The following article articulates the frustrations of many Kansas Citians. Our Mayor is inept.
The former accountant preaches frugality but spends endless funds to defend nepotism.
Then - after threatening to pull stadium funds the past two fiscal years - he basks in the glory of Bud Selig's bone throw of an All-Star Game in Kansas City to his close friend David Glass.
Don't get me wrong, we KC fans deserve the anointment....in spite of the City of Fountains bashing that has already ensued via the media outlets.
The point is: you can not have your cake and eat it too, Mr. Mayor.
The following was originally posted by Yael Abouhalkah on kansascity.com:
Mayor Mark Funkhouser bashes the city’s annual subsidy for the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority every chance he gets.
Yet look at who was on the field Wednesday, trying to bask in the glory of KC’s winning bid to bring the 2012 All-Star game to Kauffman Stadium.
Yep, it was Funkhouser, along with other dignitaries as Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig made the official annoucement.
And why did KC get the game?
Because the taxpayers of Jackson County in 2006 approved a sales tax increase to help renovate Kauffman Stadium.
Of course, the city money of up to $2 million a year is used to help maintain the stadium — something that the mayor has been trying to pull the plug on for several years. Indeed, the city and Jackson County officials are continuing to wrangle over how much the subsidy will be this year.
Funkhouser’s quote from Wednesday:
We look forward to showing off our great city, our renovated downtown, our amazing local history and our great Midwestern hospitality to baseball fans from across the world.
Oh, yeah, that “renovated downtown” is another thing the mayor has railed about, as he has criticized the public subsidy for the Power & Light District.
Read more: http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/who-let-funkhouser-field/#ixzz0rAhFDv00
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
With Their First Pick in the 2010 MLB Draft, The Kansas City Royals Select.....Christian Colon
The Royals and Dayton Moore have made their mission statement very public:
Rebuild through the draft.
If that is the case, then success is directly linked to first round selections as it is these players that generally develop into franchise cornerstones.
While Luke Hochevar, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Mike Montomery and Aaron Crow are all taking steps forward this season, Dayton Moore remains under the giant thumb of the fans until success transfers to the field.
In the meantime, Moore needs to hit on as many draft picks as possible.
In response to the pressure, Moore's "cornerstone" selection in the 2010 draft was:
Christian Colon
Here is some of the buzz surrounding the Royals selection:
Keith Law at ESPN.com
Fullerton shortstop Christian Colon has been, in the scouting vernacular, "a guy" since he was a high school senior, when he was one of the better players on the summer showcase circuit but went to Fullerton due to signability and concerns about whether a player as slow-footed as he is could play shortstop in pro ball. Since then he's established himself as a likely first-rounder in 2010 because he has shown he can play the position despite his lack of foot speed - he's a 30 runner - with good range and great hands to make up for the lack of quickness.
At the plate, Colon is usually pretty short to the ball with below-average power and a sound approach, although he occasionally gets into trouble when he lengthens his swing to get coverage on the outer half, at which point he's more likely to hit the ball in the air instead of spraying the field with line drives.
Aaron Fitt at BaseballAmerica.com (August 24, 2009)
Whenever coaches and scouts talk about Christian Colon, they invariably start and finish with praise for his baseball IQ, instincts, leadership skills and confidence. Colon is just a darn good baseball player, they'll say, a born winner who simply finds a way to get the job done.
Amidst the kudos for Colon's intangibles and makeup, it's easy to overlook his talent, and his production. A second-team All-American as Cal State Fullerton's sophomore shortstop this spring, Colon ratcheted his game to another level this summer, hitting .362/.459/.617 and leading Team USA in slugging, home runs (five), RBIs (37), runs (31) and stolen bases (24 in 26 attempts). He also drew 11 walks and struck out a team-low six times despite registering a team-high 94 at-bats.
For his impressive offensive production—and, yes, for his valuable leadership—Colon is Baseball America's Summer Player of the Year.
Scouting Report at BaseballRumorMill.com
Colon is a spray hitter, with ability to make consistent contact and hit to all fields. He doesn't have much power, though he has shown the ability to hit the gaps on occasion. His pure speed grades out as average or a tick below. Colon makes the most of what speed he does have with good base-running instincts. He has an above-average arm at shortstop. Colon is a very sure-handed and reliable middle infielder. There are other shortstops with better range, but Colon makes all the plays. Colon earns the compliment of being termed a real "baseball player" because of his fine instincts on the field. His bat and lack of projection. Colon is solid in all aspects of the game, but doesn't have a tool that truly stands out.
John Klima at BaseballBeginnings.com
When you look at Christian Colon’s overall package, you don’t find any one tool that blows you away. What you do find is a player who does a lot of things well, which gives him the potential to fit in for years to come.
Brian Foley at TheCollegeBaseballBlog.com
Colon has been one of the premier shortstops in college baseball in the last two years but I question at how the broken leg over the summer will affect his skills.
Jason A Churchill & Keith Law at ESPN.com
He could be their (Royals) starter in a year and offers above average defense, on-base skills and power, relative to the position. I like the pick, despite it being a slight reach in terms of raw talent.
Scouting Report by MLB.com
Scouting Report
Hitting ability: Colon looks good at the plate, with a strong setup and good center of gravity. He doesn't get fooled, but at this stage of the season, he wasn't having good results. He likes to hit with wood.
Power: Home runs aren't a big part of his game now, but he can drive the ball and should hit for some power down the line.
Running speed: He has below-average speed.
Base running: He is heady in all facets of the game, including on the basepaths.
Arm strength: He has enough arm to stay at shortstop.
Fielding: He plays above his tools defensively, but he makes the plays. He can add or subtract defensively and has a little extra when he needs to make a play. Some question his ability to stay at shortstop.
Range: His pure range is average at best, but he's got a good first step and positions himself well.
Physical Description: Colon doesn't have the best body. He isn't a perfectly fit athlete, with a Ronnie Belliard-type look.
Medical Update: Healthy.
Strengths: Baseball instincts/IQ, outstanding makeup and leadership ability, plays above his tools.
Weaknesses: His tools, taken individually, don't grade out well. At least early on, he wasn't producing at the plate.
Summary: A big prospect since high school, there's a lot to like about Colon's game. He's got a solid approach and setup at the plate and he makes the plays in the field. His individual tools don't grade out well, and some think he'll need to move to second as a pro. He was the captain of Team USA last summer and put up big numbers as well. He hadn't done that in the early going of his junior season and this is a performance-based industry, so that could hurt his draft stock a little. Even if he doesn't pick it up, his past performance, makeup and baseball acumen should help ensure he doesn't wait too long to hear his name called.
Rebuild through the draft.
If that is the case, then success is directly linked to first round selections as it is these players that generally develop into franchise cornerstones.
While Luke Hochevar, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Mike Montomery and Aaron Crow are all taking steps forward this season, Dayton Moore remains under the giant thumb of the fans until success transfers to the field.
In the meantime, Moore needs to hit on as many draft picks as possible.
In response to the pressure, Moore's "cornerstone" selection in the 2010 draft was:
Christian Colon
Here is some of the buzz surrounding the Royals selection:
Keith Law at ESPN.com
Fullerton shortstop Christian Colon has been, in the scouting vernacular, "a guy" since he was a high school senior, when he was one of the better players on the summer showcase circuit but went to Fullerton due to signability and concerns about whether a player as slow-footed as he is could play shortstop in pro ball. Since then he's established himself as a likely first-rounder in 2010 because he has shown he can play the position despite his lack of foot speed - he's a 30 runner - with good range and great hands to make up for the lack of quickness.
At the plate, Colon is usually pretty short to the ball with below-average power and a sound approach, although he occasionally gets into trouble when he lengthens his swing to get coverage on the outer half, at which point he's more likely to hit the ball in the air instead of spraying the field with line drives.
Aaron Fitt at BaseballAmerica.com (August 24, 2009)
Whenever coaches and scouts talk about Christian Colon, they invariably start and finish with praise for his baseball IQ, instincts, leadership skills and confidence. Colon is just a darn good baseball player, they'll say, a born winner who simply finds a way to get the job done.
Amidst the kudos for Colon's intangibles and makeup, it's easy to overlook his talent, and his production. A second-team All-American as Cal State Fullerton's sophomore shortstop this spring, Colon ratcheted his game to another level this summer, hitting .362/.459/.617 and leading Team USA in slugging, home runs (five), RBIs (37), runs (31) and stolen bases (24 in 26 attempts). He also drew 11 walks and struck out a team-low six times despite registering a team-high 94 at-bats.
For his impressive offensive production—and, yes, for his valuable leadership—Colon is Baseball America's Summer Player of the Year.
Scouting Report at BaseballRumorMill.com
Colon is a spray hitter, with ability to make consistent contact and hit to all fields. He doesn't have much power, though he has shown the ability to hit the gaps on occasion. His pure speed grades out as average or a tick below. Colon makes the most of what speed he does have with good base-running instincts. He has an above-average arm at shortstop. Colon is a very sure-handed and reliable middle infielder. There are other shortstops with better range, but Colon makes all the plays. Colon earns the compliment of being termed a real "baseball player" because of his fine instincts on the field. His bat and lack of projection. Colon is solid in all aspects of the game, but doesn't have a tool that truly stands out.
John Klima at BaseballBeginnings.com
When you look at Christian Colon’s overall package, you don’t find any one tool that blows you away. What you do find is a player who does a lot of things well, which gives him the potential to fit in for years to come.
Brian Foley at TheCollegeBaseballBlog.com
Colon has been one of the premier shortstops in college baseball in the last two years but I question at how the broken leg over the summer will affect his skills.
Jason A Churchill & Keith Law at ESPN.com
He could be their (Royals) starter in a year and offers above average defense, on-base skills and power, relative to the position. I like the pick, despite it being a slight reach in terms of raw talent.
Scouting Report by MLB.com
Scouting Report
Hitting ability: Colon looks good at the plate, with a strong setup and good center of gravity. He doesn't get fooled, but at this stage of the season, he wasn't having good results. He likes to hit with wood.
Power: Home runs aren't a big part of his game now, but he can drive the ball and should hit for some power down the line.
Running speed: He has below-average speed.
Base running: He is heady in all facets of the game, including on the basepaths.
Arm strength: He has enough arm to stay at shortstop.
Fielding: He plays above his tools defensively, but he makes the plays. He can add or subtract defensively and has a little extra when he needs to make a play. Some question his ability to stay at shortstop.
Range: His pure range is average at best, but he's got a good first step and positions himself well.
Physical Description: Colon doesn't have the best body. He isn't a perfectly fit athlete, with a Ronnie Belliard-type look.
Medical Update: Healthy.
Strengths: Baseball instincts/IQ, outstanding makeup and leadership ability, plays above his tools.
Weaknesses: His tools, taken individually, don't grade out well. At least early on, he wasn't producing at the plate.
Summary: A big prospect since high school, there's a lot to like about Colon's game. He's got a solid approach and setup at the plate and he makes the plays in the field. His individual tools don't grade out well, and some think he'll need to move to second as a pro. He was the captain of Team USA last summer and put up big numbers as well. He hadn't done that in the early going of his junior season and this is a performance-based industry, so that could hurt his draft stock a little. Even if he doesn't pick it up, his past performance, makeup and baseball acumen should help ensure he doesn't wait too long to hear his name called.
Signs of Life
It is a process, isn't it?
This whole "spend your money in the draft in order to rebuild" theory would be a lot easier to stomach with a major league team already in place.
That said, we are beginning to see the fruit of our labors.
One year ago, the Kansas City Royals had zero options for an ailing bullpen. They had to ride the same beat up horses day in and day out. The only direction for the team to turn was toward retreads like Bruce Chen and Lenny DiNardo.
This season has been a bit different. When Roman Colon, Juan Cruz and Luis Mendoza forgot how to pitch, a barrage of backups were ready for deployment: Brian Bullington, Victor Marte, Josh Rupe, Brad Thompson, Bruce Chen, and current set-up man Blake Wood.
The club recently called up newly acquired Kanekoa Texeira on Thursday.
While this may not seem like much, it is a sign of things to come.
Eventually the farm system will be talented enough to force players at the top level to perform or risk losing their position. That is the recipe that has worked for fellow small-market teams like the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays; the Rays actually moved 2009 second base standout Ben Zobrist to the outfield this season to make room for prospect Reid Brignac who is currently batting just under .300.
Additionally, the Rays have been in a position to trade talented Major League proven pitchers due to better talent maturing through their system. Edwin Jackson and Scott Kazmir were recently moved to make room for the younger, cheaper and more talented Jeff Neimann and David Price.
The bounty received for Jackson and Kazmir consisted of Matt Joyce and Sean Rodriguez, players that better their franchise. In fact, Rodriguez and his warming bat may be in line to receive a lot more playing time at second base as Reid Brignac has been shifted to shortstop to fill in for the injured and struggling Jason Bartlett.
That is a great example of organizational depth built through the draft.
Options. Options. Options.
That is one area in which a small market team can create an advantage over a large market club. Drafting high in the draft (and hitting with your selections) can create a great depth of talent at a more affordable price.
The addition of these marginal to good bullpen replacements has turned Robinson Tejeda's season around. Better performing peers has allowed for the establishment of more stable roles and led to Tejeda elevating his game; in his last 19.1 innings he has given up a mere one earned run while accumulating three holds and a win.
He is establishing himself as a bullpen cornerstone.
While having options is very important, managing those options is crucial. Trey Hillman's baseball philosophy was an excellent one; he preached fundamentals and small ball - two aspects of the game the average fan hates to see bungled.
The problem with Hillman is he could not manage his talent.
He was indecisive about Soria pitching more than one inning, he spoke of Gil Meche's health then ran him out there for 132 pitches and he drastically altered the lineup card daily.
Ned Yost—for all his pros and cons—appears to be a better manager of talent. He does have experience with this role as he managed the young Milwaukee Brewers club when many of their stars came up.
Though his in game decision making has often been questioned, Yost was able to successfully usher Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and Corey Hart among others into full time productive roles.
Some may say that any fool could have brought these young talents along, but when I look at how Yost has handled Luke Hochevar thus far I remain optimistic.
Yost has publicly stated that he is not going to bail Hochevar out. Hochevar must learn how to pitch and the team needs to see if he can do it.
I love this mentality. Prove your worth, or move along.
It's a philosophy that will help the Royals better evaluate what they have and what they need.
Best of all, Hochevar appears to be responding.
This whole "spend your money in the draft in order to rebuild" theory would be a lot easier to stomach with a major league team already in place.
That said, we are beginning to see the fruit of our labors.
One year ago, the Kansas City Royals had zero options for an ailing bullpen. They had to ride the same beat up horses day in and day out. The only direction for the team to turn was toward retreads like Bruce Chen and Lenny DiNardo.
This season has been a bit different. When Roman Colon, Juan Cruz and Luis Mendoza forgot how to pitch, a barrage of backups were ready for deployment: Brian Bullington, Victor Marte, Josh Rupe, Brad Thompson, Bruce Chen, and current set-up man Blake Wood.
The club recently called up newly acquired Kanekoa Texeira on Thursday.
While this may not seem like much, it is a sign of things to come.
Eventually the farm system will be talented enough to force players at the top level to perform or risk losing their position. That is the recipe that has worked for fellow small-market teams like the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays; the Rays actually moved 2009 second base standout Ben Zobrist to the outfield this season to make room for prospect Reid Brignac who is currently batting just under .300.
Additionally, the Rays have been in a position to trade talented Major League proven pitchers due to better talent maturing through their system. Edwin Jackson and Scott Kazmir were recently moved to make room for the younger, cheaper and more talented Jeff Neimann and David Price.
The bounty received for Jackson and Kazmir consisted of Matt Joyce and Sean Rodriguez, players that better their franchise. In fact, Rodriguez and his warming bat may be in line to receive a lot more playing time at second base as Reid Brignac has been shifted to shortstop to fill in for the injured and struggling Jason Bartlett.
That is a great example of organizational depth built through the draft.
Options. Options. Options.
That is one area in which a small market team can create an advantage over a large market club. Drafting high in the draft (and hitting with your selections) can create a great depth of talent at a more affordable price.
The addition of these marginal to good bullpen replacements has turned Robinson Tejeda's season around. Better performing peers has allowed for the establishment of more stable roles and led to Tejeda elevating his game; in his last 19.1 innings he has given up a mere one earned run while accumulating three holds and a win.
He is establishing himself as a bullpen cornerstone.
While having options is very important, managing those options is crucial. Trey Hillman's baseball philosophy was an excellent one; he preached fundamentals and small ball - two aspects of the game the average fan hates to see bungled.
The problem with Hillman is he could not manage his talent.
He was indecisive about Soria pitching more than one inning, he spoke of Gil Meche's health then ran him out there for 132 pitches and he drastically altered the lineup card daily.
Ned Yost—for all his pros and cons—appears to be a better manager of talent. He does have experience with this role as he managed the young Milwaukee Brewers club when many of their stars came up.
Though his in game decision making has often been questioned, Yost was able to successfully usher Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and Corey Hart among others into full time productive roles.
Some may say that any fool could have brought these young talents along, but when I look at how Yost has handled Luke Hochevar thus far I remain optimistic.
Yost has publicly stated that he is not going to bail Hochevar out. Hochevar must learn how to pitch and the team needs to see if he can do it.
I love this mentality. Prove your worth, or move along.
It's a philosophy that will help the Royals better evaluate what they have and what they need.
Best of all, Hochevar appears to be responding.
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