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.

[Nightfyre]

Billy: "I don't think it matters who's in first place on May 4th," Butler said. "I'll leave it at that."

Butler apparently doesn't think winning matters.

[gblowfish]

Moose has 14 hits and 20 Ks. Belly K's 2.5 times for every walk. Don't even want to think about how many times he's hit into an inning killing DP. Maxwell's average is only three points lower than Moose, and he's only played in 12 games. Gordon only has one homer. Hosmer has no homers. Infante seems to be only well rounded player on the team. Aoki can't hit on the road. It's a cluster ****.

[tk13]

The two wild card spots makes it less likely Shields gets traded, unless we completely fall apart. You just have to hang around .500 and then make a run.

Even now, we are 1.5 games out of a wild card spot.

[gblowfish]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Billy: "I don't think it matters who's in first place on May 4th," Butler said. "I'll leave it at that."

Butler apparently doesn't think winning matters.

Butler quickly becoming the new Frenchy.

[TLO]

Maxwell should not be given the DH spot. Maxwell should be released or replaced if anything.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

Maxwell should not be given the DH spot. Maxwell should be released or replaced if anything.

Maxwell's productive month post trade seems to be diluting everyone's judgement about him. The dude has never been able to hit right handers with consistency and has never even posted as season as productive as Butler's 2013.

Those pining for Maxwell's mediocrity should allow that last sentence to sink in before calling on him to be a full time DH.

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Billy: "I don't think it matters who's in first place on May 4th," Butler said. "I'll leave it at that."

Butler apparently doesn't think winning matters.

DISCLAIMER: I am not defending Billy or the Royals of their performance and I am not saying that they're going to magically flip a switch and win 90+ games.. merely explaining his comments. I am also not comparing the talent between the Royals and the teams mentioned below.

That's not what he said, and what he said isn't exactly wrong. Nowhere did he say that "winning doesn't matter."

Sure we would all love to be in first place, but as we have unfortunately found out over the past 3 days, Detroit is not finishing anywhere but first in this division. Our only hope of making the postseason this season is through the wild card.

Now back to Billy's comments, I am not trying to defend him or excuse him of his poor performance through the first month, but he has a point. May 4th, 2013, exactly one year ago today the Tampa Bay Rays were 13-16. As you probably know the Tampa Bay Rays finished the season with 92 wins and won the AL Wild Card.

Also on May 4th, 2013, the LA Dodgers also held a record of 13-16. The Dodgers finished off the year at 92 wins and were the NL West Champions.

Bottom line the team is obviously going to have to start performing one way or another. No offense, no postseason.. simple as that.

[C3HIEF3S]

I don't believe Maxwell is capable of becoming a full-time DH, but I also don't believe he is getting consistent-enough AB's to be productive off of the bench.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

DISCLAIMER: I am not defending Billy or the Royals of their performance and I am not saying that they're going to magically flip a switch and win 90+ games.. merely explaining his comments. I am also not comparing the talent between the Royals and the teams mentioned below.

That's not what he said, and what he said isn't exactly wrong. Nowhere did he say that "winning doesn't matter."

Sure we would all love to be in first place, but as we have unfortunately found out over the past 3 days, Detroit is not finishing anywhere but first in this division. Our only hope of making the postseason this season is through the wild card.

Now back to Billy's comments, I am not trying to defend him or excuse him of his poor performance through the first month, but he has a point. May 4th, 2013, exactly one year ago today the Tampa Bay Rays were 13-16. As you probably know the Tampa Bay Rays finished the season with 92 wins and won the AL Wild Card.

Also on May 4th, 2013, the LA Dodgers also held a record of 13-16. The Dodgers finished off the year at 92 wins and were the NL West Champions.

Bottom line the team is obviously going to have to start performing one way or another. No offense, no postseason.. simple as that.

I am not saying they don't have a chance. I am merely pointing out his laissez-faire attitude. I want my team to have the desire to be better and the intestinal fortitude to be accountable. Billy just doesn't seem to give a rip, and really, it mirrors Ned.

"We caught a team on fire," Butler said. "Everything they hit found holes, they hit a lot of balls hard. We'll catch 'em later in the year."

Butler was asked if the Royals, going into the Detroit series, had thought much about their opportunity to take over first place.

"I don't think it matters who's in first place on May 4th," Butler said. "I'll leave it at that."

"Anytime you get swept, no matter who it is, it's disheartening. You don't like to do it," Yost said. "But, we were unfortunate enough to catch them real, real hot. Hopefully next time around, they're going to catch us hot and we'll see what happens."

All I see is excuses. How about manning up and being competitive?

[KCCHIEFS27]

Edmund Burke-"Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it." That quote from Billy is disgusting. This team, nor the fans, can afford this mentality that these games don't matter. Or, it's too early in the season to worry about our record. I say, no, it is not too early to be worrying about the same habits this team has repeatedly displayed throughout the last few years. A terrible early start to the season means disaster for this team. We have seen it before. This team is lackadaisical through the early stages then tries to turn it on and get's hot far too late. Hey Royals, try something different. Try winning early on. See how well that works. Because this ho-hum approach doesn't work, nor should it.

[gblowfish]

Jack Harry about to piss himself on an epic Royals meltdown.
Should make for good TV.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

If trading Shields at the break ends up being the right move, and it might, DM won't be the one making the deal. Dude has to be fired at that point.

And I'm going to puke all the **** over myself if the above happens because the trade will have been an unbelievable catastrophe.

Almost forced to if they're 5-7 or more back in the division or wildcard.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Jack Harry about to piss himself on an epic Royals meltdown.
Should make for good TV.

Will that buzz cut ****stain just, please, die already.

Congratulations, Jack, you're the 1st man in human history to willingly dye your hair carrot orange to hide going grey, AND thought this would look better.

[alnorth]

I knew the Royals would probably lose tonight, but I'm still pissed about the sweep.

[okcchief]

Yost needs to be fired and the whole approach at the plate needs to change. It needs to be done now while the season can still be salvaged.