We all have our memories, the moments that stand out above the others. There are the obvious, of course. There are the big hits, the big outs, the celebrations. But as we all know, there were also plenty of little nuggets in those championship seasons. They aren’t necessarily on the highlight reels. Some are. Others […]
Author: Craig Brown
Player Profile: Paulo Orlando
All it took was a triple. And another. And another. Then, a couple of games later, one more for good measure. Paulo Orlando’s first four games in the major leagues were highlighted by four triples. He was running wild on the bases, resurrecting memories of those Running Royals of the 1970’s. It was as if […]
Player Profile: Ian Kennedy
Ian Kennedy was rolling. Through his first five starts and 31 innings of 2017, Kennedy owned a 2.30 ERA and had limited the opposition to .159/.256/.262. A year after surrendering 1.5 HR/9, he was keeping the ball in the yard (0.9 HR/9) while striking out 28 against 14 walks. His average Game Score was a […]
Player Profile: Alex Gordon
Let’s get one thing out of the way right up front. Alex Gordon was one of the 10 best players in baseball from 2011 to 2014. This is not hyperbole. This is fact. Standard Batting Year Age G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ […]
Player Profile: Brandon Moss
Brandon Moss needed a few years to break through. After playing parts of six seasons in Boston, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, his moment coincided with his arrival in Oakland prior to the 2012 season. In three years on the east side of the Bay, Moss posted TAv’s of .335, .328 and .290. His cumulative line with […]
Player Profile: Drew Butera
Drew Butera is something of a Royals folk hero. As far as I can tell, there are three reasons for this. They are, in order of importance: Hair flips Mop-up relief pitching Backup catching Let’s begin. Hair Flips Scouting is an inexact science, but there is no disputing Butera is blessed with 80 grade hair. […]
Player Profile: Jason Hammel
The knock on Jason Hammel when the right-hander arrived in Kansas City was he habitually struggled in the second half of the season. He came by that reputation honestly. Hammel scuffled after a trade to Oakland in 2014. He limped to the finish line with an injury in 2015. The results were a little better […]
Voodoo Economics
The Royals have a bit of an accounting problem on their hands. #Royals GM Dayton Moore told KC radio station in November that payroll would be in $110M-$120M range. Sources now indicate number will be no more than $110M. Only way Hosmer fits is if #Royals trim in other areas. KC listening on everyone, getting […]
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
The Royals rumors came fast and furious on Wednesday, mostly centered around Danny Duffy. Danny Duffy extremely popular on trade market. KC seriously thinking about trading. — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 13, 2017 We have a bit of an inferiority complex in Kansas City. That’s okay to admit, I think. We’re one of the smallest […]
It’s Time To Talk About The “R” Word
To rebuild, or not to rebuild. That is the question. At least that’s the question facing Dayton Moore. It may not be a life and death matter like Hamlet was facing, but Moore’s decisions over the next two months will set this franchise on a course that will not be decided for the next several […]