*** Official 2014 AL Champion Royals Off-season Repository ***

[Anyong Bluth]

So, I didn't see a thread started, and all the others are pretty maxed out to the point where a fresh thread would be needed soon either way.

Time to share the run up to ST & and another memorable year in the making!

[tomahawk kid]

Originally Posted by thurman merman

I'm gonna say Hosmer. I think he's due for a big year.

I want Hoz to be great, but I don't feel like that's going to happen (consistently) until he addresses his swing.

To me, its a statement of his athleticism that he gets any hits all (much less hits for power) with that swing while striding halfway to the pitchers mound. The kid just doesn't stay upright at all.

I think that'll catch up with him some as he ages and he loses some bad speed. Maybe at that point, he'll finally accept some coaching.

[SPchief]

Holy crap, Colman cleared waivers

[TomBarndtsTwin]

That's kind of surprising.

Another arm to have in the minors if injuries pop up. Good situation for KC.

[BeMyValentine]

Originally Posted by tomahawk kid

I want Hoz to be great, but I don't feel like that's going to happen (consistently) until he addresses his swing.

To me, its a statement of his athleticism that he gets any hits all (much less hits for power) with that swing while striding halfway to the pitchers mound. The kid just doesn't stay upright at all.

I think that'll catch up with him some as he ages and he loses some bad speed. Maybe at that point, he'll finally accept some coaching.

Just looking at his box score this spring his strikeouts seem high.

[tomahawk kid]

Originally Posted by BeMyValentine

Just looking at his box score this spring his strikeouts seem high.

As an armchair swing doctor - his stride seems RIDICULOUSLY long to me.

Most of your better hitters seem to do the "toe tap" before going into their actual swing - meaning they're staying relatively short in their step and are able to generate a fair amount of power from their hips / lower body.

Hoz takes a huge stride, to the point that I'm surprised he can generate any power or not fall down after each swing.

[Great Expectations]

Moar stride = Moar Power

But it also can hurt balance and contact. Hoz has plenty of power, I think it'd make sense for him to shorten his stride to improve contact. I think he'd hit just as many HR's and a lot more doubles.

[ChiTown]

Twins RHP Ervin Santana suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol.

— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2015

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Twins RHP Ervin Santana suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol.

— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2015

Holy shit.

[CaliforniaChief]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Twins RHP Ervin Santana suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol.

— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2015

http://www.steroid.com/Stanozolol.php

[CaliforniaChief]

That's a $6.75 million fine for Ervin Santana.

— Sam Mellinger (@mellinger) April 3, 2015

[ChiTown]

Ervin was slotted to be their #2. That's a serious gut punch to the Twinks. That moves Ricky Nolasco to their #2.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Twins RHP Ervin Santana suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol.

— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2015

Dayton Moore keeps making the correct moves.

Moore on the Greinke trade:
The book is not a tell-all -- that is not Moore's style. But it does provide some behind-the-scenes peeks at Moore, the organization and some of Moore's major deals, like this retelling of the famous Zack Greinke trade in 2010:

"We made it very clear to Milwaukee as well as other teams interested in Zack that we wanted middle-of-the-diamond infield help and a center fielder. Milwaukee had that type of talent. The only problem is that Milwaukee was on Zack's no-trade list, which Doug [Melvin] knew. Since Zack's contract stipulated that he didn't want to go to Milwaukee, I didn't know what Doug's comfort level with Zack would be. He was willing to risk it in exchange for one of baseball's best pitchers. We discussed a trade at the Winter Meetings in 2010, but left without a deal. When I got back to Kansas City I called Zack and started talking to him about Milwaukee and how it'd be a great place to play. I told him, 'Doug Melvin is an incredible person and great GM. They have a lot of talent and they're going to win. I think you will get your opportunity to pitch for a winner.' We had a great 45-minute conversation that night. He called me back a couple days later and said that he'd be willing to go to Milwaukee.

"I called Doug and we got down to the details. He was willing to send pitcher Jake Odorizzi and center fielder Lorenzo Cain. Finally, I told him we'd send Yuniesky Betancourt if they'd send Alcides Escobar. It was a good baseball deal for both teams."

[-King-]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Twins RHP Ervin Santana suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol.

— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2015

Holy shit.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Unsmooth-Moment]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Twins RHP Ervin Santana suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol.

— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2015

Niiice

[TomBarndtsTwin]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Twins RHP Ervin Santana suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol.

— MLB (@MLB) April 3, 2015

Well. Dodged a bullet there.

Score another win for GMDM.