Tonight we continue an exciting new venture for Kings of Kauffman and its podcast, the Royalman Report.

Jeff Logan of the Kansas City Baseball Historical Society joins forces with us to form the Kansas City Baseball Vault on Kansas City’s ESPN 1510 AM from 6-7 p.m. every Thursday night. Listeners can tune into traditional radio or streaming live on 1510.com.

We have a huge show this week, packed with guests.

First, Mayor Sly James will talk with us about pulling off the 2012 MLB All-Star Game in Kansas City, what it means for KC and everything involved with it.

We’ll also talk with Curt Nelson, the director of the Royals Hall of Fame. He’s the man who retrieved Mark Trumbo‘s rooftop shot in the Home Run Derby and also hosted thousands of guests during All-Star Weekend.

Nelson actually called our third guest, George Toma, to let him know that he’d been elected into the Royals Hall of Fame. We’ve talked with Mr. Toma before and it’s our pleasure to do so again.

Finally, we’ll speak with the voice of Kauffman Stadium, Mike McCartney about his role in making the All-Star Game a success.

Follow the Kansas City Baseball Vault on Twitter and Facebook for future programming updates. Also follow Kings of Kauffman for article updates, discussion and other information.

Everything went great, unless your name was Justin Verlander or Matt Harrison.

The Melkman Delivered. Photo Credit: H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports via US PRESSWIRE

The National League used two big innings to roll over the AL 8-0, including a five run first inning off of Verlander that included a bases loaded triple by Pablo Sandoval. Harrison started the fourth inning and got two quick outs, but Rafael Furcal hit a soft liner down the right field line that Jose Bautista wasn’t positioned well enough to get to quickly enough and a Matt Holliday single brought in another run. Then Melky Cabrera put a ball into the left field bullpen (for old time’s sake) and made it 8-0.

The AL had some opportunities. In the bottom of the fifth, David Ortiz and Mike Napoli had consecutive one-out singles and Asdrubal walked to load the bases after a ground out by Curtis Granderson, but Ian Kinsler flew out to left field.

The next inning, Mike Trout singled to lead off against R.A. Dickey and promptly stole second base. Mark Trumbo struck out but Paul Konerko was hit by a pitch to put two on for Miguel Cabrera with Billy Butler stepping into the on deck circle. Cabrera grounded into a double play to end the rally, though and the AL left more runners on.

The AL never threatened again.

Melky Cabrera won the MVP by going 2-3 with two runs scored and two driven in and the game’s only homer. Of course, this was his first game in Kauffman Stadium since being traded away to the Giants last winter. It stings just a bit to see him win the MVP Award, but fans were generally appreciative of his All-Star season to this point.

Billy. Photo Credit: H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports via US PRESSWIRE

Billy Butler got the loudest support as Kansas City’s only All-Star player in the game. Royals fans really embraced him, giving a loud ovation and the look on his face was one of appreciation and humility. Chipper Jones, in his only appearance in Kansas City and last All-Star Game, didn’t even get as loud a response from the crowd.

Butler has always been a reluctant vocal leader despite being the most productive hitter on the team over the last few years. When Robinson Cano stepped to the plate, he was met with some leftover boos from Monday’s Home Run Derby, but also with chants of “Bil-ly But-ler”. Butler’s first steps into the on deck circle in the sixth met with an eruption of cheers.

Fans lived and died with each pitch, and in both of his at bats, Butler got to two strikes and fouled a pitch off. The relief felt by the crowd was palpable. Those kind of moments of fandom don’t come along often.

As a game, it really wasn’t much of a contest. Even though MLB says “it counts”, the game is still an exhibition and you’re still looking for moments. Maybe tonight won’t be like Bo Jackson‘s homer in Anaheim or Cal Ripken‘s homer in his last All-Star Game, but for Kansas City, the thought of about 40,000 people rising together to cheer Billy Butler will be a memorable moment.

There are a number of factors in play here:

1) Billy Butler is having a career year while leading the team with 16 homers. He’s displaying the power that fans have expected to see from him for years now (even if they sometimes confuse homers as the only means of having power from time to time).

2) Kansas City fans have taken to Billy Butler. His unofficial nickname (recognized by ESPN, Baseball-Reference and even video games) is “Country Breakfast” and originated on Twitter on a fateful July night last year.

3) Robinson Cano said on two occasions that he’d take a player from Kansas City, the host. Twice. Then he didn’t.

4) Royals fans have always been less than accommodating to Yankees and their fans. Not in an antagonizing way, so much, but in the kind of way that has roots in the rivalry from the late-70s and has also been influenced by the widening gap in payrolls in baseball. New York is the biggest market of big markets. Kansas City is the complete opposite.

Had Cano said nothing about taking a Royal, there wouldn’t be nearly as much vitriol in his direction. Some may have been upset, some may have booed anyway. But there wouldn’t be nearly as many without Cano’s earlier declarations.

In the end, it’s not a very big deal. It’s an exhibition spun off of another exhibition. Nobody has incentives in their contract for the Home Run Derby. It’s fun to watch and impressive to see the massive shots and it would have been nice to see Billy Butler taking some hacks, but ultimately, it’s not the end of the world.

It still stings though. The Royals had multiple players who could have been All-Stars – maybe they weren’t all slam dunk options, but they had the chance. Instead, Butler was the lone representative and worthy of being in the Derby as well.

It’s not even about Mark Trumbo or Prince Fielder or Jose Bautista being selected over Butler. ESPN tried to make that the narrative, but nobody’s saying that that trio shouldn’t be involved. KC fans weren’t upset that any of that group was selected, just that they were selected after Cano said he was going to choose a Royal.

We’re a passionate bunch in Kansas City and in those small moments when we have some kind of spotlight on us (the 2003 mirage, Zack Greinke‘s Cy Young season in 2009, All-Star Weekend), we put all of our chips in the middle of the table. We’re all in. There aren’t as many of us as the mid-80s, but the folks who are still around care. And when we’re spurned, we’re not going to be thrilled about it. I told Ricky Keeler of FanSided’s Yankees site Yanks Go Yard that it’s like “being everyone’s doormat for two decades, then getting snubbed in [our] house.”

Does it really matter? Is Cano going to lose sleep over being booed? Is Butler going to be scarred for being looked over? Doubtful in all cases, but the level of confusion about why fans were booing shouldn’t be confusing at all.

We were honored to be a part of the Baseball Prospectus event on Sunday afternoon.

The Royalman Report came to you from the historic Gem Theater in the Jazz district at 18th and Vine in a panel format. Included with us was Craig Brown from Royals Review and took questions from attendees related to the ideal pitching staff, David Glass, Jake Odorizzi, Mike Montgomery and more.

It was a very special moment and we’re appreciative of the Joe Hamrahi and the Baseball Prospectus guys for inviting us to take part and also want to thank Bob Kendrick from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum for taking time out of his busy schedule to help us set it up at the Gem, as well.

Don’t forget the Royalman Report is on every Sunday at 7 and catch our new show, The Kansas City Baseball Vault on ESPN 1510 AM Thursday’s at 6.

You can listen below or download the mp3 directly.

The Royalman Report is hosted by Troy “Royalman” Olsen with co-host Michael Engel and features Chris “Fake Ned Yost” Kamler and 610 Sports blogger Jeff Herr and airs  live Sundays at 7 p.m. central time at RoyalmanReport.com as well as on Livestream.com/RoyalmanReport.

Subscribe via the RSS feed and get updates when new episodes are uploaded.

Stuck in a cubicle, on a road trip, or using your smartphone?  Stitcher is a multi-platform radio app that’s available on Apple products, Droid, Blackberry and other phones.  Find us here on Stitcher.

You can also subscribe via iTunes: JUST CLICK HERE (and iPad, iPhone, iTouch users can get the Livestream app here to watch live or archived shows).

Follow the Royalman Report on Twitter.  While you’re at it, track down Kings of Kauffman on Twitter as well.

After Ian Desmond decided to skip the All-Star Game to rest a nagging oblique injury, Michael Bourn was added to the National League roster to represent Atlanta. Then Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins announced that he’d miss the game as well due to “loose bodies” in his knee that may require surgery. Stanton was due to perform in the Home Run Derby on Monday as well but will miss that as well. Bryce Harper was added to fill his spot in the game and Andrew McCutchen will swing for the fences in his place in the Derby.

Both Bourn and Harper finished behind Cardinal David Freese in the fan’s Final Vote after Chipper Jones had been taken off the ballot and added to the NL roster to replace Matt Kemp. Aaron Hill of Arizona is the only player from the Final Vote who hasn’t been added to the team’s roster.

Jake Peavy was added to the American League roster after C.J. Wilson was scratched due to a blister.

Matt Holliday was added to the NL team after a death in the family made Yadier Molina unavailable for the game, as well.

In other news, Justin Verlander is being reported as the American League’s starter on Tuesday. He’s sitting on a 2.58 ERA and 128/30 K/BB ratio in 132.2 innings for Detroit.

A-O!

The Royals had three players represent the hometown team, John Mayberry, Cookie Rojas and Amos Otis. Otis received the third most votes among American League players and earned a start. Mayberry filled in as the starting first baseman after Dick Allen was hurt and couldn’t play.

Mayberry was deserving anyhow, with a .300/.439/.539 line and 20 homers and 80 RBI. Otis had a .287/.350/.496 line with 19 homers.

Mayberry ended the first inning with a ground out, but when Otis came up in the second inning, he already had Reggie Jackson on second base after a leadoff double. He singled towards second base and drove in the American League’s only run.

Despite the scoring problems of the AL, Otis and Mayberry did their part. In his second at bat Mayberry walked in the bottom of the third, then doubled to right-center to lead off the bottom of the sixth, but he was stranded there. In his last at bat, he grounded out against Tom Seaver (but hey, he moved Rojas to second after a walk).

Otis added to his RBI single with another in the fourth inning and stole second with Bobby Murcer at bat. He left the game after Carlton Fisk and Brooks Robinson stranded him on second.

Big John.

Mayberry slowed down in the second half, finishing with a .287/.417/.478 line and ending with 26 homers and 100 RBI. Otis finished at .300/.368/.484 and 26 homers and 93 RBI.

Maybe the two Royals didn’t have flashy, superstar kind of games, but they had solid ones, contributed to their side and did so on their own field. All three Royals in the 1973 All-Star Game ended up in the Royals Hall of Fame. That adds up to a special event and one worth noting.

Kauffman Stadium and the Kansas City Royals take center stage this weekend and here is a quick guide for you the visitors. Photo Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

Outside of fan fest we hope that you get a chance to check out our fine city which includes going to the Power & Light District downtown, check out the college basketball experience. See the Plaza and Westport in addition to checking out any of the fine places to eat.

Sunday you’ll want to check out the futures game where you can check out the best young talent in the game and stay for the celebrity softball game following. Monday is the annual AL/NL workout day at the K before the homerun derby.

On Tuesday night, baseball looks to Kansas City and it’s our time to shine. If you’re going to the 2012 MLB All-Star Game, here’s a quick primer on Kauffman Stadium. Gone is the grass that used to be around the fountains in the outfield. After renovations, outfield seating had been expanded to include more great seats.

If you want familiarize yourself with the franchise’s history (which I strongly suggest that you do) visit the Royals Hall of Fame located in leftfield. After the tour in rightfield we’ve got Rivals, a sportsbar that you can cool down with food and drinks.

Mike McCarthy is the silky smooth voice of Kauffman Stadium and you’ll be hearing him all night long. Before hearing anything you’ll probably notice crown vision in centerfield aka the big crown video board. It’s one of the biggest video boards in the country and can be seen no matter where you are (unless you’re in the outfield experience somewhere which is a tad harder)

Between innings we’ve got a few things that might not be done in other ballparks so they might be KC-centric. Our in-game race features the hot dog derby where three contestants start from the RF bullpen and end in front of the Royals/AL dugout dressed as Ketchup, Mustard and Relish.

Sluggerrr and his mascot buddies will also be at the K for the All-Star Game. Photo Credit: John Rieger-US PRESSWIRE

Over the last five seasons or so more teams have added in-stadium cheerleaders if you will and we’re no different. We call our ladies the K Crew and they will hopefully be leading you to root on the AL, sing the 7^th inning stretch plus will be around the stadium should you have any questions.

Sluggerrr will be another friendly face as he plays host to his other mascot friends over the weekend. We like out lion and consider him the king of the jungle when it comes to others in MLB, so be on the lookout for him being active from interacting or shooting off t-shirts/hot dogs.

A second in-game feature occurs after the top of the sixth inning when Garth Brooks “Friends in Low Places” plays, featuring a video of Brooks in a Royals jersey. Many KC fans will sway and sing along. If you don’t know the words they are displayed on screen. Honestly, the song might be a bit tired but many seem to still enjoy it when it plays at the stadium.

I highly suggest that during the game you take advantage of the concourses and walk around the stadium to check out the view from behind the fountains in the outfield. The K is known for its outfield fountain display and you should check out the view if you’ve never been to our beautiful stadium.

While walking around you’ll notice that we’ve got a little bit of everything in terms of food selection. Of course the stadium had the ballpark essentials and being KC we’ve got BBQ covered. However, if you want other options we’ve got that covered with out of market food. May we suggest that you enjoy a local brew of Boulevard from right here in Kansas City.

Another food option is the .390 Bar & Grill located on the lodge level of the K which is an AC option should you decide to get out of the heat. 390 is a celebrated number for us as our HOF’r George Brett came close to Ted Williams 400 batting average. One last thing to experience in the stadium is the outfield experience which has several kid friendly things, such as the little K, carousal, face painting and a few other options.

Following the game, another tradition features the song “Kansas City”. When the Royals win at Kauffman Stadium (which hasn’t been as often as we want), you’ll hear the Beatles Kansas City playing the team off. On the flipside, after a loss Wilbert Harrison’s slower version is played.

I think that covers pretty much everything that a first-time visitor will be experiencing at Kauffman Stadium. We hope that you like the experience and find our fans to be courteous and welcoming. Hopefully, we’ll see you back in October soon (one of these years) for a playoff series against our Boys in Blue.

So I started looking back, year by year, at old All-Star games to see how the Royals have done in the past and I came up with ten notable performances. Five of those stand out as very good, but here, I want to glance at five that were solid, though maybe lacking in impact of the game or in Royals history. The All-Star Game is where some stars shine brighter and it’s always great to see your team’s representative(s) doing well on that stage.

1972 – Cookie Rojas

Rojas was coming off of an All-Star year in 1971 where he’d hit .300 and appeared in his first All-Star Game as a Royal. In 1972, he was a reserve and entered the game in the top of the eighth inning. Pinch-hitting for Rod Carew and with Carlton Fisk on first, Rojas homered to left to put the American League up 3-2.

He looked primed to be named the MVP of the game, but Wilbur Wood came in for the bottom of the ninth and gave up a tying run and the National League won in the bottom of the tenth.

Rojas went on to play in two more All-Star Games in 1973 and 1974 in the latter stages of his baseball career.

1990 – Bret Saberhagen

Bret Saberhagen.

Saberhagen was coming off of a Cy Young season in 1989 and made the All-Star team in 1990 with a 2.98 ERA in 121 innings.

He threw two perfect innings, facing Chris Sabo, Mike Scioscia and Barry Bonds in the first inning, striking out Scioscia. In his second inning of work, Saberhagen got flyouts from Shawon Dunston, Lenny Dykstra and Ryne Sandberg. In the following inning, Julio Franco drove in two to break a 0-0 tie and Saberhagen ended up being the pitcher of record and the first Royal to be named the winner of an All-Star Game.

The honor came with a price – Saberhagen made only three more starts in 1990 due to ligament damage in his right elbow. He made his first post-ASG start on July 15 but didn’t resurface until September.

1986 – Frank White

Frank White.

In 1986, the All-Star Game was in the Astrodome, and for the second time ever, featured a Royals manager as Dick Howser led the American League squad after winning the World Series in 1985.

George Brett was selected as a reserve, but due to injury didn’t play in the game.

That left White as the only Royal to represent the World Champion Royals. Earlier in the game, Lou Whitaker, the starting second baseman for the AL, had homered off of Dwight Gooden. White replaced him in the seventh inning and hit a homer of his own off of Mike Scott. White got another at bat in the ninth but flied out against Mike Krukow.

White was an All-Star five times, but 1986 was his final selection. The home run was his only hit as an All-Star in seven at bats.

2009 – Zack Greinke

Zack Greinke in the 2009 All-Star Game. Photo Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

2009 was a special year. The Royals started out 18-11 and were three games up in the AL Central in early May. While that success eventually faded, Zack Greinke made every fifth day an event.

Greinke started the year by giving up just four earned runs in his first 60 innings pitched en route to one of the best pitching seasons in Royals history. As the All-Star Game approached, it looked like Greinke could be the game’s starter in St. Louis but Roy Halladay started instead.

Nonetheless, when Greinke’s turn came up, he flashed the same brilliance he’d shown in the regular season.

He only threw one inning, and it’s difficult to judge an All-Star Game performance on just one inning, but he started out by inducing a weak foul out from Raul Ibanez to third on the first pitch then striking out David Wright on a 1-2 pitch (looking) and finishing off a perfect inning by getting Shane Victorino on a 1-2 pitch on his own for a second strikeout.

Greinke of course went on to win the AL Cy Young Award after 229.1 innings with a 2.16 ERA.

1995 – Kevin Appier

Kevin Appier.

Despite being one of the best pitchers in the 1990s, this was Kevin Appier’s only All-Star selection. Despite surpassing a 100 ERA+ every year from 1990 to 1997, and being the best candidate for the 1993 Cy Young Award, Appier never got the recognition he deserved.

In 1995, he made his one shot count.

Appier had a 3.04 ERA in 121 innings going into the All-Star Game and came into the game after Randy Johnson started for the AL and dominated. In the third inning, he retired Barry Larkin, struck out Vinnie Castilla and finished off Craig Biggio, then continued into the fourth, mowing down Lenny Dykstra, Tony Gwynn and Barry Bonds. That’s four Hall of Famers (or deserving Hall of Famers) and two of the best of the early 90s in that group, and Appier cut them all down in order.

Every batter but Castilla grounded out, in Appier’s impressive showing.

Appier faded a bit as the season wore on, finishing with 201.1 innings and a 3.89 ERA, but he was still one of the best starters that year.

These are performances worth pointing out, but I’ve decided on five performances by Royals in the All-Star Game that stand out even better.

We’re all gearing up for the 2012 MLB All-Star Game, so we started out by discussing some of the things Chris and I saw on the FanFest media tour Thursday morning, including some comments from Royals publicist Toby Cook as well as Hall of Famer George Brett, the ambassador for this year’s All-Star Game.

We continued by talking with the Kansas City representative in the All-Star Game the first time the event was in Kansas City. Bud Daley was a pitcher for the Kansas City A’s and was the lone All-Star representative in 1960 when the game was held in Municipal Stadium. He talked about his reception from the fans and facing down Vada Pinson, Ken Boyer and Hall of Famers Orlando Cepeda and Roberto Clemente.

We also talked with Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, about their events over the weekend. He has a lot going on and mentioned that players like Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Dave Winfield, Tony Gwynn and others will be in town at various NLBM events.

The show finished up by going around the minors and looking at a few players recent performances including Chris Dwyer, Yordano Ventura and Bubba Starling.

We’ll be back next week with more discussion of Kansas City baseball, past, present and future on ESPN 1510 Thursday at 6 p.m. CST.

You can catch up on old episodes of the Kansas City Baseball Vault here on Kings of Kauffman. Episodes of the Royalman Report are available on the site as well.

Follow the Kansas City Baseball Vault on Twitter and Facebook for future programming updates. Also follow Kings of Kauffman for article updates, discussion and other information.

That's a big baseball. Photo: Chris Kamler

Major League Baseball opened the doors to its annual FanFest to Kansas City media on Thursday. FanFest is an annual event in the host city and with the 2012 MLB All-Star Game in Kansas City, Bartle Hall was chosen as the site of the event. The general public can attend starting Friday, July 6 and it runs through July 10.

What’s in store this year are many attractions and activities for just about anyone. There’s a special spot for kids to do arts and crafts or some simple hitting off of a batting tee. There are pitching machines for big kids and adults and even fielding practice. Also featured are speed pitch booths to tell you how fast you can throw and an attraction sponsored by Taco Bell where you can “steal a base, steal a taco”. Participants can select a baserunner (I chose Alex Gordon) and re-enact a stolen base attempt. You react when the pitcher starts to deliver the ball, run down a baseline and slide into a base (with a mat in front) and if you’re safe, you win a taco.

I gave it a try:

There are numerous photo booths where you can pose as if you’re making a game winning catch, showing up on a baseball card, or even by the world’s largest baseball.

If you’re not really after a lot of the carnival-type games, there are various vendors selling memorabilia and an All-Star merchandise store to browse through, plus various booths set up with information about baseball.

What really jumps out are the exhibits.

Cooperstown in your backyard. Photo: Chris Kamler

The National Baseball Hall of Fame has various artifacts, including a World Series trophy and the infamous Pine Tar Bat swung by George Brett in 1983. Other jerseys and items are on display after making the voyage from Cooperstown. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum has a large exhibit as well, featuring replica jerseys of Negro League players inducted into the Hall of Fame and other such things. There’s an authentic game-worn uniform of Jackie Robinson‘s famous #42 that you can see, but it wasn’t in the case on the tour.

Another interesting exhibit is shared every year at All-Star FanFest. To tribute the host city, MLB highlights their team’s history. There’s a timeline, photos, and even a facsimile team photo with life-size cutouts where you can stand in and look like part of the team.

Jerseys in waiting. Photo: Chris Kamler.

MLB has set up an area called the Clubhouse, designed for Q&A sessions with All-Stars of this year and the past, as well as other players. Alex Gordon is planned to participate in one such session, but won’t be the only one. 2012 All-Star jerseys hang as if ready to be worn inside the Clubhouse. Right outside of that is a dugout where there will be kids games (like at the Little K) and a mascot Home Run Derby.

MLB.com and the MLB Network have booths set up and will be reporting and broadcasting from FanFest throughout the weekend.

I imagine you’ll have to wait a bit for the autograph lines, but if you’re the type to collect them, it should be worth it. Current and former All-Stars will sign autographs and Bo Jackson might end up being the biggest draw, as he’s announced he’ll be there on Saturday.

Best of all, once you’ve purchased a ticket (or received it with your All-Star Game strip), all of the exhibits and attractions are included in the price of the ticket. Concessions and merchandise are available for purchase.

More information about FanFest is located on the MLB.com All-Star Game site.

While the game is on Tuesday, that whole weekend is packed with events and attractions for out-of-towners. If you’re coming to Kansas City for the first time or if you’re going to be staying in the city for the full All-Star festivities, there’s plenty to see along with baseball-related events.

Baseball, of course, is the main reason Kansas City will be hopping, so let’s start there with what you should look for.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and American Jazz Museum at 18th and Vine via Wikimedia Commons

Your first stop in that case should be the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Located in the historic 18th & Vine district, the NLBM contains artifacts, clippings, information and exhibits that chronicle the history of the Negro Leagues. The exhibits share a timeline of world events that coincide with baseball, providing a narrative of our nation’s progress toward integration in society and in the national pastime. The design of the museum is symbolic, with the appropriately named Field of Legends which features full size statues of Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard and the famous Satchel Paige and can only be reached after you’ve taken the full journey. (You can check on events at the NLBM during the All-Star Break here.)

While you’re there, the American Jazz Museum is in the same building, sharing the great American art form and features Charlie Parker, Count Basie and others. President Clinton’s saxophone is on display too.

If you’re still in the mood for some sports history but want to grab a bite to eat, Chappell’s Sports Bar and Museum has everything you want. Football helmets, autographed baseballs and other memorabilia are all over the place there, while other items, like the gloves from the film Rocky, are on display as well.

View of the KC skyline from the Liberty Memorial via Wikimedia Commons

If you’re still in an historic mood, another must-see is the Liberty Memorial and the World War I museum. It’s the official national WWI museum and an impressive structure in its own right, but if you walk to the top, you also get a view of the Kansas City skyline, including Crown Center and Union Station nearby.

After all of that, you’re probably getting hungry, and you should try to get into one of the famed barbecue joints Alan talked about previously. Arthur Bryant’s, Gates and Oklahoma Joe’s battle for Kansas City barbecue supremacy, while Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue  also puts up its own solid case. You really can’t go wrong.

There’s famous fried chicken from Stroud’s or Niecie’s, Hereford House if you’re after a steak, or Blanc for gourmet burgers.

Many of these restaurants and others can be found in the various districts of Kansas City. The Plaza features shopping and dining options as well as a plethora of fountains (and you’ll see a LOT of fountains – only Paris has more). Westport has all sorts of bars to stop by, including Kelly’s Westport Inn, the oldest in the city, Harry’s Bar and Tables for fine cocktails and McCoy’s which doubles as a restaurant and brewery (get the Ginger Shandy and thank me later). More nightlife can be found in the Power and Light District, as well.  You could also stop by the Crossroads Art District which has a good selection of watering holes as well as various galleries (and First Fridays showcases artwork each month in the area and happens to correspond to All-Star weekend).

Of course if you’re just looking to make up your own meals, the City Market features a large farmer’s market surrounded by shops and restaurants. Just walking by, smells of spices and fresh produce beckon while carts selling homemade fudge and other treats wait for you to give in.

City Market via Wikimedia Commons

Other great attractions include the Kansas City Zoo, Lego Land at Crown Center, the Nelson-Atkins Museum, the Federal Reserve (always an interesting tour), Worlds of Fun, and up north various casinos if you’re feeling lucky.

And if you happen to need a break from baseball and want to see other athletic competition, Sporting KC hosts Houston on July 7th at Livestrong Park.

Last and definitely not least is the Boulevard Brewery. Boulevard brews all sorts of styles but their signature is Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat and you’ll find it at any bar in the city. If you’re the type to partake in an adult beverage, give it a try. There are also various cab companies in Kansas City as well and the Kansas City Strip, a trolley that takes you from one bar district to another (don’t drink and drive!).

That’s just a sample of things to do in Kansas City if you’re visiting for the All-Star break. By no means is that the full list of places to go, to eat, to explore. To do that, you’d have to spend more than just the All-Star break in town. You can check out VisitKC.com for more information.

Let me explain.  A South Carolina resident who visits Kansas City and orders Pulled Pork with mustard BBQ sauce, hash, and Brunswick Stew (South Carolina & Georgia specialties) will be disappointed at almost any restaurant.  A Kansas City tourist visiting Texas’ BBQ Mecca in Lockhart who orders hickory smoked ribs will no doubt think Texans have no idea how to make barbeque.  A Texan looking for tender mesquite smoked brisket and pinto beans in Memphis will come up empty handed.  Someone from Memphis looking for dry rub…  well, you get the picture.  BBQ means different things to different people and you need to understand the specialty of each area if you want the best experience during your visit.

A few of the All Stars of Kansas City BBQ

There is a variety of great BBQ in Kansas City and no doubt you can find a few local restaurants that can smoke brisket with the best of the Texas Que joints, there are a few places with noteworthy pulled pork, and you might find some dry rub someplace, but I recommend you try a different approach.  When in Rome, do as the Romans.  If you’re in Kansas City for an All Star visit, let go of your BBQ inhibitions and indulge in the local specialty.  You absolutely must try the ribs.

Your first stop has to be the original Arthur Bryants at 17^th and Brooklyn just a few blocks from the Negro Leagues Museum, one of John Madden’s favorite haunts, and the restaurant Calvin Trillin of the New Yorker famously called, “possibly the single best restaurant in the world.”  The sandwiches of beef or ham or sausage are magnificent huge stacks of smoky meat, but don’t be swayed.  The big thick long or short end ribs are the stuff that dreams are made of.  So get in line, grab a plate, and be ready to order through the window while you watch the king-of-all-ribs chopped and wrapped in old school butcher paper.  Be sure to get a side of fresh cut fries.  And don’t forget to try the oh-so-vinegary original sauce, which is a bit of an acquired taste, but a must have for all visitors. No other restaurant has contributed more to the BBQ legacy of Kansas City than this one.

Another very popular heavy-weight of Kansas City BBQ is Oklahoma Joes, located in the sweetest smelling gas station on earth at 47^th and Mission Rd.  Named after the smoker the owners used in the American Royal BBQ competitions over 20 years ago, their ribs are the equal of Arthur Bryants and a proud representative of a KC tradition.  Be prepared to wait in a long line, I promise you won’t be the only fans checking out Oklahoma Joes during All Star week.

If you are unable to travel far from the stadium during your All Star visit, consider checking out LC’s BBQ at 5800 Blue Parkway.  With a 93% approval rating on Roadfood.com and 91% on Urbanspoon.com, this place is a little off the beaten path, but well worth the trouble to hunt it down.  With mismatched tables and styrofoam boxes for plates, LC’s defines the expression “greasy spoon.”  Their spoons may be greasy, but their BBQ pit is a little bit of heaven.

If you’re looking for something a little more upscale, you’ll want to try Fiorella’s Jack Stack BBQ at any of four locations complete with table clothes and actual waiters rather than a serving counter.  How many BBQ joints have you visited that are highly rated by Zagat’s?  In addition to the awesome ribs, you must try the delicious cheesy corn bake, and my favorite hickory pit beans.  Just be sure you’re prepared for a little sticker shock when the bill arrives, Jack Stack is a tiny bit pricier than it’s downscale cousins in KC.

It would be virtually impossible to name all the great BBQ ribs in Kansas City in one short article, but I’ll at least mention a few of my honorable mention locations:  Gate’s BBQ (my Dad’s personal favorite), BB’s Lawnside BBQ (check out the made from scratch raisin and vanilla bread pudding drizzled with sweet bourbon sauce – yummy!), Rosedale BBQ (my son’s favorite BBQ sauce), and Danny Edwards Boulevard BBQ (the successor to the legendary Jake’s Eat It and Beat It BBQ).  One thing I can tell you for certain, no matter which one you choose, you’re sure to have an All Star BBQ experience.

Whether that aspect is good or not for the game isn’t what I’m worried about, but with a fan’s perspective, the All-Star Game still matters, but not always for the game itself. It’s an event. There are days of build up within a city (and if you’re in the Kansas City area, you know this by now) as the focus of the baseball world lands on them.

Yes, interleague play brings teams into town that would normally never play in Kansas City unless there was a World Series matchup. In the 1980s, when Mike Schmidt ambled up to the plate at then-Royals Stadium, it was his first time swinging about in Kansas City. The All-Star game used to be a chance to showcase both leagues and match them up when they otherwise wouldn’t. That aspect has faded with the changes in the game. Free agency further blurs the lines between the leagues, in 2013, there will be an interleague play going on all season long and eventually, the designated hitter will exist within both leagues.

Regardless, that doesn’t take away some of the mystique of the All-Star Game.

The NFL’s Pro Bowl is awful. There isn’t any defense. Teams play under entirely different rules, and now, in an effort to keep it relevant, much less interesting, the league has it before the Super Bowl ends the NFL season (rather than after as in the past which made it meaningless) and had to get a promise from players to make it competitive. The NBA isn’t too far off with its game, and it resembles an AND1 Tour more than a smooth game of strategy and competitiveness. The NHL has a great skills competition but the game doesn’t draw the attention the others do.

But baseball holds some of that magic still. Players lined up along the baseline in their own uniforms, weird matchups you’ve never seen. In the past, it was the first time many National League hitting stars would face star American League pitchers.

Chipper Jones. Photo Credit: Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE

Some of those unique matchups will still happen year to year, but exhibitions like the All-Star Game also give a city a chance to see players they’ve never seen in person too. While some of the pool of NL stars has passed through Kauffman Stadium in the past, many haven’t, and many of those who haven’t are big names who would bring a special buzz to the evening.

These are the players the Royals have played in the past who’ll be in the All-Star Game on July 10 but who’ve never played at Kauffman Stadium:

• Chipper Jones
• Stephen Strasburg
• Joey Votto
• Craig Kimbrel
• Jose Altuve
• Andrew McCutchen
• Joel Hanrahan
• Ian Desmond
• Ernesto Frieri (who’s eligible in the Final Vote for a spot on the AL side)

Not too bad, huh? The Royals faced Strasburg before he had Tommy John surgery, but it was in Washington. There’s a chance that, even for just an inning, Kansas City natives could see the phenom on the mound for the first time.

Chipper Jones was just named to the NL side and in his last season, he makes his first trip to Kauffman. This is a player who’ll end up in the Hall of Fame stepping onto our grass. Sure, fans all over the country have seen Jones on ESPN, TBS, in the playoffs, the World Series, in other All-Star Games. But they’ve never seen him at Kauffman Stadium.

But how about one step further. Here are those players who have never faced the Royals at all and never at Kauffman:

• Bryce Harper*
• Yu Darvish*
• Mike Trout
• Aroldis Chapman
• David Wright
• Buster Posey
• Pablo Sandoval
• Cole Hamels
• Giancarlo Stanton
• Matt Kemp (who won’t be in the game but will be in the Home Run Derby)

*eligible for the Final Vote

Bryce Harper. Bro. Photo Credit: Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE

Look at that list. Harper and Trout are two players who might be chasing 3000 hits in 20 years and hitting the Hall of Fame in 25. Wright has been one of the most consistent hitters since he’s been in the league, Stanton is a mythic beast of a slugger who’s already busted a couple of scoreboards this year with home runs and Darvish and Chapman aren’t far removed from the international baseball headlines while their performance matches the hype.

That’s a solid collection of talent that’s on display for the first time ever at Kauffman Stadium.

Maybe we’ve all seen them on TV and the internet. Maybe even on the road. But this is right here in the Royals backyard. There will be stirring in the bullpen and 40,000 heads turning to see who it is. A batter will go back to the dugout and the crowd will wait to see if perhaps this is their first look at Bryce Harper in person (assuming he wins the Final Vote).

To me, that’s still pretty special.

The former Royals first baseman and a standout in the 1980 World Series looked poised for success until addiction became his downfall.

Author Gregory Jordan has published an account of Aikens’s journey through the peaks and valleys of his life before, during and after his time in prison with unflinching honesty. Aikens told his story of addiction, freedom and redemption, warts and all.

Kings of Kauffman has three copies to give to our loyal readers.

If you want to get yourself a copy, it’s very simple to become eligible:

Tweet @KingsofKauffman or comment on our Facebook page with your choice of the winner and total number of home runs hit in the 2012 Home Run Derby on  July 9. In the event of a tie, the closest to the estimated longest home run hit (in feet) will determine a winner.

The deadline to submit your prediction is midnight central time Sunday night, July 8.

While you’re already there, how about a like on Facebook and a follow on Twitter? If you already follow @KingsofKauffman and like our Facebook page, great!

You can also listen to Aikens tell part of his story on the Royalman Report from January.

But even in Kauffman Stadium, he’ll just be a spectator in the Home Run Derby on Monday night.

Captain Robinson Cano selected Mark Trumbo of the Angels, Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays and Fielder of the Tigers to join him on the field. It’s hard to argue too hard against any of those choices. Bautista has been a home run machine over the last few years, Trumbo was runner up in the Rookie of the Year vote last season and tied with Mike Moustakas in 2010 for the minor league lead in homers. Fielder has been an MVP candidate multiple times and in a full season, his low mark for homers is 28. Butler’s career high is 21.

That doesn’t stop Butler from being qualified and it doesn’t stop fans from being upset with Cano’s selections. Butler’s numbers justify a spot in the competition. Cano said last month that he would pick a Royal to be in the competition and after Butler was named as a reserve on the AL team it was expected that he’d take part in the derby in front of the hometown crowd.

I wouldn’t blame anyone for booing Cano during such an exhibition.

In the end it may not matter at all. Cano could have been pushed by Major League Baseball to go with someone else as a means of marketing the HR Derby. Maybe it was just lip service to answer a question in the diplomatic way. Would Cano say “no, I’m not taking a Royal”? Doubtful.

Some (like Sam Mellinger) had expressed concern that the different approach to a home run derby would mess with Butler’s swing for the rest of the year. Bobby Abreu entered the 2005 Home Run Derby with 18 homers and won. He only hit 6 the rest of the way and some suggested that he wasn’t making the good contact he was earlier in the year and blamed the derby. I’m not sure if that’s a big concern, because it didn’t give Cano problems last year or most other past winners. Abreu turned 31 years old in 2005 – his slow second half could just as easily be attributed to age. The Derby ended up as a nice excuse, though.

At any rate, Butler will be sitting in the grass at Kauffman Stadium a week from tonight, watching four other American League sluggers deposit baseballs in the fountains and the outfield concourse and threaten the Royals Hall of Fame in left field. He’ll start out on the bench on Tuesday and wait for a shot to get into the game.

Ron Washington should do everything he can to get Butler into the game. All-Star managers aren’t obligated to get every player in to the game, though they typically try. In the case of the hometown selection, it’s a good idea to try to get him in for an at bat and probably two. Royals fans are used to seeing their team overlooked. It’s flyover country, the team hasn’t been a winner very often and in some years, the good players just haven’t been that good. The last time the Royals had two all-stars was 2003. Nearly a decade of expecting just one player to represent Kansas City.

This year, it’s different. Butler is hitting well. He’s recognized as one of the best young hitters in baseball. He’ll get his chance to soak in the applause of the locals.

It just won’t be during the derby.

While Chris Kamler was hanging out in 100 degree heat watching little league and Jeff Herr was on assignment, Troy Olsen and Mike Engel had an afternoon discussion about the Royals weekend problems and their bipolar play lately.

They covered the Billy Butler all star announcement, guessed at his odds in the Home Run Derby and talked about other All Star selections.

The plight of Jonathan Sanchez came up as well, and they agreed that he’s been about as bad as possible since coming to the Royals.

Things wrapped up by talking about upcoming all star events and there’s an interview that Mike did with Craig Brown (@RoyalsAuthority) of Royals Review (formerly Royals Authority) to talk about the Royals blogosphere, Royals in contention and the fans’ reactions and the Baseball Prospectus event.

Tickets to the BP event are still available http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=17278

Don’t forget the Royalman Report is on every Sunday at 7 and catch our new show, The Kansas City Baseball Vault on ESPN 1510 AM Thursday’s at 6.

You can listen below or download the mp3 directly.

The Royalman Report is hosted by Troy “Royalman” Olsen with co-host Michael Engel and features Chris “Fake Ned Yost” Kamler and 610 Sports blogger Jeff Herr and airs  live Sundays at 7 p.m. central time at RoyalmanReport.com as well as on Livestream.com/RoyalmanReport.

Subscribe via the RSS feed and get updates when new episodes are uploaded.

Stuck in a cubicle, on a road trip, or using your smartphone?  Stitcher is a multi-platform radio app that’s available on Apple products, Droid, Blackberry and other phones.  Find us here on Stitcher.

You can also subscribe via iTunes: JUST CLICK HERE (and iPad, iPhone, iTouch users can get the Livestream app here to watch live or archived shows).

Follow the Royalman Report on Twitter.  While you’re at it, track down Kings of Kauffman on Twitter as well.

(more…)

Billy Butler being congratulated after a homer. More are on the way. Photo Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

The American League set most of its roster for the 2012 MLB All-Star Game on Sunday and the Royals were hopeful to get multiple players into the game at Kauffman Stadium.

They only got one, but it’s the deserving Billy Butler, who has a .297/.365/.516 line with 16 homers and 48 RBI through Saturday. It’s his first All-Star selection but he’s had multiple solid years since becoming a regular in the Royals lineup. I looked at his power surge this year and its place in first-half Royals lore. There’s a chance that Robinson Cano might select him for the Home Run Derby in front of the hometown fans.

Mike Moustakas and Alcides Escobar have had solid years in positions with solid competition and missed the cut. Paul looked at their cases to make the All-Star team yesterday. Jonathan Broxton had a chance to be the representative with 20 saves and a 2.05 ERA. Instead, Broxton is part of the Final Vote and could still be voted in.

 Alcides Escobar – Shortstop

Alcides Escobar is a coin flip to represent the Royals in the All-Star Game. Peter G. Aiken-US PRESSWIRE

 The Case For: Don’t look now, but Alcides Escobar is currently hitting .316 and sporting a .355 on-base percentage. Those numbers place him first and third among American League shortstops, respectively. He ranks third with his .779 OPS, second with 19 doubles, and third with 12 stolen bases. He batted .349 in June with a .477 slugging percentage. In short, he’s been raking.

 And all this comes from a guy who was brought to the Royals in the Zack Greinke trade as a defensive specialist with a lot to learn on offense. Well, Escobar has learned all right. His confidence at the plate is palpable, and this incarnation of Escobar in no way resembles the timid, distrusting batter we saw at the beginning of the 2011 season.

 And Escobar never stopped being an elite defender. He possesses excellent range, and despite a somewhat pedestrian fielding percentage, he currently ranks second among AL shortstops with 128 putouts and is tied for third with 53 double plays. He also has been regularly featured on Sportscenter’s Top Plays, which is about as impactful for his chances of making the All-Star team as every statistic I’ve cited in the previous two paragraphs combined.

 The Case Against: I don’t feel entirely comfortable nit-picking Escobar since he has been so fantastic this year. The only quibble I can summon is that Escobar lacks power, having hit only two home runs on the season.

 Also, since the less productive Derek Jeter is a lock to make the team, Escobar could get squeezed behind a power bat like Asdrubal Cabrera or, gulp, a nepotistic selection such as Ron Washington’s own Elvis Andrus.

 The bottom line is that Escobar deserves the honor. He can only hope that politics don’t interfere with the correct decision.

 Odds of Making Team: 51%. If you’ll notice, the combined percentage odds I’ve divvied out to these three players total out to 126%. That figure reflects my 26% certainty that the Royals will get a second All-Star selection for the first time since Mike Sweeney and Mike MacDougal were honored in 2003.

 My Pick: He’s tentatively in, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get shafted by Ron Washington.

Mike Moustakas – Third Baseman

2012 isn't likely the year for Mike Moustakas to represent the Royals at the All-Star game. Peter G. Aiken-US PRESSWIRE

The Case For: Moustakas ranks 3^rd among American League third basemen with an .803 OPS, 3^rd in homers with 13, and 4^th in doubles with his 17. He has also displayed surprisingly world class defense at third base. Moustakas leads all AL third basemen with 23 double plays started, which is seven more than pursuers Brett Lawrie and Miguel Cabrera. He also ranks second in assists and second in fielding percentage. By almost any metric, he has been an elite defender this season.

On top of his league rankings, Moustakas has arguably been the best all-round Royal this season. He currently sits second on the team in home runs, RBI, and OPS, and is third on the team with 17 doubles.

Adrian Beltre and Miguel Cabrera seem like locks at this point. But Moustakas has a legitimate case to make this team as the back-up to the back-up third baseman.

The Case Against: Moustakas’ mid-.260’s batting average doesn’t jump off the page. Furthermore, as good as his defense has been, ultimately the reality is that the All-Star game is more about offense than defense. The guys with impressive counting numbers are more likely to get the nod. And offensively, it would be difficult to argue that Moustakas deserves to make the team over teammate Billy Butler.

He is young and still improving, and will no doubt get his opportunity to play on the big stage in his blossoming career. But for guys who are neck and neck in quality like Butler and Moustakas, the player with the longer track record of success should get the nod.  Butler simply deserves to be recognized as the best player on the Royals. Moustakas’ best chance would be if the Royals garner two roster spots.

Odds of Making Team: 10%

My Pick: Moustakas will make plenty of All-Star teams, but it’s not going to happen in 2012.

Billy Butler – Designated Hitter

Billy Butler might be swinging for the fences in the home run derby next week. Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE

The Case For: Butler leads the Royals in home runs, runs batted in, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS. Oh, and he’s currently second on the team in batting average. He’s been the most consistent Royal for several years now, and is coming into his own as bona fide superstar. We’re roughly halfway through the season, and Butler is on pace to shatter his career highs in home runs and slugging percentage.

As much as I hate to jinx Butler’s power surge through the season’s first half, I nonetheless feel compelled to mention that Billy (16 HR’s through 76 games) has made himself into a legitimate threat to surpass Steve Balboni’s infamously embarrassing club home run record of 38.

Plus, Butler owns the third best OPS among qualifying designated hitters, trailing only Boston’s David Ortiz and Toronto’s Edwin Encarnacion. Chicago’s Adam Dunn is running neck and neck with Butler, but he has several teammates (Paul Konerko, Chris Sale, Alex Rios come to mind) at least as deserving of a spot. Because every team needs to represented, the quota on White Sox all-star candidates probably doesn’t run four-deep.

The way I see it, the All-Star game is the perfect opportunity to carry three designated hitters, since most of the non-starters at the game won’t figure to get more than one at-bat anyway.

Bonus: Butler would become a natural candidate for the home run derby if he was named to the squad. If Saturday’s bomb against the Twins is any indication, he could put on quite a show.

The Case Against: Butler must get tired of hearing this, but no conversation regarding his talents is complete until the obligatory mention that he doesn’t play defense. When he’s competing for a roster spot with defensive stalwarts Moustakas and Escobar, that fact simply has to be taken into account.

Odds of Making Team: 65%

My Pick: He’s in.

Playing for the U.S. team will be Jake Odorizzi and Wil Myers. Most Royals fans should recognize the names of two of the organization’s top prospects. (more…)