Royals Sign Bloomquist: 2 YR 3 Million

[KowboyKoop]

Well that's what I can't figure out. He had a really solid slugging and a decent OBP in 06, and then the slugging just disappeared in 07. I get the OBP drop in 08, what with trying to press at the plate and as a result striking out a bunch. It's just weird to see a guy have such a drop in production in his mid 20s.

It's all in his head. Watching him swing at the plate, especially for most of the middle and end of the year, was just so rough...he just seemed to decide so late whether to swing or not...and he became the king of the groundout to 2B. When he does swing free and easy, it's a real nice swing and he has a lot of natural power (and is an amazing, amazing baserunner...two inside the park HRs last year and is outstanding taking an extra base)...but he just seems to lose it after three games and just looks like a high school hitter seeing a 95 mph fastball for the first time. He seems like the type of hitter who could just "get it" one day and turn into a legitimate great hitter...but it's getting pretty late for him....I don't count on it, but I wouldn't completely disregard him either I guess. He'll get plenty of ABs off the bench I imagine..perhaps not starting will be the motivation he needs.

[Arctic Blast]

Well that's what I can't figure out. He had a really solid slugging and a decent OBP in 06, and then the slugging just disappeared in 07. I get the OBP drop in 08, what with trying to press at the plate and as a result striking out a bunch. It's just weird to see a guy have such a drop in production in his mid 20s.

Could maybe be a guy who has some holes in his swing that pitchers have learned to exploit more and more as they get more opportunities to find his weaknesses.

[KowboyKoop]

Could maybe be a guy who has some holes in his swing that pitchers have learned to exploit more and more as they get more opportunities to find his weaknesses.

I don't think it's that b/c he doesn't really seem to get beat on any particular pitches...he'll smash a pitch in every location when he's "on" for a couple games....but then he'll just half swing at every pitch for the next week...there just seems to be no pattern to it. You can't watch him and say "oh, he's a sucker for the down and away pitch" or "he can't handle the inside heat," it's more along the lines of "wow, he doesn't even want to swing the bat, he is overthinking things bigtime...." and then he just swings weakly and that's it. It's pathetic to watch him hit sometimes....given his powerful frame. He really should be a 25 HR guy every year..but he just seems to fight himself. Very unusual case.

[Arctic Blast]

I don't think it's that b/c he doesn't really seem to get beat on any particular pitches...he'll smash a pitch in every location when he's "on" for a couple games....but then he'll just half swing at every pitch for the next week...there just seems to be no pattern to it. You can't watch him and say "oh, he's a sucker for the down and away pitch" or "he can't handle the inside heat," it's more along the lines of "wow, he doesn't even want to swing the bat, he is overthinking things bigtime...." and then he just swings weakly and that's it. It's pathetic to watch him hit sometimes....given his powerful frame. He really should be a 25 HR guy every year..but he just seems to fight himself. Very unusual case.

Sounds like it's just a complete lack of any confidence in what he's doing.

[KowboyKoop]

Sounds like it's just a complete lack of any confidence in what he's doing.

I'm sure that's a significant part of it....sucks to see talent go to waste.

[haveacigar]

reminds me of Morgan Ensberg. sucks to see guys just fall apart like that for no reason.

[filihok]

Yeah, I was looking for some analysis a little deeper than a stat sheet.

Maybe you like this stat sheet better

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx...11&position=OF

I'm still in my baby steps at understanding all this stuff but what I see is:

He's getting a lot few fastballs than he did in 2005/2006 and
He's swinging at more pitches outside the strike zone

[HoustonGM]

He's getting a lot few fastballs than he did in 2005/2006

This is true, which may indicate that he doesn't hit breaking pitches well.

He's swinging at more pitches outside the strike zone

In 2007, that was true. In 2008, though, he was at 26.3%, compared to 26.4% in his breakout 2006, so out-of-zone pitches aren't his problem.

It's probably right to say that his problem is with sliders and curveballs. Increased amount of both in both 2007 and 2008 (with an equal decrease in fastballs), correlates with his production.

[oriole^]

Exactly. This is my issue when people bring up the "Small markets don't ever try!" argument. Some do, and they just get used as a bargaining chip or ignored completely.

Pretty much the case. This is typically trotted out in tandem with the "unused boxes of cash" argument when the Yankees bid a free-agent into the stratosphere and everyone else sits on their hands.

[HoustonGM]

EDIT: Also, I don't see a quote from DM that says he might start. I see that the reporter himself wrote "Bloomquist is expected to compete with Callaspo for the starting job" and I see that DM says he "creates competition," but I don't see anything from DM that says he thinks Bloomy will start for the Royals in '09.

This is the quote, from Trey Hillman:

"When you put everyone's evaluations together, from our scouts to our coaches who have had experience watching him day in and day out or from the other side of the field, I think sometimes guys just need the right situation or the right chemistry of the club that they're on to go from being a utility guy to an everyday player."

At best, it indicates that is he under some level of consideration for the starting job...and Willie Bloomquist should not be anything more than a 25th man on a roster, a super-defensive-sub/pinch-runner.

[KowboyKoop]

This is the quote, from Trey Hillman:



At best, it indicates that is he under some level of consideration for the starting job...and Willie Bloomquist should not be anything more than a 25th man on a roster, a super-defensive-sub/pinch-runner.

Well, if a reporter asks you the question "will Bloomquist be a starter next year" what do you expect them to say?? Are they going to say no and then list the reasons why the player sucks? I think you're reading far, far, far too much into some quotes. They are just giving diplomatic answers to get through an interview. They said Hideo Nomo would be in the hunt for a starting rotation spot too.....of course there was no chance in hell that would happen. Bloomquist won't be a starter unless there are injuries. Who cares what quotes they give to a reporter...

...and it's not even a quote of him saying they are considering starting Bloomquist, it's you trying to interpret one sentence of what Hillman said..whose to say he didn't say a bunch of other stuff that just didn't make it in the article that indicated they like Callaspo more. This is all a gigantic stretch...which is not surprising given we're talking about the Royals.

[KowboyKoop]

So to recap, in the past couple days...the Royals have been ripped for giving dedicating 1.2% of their team payroll to a utility infielder, for their manager giving one quote in JANUARY about how there will be competition in spring training and not just openly killing any chances that Bloomquist could be a starter, and for avoiding arbitration on a 25 year old pitcher with a one year deal for very little money. Yeah..my "people hate the Royals act" is so delusional..this kind of thing happens with all the teams, right? Now I'll go talk in the threads here about the Rockies and the Marlins tiny transactions....wait, I can't find them. Oh well, let's go see what backup players the Reds are going with this year...wait, there aren't threads about those??? Well golly gee, I guess I'm just a crazy person.

[HoustonGM]

So to recap, in the past couple days...the Royals have been ripped for giving dedicating 1.2% of their team payroll to a utility infielder, for their manager giving one quote in JANUARY about how there will be competition in spring training and not just openly killing any chances that Bloomquist could be a starter

You've claimed that this "Everybody hates the Royals" thing doesn't include me, but I'm the one making these "complaints", but one thing you have to understand that it has absolutely nothing to do with the Royals for me. I rip bad deals regardless of the team. Go back shortly and see how I "ripped" the Phillies for the Raul Ibanez signing. Last year I "ripped" the Tigers for extending Dontrelle Willis's contract. Those are just two off the top of my head. On the contrary, I was fine with the Coco Crisp deal, and I can't find any threads on here about it, but I wasn't adamantly against the Gil Meche signing, either, agreeing mostly with Keith Law on that signing.

I won't make threads for minor moves, but I'll comment on anything that I have a thought on that somebody posts. If I don't like a signing, I'll say so, regardless of team.

and for avoiding arbitration on a 25 year old pitcher with a one year deal for very little money. Yeah..my "people hate the Royals act" is so delusional..this kind of thing happens with all the teams, right?

This particular "ripping", by RedSoxRockies, was made by a 14 year old kid overreacting.

[HoustonGM]

Hey, at least Bloomquist's Transaction Oracle entry is more forgiving than the one for Farnsworth and Ramirez. And the one for Mike Jacobs has no snark at all.

[HoustonGM]

Joe Posnanski (a Royal fan) on the signing, sort of. It's more of a long rambling about "Bloomquist-types" and "Dunn-types."