Whitlock's grades...

I always look forward to "Professor" Whitlock's annual grades for the Chiefs and this year's were just as good as usual.  I've just read the article once, but, so far, my only complaint is that Whitlock gave Thigpen a C+ (78).  

Whitlock's main point is that Thigpen is not a franchise quarterback and had a low completion percentage (58%) even though he operated in the shotgun offense, which makes it easier for quarterbacks to complete passes.

Whitlock bases a player's grade on how well he meets or fails to meet Whitlock's preseason expectation for him.  Under this criteria, I'm not sure how Thigpen could receive anything besides an "A."  I assume that before the season started, there were no expectations for Thigpen since nobody had ever heard of him.  And, I would assume that, after the Atlanta game, everybody expected that Thigpen would or should be cut. 

Given these assumptions, and the fact that, after the Atlanta game, Thigpen threw for over 2,400 yards with 16 TDs (and 8 picks), I don't see how he could receive anything but an "A."  I think these are pretty good numbers for a guy who most people thought should have been cut in September.  Granted, he had some bad games at the end of the season (Den. SD. Cinn.), but he also does not have a lot of offensive power around him.    

Thigpen may not be a franchise quarterback.  He may not even be the quarterback next year.  But, given his experience level and the expectations for him this year, he had a pretty good year.  In fact, given his expectations, he probably had the best year of any Chief.  

Anybody have any thoughts on the "grades."

RROTW

The context of this photo should be a big hint. Bonus points for naming the St. Louis Cardinal in the picture.

Furcal close to signing with the Braves...

FoxSports.com has reported that Rafael Furcal is close to signing with the Atlanta Braves.  It is believed that, on Tuesday, Furcal will sign a three year deal that has a vesting option for a fourth year. 

Apparently, Oakland offered Furcal a four year deal, but he would prefer to return to one of his prior teams (Atlanta or L.A.).

Ding dong the witch is dead...

King Carl that is. I agree with Louie that this day should have come long ago, but I am happy that it has finally arrived. Carl Peterson helped make the Chiefs respectable but could never bring home a championship. The time for new leadership is long overdue. The real question, however, is what will Whitlock write about now that King Carl is gone?

The End of Carl

Personally I wish this day had come 4 or 5 years ago, but I am still glad the day has come. I would like to hear what you all think.

RROTW

Vega correctly identified Pat Tabler last week. Will he make it three for three? Or will somebody identify this random royal first? Kurt Outrageous, you should get this one, but my money is on Vega.

Royals non-tender four...

Bob Dutton reports that the Royals have non-tendered John Bale, Joey Gathright, Jason Smith and Jairo Cueva.  The Royals also resigned Esteban German to a one year deal.  The Royals did not release the terms of the German deal, but he made 1 million last year so I would assume that German will make, at least, that amount this year.

Of course, the Royals did not non-tender Buck or Teahen.  This means that, unless we make some more trades, our bench this year will, at least, include Buck (who made 2.2 million last year), Teahen (who made 2.3 million), Gload (1.3 million) and German (1 million).  Buck and Teahen are eligible for arbitration and will most likely receive some sort of raise.  So the Royals will spend, at least, 6.8 million dollars on these four bench players.   

The Royals won 75 games last year.  There is no reason for a 75 win team with a 70 million dollar payroll to spend approximately 10% of its payroll on its bench. This is just a waste of money.  Of course, individually, a person can make a case for each of these four players to remain on the team.  On the whole though, the Royals would be better off having four replacement type players on the bench making the league minimum and using the rest of the money to sign a high level free agent.

Of course, I am bound by the laws of logic and reason.  The Royals apparently are not.

   

2009 KC Royals

Thoughts on the KC Star's projected Royals lineup?

Random Royal of the Week

Vega was last week's winner by recognizing famed Royal reliever Steve Farr. As a hint for this week's RROTW, I remember watching this Royal play at Royals Stadium (before it was the K) when I first started going to Royals games in the late 80s (man I feel old).

No progress since Corby Jones era?

Whitlock concluded his most recent column by saying the Big 12 Championship game proved that the current Missouri Tigers are not better than the Tigers of the Corby Jones era. I think Whitlock is wrong and hyperbole prone. Oklahoma, as much as I hate to say it, is that good. Sure this season was a huge disappointment, but I think we've come a long way from the Corby Jones/Larry Smith era.

Anybody have a prediction for the Big 12 game? Unfortunately, I think Oklahoma will beat us 49-31. Of course, some will say that I am being pessimistic, but I think I am just being realistic. And, if we win, I will be pleasantly surprised instead of being disappointed. Post predictions in the comments and the person with the closest prediction gets to post on this blog for free for the next month.

Boomer Sooner

http://video.kansascity.videos.vmixcore.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=1574952&item_index=1423&genre_id=845&sort=date

Like Only "Mad" Mike DeArmond can do.

Random Royal of the Week

As the football season winds down The Trifecta will slowly start to turn its attention towards the upcoming 2009 Royals season. In preparation for the Royals season, The Trifecta has decided to introduce a game to see exactly how big of a Royals fan you are. Each week The Trifecta will post a picture of a Random Kansas City Royal. If you are the first person to name that Royal (by posting in the comments section), you will win one icey cold Boulevard Beer courtesy of your friends at the Trifecta. You should also add something interesting you remember about that Royal for bonus points.

Credit goes to Kurt Outrageous for inspiring the creation of this game with his text message battle to see who could come up with the most random Royals players of the last two decades. Thanks Kurt.

We'll start this week's Random Royal of the Week contest with the fella pictured above. Go.

Chiefs Win!!!

Thanks in large part to the Raiders' coaching staff proving that they are more boneheaded than the Chiefs'coaching staff, KC was able to pull off its first win since September and its first road win in over a year. The first-half Raider fake-field goal which turned into a KC touchdown was an early Christmas present from the Raiders.

Tony Gonzalez was terrific as per usual. Tyler Thigpen made a few bad decisions, but showed what an asset his running ability can be, and played a solid game overall. Contrary to what Jason Whitlock of the KC Star thinks, I think this team is showing continuing improvement each week and gives us good reason to be excited for the future.

Time to Move on

It is time to look ahead to Oklahoma and put yesterday's game behind us. Don't get me wrong; Mizzou's loss to Kansas Saturday afternoon was nothing short of tragic. Losing to Kansas may be the most miserable thing that can happen to a devoted Missouri Tiger. The sickening feeling deep inside your gut is indescribable. But having said that, it is important to keep this loss in perspective. We may have lost that battle, but we won the war in the Big 12 North. After each taunting comment I received from a chickenhawk fan, I politely congratulated them and wished them luck next week in the Big 12 Championship game. After processing the fact that Kansas would not be playing for the Big 12 Championship, the chickenhawks were silenced.

When the season started we all had a national title for these Missouri Tigers in our hearts and on our mind. But we always knew that a Big 12 Championship would be a necessary step along the way. We know now that this year won't bring a national championship, but the Big 12 Championship is still in reach. And is still very important. If Missouri wants to establish itself as a perenial power, winning the conference championship of the best conference in college football is a good start. Missouri will be a heavy underdog next Saturday at Arrowhead against the Sooners, in the range of two touchdowns I'd guess. Most of the critics are dismissive of any chance for a Missouri victory. I like that. These Tigers have always played better as the underdog---with a chip on their shoulder.

These Tigers are frustrated. Frustrated about not playing for the national title. Frustrated about giving away a home game to Oklahoma State. Frustrated about getting blown out in Austin. Frustrated about losing to their archrival. Frustrated about being written off in the Big 12 championship game. The Tigers will need to take all of that frustration and channel it into playing their best game of the season against the Sooners. If the Tigers show up and play lacksadeisical football, they won't stand a chance. The game will be over by halftime. But if they show ready play their best game of the year---against what may be the best team in the country---I think we'll all be in for an exciting show next Saturday night. Every college football fan in the country will be watching Saturday night. This is a great opportunity for the Missouri football program to show the nation what this season was supposed to look like for the Tigers.

If the Tigers are still in need of motivation, it might be worth adding that revenge is in order for OU. Last year Mizzou came into the Big 12 Championship game one win away from playing for the national title. OU pulled away from a 14-14 halftime tie to spoil the Tigers national title hopes. The roles are reversed this year, and it is Mizzou's turn to spoil it all for the Sooners.

Mizzou's loss to Kansas wasn't our only loss this weekend. The KC Star is reporting that offensive coordinator Dave Christensen has accepted the job as the head football coach at Wyoming. It looks like the Tigers may also lose Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus as well. These things happen to good football teams. Their coordinators are viewed as hot commodities. It will be important for Coach Pinkel to find high quality replacements so that Missouri can establish itself as a legitimate top tier football program. http://www.kansascity.com/385/story/915534.html

Mizzou v. Who?

If things go as expected next weekend and OU beats Oklahoma St., Mizzou will be playing OU in the Big 12 Championship game. That would create a great opportunity for Mizzou to do to OU what OU did to Mizzou last season---spoil its national championship hope. Better yet, I think UT would probably sneak into the national championship game if Mizzou beat OU, so we'd still have a representative of the Big 12 in the game.

I think Mizzou actually matches up better against Texas Tech, however. And, I don't think Tech fans will travel to KC for the game the way Sooner fans will. Consequently, I'll be pulling hard for Oklahoma State to pull off the upset in Stillwater next weekend.

The Dawn of a NEW ERA

Ladies and Gentlemen-
Okay I will admit it might be a bit bold to assume women are reading the writings of dude’s like myself, but even they women if they are reading should be excited about the recent MIZZOU Tigers basketball win. The tigers finished off USC with a 11 point victory, 83-72. I will admit that I can not remember the last time the black & gold beat a ranked basketball team that was not in the Big 12 conference. Although USC barely cracks the top 20, squeaking in at 19, and suffered it first loss to an unranked Seton Hall this past Thursday, they are still a ranked basketball team. I know is it a bit premature to purchase tickets to the Final Four but we must celebrate this victory, for it has been too long of a drought.

***Okay I am back.. just got off the phone with ticket master -- had to book my final four ticket**

I know the past 3 years we have been tied to the excitement of Tiger football so watching the basketball team lose became part of the week’s routine as we waited for football weekend. I will be the first to tell you that I have no idea who is on the starting five, or who will be the go to man on the court, and I can only hope that my boy Mat Lawrence is still shooting bombs from downtown, but I am now motivated to find out. I am almost positive that this is the first year Mike Anderson is without the baggage of the FAILED (cocaine) years of Quinn Synder and the fourth game of the season is a win over a top 25 team. BAM—Hello Mike Anderson!!!

Pinkel Locked Down

He is getting a well-deserved raise and staying at Mizzou.

http://www.kansascity.com/385/story/902433.html

Crisp/Ramon trade breakdown

Louie: What with this royals trade

Joshua: Guess we've given up on Teahan.

Joshua: Well, I think I'm okay with the coco crisp acquisition. We really needed some speed at the top of the lineup and a true leadoff hitter. What did you think?

Louie: I think you are right about speed, but the best part about Royals last year was the pitching in the 7,8.and 9th

Joshua: Yeah. I'm always afraid of giving up good pitching. I don't really buy the argument that relief pitchers are fungible.

Louie: Ramon was a clutch relief pitcher. I am not sure i like the 2 years crisp might give us- 3-4 if we are lucky in exchange for a solid 8th. Also crisp's 2007 numbers were painfully bad, and while he looked good in the playoffs he had lost his job midway through the season

Joshua: I'd be a lot more comfortable with this trade if we still had Leo Nunez.

Louie: that is what i am saying

Joshua: I still don't understand the Jacobs deal.

Louie: we have dealt two good relievers. That deal makes sense if we Gload (Chode) is done and we think the Hawaiian dude needs another year in the minors. Also butler is permanent DH, his fielding blows

Joshua: Shealy deserves a shot no? After last September?

Louie: he will get it but will get hurt real fast, Shealy and Jacobs will battle it out. I can see us keeping them both, dumping gload (chode), and playing butler at DH

Joshua: Only if we unload Ross Chode.

Louie: we must, he is terrible hitter for a corner spot

Joshua: Agreed.

Louie: and we must now deal teahen, which i am fine with. I love his energy and clubhouse presence, but 12-15 hrs for a corner outfielder is not going to cut it

Joshua: Yeah, me too. Hopefully we can get some pitching for Teahan.

Louie: pitching or a SS/2b

Joshua: Yeah. Looks like the Cubs might have a SS/2B that they'd be willing to deal.

Louie: could be. This convo should be posted to the Trifecta blog- it is awesome

Joshua: done

Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs!

It is that time of year again when it becomes obvious that college football is in dire need of a playoff system. Here is my proposal for an eight team playoff.

1.) Every BCS Conference champion that finishes ranked in the top twelve of the BCS ranking is an automatic qualifier.

2.) The highest ranked non-BCS team is an automatic qualifier if they finish ranked in the top 12.

3.) The remaining spots are at-large and filled by the highest ranked BCS teams to not automatically qualify.

Here is what that would mean this year:

1.) Mizzou gets into the playoff if/when they win the Big 12 Championship game.
2.) Most likely no ACC team or Big East team makes the playoff.
3.) A non-BCS team (most likely Utah or Boise St.) makes the playoff
4.) Oregan St. probably misses the playoff b/c they won't break the top 12 even if they win the Pac-10

Assuming Mizzou wins the Big 12 (let's say over OU) and Florida wins the SEC, I think my proposal would result in the following eight team playoff:

1.) Florida (SEC champ - BCS rank #1)
2.) Texas (at-large - BCS rank #2)
3.) USC (at-large - BCS rank #3)
4.) Alabama (at-large - BCS rank #4)
5.) Texas Tech (at-large - BCS rank # 5)
6.) Penn St. (Big 10 champ - BCS rank #6)
7.) Utah (nonBCS automatic qualifer - BCS rank #7)
8.) Missouri (Big 12 champ - BCS #8)

That sets up some interesting first round matchups:

Florida v. Missouri
Alabama v. Texas Tech
USC v. Penn St.
Texas v. Utah

Even more interesting second round matchups

Missouri v. Texas Tech
USC v. Texas

And an all Big-12 (they way it should be) National Championship Game with Mizzou avenging its regular season loss

MIZZOU 42
TEXAS 35
....

Which Chase do you draft?

You are Carl Peterson. It is the seventh round of the 2009 NFL draft and you are ready to take a QB out of Missouri. Do you draft Chase Daniel or Chase Patton? Patton projects as the better NFL QB, but Daniel could be the next Doug Flutie. ESPN the magazine has an interesting take on this:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3632340

Chiefs acquire Count Chocula

Refusing to be outdone by the Royals, the Chiefs have announced their acquisition of Count Chocula. Shortly after the Royals announced their acquisition of Coco "Puffs" Crisp, the Chiefs made their announcement. "The Count will give us some much needed help at the Linebacker position with his quickness and size," said coach Herm Edwards.

Coo coo for Coco "Puffs" Crisp

The Royals acquired Coco "Puffs" Crisp today from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Ramon Ramirez. Crisp's addition in CF will push DeJesus to LF. Does this mean the Royals have given up on Mark Teahan? As you'll remember, Teahan was the biggest prospect (along with John Buck and Mark Wood) the Royals received when they dealt Beltran a few years ago.

While it is always a gamble to give up good pitching, I like the move. This gives the Royals a proven leadoff hitter which we haven't had since Brian McCrae. My only concern is Crisp's age. He is almost 30 and may not have more than 2 or 3 more good seasons in him. But for now I'll be optimistic. The Royals have improved themselves with this trade and I'll be content with that . . . for now. Here is to hoping this guy can hit his way out of a cereal box.

Tyler "Pigpen" Thigpen

Whitlock is already starting to doubt Pigpen. Personally, I think he has played well enough so far that he deserves a shot at the starting job next year---assuming of course that his level of play remains consistent for the remainder of the season.

Mizzou National Championship

Bradford Doolittle claims that it is still possible and I agree. Note that I said it is possible not probable. See http://uponfurtherreview.kansascity.com/?q=node/132.

The problem that Mizzou will have even if they win the Big 12 Championship is that there will still be at least one team from the South that didn't make it to the Championship game that has only one loss. That team, a once-defeated USC, and a once-defeated Penn St. all probably get in over a twice-defeated Mizzou team.

Oh, to have the game against Ok. St. back...

Welcome

What is The Trifecta you ask? You might be a member of The Trifecta and not even realize it. The Trifecta is a group of sports fans, largely from the Kansas City, Missouri area that support the University of Missouri Tigers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Kansas City Royals. If you don't support all three, then you are not a member of The Trifecta. If you do, then you are a member.

Why is there even such a group? Members of The Trifecta are constantly forced to engage in strategic alliances with some of their archrivals. For example, while supporting the Missouri Tigers, members of the Trifecta are often forced to align themselves with St. Louis Cardinals fans. Such alignment often causes extreme discomfort (and sometimes vomiting) for members of The Trifecta because, by definition, members of the Trifecta are Kansas City Royals fans. Similarly, during baseball season, members of The Trifecta are forced to ally themselves with kU fans. The severe mental anguish and cognitive dissonance this causes members of The Trifecta---Mizzou fans--- is simply indescribable.

So there you have it. This is a place for sports fans that love Mizzou, the Royals, and the Chiefs to come together. I will be posting a variety of topics and I encourage you to express your thoughts in the comments to each post.

Hank