**** 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.

[VonneMarie]

Originally Posted by Coach

For those who haven nothing to do, the Royals will be on WGN-TV aganist the Chicago Cubs (3:05P.M. CST)

Guillen will make his first start as a Royal, batting 4th and playing right field.

Freaking awesome! ROYALS BASEBALL!!!!!!!!!!

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by Coach

For those who haven nothing to do, the Royals will be on WGN-TV aganist the Chicago Cubs (3:05P.M. CST)

Guillen will make his first start as a Royal, batting 4th and playing right field.

Hell, I'll watch it.

Sounds good for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

Hell, I'll watch it.

Sounds good for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Same here. I'll probably lounge around on this thread. Heh. What I like about that the Royals are talking about, or at least stressing alot, is the OBP %, which is very important, IMHO.

Dempster, Wood, Marmol, Cotts, and Pignatiello are scheduled to pitch today for the Cubs, not sure what order though.

The Royals are throwing out Tomko, then he'll be followed by Julio Pimentel, Yasuhiko Yabuta, Leon Nunez and Ron Mahay.

[Coach]

Well, after the beatdown the Cubs gave to the Royals, they're giving the Giants their beatdown...

15-4 in the bottom of 8th. Nomo had a rough first inning, giving up 2 runs, but went through two more innings without any problems. 3IP, 2R, 0BB, 1K.

[petegz28]

I just got back from Surpirse, Az on Saturday. I watched 3 games, Giants, Diamondbacks and Rockies.

People who impressed:

Hillman, Meche, Shealy, Callaspo, Hollins, Butler, Carlos Rosa

People who disappointed:

Grienke, Gobble, Davies, Olivo, Huber.


1 notable was the lack of K's we committed though it is early in camp. But on that note it appears we have better plate discipline.

All in all the team seems to be better. You can just feel it. Let's hope that carries into the regular season.

Another notable is the frequency DeJesus seems to be drawing walks. That plays right into Hillman's philosophy.

[beavis]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I just got back from Surpirse, Az on Saturday. I watched 3 games, Giants, Diamondbacks and Rockies.

People who impressed:

Hillman, Meche, Shealy, Callaspo, Hollins, Butler, Carlos Rosa

People who disappointed:

Grienke, Gobble, Davies, Olivo, Huber.


1 notable was the lack of K's we committed though it is early in camp. But on that note it appears we have better plate discipline.

All in all the team seems to be better. You can just feel it. Let's hope that carries into the regular season.

Another notable is the frequency DeJesus seems to be drawing walks. That plays right into Hillman's philosophy.

Please stay as far away from the team as possible.

[Kraus]

Does anybody think Shealy is making a case for keeping him at 1st?

[Sure-Oz]

I think Shealy should get a real good shot at 1st, hes stil relatively young and has potential to hit, beyond this year release him if he sucks. He has some major power we could use if he can stay healthy and avoid the K's

[Kraus]

8-6 now in Spring Training with a win today over the Angels.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

I think Shealy should get a real good shot at 1st, hes stil relatively young and has potential to hit, beyond this year release him if he sucks. He has some major power we could use if he can stay healthy and avoid the K's

SO what happened to Butler at 1st??


I guess hes the worlds youngest DH.

[Adept Havelock]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

SO what happened to Butler at 1st??

As his fielding strongly resembles Dakota Black M.D. trying to get into her car in "Planet Terror", I can't say I'm too surprised he's ending up as DH.

[alanm]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

SO what happened to Butler at 1st??


I guess hes the worlds youngest DH.

If they hadn't brought in Guillen they wouldn't be having this problem. I imagine he'll platoon with Butler at 1st.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by beavis

Please stay as far away from the team as possible.

Dude I swear you are the biggest stalker there is.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by alanm

If they hadn't brought in Guillen they wouldn't be having this problem. I imagine he'll platoon with Butler at 1st.

Butler will see little time at 1st base. Sheally and Gload will occupy that spot. I venture you will see them platooned based on what side Hillman wants to load up on at the plate that game. Butler's bat is simply too good to keep out of the line up though.


So say hello to your DH and knock off all the Butler at 1st base talk.

[Eleazar]

interesting bit from a star article on TPJ:

Peña easily gobbled up grounders that previously bounded through the left side. The numbers, by season’s end, reaffirmed the improvement. His zone rating among regular shortstops was far higher than Berroa attained the previous year.

Sure, zone rating is an imprecise measurement that relies on the judgment of the folks at Stats, Inc., to calculate the percentage of balls fielded in a player’s typical defensive zone.

Even so, the numbers weren’t close.

Peña ranked ninth among 24 regular big-league shortstops — those who played at least 108 games at the position. A year earlier, Berroa ranked 22nd among 24 qualifying players.

“If we don’t have Tony Peña last year,” general manager Dayton Moore concluded, “we certainly lose 100 games.”