It’s Time to Build Around the Truman Sports Complex

I took a tour of the “new Arrrowhead” last week and once again i was struck by the fact that there is nothing around the truman sports complex. There is plenty of land with lots of trees and even a few “For Sale” signs. I wondered why, the city has never taken the initiative to make this area a destination site, with hotels, restaurants, shops and so forth. I mean kck built up the legends around a facilty that is basically used two weekends a year and nobody could come up with a plan to build around the truman sports complex?

I have never been interested in a downtown stadium. I find the one way streets downtown irritatingly narrow and getting in and out of the area is a challenge…and then there is the parking issue. Out at the truman sports complex we have the luxury of getting in and out of the facility with ease and there are plenty of parking spots for both royals and chiefs fans. Why is there no vision in kansas city? Why can’t we come up with something special that will draw people all year long? Put stores out there…that you can’t find anywhere else, put great restaurants in that are unique and add one or two “classy hotels” that people will look forward to staying in.

It is sad that we have this wonderful facility and nothing to be proud of around it. The only reason we have fans and radio talk show hosts screaming for a downtown ballpark is because in other cities there is so much to do around those parks. We don’t need to abandon kauffman stadium the way we did kemper, we can build around “The K” and make it something unique to the sports world. Here’s one idea, what if we built up a rustic theme around the area with a couple of world class hotels, first class restaurants that were decorated in that same theme and then shops that would bring “shoppers” out even if the royals and chiefs weren’t playing.

What if we had some kind of light rail that connected this place to the bass pro shop in independence? I think it is time to start taking advantage of what we have in the truman sports complex and make it the greatest sports/shopping/vacation destination in the world. I don’t want another abandoned facility and I certainly don’t want to move either team downtown. Let’s get some vision in kansas city and think outside the box. They did in Kansas City, KS around a racetrack…and if no one on the missouri side is capable of having vision, then let’s start putting people in office who have some. I’m tired of hearing about the Mayor’s Wife and We’ve had enough school superintendents.

It is time to take advantage of what we have, to take it to the next level. It can be done. It should be done. I don’t want to see empty land, trailer parks and strip clubs around the sports complex. I want to make this city great.

Royals: Core of the Problem

Before Dayton Moore arrived on the scene as the Royals general manager…we heard about the “core of young talent” being developed together for the future of the franchise. The only problem…the core did all their “developing” here at the major league level…
I touched on this in my Zack Greinke blog..but I really believe..the Royals made a huge mistake rushing young players back then and we are paying for it now.

The “young guns” if you will…were brought up together with no real veteran leadership. They didn’t learn how to win at this level…in fact losing became a way of life. So now…when we want this team to reach another level…we have a “core” of players who should be playing “lights out” in their prime…but don’t have that day in and day out intensity. They don’t have the fire on a consistent basis.

Their experience in the big leagues was special treatement. They were led to believe they were here to save a franchise…and win or lose… their jobs were secure. They never really “earned the right” to be here. They had potential..but never stayed down in the minors long enough to solidify it. I’m not saying they don’t have talent. They do…but they never really put in their time…they were “babied” and so they are not battle tested. Several of those players seem to easily lose focus. They don’t have the passion you need in a marathon season.

Back in the 80′s..the royals brought up three young pitchers to start in their rotation. Bret Saberhagen, Mark Gubicza and Danny Jackson were the “stars” of the staff…But they had veterans like George Brett, Hal McRae, Frank White, Charlie Leibrandt, Dan Quisenberry and veteran Catcher Jim Sundberg to set the standard, to show them the ropes…to keep them in line.

Today’s core group learned from journeymen free agents who were here to resurrect their own careers or guys who were coming off injuries…and they used kansas city as a place to get a paycheck. This core group..had no one to show them baseball etiquette..or baseball success. Do you remember when the royals even gave guys houses? These young guys were so secure in their jobs here, there was no hunger. That attitude still raises it’s ugly head now and then…I recognized the monster during that recent 8 game losing streak. The guys who lost patience at the plate, who played defense like they had holes in their gloves…they couldn’t figure out how to overcome adversity.

Dayton Moore saw the problem when he came to kansas City. He realized the cupboard was bare in the minors and he has had to work to fix that problem.

But one problem still haunts us…”the Core” needs to learn how to win. It’s an attitude, a work ethic..something they have yet to master. I believe Dayton and Manager Trey Hillman are trying to fix it…but old habits die hard and I think that’s why this team can at any time..go in the tank for awhile. Until it is fixed..we are going to keep seeing these ups and downs.

Greinke Greatness!

Even if you aren’t a baseball fan..you can’t help but cheer for Zack Greinke.

Three years ago he almost walked away from the game because he just couldn’t handle the environment the Royals had put him in. He wasn’t emotionally ready to be the saviour of a losing franchise. He was drafted out of high school and he needed time to grow up…time to be around players his own age. But the Royals expected too much too soon back then. He had the talent, but he needed the time to develop emotionally.

To watch him now, it’s scary to think..he could have missed all this…

That time away from the game helped him. When he came back a few weeks later…he pitched in Double A Wichita…and played on a team with players his own age. He started enjoying the game again.
This year..His personal life is rock solid..he is engaged to a woman he has known since High School.
On the field…He is finally working with a pitching coach who isn’t trying to re-invent his wheel. Bob McClure has figured out how to challenge Zack and has helped him reach the next level.
Zack has always had the ability to throw several pitches..at different speeds, but now he has the confidence to use them to dominate hitters.
Zack can use any pitch to set up any other pitch and that is truly amazing.
Like a chess player he loves to “set up” hitters and get them to “bite” on that nasty slider. He doesn’t change his arm motion when throwing and that leaves a batter helpless to read what is coming.
Zack says McClure persuaded him to start mixing up his repetoire..
Most pitchers have a dominant…”bread and butter” Pitch..a Pitch they use to set up everything else. Zack has lots of them. That’s why he can throw any pitch to set up any other pitch. He can bear down and throw a 97 mile an hour fast ball..he can step back and throw a painfully slow curve. He is a master on the mound…having his way with opposing teams.
The numbers speak for themselves..he leads the league with 6 wins, 54 strike outs and and ERA of 00.40.
But the true success of the season is that…he is an overcomer…He could’ve given up…but didn’t. He could’ve been so confused by every pitching coach who wanted to change his mechanics..that he couldn’t figure out how to be himself.
Zack now knows who he is and what he can do. And just in time…at the age of 25..he is just entering his peak years.
I don’t think you are seeing a fluke…this is the beginning of great things to come…Zack is just stepping out into an amazing ability he has had his entire life…He has now learned how to crank it up to the Major League Level.
I applaud the Royals for signing him to a 4 year deal before the season started.
And Zack is one of the those rare indivduals who will stay with this team as long as he is happy and the team is committed to winning.
He signed up for four years because he saw the direction things were going. He told me during the winter that David Glass is the MVP of the team, for stepping up and bringing in the players the royals needed, despite the cost.
I think this could be a very happy marriage for years to come.
As long as he stays healthy…and the Royals continue their commitment to winning…Zack will stay here. He was truly touched by the fans the other night…who cheered him on against the whitesox…That kind of support will make sure he stays a royal.
But beyond that…Fans should want to go out to “The K” just to marvel at a “one-of-a-kind” talent…
He can do what few have ever been able to dream about in the game of baseball. It is fun to watch the Master work. Greinke is great…and Royals fans need to come out to the games and enjoy it!

Baseball! I love this Game

I love baseball! What can I say? My dad was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds, even though family obligations kept him from playing back then. My husband played for the New York Yankees. I love the game. In Fact during the summer my husband and I will watch a game, any game..and for fun..call pitches. Most of the time we are right on..and the guy on the mound throws exactly what we predicted…I love baseball so much..I am working on a baseball dictionary for women…I have talked to some agents about publishing it…and most of them want to turn it into a book…so..it remains unfinished…
But I say all this to let you know…I love everything about the game…and i don’t watch the royals because they win or lose…I don’t jump on baseball band wagons…I am already driving one…long before the season starts.
So would it surprise you to know..I can’t wait for the season to start?
Many people have asked me how I think the Royals will do this year. It doesn’t matter to me, as long as they play.
I know there are alot of fans who won’t go to the games unless the team is winning, I know there are fans who boo their own team. I don’t understand any of that. The game is so much bigger than that. It draws me. It’s intoxicating. Did I tell you I love this game?
I do think the Royals will be better this year. The young players are maturing…especially Pitcher Zack Greinke…He is fascinating on the mound…He has the ability to do things..few pitchers can dream of…He has a pitching repertoire that is truly amazing…I think he is finally lining up confidence with ability and experience…This could be a break out year for him. Gil Meche has shown the last two years he can be counted on…and I think this could be his best season as a royal. Especially with Greinke pushing him for that Number 1 starting job. What’s not to love about closer Joakim Soria? The guy is a marvel and he doesn’t even know it. He thinks you are supposed to throw strikes all the time…so he does.
I am thrilled Kevin Seitzer is the hitting coach. I already see a difference in some of the players this spring. He explains things in ways that make sense…and he is that “X” factor that can help an average hitter become good…a good hitter become great..Alex Gordon was lost at the plate last year…this year…he is finding himself…and he gives Seitzer alot of the credit so far. And one thing Kevin can do better than anyone I know is spot immediately what a hitter’s problem is…
I am concerned about defense. Can Mark Teahen really play 2nd base? Mark thrives offensively when he has a stable position defensively…but last year he played all outfield spots and first and third…and there were days he would be in the line up for one position…so he would take in extra work there…only to be moved before the first pitch to another spot. It affected his game tremendously and Mark even admits he would be better at the plate if he didn’t have to constantly think about moving all over the diamond.
If mark doesn’t win the 2nd base job…what are the other options? Alberto Callaspo? Willie Bloomquist? I miss Mark Grudzielanek…why isn’t he back this year?
Then there is first base..that could be trouble…Billy Butler and Mike Jacobs are not known for their gloves…Ross Gload played well there last year, but there’s a chance he won’t even make this team this year. And what about Ryan Shealy? Despite a solid september he is on the bubble again. Then there is the manager. Last year was Trey Hillman’s first season in the Big Leagues..I know he had several adjustments to make but I had some questions…I didn’t always understand the way he used some of his pitchers…especially the game when he left Jimmy Gobble out there to just get pummeled. I thought some of his experience in Japan..backfired here in Major League Baseball…and by the end of the season, he was a little defensive. It really wasn’t much fun being around him. But saying all that…I want it understood that I really like Trey and I know he knows the game, I know he is passionate about it…and if i ever get the chance to just sit and talk baseball with him, I know it will be a great conversation…This season He will have a lot more help from his coaching staff..thanks to some of the changes made in the off-season. I am told he is already much more relaxed this spring and I can’t wait until he brings this team to Kansas City in April. I have high expectations for Mr. Hillman. And I have the utmost confidence and respect for General Manager Dayton Moore. Now he and I can get lost in a baseball conversation for hours…He came into an organization that had a lot of issues and slowly but surely he is turning it all around. No one wants to win more than he does. It is a real privilege to know him. Having said all this…I can’t wait for the Real Games to begin. Baseball Season is the best time of year…and win or lose…I love this game!

Always on a Friday!

What is it about Fridays with the Chiefs? They seem to like making decisions just before the weekend and in some cases…”Red Fridays..are now Black Fridays”…..think about it. they fired Herm on a friday…they hired todd haley on a friday…and today they fired a hand full of assistants…it is also a friday..and friday the 13th to boot!
i realize..the new regime is taking what seems to be a full week’s time to evaluate each and every area of the chiefs football program…they are being thorough in their decisions…
But employees out at arrowhead may be starting to dread the weekends..
I guess we will find out next friday about Offensive Coordinator Chan Gailey and then the friday after that we will find out what players will not be retained…
I am really just having a little fun with this…but the reality is…This trio of young and rising stars in the NFL…A young owner..clark hunt, a young gm, scott pioli and a young head coach todd haley…show none of the impatience of youth. They are taking their time to get it right…so chiefs fans..i guess we are all learning a little patience and we can get used to finding out what they’ve been up to…on friday!

Still Missing Jared Allen!

As we sit and wait for the chiefs new general manager to announce who his new head coach will be…..My mind starts wandering back to the dismal 2008 season.
This team had the worst pass rush of any team in NFL history…
And I have to say..I am still mad that the chiefs traded away Jared Allen!
It was stupid. I don’t care how loud he screamed or what kind of demands he made…Carl Peterson should never have pulled the trigger on a deal to let him go. (Funny..he didn’t give in to Tony Gonzalez’s demands to be traded this past season)
It’s not easy to find a pass rusher in this league and the chiefs found lightning in a bottle with him. Drafted in the 4th round…from a small school, he surpassed all expectations and led the league in sacks in 2007 with 15 and a half. To think he could be replaced by the current cast of characters on the roster was arrogant and stupid.
I’ve heard people say…”well-we got draft picks for him“…Whoa! Hold the phone.
What is the point of getting draft picks if you can’t keep them when they get into their prime? Isn’t that the complaint we had with the Royals for years? They would find good talent but couldn’t sign them when they got to their free agent years?
This team developed Jared and He was just maturing into a playmaker.
Carl balked at giving Jared a long term contract because of his two DUI’s…what Carl never took into consideration was that Jared had changed…he turned a negative situation around in his personal life and learned from it…Jared realized alcohol was too big of a price to pay when it came to his football career..and he does not drink anymore.
Instead of patting him on the back..Carl used that as blackmail and ultimately that strategy was the reason Jared wanted out of Kansas City.
I find it interesting that despite Larry Johnson’s legal battles..he was given a long term contract and a 19 million dollar signing bonus…Larry was Carl’s guy and Carl wanted to make him happy.
Carl made both situations personal…and as a result…we lost a player we desperately needed…and we kept one..that now wants out of KC.
I find it interesting that now one of the chiefs top priorities is to find another pass rusher. Good Luck. Pickin’s are slim in the upcoming draft and most teams just don’t let go of the Good veterans.
The really sad thing is..Now that Carl is gone..Jared would have been happy to stay..and I am sure he would have worked out a deal with the new General Manager. He liked the fans, he liked the town.
So..as much as it still hurts..We have to get over it…And hope the chiefs can find lightning in a bottle again!

Today is Better than Sports!

What a day!  As I watch the inauguration ceremonies, I can’t help but get caught up in the emotion of what it all means.

Barack Obama is our new president…and i find my self cheering and celebrating with all those who went to Washington to witness history. There is something about this man that inspires me and makes me believe everything is going to be alright! A man who has shattered racial barriers just by caring about his country and giving encouragement and compassion to all Americans…especially those who have given up on their own dreams.

I am most touched by the passion of the people..people of all shapes and sizes..of all colors and religions…somehow..this one man has given the hopeless..a reason to hope…he has given the down hearted a reason to smile…he has given those who have forgotten how to trust..a reason to believe…he has given those of us who pray..a tangible answer to those prayers.       

I have never seen this kind of excitement for a president..it is usually reserved for sports….

I remember the way this city cheered when the royals won the world series in 1985…I received a champaign shower doing interviews in the lockeroom afterwards…to this day..people still come up to me and talk to me about that great celebration we all enjoyed after game 7.

I felt a sense of that passion in 2003..when tony pena kept telling fans “We Believe” and this city came alive as the royals were in first place for a good chunk of the season.

And for years..that passion could be felt every sunday at arrowhead..no wonder players around the nfl said kansas city was the toughest place to play.

But nothing in the sports world compares to this. Today we shouldn’t be concerned about who the chiefs next head coach should be…it shouldn’t matter..this one day…if the royals made enough “off season” moves to win a division title…

For this one day..we should take in all the passion and the hope rekindled in this great nation. We have an inspirational man ready and willing to tackle the problems in this great country.

Sports fans think it’s amazing that  the arizona cardinals are  headed to the superbowl…

But I challenge all Americans to realize..the greatest turn around is yet to come…

America is going to bounce back..I can feel it in the passion and the emotion of the people who make up this great country. And today..that’s just better than sports!

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