**** The OFFICIAL 2008 KC Royals Spring Training Thread ****

[Coach]

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/new...t=.jsp&c_id=kc

Hillman was at Surprise Stadium at the dark hour of 5:15 a.m. MT on Thursday. The sun hadn't even thought about casting its rays on the White Tank Mountains. About four hours later, though, about 20 pitchers, six catchers and a platoon of other position players were spread across the playing fields of the complex.

It wasn't a mandatory workout -- that doesn't happen until Valentine's Day -- but the volunteers poured into camp. The sun cut through the morning chill, dew covered the grass, Air Force jets thundered overhead and at 9:34 a.m., Hillman watched as a line of pitchers sprinted across the green.

Meche and Luke Hudson were the first pitchers to toe the rubber in the bullpen and fire baseballs into catchers' mitts.

"After I get a delivery in my mind, I'll watch these catchers as much as I do the pitchers to see early and later how much we're hitting the glove," Hillman said.

About half the pitchers threw off the mound on Thursday; the others will toss on Friday. The countdown to Opening Day on March 31 at Detroit was on for Meche and the Royals.

Maybe its my optimistic nature, not last but I really think we are witnessing the resurrection of the franchise.

[Conceptual]

Think it was Sporting News's MLB preview issue I picked up at the newsstand this week.

They've got the Royals at #4 in the division, ahead of Twins and just behind the White Sox. Simply getting out of the cellar would be a nice change. They like our bullpen, think Guillen is a smart acquisition. Team trend line was upward (unlike Twins); quotes like "they're getting better."

They misspelled Dayton Moore's first name; that was lame.

I'm excited. Don't live in KC any more but hope to catch three or four home games this season.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Coach

And the Royals got their first win in spring training.

ROYALS 13, PADRES 9
at Peoria, Ariz.
Friday, Feb. 29

Padres at the plate: Jim Edmonds narrowly missed a home run in the first inning, as his long drive to right field drifted foul late. Edmonds came back to get an RBI double in the third inning. Callix Crabbe had a double and reached base twice. Matt Antonelli hit his first home run of the spring, a solo shot to start the fifth inning. Will Venable finished with three RBIs on two hits, including a two-run home run.

Royals at the plate: Leadoff hitter David DeJesus had two hits and a walk in his three plate appearances. Justin Huber had a two-run double to center field and also had a walk. Ross Gload had a two-run home run in the first inning as part of a six-run uprising. Alberto Callaspo, Huber and Gload each finished with two hits. The Royals finished with 17 hits, nine going for extra-bases.

Padres on the mound: Starting pitcher Shawn Estes struggled with his command, lasting only two-thirds of an inning. Estes allowed six earned runs on four hits to go with two walks, though the Padres botched two potential double-play balls though could have helped him. Arturo Lopez and Wilton Lopez combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings, though it was mostly a rough day for San Diego pitchers, who walked a combined eight batters.

Royals on the mound: Starting pitcher Gil Meche tossed two scoreless innings, allowing two hits with one strikeout and no walks. Hideo Nomo then followed with two innings of work, allowing an unearned run on three hits with two strikeouts a one walk. Reliever Joel Peralta tossed a scoreless inning as did Brandon Duckworth.

Wow...

[Coach]

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

Not really its usually only the guys with questionable stuff that come out of the pen at first.

Which would suit rookies/minor leaguers perfectly, becuase they have "questionable" stuff.

[Coach]

Royals pull a come back from behind to win aganist the White Sox.

Teahen caps comeback in ninth
Game-winning single gives Royals victory over Chicago
By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com

ROYALS 7, WHITE SOX 6
at Surprise, Ariz.
Monday, March 3

White Sox at the plate: Alexei Ramirez belted a bases-loaded triple, making him 6-for-13 this spring. Jermaine Dye and Brad Eldred each had an RBI double.

Royals at the plate: Tony Pena, answering manager Trey Hillman's call for small ball, bunted perfectly for a hit. Joey Gathright stole three bases, scored twice and batted in a run with an infield single. Dave Hollins' two-run home run followed a double by Mitch Maier, giving the Royals a 5-5 tie. Mark Teahen's single drove in the game-winning run in the ninth.

White Sox on the mound: Lefty John Danks opened with three innings and gave up two singles and an unearned run. Bobby Jenks surrendered three hits and two runs in one inning. Ex-Royal Mike MacDougal was nailed for Hollins' game-tying homer. Ehren Wasserman had a perfect inning.

Royals on the mound: Lefty starter John Bale's scoreless three innings were marred only by a hit batter. He struck out four, giving him seven K's in five innings. Jorge De La Rosa, in his first outing, gave up five hits including three doubles and a triple that produced five runs. Yasuhiko Yabuta and Joakim Soria each had a scoreless inning.

Cactus League records: Royals 2-3, White Sox 3-4.

Up next: The Royals travel to Tucson on Tuesday for a 2:05 p.m. CT game against the Colorado Rockies. Brett Tomko will start for the Royals; Ubaldo Jimenez for the Rockies

[eazyb81]

Looks like John Bale is a legit option to make the rotation out of spring training. I would be thrilled with him over JDLR.

[Reerun_KC]

Print'em?

[Kraus]

Just a heads up if you're wanting tickets. There is a presale going on right now.

To purchase tickets:
• Click the link below beginning TODAY, March 5 at 9:00 a.m. CT
• Enter your password: NEWBLUE
• Choose the game you wish to purchase from the calendar by clicking on the corresponding link
• Proceed through the purchase process

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/kc/...=eKCtn03052008

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by Kraus

Just a heads up if you're wanting tickets. There is a presale going on right now.

Opening day sold out?

[Kraus]

I don't believe you can get opening day tickets in this presale.

I just bought my tickets for Saturday, April 12th. It is the Powder Blue debut, and they are giving away these:

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by Kraus

I don't believe you can get opening day tickets in this presale.

I just bought my tickets for Saturday, April 12th. It is the Powder Blue debut, and they are giving away these:

I may have to go to that game, first 20,000?

Anyone know how you get opening day tickets?

[POND_OF_RED]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

I may have to go to that game, first 20,000?

Anyone know how you get opening day tickets?

Tickets go on sale Saturday at 9.
http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/tic...me.jsp?c_id=kc

[Kraus]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

I may have to go to that game, first 20,000?

Anyone know how you get opening day tickets?

Correct, first 20,000.

Opening Day tickets go on sale on the 9th, any others you can get through the presale I listed above.

[Sure-Oz]

appreciate it guys

[beavis]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Anyone know how you get opening day tickets?

Unless you want to pay a broker, I think you pretty much have to have season tickets to get opening day tickets this year.

[Coach]

Meche and Nomo are looking prety solid so far in spring training.

The Royals won 3-1 aganist the Giants, and Meche blanked the Giants on two hits in three innings. Nomo followed by allowing three hits in three more shutout innings.