Alex Gordon & Billy Butler

[Havok1517]

According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, the Royals have no plans to call up either Alex Gordon or Billy Butler when rosters expand next month.

Crasnick speculated that, "I think they'll get a shot in spring training, but I suspect they won't be up until after the 2007 season begins." With Mark Teahen playing well, the Royals have been extremely conservative with Gordon, and Butler is still just 20 years old.
Source: ESPN.com

[Pogotheostrich]

Booooo!
Why let them get a taste of the majors now when they could be sitting at home doing nothing.

[The Loveable Losers]

Yeah, I've been starting to worry about this a bit myself. I'm thinking that the Royals might be seriously considering a mid-to-late 2007 Gordon call-up with a mid-to-late 2008 call-up for Butler to give them more time to build up a competitive team before they start the arbitration clock on these two. I don't like it...I really need Gordon to be in the opening day lineup in 2007 AND I think they'll both be ready to start at that point...but I can see the mindset that might end up keeping them both down that long.

[Pogotheostrich]

Yeah, I've been starting to worry about this a bit myself. I'm thinking that the Royals might be seriously considering a mid-to-late 2007 Gordon call-up with a mid-to-late 2008 call-up for Butler to give them more time to build up a competitive team before they start the arbitration clock on these two. I don't like it...I really need Gordon to be in the opening day lineup in 2007 AND I think they'll both be ready to start at that point...but I can see the mindset that might end up keeping them both down that long.

I was under the impress that if they came up in Sept. it didn't start the arbitration clock.

[The Loveable Losers]

Yeah, I've been starting to worry about this a bit myself. I'm thinking that the Royals might be seriously considering a mid-to-late 2007 Gordon call-up with a mid-to-late 2008 call-up for Butler to give them more time to build up a competitive team before they start the arbitration clock on these two. I don't like it...I really need Gordon to be in the opening day lineup in 2007 AND I think they'll both be ready to start at that point...but I can see the mindset that might end up keeping them both down that long.

I was under the impress that if they came up in Sept. it didn't start the arbitration clock.

You're correct...what I meant is that they aren't likely to start the year in 2007 with the team due to the arbitration clock. And Butler probably won't be until mid-2008 with a possible Sept. 2007 call-up because the team has stated they'd like to space the two out as much as possible.

[Hobbes]

I will say that Dayton Moore (new Royals GM) knows what he is doing with young talent. If he thinks they should stay in the minors, rest assured that it is in the best interest of the players and the team over the long term.

[The Loveable Losers]

It was just reported at Rotowire that Gordon will NOT be getting a Sept. call-up this year. I would assume this all but scuttles his chances of starting the year with the big-league team (or KC...I guess calling them a big-league team is a stretch) next year.

[nakgxf]

I am a loyal Royals fan, and I can tell you that the word consistently coming from Dayton Moore in various media outlets (talk radio, newspaper, online) is that neither of these guys have any chance of coming up this year. He has said that MAYBE they will get a shot around the All-Star Break in '07, but that would be the earliest.

And just wait...soon the Royals will be more than just a big league ball club.

[The Loveable Losers]

I am a loyal Royals fan, and I can tell you that the word consistently coming from Dayton Moore in various media outlets (talk radio, newspaper, online) is that neither of these guys have any chance of coming up this year. He has said that MAYBE they will get a shot around the All-Star Break in '07, but that would be the earliest.

And just wait...soon the Royals will be more than just a big league ball club.

I'm curious if you've heard anything solid on the timing of the call-up for these two relative to each other. I've heard vague rumors and innuendo that the team wants to space their call-ups out quite a bit but I'd like to see if someone has heard something a bit more solid than what I've heard.