Small-Market Blues: Royals & Pirates Comparison
By Mike Rodriguez - Guest Writer
04/03/2006
As the season begins, and before all the big-market teams steal the spotlight, here’s a look at two lesser-known teams and how they match up. A World Series preview? Hardly, but each club has players you just drafted in your rookie drafts – and each may have several guys there next year as well.
Here is a breakdown of the positions and my comments.
INFIELD
CA - Even
KC - John Buck
Pitt - Ryan Doumit
These players are the same guy. Good defensively, occasional pop with well below average OBP and AVG. Neither catcher is outstanding.
1b - Edge to KC
KC - Doug Mienkiewicz and Mike Sweeney
Pitt - Sean Casey and Craig Wilson
Wilson has never been a fulltime player and Casey is the classic Mark Grace style 1b.
Wilson has put up great #'s in a part time role however. Sweeney when healthy is one of the best hitters in the AL. Dougie is the Mark Grace style 1b.
2b - Slight Edge KC
KC - Mark Grudzielanek
Pitt - Jose Castillo
Castillo is coming off major knee surgery and has horrible OBP and AVG. Great fielder with a strong arm.
Grudzielanek is a great fielder as well but can also hit close to .290.
SS - Slight Edge Pitt
KC - Angel Berroa
Pitt - Jack Wilson
Berroa is a free swinger that will never have a good OBP or AVG. Wilson had one good year like Berroa, with a good average but is basically a slick fielding SS with average bat at best.
3b - Slight Edge Pitt
KC - Mark Teahen
Pitt - Joe Randa
These 2 are clones of each other. One is LH and the other is RH, Randa will get a slight nod here though Teahen’s improved defense keeps things very close.
OUTFIELD
LF - Big Edge Pitt
KC - Emil Brown
Pitt - Jason Bay
Bay is an up and coming star. Brown came out of nowhere last year to post decent #'s on a horrible team. Bay dwarfs Brown in talent.
CF - Edge KC
KC - David Dejesus
Pitt - Chris Duffy
Duffy was good in the field and at the plate in his 150 AB trial run last year.
Dejesus is a good fielder and has a decent OBP and average. However with a bigger track record for Dejesus he is given the edge.
RF - Even
KC - Reggie Sanders
Pitt - Jeromy Burnitz
These guys are basically the same player. Sanders has some injury issues but has at least been on some winners. Burnitz stays healthy a bit better, but strikeouts have kept him from stardom.
PITCHING
SP - Slight Edge to Pitt
KC - Zack Grienke, Runelvys Hernandez, Scott Elarton, Jeremy Affeldt, Denny Bautista and Joe Mays
Pitt - Oliver Perez, Kip Wells, Zach Duke, Paul Maholm, Sean Burnett and Ian Snell.
Oliver Perez and Zack Grienke are both coming off horrible seasons last year. Grienke has not pitched yet this spring, so his status and value to the club over the long haul is in doubt. Hernandez and Wells both have some talent but have done nothing other than be average at best MLB starters. Zach Duke had a great half a season last year. He has huge upside. Jeremy Affeldt has upside but has never been given a consistent role. Burnett coming off arm injury is an unknown, as is Denny Bautista. Maholm looked good in his 7 starts and should be one of the better Pirate pitchers. Though he got the Opening Day nod today, Elarton is just an inning eater and not much more than that. Joe Mays and Ian Snell should be the extra starters for their teams.
RP - Slight Edge to KC
KC - Mike MacDougal, Ambiorix Burgos, Andrew Sisco, Mike Wood, Elmer Dessens and Jimmy Gobble
Pitt - Mike Gonzalez, Roberto Hernandez, Damaso Marte, Solomon Torres, John Grabow, Ryan Vogelsong
MacDougal is going to miss the first 4 weeks with a strained muscle in his pitching arm. Gonzalez has never been a closer but has a good arm. Burgos is a hard thrower but is only 21 and still has work to do. Sisco and Marte are both LH hard throwing relievers. Torres and Mike Wood are the same guy. The rest of the bullpen is average at best.
SUMMARY
Basically these teams are about even. The Royals are in a weaker division and yet will be last in the AL Central again. I don’t see the Pirates being better than 2nd to last in their division at best.