Archive for February, 2011

Who: David Dennis Lough DOB: 1/20/1986, Akron, Ohio Position: OF Height: 5’11″ Weight: 180 lb Bats: Left Throws: Left Acquired: 2007 Draft – 11th Round Rankings: ~ Baseball America: #25 ~ Royals Prospects: #13 ~ Royals Review #14 ~ Kevin Goldstein: NR ~ John Sickels: #22 C+ ~ 2010 Kings of Kauffman Rank: #10

Who: Yordano Ventura DOB: 6/3/1991 Position: RHP Height: 5’11″ Weight: 140 Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: International Free Agent – signed October 8, 2008 Rankings: ~ Baseball America #12 ~ Royals Prospects: #18 ~ Royals Review #14 ~ Kevin Goldstein: #13 ~ John Sickels #27 C+

On Monday, February 14, pitchers and catchers will report to the Royals spring training facilities in Suprise, Arizona. In honor of this joyous occasion, let’s take a look at the Royals options at catcher this year. Last year’s 118 game starter, Jason Kendall, is out with a sholder injury to start the year, so Brayan Peña and Lucas May will get most of the looks during spring training (more on them later). But don’t count out the gritty, calloused, 36-year-old  just yet. Two weeks ago, Kendall told the Kansas City Star, “I still expect to be back for Opening Day.” [...]

Who: Clinton Michael Robinson DOB: 2/16/1985 Jefferson City, Missouri Position: 1B Height: 6’4″ Weight: 225 Bats: Left Throws: Left Acquired: 2007 Draft – 25th round Rankings: ~ Baseball America #28 ~ Royals Prospects: #28 ~ Royals Review #33 ~ Kevin Goldstein: #NR ~ John Sickels #20 C

Billy Butler is reluctant to become a full-time DH. Honestly, who can blame him? Part of why I loved playing the game was spending time in the field. Batting was great, sure, but it just wouldn’t have been the same if I weren’t heading out to right every half inning. So, I’m okay with Billy’s desire to play the field. From a classic baseball standpoint, that’s half the fun of the game. First base was never a favorite of mine, but if that’s your position then you want to get out there and play. It’s completely understandable. When you think [...]

I mentioned the ambitious project we’re working on throughout the entire FanSided network last week – crafting an All-Star team for each division in baseball, as determined by FanSided baseball writers. After multiple points, counterpoints, and a productive discussion about the merits of the players within our division, the Royals landed Billy Butler at the DH spot over strong cases for Chicago’s Adam Dunn and Detroit’s Victor Martinez.  Perhaps it’s a biased decision on my part, but Butler got my vote because he’s been within the same levels of production as Dunn and Martinez, but as a 24-year-old (25 in [...]

Who: Salvador Perez DOB: 05/10/1990, Valencia, Venezuela Position: C Height: 6’3″ Weight: 175 lb Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: International free agent – 9/27/06 Rankings: ~ Baseball America: #17 ~ Royals Prospects: #15 ~ Royals Review #20 ~ Kevin Goldstein: #20 ~ John Sickels: #18 C

Who: Robinson Yambati DOB: 1/15/1991 Monte Plata, Dominican Republic Position: RHP Height: 6’3″ Weight: 185 Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: International free agent signing – 2/4/08 Rankings: ~ Baseball America #16 ~ Royals Prospects: #26 ~ Royals Review #18 ~ Kevin Goldstein: #11 ~ John Sickels #26 C+

Who: Jason Adam DOB: 8/4/1991 Overland Park, KS Position: RHP Height: 6’4″ Weight: 225 Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: 2010 Draft – 5th round. Signed 8/16/2010 Rankings: ~ Baseball America #11 ~ Royals Prospects: #25 ~ Royals Review #23 ~ Kevin Goldstein: #15 ~ John Sickels #28 C+

Who: Derrick Lamar Robinson DOB: 9/28/1987, Gainesville, Florida Position: CF Height: 5’11″ Weight: 180 lb Bats: Switch Throws: Left Acquired: 2006 Draft – 4th Round Rankings: ~ Baseball America: #26 ~ Royals Prospects: #22 ~ Royals Review #21 ~ Kevin Goldstein: #18 ~ John Sickels: Honorable mention

Who: William Michael Smith DOB: 7/10/1989 – Newnan, Georgia Position: LHP Height: 6’5″ Weight: 235 Bats: Right Throws: Left Acquired: Traded with Sean O’Sullivan for Alberto Callaspo 7/22/10 Rankings: ~ Baseball America NR ~ Royals Prospects: #34 ~ Royals Review #24 ~ Kevin Goldstein: #19 ~ John Sickels #25 C+

We’re going to do a fun little project here in the MLB wing of the Fansided Network this month. Writers from every site in the network will choose the best players at every position in their respective division.  Then each division will select an All-Division team, first selecting batters, then selecting a pitching staff. The All-AL Central team will go up against the teams compiled by the AL East and AL West bloggers.  The winning team by fan vote will take on a similarly vetted team from the National League side of things. It’s gonna be a lot of fun [...]