Whos ready for their cold shower? Ive got the bucket of ice water ready and waiting. Royals fans, come one, come all. Im dousing this brand new seasons optimism before Buddy Bell can even break a sweat! Im apologizing in advance, because I hate being Nancy Negative. Really, I do. But someone has to say it: the Royals have hoodwinked us. Again.
By June 2004, the powdered-blue writing was on the wall. Another youth movement was in store for the Royals. A season that began with postseason aspirations quickly deteriorated into a lost cause, thus starting the training wheels in motion. Potential ace Zack Greinke was called up from Omaha and Carlos Beltran was dealt for three prospects. The second-half of 04 would be used as a training ground for the youngsters and the full-scale youth movement would begin in 05.
So we sat there at the K, watched on RSTN or listened to Denny Matthews, in embarassment of the blunders, botches and brainlocks of the Royals youth let loose. But throughout these past two nightmarish seasons management preached patience. We were continuously told the only way for a small market team to win is to develop their own young players and allow them to grow together at the same time. The Twins, As and Marlins were all cited as examples of teams that followed this path to the playoffs. GM Allard Baird admitted the previous errors of his ways in signing veteran free-agents as quick fixes. He conceded a wholesale youth movement should have started years earlier.
You know what, Royals brass was right. That IS the only way this franchise can win. Unfortunately, the front office stopped taking its own advice and began shopping in the over-the-hill bin. After suffering through consecutive 100-loss season, Baird took it upon himself to acquire three thirty-something starting pitchers Scott Elarton, Mark Redman and Joe Mays. Baird then signed 38-year-old Reggie Sanders, 36-year-old Mark Grudzielanek and 32-year-old Doug Mientkiewicz to start in the field. Add 31-year-old Emil Brown, who will start in RF, and that means only four position starters will be young products of the Royals farm system.
Those four players might still be the foundation for Kansas Citys future. CF David DeJesus, C John Buck, SS Angel Berroa and 3B Mark Teahan have all shown glimpses, however brief, they can play at the major league level. But what becomes of Donnie Murphy, Justin Huber, Andres Blanco, Chip Ambres, Shane Costa and Ruben Gotay? All had a cup of coffee in the bigs over the last two seasons, but are now relagated to the minors, stuck behind thirty-somethings signed to big contracts. Are the Royals admitting those players are not talented enough to be part of the long term future?
As for the starting rotation, even more red flags pop up. The As groomed Barry Zito, Mark Mulder and Mike Hudson as their cornerstones of success. The Twins developed Brad Radke, Johan Santana and Kyle Lohse to fortify their rotation. The Marlins brought A.J. Burnett, Dontrelle Willis and World Series MVP Josh Beckett through their farm system. Right now, the Royals have Zack Greinke and Runelvys Hernandez as the only homegrown talent in their starting rotation. Last season Greinke nearly lost 20 games and owned an ERA near six. Hernandez has never proven he can stay healthy for a full thirty starts and infuriarted team officials by showing up to camp tipping the scales at 280. Forget David Wells. Thats Warren Sapp. Only one pitcher, RHP Luis Cota, is tabbed as one of the Royals top ten propects by Baseball America, meaning help is not on the way. Starting pitching is far too expensive for a small-payroll team to afford, forcing teams like the Royals to develop their own or take up permanent residence in the standings cellar.
BEST OF: The Panthers Dancers stop by and don't stop talking for twenty minutes. Wait, you're home schooled? BEST OF: Heat legend Glen Rice in studio on dropping 56 on the Magic, Final Fours and MMA. BEST OF: "The Obama Guy" now has D.A.'s old job! He asked the Prez a question, then he joined the show. BEST OF: Phil and Chris Simms drop by the broadcast to rap about dad's career and son's future. BEST OF: Why so few minority college coaches? DA answers with one word: Boosters. BEST OF: When a Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Famer talks, you listen. The immortal Lynn Swann. BEST OF: TNA Wrestling's Traci Brooks on being blessed with, ahem, great dimensions. DA LOVES THE KIDS: After Marlins summer-camp day, the next gen of Fish Fans might be in trouble. DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 1 Heat charity camp shows us D-Wright's defense needs a little work.
DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 2 Not everyone is thrilled with the hiring of Eric Spoelstra. INSTANT CLASSIC: Free-agent Joe Horn blasts his old coaches and asks for Dolphins forgiveness, all live on the show! INSTANT CLASSIC: The man who took down Kimbo Slice: overnight celebrity Seth Petruzelli talks about the fight that stunned the fight world. BEST OF: Author Jeff Pearlman on the controversial Cowboys dynasty. Uh, ew. BEST OF: Heat rookie Mario Chalmers needs help hot-boxing. Cough, cough.. BEST OF: DA is named a Godfather. Can he handle the responsibility or will he sleep with the fishes? BEST OF: DA witnesses the greatest kids game ever. Rock, paper, scissors, space! STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 1 DA goes where no sportstalk host has gone before: Star Wars premier night.
STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 2 Will DA make it out alive or turn into an extra from the Cantina Bar? INSTANT CLASSIC: Legend of the MMA Dan "Hendo" Henderson on the circus attraction to Kimbo and the rise of UFC. BEST OF: New UFC Champ Forrest Griffin on the belt and bouncing out of fighting while the gettin's good. INSTANT CLASSIC: Zo's youth clinic brings us immediate joy: Heat Kids Say the Darndest Things BEST OF: Miami boxer Joey "Twinkle Fingers" Hernandez found himself on the streets. How he got his mojo back. BEST OF: CBS4 Weather Wizard and Miss Florida Lissette Gonzalez on the jet-stream and the wave. BEST OF: Marino delivers a commencement speech and DA's own graduation horrors. INSTANT CLASSIC: Cats winger Nathan Horton is married to a Playmate? Oops. INSTANT CLASSIC: What does JoePa really mean at pressers? Ask Penn State 101. INSTANT CLASSIC: St. Patty's Day means celebrating Irish sports legends: DA Show style. INSTANT CLASSIC: Canes Big Man Dwayne Collins has his Aladdin DVD stolen. The Horror! INSTANT CLASSIC: Dontrelle says peace to South Florida with DA. Here's his Top-3 movies of all-time. SUPER BOWL XLII: NYG's Lawrence Tynes stops by after the ticker tape parade. INSTANT CLASSIC: Is Shaq becoming M.C. Hammer Jr? Say it ain't so. INSTANT CLASSIC: DA melts down as his alma mater brings brings back the dimwitted Greg Robinson for more SU pain. INSTANT CLASSIC: This placed DA squarely on the Chiefs blacklist forever. DA and King Carl in THE Battle Royale. BEST OF: Where it all started: Herm
and Carl agree... Damon is a nice name. SUPER BOWL XL: D.A. does his best investigative work ever. It's the field turf press conference from Detroit. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Mark Mangino Montage tastes better than ever! INSTANT CLASSIC: The 2007 Herm-Gasm. 'Nuff said. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Chiefs Dept. of Misinformation is at it once again. Are the Chiefs wearing white or not? Don't ask them. INSTANT CLASSIC: Chicago's legendary Mike North joins DA to preview Chiefs- Bears. Da Bears! INSTANT CLASSIC : The annual DA Show NBA Mock Draft is here... with a return from Stormbot. FEATURED AUDIO: Royals legend Denny Matthews has bought his first cell phone. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as 6-4-3. FEATURED AUDIO: A fond DA Show farewell to Buddy Bell. He really was "Our Buddy." FEATURED AUDIO
: Lauren Nichole has made quite an impression with her traffic reports. Great or gross? You decide. The
one, the only, Zach Greinke from Royals Spring Training. The
2007 One NIT NIT Moment.
The 2006 Caller Hall of Fame Track One: Christopher Walken's legendary roast
of the new class
First the staff. Then listeners. Now LJ has the Herm-gasm? Crazy
Ray sings the Growing Pains theme song. The
Royals 70's jingle that puts a smile on your face during another horrid season
in KC. The
local TV anchors slip up on the broadcast and luckily the D.A. Show was rolling
tape. 6-6-06:
The Crypt Keeper's Holiday Crazy
Ray displays his talent for singing. Could he make a run at the next American
Idol? Oklahoma
takes it on the chin with this famous call from R.B. Missed
any of the NIT NIT action? Check out the recaps of the games and a special
edition of The One NIT NIT Moment. We
couldn't leave Alex the Intern out of the mix, check out the drunk dial message
Alex left for D.A. The
D.A. Show tribute to Alan Thicke.
Is
Crazy Ray really crazy? Take a listen to find out.
A
D.A. Show Investigation reveals color commentators handing out the pink slip
to local college coaches.
Quinner's
feeling a bit down. We ask, what's wrong with Quinn Snyder? Herm Edwards gave us quotable material right from jump street. He gets a montage based on his introduction presser. A
staple of any good office party. It's the Dick Vermeil montage XP: final edition.
Duh, ok.
DA's Hometown Hottie contest created controversy throughout KC. Radio superstar Johnny Dare stuck his nose in the middle of it. The
callers finally had their own chance to put their stamp on the Vermeil montage Why
do the sista's hate the show? It all started here: Yvette's call of the day The original D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off (circa '04). The '05 D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off, complete with a certain national columnist. The '06 smack-smack, which brought all the D.A. Show legends together for one fab event. You asked for it. We delivered. DA Show icon Alan Thicke's first appearance.
Whos ready for their cold shower? Ive got the bucket of ice water ready and waiting. Royals fans, come one, come all. Im dousing this brand new seasons optimism before Buddy Bell can even break a sweat! Im apologizing in advance, because I hate being Nancy Negative. Really, I do. But someone has to say it: the Royals have hoodwinked us. Again.
