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.

[CaliforniaChief]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

So you wander into a clubhouse for a team you admittedly hadn't watched play a single inning? Cry me a ****ing river! Perhaps you, the "journalist", hadn't earned the right to be in a professional clubhouse.

How are unprepared, no-talent hacks given access to MLB clubhouses to begin with?

Based on the behavior he describes, it's far from a professional clubhouse.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

So you wander into a clubhouse for a team you admittedly hadn't watched play a single inning? Cry me a ****ing river! Perhaps you, the "journalist", hadn't earned the right to be in a professional clubhouse.

How are unprepared, no-talent hacks given access to MLB clubhouses to begin with?

To learn how to ask appropriate questions. I don't know if the Royals or Chiefs even allow interns anymore, but back in the day interns were allowed but they weren't allowed to ask any questions. The reasoning is that you are there to learn how to ask questions, what to ask and how to ask them in a professional manner.

I have no idea of the specifics because it was just his side but if several people are laughing at the guy, players and other media, he was probably doing something wrong.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

So you wander into a clubhouse for a team you admittedly hadn't watched play a single inning? Cry me a ****ing river! Perhaps you, the "journalist", hadn't earned the right to be in a professional clubhouse.

How are unprepared, no-talent hacks given access to MLB clubhouses to begin with?

I get the sentiment, but you would hope the players would have enough respect for any person not to treat people this way.

The reporter clearly was completely out of his element there though. You don't know who looks like what? And you want to ask them about their approach in deep level statistical analysis that they probably don't follow?

It's kind of a blood in the water type thing, and realistically this reporter does appear to be inadequate at getting meaningful information from professional athletes. However, Moose and Frenchy criticizing anyone for being terrible at their job is a little ironic.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

So you wander into a clubhouse for a team you admittedly hadn't watched play a single inning? Cry me a ****ing river! Perhaps you, the "journalist", hadn't earned the right to be in a professional clubhouse.

How are unprepared, no-talent hacks given access to MLB clubhouses to begin with?

The nerve of that guy to try to talk and ask about more advanced metrics with the royalty in the KC clubhouse.

[jbwm89]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

So you wander into a clubhouse for a team you admittedly hadn't watched play a single inning? Cry me a ****ing river! Perhaps you, the "journalist", hadn't earned the right to be in a professional clubhouse.

How are unprepared, no-talent hacks given access to MLB clubhouses to begin with?

Exactly, think what would happen if an outsider wandered into a carpenter's union hall asking tough questions about unions, or any other professional setting. If you don't care enough to know who the players you are interviewing are you deserve whatever ribbing comes your way. Welcome to the grown up world, people are d bags all the time especially when you make an ass out of yourself like he did.

[Messier]

Originally Posted by jbwm89

Exactly, think what would happen if an outsider wandered into a carpenter's union hall asking tough questions about unions, or any other professional setting. If you don't care enough to know who the players you are interviewing are you deserve whatever ribbing comes your way. Welcome to the grown up world, people are d bags all the time especially when you make an ass out of yourself like he did.

How often do carpenters get interviewed? Baseball players do all the time, by media members of differing levels of competence.

Not knowing the players name is not good, but not worthy of that.

It seems to me the Royals, as an organization, have taken on an unearned dickishness.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

The nerve of that guy to try to talk and ask about more advanced metrics with the royalty in the KC clubhouse.

Well, this guy is totally an amateur. I mean, he mistook Hosmer for Moose and he is digging around in his phone on-site for nuggets of advanced metrics to try and start a conversation with these players. He is clearly completely socially awkward by the sounds of things. That said, you would hope for your team's players to take the high road here.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Well, this guy is totally an amateur. I mean, he mistook Hosmer for Moose and he is digging around in his phone on-site for nuggets of advanced metrics to try and start a conversation with these players. He is clearly completely socially awkward by the sounds of things. That said, you would hope for your team's players to take the high road here.

Pretty much.

Stat geek completely out of his element. But this is the type of sophomoric behavior most associated with HS locker rooms. Bunch of self-entitled douches.

And the radio reports have suggested this is exactly why Seitzer was fired; he didn't jibe with Moose and Hosmer. So, if you're not "one of the guys" in KC, you're in trouble, apparently.

**** the fact that some of "the guys" have been completely incompetent lately (Moose, Butler, etc.).

[Prison Bitch]

I don't care if they're rude or not. I do care if they produce. Their arrogance is something I've noted for Hoz and Moose repeatedly on this board ("they think they're so much better than they are") and this proves my hunch on them both.


DM never challenges them so OF COURSE one is hitting with zero power an the other is one of the single worst players in MLB. Their arrogance was never beaten out of their heads because they are DMs pets. Don't think for a second our clubhouse doesn't see it

[gblowfish]

Everyone involved with the post game Moose interview is in the wrong. Clinkscale should have just let it go, Moose didn't want to talk about his slump, didn't want to take questions about him. He was an immature dick about it, but the media (especially KK) getting his panties in a wad afterwards is just as petty. KK thinks WHB is some 4th estate institution of sports journalism. But when you press him on his ego, he always retreats into his "I'm just radio boy...I'm a trained monkey" routine. He never asks tough questions of Clark Hunt, because the Chiefs allow WHB to do the season post game show. He's bagging on the Royals because they ditched WHB and went with 610 instead,so he has a bug up his ass about the Royals front office, because they're not greasing him any more. They're all whores, follow the money.

[Messier]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Everyone involved with the post game Moose interview is in the wrong. Clinkscale should have just let it go, Moose didn't want to talk about his slump, didn't want to take questions about him. He was an immature dick about it, but the media (especially KK) getting his panties in a wad afterwards is just as petty. KK thinks WHB is some 4th estate institution of sports journalism. But when you press him on his ego, he always retreats into his "I'm just radio boy...I'm a trained monkey" routine. He never asks tough questions of Clark Hunt, because the Chiefs allow WHB to do the season post game show. He's bagging on the Royals because they ditched WHB and went with 610 instead,so he has a bug up his ass about the Royals front office, because they're not greasing him any more. They're all whores, follow the money.

On the money about KK and WHB.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Everyone involved with the post game Moose interview is in the wrong. Clinkscale should have just let it go, Moose didn't want to talk about his slump, didn't want to take questions about him. He was an immature dick about it, but the media (especially KK) getting his panties in a wad afterwards is just as petty. KK thinks WHB is some 4th estate institution of sports journalism. But when you press him on his ego, he always retreats into his "I'm just radio boy...I'm a trained monkey" routine. He never asks tough questions of Clark Hunt, because the Chiefs allow WHB to do the season post game show. He's bagging on the Royals because they ditched WHB and went with 610 instead,so he has a bug up his ass about the Royals front office, because they're not greasing him any more. They're all whores, follow the money.

George nails it!

[KcMizzou]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Everyone involved with the post game Moose interview is in the wrong. Clinkscale should have just let it go, Moose didn't want to talk about his slump, didn't want to take questions about him. He was an immature dick about it, but the media (especially KK) getting his panties in a wad afterwards is just as petty. KK thinks WHB is some 4th estate institution of sports journalism. But when you press him on his ego, he always retreats into his "I'm just radio boy...I'm a trained monkey" routine. He never asks tough questions of Clark Hunt, because the Chiefs allow WHB to do the season post game show. He's bagging on the Royals because they ditched WHB and went with 610 instead,so he has a bug up his ass about the Royals front office, because they're not greasing him any more. They're all whores, follow the money.

Yup. Well said, sir.

[Sure-Oz]

Hos and Moose come off as spoiled douches that need to be humbled

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Hos and Moose come off as spoiled douches that need to be humbled

DM needs to be the one humbling them but.... Ya'll know it.