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Willie Ballgame ----> Royals

Pedro_tiny by weebs on Comment 130 comments

The Royals and Willie Bloomquist have reportedly come to terms on a two-year deal.

http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/01/royals_bloomquist_have_twoyear.html

The Royals and infielder Willie Bloomquist have reached an agreement on a two-year contract, MLB.com learned on Friday.

Bloomquist is expected to compete for the Royals' second base job with Alberto Callaspo, who finished last season as the regular at that spot.


A right-handed batter, Bloomquist, 31, played seven seasons with the Seattle Mariners. He had a .263 average in 540 games and played every position in the infield and outfield.

The deal was pending a physical examination which Bloomquist was scheduled to take on Friday in Kansas City. His contract was believed to be worth about $3 million for the two years.

He doesn't have much power - just six homers in his career - but has 71 stolen bases in 87 attempts. His on-base percentage is .322 for his career, including .377 last season when he batted .279.

"He's an on-base guy, a speed-type player and a hustler," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "He's a Craig Counsell-type who really plays hard, hustles and knows how to play."

Bloomquist is regarded as an "igniter" who is also well-regarded for his leadership abilities. Moore said his best positions are second base and center field.

If the deal goes through, this apparently will fill the Royals' quest for a seasoned middle infielder who would supplement shortstop Mike Aviles, who was the Royals Player of the Year in his rookie season.

 

 

Are there any worse run organizations than the Royals?

0 recs  |  Comment 130 comments

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Yikes..

The article actually has the words “Ignitor” and “hustle” in it.

by J.W. Pezzino on Jan 9, 2009 10:38 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Hey that's a great idea

Grass Creek is pretty far from Laramie but it is at the end of a state highway, so I’ll head over there at some point and stake the claim

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org

by I'm NOT Corco on Jan 10, 2009 7:40 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

ahahahahahahaha
He’s an on-base guy … a Craig Counsell-type who really plays hard, hustles and knows how to play."

Moore said his best positions are second base and center field.

by JI on Jan 9, 2009 10:42 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Craig Counsell was 1 WAR last year.

Dayton Moore, stop insulting Craig counsell.

---
Juuuust a bit outside!!
http://www.rightfieldbleachers.com

by Jack Moore on Jan 9, 2009 1:05 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

hahaha!!!!

sure, you guys got my Mancrush Branyan, and then Tango… you probably thought you were running away with this one…

BOOYAH!!!

booyah indeed

Bringing you more-or-less replacement level analysis and commentary since sometime in 2008.

by devil_fingers on Jan 9, 2009 10:44 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Notice that he hustles

this is clearly more important than numbers, or skill

by weebs on Jan 9, 2009 10:47 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

The problem is now he'll get decent playing time, put up a cute line, everyone will say "OMG HE'S ACTUALLY GOOD"

He’ll revert to the mean later but nobody will notice and people will be annoyiing

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org

by I'm NOT Corco on Jan 9, 2009 11:10 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I've washed my hands of him.

He could make the All-Star team next year and I wouldn’t give a good goddamn what people say. For the first time in my Mariner-fan life I have confidence in the team’s direction, and that’s more important to me than the opinions of the PI board’s commenters.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Jan 9, 2009 11:17 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

disagree

people have been, and will always be annoying.

by Shawk on Jan 9, 2009 3:18 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

.

>:-( Anybody remember Charles Gibson? I loved that guy, but man he was useless at the plate. Had an arm like a cannon though. My favorite moment was the ’00 playoffs, he sprinted in to back up 3rd, Lou and everybody were laughing their asses off. Had an arm as good as anybody, made a great throw to the plate in that series (White Sox I think?)

Formerly dpseadvr.

by Kermit. on Jan 9, 2009 1:53 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I knew he was but it didn't matter

because being awesome defensively at 7 positions is neat.

by JI on Jan 9, 2009 2:29 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

He wasn't in the union. He wasn't bound by the strike vote.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Jan 9, 2009 3:01 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I just thought he meant that he sucked

Other scabs:

Kevin Millar
Brendan Donnelly
Rick Reed
Cory Lidle
Ron Mahay (as both an OF and a P)
Shane Spencer
Damian Miller

by JI on Jan 9, 2009 3:06 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Crossing a picket line is crossing a picket line.

And STC because I think I know where you stand and you know where I stand on this one.

by acblue on Jan 9, 2009 3:17 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It's different for MLB

There’s no way the replacements could do the jobs of the regulars and therefore the owners wouldn’t have been able to sell them as “real” major leaguers.

by JI on Jan 9, 2009 3:38 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Gipson, like many players in his position was told he must play

Or lose his job. Hate him if you will, but he was put in a crappy position.

by Sec 108 on Jan 9, 2009 3:49 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Many journeymen were told to play

or be released and then blackballed from professional baseball.

by JI on Jan 9, 2009 3:52 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I can't believe that most fans blame the players for 1994 strike

and that they blame the players for being greedy but not the owners.

by JI on Jan 9, 2009 4:03 PM PST up reply actions   1 recs

Reminds me of a Frasier episode.

::On a date::

Woman: So what do you do?
Frasier: I’m a psychiatrist.
Woman: Oh! I’m in the medical field too!
Frasier: Really? What do you do?
Woman: I’m an Aroma Therapist.
Frasier: …
Frasier: We need to see other people.

by Double06 on Jan 9, 2009 5:38 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Gipson.

Always liked the guy – I’ll never forget his throw from CF for the final out in a one-run game at Minnesota.

by marc w on Jan 9, 2009 2:25 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Loved Gippy.

Miss that guy like crazy.

by Woodinville_12thMan on Jan 9, 2009 2:33 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

This actually seems like a perfect fit for him.

Small market, dirt-in-the-skirt kind of player. Good for him.

Man do I love midgets.

by Thingray on Jan 9, 2009 11:17 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

a princessy skirt no doubt

I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!! I DRINK IT UP!!

by abender20 on Jan 9, 2009 12:29 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

My story with Bloomquist

My ex-girlfriend is the one who actually got me into the Ms and baseball in general, and she always had a thing for Willie, and spouted pretty much the standard fanboy (fangirl?) stuff about how he should start, he would hit better if he were in the lineup more often, etc. I think it was related to the fact that her family had season tickets during his ’02 callup, and that first impression was burned into her head pretty well. I initially believed her until I started hanging around here, looking at his stats, etc.

However, ever since then I’ve never been able to shake my sense of general like for the guy. I think without all of the stupid hometown fans saying stupid stuff about him, and without Hargrove mis-using him, he would have been much more well-liked.

So, I will go out on a limb and say that I will actually miss him. I enjoyed watching him steal bases, and will always remember the “stolen” base at NY. Good luck in KC Willie…I hope you fit in well there.

by appleshampoo on Jan 9, 2009 11:22 AM PST reply actions   1 recs

I had the same problem with anchoring regarding Scott Podsednik

I remember getting dressed for some wedding or Bar Mitzvah or something and watching Pods clear the bases in his first MLB at bat with a triple. Took me a while to recover from that

I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!! I DRINK IT UP!!

by abender20 on Jan 9, 2009 12:33 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Great move for a team that gave Tony Pena Jr a starting job last year

Bloomquist represents something like a… I dunno, at least 2 win improvement over him as a starter at short. Oh wait, they have Aviles. Nevermind.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Jan 9, 2009 11:23 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

The Royals seems to be where all the shitty ex-Mariners go.

And the bar is already set really low for shitty on the Mariners.

Jeff's guide to not looking stupid:
+/- is an absolutely terrible stat, so don't use it, and don't give up on young players before they turn 24.
54!

by joof on Jan 9, 2009 11:37 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

With Ho Ram pitching.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Jan 9, 2009 12:34 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

And Gil Meche.

the other angels fan

by Eyebrows on Jan 9, 2009 12:58 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It could be worse...

Richie’s still looking for a job.

Free Stephen "Awesome" Strasburg!

by seattlecougar on Jan 9, 2009 5:35 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

If by 'could be worse' you mean 'can't be funnier'

then you’re right.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Jan 9, 2009 5:41 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Weren't there rumors the Royals were looking at him though? Or was that the Orioles?

Jeff's guide to not looking stupid:
+/- is an absolutely terrible stat, so don't use it, and don't give up on young players before they turn 24.
54!

by joof on Jan 9, 2009 6:24 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Sad.

Jeff's guide to not looking stupid:
+/- is an absolutely terrible stat, so don't use it, and don't give up on young players before they turn 24.
54!

by joof on Jan 9, 2009 11:18 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Oh my...

After reading this subthread, I can’t believe how many ex-Mariners are currently playing for the Royals. If only we could convince them to take Silva away from us.

by Wilder. on Jan 9, 2009 6:29 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

""He's an on-base guy . . . "

To Dayton Moore, a .322 career OBP is extremely impressive.

by Teej on Jan 9, 2009 11:41 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

"On base guy" = no power

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org

by I'm NOT Corco on Jan 9, 2009 11:45 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

That was a typo

actual quote: “he’s a no-base guy…”

by Bearskin Rugburn on Jan 9, 2009 11:47 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

People say this and yet he's put together one of the better farm systems in baseball.

While almost all of their acquisitions this off-season have been underwhelming, it’s not like the Royals are strapping themselves into dogshit deals.

‘09 is basically the Royals auditioning for Greinke anyway. The worst thing that can happen is that they flounder around the Central, and start flipping players who are attractive at the deadline; ’home-run slugger’ Jacobs, ‘speedy’ Crisp, ‘relief pitcher’ Farnsworth… and possibly Greinke, who no doubt will command a ransom of prospects.

by oc on Jan 10, 2009 5:19 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I knew I'd be amused if/when I first heard about Bloomquist signing somewhere

but when I heard it in a KJR update I began laughing hysterically. My window was rolled down in the Best Buy parking lot garage and this rather attractive girl was staring, but I couldn’t help myself.

2 years?! Oh, you poor Royals…it sure does feel good not to be on the end of one of those deals for once.

by Omerta on Jan 9, 2009 12:26 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Per season

Willie will earn more than Russ Branyan.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Jan 9, 2009 12:35 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

From Royals Review, April, 2008:

“Moore will sign Bloomquist at some point. I have no doubt.”

Linky

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Jan 9, 2009 12:39 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Why do you guys hate him so much

I actually kinda like him. he is a handy player to have around, i mean how many guys can play 7 positions. best of luck to him

by Flamefox111 on Jan 9, 2009 3:44 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

[ducks]

We don’t hate Willie, and I think most of us understand that he does have value in his versatility. But he’s nowhere near good enough to be an everyday player, and a lot of people think otherwise, so most of the Willie jokes around here are just attempts to counteract the irrational love he gets in other circles.

I wish him the best, absolutely, but every organization in baseball has a Willie Bloomquist in the minors that they could call up and pay the minimum.

by Teej on Jan 9, 2009 3:50 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Not to be overly snarky

i mean how many guys can play 7 positions

Occupying seven spots on the field is not the same as being able to play 7 positions. Bloomquist isn’t particularly good in the field, he can’t hit for any sort of power – he went almost an entire calendar year without an extra-base hit – and he was/is nowhere near good enough to command the everyday playing time that his irrational “OMG HE’S FROM HERE THAT’S AWESOME” fanbase thought he merited.

I do not wish him personal ill but I am glad he’s not around any more.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Jan 9, 2009 3:57 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

That's true. Willie's skillset is fairly unusual.

That doesn’t make it valuable, though.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Jan 10, 2009 2:01 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm a math dummy and it's frustrating.

A slice of fans love the underdog. Remember McClemore or Stan Javier? Every time I read a proposal for a better 24th man that plays the infield adequately, I want ask “how does he do in left field?”, and vice versa. It seems to me that he somehow became the lightning rod for quite a few M’s fans frustrations or anger with the teams failure. If the team had been better, it the philosophy had been better, he could have been a hero. People always want the guy that isn’t the standout to be the hero. Goddamit Bavasi, I really don’t like what you did with the Mariners, Willie should have had his moment that made a difference. Fuck you.

And they all lived happily ever after.
Kermit.

Formerly dpseadvr.

by Kermit. on Jan 11, 2009 2:27 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Many guys could if they got the chance

but baseball teams stopped rotating their best players (such as George Davis and Honus Wagner) around the field 100 years ago.

by JI on Jan 9, 2009 4:05 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Nobody hates Willie

People just poke fun of the Seattle media’s love affair for Willie. This infatuation with Willie inevitably causes us to point out his flaws on a regular basis.

Most of us see Willie for what he is, a below average utility player. He was fine to have around but the media and even management constantly overvalued him. We generally poke fun at Willie but this isn’t Carlos Silva we’re talking about here. I really hate that guy.

by ThundaPC on Jan 9, 2009 5:52 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

By the way, Larry Stone is awesome.

Willie Bloomquist signs with Royals

Bloomquist tended to polarize Mariners fans, a portion of whom lauded his “grit” and believed he deserved more playing time, and a portion of whom mocked what they believed to be a level of adulation disproportionate to his skill level.

by ThundaPC on Jan 9, 2009 5:56 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'd almost forgot about this

That would have been tragic.
Grit!

"If my uniform doesn't get dirty, I haven't done anything in the baseball game."
-Rickey

by Big Jared on Jan 9, 2009 4:38 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

I love Willie Bloomquist

He’s my favorite Mariner – or rather, was. But dear god, the Royals are stupid, stupid people.

by SkyfireMike on Jan 9, 2009 5:47 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

I found this website because of that jpg

It popped up on a Google image search and I had a good laugh at Willie’s expense (sorry Willie). The hustle is key though, without it he would be a barista.

by Vatinius on Jan 9, 2009 8:41 PM PST up reply actions   1 recs

I'll forgive your ignorance

but Port Orchard residents become shipyard workers, failure or an export.

Last I heard they were closing our Starbucks.

by spittle8 on Jan 12, 2009 11:35 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

The most ironic thing about Dayton Moore's quote about him being a "counsell-type"

is that Counsell is still a FA

---
Juuuust a bit outside!!
http://www.rightfieldbleachers.com

by Jack Moore on Jan 9, 2009 9:13 PM PST reply actions   1 recs

Oh, sweet irony!

You're trying to kidnap what I've rightfully stolen.

by Sentinel on Jan 10, 2009 7:53 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

The good news for Royals Review

The awfulness makes for hilarious writing.

by JLC on Jan 9, 2009 9:52 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Loved this comment at RR ...
Utility Infielders: The new market inefficiency

Pretty soon some GM’s going to think, "Hey, I need a utility infielder — OH CRAP!!#%$ Dayton’s got all of them!"

by Steve Nelson on Jan 9, 2009 10:00 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Today-day-day, we consider ourselves-selves-selves...

The luckiest franchise in the world!

Buhbye, Willie, don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya.

by James F'n X on Jan 10, 2009 9:06 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Some gold comments on Larry Stone's piece:
To bad the computer cant compute heart and soul,,because of the 3 or 4 players on this team that have it ,we just lost one of them.KC got themselves a BALLPLAYER, besides a few young catchers and a handful of pitchers the only heart and soul the Ms have are sitting in the stands.Its going to be a long,,and ugly,,year,,
Good for Willie. Bad for the M’s. Apparently, some of the other commenters believe manufacturing runs out of thin air is a bad thing. To them I say: enjoy your $8 beer during the next M’s loss.
They NEVER gave him a CHANCE!!!! (people who complained that he only hit singles should then also complain about Ichiro!!!)

by redwolf75 on Jan 10, 2009 10:55 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

I like that last one.

If Willie ever hit 200 singles in a year, I probably wouldn’t complain about him.

Jeff's guide to not looking stupid:
+/- is an absolutely terrible stat, so don't use it, and don't give up on young players before they turn 24.
54!

by joof on Jan 10, 2009 12:34 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Ichiro's only done that twice.

And he was the first played in modern baseball history to do it (the modern record was 198 singles, set by Lloyd Waner in 1927).

I wrote that section of Ichiro’s wikipedia article. No one else seemed to notice when he set the all-time single-season singles record.

I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.

by Llewdor on Jan 10, 2009 2:05 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

HIs grit level was Over Nine THOUSAND! Also there was this comment...
Maybe Willie will end up blossoming like Raul did when he went to KC. Remember – Raul was a total afterthought his first go ’round with the Ms, with no chance to play regularly. Most Ms fans, myself included, pretty much yawned at his departure.

If he does that…

BOOYA! You got Slurved!

by Slurvey on Jan 10, 2009 7:56 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

I just realized I can never use this again

You may gain some yards on the ground, but eventually Lofa will end up biting you in the ass.

by Scruffy Lefty on Jan 10, 2009 11:15 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Finally, Willie will be appreciated for what he's worth by non-assholes

I see a bright and productive future for you, Willie-boy. May you hustle your way to glory and stain your uniform with pride. Maybe you succeed in all your endeavors and do Port Orchard, Washington proud, because otherwise we’re just hapless hicks a ferry ride away from importance.

by spittle8 on Jan 12, 2009 11:30 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

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