TINSTAAPP is a bitch.

Also, minor league extremes play a big part in the rise and fall of the hitting and pitching prospects view of the Royals organization. Royals A+ affiliate is an extreme a pitcher's park, and the environments in NWA and Omaha are hitter's parks (with Omaha being part of the hitter haven PCL).

I will say, though... that I'll take Michael Montgomery over every guy listed in front of him in that MLB article.

Banuelos is Yankee hype machine all over again. He's a TINY lefty (5'11/155) and he wasn't as good as Montgomery in A+ ball as a 19-year old or as good in AA as a 20-year old.

Hultzen has yet to pitch in the minor leagues.

Skaggs is pretty similar to Montgomery but doesn't have the same "Stuff" upside. Montgomery already has a plus fastball and changeup.

Pomeranz at 22 was basically the same pitcher at A+ as Montgomery at 19. He's older and more polished but has less upside.

And Perez was much worse at AAA, in the same league, than Monty. He's never really had a "Great" minor-league season and you have to go back several years to find an "OK" season.

I do wish they'd drafted Drew Pomeranz rather than Colon in 2010, but oh well...

Zack Grienke :(

Welcome, n00b. Post more.

LOL, 12 posts and joined in 2007... *Facepalm.

I wouldn't undo that trade. I'll take Cain and Escobar over him.

Agreed.

Even if they never get anything out of Jeremy Jeffress, Cain and Escobar make the trade worthwhile by themselves (of course, this assumes that Escobar continues to play at least Gold Glove level defense while hitting at least .250 and that Cain is as good as advertised on D with a .750 OPS as his baseline).

If Escobar turns into a .275 hitter who steals 30 bags a year (or, Elvis Andrus), he's worth the swap solo.


And then, of course, there's Jake Odorizzi. Who will pitch at the majors sometime in 2012 or 2013 and gives the Royals a prime trading chip.

Agreed, just so sad because Grienkie gave Royals publicity.

Are you Flopnuts twin brother?

Too many nutz around these parts. Often imitated, never duplicated.

And can we get a mod to remove the French flag from beer me's avatar? I understand the desire to link Jayhawk Nation with one of the most spineless countries in history, but COME ON, MAN. :)

Sounds like Carlos Pena is going to sign with the Rays, which is good news IMO.

I figured he could become a target of the Tigers since they lost Martinez for the season.

Honestly, it wasn't but a year or two ago that Royals fan was calling Moose and Hos busts.

I was thinking about changing it but now I'm going to keep it.

:D

The concern with Hosmer was corrective eye surgery. Which came as a surprise to the Royals, and this type of issue shouldn't be something that catches a team (that is spending that kind of money) by surprise.

There are still some worrisome issues with Moose, so I'm not ready to crown this player yet. Like all fans, though, I'm optimistic about his potential.

I was referring more to the fickle nature of fans. If a highly-drafter player isn't a future Hall of Famer right out of the gate, they're labelled a bust.

Hah, I didn't even notice. The Iowa flag is basically the French flag with the word "Iowa" and an Eagle copy-pasted onto it (old French roots, I guess), and I see that flag everywhere every day.

Good point. I don't know why I immediately saw Jayhawk and thought France when there are, as you point out, many similar examples.

Malice was my prime mover, no doubt.

Definitely true.

If Gordon really has turned a corner and '11 is what he really is, he'll be a great example of the need for much patience. I would have bet a good deal of money that he'd never play to his talent level prior to last year.

And it looks like I would have lost in a big (yet good) way.

World Series.

Royals season ticket holders are starting to get word on all-star game prices. (This is for all 3 days including the home run derby and future's game, you cant just buy the all-star game from the royals)

On the other board, so far I've seen about $800 per for "good seats" (not sure where that is), and roughly $400 per for upper-deck seats. (not sure if thats good upper-deck or nosebleed and off to the side upper-deck).

It'll be interesting to see how this shakes out on sites like stubhub, no idea if seats will sell at a premium or a discount, depending on how accurately the royals are pricing it to demand.

I'm assuming I couldn't buy just the HR Derby from the box office, either? I don't really care to go to any of the weekend (I haven't watched an ASG in forever), but I'd rather go to that than the actual game (especially in the off chance that Hos or another Royal is participating).

There will be tickets on stubhub, and I imagine you'll be able to score home run derby and future game tickets at fairly reasonable prices. You might wanna wait until 2 or 3 weeks before when people get desperate and realize their home run derby tickets might not sell.

I thought for sure he was going to the yanks to be their DH

Hochevar ready to help Royals build off 2011


Righty credits Yost, clubhouse chemistry for helping club improve

By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com | 01/20/12 11:00 AM EST

KANSAS CITY -- Luke Hochevar sounds ready to go, ready for the season to start. Or at least ready for Spring Training to launch.

The Royals' 6-foot-5 right-hander is currently working out at Knoxville, Tenn., taking an occasional swim at the University of Tennessee -- where he was an All-America pitcher -- and having optimistic thoughts about the 2012 season. He'll be checking in at the Surprise, Ariz., training camp around Feb. 12, arriving just ahead of new pitching coach Dave Eiland and manager Ned Yost.

"We crank up the 14th," Hochevar said.

Nothing official -- the first pitchers-catchers workout is set for Feb. 21 -- but Eiland will be introducing himself to early arrivals and Yost will be laying the groundwork for the season. It's Yost who is credited by Hochevar for what he viewed as good chemistry on last year's young team.

"It seemed like everybody we called up just stepped in and did their job," Hochevar said. "But more than that, I just think it was the way that we clicked in the clubhouse and the way everybody gets along and everybody's pulling for the same thing, which is winning. First and foremost on everybody's mind is winning the division, and that's what it takes, is everybody being on the same side. I think that's the biggest thing we have going for us; obviously we have great talent but what pumps me up the most is how everybody is dialed into the same type of thinking and ultimately the same goal."

Hochevar, on the phone, paused just a second.

"That all starts with Ned," he said. "As soon as he took the job he really installed all that in us. Having that winner's mentality and playing for a championship. It became contagious, starting from him and it bled through the organization, that that's what we want to do, win a championship."

Yost, who took over from Trey Hillman on May 13, 2010, endured a last-place finish that season but last year got the Royals up a notch in the standings as the club played particularly well in the final month, going 15-10.

"He's one of the best motivators I've been around," Hochevar said. "He knows how to get the most out of his players, and the good thing is that the players respect him so much that they're going to give him everything that they have. You saw a lot of that in the second half, when a lot of the younger guys that came up felt that and everything started clicking.

"We became stronger as a unit and stronger as a team because of that. He has a way. It's really hard to describe -- I think it's one of those things that you've either got it or you don't. He just knows how to get the most out of his guys and they just lay it on the line for him."

As a pitcher, Hochevar realizes that another reason for the Royals' improvement last season was a better defense. Nothing like having infielders and outfielders behind you that inhale baseballs.

"That is so nice," Hochevar said.

Obviously, Eric Hosmer's glove at first base helped the rest of the infield that included second basemen Chris Getz and Johnny Giavotella, shortstop Alcides Escobar and third baseman Mike Moustakas.

"Granted, we had the best outfield in the big leagues, and then with Esky and Gio and Getz and Moustakas," Hochevar said. "With those guys on the infield and Hosmer at first base -- I didn't know he was that good of a first baseman. He moves so well, he picks the ball so good. He's just a baseball player, he knows the game so well and just has a good feel over there at first, and that just boosts everybody's confidence in the infield."

The August arrival of catcher Salvador Perez proved to be another boost.

"He very, very much impressed me and the entire pitching staff. When he came up, he was the hot topic with the pitchers, about how well he called a game and handled the pitchers. He stepped in there and did a great job," Hochevar said.

Those dips in the university pool are not just recreational -- they're part of Hochevar's revised workout routine. He swims often, even during the season.

"Incorporating that has really helped me," he said. "It's helped my arm endurance and flushing out after a game because I'm using my whole body, it's not just running with my legs. When I'm swimming, I'm using everything. It helps me recover and I felt great all season last year, and a lot of it had to do with that. And I've become smarter in my workouts and know what I need to do. I don't go as crazy as I used to with my workouts, and it's changed how my body feels and how I want it to feel."

Right now Hochevar's body feels like it wants to be in Spring Training. Won't be long -- less than a month from now he'll be tossing the ball in Arizona.

Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Hope Cool Hand Luke starts it up where he left off last year

Baseball mother****er: bring it.

Can't Wait.

Excellent article about Alex Gordon's approach.

I outfitted myself, prepared for the season!

That. Is. Awesome. Well done!!!

that's fantastic! i want one!!!!

our town, i mean time!

I've never been so pumped up for a Royals season as this one. Is it April yet?!

I'll start working on it once I get back to my editing computer! Any specific player?

Thanks for posting that. Very cool.

Whoever wants it, here it is. I'll make all of the Starters and Pitchers in this stlye if like this if people want more. Anybody want the stlye avatars too?

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/...francoeur1.jpg

I'd like one if you don't mind. :) (avatar and sig)

No problem, they will be done later tonight. Means everyone seems to have nothing bad to say about them (: I'll make all the players I can find a decent picture for and make avatars...
OUR TIME!

Can you make one of Escobar in action on the field?

I'll try my best!

Make me one for Yuni :)


http://cache.deadspin.com/assets/ima...4c8224d671.jpg



Actucally, if you could make one out of my avatar, much casino cash and rep will be in your future.



http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/201...ric487_381.jpg

I'll take an avatar and sig please!

How about the sig being Gordon in the box and an avatar of him making a nice catch?

I don't really do image sigs, but in honor of these excellent pictures, I updated my sig to another dumb random bash.org entry.

sig of hosmer like the one you have is great!!! i do have a man-crush on Alex (no homo) tho. i did get an autho'd baseball from Frenchy last year, so that was pretty cool!

you do good work, i'm excited to see more.

Thanks

Seconded
Posted via Mobile Device

That is a fantastic article. I would enjoy more articles like this, no doubt.

This upcoming season is going to be a interesting one....

Does everyone want that kind of style? Because I got some others that are pretty cool that have different stlyes.
I figured if everyone on the forum had the same kind of stlye as a signature it would get kinda confusing.
Posting more very soon.

Awesome. I might be interested...

Post some of the other styles and I'll see.

HERE are some:
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/...Moustakas1.jpg
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/...ancoeur1-1.jpg
HERE'S YOURS (Carls20yearplan):
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/...ic487_3814.jpg
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/.../Hochevar1.jpg
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/...n/Escobar1.jpg
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/...etancourt1.jpg
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/...son/Soria1.jpg

Avatars, I'll post after Playoff games today. They take time ;)

Thoughts?

I'm not big on the mechanics of swinging a bat/throwing a ball (haven't played baseball since the 8th grade), but that was a really good read.

I've been on the Gordon bandwagon since Day 1, even through years 2-4 (and I know I'm not the only one). Hopefully he keeps improving & turning into a very good player.

Sounds like the deal with him is going really slow, but that both sides want to get it done. At least that's what Dutton tweeted a few days ago.

Damn I love that Hosmer pic with our time. Love to use that as a facebook pic. Great work.

the one with hosmer is fantastic!
i'd take one similar to that one, or with alex!

rep your way (might need help inserting it as my sig, as i'm ruh-tarded when it comes to web page stuff)!!!!

Digging it. Anyway we could "Our Time" doctor this Sal Perez?

http://nbchardballtalk.files.wordpre...7564.jpg?w=320

Awesome work. I used the Escobar one.

Someone can use this one now... I'm going for the Moustakas one anyways :P
http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/...it_6229-22.jpg

This season needs to come so I can make a Broxton one :D !!! Excited to see Brox in a Royal's uni!

The Moose one is awesome. I'll take the Hosmer one, if nobody minds.

Those are cool. Not digging the "our time" on the bats, though. Cheezy

Eh, I think they're cool...good use of the slogan for 2012. Maybe I'll change mine though so that Hosmer's bat says "Suck This" instead. :D

Didn't know where to put it without looking funny :( Sawwey

That would be a pretty sweet slogan.

Guess I'll take Hochevar. :)

Hey, Stooge. Do you by chance have a picture of him making a great stop in the field? For some reason I cannot find one.

LMAO at tk.

Great work

Would you make me one of Cain using this pic?

http://ahairoffsquare.files.wordpres...n2011topps.jpg

Trying new things :D

Here you go!



http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/...cson/Cain1.jpg

Please?

I'll work on it later :thumb:

Thanks, man.

Great work Simplicity

Simplicity, can you PM your Stock Hi Res photos? I'd like to try some

Yeah, once I get back to my normal computer I'll send them to you. I'll also work on the Sal pic once I get on there too, DeezNutz. Don't think I forgot :D

It looks great, nevermind Saul.

Can I have one of David Glass stuffing money into his pockets?

Thanks, I have an idea which way I wanna go, I design graphics also :)

He kind of toned down the slogan. It looks better this way, more subtle.

I do a decent photoshop I just been too lazy to do a new avatar