Your Kansas City (?) Royals: Not Last

I can't remember a time when I've been less excited about the Royals than this year. Even when we were shitty we still had young players/prospects to watch and follow to see how they progress. Now we just have a roster filled mostly with average to below-average veterans. Don't get me wrong, I'm still going to watch the games but I don't see myself getting emotionally invested in this team.

 

I'm getting a bit more excited as it approaches. I'm curious to see if these guys can at least piece together a contending team - if the 2003 squad could, this one definitely could. I don't expect it, but stranger things have happened. Yeah, sucking and improving draft position would be for the best, but I have zero faith in DM and crew to draft any decent contributors anyway. So might as well take advantage of the weak FA market to see if you can catch lightning in a bottle.

And in the likely event that doesn't work out, I'm excited to see what happens at the deadline. Can Herrera turn it around and reclaim some trade value? As much as I'd hate to see it, can Duffy stay healthy and what would he net in a trade? Moose, Duda, Jay, et. al. ought to at least fetch some wild cards. Hammel could return a piece at the deadline. Recent trades not withstanding, I trust this front office to make trades more than I do to draft and develop guys. Sometimes I enjoy the hot stove aspects of baseball more than the games, this year will probably be like that.

And for the future, can Soler become anything? this is his last chance IMO. Development of Junis will be interesting to watch.

 

I think this will be the most interesting thing to watch for me. That slider has to be 60-70 grade. He's got the out pitch, now let's see if he can turn into a reliable rotation piece moving forward.

I was pretty excited about Soler when we got him and he's disappointed. Maybe he puts it all together this year and hits 25+ HR? I sure hope so.

Our rotation will be decent but once we get to innings 6-8 (I expect Kelvin to bounceback)... it's gonna get ugly. I'm all for putting Staumont in the 'pen and seeing what he can do. He's never going to be a starter with a Walk Rate as high as it is so throw him out there and see what we've got.

 

They were talking about this on 810 this afternoon; Soler's career stats have him hitting 19 homers per 162 games. Based on that, with his strikeout rate and poor defense, and in the new juiced ball era, he needs to hit 30+ HRs to be a worthwhile piece IMO. Otherwise, I see him as trade bait, and not exceptionally valuable trade bait at that.

I agree RE: Staumont but that's mostly because I do not believe in the Royals development system at all. At least for starting pitchers. So he is what he is at this point unless something changes. I imagine he'd become a beast somewhere like St. Louis or Tampa.

 

Brutal start to the year. Just heard Salvy is out 4-6 weeks with a knee injury.

edit: slipped carrying his luggage and has an MCL tear.

 

Yuck

 

2 years with 2 pre season knee injuries. No bueno.

 

Well that’s one way to reduce his workload

 

That's ok...rest up Salvy. Be nice'n'fresh come October.

 

I chuckled.

 

I don’t care if we’re going to be shitty, opening day at the K is a treasure. I’m like a kid on xmas morning every year.

 

This guy was #RaisedRoyal

 

Are the fountains around town dyed blue???

 

I'm assuming the weather is an omen for this season.

Leaving the office in about an hour. Cantwait.gif

 

The weather, Salvy's injury the day before.. All we need now is a little Esky Magic in the leadoff spot for the final omen on how this season will go.

 

Or Duffy leaving the mound early.

 

I think he’s hitting 8th :o

 

Zimmer was finally DFA’d

 

I'll always wonder what could have been had he stayed healthy

 

At least we still have the K guys....looking pristine.

 

I can’t wait to see gordo hit weak grounders in that infield

 

Apparently they completely started over on the field. When they went to grass the just put sand for drainage over the old substructure. They completely removed it all and started from scratch. Field is flatter and will play a little different.

 

that new grass

 

Duda in the cleanup spot, kill me

 

Won't embed videos correctly so you'll have to follow the link. About the field replacement.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article207038234.html

 

I agree it's a sad state of affairs that the guy we signed a month ago to a 1yr, $3.5 million deal is hitting cleanup on opening day, but:

2017: 127 games - 30 HR
2015: 135 games - 27 HR
2014: 153 games - 30 HR

- higher career OPS than Eric Hosmer

 

agreed. never been a soler fan

 

O/U hits from our 6-9 @ 1.5.

 

Turfman Trevor is the best in the game, no question.

 

Can confirm, the ol gal looks amazing. Wish she had some sun shining on her.

 

Mahomes is at the game in a powder blue Brett jersey

 

Duda can bat clean up imo

 

I can’t wait for Duda to rake so he can be traded

 

#LucasDudaIsGood

 

he’s not forever royal or raised royal so we don’t need him

 

so uh

 

as much as I love the royals I think we’re fucked if they’re in contention this year

 

Oh Danny, you were doing so well

 

Scoring 7 and losing isn’t a good look

 

I don’t know, the ‘parade of pitchers no ones ever heard of’ was pretty cool to see.

 

Jesus

 

Fuck you #Miami Marlins we are coming for you

 

Had the bases loaded with 0 outs and got 1 additional run after Giolito walked in a run.

Not great Bob

 

Bulolpen