Mailbag

[johnbuckfan]

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/kc/news/kc_news.jsp?ymd=20050205&content_id=939818&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp

[EbbyCalvin]

Why do folks keep suggesting that Mike Sweeney move to the OF? He can barely play 1B (he's not very mobile). Why would it work out to put him in a very spacious outfield and make him run. The answer to the 1B problem is going to eventually be Justin Huber (http://thebaseballcube.com/profiles/HU/tbc5728.asp). He's going to hit. If he can learn the position well enough and not affect his offense, he's the guy. I'm just about to give up on Harvey. He's now about 27 years old. I suppose he could put it together in one of the next couple of years and be productive. We'll have to have some more pop out of the 1B position than just 13 HR.

What will the Royals do with the 2nd overall pickin the draft. I hope they get a position player stud, unless there's a Mark Prior type available (not associated with Scott Boras). The KC paper mentioned Mayberry's kid (http://thebaseballcube.com/profiles/MA/tbc42457.asp). He is entering his Junior season at Stanford and will be draft eligible this season. He was, I think, the 19th overall pick of the M's a couple of years back out of HS. He had a breakthrough offensive season last year. If he continues it this year, he'd certainly be a possibility. Maybe his dad could work on him so he wouldn't try to break our piggy bank. Although I wouldn't think $$ should be much of a problem. The Royals payroll looks to be under $40 million. Plus, these days the early picks want ML contracts. I'd feel more comfortable with the Royals giving a college kid a ML contract than some high schooler.

[johnbuckfan]

I don't know why people want Sweeny in the outfield. I can remember Harvey there and I almost pissed myself laughing. As for Huber I think we could try him half and half in AAA. As both a outfielder and as a first basemen, see where he feels more comfortable, then give him that spot in the majors. And I hope to hell we move Swenney. Welcome to the Royals board.

[EbbyCalvin]

I had the pleasure of seeing Harvey in the OF in person. I live in the Atlanta area and I went to all three of those games last year. I understood the reasoning. Harvey was pretty hot at the time, and you hated to lose that bat in the lineup, but that wasn't pretty. I thought that Huber should shift to the OF. He's a catcher, so his arm is probably good enough for RF. Plus, we don't have much in terms of corner OF right now. We are loaded with guys like Nunez, Long, Guiel, Stairs...etc. But, the Royals have said that he'll play 1B this season. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I don't get paid to make their decisions.

I'm hoping like heck that Sweeney's back proves sound and he can be moved. That will save us some $$ that maybe we can spend on other areas (like a stud corner OF and/or a starter).

[johnbuckfan]

I think if we dump Sweeney, I'll have a huge party. And if we don't we'll have to hear him complain more.

[EbbyCalvin]

Yeah, that's not cool. Here we are with a team full of young guys and we've got Captain Mike spouting off to the media about how he wants to play in Oct. and this team isn't going to get there. Not cool, Cappy! However, trading him won't be easy. He's due to make $12.5 million if traded, and he's got about 3 years left on his deal. I would think that the Royals would have to pay some of his salary to make a deal happen. I wonder how likely that is?

[johnbuckfan]

Not very unless a team is in need of a 1b/Dh

[EbbyCalvin]

Not just any team. It would have to be a team on the west coast, as those are the teams that Sweeney has OK'ed a trade to. So, in the AL, that is limited to only the M's and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Oakland is there too, but we know they don't have the $$ to drop on Sweeney.

[johnbuckfan]

The Angels should be interested if Quinland/Morales/3bguy don't play well.

[EbbyCalvin]

That would probably be the best situation for everyone. Mike is from right there. The Angels have $$. They also have a good farm system to get players from (maybe we will have a good one soon, too, now that we hired their guy away from them).

[johnbuckfan]

Maybe get quinland for Lf and a low prospect. Wow that would be a kick ass trade.