Royals *** Official 2017 Royals Offseason Repository - Page 161

duncan_idaho · 09:07 PM

The reign is over. Time to begin the quest for the next one.

Interesting offseason opens for the Royals. Will they go all in for one last shot with this crew? Will they re-tool for 2018 and beyond? Will Dayton Moore actually decrease payroll this time?

Trades, free agent signings, rumors, plans, proposals... dump 'em all here, for this is... the offseason repository!

Royals Top Prospects, 2017

This is a list that’s going to seem a little bleak initially, as Raul Mondesi got enough ABs to age out of the prospect rankings (just barely – at 135 ABs, he is not rookie eligible). But that said, I like the talent and feel like this is a system that will actually be underrated by the prospect services.

Spoiler!

C3HIEF3S · 02-27-2017, 09:35 AM

Cheslor at 2B today:

Esky 6
Orlando 9
Cain 8
Hoz 3
Perez 2
Moss 7
O'Brien DH
Cuthbert 4
Colon 5

**KC Dan** · 02-27-2017, 05:32 PM

Anyone living in the Tempe/Phoenix area and wanting tickets to a Royals spring game away against the Angels, PM me. Will sell tickets at less than face, check out prices online then give an offer. If I know and like you could be pretty cheap. Seats at Royals field box area:

Spring Training - Kansas City Royals at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Tempe Diablo Stadium
Event Date: Sun. Mar 26, 2017 1:10 PM

TICKET INFORMATION*
Section: Field Box 4 Row: B
Ticket Quantity: 2

KChiefs1 · 02-27-2017, 06:21 PM

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb...135316499.html

Royals support Jason Vargas with three homers, crush the Seattle Mariners 14-3.

Five months after making his return from Tommy John surgery, Jason Vargas made his spring debut on Monday, allowing three runs in two innings in the Royals’ 14-3 thrashing of the Seattle Mariners at the Peoria Sports Complex.

The game was moved up an hour and shortened to seven innings as an afternoon rainstorm hit the area. The Royals improved to 2-1 in the Cactus League.

Vargas returned to the mound for the first time since allowing three runs in 12 innings in three starts last September. He gave up a single to former Royals outfielder Jarrod Dyson and an RBI double to Jean Segura in the first inning, then surrendered a two-run homer to Segura in the bottom of the second. Vargas was still pleased to get through the work.

“I would have liked to have not given up a homer or given up those runs,” Vargas said. “But at the same time, it’s moving forward toward the season.

“You want to be able to put yourself in situations that you’re going to encounter during the season, and either learn from things that happened or be able to put positive thoughts in your mind.”

Vargas struck out one while issuing two walks. His performance turned into a footnote after the Royals’ offense bludgeoned the Mariners pitching staff for 14 runs in seven innings.

Salvador Perez finished 2 for 3, clubbing his second homer of the spring, and had four RBIs. In two games, Perez is 4 for 5 with two homers. Designated hitter Peter O’Brien also notched his second homer, a booming, opposite-field shot to right-center. Paulo Orlando opened the power display with a deep shot to left field in the top of the second.

The Royals did much of the damage against Mariners starter Yovani Gallardo, who departed after allowing four runs. They poured on the offense in the third, scoring six runs against reliever Marc Rzepczynski.

The arms:

Left-hander Mike Minor began his quest to earn a bullpen spot on Monday, allowing one hit in two scoreless innings.

A former starter with the Atlanta Braves, Minor was making his first spring appearance since the 2013 season. A series of shoulder issues, including surgery for a torn labrum, derailed his career in 2015 and limited him to minor-league rehab duty in 2016.

In his second season with the Royals, he’s seeking to reinvigorate his career in the bullpen. On Monday, Minor’s fastball sat in the low 90s. He drew high marks from manager Ned Yost.

“I have to try to hold it back a little so I can try and throw strikes,” Minor said. “I thought I could reach back and dig down a couple of times, but I got too far behind the count at times. I didn’t want to get behind in the count, especially with a big lead.”

Reliever Joakim Soria averted early disaster in the second inning, working out of a bases-loaded jam. The inning began with two singles and a hit batter. But Soria responded by striking out Seattle’s Taylor Motter and induced a 5-2 force-out at home. He ended the inning by coaxing a ground-out from center fielder Leonys Martin.

The regulars:

Brandon Moss, a candidate to begin the season as the club’s designated hitter, finished the afternoon 2 for 3 after starting the game in left field.

Cheslor Cuthbert made his first start at second base and dropped a pop-up on the infield. The misplay came with runners at first and second, which put the infield fly rule into effect. But Cuthbert conceded that he felt some nerves while making his first Cactus League appearance at second.

“I was kind of nervous starting the game,” Cuthbert said. “That’s OK; I’ll get better.”

The young guys:

Bubba Starling replaced Lorenzo Cain in center field and finished 1 for 2 with a single to left-center in the sixth. Jorge Bonifacio subbed for Moss in left field and recorded a double.

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bsroyals54 · 02-27-2017, 10:11 PM

offensive lineup is lookin' hot fellas. can't wait for mother ****in openin' day!

Coach · 02-27-2017, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Reliever Joakim Soria averted early disaster in the second inning, working out of a bases-loaded jam. The inning began with two singles and a hit batter. But Soria responded by striking out Seattle’s Taylor Motter and induced a 5-2 force-out at home. He ended the inning by coaxing a ground-out from center fielder Leonys Martin.

Yeah.... this is gonna go well this year....

KCCHIEFS27 · 02-28-2017, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach

Yeah.... this is gonna go well this year....

He'll be fine. I promise.

KChiefs1 · 02-28-2017, 11:36 AM

http://www.gammonsdaily.com/peter-ga...e-2017-royals/

Peter Gammons: Spotlight on the 2017 Royals.

SURPRISE, ARIZONA—This is one of those springs where the Royals needed to get out and play. Raul Mondesi, who annually roomed with Yordano Ventura, needs to play and concentrate on showing Ned Yost he is ready to play second base in the big leagues.

“We all need to play,” says Salvador Perez. “Focus on baseball.” The service in the Dominican Republic is behind him, the ceremony honoring Ventura before Saturday’s opener—where Rangers Adrian Beltre and Carlos Gomez came out and laid flowers on the mound—is behind them. All the torment of Yordano’s difficult life from the canyon his widow dug between him and his family, to the fact that so much was so poorly managed that he died without a will, drifts over everyone, but this is a minefield of a season.

Eric Hosmer remains one of the strongest clubhouse leaders in the sport and one of its best players, but he is a free agent. So were Wade Davis and Jarrod Dyson, part of the reason they each were traded, but as much as Hosmer and Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas want to continue playing together, there are several critical players who can walk out of a great small market city and move on to a large market team at the end of the season, one year after the Royals slid from two pennants and a World Championship to an 81-81 finish in 2016.

The big numbers leave Dayton Moore and the Glass Family with questions about whether or not they can afford to try to make a run at Cleveland and Detroit. Their run differential was -37. They were 13th in runs, 13th in on base percentage, 14th in OPS and last in walks. And now Ventura is gone.

Which begs the question: if they are 8-10 games back at the All Star Break, do they see what team would trade big for Hosmer as a man to lead them into November? Would they deal

Ian Kennedy or Kelvin Herrera?

Right now, they don’t even discuss it. “We think we can pull together and make another run,” says Hosmer. “This is a team that is very close, that prides itself on doing things to win games and we believe we can do it.”

It is an unusual team, the team that defies Pecota, and many layers of analytics. If one watches their work habits, they are precise, energetic. “They do their work purposefully,” says Ned Yost; I have seen things that were not purposeful, such as the time in Winter Haven, FL. A writer named Clif Keane timed Mike Torrez standing still without moving in the outfield for 42 minutes, a measure of how little purpose there was in spring training in the days we’re told were golden.

Moore went out and made two moves that may change the offense beyond it’s contact/sprint the bases style. He traded David to the Cubs for Jorge Soler; the raves for his power and strength of his hands echo across the West Side of the valley, but his attention to contact and driving the ball to center/right have made for impressive batting practices.

The other is former Diamondback Peter O’Brien. In 79 plate appearances, O’Brien hit five home runs, had a 32-5 strikeout walk ratio (in 79 plate appearances, mind you) and a .176/.228/.446/.671 slash. But as hitting coach Dale Sveum pointed out, he had a BP in which he hit eight consecutive homers at what Sveum claimed cleared 450 feet, and in trying to use the field has shown right field opposite field power like David Freese. If they can get a Brandon Moss/O’Brien DH tandem, it may make the middle of the order more dangerous.

Without Ventura, they start with a rotation with Danny Duffy—who signed an extension—with Kennedy, Jason Hammel, Nate Karns (whose 195 strikeouts and 173 hits in 184 inning belay his 5.15 ERA in Seattle), Chris Young and Jason Vargas.

Then, without Davis, they had been worried about the bullpen, but Yost says “we’ve been pleasantly surprised with the number of power arms we have. (Joakim) Soria is throwing the ball much better. Herrera is throwing very well. Matt Strahm has great stuff. Guys like Mike Minor, healthy again, and Jonathan Sanchez and Brandon League and kids like Eric Skoglund are very interesting.”

That’s all to be seen. This is difficult. Hosmer is one of those persons who always has his teammates’ backs, which, in years past, includes being willing to grab Ventura and air him out in the dugout when it was necessary. This is who he is. Go ask Boston infielder Deven Marrero about what Hosmer did for him in hard times when they were high school teammates.

The same goes for Perez. OK, his framing numbers are not great, but at a position with relationships that create conviction in every pitchers’ every pitch, they go right up San Juan Hill after him. Young is a ballast.

Sunday, Hosmer was told about the ordeal of rookie pitcher Luke Farrell, who happens to be the son of Red Sox manager John Farrell. Moore and Yost were enthused about Farrell’s outing, and Yost said “Luke was really impressive and is going to be a factor. That slider is really good.”

That was the part Hosmer knew. He was interested in Luke’s background. He was told that before he was to enroll at Northwestern, Farell was diagnosed with a golfball-sized tumor in the back of his neck. Dr. Larry Ronan at Massachusetts General Hospital tried for nine hours to remove the tumor, but it was too close to the carotid artery and had to stop.

Days later they tried again, but thought Luke might have to have his jaw shattered to get it. Dr. Ronan, a revered figure in the medical community finally succeeded. Luke remembers being told “it couldn’t come back in a hundred years.”

Two years later Farrell was pitching in the Cape Cod League playoffs, went in for a routine checkup, and learned it had, indeed come back, requiring another serious surgery and ensuing chemotherapy that weakened him. But he never gave up, pitched better and better at Northwestern as his velocity crept up, and was drafted by Kansas City in the sixth round in 2014.

Last year, as he went 6-3, 3.76 for Omaha, his velocity was 91-92 and touched 94 with sink. The slider Yost and Moore liked improved, as did his strikeout rate to 8.30 per nine innings. He studied Kyle Hendricks, went to winter ball with Licey in the Dominican, and worked on one of Hendricks’ changeups that comes out of his hand like a fastball to righthanders and cuts down and away, several MPH slower than the slider.

Luke Farrell is a remarkable profile in courage, fortitude that will play out in the ups, downs and uncertainties that is the baseball life.

“I am really glad to know about him,” Hosmer said. “That’s something we take pride in here—knowing people, understanding who and what they are. That’s very important. Luke is obviously someone we’re going to trust when he’s pitching, or as a teammate. That’s what I believe in. That’s who we are. Never underestimate the value of the trust of your teammates.

“When a young player comes up to Kansas City, they’re usually shy and quiet. It’s up to use to get to know every young player. I think I already know Luke Farrell and that he’s a Royal.”

Eric Hosmer doesn’t know where he’ll be next year, much less this August. But what he believes is part of what brought two pennants and a World Series title to Kansas City matters as much now as it did in 2015, and will until he’s told he has to go.

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**kysirsoze** · 02-28-2017, 12:18 PM

Joe Posnanski with a pretty good write up of the Royals' situation. (Sorry if repost, didn't see it anywhere)

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/217367...ns-for-royals/

Spoiler!

duncan_idaho · 02-28-2017, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coach

Yeah.... this is gonna go well this year....

At least two of those were inherited. Zimmer gave up two singles before hittting his pitch limit.

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tk13 · 02-28-2017, 06:55 PM

Peter O'Brien hit another monster HR today. That's 3. People are going to start talking about him soon. Listen to that sound off the bat. It's spring though.

Peter O'Boom. #RoyalsST pic.twitter.com/3OughUZc4n
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 1, 2017

58-4ever · 02-28-2017, 07:32 PM

Peter O'Brien is going to eclipse the 36 mark... WRITE IT DOWN!

**lewdog** · 02-28-2017, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewdog

Forgot about Peter O'Brien. That might be interesting to watch his spring.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

Peter O'Brien hit another monster HR today. That's 3. People are going to start talking about him soon. Listen to that sound off the bat. It's spring though.

Peter O'Boom. #RoyalsST pic.twitter.com/3OughUZc4n
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 1, 2017

Lewdog with the call days ago.

KChiefs1 · 02-28-2017, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

Peter O'Brien hit another monster HR today. That's 3. People are going to start talking about him soon. Listen to that sound off the bat. It's spring though.

Peter O'Boom. #RoyalsST pic.twitter.com/3OughUZc4n
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 1, 2017

That was a mother ****ing bomb!

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bsroyals54 · 02-28-2017, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewdog

Lewdog with the call days ago.

Hardly a call, interesting could mean literally over thousands of different things. O'Brien could of taken a shit on the field during a slow inning and that would of been interesting.

**lewdog** · 02-28-2017, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsroyals54

Hardly a call, interesting could mean literally over thousands of different things. O'Brien could of taken a shit on the field during a slow inning and that would of been interesting.

You catch on quick.

11-03-2016, 09:11 PM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $1790308	* Official 2017 Royals Offseason Repository * The reign is over. Time to begin the quest for the next one. Interesting offseason opens for the Royals. Will they go all in for one last shot with this crew? Will they re-tool for 2018 and beyond? Will Dayton Moore actually decrease payroll this time? Trades, free agent signings, rumors, plans, proposals... dump 'em all here, for this is... the offseason repository! Royals Top Prospects, 2017 This is a list that’s going to seem a little bleak initially, as Raul Mondesi got enough ABs to age out of the prospect rankings (just barely – at 135 ABs, he is not rookie eligible). But that said, I like the talent and feel like this is a system that will actually be underrated by the prospect services. Spoiler! Format: POS/Name/2017 Projected Final Level 1) 3B/OF Hunter Dozier, MLB. Dozier bounced back from a disastrous 2015 campaign that had many wondering, myself included, if he was wrecked. His strong offensive performance in 2016 saw Dozier recapture the mature approach that many liked coming up, while also starting to tap into his above-average raw power for the first time. In addition to his success at the plate, Dozier also proved he could at least HANDLE an OF spot, which could put him in the conversation for 2017 playing time at the major leagues. If the Royals DO end up trading Cheslor Cuthbert, Dozier could find a decent amount of MLB playing time sliding between RF and 3B. With Moustakas recovering from knee surgery, he likely will need more regular breaks from the field. And the streaky Paulo Orlando is just not an intriguing short-side platoon partner for Jarrod Dyson. 2) LHP Matt Strahm, MLB. Strahm just barely skates under the rookie eligibility rules for a pitcher, so he can be included here. Royals fans already got a taste of the lefty’s abilities, as he used his above-average fastball and slurve to dominate out of the pen in 2016. For him to translate that dominance to the rotation, Strahm will need to maintain his velocity (92-94) and continue to improve a changeup that flashed average at times. If the changeup becomes a weapon he can lean on against righties, Strahm could be a very solid mid-rotation starter and fringe ToR/No. 2 type (think Danny Duffy-lite). 3) RHP Josh Staumont, AAA. This one could blow up on me and look really silly by this time next year, but I’m encouraged by what we saw from Staumont late last year. He showed significantly improved control down the stretch for Northwest Arkansas, including some impressive playoff starts, while maintaining the big-time K ability. That trend continued in the Arizona Fall League. If Staumont’s control holds, the Royals have a guy with a plus fastball, plus-plus curve, and average change (with a slider that could develop into a real weapon as he matures). He’ll start next season at AAA and could be an addition to the MLB bullpen or even the rotation before the season ends. 4) RF Jorge Bonifacio, AAA. Boni, like Dozier, had a bounceback season in 2016 with the bat, and also played 15-20 pounds lighter than the year before, which added some nice defensive utility according to reports I’ve gotten. He now looks like a guy could provide solid/average RF production in the major leagues… Average defense paired with potential to put up a .275/.335/.450 line. While that’s not all-star level, it IS playable. Especially at pre-arbitration dollars. He’ll get another year in Omaha to refine his approach, and likely be in the mix of a 2018 mini-youth movement… unless moved for MLB reinforcements. 5) C Meibrys Viloria, Low-A (Lexington). I haven’t seen him in person, but I like the pedigree. You’ve got a lefthanded hitting catcher with the defensive ability to stick behind the plate. He was a big-bonus guy out of Colombia (nearly $500k). And his offensive performance has been highly impressive early, with a good combination of power, plate discipline, and contact skills. He’s forever away from the majors, just now clearing rookie ball, but Viloria is the most exciting prospect KC has had at Idaho Falls since someone on this board was gushing about a 16-year-old SS tearing it up. 6) 1B Ryan O’Hearn, AAA. O’Hearn is a guy who has never gotten a lot of hype from scouts, but he continues to be a strong producer. He’s someone who likely will strikeout about 25 percent of the time at the big-league level, but has the ability to be a .500+ SLG guy. That plays. He also has shown good patience at the plate, posting above-average OBPs at every level. Bold prediction: I won’t be shocked if O’Hearn takes over at 1B for KC in 2018/2019 and provides similar offensive production to Hosmer out of the gate. He’s probably never going to be a consistent plus average (.290+) hitter, but .270 with 25 HR is something within reach for him. He’ll get his first shot at AAA in 2017. 7) RHP AJ Puckett, A+. Puckett is a high floor, low-ceiling guy who performed about as you’d expect in 2016 after being the Royals’ first pick in the 2016 Rule IV Draft. He’s not flashy, but Puckett does profile as a solid potential back-end starter. Good fastball command and an above-average changeup are his calling cards. If Puckett finds a reliable breaking ball to put batters away, this could tick up. Great athlete, very similar to Jake Odorizzi in that regard. 8) RF Khalil Lee, Low-A (Lexington). Lee was a two-way player in HS and many viewed him as a pitcher first as a pro, but the Royals drafted him as an OF and were reward with a strong debut campaign. Lee is not a big guy, but he produced solid power numbers despite that. He’s a dynamic athlete who could contribute with power and speed. 9) C Chase Vallot, High-A (Wilmington). Vallot has an intriguing bat, with plus raw power. Got off to a great start in 16 before being sidelined and then sidetracked by injury. RH bat may be good enough to push him out from behind the plate, where he has good tools but a long way to go. 10) RHP Jake Junis and RHP Alec Mills (AAA). I'm copping out here and including both at No. 10 because they're so similar. Like Puckett, they each project as a serviceable back of rotation starter. Similar stuff and profiles, though Junis has shown a little better strikeout ability and may have a smidge more upside as a result. Others of note: SS/CF Marten Gasparini. Production has been bad for this toolsy player, but Gasparini has speed and pop that jump out at you. At only 19, need to be patient with him... this European signee was even less polished when signing at 16 than the typical Latin America prospect. OF Seuly Matias. Loud, loud tools. Matias profiles as a classic RF... big-time power potential. He's a long ways from the majors but is one of the Royals' biggest bonus babies from LA. RHP Ashe Russell. 2014 1st rounder saw his velocity disappear last year and was quickly shut down. He's intriguing one way or the other, even if he ends up as another notch in the belt of the TINSTAAPP saying. 2B Corey Toups. O'Hearn's HS teammate has been an above-average producer for an up-the-middle player. His small stature hides a surprising amount of pop. Could turn into a Mark Grudzielanek type of offensive second baseman at his peak - solid average, lots of 2Bs. RHP Scott Blewett, LHP Foster Griffin, RHP Nolan Watson - all three have underwhelmed as pros but were drafted in the supplemental round. Stuff and projectability for each is a positive. Wouldn't be surprised to see one of them take a Cody Reed-like step forward this season and crack the 50-75 range on prospect lists. They all have the natural ability. SS/2B Ricky Aracena - Jose Altuve-sized Aracena is a switch hitting middle infielder who can flat out run. Switch hitter with a good approach. RHP Pedro Fernandez - I'm still a believer in his stuff, even if he is destined for the pen. Was having a nice 2016 start until injuries derailed him right after his promotion to AA. Sirs not Appearing in this Prospect List: RHP Kyle Zimmer. Same story, different year. The Royals are hopeful they FINALLY found the cause of Zimmer's achy shoulder. If they really did, and he can stay healthy, the talent/potential is exciting. OF Bubba Starling. Never trust a guy named Derek. Last edited by duncan_idaho; 02-22-2017 at 09:07 PM..
Posts: 21,077

02-27-2017, 09:35 AM	#2401
C3HIEF3S Let's Get Weird Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Austin Casino cash: $9990098	Cheslor at 2B today: Esky 6 Orlando 9 Cain 8 Hoz 3 Perez 2 Moss 7 O'Brien DH Cuthbert 4 Colon 5
Posts: 15,229

02-27-2017, 05:32 PM	#2402
KC Dan Red, White & Blue for the U.S. Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: The Great Northwest now.. Casino cash: $1654235	Anyone living in the Tempe/Phoenix area and wanting tickets to a Royals spring game away against the Angels, PM me. Will sell tickets at less than face, check out prices online then give an offer. If I know and like you could be pretty cheap. Seats at Royals field box area: Spring Training - Kansas City Royals at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Tempe Diablo Stadium Event Date: Sun. Mar 26, 2017 1:10 PM TICKET INFORMATION* Section: Field Box 4 Row: B Ticket Quantity: 2 __________________ "And if you don't know where you're going Any road will take you there" - George Harrison
Posts: 6,992

02-27-2017, 06:21 PM	#2403
KChiefs1 I’m a Mahomo! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mid-Missouri Casino cash: $6771021	*** Official 2017 Royals Offseason Repository http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb...135316499.html Royals support Jason Vargas with three homers, crush the Seattle Mariners 14-3. Five months after making his return from Tommy John surgery, Jason Vargas made his spring debut on Monday, allowing three runs in two innings in the Royals’ 14-3 thrashing of the Seattle Mariners at the Peoria Sports Complex. The game was moved up an hour and shortened to seven innings as an afternoon rainstorm hit the area. The Royals improved to 2-1 in the Cactus League. Vargas returned to the mound for the first time since allowing three runs in 12 innings in three starts last September. He gave up a single to former Royals outfielder Jarrod Dyson and an RBI double to Jean Segura in the first inning, then surrendered a two-run homer to Segura in the bottom of the second. Vargas was still pleased to get through the work. “I would have liked to have not given up a homer or given up those runs,” Vargas said. “But at the same time, it’s moving forward toward the season. “You want to be able to put yourself in situations that you’re going to encounter during the season, and either learn from things that happened or be able to put positive thoughts in your mind.” Vargas struck out one while issuing two walks. His performance turned into a footnote after the Royals’ offense bludgeoned the Mariners pitching staff for 14 runs in seven innings. Salvador Perez finished 2 for 3, clubbing his second homer of the spring, and had four RBIs. In two games, Perez is 4 for 5 with two homers. Designated hitter Peter O’Brien also notched his second homer, a booming, opposite-field shot to right-center. Paulo Orlando opened the power display with a deep shot to left field in the top of the second. The Royals did much of the damage against Mariners starter Yovani Gallardo, who departed after allowing four runs. They poured on the offense in the third, scoring six runs against reliever Marc Rzepczynski. The arms: Left-hander Mike Minor began his quest to earn a bullpen spot on Monday, allowing one hit in two scoreless innings. A former starter with the Atlanta Braves, Minor was making his first spring appearance since the 2013 season. A series of shoulder issues, including surgery for a torn labrum, derailed his career in 2015 and limited him to minor-league rehab duty in 2016. In his second season with the Royals, he’s seeking to reinvigorate his career in the bullpen. On Monday, Minor’s fastball sat in the low 90s. He drew high marks from manager Ned Yost. “I have to try to hold it back a little so I can try and throw strikes,” Minor said. “I thought I could reach back and dig down a couple of times, but I got too far behind the count at times. I didn’t want to get behind in the count, especially with a big lead.” Reliever Joakim Soria averted early disaster in the second inning, working out of a bases-loaded jam. The inning began with two singles and a hit batter. But Soria responded by striking out Seattle’s Taylor Motter and induced a 5-2 force-out at home. He ended the inning by coaxing a ground-out from center fielder Leonys Martin. The regulars: Brandon Moss, a candidate to begin the season as the club’s designated hitter, finished the afternoon 2 for 3 after starting the game in left field. Cheslor Cuthbert made his first start at second base and dropped a pop-up on the infield. The misplay came with runners at first and second, which put the infield fly rule into effect. But Cuthbert conceded that he felt some nerves while making his first Cactus League appearance at second. “I was kind of nervous starting the game,” Cuthbert said. “That’s OK; I’ll get better.” The young guys: Bubba Starling replaced Lorenzo Cain in center field and finished 1 for 2 with a single to left-center in the sixth. Jorge Bonifacio subbed for Moss in left field and recorded a double. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________
Posts: 54,038

02-27-2017, 10:11 PM	#2404
bsroyals54 Devil's Advocate Join Date: May 2014 Casino cash: $9951971	offensive lineup is lookin' hot fellas. can't wait for mother ****in openin' day!
Posts: 8,679

02-28-2017, 11:36 AM	#2407
KChiefs1 I’m a Mahomo! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mid-Missouri Casino cash: $6771021	http://www.gammonsdaily.com/peter-ga...e-2017-royals/ Peter Gammons: Spotlight on the 2017 Royals. SURPRISE, ARIZONA—This is one of those springs where the Royals needed to get out and play. Raul Mondesi, who annually roomed with Yordano Ventura, needs to play and concentrate on showing Ned Yost he is ready to play second base in the big leagues. “We all need to play,” says Salvador Perez. “Focus on baseball.” The service in the Dominican Republic is behind him, the ceremony honoring Ventura before Saturday’s opener—where Rangers Adrian Beltre and Carlos Gomez came out and laid flowers on the mound—is behind them. All the torment of Yordano’s difficult life from the canyon his widow dug between him and his family, to the fact that so much was so poorly managed that he died without a will, drifts over everyone, but this is a minefield of a season. Eric Hosmer remains one of the strongest clubhouse leaders in the sport and one of its best players, but he is a free agent. So were Wade Davis and Jarrod Dyson, part of the reason they each were traded, but as much as Hosmer and Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas want to continue playing together, there are several critical players who can walk out of a great small market city and move on to a large market team at the end of the season, one year after the Royals slid from two pennants and a World Championship to an 81-81 finish in 2016. The big numbers leave Dayton Moore and the Glass Family with questions about whether or not they can afford to try to make a run at Cleveland and Detroit. Their run differential was -37. They were 13th in runs, 13th in on base percentage, 14th in OPS and last in walks. And now Ventura is gone. Which begs the question: if they are 8-10 games back at the All Star Break, do they see what team would trade big for Hosmer as a man to lead them into November? Would they deal Ian Kennedy or Kelvin Herrera? Right now, they don’t even discuss it. “We think we can pull together and make another run,” says Hosmer. “This is a team that is very close, that prides itself on doing things to win games and we believe we can do it.” It is an unusual team, the team that defies Pecota, and many layers of analytics. If one watches their work habits, they are precise, energetic. “They do their work purposefully,” says Ned Yost; I have seen things that were not purposeful, such as the time in Winter Haven, FL. A writer named Clif Keane timed Mike Torrez standing still without moving in the outfield for 42 minutes, a measure of how little purpose there was in spring training in the days we’re told were golden. Moore went out and made two moves that may change the offense beyond it’s contact/sprint the bases style. He traded David to the Cubs for Jorge Soler; the raves for his power and strength of his hands echo across the West Side of the valley, but his attention to contact and driving the ball to center/right have made for impressive batting practices. The other is former Diamondback Peter O’Brien. In 79 plate appearances, O’Brien hit five home runs, had a 32-5 strikeout walk ratio (in 79 plate appearances, mind you) and a .176/.228/.446/.671 slash. But as hitting coach Dale Sveum pointed out, he had a BP in which he hit eight consecutive homers at what Sveum claimed cleared 450 feet, and in trying to use the field has shown right field opposite field power like David Freese. If they can get a Brandon Moss/O’Brien DH tandem, it may make the middle of the order more dangerous. Without Ventura, they start with a rotation with Danny Duffy—who signed an extension—with Kennedy, Jason Hammel, Nate Karns (whose 195 strikeouts and 173 hits in 184 inning belay his 5.15 ERA in Seattle), Chris Young and Jason Vargas. Then, without Davis, they had been worried about the bullpen, but Yost says “we’ve been pleasantly surprised with the number of power arms we have. (Joakim) Soria is throwing the ball much better. Herrera is throwing very well. Matt Strahm has great stuff. Guys like Mike Minor, healthy again, and Jonathan Sanchez and Brandon League and kids like Eric Skoglund are very interesting.” That’s all to be seen. This is difficult. Hosmer is one of those persons who always has his teammates’ backs, which, in years past, includes being willing to grab Ventura and air him out in the dugout when it was necessary. This is who he is. Go ask Boston infielder Deven Marrero about what Hosmer did for him in hard times when they were high school teammates. The same goes for Perez. OK, his framing numbers are not great, but at a position with relationships that create conviction in every pitchers’ every pitch, they go right up San Juan Hill after him. Young is a ballast. Sunday, Hosmer was told about the ordeal of rookie pitcher Luke Farrell, who happens to be the son of Red Sox manager John Farrell. Moore and Yost were enthused about Farrell’s outing, and Yost said “Luke was really impressive and is going to be a factor. That slider is really good.” That was the part Hosmer knew. He was interested in Luke’s background. He was told that before he was to enroll at Northwestern, Farell was diagnosed with a golfball-sized tumor in the back of his neck. Dr. Larry Ronan at Massachusetts General Hospital tried for nine hours to remove the tumor, but it was too close to the carotid artery and had to stop. Days later they tried again, but thought Luke might have to have his jaw shattered to get it. Dr. Ronan, a revered figure in the medical community finally succeeded. Luke remembers being told “it couldn’t come back in a hundred years.” Two years later Farrell was pitching in the Cape Cod League playoffs, went in for a routine checkup, and learned it had, indeed come back, requiring another serious surgery and ensuing chemotherapy that weakened him. But he never gave up, pitched better and better at Northwestern as his velocity crept up, and was drafted by Kansas City in the sixth round in 2014. Last year, as he went 6-3, 3.76 for Omaha, his velocity was 91-92 and touched 94 with sink. The slider Yost and Moore liked improved, as did his strikeout rate to 8.30 per nine innings. He studied Kyle Hendricks, went to winter ball with Licey in the Dominican, and worked on one of Hendricks’ changeups that comes out of his hand like a fastball to righthanders and cuts down and away, several MPH slower than the slider. Luke Farrell is a remarkable profile in courage, fortitude that will play out in the ups, downs and uncertainties that is the baseball life. “I am really glad to know about him,” Hosmer said. “That’s something we take pride in here—knowing people, understanding who and what they are. That’s very important. Luke is obviously someone we’re going to trust when he’s pitching, or as a teammate. That’s what I believe in. That’s who we are. Never underestimate the value of the trust of your teammates. “When a young player comes up to Kansas City, they’re usually shy and quiet. It’s up to use to get to know every young player. I think I already know Luke Farrell and that he’s a Royal.” Eric Hosmer doesn’t know where he’ll be next year, much less this August. But what he believes is part of what brought two pennants and a World Series title to Kansas City matters as much now as it did in 2015, and will until he’s told he has to go. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________
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02-28-2017, 12:18 PM	#2408
kysirsoze SNAP THE ****ING BALL!!! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $3796946	Joe Posnanski with a pretty good write up of the Royals' situation. (Sorry if repost, didn't see it anywhere) http://m.mlb.com/news/article/217367...ns-for-royals/ Spoiler! SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Eric Hosmer fist-bumps anyone and everyone he sees at Royals camp these days. I barely know the guy and am a conscientious non-fist-bumper, but I've already fist-bumped Hosmer twice today. He's irresistible that way. People around the country may argue Hosmer's value as a ballplayer. He's a three-time Gold Glove winner who rates poorly in advanced defensive metrics. Hosmer is an All-Star seemingly in line for a huge contract, even though his offensive numbers do not exactly inspire awe. He has never slugged close to .500, never approached 30 homers in a season, never walked more than 61 times in a season. But in and around Kansas City, Hosmer's energy, presence, charm, leadership and competitive spirit are what matter. Hosmer was called up to the Major Leagues as a 21-year-old back in 2011, and those were dark times for Royals baseball. He promised (both in words and action) a new age. Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas, outfielder Lorenzo Cain, shortstop Alcides Escobar, catcher Salvador Perez, left fielder Alex Gordon and others -- they intended to take Kansas City back to the baseball summit. They didn't care what happened before. And then, crazy story, they actually did it. Hosmer played lead guitar in the band. "Hos," general manager Dayton Moore said, "is everything you want in a player on the field, off the field and in the community." Well, sure. Hosmer's confidence (cockiness?) spread to teammates. His irrepressible joy for the game enchanted the heartland. It is Hosmer's daring (harebrained?) decision to try scoring on a routine ground ball to first in the World Series that stands out in the Royals' improbable (impossible?) rise. It is the play that said everything about those Royals. They were fearless. They were bold. They were a little bit guileless. And they didn't care that everybody wrote them off. "All right, let's go!" Hosmer shouts as he boards the team bus to Phoenix for a little Spring Training game against the Brewers. He pumps a fist in the air. And now Hosmer -- and the Royals -- have to figure out where to go from here. * "It's hard," Moore admits. Funny, this was supposed to be the easy part of the journey ... or at least the easier part. Moore took over as GM more than a decade ago, and at that time, just about every one of his friends in the game said he had to be out of his mind. "You can't win there," they each told him -- so many times that he could hear the echoes in his sleep. The first few years, yes, they were tough. There were missteps. They were bad breaks. There were moments, a thousand of them, when it seemed like it wouldn't work. "Trust the process," Moore said so often that those words became a sort of anti-slogan, something fans repeated when they wanted to make a point about the hopelessness of it all. Then one thing worked, another thing worked, the Royals built the game's best farm system, those players began coming to the big leagues and making an impact. And then the Royals did win, they won big, they won thoroughly -- the pennant in 2014, the World Series in '15. They woke up Kansas City as a baseball town. They did the late-night talk shows. They went to the White House. They held a mind-boggling parade with estimates ranging from a quarter-million people to a half-million people to 800,000 people to ... Well, there were a lot of people there. Getting to that parade should have been hardest thing, right? But here's the thing about sports -- everyone has a plan to get to the top. Few think about what comes after. The Phillies went all in after winning their World Series in 2008. They spent a whole lot of money to keep that team together, they added great player after great player until it all caved in, leaving the Phils in a gigantic hole with a truckload of bad contracts. They are only now beginning to dig out of it. That's an old story. And now here are the Royals, still a bit tipsy off the champagne that poured barely 16 months ago, and four of their key players -- Hosmer, Moustakas, Cain and Escobar -- become free agents at the end of the year. There is no way to sign them all, even if Kansas City wanted to. There might not be a way to sign any of them. But the shift has already begun. Moore traded away speedy outfielder Jarrod Dyson, a move Moore called the most emotionally difficult of his career. The Royals' rotation looks nothing at all like the one of the World Series team; gone are Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez, Jeremy Guthrie and, tragically, Yordano Ventura. More than anything, though, that bullpen has broken apart. That bullpen was Kansas City's greatest weapon. "Everybody knew," says Royals assistant GM of player personnel J.J. Picollo, "that if we were leading after six innings, the game was over." That team's closer, Greg Holland, has gone to the Rockies. That team's unhittable cyborg, Wade Davis, was traded to the Cubs. Ryan Madson is gone. Luke Hochevar is gone. Brandon Finnegan is gone. Only Kelvin Herrera remains, and he has graduated from seventh-inning guy to closer. He will be fronted by a Royals All-Star from the dark ages, Joakim Soria, and a promising kid from North Dakota, Matt Strahm. Kelvin Herrera talks about his new role as the club's closer and learning from guys like Joakim Soria and Wade Davis on 30 Clubs in 30 Days "We think we have pitchers with the stuff and competitive nature to give us a bullpen that will close out games," Moore says. "But yes, it's an unknown. They're still unproven." All of which is to say that even though the Royals are only a season removed from their World Series victory, this isn't the same team. And as players approach free agency and get older, well, Moore will have some very difficult -- very emotional -- decisions to make about where to take Kansas City. Does he do everything in his power -- meaning: Ask ownership to overspend -- to bring back those players who led the revival? Or does he begin again, another rebuilding process, perhaps kickstarted by trading away some of those very players? "It's a balance, no question about it," Moore says. "On the one hand, we owe it to our core players to give them every chance to win. We feel like we've done that. I feel very good about this team. Our core group of players are still here, they trust each other, they win for each other. We've made some moves that I think will help us. We feel like we should be competitive. "But we're obviously aware that some of our key players will have the chance to become free agents. We'd like them to stay in Kansas City, but we also want what's best for them. We will just have to see how it plays out. But we are certainly aware." The crux of this "on the one hand, on the other hand" blueprint is that the Royals will do what they can to win this season. They signed pitchers Jason Hammel and Travis Wood along with designated hitter Brandon Moss, They traded for potential slugger Jorge Soler and veteran pitcher Nathan Karns. Moore figures that if the team can win, other issues should take care of themselves. Winning keeps this team together for another year, at least, and maybe inspires the players to find a way to stay in Kansas City. And if they don't win? Moore doesn't even need to say it. "We have to live in the moment," he said. "We can't live in the past." * Hosmer believes the Royals will win. But then, he always did. It was his certainty that Kansas City was destined for great things that helped shape the team's unlikely climb. You could argue, pretty convincingly, that Hosmer's career production has been slightly disappointing. He was a massive prospect after the Royals took him with the third pick in the 2008 Draft. Some scouts called Hosmer a future home run champion because of his unlimited power. Others called him a future batting champion because of his great approach. Joey Votto seemed the best comparison. One scout told me, "Oh, he will be better than Votto." Then you look at Hosmer's career slash line of .277/.335/.428 -- it doesn't look anything like Votto's after his first six seasons (.316/.415/.553). If anything has marked Hosmer's early career, it has been his inconsistency; he has alternated good years with subpar ones. Last year was a subpar season -- he hit just .266, and even with those 25 home runs, his slugging percentage still ranked in the lower half among American League first basemen. Of course, if history holds, that means 2017 will be Hosmer's good year, just in time for free agency. Still, nothing about Hosmer's career feels disappointing, because he has been such a force in the Royals' rise. He's a player with movie star looks (a Miss California once tweeted that she would like to date him), with exuberant charisma (fist bumps galore!) and a handful of big hits that came at exactly the right time. Hosmer's agent is Scott Boras, so you would fully expect him to test the market next year and find out what he's worth. You would fully expect for him to be well out of Kansas City's price range. And yet, losing Hosmer ... Well, it's something that nobody in Kansas City wants to think about. You ask any of the players about it, and they shrug and say the same three things: 1. Nobody knows how this will play out. 2. It's out of their control. 3. The only goal is to win the World Series. Do that, and the rest works itself out. Moore, though, is in a different spot. He's built this thing from the ground up. He watched his team win. And now Moore knows that, as with all championship teams, time slips away. "I've said it before, but it's true -- I won't lose any sleep over this," Moore says. "We love Hos. We love Lorenzo Cain. We love Mike Moustakas. We love Escobar. We love all of our guys, and we will try our best to win with them and try our best to re-sign them. That's all we can do. "But however it works, I'll always root for them. They'll always be our guys." MLB.com columnist Joe Posnanski is a No. 1 New York Times best-selling author, an Emmy Award-winning writer and has been awarded National Sportswriter of the Year. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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02-28-2017, 06:55 PM	#2410
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $2022500	Peter O'Brien hit another monster HR today. That's 3. People are going to start talking about him soon. Listen to that sound off the bat. It's spring though. Peter O'Boom. #RoyalsST pic.twitter.com/3OughUZc4n — Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 1, 2017 Last edited by tk13; 02-28-2017 at 07:19 PM..
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02-28-2017, 07:32 PM	#2411
58-4ever The Collective Unconscious Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The OP Casino cash: $9520422	Peter O'Brien is going to eclipse the 36 mark... WRITE IT DOWN!
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