Royals Links: Spring Training Cuts, Defensive Projections, FOX Broadcasts, & More

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

I think we’ve reached the dog days of Spring Training. The excitement of baseball’s return has worn off, and we’re still two and a half weeks away from Opening Day, so we’re just kind of stuck in that undesirable mid-point. It’s like when I watched Dexter.  The first few seasons were pretty good, but after the fourth season I just wanted it all to be over so I could get on with the rest of my television-watching life. Then it ended and I wondered why I wasted so much time on something that wasn’t all that enjoyable. We need real baseball, you guys. Let’s get to some links.

– The Royals made another round of cuts this morning, optioning Lane Adams, Jorge Bonifacio, Aaron Brooks, and Orlando Calixte to Omaha, while reassigning Buddy Baumann, Brian Broderick, Casey Coleman, Hunter Dozier, Matt Fields, Joe Paterson, and Bubba Starling to minor league camp. I’m guessing Adams and Brooks are the only guys who could see time in Kansas City this year, though Ned Yost said he was impressed with Calixte, who could have a future as a slick-fielding middle infielder. Starling had a .732 OPS, with 7 strikeouts in 16 plate appearances. Baseball isn’t always easy.

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– MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan wrote about some Royals minor league award winners, including Terrance Gore, who won the Willie Wilson baserunner of the year award. The 23-year old won’t see the big leagues again until September, but you can be sure the rest of baseball knows about him by now. Humberto Arteaga, Christian Binford, Malcom Culver, Angel Franco, and Whit Merrifield were also given awards for their 2014 performances.

– August Fagerstrom of FanGraphs has a preview of team defenses for the upcoming season, and it should come as no surprise that the Royals are at the top of the list. Defensive metrics are certainly far from perfect, but I doubt there will be much of an argument that the Royals should be elite in the field once again. Jeremy Guthrie rejoices.

– FOX Sports released their broadcast schedule for the 2015 season, and the Royals can be seen on FOX or FOX Sports 1 – either nationally or regionally – ten times. Only the Yankees will be shown more often than the Royals, so make note of this day on your calendar. History has been made. Some of the games set to be shown include May 30 against the Cubs, July 4 against the Twins, and a potentially important September 19 date with the Tigers.

– Anna McDonald wrote a great piece on ESPNS’s SweetSpot blog, detailing the struggles one former Royals’ prospect faced during his time as a professional baseball player. Ian Ferguson had an excellent 2002 season in the minors, but he was soon forced to walk away from the game when his anxiety and depression took control of his life. It’s a powerful story that this brief caption can’t fully describe, so please take the time to read it.

– Lyle Spencer of MLB.com asked 18 executives and managers which three players they would use to start a baseball franchise. I’m assuming they know it takes more than three guys to play baseball, because otherwise I’m not sure why they would be working in the sport. Anyway, Mike Trout rightfully topped the list, with Clayton Kershaw coming behind him. Salvador Perez got two votes, and an odd collection of players received one vote. Some of those players include Adam Jones, Carlos Correa, and Blake Swihart. That’s, well, something.

Next: No Room for Louis Coleman?