Royals Official Royals Repository, Part 5 *** - Page 12

duncan_idaho · 10-06-2015, 10:54 PM

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.

WilliamTheIrish · 10-13-2015, 08:23 AM

Arch....

**ChiTown** · 10-13-2015, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

Exactly. Elimination games you win or lose with your stud

I would have probably been wrong for sure, but when we were down 3-2 into the bottom of the 7th, I would have had no problem leaning on Davis for 3 innings. The guy is a beast, and he can do the heavy lifting. But, again, I would have been wrong in my assessment, as Ned knew damn well we would get 7 runs in the final two innings and cruise to a 3-run victory.............

#devilmagic

Fansy the Famous Bard · 10-13-2015, 08:28 AM

We've had 2 good innings out of 4 games. Outside of that, Houston has outplayed KC from top to bottom. Let's hope the Moosespeak re-kindled the fire that had all but burned out.

Wednesday night may be epic.

Prison Bitch · 10-13-2015, 08:31 AM

I love all the enthusiasm, bat flips, salutes to the crowd, curtain calls, water splashes, dances, high five celebrations. I mean it's playoff baseball. It's entertainment. It's fun as hell - this isn't a State Dinner with Putin.

Fansy the Famous Bard · 10-13-2015, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

I love all the enthusiasm, bat flips, salutes to the crowd, curtain calls, water splashes, dances, high five celebrations. I mean it's playoff baseball. It's entertainment. It's fun as hell - this isn't a State Dinner with Putin.

Outside of Chippy Gomez, I really like this Houston team. They're entertaining.

**ChiTown** · 10-13-2015, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

Outside of Chippy Gomez, I really like this Houston team. They're entertaining.

I like their team - they are entertaining as hell.

Prison Bitch · 10-13-2015, 08:44 AM

They're fun as hell. I loved Correas salute at home. What great theater. Rememeber the Os fans crying like bitches at our enthusiasm last year? It's supposed to be a fun game, pull the stick outta yer azzes

jimidollar · 10-13-2015, 08:57 AM

Players aren't robots. They should enjoy the moment. You never know if there will be another one.

**srvy** · 10-13-2015, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

They're fun as hell. I loved Correas salute at home. What great theater. Rememeber the Os fans crying like bitches at our enthusiasm last year? It's supposed to be a fun game, pull the stick outta yer azzes

That O's team reflects their coach. Stern all business no fun. Sooner they unload him the better but hoping they keep him awhile. I love to see them fail.

BWillie · 10-13-2015, 10:30 AM

Josh Klingler being a chode on the radio for 810. Basically saying the Royals should have lost and Correa should have easily made that play. Says Moose is a joke for saying he knew it wasn't over. What's this guys problem?

WilliamTheIrish · 10-13-2015, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

Josh Klingler being a chode on the radio for 810. Basically saying the Royals should have lost and Correa should have easily made that play. Says Moose is a joke for saying he knew it wasn't over. What's this guys problem?

610.

KChiefs1 · 10-13-2015, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiTown

I like their team - they are entertaining as hell.

They are the 2014 Royals.

They have fun & aren't afraid to show it. That's why the Orioles hated & still hate(looking at you La Canfora)the Royals.

SPchief · 10-13-2015, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie

Josh Klingler being a chode on the radio for 810. Basically saying the Royals should have lost and Correa should have easily made that play. Says Moose is a joke for saying he knew it wasn't over. What's this guys problem?

Stop listening to 810. That's the problem. 610 is winning the ratings war for a reason.

58-4ever · 10-13-2015, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

They're fun as hell. I loved Correas salute at home. What great theater. Rememeber the Os fans crying like bitches at our enthusiasm last year? It's supposed to be a fun game, pull the stick outta yer azzes

Jason LaCanfora was the worst of all the O's fans. He still bitches on Twitter about that series. What a giant vagina.

58-4ever · 10-13-2015, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

610.

Exactly. Klingler is a 610 guy...

10-06-2015, 10:54 PM
duncan_idaho M-I-Z-Z-O-U Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $-2029692	Official Royals Repository, Part 5 * 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.
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10-13-2015, 08:23 AM	#166
WilliamTheIrish Champion Golfer Of The Year Join Date: Aug 2001 Casino cash: $2610607	Arch....
Posts: 35,754

10-13-2015, 08:28 AM	#168
Fansy the Famous Bard I'm with the Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $-1063560	We've had 2 good innings out of 4 games. Outside of that, Houston has outplayed KC from top to bottom. Let's hope the Moosespeak re-kindled the fire that had all but burned out. Wednesday night may be epic. __________________ Hi.
Posts: 6,458

10-13-2015, 08:31 AM	#169
Prison Bitch Rabbi Goldmann Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $5450159	I love all the enthusiasm, bat flips, salutes to the crowd, curtain calls, water splashes, dances, high five celebrations. I mean it's playoff baseball. It's entertainment. It's fun as hell - this isn't a State Dinner with Putin.
Posts: 87,025

10-13-2015, 08:44 AM	#172
Prison Bitch Rabbi Goldmann Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $5450159	They're fun as hell. I loved Correas salute at home. What great theater. Rememeber the Os fans crying like bitches at our enthusiasm last year? It's supposed to be a fun game, pull the stick outta yer azzes
Posts: 87,025

10-13-2015, 08:57 AM	#173
jimidollar MVP Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Texas Casino cash: $10021632	Players aren't robots. They should enjoy the moment. You never know if there will be another one. __________________ -------------------- "I will have my glory day in the hot sun."- Nacho
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10-13-2015, 10:30 AM	#175
BWillie Are you ready to Rumble? Join Date: Apr 2006 Casino cash: $-1368759	Josh Klingler being a chode on the radio for 810. Basically saying the Royals should have lost and Correa should have easily made that play. Says Moose is a joke for saying he knew it wasn't over. What's this guys problem?
Posts: 52,717