That is a perfect example. Not any gross strategic errors, just quite a few slightly annoying ones. It has been much easier on him when Dotel got healthy, but I think he mangled the bullpen quite a bit early in the year. There were times he should have let the hot hand pitch another inning instead of bringing in someone else to implode in the next inning.
I will disagree with this on a number of fronts:
1. There are several teams that have been more competitive with a relatively smaller payroll than the current Royals.
2. Dejesus has already signed an extension. I'm cautiously optimistic, with some success and financial commitment from ownership, that they will continue to re-up other players.
3. They will always be a small market team. Therefore, they will always face challenges that the big markets will not face. I believe Dayton Moore and his staff- through scouting, the draft, free agency, and player development- will creatively build a ball club that will have the ability to compete for the division on a consistent basis. I'm sure plenty will laugh at this. I guess I'll just have to bump this thread in about, oh, 2011. GL.
