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.

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

Shields and Iwakuma will be the pitching match up Friday when the Royals return home.
I want to see 40k there.

Umm, I think the stadium only holds 37k. And I'll be there saturday and monday

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by DeepSouth

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch View Post
So what if they do? They're 10 up on us already. Does anyone actually think we're going to be 11 games better than them the rest of the way? With our slapdick offense? Almost zero chance.

If it was the Twins or White Sox off to a great start, no biggie. But Detroit has been better for years and every intelligent person thought they'd be again too. It's like if the Broncos get off to a 5-0 start next year. Different than if the Faders do.

PB, I still have faith.

I'm happy today but ill stick to Detroit winning the division and I bet they do by 4+ games. The Royals peripherals are not very impressive and since I believe in stats, I am positive they'll hold long term. But I'm hoping I'm wrong!


Also I said 79 wins this year so I also hope in wrong there.

[CaliforniaChief]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

I think I need to post MOAR photos of Gretz's wife.

I have a feeling Gretz's wife is less of a looker than Getz's, but hey, NTTAWWT.

[Prison Bitch]

Finnegan looks like a total beast. He's got a bit of a crouched delivery and he was firing 94/95 tonight with a big sweeping breaker a la Sale. (And no, I'm not comparing him to Sale outside that pitch). Also both VA and TCU brought in relievers firing 95 gas. The VA guy wen just after Finnegan and the tcu guy is eligible next year. I think these guys would get MLB hitters out right now, at least with some regularity

I hate HS pitchers. The only one that worked out for us since 1990 was Zack. Maybe Duffy will follow.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Chris Getz is here in the Royals clubhouse.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) June 17, 2014

Originally Posted by Shogun

Were doomed.

Originally Posted by Shogun

However, perhaps tonight we will hit for MOAR MOAR POWER?

Originally Posted by BWillie

So the Legendary Chris Getz is in the royals clubhouse today? Wow. No way we lose this one tonight, not with Getz's inspiration and grit lingering. Game over. Might as well not even come Tigers fans.

[lewdog]

I'm white for anyone who thinks different.

FYI

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

I'm happy today but ill stick to Detroit winning the division and I bet they do by 4+ games. The Royals peripherals are not very impressive and since I believe in stats, I am positive they'll hold long term. But I'm hoping I'm wrong!


Also I said 79 wins this year so I also hope in wrong there.

You realize Detroit's run differential is actually negative (Royals are +18)?

Their expected W/L after tonight is actually negative.

[Strongside]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I'm white for anyone who thinks different.

FYI

I tend to associate people with their avatar. Not only did I think you were black, I thought you were Mike Tyson.

[Strongside]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

You realize Detroit's run differential is actually negative (Royals are +18)?

Their expected W/L after tonight is actually negative.

I think Denny said it best, they're a flawed team. They have extreme bullpen problems, their offense is inconsistent at best right now, and their starting rotation is showing some signs on weakness. There is no reason we can't win this division.

[Canofbier]

Originally Posted by SPchief

Umm, I think the stadium only holds 37k. And I'll be there saturday and monday

So we should calculate off of 35,999 other seats at the K for those two days?

#urfatlol

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

Shields and Iwakuma will be the pitching match up Friday when the Royals return home.
I want to see 40k there.

Buck Night
Friday Night Fireworks
Big Slick Wiffleball Celebrity Game

Good night to go out to the K.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by SPchief

Umm, I think the stadium only holds 37k. And I'll be there saturday and monday

27K according to the intarwebs. I thought it was a lot more.

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by sedated

27K according to the intarwebs. I thought it was a lot more.

Your search is wrong. 37,903

[KChiefs1]

Motor City Bengals blog:

Coming into Tuesday night’s game, there were mixed feelings about the Detroit Tigers as they faced the Kansas City Royals. The Royals were on an 8 game win streak and were only a half game back of the Tigers after pummeling Justin Verlander. The Tigers’ struggles have been well documented of late, which didn’t help the feelings. The main beacon of light entering the game was Max Scherzer who was coming off of his first ever shutout against the Chicago White Sox.

Scherzer starting the game off well, retiring the side in order in the first inning in 10 pitches. In the second inning, everything fell apart for Scherzer.

It took 39 pitches, 7 runs, and 9 batters into the inning, Scherzer finally recorded his first out. Billy Butler started the inning with a single and advanced to second on an error from J.D. Martinez. The error did not prove costly, because Alex Gordon followed with the first two-run home run of the inning. This was followed by a Salvador Perez walk and the second two-run home run of the inning hit this time by Mike Moustakas. Alcides Escobar, Jarrod Dyson, Nori Aoki, and Omar Infante all singled to add the fifth and sixth runs of the inning. The seventh and final run was added on the first out of the inning on a fielder’s choice by Eric Hosmer. Scherzer’s pitch count in the inning was 51, the first Tiger to throw more than 50 pitches since Steve Sparks in 2002.

Scherzer got through the third and fourth innings unscathed, but did not last through the fifth. Butler hit another single, Gordon doubled, and Perez hit a single to end Scherzer’s night. Phil Coke came on and allowed Perez to score after Gordon was erased on a fielder’s choice. The Royals added another run in the fifth which gave them 10 for the night and complete Scherzer’s final line: 4+ IP, 10 H, 10 ER, 1 BB, 5 K’s on 93 pitches.

Evan Reed gave the Tigers two innings of one run ball giving up an RBI single to Lorenzo Cain who came on for Aoki who hurt his groin in the 2nd inning. He has thrown 54 pitched in the last two days and looks like he really doesn’t have much left right now, but there aren’t many other options that could do much better.

The Tigers got two runs back and put the first four men on in the bottom half of the second against Yorando Ventura after the long inning, but then were retired in order. The Tigers threatened in the fifth and scratched across a run on a bases loaded walk to Miguel Cabrera before a play that perfectly sums up the last month of Tigers baseball. A 100 mph wild pitch hit the backstop and caromed perfectly back to the catcher Perez who threw out Eugenio Suarez at third while he was trying to score on the play.

The Tigers added one more run in the 8th with an Ian Kinsler home run, but it was way too little, way too late.

The Kansas City Royals have taken over first place in the AL Central. Go ahead and let that sink in for a bit. In the meantime, here is your weird stat of the day via Chris Iott: Max Scherzer gave up the same amount of runs tonight that Joe Nathan gave up in all of 2013.

[tmw4h5]

The TCU/Virginia game finally ended and it's time for Sportscenter. It's nice to see that the Royals are one of the first headlines following Trout and Mexico/Brazil.

Also, holy shit, Mike Trout is a boss. You can't pitch to that dude.