All Star break thoughts

OK...apparently Yuniesky Betancourt is the worst SS in the history of big league baseball. Well you would think so by the overall disgust voiced with this most recent Dayton Moore trade. Much of the dissension is coming from people whose opinion that I really respect so I have looked a little closer and I have to admit his fielding numbers do continue to drop with each passing season. I have always been a big proponent of having quality fielders to have any real chance of long term success. I have pointed out here and on other blogs my feelings on this. It helps the pitching staff and is a way for a small market team to try and enjoy some success as good fielding can usually be had without breaking the bank. That may not be the case so much now as it once was but the really big out of touch talent tends to be those that put up mega offensive numbers. The type that the Royals can't ever think of affording or signing.
I must admit that I do not watch Seattle games with any regularity but had good impressions and memories of Betancourts play at SS initially when he came up with the Mariners a few years back. The numbers do bear this out when looking at them. He had pretty decent defensive numbers at first and they have gone down, especially last year and in his 62 games at SS so far this season. I suppose I am still hopeful that he can some how turn from his off a cliff like fall in his fielding to resemble his play in his first two seasons. His OBP has never been good and that is a real glaring weakness on this team as I have discussed many times. The batting numbers are so pathetic at the SS position for the Royals even his 279/302/393 career numbers look like an improvement and that is truly sad.
Many are giving up on Dayton Moore and I must admit he is making it awfully hard on himself in his third year on the job. Signing Jose Guillen was a huge mistake, even more so when you factor in the 3 year $36 million it is costing this team. Paying Kyle Farnsworth anything more than league minimum is criminal as he seems best suited for mop up duty only at this point in his career. Something that apparently all but our Royals front office was aware of before this season began. Mike Jacobs certainly is a questionable signing. I find it hard to fathom that Dayton Moore made the statement he did on WHB yesterday morning concerning not understanding all of the data now available for judging defensive play. One would think the Royals might invest a little time and attention to this area. The Red Sox hire Bill James, the Royals are puzzled.