*** Official Royals Repository, Part 3 ***

[duncan_idaho]

In this thread: All things related to the AL Champions.

Duncan's Official Team Record prediction: 90 wins
One month in: Looking strong
All Star Break: Looking strong, probably should adjust up to 93-94 wins.
Duncan's Official Team MVP prediction: Eric Hosmer
One month in: Upstaged by his best friend MIKE MOOTACOS, MAN. Tell us bout your hittin, bro!
All Star Break: Lorenzo Cain starting to run away with this one.

Division Preview
Clearly, overlooking the Twins was a mistake at this point. I still don't believe in that team long-term, but they're starting to get that Magic Season twinkle about them.

Detroit is toast. Garbage rotation beyond Price and Sanchez, Miggy out.

And Cleveland... Cleveland still is dangerous if it ever clicks offensively, because the starting pitching is good enough for them to real off a 15-5 stretch and get right back into the playoff picture.

The Royals will be a division winner IF ...
1) Ventura and Duffy combine for 375+ innings of high-quality work
2) Eric Hosmer delivers on his potential with a FULL season of success rather than bursts
3) The deeper bullpen lessens the critical load on Herrera, Davis and Holland
4) Lorenzo Cain stays healthy
5) Either Alex Rios or Kendrys Morales bounces back to 2013 form

The first of these is clearly not going to happen. The second looked good through the end of May but is now eating Cain's dust (Hosmer has still been improved this year, though, lessening his valley. If he has a really hot second half, he can get right back in it). Item three is definitely the case. Item four should probably be first at this point. And Morales has more than bounced back.

Duncan’s Top 20 for mid-season 2015:

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. Sean Manaea, LHP: I still believe in the upside here, even with the abbreviated start. 6-5 lefties with his combination of stuff and deception have the ability to pitch at the front of a rotation for a long time.
3. 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.
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. Cody Reed, LHP: Reed has popped up this year, forcing an early promotion to Northwest Arkansas. His stuff is legit, with mid-90s heat and a wipeout slider. Control still needs work, but a promising young arm (that makes Almonte much more tradeable)
6. John Lamb, LHP: Lamb has had a career resurgence in 2015, putting him back on the prospect map. He’s dominating at AAA and will be in the rotation mix in 2016, unless he suffers another setback. Fastball is back, changeup is improving, still working on the ability to throw the slider and curve for strikes when down in the count.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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!

11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

It's still a long season. A year ago today, the A's were 61-37, Royals were 48-50. Royals would finish with a better record and then beat them in the WC game. No lead or record says much of anything in July.

[KChiefs1]

Where's the cutoff line for buyers & sellers?

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Where's the cutoff line for buyers & sellers?

I'd say Texas and below sells. Cleveland stands pat, Detroit... who knows on that front. I just have a hard time believing that their 90 year old owner is in favor of selling. All of the AL East teams, save Boston, still have a good shot at a postseason spot of any capacity. But if I'm creating a definite sell line, it starts at and includes Texas.

Looking at that, my goodness have the Mariners disappointed this year, for what their expectations were coming off of last season. I thought they were going to be the 2014 version of the Royals sort of. Guess not.

On the NL side, Atlanta doesn't have much more selling to do does it? I don't imagine them doing much either way. San Diego is going to be an interesting team to look at over the next 9-10 days coming off of their "flashy" offseason.

[big nasty kcnut]

Let enjoy this I'm glad the royals are doing good! I worry but glad to see the good guys win for a change.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

321, so down the line a little bit.

I sat in that section for a playoff game. Its a good view. Good enough, anyway. Especially for $43, I'd take em.
That's the "negative" about having a good team--harder to get good seats. And the Royals jack up the price based on demand.

[Sassy Squatch]

Hell, even the nosebleeds way high up aren't that bad of a view. Think I was almost at the top on the 3rd base line and just couldn't see the foul line.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

Hell, even the nosebleeds way high up aren't that bad of a view. Think I was almost at the top on the 3rd base line and just couldn't see the foul line.

That's part of the genius of the K. The sightlines in the park are fantastic from nearly any seat. Factor in that when the K was designed and built, it was an era of terrible sporting complex architecture. Historically bad on an epic level. Yet, somehow the K and Arrowhead are literally the exception that proves the rule.

[AndChiefs]

Anyone heard anything on what they're going to do about vargas's slot? Ventura back up? Lamb?

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by AndChiefs

Anyone heard anything on what they're going to do about vargas's slot? Ventura back up? Lamb?

Tweet Andy McCullough about it.

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by AndChiefs

Anyone heard anything on what they're going to do about vargas's slot? Ventura back up? Lamb?

Amputation for Vargas. Slot filled by Drew Butera

[Prison Bitch]

One of the good things of getting a Bruce type is that he's insurance if Alex doesn't come back next year. Can't go into 2016 with Dyson Cain Orlando. (Maybe you could, but Bruce would be better)

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by AndChiefs

Anyone heard anything on what they're going to do about vargas's slot? Ventura back up? Lamb?

Likely just shutting down the whole team for the remainder of 2015. Too many injuries.

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth

That's part of the genius of the K. The sightlines in the park are fantastic from nearly any seat. Factor in that when the K was designed and built, it was an era of terrible sporting complex architecture. Historically bad on an epic level. Yet, somehow the K and Arrowhead are literally the exception that proves the rule.

But it's not downtown and there is nothing to do next door! /CPhipstermorons

[KChiefs1]

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/po...est-team-in-al

David Schoenfield, SweetSpot blogger

From 1995 to 2012, the Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates combined for a grand total of one winning season. That's one winning season out of 36, the Royals somehow sneaking in 83 wins in 2003 and then following that up with seasons of 104, 106 and 100 losses. The two teams were the laughingstocks of baseball, symbolic of the belief that small-market teams couldn't compete with the big boys.

Or maybe they were just poorly-run franchises. But that's a story for another day. It's a new era; now they're two of the best teams in baseball and this week's series is viewed as a potential World Series preview. The Pirates won the opener on Monday and sent ace Gerrit Cole to the mound on Tuesday against Jason Vargas, who was making his first start since June 8 following a one-game minor league rehab assignment after suffering a flexor strain in his elbow.

Unfortunately, Vargas left in the second inning with more elbow pain. The video doesn't look good. The Royals, of course, have a great bullpen, but asking the pen to go seven-plus innings to beat Cole was a tall order.

But these aren't the 2005 Royals. These are the 2015 Royals and they win these games. They battle, they punch, they play Royals baseball, and if you give them an opening, they'll beat you. Joe Blanton, former retired pitcher no longer retired, entered in the second with runners on first and third, one out, and a 3-1 count on Brent Morel. Against a pitcher like Cole, he of the 13-3 record and 2.30 ERA, the Royals needed a stop. Blanton struck out Morel and then struck out Chris Stewart and tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings, bridging the game to the fearsome foursome of Ryan Madson, Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland.

The Royals finally broke through against Cole in the eighth thanks to some shoddy Pirates defense. With one out, Omar Infante reached on Neil Walker's error. Alex Rios singled to center and Andrew McCutchen's ill-advised throw allowed Rios to advance to second. That forced the Pirates to bring the infield in. Cole was at 105 pitches, but this was his game. His first pitch to Jarrod Dyson was 98 mph at the knees. He overthrew a slider for a ball. His 108th pitch was 97 mph, up at the top of the strike zone. The past two seasons, Dyson is hitting .424 on fastballs in the upper third of the zone. That's the pitch he likes. He lofted a soft liner to right field, with Rios easily scoring when Gregory Polanco dropped the ball as he wound up to throw home.

Oh, that allowed Dyson to go to second. He stole third and scored on Alcides Escobar's single. Royals baseball.

For the Pirates, defense has been an ongoing issue. As my friend David Todd of 970 ESPN Radio in Pittsburgh tweeted, "Started saying this 2 months ago. The #Pirates defense is awful. One good defender-Marte." The metrics from Baseball Info Solutions back that up. Maybe not awful, but not what we've seen from them the past couple seasons. They were at minus-3 defensive runs saved entering Tuesday, 17th in the majors, after ranking sixth at plus-36 last season. Baseball Info Solutions also tracks "Good Fielding Plays" and "Defensive Misplays." The Pirates had a minus-56 differential between GFP and DM-plus errors before Tuesday's game, tied for sixth-worst in the majors.

The Pirates had another huge mistake in the ninth. After Starling Marte's leadoff single, Jung Ho Kang lined a double over Lorenzo Cain's head. Third-base coach Rick Sofield waved Marte home; he was thrown out easily, eliciting a big smile from Cain. You cannot get thrown out at home plate in the ninth inning trailing by three runs. It proved costly when the Pirates scored a run and had the bases loaded with two outs. Holland fanned Polanco on a nasty slider to end it.

Royals baseball.


On Twitter, Royals fans suggested to me that they've been beating good pitchers all season. OK, let's look it up. I scrolled through the opposing starters the Royals have faced and wrote down guys who could be considered aces or something close to an ace. Here are those starters I wrote down that they've faced: Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir, Chris Sale, Corey Kluber, David Price, Michael Pineda, Johnny Cueto, Lance Lynn, Michael Wacha, Jake Arrieta, Felix Hernandez, Dallas Keuchel, Chris Archer, A.J. Burnett, Cole.

Those are all good pitchers, no matter how you exactly classify them. They Royals have faced those guys a total of 21 games. They're 15-6 and have averaged 4.6 runs per game. They Royals have been beating good starters. The fans were right.

Are the Royals a team without flaws? No. The rotation is still very shaky, with Yordano Ventura getting sent down to Triple-A on Tuesday and now Vargas looking like he's headed back to the DL. They don't hit many home runs. They don't run quite as often as everyone thinks (Cain with 18 and Dyson with 15 are the only two guys with double-digit steals). But we know their strengths: the bullpen, the defense, the ability to put the ball in play. Against another team, maybe Cole gets that big strikeout and keeps the score at 0-0. Against the Royals, Dyson gets the big hit.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by AndChiefs

Anyone heard anything on what they're going to do about vargas's slot? Ventura back up? Lamb?

I'd love to see Lamb get a shot. I really don't want Ventura back up now. He needs to learn some things in AAA. Worst case scenario, we're stuck with Blanton.