Another Record for the Baird Era?
Baird's clubs have reset the club loss record three times by losing 100 games in 2002 and 2004 and tying the record in 2001. Tomorrow, they will attempt to tie the club's record for longest losing streak with 12 losses in a row. Tonight, the Royals were just 2 runs short of tying the AL record for most runs allowed in the ninth inning and probably set a club record (not sure what the club record is, but we probably shattered it). The Royals made a bunch of stupid errors and MacDougal and Gobble got hit hard, leading to an 11-run ninth, blowing a 5-run lead. Berroa and Ambres both made errors on routine plays that could have ended the game with the Royals ending this dreadful streak.
On a brighter note, Berroa just signed a endorsement deal with Southwest Airlines. The commercial will show one of Berroa's numerous blunders where he bobbles and kicks a routine grounder. Then, the voice will come on and say "Wanna Get Away?"
This team has hopefully hit rock bottom. It's time for a major overhaul of the organization. The Baird era has underscored the organization's inability to do anything that is required to make a small-market team successful. This starts with building a good farm system and developing good, young talent. That hasn't happened. The first wave of youth (Affeldt, MacDougal, Berroa, George, Harvey, Gobble, Snyder, Acensio, and Carrasco) is looking like a failure for the most part. MacDougal and Affeldt look like they'll be decent setup man at least and Carrasco might be a #5 starter. Overall, the Royals didn't do a good job of developing those players as all of them have failed to live up to their projections or hype. Is there more talent in the 2005 wave? Perhaps. There's perhaps more talent in the bullpen with Sisco, Burgos, and Nunez. There are more position players in the 2005 wave. But, the early returns aren't especially good. I think it's time to overhaul the organization.
Who do you keep? Buddy Bell, Deric Laidner, and maybe Guy Hansen. Buddy Bell hasn't had enough time to prove himself. Quite frankly, the manager isn't the problem, the absence of talent and baseball abilities on this ballclub are the main problems. Deric Ladnier gets to stay around for another year at least because the drafts have improved significantly over the past 2 years. That's a step in the right direction. While Baird certainly may have played a role in these improvements, it's too late for him. The products of these drafts won't arrive until 2007 or 2008, well after Baird is gone (and if this franchise still exists). Guy Hansen stays because he hasn't been around long enough to judge him. He's done a good job with the young bullpen, but a terrible job with the rotation.
Who do you fire? Allard Baird, training and conditioning crew, and people involved in player development (especially starting pitchers). Baird has to go. He's done a horrible job as the general manager of this team. He's put together 4 of the worst teams in Royals' history in his 5 years as GM. Can you possibly do much worse? I highly doubt it.
The biggest problem I have with Baird was that he didn't do anything worthwhile to improve this team during the offseason. In Baird's bio, it says "Since taking over as General Manager, Baird has implemented a long-term strategy to develop talent at the minor league level, as well as an attitude to win throughout the organization".
An attitude to win? The Royals essentially gave up on this season before it started and called it a rebuilding year. That sounds like a winning attitude, doesn't it? There was no reason to believe that the Royals would be a contender in 2003, yet they spend more than half the season in first place (Chris George led the team in wins, who would have predicted that). But, the Royals gave up on this season before it started. With no apparent solution to the outfield situation in sight, wouldn't it have been a better idea to sign someone like Jermaine Dye to a 2-year contract instead of signing a couple of 4th outfielders and a career minor-leaguer? Jose Lima was very inconsistent throughout his career and had suspect home/road splits last year. Byrd was coming off a solid season last year. Both of these players Baird went after, but didn't sign them. He didn't sign Dye because it didn't fit the "youth movement" and young, budding stars like Long, Brown, and Marrero were better fits. The Royals knew Teahan wouldn't be ready. Why not pick up Randa's option?
That would have given the Royals a solid veteran base on the team with Sweeney, Stairs, Dye, Randa, Graffanino and Byrd, and hopefully a couple veteran relievers. All of those guys are familiar faces and would have had good chemistry. Who knows what would have happened? That team would have been a lot better and would have given the Royals some good trade bait. While that doesn't fit the "youth movement", rushing players well before they are ready is just stupid. It hurts their development and uses up service time. Not to mention, it's not like Truby, McEwing, Hocking, Marrero, Long, or Brown fit the "youth movement" either. It's a moot point now, but it certainly would have made this team much more bearable to watch.
On a brighter note, Berroa just signed a endorsement deal with Southwest Airlines. The commercial will show one of Berroa's numerous blunders where he bobbles and kicks a routine grounder. Then, the voice will come on and say "Wanna Get Away?"
This team has hopefully hit rock bottom. It's time for a major overhaul of the organization. The Baird era has underscored the organization's inability to do anything that is required to make a small-market team successful. This starts with building a good farm system and developing good, young talent. That hasn't happened. The first wave of youth (Affeldt, MacDougal, Berroa, George, Harvey, Gobble, Snyder, Acensio, and Carrasco) is looking like a failure for the most part. MacDougal and Affeldt look like they'll be decent setup man at least and Carrasco might be a #5 starter. Overall, the Royals didn't do a good job of developing those players as all of them have failed to live up to their projections or hype. Is there more talent in the 2005 wave? Perhaps. There's perhaps more talent in the bullpen with Sisco, Burgos, and Nunez. There are more position players in the 2005 wave. But, the early returns aren't especially good. I think it's time to overhaul the organization.
Who do you keep? Buddy Bell, Deric Laidner, and maybe Guy Hansen. Buddy Bell hasn't had enough time to prove himself. Quite frankly, the manager isn't the problem, the absence of talent and baseball abilities on this ballclub are the main problems. Deric Ladnier gets to stay around for another year at least because the drafts have improved significantly over the past 2 years. That's a step in the right direction. While Baird certainly may have played a role in these improvements, it's too late for him. The products of these drafts won't arrive until 2007 or 2008, well after Baird is gone (and if this franchise still exists). Guy Hansen stays because he hasn't been around long enough to judge him. He's done a good job with the young bullpen, but a terrible job with the rotation.
Who do you fire? Allard Baird, training and conditioning crew, and people involved in player development (especially starting pitchers). Baird has to go. He's done a horrible job as the general manager of this team. He's put together 4 of the worst teams in Royals' history in his 5 years as GM. Can you possibly do much worse? I highly doubt it.
The biggest problem I have with Baird was that he didn't do anything worthwhile to improve this team during the offseason. In Baird's bio, it says "Since taking over as General Manager, Baird has implemented a long-term strategy to develop talent at the minor league level, as well as an attitude to win throughout the organization".
An attitude to win? The Royals essentially gave up on this season before it started and called it a rebuilding year. That sounds like a winning attitude, doesn't it? There was no reason to believe that the Royals would be a contender in 2003, yet they spend more than half the season in first place (Chris George led the team in wins, who would have predicted that). But, the Royals gave up on this season before it started. With no apparent solution to the outfield situation in sight, wouldn't it have been a better idea to sign someone like Jermaine Dye to a 2-year contract instead of signing a couple of 4th outfielders and a career minor-leaguer? Jose Lima was very inconsistent throughout his career and had suspect home/road splits last year. Byrd was coming off a solid season last year. Both of these players Baird went after, but didn't sign them. He didn't sign Dye because it didn't fit the "youth movement" and young, budding stars like Long, Brown, and Marrero were better fits. The Royals knew Teahan wouldn't be ready. Why not pick up Randa's option?
That would have given the Royals a solid veteran base on the team with Sweeney, Stairs, Dye, Randa, Graffanino and Byrd, and hopefully a couple veteran relievers. All of those guys are familiar faces and would have had good chemistry. Who knows what would have happened? That team would have been a lot better and would have given the Royals some good trade bait. While that doesn't fit the "youth movement", rushing players well before they are ready is just stupid. It hurts their development and uses up service time. Not to mention, it's not like Truby, McEwing, Hocking, Marrero, Long, or Brown fit the "youth movement" either. It's a moot point now, but it certainly would have made this team much more bearable to watch.
posted by SoonerRoyal at 10:06 PM
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