*** Official 2016 Royals Repository, Version 1 ***

[duncan_idaho]

And so it begins: The Royals' second straight attempt to repeat as AL Champions, and first attempt to repeat as World Series champions.

In this thread, we'll track all non-gameday action. Roster moves, prospect news, etc.

I'll start the thread as usual, with division rivals thoughts. I still like KC to repeat as AL Central champs. Here's how I see the rest of it shaking out:

2) Indians - they have the pitching (and seem to have at least semi-Kluber-ed Cody Anderson, who added 3 mph to his fastball in the offseason). Will the offense hold up? I think this is a team that ends up looking a lot like the 2014 Royals. Francisco Lindor will solidify their IF defense over the full season, and is a help with the bat. I think this club is still a year away from really breaking through - the offense still has a lot of question marks - but I like them to nab a wildcard spot.

Key Player(s): Michael Brantley. When Brantley returns - and how he hits when he does - will be critical to the Indians' ability to be good enough on offense.

Jason Kipnis. Kipnis has been an enigmatic offensive performer for the past several years. If he finally has a good offensive campaign from start to finish, Cleveland could make real noise.

Something of interest to me: For all the acclaim the Twins' farm system gets, I look at the Indians young players, and would much rather have them. Brad Zimmer is going to be a very good all-around CF. Clint Frazier has huge power potential and should arrive soon (2017). Lindor is a young stud.

3) Tigers - Old and dependent on a few stars. If Verlander and Sanchez are healthy and effective, they will be playoff contenders. I'm sure JD Martinez will continue to hit roid-aided bombs. I'm also pretty sure Victor Martinez's days as a huge power threat are gone.

Key player: Justin Verlander. Detroit people would have you believe he figured out how to succeed without his big fastball in September of last year. If that's true, and he returns to dominant form, Detroit will likely contend again.

Something of interest to me: Will Jose Iglesias stay healthy and not try to kill teammates in the dugout? His defense makes the whole group much better.

4) Twins - They won't lead the division or be in playoff contention for as long this year, but Minnesota will avoid the cellar.

Key Player: Miguel Sano. Huge power, huge K rate. Can he continue to drive the ball and be a plus offensive player? Probably needs to cut that 35 percent K percentage to do so.

Something of interest to me: Will teams challenge Sano inside with hard stuff? Working away, away, just lets his power play up. Also - will Mike Berardino continue to be the biggest beat writer homer in MLB?

5) White Sox - still managed by a shitty manager who can't control his clubhouse (The blame for the LaRoche thing really should fall on him, not the GM). Still have a shitty overall defense and a lot of douchebags on the team. They will once again look better on paper than they actually perform.

Key player: Carlos Rodon. The White Sox need Rodon to take a big step forward to make an actual move this season. He's got the talent...

And, as always, here are the prospects.

Duncan’s Top 20 for 2016:

Spoiler!

1. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, SS, BOTH: Tools, tools, tools. RA has tools galore. At his best, he’s an All-Star SS who plays elite D, hits 15-20 HR, swipes 40 bags, and is an ideal 1, 2 or 3 hitter. At his worst, I think he looks a lot like Alcides Escobar. Plate discipline is his biggest challenge at this point, but evaluators are confident that will come with time. Clear No. 1
2. Kyle Zimmer, RHP: He’s pitching again and staying healthy, which is nice. He’s pitcing out of the bullpen to build back his arm strength, which is less nice. But still has that high upside, just a lower floor now. Ideally, the team will use him as a bullpen weapon in September (because he has earned it) and then give him a chance to transition back to starting for 2016.
3. Bubba Starling, CF, RH: Starling has been up and down this year but put himself back on the map by greatly improving his K rate while also improving across the slash line as a hitter. His defense and baserunning are MLB ready; if Starling can work himself into a league average hitter, he can be a solid MLB regular who plays great D in CF while hitting 15 HR and swiping 20 bags.
4. Miguel Almonte, RHP: Still love the body, FB/CH combo. Results aren’t eye popping, but he’s still low enough and early enough in the development to prize those things over performance. Still a solid No. 3 starter upside, and just a year and some change away from potentially being ready to contribute at the MLB level.
5. Jorge Bonifacio, RF, RH: Emilio’s little brother got off to a horrible start in 2015 but has heated up as the season went on. He also is translating BP power to game power for the first time, with 15 HR just past the mid-way point of his season. Despite his disappointing 2014, he has a chance to build his way back into legit prospect status – and still is only 22. Next challenge for him should be Omaha, but that may wait for the start of the 2014 season.
6. Scott Blewett, RHP: Blewett has a nice two –pitch mix already and is off to a strong start. With his size (6-6) and a good fastball/curveball combo, Blewett could eventually turn into a good No. 3 starter, with a MLB-average changeup.
7. Nolan Watson, RHP: The Royals’ 2015 sandwich pick is a polished prep arm who is adding velocity and explosiveness to a good, polished base. Likely to move quickly.
8. Ashe Russell, RHP: The 2015 top pick probably needs more work than Watson, but the upside is really nice. Again, advanced two-pitch mix that will depend on him adding a changeup. Could be a very good NO. 2 if it all adds up.
9. Balbino Fuenmayor, 1B/DH, RH: The Balbino came out of basically nowhere in 2015 to earn a Futures Game spot. Big power and an improved two-strike approach have turned the late bloomer into a legit prospect. He’s blocked at the MLB level currently by Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales, but Fuenmayor’s combination of power hitting and good average/strike zone control makes him intriguing.
10. Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, RH: Cheslor probably is not going to be the star KC was hoping for when signing him out of Nicaragua, but he does look like he can be a solid reserve for an MLB club. Good defense at 3B paired with a solid plate approach and some gap power plays fine off the bench. He becomes a lot more interesting if they think he can stick as a 2B, which they have experimented with.

Spoiler!

11. Chase Vallot, C/DH/1B: I really like Vallot’s power and plate discipline combo. His bat will probably force him from behind the plate, but he’s held his own despite being extremely young for every level he has faced.
12. Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, OF, RH: Escalera-Maldonado earned a promotion to Wilmington at age 20, which is pretty advanced movement for that age. He’s an athletic outfielder who has shown some plate discipline at an early age, which is encouraging. Doesn’t sound like he can stick in CF long term for KC, but his bat has become one to watch.
13. Pedro Fernandez, RHP: I haven’t seen much of him, but like the reports I’ve heard on his fastball and general makeup. Could become the next Almonte/Mondesi, though he’s more likely to land in the pen than either of them.
14. Elier Hernandez, OF, RH: Elier Hernanez teamed with Escalera-Maldonado in breaking out at Low-A and earning a promotion to Wilmington. It’s still early for this guy – he is just 20 years old – but he doesn’t take walks and hasn’t developed the prodigious power many thought he had the potential for. Still worth watching.
15. Hunter Dozier, 3B, RH: Dozier is reworking his swing mid-season, which generally will cause production to do what his has done: Nose dive. The changes he made entering the season (seemingly geared towards increasing his power production) were a disaster, and now he’s trying to get back to what he used to be. Still looks great and checks most of the scouting boxes, but the performance hasn’t matched, and it almost knocked him out of the list.
16. Christian Binford, RHP: After a breakthrough 2014, Binford struggled mightily at AAA and suffered a demotion. His upside remains similar – a back-end starter who can eat innings – but Binford’s lack of velocity and reliance on command have caught up to him so far.
17. Marten Gasparini, OF, SH: Gasparini is intriguing because of his speed and athleticism. He’s a LOOOOONG ways from the majors and young for his level, but reports on his bat speed, swing, and speed remain positive enough to keep him on the bubble.
18. Eric Skoglund, LHP: Skoglund had a nice year at Wilmington. I'm skeptical because his K rate is lower than I like to see for a guy at A+ - just 7/9, and usually guys lose a strikeout or two/9 as they move up the chain from there - but he has excellent control, walking 1.17 batters/9. 6-7 lefties with great control who get lots of ground balls - like Skoglund - have a chance to overcome bad K rates.
19. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/LF: A lefty stick with power, O'Hearn was a savings signing as an 8th round pick, but a change in his approach increased his power - while increasing his K rate. After Vallot, probably the best pure power prospect in the Royals system.
20. Josh Staumont, RHP: I was terrified of this guy's control problems, and he walked nearly a batter an inning in his pro debut (32 BB in 40 1/3 IP). Staumont's nasty, nasty stuff (plus-plus fastball, plus slider) could make him a very good late-inning reliever who strikes out more than a batter an inning, if he can develop average or slightly below-average control. If he really masters the control, you're talking about a potential Greg Holland type, but that's a TALL task.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Home Run Derby jerseys and hats this year:

Dope.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

I should also mention that the All Star game and HR derby are in San Diego this year and modeled after these jerseys from the early 80s.



Throwbacks indeed.

They started sporting those in the late 70's. Dave Winfield's last year with the Pads was in 1980 (I think that pic was from 1978).

I used to love those unis when I was a kid, but HO-LEE-FOOK are they ugly.

[Munson]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Powder blues with gold lettering would be so rad.

[Sure-Oz]

@FlannyMLB: Lorenzo nearly broke a leg chasing a BP fly as he hit the hill. Crashed hard. Someone revive the #Royals trainers

[SAUTO]

Wtf? Is he hurt now?

[Jerok]

Stupid hill. There goes our window, guess i'll just root for the Patriots, or move to Canada.

(kidding)

(but i still think the hill is stupid)

[Munson]

The #Royals will wear these unis for Mother's Day on May 8. pic.twitter.com/f2UVEycWCS

— Jeff Rosen (@jeff_rosen88) April 13, 2016

Here's the #Royals' Memorial Day look for 2016 ... pic.twitter.com/g679e8Tkb0

— Jeff Rosen (@jeff_rosen88) April 13, 2016

The Father's Day unis the #Royals will wear June 19 don't look all that different from their usual ones... pic.twitter.com/c4WoA30jvf

— Jeff Rosen (@jeff_rosen88) April 13, 2016

The #Royals' Fourth of July caps and jerseys will look like this. pic.twitter.com/7qLtLJ6FNB

— Jeff Rosen (@jeff_rosen88) April 13, 2016

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Munson

The Father's Day unis the #Royals will wear June 19 don't look all that different from their usual ones... pic.twitter.com/c4WoA30jvf

— Jeff Rosen (@jeff_rosen88) April 13, 2016

I like this one. The other ones are garbage. The Mother's day and 4th jerseys look like Twins jerseys so F that. Not a fan of camo.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

Wtf? Is he hurt now?

Lorenzo Cain, whose birthday is today, just took a pretty cartoonish spill on Tal's Hill during BP. He's fine. This is 30.

— Rustin Dodd (@rustindodd) April 13, 2016

[Prison Bitch]

What was I just saying about him needing to chill out while on defense? This was BP no less. Not worth it!

[KChiefs1]

Fun read from September 2013.

TYLER KEPNER
SEPTEMBER 17, 2013

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Salvador Perez was 16 and living in Venezuela when he signed with the Kansas City Royals for $65,000 in 2006. He knew the Royals played major league baseball, he said Monday, but not much else. That was probably for the best.

“I feel so happy when I signed,” Perez said by his locker at Kauffman Stadium. “But after that, we have to go through some process to make it.”

Process has been the buzzword here for years, a plea from the front office to a restless fan base. The Royals have gone longer without a postseason appearance than any other team in the four major American professional sports, a drought that stretches to their victory in the 1985 World Series. Trust the process, the team has said, and at last, the results are showing.

The Royals, at 79-72, are fighting for one of the American League’s two wild-card spots. After splitting the first two games of their series this week with the Cleveland Indians, they are tied with the Yankees at three and a half back, trailing Cleveland and Baltimore for the spots held by Tampa Bay and Texas.

“This is what baseball’s all about,” said starter James Shields, who struck out 10 in six innings in a victory Monday. “This is where we want to be. We can pull it off, absolutely. We’ve just got to keep winning games.”

KEPNER
SEPTEMBER 17, 2013
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Salvador Perez was 16 and living in Venezuela when he signed with the Kansas City Royals for $65,000 in 2006. He knew the Royals played major league baseball, he said Monday, but not much else. That was probably for the best.

“I feel so happy when I signed,” Perez said by his locker at Kauffman Stadium. “But after that, we have to go through some process to make it.”

Process has been the buzzword here for years, a plea from the front office to a restless fan base. The Royals have gone longer without a postseason appearance than any other team in the four major American professional sports, a drought that stretches to their victory in the 1985 World Series. Trust the process, the team has said, and at last, the results are showing.

The Royals, at 79-72, are fighting for one of the American League’s two wild-card spots. After splitting the first two games of their series this week with the Cleveland Indians, they are tied with the Yankees at three and a half back, trailing Cleveland and Baltimore for the spots held by Tampa Bay and Texas.

“This is what baseball’s all about,” said starter James Shields, who struck out 10 in six innings in a victory Monday. “This is where we want to be. We can pull it off, absolutely. We’ve just got to keep winning games.”


The crowd was enthusiastic Monday — one man reveled in jiggling his supersize gut for the cameras — but just 15,413 fans showed up under threatening skies. The crowd was bigger Tuesday, but the Royals are averaging only 21,340 per game, down a bit from last season, when they hosted the All-Star Game. They have not averaged 25,000 since 1991.

Dayton Moore, the general manager, grew up here in the glory years of the 1970s and 1980s, rooting for the Royals. He has built a roster with emerging stars who may stick around, and said fans had started to identify with Perez, Billy Butler, Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer and others.

“To me, that’s huge as we grow our organization — you grow new fans,” Moore said. “One of the frustrating things with this fan base, simply, is this: You have parents and grandparents who grew up loving the Royals because they always won. And then they had kids and grandkids, and they grew up liking the Red Sox and the Yankees and the Phillies and the Braves because those are the teams that were winning.


The Royals’ Salvador Perez applying a tag against the Mariners. Through Monday, Kansas City was 36-22 since the All-Star break.
ED ZURGA / GETTY IMAGES
“It created frustration in the community, and Kansas City is a very proud community. A lot of people come back here to live; it’s a nice quality of life. People want to be able to root for the Royals.”

Finally, they have a compelling reason. The Royals have come alive since the All-Star break, with a 36-23 record through Tuesday that was a game behind Detroit for the best in the American League.

The right to play important games in mid-September has validated the latest rebuilding effort. Several attempts failed before Moore arrived, and his has taken seven years to blossom. Many of the players have come through the farm system together, striving for games like these.

“It’s pretty cool seeing the front office, your minor league directors and farm directors, come in and watch the games when we’re still in it and still have a chance in September,” said Hosmer, a first baseman hitting .302. “We know all the work we’ve done to get to this point, and this is the final project up here. We’ve got a lot of guys that have put together some good seasons, and we’re heading in the right direction.”

The Royals may run out of time in their playoff push; the field is crowded, and just 11 games remain. But if they make it, the Royals could be tough to knock out. They would have momentum, and they do a few things very well.

The Royals are a team of extremes. They rank first in the league in stolen bases and their hitters have the fewest strikeouts — but also the fewest home runs. Their pitching staff has the best earned run average in the league, at 3.50, and a sturdy, rebuilt rotation has kept the bullpen rested and dominant.

The Royals’ bullpen E.R.A. is 2.60, the best in the league, although the relievers wasted a strong major league debut by the hard-throwing Yordano Ventura on Tuesday, squandering a 3-1 lead in the Indians’ 5-3 victory.

“They’re a good bullpen — every last one of their dudes throw hard,” said the Indians’ Michael Bourn, who homered and tripled. “You’ve got to be ready and try to do what you can against them. That doesn’t happen often against them, but we were able to get them tonight.”

The Royals have played so well that losses like Tuesday’s are surprising. They were routine in May, when the team reassigned its hitting coaches and installed the Hall of Famer George Brett in the role, temporarily, with Pedro Grifol.
While Grifol focused on mechanics, Hosmer said, Brett emphasized attitude in his two months on the job. He implored hitters never to let a starter leave the game without inflicting some kind of damage on him. That jolt of positive thinking, along with more selectivity at the plate and the discipline to go to center field and the opposite way, has helped Hosmer revive his season. His 143 hits since May 19 are the most in the majors in that span.

Hosmer also credited Shields, who came from Tampa Bay last winter in a deal for the top prospect Wil Myers, with imparting a winning approach. Shields took an active role in pitchers’ pregame meetings, and the hitters noticed.

“A lot of guys on the offensive side, myself and Gordon, we’re trying to get the offensive guys ready like he does the pitching,” Hosmer said. “Gordo’s done a great job of that, and leading by example. Bringing that into this locker room was a big help.”

Starting pitching allows the Royals to be competitive most nights, and their lockdown bullpen has helped produce 41 comeback victories; only Texas and Atlanta had more through Monday. The players are likable — aggressive on the field, earnest off it — and while the fans have not flocked to Kauffman Stadium, they are paying attention.

The team said local television ratings had risen 69 percent over last season, when the Royals were 70-92.

“A lot of that goes to the energy they bring, and how fun they are to watch,” said the Royals broadcaster Rex Hudler, himself a former high-energy infielder. “It’s the exciting plays they make, it’s the fun that they have. Baseball can be slow, station to station, but on this team, there’s action.”

A stolen base Monday helped the Royals score their first run, and a wild pitch on a strikeout led to their second. They broke the game open with back-to-back triples to start a three-run rally in the sixth, and the bullpen took over from there.

There was constant motion on the field, an uptick in the standings and, after the last out, the Beatles singing about Kansas City over the loudspeakers. The process has led to this.

“We can do it,” Perez said. “We play hard, and we’ll see what happens the last game of the season. For sure, we believe.”

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by milkman

I must be the only person on the planet who doesn't like the gold trim.

Nah, you aren't alone. Not a big fan, either.

[CoMoChief]

Sling to carry the Fox sports midwest channel.

switching to Sling, dropping Communistcast - will get internet w/ my roku2 and do it that way
tiired of paying 130/mo

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

I like this one. The other ones are garbage. The Mother's day and 4th jerseys look like Twins jerseys so F that. Not a fan of camo.

The Father's Day combo is fantastic.

[TomBarndtsTwin]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Sling to carry the Fox sports midwest channel.

switching to Sling, dropping Communistcast - will get internet w/ my roku2 and do it that way
tiired of paying 130/mo

Holy ****!

That's awesome! When does that begin?