<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1st-rder Blake Mitchell signs w/<a href="https://twitter.com/Royals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Royals</a> for $4.9 million (pick 8 value = $5,980,100). Texas HS C, best prep backstop in <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBDraft?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLBDraft</a> by a wide margin, lefty bat w/tools to hit for power &amp; average, agile defender, big-time arm up to 97 mph on mound. Louisiana State recruit. <a href="https://t.co/OTZpZwfWce">pic.twitter.com/OTZpZwfWce</a></p>&mdash; Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/jimcallisMLB/status/1680229481628278785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

So… I don’t know where the rest of that $1 million is going.

I’m not impressed with Ontiveros so far. He doesn’t seem to have a really good feel for the board and how it’s going to work.

I mean, shit, they could have taken Cameron Johnson at 44 and paid him mid-round money with these savings and the others they added.

44 slot: 1.95 M
8 savings: 1M

And they probably have another 1/2 or so in savings with the rest of their top 10 round picks. So KC could have gotten to $4M or so on Johnson, which would have pulled him off his commitment.

He has all the things you’d like about the guy they drafted at 44, except he has shown the velocity longer and most consistently, performed in a much better baseball region, and has better secondaries, and is left handed.

ARE YOU SAYING THE ROYALS HAVE NO ****ING CLUE WHAT THEY ARE DOING??!?!??!?!?!??!

This team is just dumb as shit

Johnson's camp must have told teams something because it wasn't just the Royals who passed on him many times.

Staumont is having Thoracic Outlet surgery.

Would expect that basically ends his career. He can join Kevin Siegrist and a handful of others whose abuse at Matheny’s hands ruined their careers.

Eesh it just gets worse.

I’ve seen a few suggest he would have signed for 15-18 pick slot value. Which is around $4-4.5M

KC could have gotten to it. Will be interesting to follow, as always.

The Royals look like a team thar doesn't know what it's doing...

During the Royals radio pregame they were interviewing about the draft and they kept saying the R and D department really was behind alot of the picks. Also said they thought the strength of the draft was high school players.

Breaking news! Team thinks it drafted the best players they could!

Yeah. And ontiveros said during thePC that they knew the trends/history on HS C but bucked them because they believed in the player.

Like I said the other day, they had better be right.

The Royals really haven't earned the right to take those chances...

Welp there it is.

Hopefully it's the last guy Matheny ruins for this team, but I'm assuming Barlow is going to blow his arm out any day. So let's look at the guys Matheny just completely ruined.

Josh Staumont - Pitched in 64 games in 2021 with a 2.88 ERA. Previous high for games pitched in a season was 48 between AAA and ML in 2019. In 2020 he pitches in 26 games with a 2.45 ERA. Since his career high in games pitched in 2021 he had pitched in 42 games in 2022 with a 6.45 ERA and then before his probable career ending injury he had pitched in 21 games this season with a 5.40 ERA. #RuinedByMatheny

Dylan Coleman - Pitched in 69 games in 2022, 68 in the ML and 1 in AAA. Had a 2.78 ERA in the ML. His previous high was 50 in 2021. Since his career high in games pitched in 2022 he has 27 appearances between AAA (20) and ML (7) in 2023 with an outstanding 14.85 ERA in the ML. #RuinedByMatheny

Jake Brentz - Rookie year 2021. He pitches in 72 games with a 3.66 ERA. Didn't really have any game experience the prior year because of COVID and the most appearances he had in the minors was 41 in 2019. Had 72 appearances combined in 2018 and 2019. Had 10 appearances between AA and ML in 2022, but has yet to pitch in 2023. #RuinedByMatheny


It'd be real nice to have these 3 guys in our bullpen at full strength, but Matheny didn't mind ruining a few guys' careers for a couple extra wins. The guy was probably the worst thing that could have happened and he may not be as responsive as Dayton for the clown show, but his shitty treatment of younger guys and the best bullpen guys really set this team back.

The guy should never set foot in a clubhouse again.

But hearing that analytical department is behind the draft is a big step in the right direction.

I expected the Matheny defenders to come in to ask us to cite evidence that Matheny had anything to do with this, but then I realized that half of them are no longer on the forum.

But look on the bright side, riding Brentz, Staumont and Barlow into the ground bought us a 74-88 thriller of a season.

Witt dong

They can say that, but I have a hard time believing it right now. They're going to have to have some wins to believe that.

Fat bitch in the outfield caused Salvy not to get a homer

The ball looked like it was gonna hit high off the wall, she reached over and made a nice catch actually

It wouldn't have been a HR either way.

And it isn't just the appearances. It's the willingness to get guys up and warm and sit them down and then do it again and actually put them in the game.

All those warm ups count, too. It's one of the things Yost was best at, actually. If he got a guy up and warm, he'd treat it like he pitched that day and give him rest days as appropriate.

Matheny was a disaster in Kansas City and always a bad fit for what KC was trying to do. He was bad in St. Louis.

But there's probably a team out there that's dumb enough to give him another chance.

Seems they threw analytics out the window with that pick

Alex Marsh has 11 strikeouts thru 6 innings

11

Oh I'm sure. I can imagine his press conference too. "I really learned a lot from my time with the Royals and I've had a lot of time to reflect on the things I did wrong. I'm a changed man and won't have the clubhouse so uptight that players hate being here and I learned a lot about ruining good pitchers careers, so I'll try to not do that."

I still remember after he was hired here and some of the local radio guys were pretty skeptical and then he had his press conference and they were talking like he's a changed man and all this other shit. It's pretty easy to have people write a speech where you don't sound like a blubbering idiot.

His "chase every win" approach also looked a lot more sustainable than it was since his first year was a 60 game season.

By Year 2, relievers hit the wall by July, and when Jeff Flanagan, perhaps GMDM's most reliable media mouthpiece, was even leaking concerns from the locker room, the writing was on the wall

Holy suck, Snider.....throw a strike, would ya

Snider needs to be DFA

Salvy having a nice day

4 hits...he needed this

Marsh has always had really fantastic stuff. I'm excited to see how the rest of his season goes.

Would be slightly confidence building if he can take a step forward.

He took a step today for sure

Rays 8 and 9 hitters - 3 homers today

I can't tell you the last time I watched a full game.

I am at Romeo Crenell level enthusiasm with the Royals.

it only takes a couple of hours these days

One game last week, the Cardinals game started one hour before the Royals game. Royals game finished before it was done. Got to watch the entire 9th inning after the Royals game. It was crazy lol.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Royals sign 8th overall pick, Blake Mitchell to his first MLB contract this morning. <br>TV: Bally Sports Kansas City<br>Stream: Bally Sports app <a href="https://t.co/RKJSeopgHC">pic.twitter.com/RKJSeopgHC</a></p>&mdash; Bally Sports Kansas City (@BallySportsKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportsKC/status/1680270725700112386?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Ontiveros already knows he made the wrong choice and will be getting fired for it.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mike Moustakas ties it with a 3-run homer‼️<br><br>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportWest?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BallySportWest</a>)<br><br> <a href="https://t.co/hJGMbJPEan">pic.twitter.com/hJGMbJPEan</a></p>&mdash; FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1680420998024429568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Looked almost exactly like his go-ahead homer in Game 1 of the ALDS there.

That haircut...eesh.

That's the "in" thing now. Mullets are back in style.

Does anyone know his stance on porn? Would Dayton Moore be proud of his boys?

He looks like a hockey player

Dude that is like a bowl cut mixed with a mullet.

Reminds me of those coon tail hats with a good old Zach Taylor hair part right down the middle.

https://64.media.tumblr.com/8ef98d4c...87640e4051.pnj

He was a huge fan of Ralph Macchio in "The Outsiders" years

I'm going to watch today because it's so hot here and I've already swam for 2 hours today.

Let's go!!!!!!!!

Bobby has got 50 ribbies now...not bad

Bobby is trending towards an 80 run, 80 rbi, 25 hr, 45 sb, 265 avg season
and thats a conservative estimate

Drew Waters with a bomb to the back of the second level of fountains. That was a long home run.

Bob dong, he is hot right now...fun to watch

Please dont bring in the bullpen...............

Bobby sucks /Meccs

16 homers and 6 triples so far this season

Gonna be out at the ballpark in my Bobby Witt Jr KCConnect jersey. First game in two years

Sucks is extreme... I'm just not sure he's a franchise level superstar. No shame there, it's just this team has a long history of turning prospects that were supposed to be superstars into just good players.

franchise level superstar? he is def trending that way and he is only 23
What more could you ask for?

Even if he's a 30/30 guy his OBP mixed with his high K to walk ratio will always make him inconsistent.

He'll likely swing wildly from 240-280 in BA because of strike zone judgement.

That's a valuable player, it's not a superstar though.

I guess you think he has peaked at 23? I believe he is only getting started...You can see it game by game...better plate discipline and confidence...He is the MVP for the royals this season

Not saying it isn't fixable but usually strike zone management is what it is. Guys who walk and know the zone usually show that right away..like Vinnie and even Carter Jensen now in A ball.

It can be improved but it's a ton of work and simetoit just doesn't happen.

Personally I think he should go to center, playing an easier D position could help his offense.

I get it but Bobby is not up there to walk with this lineup...He is there to produce...and he has been doing it
He is our best player by far this season

Witt's 5th overall at shortstop for defense WAR on Fangraphs......

I figured sending Salvy first to home on that Melendez double was going to be tough for such a big guy.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Salvador Perez has a left hamstring strain, and he&#39;s undergoing further tests to determine the grade (severity). More will be known tomorrow. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a></p>&mdash; Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) <a href="https://twitter.com/anne__rogers/status/1680697229823148032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

LeTs MoVe HiM tO cEnTeR fIeLd

If Garcia is good, they probably should. Yes. He is the best defender on the team at that position. We've seen it countless times when a player is moved to outfield their offense gets a boost. I dont quite understand why but we've seen enough of a track record that its significant.

He might not be a Juan Soto, but he's a top 5 SS in the game as a 23 year old (just turned 23 too) and has only been in the majors for a year and a half. He's been on a tear for awhile now and is looking like that superstar he can be.

Over the last 7 games he's hitting .357 with a 1.329 OPS
Over his last 15 games he's hitting .345 with a 1.065 OPS
Over his last 30 games he's hitting .316 with a .951 OPS

He's gotten his OPS on the year to .764 and if he's a .800+ OPS guy with top 5 SS defense, then he is that superstar.

He's got a shot at 30 2Bs, 10 3Bs, 30 HRs, 50 SB. 30 HRs and 50 SBs has literally only been done 2 times in the history of the league. Before today he was on pace for 26 HRs/28 2Bs/9 3Bs/48 SBs. That's superstar level.

30/30/10/50 has never been done. 30/30/50 has been done once by Barry Bonds.

There is no chance that BWJ is taken off SS. If he would have had a repeat of last year, then yeah maybe. Now that he's playing damn good D, then no.

It has nothing to do with thinking he sucks at it. Garcia is an above MLB average SS its about getting the best team out there.

If Witt gets moved to center, I'll buy everyone here a fish dinner from LJS.

Bobby Witt Jr is an above average SS. We don't know if Maikel Garcia is an above average SS, because he hasn't played SS at the major league level. BWJ was said to have gold glove D, but until you actually see that in the majors you can't really know for sure. They now know that BWJ is capable of playing great D at SS. They're not gonna move him because there is a chance that Garcia is a better defender. There is no point in doing that.

This team also has jack and shit for OF prospects, it's weird to me you all think it's fine to run Isbel out there everyday when this team has 2 starting shortstops.

This will be the perfect time to trade him. You could get a massive haul for him. The could restock the farm system with a BWJ trade.

premature so far..the Royals have had weak hitting CF for a while...Why move Bobby out of his comfort zone right now?

I'd be pissed if they traded BWJ. Heres why

1. I'm 90% sure he's going to be a MVP caliber player. No one we get is going to be as good as he is. It's not like we only have a year and a half left or even 2 and a half years of control. We have him the rest of 2023, then 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027. That's 4.5 years. Trading him is such a stupid idea. If things look as bleak going into 2026, then absolutely trade him in the off-season. If he develops like I expect, then we'd get an even better haul then we would if we traded him now.

2. I don't trust this organization. They aren't even close to good at identifying talent and I could easily see us getting a few guys that are AAAA players. At best I could see them getting one guy that is avg at the plate and a couple of back end starters. That's not worth giving up a guy with his talent.

3. What team out there has a good enough farm system that they could trade away enough prospects to make our shitty system good? We'd have to get younger prospects and that goes back to me not trusting this organization. I wouldn't trust them to develop anyone they got.

4. He's not even at his max value at the moment.

People need to stop with the trade BWJ shit. It's stupid and doesn't make any sense at all.

If Witt finishes the year playing this type of defense, they’re not moving him off of SS. Garcia has been quite excellent at 3B, and I do think having outstanding D at both spots
Is valuable.

I’ve been a “play Cf, Bobby” proponent but just don’t see it happening if he finishes the year playing D like this. The production is starting to match the tools/potential.

He's just had super fluky babip this year. He will be fine. Last week, he was hitting. 257,while his expected BA was like. 295. That's a crazy rough run.

So to push back against the you dont trade Bobby Witt thing...then how do you restock the minors? We have literally no hope to be gopd for at least 5 years. Our milb system is horrid. We dont have enough ready made guys to compete. If you AREN'T worried about the fans or if your downtown stadium gets through you should absolutely consider trading the valuable pieces and start over. This team is going nowhere.

LMAO Circles right back around to trading him for the sake of it even though it couldn't have been made much clearer above why that's a ****ing stupid idea.


For ****s sake BWillie, if you're going to shitpost and play the reerun could you at least try and be the TINIEST bit entertaining?

PLEASE??????

Then I guess Garcia becomes a second baseman at that point because he loses a lot of value at 3rd.