The Hot Stone League

Larry Stone gives his take on a wide array of baseball issues and weighs in about the Mariners too.

July 10, 2009 at 1:58 PM

UPDATE: Betancourt deal panned in KC

While Mariners fans are busy nominating Jack Zduriencik for the Nobel Peace Prize, those in KC aren't quite as rhapsodic. Here is the initial review of the "Upon Further Review" feature in the Kansas City Star.

Read it yourself, but the author concludes: "This is a head-scratcher. I don't understand -- or approve of -- this trade on any level. To me, this seems like another example of the Royals dealing for a player because of what they think he can be, rather than recognizing what he actually is."

Posters on Royals Review don't seem too pleased, either.

The Royals are even getting mocked by a site that covers the Rangers.

This is one supremely ticked off Royals' follower.

I remember something that an old baseball man, Roland Hemond, formerly GM of the White Sox and Orioles, once told me. He said he was always leery of the trades that were greeted with universal praise. He said those were usually the ones that backfired, while the ones that were ripped often turned out the best.

I still like this deal for the Mariners.

UPDATE AT 10:23: ESPN's Ketih Law checks in with the most vicious anti-Yuni screed of them all.

To quote a portion: "Betancourt does nothing well on a baseball field. He can't hit and has lost bat speed since reaching the majors. He hacks at everything he sees, and even swings at pitches thrown to other hitters. He has next to no range at short. And he never hustles on anything -- not balls hit in his direction, not ground balls he might have a chance to beat out (well, before he let himself go physically). Other than all that, he's Honus Wagner."

Tell us what you really think, Keith.

Former Royals fan Rob Neyer is not euphoric, either.

FanGraphs piles on.

More negativity from Royals Authority.

Bucs Dugout giggles from afar.

Further analysis from Beyond The Box Score.

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