The case for Albert Pujols to the Royals

It won’t happen.

However, this is my blog and I can dream about the possibility.

After all, I’m not the first one to think about it. The St. Louis Post Dispatch ran a piece by Jeff Gordon on the possibility of Albert Pujols signing with the Royals.

A portion:

The Royals are loaded with prospects that player development experts love. They have Tampa Bay Rays-like potential, with plenty of big arms and big bats on the way.

That team has significant money committed to just one player beyond 2011, Billy Butler. The Royals loaded up with veterans on one-year deals this season, including pitcher Jeff Francis and outfielder Jeff Francoeur.

They possess maximum payroll flexibility for 2012. More than most franchises, the Royals can afford to spend $30 million (or more) per season for one hitter.

This would be ideal for any Royals fan. As a small-market team, it’s generally not a great idea to invest $30 million a year in just one player.

However, there’s a strong case the Kansas City Royals should do this.

1. It’s a local star: Ticket sales would increase dramatically. Remember how packed The K was when Zack Greinke pitched every fifth day? Imagine a star playing everyday, or at least on most days? I believe Pujols could increase season tickets and individual tickets. This would generate more revenue for the franchise and would begin to help make up that $30 million cost.

2. No bad contracts on board: There’s no Gil Meche or Jose Guillen hamstringing the Royals. Both contracts are off the books.

3. Any deal could be frontloaded: Of course, when you invest $300 million into one guy, it could hurt the effort to maintain the prospects dramatically. However, if that deal is frontloaded in terms of salary (say $38-40 million a year through the first two or three years), the contract would dwindle down eventually to save revenue.

4. The Royals still need veterans: I made this point earlier this month, but we can’t do it entirely through the draft. We still need a key free agent or two and Pujols would certainly fill that gap.

5. The Royals would become a bona fed contender. The Royals pitching prospects are loaded and with Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer in the wings, the Royals could have a juicy lineup. Heck, perhaps Alex Gordon could benefit.

6. The Royals would make more money by spending the $300 million. Once a team improves right away, there’s a bandwagoning affect. Countless powder blue Pujols jerseys would be sold. More tickets would be purchased. Royals gear would increase dramatically. More national TV appearances would be in the works.

Again, I fully expect the St. Louis Cardinals to maintain him and re-sign him.

However, a Royals fan can dream.

Why Green Bay wins the Super Bowl easily

Sometimes, games live up to the hype.

But other times, after two weeks of hype, they don’t.

This will be one of those instances. Green Bay-Pittsburgh is getting hyped up beyond belief. The two largest fanbases are doing battle in Dallas. Along with the Cowboys and New York Giants, these are the two best franchises in the NFL’s history.

However, I like the Green Bay Packers to win this game by 17.

Here’s why:

1. We are due for a bad Super Bowl. Outside of the Baltimore-New York and Tampa Bay-Oakland Super Bowls, the last decade of Super Bowls has been incredibly competitive. Or, the games have at least been “in doubt.” I just think we’re due for a stinker. I hope I’m wrong.

2. Since I’m predicting a stinker, Green Bay is more likely to lay the beatdown. Can you imagine Pittsburgh’s offense sticking up 35 or 42 points, especially when their offensive line is dinged up and Green Bay’s defense is quicker this year than when they played last year? I just don’t see it. As much as I like Pittsburgh’s defense, I can see Green Bay sticking up a 31 or 35 number while its defense holds Pittsburgh under 20.

3. Green Bay plays better in doors and stuff. This has been a big media talking point. I’ll repeat it, but won’t go too much in depth on it. Basic premise: Speed kills in doors and outside of the Detroit Lions game, Green Bay has killed in doors.

4. Pittsburgh getting destroyed in halves…at home. There was much to be made about Green Bay’s dismal second half against the Chicago Bears. But one thing gone relatively unnoticed is how bad Pittsburgh was outplayed in the first half against Baltimore and in the second half against Gang Green. I just don’t think Pittsburgh is playing well. Take away that late fumble recovery and the Jets probably win that game.

5. Green Bay is the better team. If Aaron Rodgers was healthy and Green Bay’s linebackers were healthy, is there any question this team would have been 13-3? They’re at least 12-4 by the way Matt freaking Flynn played against the New England Patriots that night. Pittsburgh has been dinged up too, but Green Bay’s injuries were more severe. Oh, and they’re healthy now.

6. Aaron Rodgers. I’m not sure Pittsburgh has seen anything like him. Mark Sanchez gave the Steelers a lot of problems in the second half in Pittsburgh. I just like Rodgers’ mobility and if Pittsburgh doesn’t get a pass rush, forget about it.

Part of my fear of Pittsburgh is the last time they played a great quarterback, Tom Brady ripped them apart for 34 points in basically 19 minutes. Sanchez and Joe Flacco could be great in the future, but both need more experience.

I just think Rodgers will be on his game.

Green Bay 34, Pittsburgh 17

A warning for Royals fans: More than talented prospects are needed

Kansas City Royals fans are a buzz these days, particularly about the farm system.

The system includes guys like Wil Myers, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Mike Montgomery, Chris Dwyer and other “hot prospects.”

It’s been referred to in recent weeks as the “best farming system in a decade.” Most if not all baseball publications have ranked the Royals’ farm as the best for 2010 and 2011.

Exciting indeed.

Just a few years ago, the Royals were highly contractable. Finally we have hope.

However, are some fans banking on the farm system way too much?

Reed MacPhail of Fangraphs.com did a comparison of the Royals farm system to other top farms of the past 10 years. He did this in December, so it’s a little dated. However, it was after the Zack Greinke deal, so the timeliness isn’t too bad.

MacPhail concludes the 2006 Los Angeles Dodgers, 2007 Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the 2006 Arizona Diamondbacks are comparable farms to the Royals.

Two points about that:

1. Both the Diamondbacks and Dodgers were below .500 last year and look in bad shape for next year.
2. Successes for the Dodgers, Devil Rays and Diamondbacks did not come just because of the farm. The Los Angeles Dodgers made back-to-back National League Championship Series in large part to one Manny Ramirez. For all the crap Man-Ram got, he’s perhaps the best hitter over the past decade. He’s arguably the most clutch postseason hitter in the last 20 years. Man-Ram lit a spark under those Dodgers the first 1.5 years he was there. Tampa Bay also used good trades and smart free agency pickups, although their farm definitely helped their rise. The Diamondbacks have really not not much except make terrible transactions.

So, what does this mean for the Royals?

1. It means Kansas City will still have to make some smart free agent signings.
2. It means Kansas City will need to make some valuable trades at a timely situation.

A fair question, even coming from a big Dayton Moore supporter:

When’s the last time the Royals made an effective trade or free agent signing?

Gil Meche? Nah. Jose Guillen? Nope.

In a little bit of irony, Moore’s best trade so far may have been dumping Danny Cortes for Yuni Betancourt, who was actually pretty good at the plate last year. Or, perhaps it was trading a murderer for Brian Bannister, even if Bannister is now Speaking Japanese.

Still, while Moore has proven to be a hell of scout and a great general manager when it comes to drafting, the Royals still have not done a good enough job trading or signing free agents.

Regarding the Zack Greinke trade, there were some mixed opinions. Even one of Kansas City’s most beloved sports commentators expressed some doubts.

Plus, whenever I see the “Kansas City Royals sign…..” sentence start running across the bottom bar on ESPN, I get flashbacks to horrible signings over the course of the past three or four years.

This is not meant to pick at the Royals.

However, it’s meant as a cautionary tale. We should not just count on these prospects to bring us success. Odds are, there will be only three to four bonafied all-stars in any solid to great class.

That’s still a nice, nice turnout.

But you need more than just three or four players to build a ballclub.

The Royals, like the Minnesota Twins have done, will have to make some smart transactions the other 364 days of the year too besides the MLB Draft.

Kansas City’s on the right track finally – but don’t just bet on the farm.

One big takeaway from Championship Weekend: The Chiefs are still a few years away

One big takeaway from Championship Weekend: The Chiefs are still a few years away

The AFC/NFC Championship Weekend is my favorite football weekend of the year.

This year, it took more prominence as the Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears renewed an epic rivalry, while the New York Jets-Pittsburgh Steelers had a rematch from a great game this year.

Since this is for Kansas City readers, here’s one takeaway related to Kansas City:

The Kansas City Chiefs are still far away from being a Super Bowl contender.

All four teams – yes, even the boring Chicago Bears – have playmakers on both offense and defense. I respect Jamaal Charles, but one playmaker is not enough for the Chiefs.

Matt Cassel made tremendous strides, but he’s not Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Jay Cutler or even Mark Sanchez.

Sanchez gets a ton of heat in the New York media and from Jet bashers.

However, he’s 4-2 in the playoffs and has outplayed Philip Rivers, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and beat them on the road. I thought he was a lot better than Big Ben after the first quarter, too.

But most importantly, all four defenses in the game featured just unbelievable athletes and talent.

There’s no James Harrison, Clay Matthews, Revis Island, Bart Scott, Charles Woodson, Brian Urlacher and other defensive stars featured on Sunday on this Chiefs roster.

The Chiefs are a good team, but not a great team. Most importantly, they don’t have enough “great pieces” to compete at the rate of a Jets, Packers, Steelers and so on do.

Six final thoughts on the college football season

With Auburn knocking off Oregon to win the national title last night, here are my final thoughts leaving the year of college football.

1. In the “new Big 12,” Missouri and Kansas State will be fine. Missouri knocked off Oklahoma and Texas aTm, two of the best teams from the Big 12 South last year. Kansas State stomped Texas and played a great Oklahoma State team respectable and played Baylor tough. It’s unfair to expect conference title after conference title and the round robin play will be tough. However, both Missouri and Kansas State performed reasonably well against the South this year.

2. Oregon is now an elite program. They lost last night, but Oregon has entered the upper tier of elite programs, making back-to-back BCS bowl games and finally playing for a national title. Oregon is the program of the West right now, along with Boise State. They’ve always been solid the past decade or so, but Chip Kelly has taken that program to an elite level.

3. Nebraska had the most bitter 10-win season ever. The Cornhuskers lost to Texas, Texas aTm and Oklahoma – the three schools they wanted to beat the most this year in their final year in the Big 12. Then, they lost a garbage bowl game. Ten win seasons usually don’t suck. They do, however, if you are the 2010 Nebraska Cornhuskers.

4. Missouri took a step up this year despite the tough bowl loss. There’s a really good chance Blaine Gabbert and Aldon Smith will be drafted in the Top 20 for Mizzou this NFL Draft. Having multiple underclassmen come out and get drafted in the first round is huge for a program. Putting kids in the NFL after their junior year helps recruiting in a huge way.

5. How will Texas recover from a down-year? The team’s coaching staff was raided and the younger players down there just plain struggled during the year. It’s too early to assume the Longhorns will recover from this.

6. Oklahoma is the favorite to win next year’s national title. The Sooners were pretty young this year and uber-talented. Bob Stoops had one of his best coaching jobs this season and with Ryan Broyles coming back, the Sooners should be the big early favorite in the Big 12 and a huge favorite to make the national title game.

The simple lesson of the Arizona massacres: Some people are just insane

Jared Lee Loughner is America’s new mass murder, killing multiple residents of Arizona while attempting to assassinate Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

As news about Loughner leaked out gradually, what astonished me as an American was how hard each side of the political grassroots spectrum tried to find information to pin it on “the other side.”

Note, when I say grassroots, I mean the non-elite outsider lefty progressives and the conservatives. As far as I know, mainstream political leaders and mainstream liberals and conservatives generally acted responsibly in this.

However, I saw some efforts on Twitter by both sides in trying to pin this on a political movement.

Hey, Sarah Palin’s map of “targets” must be the reason. Hey – this guy was described as “left-wing” and read The Communist Manifesto – that certainly means his liberal believes influenced him.

First, it’s dangerous for those to argue this, especially those on the left. Fundamentalists Christians are always the first to argue Marilyn Manson caused Columbine and pre-marital sex has caused the downfall of our society. And rightfully so, most Americans dismiss those claims.

It’s easy to become partisan in this – no one wants a mass murderer to be a member of the Tea Party or some environmental group.

Still, it’s my belief that one of the lessons of this tragedy in Arizona is the following:

Some people are just fucking nuts.

There are crazy people out there. Period.

There are people who belief assassinating presidents would help them land a date with Jodie Foster. Some think assassinating John Lennon is permissible after mis-reading the book “The Catcher in the Rye.”

Simply put, there are just some insane people on this planet.

This isn’t about a guy being liberal. This isn’t about a guy being conservative. This is a guy who was just sick in the head.

A brief review of Matt Cassel’s season

By all indications, Matt Cassel proved himself to be Kansas City’s quarterback of the future this year.

The Chiefs were certainly better with him in the lineup and he doesn’t exactly have the number of targets a Trent Green or even a Damon Huard had.

Cassel guided his team to a division title in year two of his time in Kansas City, something Green and Steve DeBerg could not do that quickly. Joe Montana is the only other post-Dawson era quarterback to lead the Chiefs to a  division in his first two seasons at Chiefs quarterback – he did it in year one.

Still, there will be one headache for Cassel in the offseason and one hurdle he has to get over: Performing consistently against winning teams.

Cassel played six games this season against non-losing teams. I’m going to count 8-8 teams in this discussion.

A look at how he played in each of them, in order of they appeared on the schedule:

1. San Diego (9-7)– 68.0 quarterback rating, 10-22, 68 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
2. Indianapolis (10-6) – 70.5 quarterback rating, 16-29, 156 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
3. Jacksonville (8-8) – 144.0 quarterback rating, 13-18, 193 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
4. Oakland (8-8) – 82.6 quarterback rating, 20-35, 216 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
5. Oakland (8-8) – 19.1 quarterback rating, 11-33, 115 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT
6. Baltimore (12-4) – 20.4 quarterback rating, 9-18, 70 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT

A few points.

First, there’s a few quarterback ratings in there that are not too bad. The Jacksonville rating is off the charts, but the ratings against Oakland (first game) and Indianapolis are not exactly bad.

To his defense, Dwayne Bowe had a few horrendous drops early in the season and his dropped catch against Indianapolis cost the Chiefs a matchup against the New York Jets and the third seed. At some points, Cassel did not have help.

Plus, Baltimore is an outstanding defense. They limited Tom Brady to just a 69.5 quarterback rating and Brady has been unreal this season.

There are two big points though that will have to be addressed.

1. Cassel will have to start playing well against the better defenses in the league. Drew Brees had an above 90 quarterback rating against the Ravens, displaying a quarterback even with a weak arm can do well against Baltimore. It wasn’t just Baltimore, though. He struggled badly against the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers. This doesn’t include his tough games against losing teams like Cleveland and the game at home against Denver.

2. The Chiefs, to help offset some issues, will have to draft offensively or make a run at Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald. There’s nothing wrong with providing a quarterback help – especially when he needs it. Brady skyrocketed this year without Randy Moss, but no other quarterback on Earth is as good as Brady.

Criticism aside, I do think Cassel proved himself this year. He took some vicious shots while scrambling for first downs and showed fire that past quarterbacks (I’m looking at you, Elvis Grbac and Steve Bono) did not have.

Huckleberry Finn controversy hard to grapple

Just in case you don’t know of the controversy regarding Huckleberry Finn, here’s a brief snippet from The Washington Post:

Mark Twain wrote that “the difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter.” A new edition of “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “Tom Sawyer” will try to find out if that holds true by replacing the N-word with “slave” in an effort not to offend readers.

A fair warning – the following is probably the most nuanced opinion I’ve had ever. It’s like the issue of abortion. I see both sides of the argument and feel uncomfortable no matter which side I support.

Normally, I’m one always on the “never censor” bandwagon and I’m quick to defend free speech.

Still, some interesting issues at play here as I talk myself through which side I want to support:

• The “N-Word” still exists. This isn’t an effort to try to become time-sensitive. It’s unfortunate, but the word is said millions of  times a day.

• Does the story really change if the “N-Word” is replaced by “slave?” If the ending or storyline was changed, I would definitely be against it. But changing one word to another doesn’t really impact the story, does it? I’m not sure you’ll see a 15-year-old boy 20 years from now utter the following: “Damn, I wish the ‘N-Word’ was in this story like it was back in the day.”

• Having been in class with a handful of black students while reading this at Sumner Academy, I do not recall one single time of them being offended. Not trying to sound like a white person who tries to avoid race, but I don’t remember one black classmate freaking out over that word being used. It’s an offensive word, but someone with common sense can probably realize it’s historical content of it.

• Being a history major in college, I’ve always been a believer that history should be preserved. I hate the fact that Germany, the country where most of my family came from, avoids discussing Hitler and has banned “Mein Kampf.”

• I’m white and therefore I hate claiming what’s offensive to blacks, Mexicans and other races. One of the reasons why I never got into the debate about Native American sports mascots is I can’t put myself in the shoes of tribe. Is it respect, or disrespect? As a white male, I will never know and understand how and why a Native American supports those mascots or resents them.

• This sets up a bad precedent, doesn’t it?

I just don’t know. You should probably put me in the “against column,” but I see the other side to it and this story should not be quickly dismissed as being about “political correctness.”

I hate sounding like the guilty white liberal type, but that’s probably really close.

The snobbery of Old Media types and why the New Media has already won

I have never really been a “Print vs. Online” culture warrior.

While I’m a believer of the online format and the future of it, I’ve tried to avoid the snobbery that engulfs some bloggers. And yes – some bloggers are very snobby towards members of the traditional media.

However, one of the bigger secrets is the fact that old media types are bigger snobs towards bloggers and online entrepreneurs who are attempting to make a business work.

A few things about this:

• A couple of members of the Kansas City press have criticized the blog format I use for The Kansan’s Website. They have said it looks “amateurish.” In reality, it’s an easier way for a reader to check out news and it makes a reader more likely to read stories. Heck, some readers are like that too.

• To this day, columnists at various newspapers across the state hate bloggers for whatever reason. Hate them. Ask Kansas City’s own Tony Botello about that. They consider operating a blog the worst thing in the world.

It’s interesting how snobby traditional media types are, especially considering that the biggest source of news for those 18-29 years old is the Internet.

For those in the 30-49 demographic, the Internet is second only behind television.

While it’s second, the Internet has more readers combined on average than newspapers and radio – combined!

You also see more traditional media types attempting to become members of the new media, mostly out of necessity.

The greatest example when it comes to sports is how The Kansas City Star is starting to cover the minor leagues for the Kansas City Royals now.

The biggest single reason why the minor leagues are being covered more by The Star and other outlets is Greg Schaum, who blogs about the minor leagues at RoyalsProspects.com. You won’t get an admission of his, but Schaum’s work is the primary reason why Royals fans know about the minor leagues.

Now, I don’t blame The Star for covering the Royals’ minor leagues now. The major league team stinks and the minor leaguers are legitimately exciting to watch.

But Schaum definitely had an impact on that.

I left newspapers behind forever in January 2009. I will never work for another newspaper. Period.

I wouldn’t mind consulting with newspapers and trying to help them survive. However, I’m done with newspapers.

I don’t see too many types like myself ever going back to newspapers.

Consider this Wall Street Journal piece about the future of media this year. The opening sentence is enough:

An onslaught of digital technologies has laid waste to traditional media. The new year will bring a clearer picture of what will emerge from the rubble.

The New Media won.

Game over.

MLB Hall of Fame becomes Hall of Good with Bert Blyleven induction

Want proof the best ways to get into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame is to be a “good guy,” pitch for 20 years and to be buddies with sports reporters?

Look no further than Bert Blyleven.

Blyleven, after years of being kept out of the Hall of Fame, finally got in after years of alleged injustice against him.

Sports writers have long attempted to get Blyleven in the Hall – I’m convinced one of the job requirements at Sports Illustrated, for example, is to believe Blyleven is a slam dunk Hall of Famer.

Still, good for him. By all intentions, he wasn’t a bad guy and he was a good pitcher.

However, here’s why he would not have been on my Hall of Fame ballot.

• His 162-game average each season was 14-12. Averaging 14 wins isn’t bad. Averaging 12 losses a year isn’t Hall worthy. I don’t care if he pitched on bad teams or not. Archie Manning isn’t in the NFL Hall of Fame, after all.

• Only twice in his career did he have enough wins in a season to rank in the Top 5 of all MLB pitchers. However, in five separate seasons, he was in the Top 5 in terms of having the most losses for a starting pitcher.

• He lost at least 16 games six times.

• He won 20 games once during his career. Fun fact – Paul Splittorff, along with 12 other pitchers, won 20 games that year. It should be noted Blyleven lost 17 games that year as well.

• During a two-season in 1986 and 1987, Blyleven gave up 96 home-runs to opposing batters. NINETY SIX!!

• He finished top three in the Cy Young voting a whopping two times. He finished in the Top 7 just four times and never finished higher than third place. I realize individual awards can be overrated somewhat. However, they reflect who was a dominant pitcher in an individual season. Blyleven barely registered on the radar most seasons.

• Blyleven had six losing seasons in his career – with four of them coming before the age of 32. In other words, he wasn’t like Willie Mays in a Mets jersey. He had losing seasons during his prime.

In all due respect, Blyleven is not a Hall of Famer.