2011 KC Royals

Question #1: So what do you call a major league pitcher with a career 18–30 won-loss record, and a career 5.68 Earned Run Average?  If you are a Kansas City Royals fan, you call them the opening day starting pitcher.  Yes, unbelievably, Luke Hochavar has already been selected as the Royal's opening day pitcher.  BLINDING FLASH OF THE OBVIOUS: We don't have a deep staff this year.  That's what happens when you trade away a former Cy Young award winner as a way to manage the payroll. 

While the starting pitching is in shambles, the payroll is in great shape.  David Glass will turn another profit in 2011 thanks to a $34.5 million payroll, which is expected to be the least in the major leagues.  It became a foregone conclusion once Gil Meche walked away from a $12m payday to retire.  Why would any player do that?  I know he had shoulder issues, but he could be paid $12 million to sit out the 2011 season after surgery.  He must not have much confidence in this team. 

Question #2:  What do you call a 31 year old center fielder with a .289 batting average and 61 home runs over his 7 year major league career?  If you are a Kansas City Royals fan, you call him a superstar.  David DeJesus is that local superstar.  He was traded to the Oakland Athletics during the off season.  Another payroll saving trade. 

Las Vegas odds makers have the Royals as 200 to 1 long shots for winning the 2011 World Series.  I think that might be generous.  It is going to be a very long season.

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And now for something completely unrelated, this was too good to not post: