The Royals have invited journeyman right-hander Sidney Ponson to camp, adding another colossal jerk to the list of players Dayton Moore has worked to acquire.
Moore cultivates a squeaky-clean image. Last year, he and manager Trey Hillman talked about their faith at a special chapel at the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. When he arrived in town, Moore promised Joe Posnanski that he would stock the clubhouse with guys who helped little old ladies with their groceries. "I would not draft or sign anyone unless I believed in his character," Moore said.
Today, Moore's quote stands one of the most hollow things a Kansas City sports figure has ever said.
Let's look at the record.
Moore attempted to trade for Milton Bradley, a switch-hitting anger management issue. He signed slugger Jose Guillen, whom the Angels released in the heat of a pennant drive, to a free-agent contract. He acquired Alberto Callaspo from Arizona after the infielder was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his wife. (No charges were filed.)
Ponson is synonymous with the word "incident" (as well as "hefty"). He was charged with punching a judge in Aruba and is the veteran of two drunken driving arrests. On 810 WHB this morning, ESPN's Buster Olney said Ponson was "totally disrespectful" to his coaches in Texas, where he pitched last year.
Ponson's arrival is hypocritical as well as surprising, in light of Moore's track record with troubled players. Guillen, predictably, did or said something stupid seemingly every home stand last year, and his on-base percentage was terrible. Callaspo took a two-month medical leave after getting popped for DUI in Kansas City.
No wonder Hillman acts a little chippy from time to time. His boss's idea of "character" is a guy who went all Ty Cobb on a member of the judiciary. And he's not much of a pitcher anymore, either.
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You guys all pre-judge Ponson and the others-you don't even know them. Maybe Callapso is a jerk, but to me Ponson and Guillen are emotional guys who give a damn. Assholes are the idiots who judge people just on one-sided hearsay and occassional incidents. Like, say, YOU!
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