Archive for December, 2010

Earlier this week, I wrote up a very preliminary preview for 2011 that allowed me to project the opening day roster. One of the roster decisions in front of me was the choice between organizational stalwart Mitch Maier and former Brave Gregor Blanco for one of the outfield bench spots (I have to assume either Melky Cabrera or Lorenzo Cain start in center). One of our readers asked me why I prefer Mitch over Blanco and at the time, I really had no strong basis for the decision. I like to joke that it’s because I have a franchise on [...]

By now its fairly well known that our starting rotation next year isn’t going to be very good. We’re staring down a rotation where Luke Hochevar, Kyle Davies, Sean O’Sullivan and Vin Mazzaro are locks and the fifth starter is still up in the air. As for our set in stone guys, Hochevar’s likely the best out of all of them and our Opening Day starter. “The Hoch” like many Royals, is big on potential. He was, of course, a star at Tennesee and the number one pick in the 2006 draft and he’s been bred for a high rotation [...]

I gotta tell ya, writing on this site has been a treat.  It’s connected me with many other hardcore Royals fans who know their stuff.  It’s really a wonderful community of baseball fans.  There’s always a lively discussion going on somewhere, be it on Twitter, a messageboard, or in blog posts. Really, following the Royals shouldn’t be a fun activity.  The team stinks.  We’ve stunk for a while.  And yet… Writing for the Fansided Network has taken what could have been a crap year personally and turned it into a very rewarding experience.  So on behalf of the current staff [...]

Did you miss Zachary? Well, he’s back! Okay, so maybe it’s not the return of Greinke…or anything like Greinke for that matter. Nonetheless, the Royals signed ex-Detroit Tiger Zach Miner, a right-handed pitcher, to a minor-league deal today. It’s not a hugely notable deal, but it could have an impact down the line. So, I want to run over a few things about Miner. The first thing to note about this is that Miner is a 28-year-old pitcher with four years of major league experience. He missed all of 2010 and underwent Tommy John surgery, so it’s hard to know [...]

Contact: Daniel Shoptaw –                                                                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE E-mail: baseballbloggersalliance@gmail.com -                     12:30 AM EDT, December 30, 2010 BBA RECOMMENDS ALOMAR, BLYLEVEN FOR HALL OF FAME Second baseman Roberto Alomar and starting pitcher Bert Blyleven were named today as the recommended 2011 Hall of Fame class by the Baseball Bloggers Alliance.

Just two days after I fumed about the increasing speculation that the Royals will try to (or would be open to) trading either or both of Billy Butler or Joakim Soria in the wake of the Zack Greinke trade, another bit of information pops up that keeps the idea in the air. Joakim Soria would not block a trade to the Yankees, according to the Mexican newspaper Vanguard. (Translation provided by MLBTraderumors)

(Note: I’ve also posted this preview as a guest blogger on SeatGeek.com, a partner with the Fansided Network.  You can find Kansas City Royals tickets on SeatGeek, the leading ticket search engine that enables fans to discover the best deals for sports, concert, and theater events.) After a last place finish in the AL Central and a 67-95 record, the Royals had to have felt disappointment with their 2010 season.  Alex Gordon, once hailed as the next George Brett, spent half the year in Triple A learning the outfield.  Zack Greinke, 2009 Cy Young Award Winner, came back to earth.  David [...]

Let’s face it, the Royals rotation isn’t going to be very good in 2011. Luke Hochevar and Vin Mazzaro have some upside and if things fall right, they might finish the season as above-average starters.  Behind them, we’re still waiting on Kyle Davies to be anything.  Sean O’Sullivan?  Well, at least he’s young, right? After the trade of Zack Greinke, the Royals have an opening in their rotation, and we’ll look at those potential options both in-house and on the market.  I’m intrigued enough by one such free agent that I wanted to look at him individually right now. Let’s [...]

I’m not tired of stating that the Royals have the best minor league system in baseball – perhaps one of the best ever.  It just doesn’t get old. I got to thinking during the drive to and from my parents’ over the holiday weekend about which prospects I’m most excited to see in the majors.  Generally, I’m a fan of pitchers.  Don’t know why, I just am.  I think it goes back to my days as a kid when I’d be in rec leagues and always wanted to pitch.  When the opportunity finally came one day, the first strikeout I [...]

So the Royals traded Zack Greinke.  It happened. Now it seems every other Royals-related article focuses on one of two players: Billy Butler and Joakim Soria.  The reason?  Gauging their trade value. Maybe I missed the announcement, but is the Glass family holding a fire sale?

Ah, Christmas. Family, celebration, cookies, peace on earth.  All that great stuff combines this time of year for what many consider their favorite day on the calendar.  That being the case, the idea of hopes and wishes coming true becomes even greater. Asking for a World Series in Kansas City may be a particular Christmas miracle that even Santa can’t deliver, but here at Kings of Kauffman, we still compiled a list of things that we hope for – not just for the Christmas season, but for 2011.

I remember the important parts of that night with remarkable clarity.  It was cold, being December, and I was in that “close to winter break, but not quite there” part of the school year. I had left the TV on in my bedroom in the basement before I’d went upstairs to the kitchen to fuss around and avoid bedtime. Walking back down the stairs, I heard the newscaster’s voice: “The Royals have traded pitcher Bret Saberhagen and infielder Bill Pecota to the Mets for Gregg Jefferies, Kevin McReynolds and Keith Miller.” My little 11-year-old heart sank. “Why would they do [...]