Yardbarker: Royce Clayton

My Team Can Beat Your Team

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:58:37 -0500

Spring training officially begins tomorrow, albeit only pitchers and catchers reporting. Even with teams gearing up for the regular season there are still plenty of options on the free agent market for teams looking to fill a void, create competition, or build depth. I decided to give some of these lonesome hobos a job and assemble my own ensemble. That's right, I'm starting an expansion franchise named the Salt Lake Serpents (ironic?). My infield is a bit weak, but my outfield has a good mix of speed and pop. In the rotation I've got some innings eaters, and in the bullpen I've got many has-beens. Some are old and brittle, many are long past primes, but they're just the type of crusty veterans I'm looking for...did I mention my payroll is only $35 million? Salt Lake Serpents 25-man roster: Starting Lineup: RF- Kenny Lofton LF- Shannon Stewart 1B- Shawn Green (also backup outfielder) DH- Sammy Sosa (also backup outfielder) C- Mike Piazza CF- Corey Patterson 3B- Tony Graffinino SS- Royce Clayton 2B- Jerry Hairston Jr. Bench: Greg Norton (corner infield and outfield), Neifi Perez (infield), Damian Miller (catcher), and Russel Branyan (corner outfield and infield) Rotation: Kyle Lohse, Josh Fogg, Jeff Weaver, Bartolo Colon, and Odalis Perez (lefty influence) Bullpen: Bob Wickman as closer, Armando Benitez, Shawn Chacon, Antonio Alfonseca, swingman Byung-Hyun Kim, and lefties Ron Villone and Mike Myers Think I can challenge the Orioles or Pirates?

Exclusive Interview: Royce Clayton Talks Poker Bowl Tournament

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:09:36 -0500

Free agent shortstop, Royce Clayton, most recently a part of the 2007 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox, spoke about his time in the big leagues, his hopes for the future, and most importantly, the impact that the Royce Clayton Family Foundation has had on surrounding communities over the last 11 years. (Click on the player below to listen to the interview)

Favorite Celebration Photo

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:18:27 -0500

If there is one player who I wanted to see with the World Series trophy - it was Royce Clayton.

Coco and Royce discuss taco bell at the world series

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 05:48:31 -0500

Nearly believable contract clauses

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 04:38:46 -0500

The brilliant folks over at Timothy McSweeney's Internet Tendency have dug up some interesting clauses in the new contracts handed out to free agents this winter. I think Royce Clayton's might be my favorite one: If he finishes the season with a batting average above .220, the Blue Jays pay him an extra $1 million. Finishing between .221 and .230 gets Royce a handicapped sticker on his car and the key to every bathroom in the city. If he does the impossible and hits above .231, Royce gets to choose any three people, players or citizens, to get beaned by B.J. Ryan fastballs.

The Jays SS Solution: Royce Clayton

Thu, 30 Nov 2006 01:02:05 -0500

Royce Clayton? Apparently JP has signed 36 year old SS Royce Clayton in an attempt to shore up the middle infield, thus allowing Aaron Hill to stay at 2B, his better defensive position. The deal is for 1 year at 1.5 million and is pending a physical. Let's hope Clayton does a Rod Barajas and refuses this physical, and here's why.

The RBI-To-GIDP Ratio Theory

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 01:24:41 -0500

For the Sabermetric crowd, a cost-benefit ratio to measure run producers since 1946. "The idea behind this that I recall reading online some place (where, I don't know), is that if a batter has alot of RBIs, it's partly because he has lots of opportunities. Of course, he then has more chances to ground into double plays (the GIPDs). So if he has a high RBI-to-GIDP ratio, it means he is able to drive in alot of runs while not hurting his teams with double plays. It is kind of like a cost-benefit ratio. If you drive in runs you are providing your team with benefits. But if you hit into double plays, your team incurs a cost. By bringing both stats together, I partly offset the opportunity issue in judging the meaning of these two stats. It certainly is not a complete picture of hitting, since getting on base is not well incorporated (and you can drive in runs in non-GIDP situations). But the rankings turned up some interesting surprises, so it was fun to work on."

8 Player Trade Between Nationals and Reds Just Announced

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 20:17:46 -0500

The Nationals receive Austin Kearns, Ryan Wagner and Felipe Lopez for Gary Majewski, Bill Bray, Royce Clayton, Brendan Harris and Daryl Thompson. WTF? Why did the Reds do this deal? Majewski is the best player they got in return and he shouldn't have half the value that Kearns or Lopez have. Even Ryan Wagner, who was once a stud prospect, still has the same upside despite recent struggles, as any player they received in return. Bray and Thompson are years away from contributing. Harris is a bench player and Royce Clayton is Royce Clayton. I think I would shoot myself if I were a Reds fan today. This is one of the worst deals in recent memory. Even from a fantasy perspective this is terrible as everyone involved will see a decrease in value. Majewski goes to a hitters park and Kearns and Lopez go to RFK. Shocked.

Reds-Nats trade

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 20:15:19 -0500

The Reds and Nationals just completed a trade, and I am at a loss to understand it from a Reds perspective. The Nats traded Gary Majewski, Bill Bray, Royce Clayton, Brendan Harris and Darryl Thompson for Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez, and Ryan Wagner. In other words, the Reds traded away their chances to make the playoffs and acquired a collection of mediocre young talent and washed-up veterans. Majewski's an okay middle reliever, but hardly worth dealing for. Harris has been up and down from the minors all year, Bray is a middling young pitcher who might be able to be a somewhat effective middleman, and Royce Clayton - Royce Clayton's the type of player that makes you say, "He's still playing?" (In fairness, he's put up decent numbers this season - .270, 27 RBI, 8 steals, 36 runs, but hardly in Felipe Lopez's class.) This is an interesting trade, meanwhile, as far as the Nats are concerned. First of all, for anyone not living in DC, the fans here are the most fickle I've ever seen. They all abandonned the team after their horrid April, had them in the post-season after a good three week period in May/June, and then were ready to sell off every last player after losing six of seven recently. This is not a good team, and I fully expected them to trade Soriano, Vidro, Livian Hernandez (assuming anyone would take him), and Jose Guillen. But with this trade it seems they are at least vying for a wild card spot this year. And even if they fall short, they've added some fine young players that will be a good core to build around along with Zimmerman, Patterson, and Cordero. So, anyone want to explain what Cincy was thinking with this trade?