*** Official 2016 Royals Repository, Version 1 ***

[duncan_idaho]

And so it begins: The Royals' second straight attempt to repeat as AL Champions, and first attempt to repeat as World Series champions.

In this thread, we'll track all non-gameday action. Roster moves, prospect news, etc.

I'll start the thread as usual, with division rivals thoughts. I still like KC to repeat as AL Central champs. Here's how I see the rest of it shaking out:

2) Indians - they have the pitching (and seem to have at least semi-Kluber-ed Cody Anderson, who added 3 mph to his fastball in the offseason). Will the offense hold up? I think this is a team that ends up looking a lot like the 2014 Royals. Francisco Lindor will solidify their IF defense over the full season, and is a help with the bat. I think this club is still a year away from really breaking through - the offense still has a lot of question marks - but I like them to nab a wildcard spot.

Key Player(s): Michael Brantley. When Brantley returns - and how he hits when he does - will be critical to the Indians' ability to be good enough on offense.

Jason Kipnis. Kipnis has been an enigmatic offensive performer for the past several years. If he finally has a good offensive campaign from start to finish, Cleveland could make real noise.

Something of interest to me: For all the acclaim the Twins' farm system gets, I look at the Indians young players, and would much rather have them. Brad Zimmer is going to be a very good all-around CF. Clint Frazier has huge power potential and should arrive soon (2017). Lindor is a young stud.

3) Tigers - Old and dependent on a few stars. If Verlander and Sanchez are healthy and effective, they will be playoff contenders. I'm sure JD Martinez will continue to hit roid-aided bombs. I'm also pretty sure Victor Martinez's days as a huge power threat are gone.

Key player: Justin Verlander. Detroit people would have you believe he figured out how to succeed without his big fastball in September of last year. If that's true, and he returns to dominant form, Detroit will likely contend again.

Something of interest to me: Will Jose Iglesias stay healthy and not try to kill teammates in the dugout? His defense makes the whole group much better.

4) Twins - They won't lead the division or be in playoff contention for as long this year, but Minnesota will avoid the cellar.

Key Player: Miguel Sano. Huge power, huge K rate. Can he continue to drive the ball and be a plus offensive player? Probably needs to cut that 35 percent K percentage to do so.

Something of interest to me: Will teams challenge Sano inside with hard stuff? Working away, away, just lets his power play up. Also - will Mike Berardino continue to be the biggest beat writer homer in MLB?

5) White Sox - still managed by a shitty manager who can't control his clubhouse (The blame for the LaRoche thing really should fall on him, not the GM). Still have a shitty overall defense and a lot of douchebags on the team. They will once again look better on paper than they actually perform.

Key player: Carlos Rodon. The White Sox need Rodon to take a big step forward to make an actual move this season. He's got the talent...

And, as always, here are the prospects.

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. 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.
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. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
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.

Spoiler!

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.
18. Eric Skoglund, LHP: Skoglund had a nice year at Wilmington. I'm skeptical because his K rate is lower than I like to see for a guy at A+ - just 7/9, and usually guys lose a strikeout or two/9 as they move up the chain from there - but he has excellent control, walking 1.17 batters/9. 6-7 lefties with great control who get lots of ground balls - like Skoglund - have a chance to overcome bad K rates.
19. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/LF: A lefty stick with power, O'Hearn was a savings signing as an 8th round pick, but a change in his approach increased his power - while increasing his K rate. After Vallot, probably the best pure power prospect in the Royals system.
20. Josh Staumont, RHP: I was terrified of this guy's control problems, and he walked nearly a batter an inning in his pro debut (32 BB in 40 1/3 IP). Staumont's nasty, nasty stuff (plus-plus fastball, plus slider) could make him a very good late-inning reliever who strikes out more than a batter an inning, if he can develop average or slightly below-average control. If he really masters the control, you're talking about a potential Greg Holland type, but that's a TALL task.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by tk13

We need to worry about getting to .500 first. I think we'd need some help at this point. But I agree we've learned to never give up on this team. I'd just like to see them keep chipping away and get over .500 at this point. I think we can do that though... especially if Gordon and Cain can hit and Duffy/Kennedy/Ventura pitch like they have.

The most optimistic argument you can make is our schedule is not too bad. We play the Twins and White Sox a lot this last month and a half.

September is literally division play and a series against the As

[Sure-Oz]

Finish strong Royals. They are doing this with Hosmer and Sal having a mid .500 ops too this 2nd half..those two need to hit

[DanT]

Originally Posted by jet62

I was about 8 years old and was sitting with my Dad in the right field bleachers that day. I still remember that play. They carried Amos off on a stretcher.

I was there, too. That was 1972, I believe, when I was 6 years old. If I recall correctly, after Otis smashed into the wall, Richie Schleinblum ran to retrieve the ball and throw it back into the outfield. I was also in the right field bleachers that game, so the collision with the wall wasn't that far away.

[DanT]

Originally Posted by DanT

I was there, too. That was 1972, I believe, when I was 6 years old. If I recall correctly, after Otis smashed into the wall, Richie Schleinblum ran to retrieve the ball and throw it back into the outfield. I was also in the right field bleachers that game, so the collision with the wall wasn't that far away.

I think this was the box score.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bo...97207230.shtml

This box score has Steve Hovley replacing Otis early in the game and Grich getting a triple. I do remember Grich got a triple out of the play where Otis got hurt. The box score also has Schleinblum in right field.

I don't remember Steve Hovley's time with the Royals. He was one of the characters in Ball Four, the amusing baseball memoir by Jim Bouton.

The box score shows Cookie Rojas playing 3B. I always think of him as our 2B, but he played a few games at other positions. Turns out he played about 30 games at 3B in 1977, according to his profile at Baseball Prospectus. I have to admit, I don't remember that, at all. Brett must have been hurt that year. I just remember that we were really, really good in 1977. Looking back, though, I think our 2015 team was the best Royals team of all time.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Royals big problem this year has been against the AL West. .333 winning percentage against the AL West. If we would have played .500 ball against them, we would have been on right in the AL Wildcard race.

Royals will be right around 85 wins IMO win the season ends.

I have a $1k O/U bet at Royals 86.5 wins. If they fall one or two short it's going to kill me.

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

I have a $1k O/U bet at Royals 86.5 wins. If they fall one or two short it's going to kill me.

Well you'll have Soria to thank for that one

[KChiefs1]

Let's get to .500 before we talk playoffs.




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[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

I have a $1k O/U bet at Royals 86.5 wins. If they fall one or two short it's going to kill me.

I'd be sweating.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Let's get to .500 before we talk playoffs.

Cue the Jim Mora rant.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by tk13

Orioles fans still bitter.

This Rally Mantis stuff is pretty stupid, but then again it's the only highlight the Royals will get this year.

— Orioles Insider (@orioles_insider) August 16, 2016

Must have missed that whole all-star game thing.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by DanT

I think this was the box score.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bo...97207230.shtml

This box score has Steve Hovley replacing Otis early in the game and Grich getting a triple. I do remember Grich got a triple out of the play where Otis got hurt. The box score also has Schleinblum in right field.

I don't remember Steve Hovley's time with the Royals. He was one of the characters in Ball Four, the amusing baseball memoir by Jim Bouton.

The box score shows Cookie Rojas playing 3B. I always think of him as our 2B, but he played a few games at other positions. Turns out he played about 30 games at 3B in 1977, according to his profile at Baseball Prospectus. I have to admit, I don't remember that, at all. Brett must have been hurt that year. I just remember that we were really, really good in 1977. Looking back, though, I think our 2015 team was the best Royals team of all time.

According to Fangraphs, 1977 was in fact our best team by WAR.

1. 1977
2. 1980
3. 1978
4. 1975
5. 1976



Can anyone tell the glory years of Royals baseball? Although 2013-2014-2015 are 7,9,10. Personally I think 2015 is our best team ever esp with Zo and Cueto.

[Prison Bitch]

Oh by the way, 2016 currently ranks 44/48 in our history. With 1/4 of the season left to play they are projected to be our 30th best team. Not what we expected but then, neither were the last 3 years

[siberian khatru]

Yeah, about that whole fifth starter issue ...

This year, the Royals have had 89 combined starts from their top four guys: Volquez, Ventura, Ian Kennedy, and Duffy. Despite some inconsistent years from three of those pitchers, the Royals have gone 50-39 in those games (14-3 in Duffy starts, if you were wondering). Even though the combination of Ventura/Kennedy/Volquez has been decidedly average, they’ve shown that as long as there is a Duffy-type leader of the rotation, they can be a serviceable group.

The other 29 starts this year have come from Young, Medlen, Dillon Gee, and Flynn. The Royals are 8-21 in those games. There’s your season. Just six or seven more wins, just going about .500 in those games, and the Royals would be in the thick of the playoff race, even with their other issues. That record isn’t a fluke, by the way. Those four have a whopping 7.17 ERA in 128 innings as starters.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Yeah, about that whole fifth starter issue ...

The biggest ****-up on Dayton's part was entering the season with Medlen and Young in the same rotation. That was a fatal error. Young should have been sent packing, and we should have been on the hunt for another SP.

I get Dayton falling in love with CY, especially what he was able to provide last season and in the Playoffs. But seriously, that was just crazy good fortune as to what we were able to get out of CY in 2015.

[Great Expectations]

That plus Soria going 1 for 6 in save opportunities this year which doesn't include times where he came in with the game tied has been the end of our playoff run.