2014 Royals Repository

[duncan_idaho]

With my 6,000th post on ChiefsPlanet (it only took me 12 years to get here), I bring you: The 2014 Kansas City Royals Repository.

To be discussed here: All things Royals, as they attempt to post another winning season and make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 1985.

25-man RosterAvailable HERE

AL Central Standings:

Link

Duncan's Top 20 Royals Prospects

Spoiler!

1) 3B Hunter Dozier ETA: 2015
Dozier started slowly at A+ Wilmington but caught fire in May and June, earning a mid-season promotion to AA Northwest Arkansas. Big, strong kid with good plate discipline skills and solid power who projects to be an above-average glove at 3B with solid power.

2) SS Raul (Adalberto) Mondesi ETA: 2017
Mondesis is the opposite of Dozier…. Started red-hot at Wilmington before back spasms derailed him for a few weeks and hasn’t gotten it going since coming back. Scouting reports have been great – defense and speed both improved over the offseason. Still a chance to be an elite SS, with 40 SB speed, plus glove, .300 average and some pop.

3) LHP Sean Manaea | ETA: 2015
Scouting reports outperform the stat line so far. Missing a ton of bats at A+ but not preventing runs like you’d expect to see. Needs to work deeper into games (gradually working about an inning deeper/month so far this year) and improve control. Walks are biggest concern right now, but could be elevated due to work on extra off-speed offerings. Still has No. 2 starter potential, could be higher if the great control he exhibited before his hip surgery eventually comes back.

4) RHP Kyle Zimmer| ETA: 2015
Should be NO. 1 on the list and is probably the Royals most VALUABLE current prospect, but he hasn’t thrown a ball in 4-5 weeks and had only been throwing for 2-3 weeks when he was shut down then.

5) LHP Brandon Finnegan| ETA: 2015
Top 2014 draft choice is an undersized lefty who will start at A+ Wilmington after anchoring CWS run for TCU. Good fastball, better slider, change that needs work to stick as a starter, but if he sticks, No. 2/No. 3 starter upside. Likely a top 10 or even top 5 pick if he doesn’t miss 1 start in the middle of the college season as a precautionary move.

6) RHP Miguel Almonte| ETA: 2016
Have heard some say Almonte is more advanced as a pitcher at A+ than Yordano Ventura was (comparison because both were cheap signs out of Latin America). Really advanced changeup and a curve that is working out well (where the ‘more advanced’ comment comes from). Fastball velo is good but not great – 92-94. Like Manaea, working on his second-best offspeed pitch and leaning less on his bread-and butter (changeup), which has hurt his numbers a bit.

7) RHP Christian Binford 2017
Reverse case of “don’t just scout stat lines.” Based on his stats at A+, you’d think he was an elite prospect, but there are questions about Binford’s stuff playing up at higher levels. Tall righty with great command of fastball, slider and a good and still developing changeup. None of those pitches profiles as better than average, though, limiting his likely upside to back-end rotation guy.

8) SS Orlando Calixte| ETA: 2016
I still like him more than many. Good combination of SS/MI skills and power. Started hot at NWA but in a slump at moment.

9)LHP Foster Griffin | ETA: 2019
Tall, projectable lefty taken in 2014 draft. Viewed as a great value in the sandwich round and probably would have been KC’s pick at No. 17 if Finnegan hadn’t fallen. High school arm who is going to take a while to develop.

10) RF Jorge Bonifacio| ETA: 2016
Hasn’t hit as well as expected in his second go-round at AA NWA. Power still sapped, and average skills have dipped. Once looked like he might be an option in RF at some point in 2015, now looks like 2016 is optimistic. Still young for his level.

11) 3B/2B Cheslor Cuthbert| ETA: 2016
Cuthbert has had better luck at NWA than Boni and is also extremely young for level. HE’s been moved to 2B since Dozier was promoted, which could put a new spin on Cuthbert’s prospects. If he sticks at 2B, bat plays up much better. Good OBP/plate discipline and solid power, but needs to continue improving contact skills

12) C Chase Vallot| ETA: 2020
Young (just 17) C with tremendous power. One of the top prep bats and a great value for KC where it got him. If he sticks at C, expect him to move slowly, but the bat may force the issue (or force him to another position).

13) C Zane Evans| ETA: 2017
GA Tech product has handled Wilmington better than most RH bats and probably is in line for a promotion to NWA sometime soon. Decent pop, decent skills behind the plate. Could be a nice reserve catcher.

14) RHP Scott Blewett| ETA: 2020
Tall, projectable righty with a fresh arm but some injury concerns on his shoulder that slipped him out of Round 1 of MLB draft. Big time potential.

15) CF Bubba Starling | ETA:
Bubba Starling has great tools. Bubba Starling (still) can’t hit. That’s all I have to say about that.

16) 1B Samir Duenez| ETA:
I still like him, even though the attempt to run him through full season ball at 17 did not go well.

17)LF/RF Elier Hernandez| ETA:
Hernandez still pops up in scouting reports but still is very raw and toolsy.

18) RHP Pedro Fernandez| ETA:
Pop-up player on the same track as Ventura and Almonte. Similar signing, similar profile. One to watch over next few years.

19) SS Marten Gasparini| ETA:
Royals’ most expensive international signing likely moves to CF eventually, but his speed and athleticism are intriguing abilities. Early reports from complex ball are very positive on him.

20) RHP Niklas Stephenson| ETA:
Interesting pop-up candidate who found 10 more MPH on his fastball by using a weighted ball during workouts over the winter. Now sits mid-90s with fastball and is dominating at rookie ball (after having an ERA over 8 there a year ago). Likely promoted to a higher challenge soon.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Oh, and an interesting update considering Vargas might miss a start...

John Lamb pitched tonight for Omaha and went 7 IP with 11 K and no walks. More importantly, he was hitting 93-94 on the radar gun. This was also against a lineup that includes Javier Baez, Kris Bryant and Manny Ramirez.

He's on a nice run over his last 10 games, with good strikeout numbers and a low ERA. WHIP is a little high (1.35 range).

If he can continue to get that type of pop out of his fastball, Lamb can be a useful MLB starter. He's got a good feeling for pitching, his changeup is good (and plays off of 92-93-94 much better than 87) and has a decent-enough changeup.

I'd sure love it if they went and brought up Lamb and gave him a shot. Sadly, we know this won't be the case.

[DeepSouth]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

The Royals will be without Alex Gordon and Jason Vargas this weekend against the Tigers. http://t.co/Q3ZaS1PQpD

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) July 10, 2014

Lane Adams (AA) is the only other OF on the 40 man roster. Plus, he bats RH.

[DeepSouth]

Originally Posted by Three7s

I'd sure love it if they went and brought up Lamb and gave him a shot. Sadly, we know this won't be the case.

It couldn't be any worse that what Brooks did in his one start. They have until Sunday (Vargas's next scheduled start) to decide.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

The Royals will be without Alex Gordon and Jason Vargas this weekend against the Tigers. http://t.co/Q3ZaS1PQpD

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) July 10, 2014

[DeepSouth]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Oh, and an interesting update considering Vargas might miss a start...

John Lamb pitched tonight for Omaha and went 7 IP with 11 K and no walks. More importantly, he was hitting 93-94 on the radar gun. This was also against a lineup that includes Javier Baez, Kris Bryant and Manny Ramirez.

He's on a nice run over his last 10 games, with good strikeout numbers and a low ERA. WHIP is a little high (1.35 range).

If he can continue to get that type of pop out of his fastball, Lamb can be a useful MLB starter. He's got a good feeling for pitching, his changeup is good (and plays off of 92-93-94 much better than 87) and has a decent-enough changeup.

Could Lamb start Sunday (only three days rest)? I like the fact he's a LHP like Vargas.

[TLO]

Get well soon Gordon and Vargas!

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DeepSouth

Could Lamb start Sunday (only three days rest)? I like the fact he's a LHP like Vargas.

I wouldn't push a guy like that. I was thinking they were off today when I wrote the original post about Lamb, which would have allowed Lamb to go on normal rest on Monday.

It has to be Chen. But they're talking about Vargas missing 3-4 weeks with this thing. That doesn't make much sense, considering they caught it before his appendix ruptured. Should be a 3-5 day recovery.

[Kansas City Kid]

Gotta take at least three out of four here. No worse than a split.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I wouldn't push a guy like that. I was thinking they were off today when I wrote the original post about Lamb, which would have allowed Lamb to go on normal rest on Monday.

It has to be Chen. But they're talking about Vargas missing 3-4 weeks with this thing. That doesn't make mhc sense, considering they caught it before his appendix ruptured. Should be a 3-5 day recovery.

Exactly what I was thinking. I had my appendix out recently, and I was feeling basically back to normal in about 5 days.

I don't see where this 3-4 weeks stuff is coming from.

[DeepSouth]

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

Exactly what I was thinking. I had my appendix out recently, and I was feeling basically back to normal in about 5 days.

I don't see where this 3-4 weeks stuff is coming from.

With four days off for the All Star game next week, he could only miss his Sunday start. He could be pushed to the back of the order starting next Friday (Jul 18). Although, I like Vargas pitching between Shields and Ventura. A finesse LHP throwing between two hard throwing RHP.

[RockChalk]

One thing we know about Chen. He'll either go 6ip 2-3ER's or we'll be out of the game by the 2nd inning. No in-between with that guy.

[tomahawk kid]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

The Royals will be without Alex Gordon and Jason Vargas this weekend against the Tigers. http://t.co/Q3ZaS1PQpD

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) July 10, 2014

Did we ever get a confirmation on what the deal is with Gordo's wrist?

Assuming its just a sprain?

[TLO]

Maybe we should start the pen on Sunday?

Crow takes innings 1-2

Herrera 3-5

Bueno 6-7

Davis 8

Holland 9

#winning

[DeepSouth]

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

Maybe we should start the pen on Sunday?

Crow takes innings 1-2

Herrera 3-5

Bueno 6-7

Davis 8

Holland 9

#winning

You do make a viable option since all the relieve pitchers except for Holland will have four days off. Whoever starts would not have to go deep in the game knowing all your relievers (depending on who had to pitch the previous day) could contribute.

[Canofbier]

Deadspin just published a short-but-sort-of-interesting article about the idea of longer at-bats resulting in better offense. Their analysis is pretty limited in scope, but I'd expect that we'd see at least a bit of a relationship between P/AB and runs scored if the two were truly related.

Being Patient At The Plate Doesn't Correlate With Scoring More Runs



If you want a good baseball offense, you need to milk to pitch count. That's what it says in Moneyball, and it's been Red Sox gospel under Terry Francona. But as the graph above from The Hardball Times shows, it isn't significantly related to offensive production.

From 2010 to 2013 teams who see more pitches per plate appearance have had both low offensive production (Red Sox, Mets, Phillies) and high production (Blue Jays, Athletics, Indians). Whether looking at runs scored or team offense (wRC+), correlations with plate patience were negligible.

This doesn't seem to be just some effect of the league catching up with the trend, either. We went back a bit further and looked at pitches per plate appearances in 1999. In 1999 batters saw a similar amount of pitches per plate appearance as they did in 2010 (3.73 in 1999, 3.82 in 2010). And like post-2010 trends, there was no significant correlation (0.19) in 1999 between pitches per plate appearance and runs scored.

The only significant relationship found in the article is that patient teams were more likely to garner another at bat when a starting pitcher is going through the lineup for the fourth time. But this resulting added at bat generally happens at the bottom of the lineup, which reduces its impact.