or Fiction?

Jose Bautista. Is he for real, or is something going on here? It’s hard for me (or anyone, for that matter) to say. I hate to speculate about any performance enhancing drugs, as I hope that era of the game is behind us, although that’s probably wishful thinking. Guys have been on some form of PED for years now…whether as some kind of stimulant, steroids, or HGH…the list goes on, and history tells us guys will always look for an edge of some kind.

But one does have to wonder about guys like Bautista and the resurgent Bartolo Colon. I like to think Bautista is just a good story. Maybe it’s a combination of a guy working hard and being given a chance to play. The Blue Jays gave Bautista a chance in 2009, when he had 336 at bats and hit 13 homers with a .757 OPS. A nice season, sure, but certainly not indicative of what 2010 would bring. Bautista, as we all know, played a full season (161 games) and had a breakout year, putting up MVP type numbers with 54 homers, 124 RBI, and a .995 OPS. Nobody could have seen that production coming, especially out of a 30 year old hitter with no track record of success.

And his story keeps getting better. As we move through the 2011 season, Bautista has actually IMPROVED. He’s currently batting .372 with a .522 OBP (a number reminiscent of Barry Bonds). He’s got 16 homers through 34 games and boasts a 1.365 OPS. As of this writing, he has a combined 690 at bats from 2010 through May 18, 2011. Over that stretch, he’s smashed 70 home runs, meaning he knocks one over the fence every 9.8 at bats. This comes after he posted a total of 59 home runs in 1,638 at bats from 2006-2009 (a homer every 27.7 at bats).

Is it fair to speculate? I don’t know. But you know what? I don’t know if what he’s doing is “real” either. Maybe it is. Maybe he’s one of the great stories in the last decade of baseball, and we should celebrate his success. Blue Jays fans (and fans of the game in general) should just enjoy the ride. Unfortunately, (for Bautista and fans of the game) the dark shadow cast by players like Bonds, McGwire, Clemens, and Sosa, makes it impossible to not wonder.

It's not fair. Bautista shouldn't have to suffer any speculation, and fans shouldn't have to wonder. Personally, I'll root for him and stay angry at the legends who gave us reason to doubt, injecting a little cynicism into the game for the coming years, and maybe forever.

BoSox Land Adrian Gozalez

Big news here for the AL East.  Youk should slide to third base, and Beltre is officially out of town.

Tweeted on the topic and was noticed (and quoted) by a Sox blogger...

http://storify.com/mikecarlucci/red-sox-catch-adrian-gonzalez

David DeJesus - To Trade, or not to Trade...

With the trade deadline approaching, Kansas City fans are hopeful that players like Jose Guillen can be moved elsewhere for something (ANYTHING) to make way for a young player - maybe even the return of Alex Gordon in his new role as a corner outfielder.  Is that a pipe dream?  Maybe...maybe not.  Guillen is hitting this year, and if KC will pony up a few million dollars towards his salary, I think a trade partner could be found.  I'm not sure the team would receive much of value in return, but it may be valuable enough to give a player in Omaha the chance he won't get as long as Guillen is wearing Royal blue.

The real value on the trade market for the Royals lies with fan favorite (and one of the best, most consistent Kansas City players over the past several seasons) David DeJesus.  And according to rumors, there is interest in DDJ.  An article by Nick Cafardo at Boston.com regarding possible player trades says the following about DeJesus:

A solid offensive player who can play all three outfield positions, he is affordable at $4.7 million, with an option for next season at $6 million. The Red Sox, Yankees, and Padres are possible bidders, but the Royals are said to be asking for more return than is acceptable to the suitors.

Some fans will surely wonder why Dayton Moore would ask for too much...pricing himself out of any trade at all (I've seen the argument online at various fan communities).  Personally, I say "Good for you, Dayton."  Why not shoot for the moon?  Should we settle for whatever a team will give us?  I say no.  We've seen that before (too many times).  Johnny Damon, Jermaine Dye (Neifi Perez, anyone?), Carlos Beltran...the list goes on. 

DeJesus is a valuable player.  He can play defense - and not just league average defense - GREAT defense.  He can play all three outfield positions.  He can hit...and he's on FIRE right now.  Look at the numbers then tell me a team in contention wouldn't benefit from DDJ's services.  You can't tell me that, can you?  He would be a fantastic (and affordable) addition to several teams.  And if Dayton Moore is asking for "too much," well...so be it.  We can always keep him and exercise his option for 2011 (at a very reasonable $6 million).  God forbid we got stuck with the guy because Dayton won't settle for any offer Boston or New York sends his way.  If a big payday isn't in the cards, then I'd rather the Royals keep the player who could easily be their All-Star representative in 2010 (in my opinion).

Not to mention, the only guy more popular on the team is probably Zack Greinke.  Fans love DeJesus, and with good reason, he an approachable and likable guy...who, by the way, plays some damn good baseball.

The teams mentioned above by Cafardo aren't the only interested parties...I would bet plenty of general managers will come calling (the last rumor I saw mentioned the Giants).  DeJesus is a great fit for many teams out there (including the Royals).  Let the bidding begin.

Has it been that long?

Wow...a little over a month since the terrible play of the Royals drove me away from being able to consistently blog.  Amazing how a bad team can suck the productivity right out of a person.

I suppose there is a lot to catch up on.  Hillman's out, Yost is in.  Greinke got his second win!  Gordon is in AAA getting in work as an outfielder.  DeJesus is allegedly on the trade block.  What else?  Oh...Bud Selig is in town today, and will make a pregame announcement to those in attendance.  The word is - Kansas City gets the 2012 All Star Game. 

Aside from that - the Big 12 has 10 teams, and the Big 10 has 12?

Huh?

I have more to say...that will come later this week.  Just wanted to check in.  Will have comments on DeJesus (do we keep him or trade him?), the KC draft, and probably more....

Moves That Make Sense

Well it's been a couple of weeks since I last wrote about Kansas City baseball...and with good cause...every time I think about this team, I get a little bit depressed. 

In the time since that last post, the Royals have made some moves and shuffled some things around.  Most notable is the recalling of Mike Aviles and designation of Alex Gordon.  Ah...Alex Gordon...The Chosen One.  Or maybe not.

Gordon is now making a transition to left field, in an effort, I suppose, to give us a potential power hitting corner outfielder.  Will it work?  I dunno.  But it's worth a shot and I guess better than just throwing in the towel.  In the meantime, though, it's good to see Aviles back with the big league club.  Aviles has shown that he can, in fact, hit major league pitching (something Gordon has yet to prove on a consistent basis).  Aviles gives positional flexibility on defense as well.  Chris Getz not hitting well?  Plug Aviles in at 2B.  Yuni Betancourt underwhelming us at shortstop?  Aviles.  Callaspo playing horrible defense at the hot corner?  Aviles.  Maybe Mike Aviles is the real Chosen One.  At least for now.

My one gripe in all of this...Chris Getz hasn't done a lot to impress me outside of the first seven games or so.  The offense did look better before he was injured, and he does play a much better second base than Callaspo, but his bat just isn't looking good right now.  I could argue that maybe Gordon deserves a spot on the roster more than Getz...but if they're serious about the position change for Alex, probably better to do it in AAA.  I don't necessarily like Getz on the roster, but I can see where the organization's hands are a little tied.

Oh.  And Kila is on the roster.  Let's hope they actually let him play rather than sit the bench for two weeks.  That would just be a waste of time for all involved.

Well played, Mauer....

Hilarious.