Strategic... and interesting?!

First for the interesting part: http://www.billybutler.com. The "hitter who just don't quitter" has opened up his own website with pictures, merchandise, statistics, and stories about himself and the Royals. A good marketing strategy? Quite possibly. He's a household name in KC (along with Gordon), but, unlike Gordon (an exceptional hitter and 3B), plays average to below-average OF.

Which brings me to the strategic:
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/baseball/mlb/kansas_city_royals/16530274.htm

Whether the intentions of the agent are true, I will never know, but the story makes me happy for this 100 loss team. By milling Butler around town, his agent hopes that Billy will not be overwhelmed when he gets his eventual call up this year or next; thereby, improving his chances for having an immediate impact, or at least not having off-field issues to hinder his play.

To me, this seems well and good from the standpoint that it makes some sense. He'll be semi-familiar with his surroundings, he's done the meet-and-greets, and he'll be more able to focus on his hitting than on how the KC media works, where he'd like to live, etc.

Plus, for a fanbase that needs some love, it is nice hearing that another guy (other than Gordon) is interested in being called up; that he isn't afraid to play for a loser team, that he thinks he can help right itself. A winning team (winning record-wise, winning in the fans' eyes) needs to have more than one likable, well-known player. It seems Billy is trying to be that guy.

Think of it, a team full of likable players: Dejesus, Teahen (probably, but maybe traded), Gordon, and Butler. I think Greinke would qualify, but fans need to see something again from him. I think many feel for the guy, but even though I understand (but don't know) how Greinke feels socially awkward, he lost the confidence of the fans, and rightly so, for "quitting" so abruptly as he did.

Random Ponders of the Blog

It's an exciting transition we are seeing with this team. It's getting younger before our eyes! Granted, this year, we're still a pretty old team, but many of our "old" position players and pitchers will be gone next year paving the way for a possible Lumsden, Greinke, Hochevar, Meche, Hudson/Wellemeyer/Free Agent/Minor League call up.

Shealy at 1B, ? at 2B, Gordon/Teahen at 3B, ? at SS, Buck/Phillips/Donachie at C, and an OF comprised of Dejesus/Teahen/Butler/Costa/Gathie.

Don't be surprised when, and if, Gordon takes off at 3B and Teahen bombs in the OF, that he will become trade bait. I'm abating my crusade to outright trade Teahen at this point. I think his late bat (not his early April/May bat) can help this team offensively (which will still need to score a lot this season to win), but if his defense flounders, would it not be wise for the team to trade him for pitching? ...or a minor league 2B ready to play in the ML.