Questions For Brian Bannister?

Have you met Jose Guillen yet? thoughts on him if you have?

How are you going to build on your successful rookie season, and how do you see yourself fitting into the Royals plans for the future,

Many are saying that 2007 was a breakout year for you because you were basically unknown to the league, but as the other teams figure you out, they predict your productivity and success to be short-lived. Are they just mid-judging you and will you be using that kind of criticism to fuel you as you take the mound for our boys in blue this year. Good luck in 2008, Brian. Trust me, you have a believer in me!

How do you pitch to high OBP/K guys differently from high BA guys?

What was your initial reaction when you heard that the Mets had traded you to the Royals? Where were you when it happened, and who told you? Thanks Brian, and good luck in '08.

How will you prepare to face the tigers everyday lineup?

On Wednesday Trey Hillman was on the radio in Kansas City saying that he was immensely impressed with you and said that if he couldn't get excited about coaching a player like you he "should be digging ditches."

He said he spent some time with you on a Royals caravan. What was it like to be one of the first players to spend significant time with the new manager? What were your impressions? What are your feelings as a whole about the changes you've witnessed in this organization over the last 8 months?

Posted by: themfightnwords,
“Have you met Jose Guillen yet? thoughts on him if you have?”
…Hahaha

I imagine this question could turn into your namesake if he answers it honestly…

Anyway, as far as a question:

Have you noticed there to be a dramatic difference in the pressure to succeed in the New York system over that of Kansas City? Do young players show the effects of this pressure in their attitudes towards the game?

Is it physically or mentally tougher on you starting off a game pitching to a well established 'lead off hitter?'

Greg Maddux always said he's pitched to lineups, not players. How do you feel about his approach - is yours similar or completely different?

Brian, you seem like you are a cerebral pitcher more than a power pitcher, and a lot of experts say that your numbers from the 2007 season will be short lived as hitters see you more often. How do you plan to combat and adjust to the hitters who will be trying to adjust to you.? And with the Royals making some moves this past off-season in the free agent market, how quickly do you see the team over taking the Tigers and Indians in the AL Central if the current trend to convince big name free agents to come to Kansas City continues?

Why do you guys suck so bad?

Do you feel pressured because casual fans overrate you so much?

How does it feel to know you're going to disappoint so many people in 2008?

Do you look forward to becoming a middle reliever, failing at that and then being traded to the Marlins, where you will pitch another 40 innings before you are finished in baseball?

When thinking about the probable lost of royals captain Mike Sweeney and how much of a leader he was in the clubhouse, do you feel that there will be less of a positive attitude from young players? Especially with historically hot tempered Jose now in the clubhouse.

-Eric Jacksonville,FL

and I meant in the last century

Bannister is great...he'll give awesome answers to these questions! It's too bad some can't get over the fact he's actually GOOD.

Ask Bannister something about the pitching coach, McClure. How has he helped him?

Tim,
Please ask Brian which non pitcher has given him some insight or advice on how to pitch or play the game that has made the most difference to him. Everyone always asks what other P influence them or guided them but there has to be a positional player somewheres along his career (minors college majors) that helped him along the way. Just curious as to who that may have been.

I'd like to know...

Does he use PITCH f/x or other pitch type/location/velocity data to analyze hitter's strengths and weaknesses?

How much of a difference does he think the strong Royals' defense played in his breakthrough 2007 campaign? What does he think his ERA would have been like with an average fielding team behind him?

How prevalent are sabrmetrics among MLB players? What percentage find advanced analysis useful? What percent abhor any analysis? What percentage of clubs would provide analysis to players if they asked for it?

What's the most misunderstood aspect of succeeding in baseball by typical fans, sportswriters, and announcers?

Thanks, Tim and Brian.

Sky

____________________________
What's more effective at getting hitters out - good control or good velocity? In other words, which do you feel is more vital to your success on the mound?

Thanks, Joe
____________________________

Hey Adam H. yeah we haven't won a world series in a long tim, but whens the last time you guys had a winning record?
Why do the Royals come in last every year?
Why are they out of playoff contention before the season starts?
Why are the Royals not resigning their best player in Mike Sweeney?
Why did Adam H. have to post 3 things about what I said?
Probably because your an idiot loser that has nothing better to do with your time except to post three things about me.

At least his team doesn't have to spend 300 million to get stomped by a team spending about one tenth of that.

Adam H.

First, I was stateing my opinion about a team that sucks I didn't say Brian Bannister sucks I said the Royals suck, it had no intention for Bannister. Then your the one who started with

''At least the Royals have won the World Series this century.''
''the above was directed at cubbies2008''

So thats why I said what I said about you. Then I'm still in high school and I play baseball and I do have two scholarship offers for baseball from Illinois and West Virginia.
so yeah Adam H. What are you doing with your life?
and RAWR where are you coming from? your not in this stay out. O yeah and about your comment the Cubs are playoff contendors what have the royals done since 2003?

No question I can think of, but Tim, this is the coolest thing you've done yet.

First off, this is where I found the information for my question, it's a pretty interesting piece by Forbes, although it doesn't include TV network revenues, thus not factoring in NESN and YES
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/33/07mlb_The-Business-Of-Baseball_Rank.html

Brian- How does it feel to be a player on a team that is typically thought of as a low payroll, would like to point out that the Reds and Brewers are also doing this, that is beginning to use some of its recent increase in operating income on player signings? As a fan, its refreshing to see a couple of teams using revenue sharing to better their on-field product.

-And to those interested in knowing Forbes quotes the Royals net operating income at 39 million (Guillen and Meche signings) over the last 4 years, the Reds at 85 million (Cordero, and should mean Dunn and Phillips get contracts), and the Brewers (Gagne and Suppan) at 72 mil. On the other end of the spectrum, the Pirates are quoted at 59 mil over the last 4 years, and the Nats at 37 mil. Another example? I believe MLB radio(correct me if I'm wrong) generated 25 mil in revenue for every team last year, or more than the Marlins payroll.

How do you plan to limit baserunners better in the future? This is an important factor for every pitcher, especially younger ones.

Hey "CUBBIES2008"

1. The royals last winning record was 2003

2. The royals come in last every year due to a terrible GM in Allard Baird or whatever his name.. making ridiculous draft pics and signing stupid people like Juan Gonzalez.. and lack of money the owner was dishing out.. now they have a new GM Dayton Moore who i have seen due nothing but amazing things in only 1 YEAR..

3. you are clearly ignorant and dont understand mathematics because no team is eliminated from contention before the season starts.

4. are you joking when you called mike sweeney the royals best player HAHAHA.. and by the way we arent signing him because.. hmm he plays 30% of the season every year and he just isnt good at all any more.

Now a couple question for your cubs

1. Whats it like to get swept in the playoffs the first round ??

2. Whats it like to not win a world series in 100 years ??

3. Whats it like to know nothing about baseball except aparently the cubs are the best team ??

4. Whats it like to call people names on the internet ??

5. Whats it like to have a much bigger payroll than the royals and still have the same result every year ??

Brian,

After watching you start for the Mets in 2006, it seemed like you were also a solid hitter.

Do you pride yourself on your hitting skills and how difficult is it to go to the AL and have very few chances to swing the bat?