Official Royals Repository, Part 5 ***

[duncan_idaho]

This time: With more playoffs

Our beloved Kansas City Royals take on the plucky upstart Houston Astros in the ALDS; Can they remind the Astros that they're supposed to be a year away from this?

Can an AL team manage to beat the Royals this postseason?

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. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

Spoiler!

8. 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.
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.
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.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

Does the overlay take into account how the ball carries/prevailing wind?

No

[sedated]

Originally Posted by thurman merman

I'm not sure if this has been discussed yet, but does anybody know why Kazmir is not starting game 1 for Houston?

He has been hot garbage the last month or so. Kinda the same reason Cueto isn't pitching game one, except Cueto was able to pull it together a bit at the end (and Ventura has been great).

[suzzer99]

I have a feeling Cueto is going to shine in the spotlight. He doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who shrinks from pressure.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

A ballpark comparison:

Are the blue dots Royals HRs?

[sedated]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

I have a feeling Cueto is going to shine in the spotlight. He doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who shrinks from pressure.

sarcasm?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

A ballpark comparison:

I like this one better; Astros homers hit at Minute Maid Little League Park, with the K overlaid (red line):

[CaliforniaChief]

Wow! Some of the Astros could be admiring balls and flipping bats while Alex Gordon is blowing bubbles and fetching cans of corn.

[KChiefs1]

Friday's slate of games is impressive:

11:45 p.m. (MLBN)
Texas (Hamels 7-1) at Toronto (Stroman 4-0)


2:45 p.m. (FS1)
Houston (Kazmir 7-11) at Kansas City (Cueto 4-7)


5:45 p.m. (TBS)
Chicago(Lester 11-12) at St. Louis (Lackey 13-10)


8:45 p.m. (TBS)
New York (deGrom 14-8) at Los Angeles (Kershaw 16-7)

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Friday's slate of games is impressive:

11:45 A.m. (MLBN)
Texas (Hamels 7-1) at Toronto (Stroman 4-0)


2:45 p.m. (FS1)
Houston (Kazmir 7-11) at Kansas City (Cueto 4-7)


5:45 p.m. (TBS)
Chicago(Lester 11-12) at St. Louis (Lackey 13-10)


8:45 p.m. (TBS)
New York (deGrom 14-8) at Los Angeles (Kershaw 16-7)

FIFY

[kstater]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

I have a feeling Cueto is going to shine in the spotlight. He doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who shrinks from pressure.

While I think he'll have a good game, look up his last playoff appearance before saying something like that.

[KChiefs1]

FSKC not making money either.

Fox Sports Kansas City announced a record season of Royals baseball, with ratings for the year at an all-time high of 12.3.

It is the highest local rating by a regional sports network in all of baseball, and the highest rating for any market since 2002. Viewership rose 84% over last year's record-setting season.

Royals baseball destroyed the competition on prime time on other channels over the summer.

Prime time games got a rating of 13.0, compared to 5.5 for KCTV 5, the CBS-affiliate who had the second-highest prime time ratings in Kansas City over the baseball season.

The highest-rated game was the April 26 game in Chicago, following the benches-clearing brawl the night before.

The most-watched moment was on September 24 when the Royals clinched their first Central Division title. At the conclusion of that game, 213,000 households were tuned in for a 23.1 rating.

Television ratings for baseball are up all around with both FOX and Fox Sports One enjoying an increase in ratings over 20 percent. The Cardinals, Tigers, Diamondbacks, Padres, and Rays all were ratings winners over the summer in their respective markets on their regional sports networks. Just last night, the Astros/Yankees Wild Card was the highest-rated Wild Card game ever and was the highest-rated baseball game on ESPN in twelve years.

The Royals are locked into a long-term deal with Fox Sports Kansas City that runs through the 2019 season. The deal, signed back in 2008, reportedly brings in $20 million in revenue, one of the lowest-paying television contracts in baseball.

Even Fox Sports Kansas City has not benefited much from the increased viewership, having signed advertising deals before the huge ratings increase.

[WilliamTheIrish]

On this date in Royals playoff history

35 years ago (1980) Royals beat the Yankees in Game 1 of ALCS. Piniella and Cerone hit back to back HR's, but the Royals struck for 2 in each of the next innings and won going away, 7-2.

38 years ago (1977) Royals lose game 4 to NY as Sparky (drag my penis across the post game spread) Lyle went 5 1/3 in relief to get the win.

John Mayberry's infamous drop of a foul popup proved fatal.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

On this date in Royals playoff history

35 years ago (1980) Royals beat the Yankees in Game 1 of ALCS. Piniella and Cerone hit back to back HR's, but the Royals struck for 2 in each of the next innings and won going away, 7-2.

38 years ago (1977) Royals lose game 4 to NY as Sparky (drag my penis across the post game spread) Lyle went 5 1/3 in relief to get the win.

John Mayberry's infamous drop of a foul popup proved fatal.

Cut Big John some slack. He had a "toothache."

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Cut Big John some slack. He had a "toothache."

All is forgiven. After 85/2014 all the crosses I bore for Royals baseball have been buried.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

All is forgiven. After 85/2014 all the crosses I bore for Royals baseball have been buried.

TBH, I've never forgiven Mayberry for that game. I didn't like it when he came back to coach with the Royals, and I'm not thrilled when he's around for team reunions and stuff. An 11-year-old's broken heart is not easily healed.