ChiefsPlanet - Royals ***Official 2021 Royals Season Repository Thread***

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***Official 2021 Royals Season Repository Thread*** (https://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=336108)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry (Post 15546356)

Analytics don't like Benintendi's defense.

Maybe so, but let's see what Rusty Kuntz can get out of him.

Do I allow myself to be excited for the Royals?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilson8 (Post 15546249)

Edward Olivares

I could see that later in the year but coming out of spring training?

Quote:

Originally Posted by KChiefs1 (Post 15546490)

I could see that later in the year but coming out of spring training?

A lot of it is just a guess right now. Maybe Hanser Alberto or Kelvin Gutierrez come in to spring training and really play well at 3B and hit really well, that might create an opportunity for Hunter Dozier in Right Field.

We shall see, but I am looking forward to the season.

I hope to go to spring training and to watch some games.

Been watching a lot of supercuts of our 2014-2015 playoff runs. Feels great to be cautiously optimistic about baseball again.

I'm almost all in, about time. :thumb:

I’m kinda surprised the Royals haven’t jumped on Trevor Rosenthal.

Bringing back Rosenthal on a one-year deal, potentially with an option for 2022, sends a clear message to the players, fans and baseball at-large.

“We’re in it to win it and we will stop at nothing to make sure we get that job done.”

What is the go to service for streaming for this season for a cord cutter? Was thinking MLB.tv but they blackout everything local right? YoutubeTV doesn’t carry FSKC any more so no more Royals games on it....

Quote:

Originally Posted by KChiefs1 (Post 15548343)

I think it'd be a good signing but if you didn't already think that after Dayton signed Santana, not sure if Rosenthal will push you over the edge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilson8 (Post 15546497)

I’m interested to see how spring training works out. The Royals aren’t known to rush players anymore. Olivares does have an advantage by playing last season & doing well.

The Royals made a mistake in 2019 by going with a free agent Billy Hamilton for the starting CF job over Brian Goodwin, who was acquired mid-season in 2018, much like Olivares in 2020. Olivares is faster, younger, and strikes out much less than Goodwin. In addition, he has the potential to be a much better defensive player than Goodwin as well (not to mention less injury-prone). And thus, if the Royals front office made a mistake with Goodwin, they could be making an even bigger error if they overlook Olivares when they report to camp in Surprise.

It will be interesting to see how Moore and Matheny will handle Olivares this spring, and if he will be given the opportunity to earn the starting job for 2021.

I hope they decide to go with a young guy. Merrifield at 2B is my preferred choice instead of RF.

It really come down to Olivares vs Nicky Lopez.

They love Lopez’s defense at 2B, which is excellent, but he needs to give them much more with the bat to keep a starting gig.

We had a black hole in the line-up for years at 2b. Then we get Merrifield and even though he's a great hitter and near gold glover at 2b, we won't leave him there, so we have...a black hole at 2b.

I don't get it.

Anyway, this line-up looks pretty okay. The team will go as the young pitching goes. I'm hopeful for a competitive squad, in the .500-ish range.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerm (Post 15548346)

Hulu had them last year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerm (Post 15548346)

Same here for this question. I really wish MLB would get rid of that stupid blackout rule. It’s antiqued.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Great Expectations (Post 15548434)

Hulu had them last year.

Hulu does not have them this year.

Those shitbirds at Sinclair broadcasting are trying to play hardball with all the streaming services, while they set up their own streaming network (that looks to be at least a year out).

They're partnering with Bally's to make sports betting integrated with their broadcasts, where legal.

Sinclair Broadcasting = THE WORST.

In the mean time, MLB.TV with a VPN is probably the best bet. That way you can hide your actual network. It's tricky to get it to work with a streaming device like a Roku, though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Meck (Post 15548426)

Lopez was a fantastic contact hitter throughout his career...low strikeouts. It's not foolish to be a bit more patient and see if he can finally make the turn and adjusts to MLB pitching and regain his career norms. If he does, he's a great foundation piece, given his defense. Whit in RF is not a bad situation. I think his SB totals went down primarily due to playing so much CF, which is far more taxing than RF.

So, I don't follow baseball too closely but I did see the recent trade.

Objectively, how do we look this year? Do we have a chance to contend for a postseason spot?

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho (Post 15548610)

Hulu does not have them this year.

Those shitbirds at Sinclair broadcasting are trying to play hardball with all the streaming services, while they set up their own streaming network (that looks to be at least a year out).

They're partnering with Bally's to make sports betting integrated with their broadcasts, where legal.

Sinclair Broadcasting = THE WORST.

In the mean time, MLB.TV with a VPN is probably the best bet. That way you can hide your actual network. It's tricky to get it to work with a streaming device like a Roku, though.

FWIW: Express VPN software on a 2nd wifi router works like a charm. Works both with the NFL app and MLB app on Roku.

Is Sling still an option? I watched games on there a few years back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLO (Post 15548633)

Is Sling still an option? I watched games on there a few years back.

No.

The shitbags at Sinclair have frozen out literally every single streaming service.

Quote:

Originally Posted by New World Order (Post 15548616)

So, I don't follow baseball too closely but I did see the recent trade.

Objectively, how do we look this year? Do we have a chance to contend for a postseason spot?

Barring a much better than expected season they should still be behind both Minnesota and Chicago. They could still be behind Cleveland, but they have certainly closed the gap.

For those with an Athletic subscription, this is a good read on Benintendi. Basically gives some context to his struggles the last year or so.

Excuse the dumb question please, but there’s no chance we see Witt this season, is there? And is that a bad thing if we don’t?

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealSNR (Post 15549468)

Excuse the dumb question please, but there’s no chance we see Witt this season, is there? And is that a bad thing if we don’t?

Sure there's a chance. I hope he plays in the minors all year. But yeah...there's a chance. Even if it's for a cup of coffee. For him to come up, it would have to mean a.) he's legit ready, b.) he's needed to play 3B for some reason or; c.) Mondi is hurt and he's the best/obvious option to play SS.

To me, being ready is the biggest hurdle and the biggest reason he won't be promoted. I mean...he really should spend at least a year playing for the high level teams (AA and/or AAA).

No. He won’t be here. Mondesi plays his position.

***Official 2021 Royals Season Repository Thread***

MLBN had their top prospects show tonight.

Royals:

7. Bobby Witt Jr
29. Daniel Lynch
30. Asa Lacy
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3bfda88806.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by KChiefs1 (Post 15550283)

Interesting lineup projection.

https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-res...-charts/royals

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...507c101491.jpg

I've certainly seen worse Royals lineups in my time.

I hate a lineup with Perez and Mondesi hitting 2-3.

You’ve got all these great OBP guys like Benintendi and Dozier who also run well behind them. Flop it.

Merrifield
Benintendi
Dozier
Santana
Soler
Perez
Mondesi
Taylor
Olivares

Is what i roll with.

You’re putting a lot of guys on in front of Soler and Perez in this situation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Why Not? (Post 15550308)

I've certainly seen worse Royals lineups in my time.

Emil Brown, Ruben Gotay, Angel Berroa, Terrence Long.

I love to play the "What If" game with Merrifield. What if he would have gotten the call up in '15 and then the start at 2B in '16 instead of Mondesi?

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho (Post 15550330)

I think it depends on whether Salvy and Mondesi play like they did at the end of last year or they regress. If Mondesi has truly figured it out he'll have to be somewhere near the top of the lineup. He's just so dynamic when he's rolling.

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho (Post 15548797)

No.

The shitbags at Sinclair have frozen out literally every single streaming service.

Damn
I'm gonna have to find some sort of solution.

I love videos like this.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OFGlHFn6y1w" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ba_3QDlXc1E" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLO (Post 15550382)

Damn
I'm gonna have to find some sort of solution.

MLB.TV with a VPN looks like the best bet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat (Post 15550331)

Emil Brown, Ruben Gotay, Angel Berroa, Terrence Long.

Yeah, that’s certainly one of them.

Isbels development got Lee traded.

***Official 2021 Royals Season Repository Thread***

Quote:

Originally Posted by dallaschiefsfan (Post 15549302)

For those with an Athletic subscription, this is a good read on Benintendi. Basically gives some context to his struggles the last year or so.

Great read. Loved this part.

Quote:

Even before the trade, this 2020-21 offseason has been about returning to his fluid athletic self. He’s eaten differently. His body has returned to his natural weight, he said. His bat path is also where he wants it to be.

“He decided he’s going to go back to what he looked like when he was at his best,” Chris said, “and that was the guy who was 175 at his height. Be the athletic, bat-on-ball kind of guy.”

“Now I understand the player I am and want to be,” Andrew said.

“He’s a line-drive swing type of guy,” Barkett said. “Kauffman Stadium is a tough place to hit the ball out of the ballpark. So for him there it’s, ‘There’s gaps here; I just need to stay within myself and play my game.'”

Back to the journey.

Speaking this week after he’d been traded, Andrew mentioned 2015. He’d torn up college baseball that year and been drafted. Simultaneously, the Royals earned a trip to the World Series. He watched the games with friends in Fayetteville, marveling at the electricity within a Midwestern town — one that reminded him of home. Don’t take this the wrong way: He and his family loved Boston. There’s just a familiarity that comes with the Midwest.

Similarly, there’s a familiarity that comes with the body weight he’s long played with; that bat path he’s long worked with; the approach that made him who he is.

“He’s excited,” Chris Benintendi said. “We’re all excited.”

And all of that is why I hope we see Benintendi hitting 2 or 3. He runs well, hits for a high average, and has on-base skills to boot. If you hit him at the top, you’re set up to take advantage of that.

If Mondesi continues where he left off 2020, you could hit Merrifield-Benintendi-Mondesi in some order at the top and follow them up with Soler-Santana-Perez-Dozier and give your power guys lots of ABs with fast men on base.

This has the potential to be a really good lineup, gang.

And if they’re actually deadening the ball like it looks like, KC’s staff will play up a bit pitching at a bigger ballpark that is less hitter friendly.

FG playoff odds: 10.4%. (Went up 2% with AB trade)

https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds

Projected record: 79-83

https://www.fangraphs.com/depthchart...tion=Standings

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch (Post 15550790)

FG playoff odds: 10.4%. (Went up 2% with AB trade)

https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds

Projected record: 79-83

https://www.fangraphs.com/depthchart...tion=Standings

I'm good with this - should keep us interested/in wild card hunt through August or so...

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho (Post 15550616)

If Salvy can be just 90% of what he was last year over the course of 500 ABs, then he has

155+ hits
35+ 2Bs
35+ HRs
100 + RBIs

You have to hit him 4. Have Merrifield, AB, Mondesi in front of him and he has the chance to have a ton more RBIs and then with the players you can stack behind him for the added protection. That makes Salvy one hell of a valuable player even if he isn't playing C an absurd amount of times. The key with Salvy to have an insane year at the plate is not wearing him out behind the plate.

Side note, what does it take for Salvy to get into Cooperstown? Is he gonna have to play for 7 or more years and rack up 5 more GG and 4 more SS? That'd put him at 10 GG's and 7 SS's. That puts him in a tie with Pudge Rodriguez for 2nd most SS's by a C and 10 GG's puts him in a tie with Johnny Bench for 2nd most GG's.

I know that's tough, but what do you think gets him into the HOF, because he's the only one from the WS run that even has a chance.

Sal has a 24 bWar and 12 fWar (FG introduces that idiotic “pitch framing” metric a coupe years ago that punished Sal and elevated guys like Posey and Grandal).

The avg HOF catcher has a bWar of 52. There are 16 members. So Sal needs to double his career production, the second part starting at age 31. Unlikely to say the least.

But if he adds 3-4 more ASG and gold gloves, he’s got a solid case for sure. And that is do-able.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLO (Post 15550382)

Damn
I'm gonna have to find some sort of solution.

https://cubbyscablecutters.com/

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch (Post 15551303)

Reason I was asking was because of baseball references

HOF Monitor
Sal - 39, Likely HOF has 100

HOF Standards
Sal - 7, Likely HOF has 50

JAWS right now hes the 59th ranked catcher

Sal:
24.2 career WAR / 20.7 7yr-peak WAR / 22.4 JAWS

Average HOF C (out of 16):
53.6 career WAR / 34.8 7yr-peak WAR / 44.2 JAWS

But with Sal, he has a ton of hardware and if last year wasn't just an anomaly and he can somehow repeat that he has a really good shot. If he played all year like he did for those ~40 games, then he would have had around an 8 WAR. If he were to have just 2, maybe 3 seasons of 5-8 WAR then I think he's for sure getting in. Hell 5 GG, 3 SS and 6 AS isn't too shabby a start.

***Official 2021 Royals Season Repository Thread***

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/ml...249265010.html

Northwest Arkansas fans will have to wait to see KC Royals play in their ballpark

BY LYNN WORTHY

The coronavirus will cost Kansas City Royals’ Double-A affiliate a chance to host their major-league parent club and stars like Salvador Perez and Whit Merrifield this spring.

The Northwest Arkansas Naturals announced on Monday morning their exhibition game against the Royals at Arvest Ballpark on Monday, March 29, has been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The club did not announce a makeup date, but said they’d look to reschedule “for a future year.”

The Royals released a revised spring training schedule last week which foreshadowed Monday’s announcement. The Royals revised spring training slate now includes a Cactus League game against the Cleveland Indians in Surprise, Arizona, on March 29.

The Kansas City Royals on Friday announced a revised 28-game Cactus League exhibition schedule for spring training in Arizona.

The Royals will now open Cactus League play on Sunday, February 28 at 2:05 p.m. Central time against the Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium. The Royals and Rangers share Surprise Stadium as their home venue in Arizona.

The Royals’ schedule includes 14 home games in addition to one game as the visiting team against the Rangers on March 26.

The Royals will play every other Cactus League team twice, once at home and once as the road team.

After the Cactus League finale on Monday, March 29, the Royals will have two days off before the regular season starts on Thursday, April 1 against the Rangers at Kauffman Stadium.

Royals pitchers and catchers will hold their first spring training workout in Arizona on Wednesday.

Quote:

Royals spring training schedule

All times Central

Sunday, February 28: Texas, 2:05 p.m.

Monday, March 1: at Cleveland, TBA

Tuesday, March 2: at Chicago (NL), TBA

Wednesday, March 3: Chicago (AL), 2:05 p.m.

Thursday, March 4: at Cincinnati, TBA

Friday, March 5: Los Angeles, 2:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 6: at San Francisco, TBA

Sunday, March 7: at San Diego, TBA

Monday, March 8: Oakland, 2:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 9: at Seattle, TBA

Wednesday, March 10: Cincinnati, 2:05 p.m.

Thursday, March 11: at Milwaukee, TBA

Saturday, March 13: Chicago (NL), 2:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 14: at Los Angeles, TBA

Monday, March 15: San Francisco, 3:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 16: Seattle, 8:05 p.m.

Wednesday, March 17: at Oakland, TBA

Thursday, March 18: at Chicago (AL), TBA

Friday, March 19: Los Angeles, 3:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 20: at Arizona, TBA

Sunday, March 21: Colorado, 3:05 p.m.

Monday, March 22: San Diego, 3:05 p.m.

Wednesday, March 24: at Los Angeles, TBA

Thursday, March 25: Arizona, 3:05 p.m.

Friday, March 26: at Texas, TBA

Saturday, March 27: Milwaukee, 3:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 28: at Colorado, TBA

Monday, March 29: Cleveland, 2 p.m.

Man spring training in 12 days

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJJasonp (Post 15550799)

I'm good with this - should keep us interested/in wild card hunt through August or so...

I think you meant October.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/sto...prospects-2021

Kiley McDaniel's top 100 MLB prospects for 2021

17. Bobby Witt Jr

For me, Witt fits next to Pache because their profiles are similar, with Witt having more offensive upside and a more desirable position, but he is years behind in development.

Witt draws Trevor Story comparisons. He is the type who could hit for enough contact and draw enough walks to get to his 25-30 homer power in games while also providing premium value on the basepaths and on defense.

Witt has been posting big exit velos in pro games, but he hasn't quite dialed everything in yet. When there are questions about his ability to make contact for a player in Rookie ball, that's a considerable risk regardless of the upside. A strong low-A performance that addresses these issues would move Witt up a good bit from his already lofty perch as the No. 2 overall pick in 2019.

49. Asa Lacy

Lacy was cross-checked in high school but his asking price pushed him to Texas A&M, where he popped on the scene with bigger stuff in his sophomore year.

Lacy was on the same staff as Meyer for Team USA the summer before his draft year and worked in the mid-90's with an easily plus slider, but his below average command and stiff delivery were both issues.

Leading up to the draft, scouts pointed to Lacy's track record of strike throwing, especially in his dominating effort in the biggest games, as signs that the starter traits are in there if you could iron out some delivery adjustments. The Royals took him No. 4 overall just behind Meyer and envision him as a potential frontline starter. He certainly has the fastball and slider to profile there, but they'll have some work to do in refining the rest.

65. Daniel Lynch

Lynch was a personal favorite of mine in the runup to the 2018 draft with his velocity spiking once he started pitching how he wanted(fewer sliders in the dirt) instead of how Virginia dictated he pitch. His velo has continued to rise, going from 88-92 early in his draft spring to touching the mid-90's pre-draft to finally reaching the upper 90's in pro ball.

His above-average command from his softer-tossing pitchability days is still around and his fastball and slider both play as 55 or 60 on the 20-80 scale depending on the day. His curveball and changeup are both around average, so he's got a real chance to be a mid-rotation starter with some small chance to be a frontline power lefty if it all comes together.

https://theathletic.com/2392131/2021...ining-preview/

The realist’s guide to how a perfect Royals season would play out in 2021
by
Alec Lewis

Quote:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In spring 2015, then-Royals manager Ned Yost was talking about how, after 29 years, the club not only reached the wild-card game against the Oakland A’s but also won that game.

It was about one thing: belief.

“All of a sudden, after all those years, they came in in the eighth inning of that wild-card game, and they believed that they were invincible,” Yost told The Washington Post. “They believed that they were good. They believed that they were unbeatable. They believed they could beat anybody. They believed that they could stand up under the most intense scrutiny in the most intense pressure on the biggest stage in the world with the brightest lights. They believed.”

It’s an immeasurable characteristic, especially from the outside. The Royals, though, saw it as important. They still do, especially current manager Mike Matheny, who around this time last season in Surprise, Ariz., stood in front of the club and told them he believed in them. Maybe that started to swell within them then, or maybe the 12-6 finish in the 2020 season did the job, or maybe it was the offseason signings of players who have reached some of the brightest stages.

“I always say it this way,” Matheny said recently, “if you’re trying to get somewhere you’ve never been before, the best place to go is to somebody who has.”

The Royals want to win in 2021, but a World Series title looks improbable for a team coming off a 26-34 season. So on the day pitchers and catchers report, we thought it would be valuable to lay out what a perfectly realistic season would look like. Each of these scenarios requires a certain level of belief:

10. Adalberto Mondesi picks up where he left off from 2020 and proves he’s more that player than the early-season guy

Let’s go back to Sept. 4, 2020.

The Royals were 14-24 and preparing for a Friday night game against the Chicago White Sox. Mondesi, the 25-year-old shortstop, had gone 0-for-4 the night before. Here was his slash line at the time: .179/.209/.231. That’s a .440 OPS, hardly the expected mark from a player the club views as essential to its future.

But that Friday night was a turning point. Mondesi went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs. He proceeded to play 23 more games, and his 2.0 fWAR over that stretch led all major-league hitters. Indeed, Mondesi ranked above Freddie Freeman and José Ramirez and Ronald Acuña Jr. and any other player you’d like to mention. Mondesi hit six home runs over that period, with 20 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. He was a force.

This optimism is nothing new. In 2019, this is what The Athletic’s Rustin Dodd wrote in his version of the Royals realist’s guide: “In the words of another great athlete, ‘The ceiling is the roof.’” Mondesi slash line the final week of that season: .615/.655/1.154.

A more sustained performance begins with health. Mondesi has struggled to avoid injuries throughout his career, and health works in tandem with development. The other big hurdle for Mondesi will be cutting down on his swing-and-miss. Mondesi has a career 29.7 percent strikeout percentage; the league average is 21.8 percent. Interestingly, though, over the final 23 games, Mondesi still struck out 28.7 percent of the time. It’ll be a balancing act. The strikeout numbers won’t disappear. Limiting them, in any way, will go a long way toward Mondesi reaching that ceiling.

9. One of the minor-league signees — Ervin Santana, Wade Davis or Hanser Alberto — becomes a capable piece

Signing players to minor-league contracts is custom. These are no-risk moves with strong potential. As an example, the Royals’ minor-league deals last season were with Trevor Rosenthal and Greg Holland. Another example came in 2019, when the Royals signed Homer Bailey to a minor-league deal, then traded him to Oakland for prospects.

The Royals would love to reap the rewards of at least one of their minor-league signings this season. Santana, Davis and Alberto all stand out. Each brings experience that could benefit the youngsters. And each could be sought after on the trade market in the event the Royals stumble out of the gate. Santana’s 15 seasons of experience give him a good chance to be desirable considering all MLB clubs are on the lookout for arms after the wonky 2020 season. Davis, of course, has been tested by the most heated of battles, an element missing from much of this Royals bullpen. Alberto, a right-handed-hitting second baseman, provides a bat against left-handed pitching.

All of these guys could clearly make a club that has 37 men on its 40-man roster. Contributions from any of them would be a welcome bonus.

8. Andrew Benintendi and Carlos Santana bounce back from down 2020 seasons

Here was Benintendi’s 2020 slash line: .103/.314/.128.

Benintendi’s career slash line: .273/.353/.435.

Here was Santana’s 2020 slash line: .199/.349/.350.

Santana’s career slash line: .248/.366/.446.

In the context of each player’s career, 2020 was a horrible season, even with the caveat of a sample size. The Royals paid prices for both players — for Benintendi, it was prospect Khalil Lee and outfielder Franchy Cordero; for Santana, it was $17.5 million — and they did it because they believed each guy would bounce back to their past production. Doing so would bolster a team that finished with a .309 on-base percentage, fourth worst in the majors last season.

7. Nicky Lopez settles into who he is and proves utility ability, at minimum

Some might roll their eyes at this one, but understanding the context is key.

Lopez has already surpassed what was likely expected this early from a fifth-round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. Looking back at 2019, Lopez was posting a .957 OPS at Triple-A Omaha at the time of his big-league call-up. The Pacific Coast League is famously hitter-friendly, but this statistic had nothing to do with the ball. Lopez, at the time, was striking out only 3.6 percent of the time.

Lopez proved his plate awareness with a 7.1 strikeout percentage at High-A Wilmington and Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He showcased that skill at the big-league level in 2019, striking out only 12.7 percent of the time, which ranked in the top 6 percent in MLB. Things changed that offseason; Lopez naturally wanted to bulk up and add more power, but his numbers were affected — he struck out 21.4 percent of the time in 2020.

The context suggests that the total will drop back down in 2021, allowing Lopez to up his on-base percentage. Pairing a higher OBP with his fielding ability would be a welcome development, and Matheny is optimistic.

“I watched him hit a few days ago,” the manager said, “and it’s just a short stroke. He’s doing what Nicky can do. He can be one of those guys who works counts, moves guys over, has a low swing-and-miss. Not everybody has that. And he does.”

6. Bobby Witt Jr. showcases his star-studded ability

If you were understandably immersed in everything Chiefs, you may have missed what Royals folks said about Witt in 2020.

“I don’t even know how to explain what he can do,” director of hitting performance Alec Zumwalt said.

“There’s not a day that goes by that he doesn’t do something really good,” assistant general manager J.J. Picollo said.

“His ability to put the barrel on the ball is beyond special,” Zumwalt said.

Witt was facing future big-league pitching in 2020, but finally this season the shortstop will compete in the upper levels of the minor leagues. More than him making a debut, the “perfectly realistic” scenario would have him tearing up opposing competition — at whatever level that may be.

5. The hitting prospects who slumped in 2019 show strides

One of 2019’s biggest storylines was the struggles of the hitting prospects at High-A Wilmington: Nick Pratto, MJ Melendez and Seuly Matias.

Each is a different case. Matias was attempting to play through a broken hand. He’s since worked tirelessly, which paid off during his brief but effective Dominican Winter League season. Matias posted a 1.189 OPS in 18 plate appearances.

Melendez has spent time in Miami, working with Royals special assignment hitting coach Mike Tosar, who helped fuel Jorge Soler’s breakout in 2019. Melendez showed strides at spring training in 2020 and, later, at the alternate site. But competition tells all. The Athletic’s Keith Law recently said Melendez has an 80 arm on the scouting scale, so any improvement at the plate would supplement a promising skill set.

And Pratto, the former first-round pick, has revamped his swing with the help of Zumwalt, hitting coordinator Drew Saylor, assistant hitting coordinator Keoni De Renne and vaunted hitting coach Craig Wallenbrock.

4. The bullpen continues to improve

The Royals focused last offseason on improving the bullpen. They wanted to add experience and power arms and they did it not only with Rosenthal and Holland but also with the development of Josh Staumont, Tyler Zuber, Jesse Hahn and others. It used to be hard to find seven or eight arms for the bullpen; now it’s hard to pick only seven or eight.

Will Jakob Junis become a weapon out of the ‘pen? Will Jake Newberry continue his silently effective performance? Will others such as Daniel Tillo, Ronald Bolaños or Carlos Hernández join the fold?

The more bullpen arms that pitch well, the better off the Royals will be as they creep closer to sustained contention.

3. Brad Keller, Brady Singer and Kris Bubic progress

Fourteen pitchers 26 years old or younger have totaled more than 300 innings since 2018.

To name a few: German Márquez, Shane Bieber, Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty … Brad Keller. And only Marquez, Bieber and Flaherty have higher career bWAR than Keller (8.3). That’s how good he’s been.

How has Keller, who throws a fastball, sinker and slider, been this good? It almost certainly delves into his knack for “seam-shifted wake” — in layman’s terms, that’s the turbulence that affects a baseball. Still, what would happen if Keller improved his change-up or added a curveball to his arsenal? He’s worked on both, and the Royals would benefit if Keller reports this week with better command of at least one of those pitches.

Similarly, Singer could take another step up with more reps of his change-up. Truth be told, he didn’t need the pitch often in 2020. The more hitters he faces, the more its integration will help. Bubic, too, has room for improvement, specifically with his control. He showed flashes in 2020 and is only 23, so any improvement would provide hope for the long term.

2. Daniel Lynch and Jackson Kowar make their debuts

This wouldn’t be so much about the actual milestone as it would be what it would signify. For Lynch, it would not only represent improved health but also progression with his change-up and repeatability. For Kowar, it’d also be about repeatability as well as the development of the breaking ball.

For the Royals, this would mean one of the most fruitful draft classes in the history of the sport, and that’s not hyperbole.

Only seven draft classes have produced four starters pitching in the same rotation for the team that drafted them, according to FiveThirtyEight. The Lynch and Kowar additions would tie that record, with Bubic and Singer already in the rotation. And get this: Austin Cox, Jonathan Bowlan, Jon Heasley and Zach Haake are also 2018 MLB Draft picks who could start.

1. The rest of the pitching prospects remain healthy and push closer to the big leagues

The rest? Oh, yeah.

Singer, Bubic, Lynch, Kowar, Cox, Bowlan, Heasley and Haake are some of the many pitchers on the rise.

Here are some others: Carlos Hernández, Asa Lacy, Alec Marsh, Noah Murdock, Angel Zerpa, Will Klein, Ben Hernandez, Grant Gambrell, Charlie Neuweiler … should I go on?

You’ve heard Royals general manager Dayton Moore mention how important pitching development is. The numbers are a testament to the scouting staff, led by Lonnie Goldberg, and the development staff, led by Paul Gibson.

Among all of the important elements in this 2021 season — beyond winning, of course — continued pitching prospect progression ranks No. 1.

Quote:

Who will be their fifth starter?

The Royals had a solid offseason, adding offense with the acquisitions of first baseman Carlos Santana and outfielder Michael A. Taylor in free agency and left fielder Andrew Benintendi in a trade with the Red Sox. They improved their starting pitching by signing Mike Minor, and their bullpen by reuniting with Greg Holland and Wade Davis on free-agent deals.

That leaves the Royals with only one real question entering spring training: Who will be the fifth starter? The candidates include veteran Ervin Santana, left-hander Kris Bubic, right-hander Jakob Junis and the team’s top prospect, lefty Daniel Lynch.

Santana, 38, didn’t pitch in 2020 and has made only eight starts since 2017 as he’s dealt with injuries and underperformance. In those eight starts, he pitched a total of 38 innings, allowing 50 hits and posting an 8.53 ERA. However, the Royals liked what they saw in the Dominican Winter League this offseason, when he had a 2.61 ERA in 20 2/3 innings with 25 strikeouts. They remind everyone how good Santana was with the Twins in 2017, when he went 16-8 with a 3.28 ERA and led the league with five complete games and three shutouts. It seems like a long shot to me, but that’s what’s great about baseball — sometimes the long shots hit.

Bubic, 23, debuted last season and made 10 starts, going 1-6 with a 4.32 ERA (106 ERA+) in 50 innings while allowing 52 hits and generating 49 strikeouts. In 2019, he went 11-5 in A-ball with a 2.23 ERA over 26 starts. Making the jump from A-ball to the majors is not easy, but he certainly held his own last season and should be in the mix again, though his development might benefit if he gets some starts at Triple A to begin the year. Junis, 28, has made 83 starts and six relief appearances in four years with the Royals, and posted nine wins in 2017, 2018 and 2019. However, with a 4.78 career ERA and 4.77 FIP, how many more opportunities should he receive?

The final candidate is Lynch, but the front office seems resigned to the fact that he needs to start the year in the minors for further development. Make no mistake, though, he’s the most talented of this group of four. Lynch, 24, has made 32 starts in the minors and dominated while going 11-3 with a 2.50 ERA in 147 2/3 innings, striking out 157 hitters and walking just 37. He’s a future star. If general manager Dayton Moore and manager Mike Matheny have an open mind, don’t be surprised if he’s the fifth starter on Opening Day or soon after.

https://www.overtimeheroics.net/2021...tchers-report/

2021 KC Royals: Number Changes, National TV Game
By
Nick Whyman

Quote:

2021 KC Royals: Changing Numbers

With new faces joining the roster in Carlos Santana and Andrew Benintendi, some players have changed numbers for the 2021 season. Carlos Santana wore #41 during his time with the Cleveland Indians and will continue to wear that number on the back of his uniform in KC. Danny Duffy will now be wearing #21 for this season.

Andrew Benintendi, who was traded to Kansas City in a three-team trade, will be wearing the same number he wore in Boston in #16. This means that Kelvin Gutierrez will be changing numbers and will be wearing #19.

Jakob Junis, who may be making a transition into the bullpen, seems to be wearing #24. Wade Davis, who wore #17 when he spent time with Kansas City a couple of years ago, will now be wearing #71. This means Hunter Dozier will continue to wear #17.

Royals on ESPN This Spring

The Kansas City Royals will also be apart of ESPN’s coverage of select spring training games this year. ESPN usually shows a few games on their network throughout the weekdays during the spring. The Royals will host the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 5th at 2 pm and ESPN will be carrying the game.

Fox Sports Kansas City usually shows a handful of games on their network during the spring, however, they have not announced any games they will broadcast at this time.

Will the Royals games be on Dish? Their website says they will, but it tells you the actual channel on every satellite/cable system being used except for Dish.

Can’t wait to go to a baseball game when its warm out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Great Expectations (Post 15554367)

Will the Royals games be on Dish? Their website says they will, but it tells you the actual channel on every satellite/cable system being used except for Dish.

https://getmyhometeams.com/

According to this, at&t tv choice will carry fox sports kc but not hulu or youtube tv. This is from the sinclair POV.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">With the blessing of Yordano's mother, Marisol, plus former and current teammates, Duffman will wear No. 30 to honor his friend. <a href="https://t.co/i8mj3MqKjo">pic.twitter.com/i8mj3MqKjo</a></p>— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1362195459662508035?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tatis 14/340?

I’d have waited if I was him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch (Post 15554812)

Tatis 14/340?

I’d have waited if I was him.

That lower back herniated disc may have been incentive for him to sign.

Tatis gets the largest contract ever given to a SS, San Diego keeps the new young star for 14 years, good deal for both sides.

That’s an AWFUL lot of security. Man.

Tatis is amazing. Does anyone recall WHO Fernandito was traded for?

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho (Post 15554835)

That’s an AWFUL lot of security. Man.

Tatis is amazing. Does anyone recall WHO Fernandito was traded for?

BIG GAME JAMES YO.

White Sox fans will only be able to live that one down with a World Series. Can you imagine if they lose a World Series to the Padres?

To be fair he was like 17 when that happened, sometimes long term vision works.

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho (Post 15554835)

That’s an AWFUL lot of security. Man.

Tatis is amazing. Does anyone recall WHO Fernandito was traded f?

You could make that argument for every young player.

And the data is pretty clear: wait if you want to maximize your payout.

(And yes I know this becasue you’ve mentioned it before. BGJ)

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho (Post 15554835)

That’s an AWFUL lot of security. Man.

Tatis is amazing. Does anyone recall WHO Fernandito was traded for?

James shields - can you imagine the white sox with Tatis in that batting order?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefspants (Post 15554817)

That lower back herniated disc may have been incentive for him to sign.

I’d bet anything it’s COVID. And uncertainty about future industry revenues.

I’ll make a prediction: COVID is almost over. The Vax is returning sterling results across multiple countries. (I’m biased as I got hit three weeks ago). By summer Americans will be 50% hit and it’ll dissipate and MLB revenues will go back to trend level.

And when they do, Tatis will regret what he did.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch (Post 15554859)

A dollar today is worth more than dollar tomorrow.

Yeah, to truly max it out you need to go year to year. I get that logic.

Tatis was slated to make about $45 million over the next four years of team control.

He likely will make more now, depending on how that deal was structured.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry (Post 15554931)

A dollar today is worth more than dollar tomorrow.

Sure. But the dollar today is being discounted by COVID.

I’m really bullish on America and COVID and even MLB.

If I’m Sherman I go “long” on the industry.

I try to lock up in order:

1. Dozier
2. Keller
3. Salvy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca (Post 15554825)

Tatis gets the largest contract ever given to a SS, San Diego keeps the new young star for 14 years, good deal for both sides.

Makes me think of when the Royals signed Brett, Wilson & Quisenberry to lifetime deals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KChiefs1 (Post 15555121)

Makes me think of when the Royals signed Brett, Wilson & Quisenberry to lifetime deals.

When they got apartment complexes in Memphis?

https://theathletic.com/2394462/2021...nt-and-center/

Stark: The 2021 spring training storylines survey has Padres, Blue Jays front and center
by
Jason Stark

Quote:

SURVEY SAID: In the Most Improved American League Team voting, the Blue Jays went 32-for-32. So they join the Padres in appearing on every ballot. And after the year we’ve just lived through, has unanimity ever felt more heartwarming? Did you notice that two-thirds of the AL franchises were just treading water (or worse) this winter? Our voters did.

So only four teams besides the Jays got more than two votes in the Most Improved Team balloting: White Sox 28, Angels 14, Royals 12, Yankees 6. And one voter refused to list any other team except the Blue Jays. His ballot looked like this: “Blue Jays … That’s it!”

Quote:

SURVEY SAID: Best Trade: Lindor and Arenado swallowed up most of the votes in the Best Trades competition — but not all of them. The leader board after those two: Snell to the Padres 8, Darvish to the Padres 7, Andrew Benintendi to the Royals 2. The fun little group that got one vote apiece included Raisel Iglesias to the Angels, an actual Yankees-Red Sox deal (sending Adam Ottavino to Boston) and separate votes for both the Yankees’ and Pirates’ end of the Jameson Taillon trade.

Big contract for a small payroll team like the A's.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Breaking: Trevor Rosenthal to A’s. $11M, 1 year.</p>— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1362430902463299591?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13 (Post 15555392)

Damn

No way Dayton was going to pay that much.

FG top prospects

19. Witt Jr
25. Lacy
62. Lynch

Quote:

Originally Posted by KChiefs1 (Post 15555624)

Damn

No way Dayton was going to pay that much.

It was a different kind of contract though.

2021 - $3MM, 2022 - $3MM and then $5MM will be paid in 2023

So play 1 year and Athletics will pay out the $11MM over three years time.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/...rosenthal.html