Archives: Podcasts

Last time, we went over the starting pitching options left for the Royals and lo and behold, they signed one of them.

We discussed the Ian Kennedy deal (that’s still pending physical) and how he might fare in Kansas City and the factors that led to his acquisition.

We also talked about what’s left for the Royals this offseason, as well as some of the players who might fill in if needed this season and how that might impact the future.

All we ask is that you don’t opt out of this podcast after the first 40%.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to KansasCityBaseballVault@gmail.com.

So now that the Royals have signed Alex Gordon, it’s time to add a starting pitcher.

This week, we looked at the names still out on the market, the best fits for the Royals, and the guys we want the Royals to take a chance on.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to KansasCityBaseballVault@gmail.com.

After doubts (and very reasonable ones) and prolonged waiting, the Royals finally re-signed Alex Gordon.

We pretty much just took the whole show to gush about him, but we did also discuss his 4-year, $72 million contract, and its impact on the next two seasons and the post-2017 seasons (when many current Royals will probably be venturing elsewhere).

And in the process, we talked about Gordon’s legacy as this generation’s George Brett – a player who was a fixture for years and years.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to KansasCityBaseballVault@gmail.com.

After a fairly quiet offseason, the Royals finally struck, re-signing Chris Young and bring back former closer Joakim Soria.
However, the Royals’ time with Ben Zobrist officially ended, as he was announced as headed to the Cubs just before recording.
We talked about each of these moves and what’s next – more specifically, what’s next for Alex Gordon, and what the Royals have as Plan B if they can’t bring him back.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to KansasCityBaseballVault@gmail.com.

The Royals are still waiting for things to develop, but it seems like things will start moving quickly now that David Price has signed.

We examined the free agent market in light of Price’s seven-year, $217 million deal with Boston. Salaries keep rising, so what’s the Royals approach? And how does that match up with their efforts to retain Alex Gordon and Ben Zobrist?

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to KansasCityBaseballVault@gmail.com.

Now that the dust has settled on Kansas City’s World Series victory (dang, that’s fun to say), we talked about what’s next in the offseason.

That being the case, we talked about Alex Gordon’s free agency and his legacy with the Royals. We also expressed a desire to bring Ben Zobrist back, and we looked at other potential targets briefly.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to KansasCityBaseballVault@gmail.com.

There’s not a lot of analysis in this one, so if you like the numbers and the breakdowns week to week, this isn’t the one for you.

What we did, though, was reflect on the journey of following the World Series Champion Kansas City Royals. In 2015. Over the course of our fandom. All of it.

We brought on Troy Olsen, who’s been along for the ride from afar, and shared stories of how we’ve come to appreciate this team and their story.

The Royals are World Series Champions.
Really.

Thank you for listening.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to KansasCityBaseballVault@gmail.com.

The Royals had their backs against the wall in Houston, came back, and won the ALDS. They faced a juggernaut. A powerhouse. A wrecking ball of an offense, but held on to beat Toronto in the ALCS.

And as a result, they won their fourth American League pennant and second in as many years.

What a world.

The Royals go on to face the Mets in the World Series, so we talked with Gary Mack from MetsMusings.com to get some insight on the Mets and to share our Royals thoughts with him and his listeners.

This is going to be a series of matchups: fastball throwers vs. fastball hitters. A powerful Mets team against a scrappy Royals team.

We also had to talk about the makeup of the Royals playoff roster and of course had to talk about the anxiety that we ran into during the Blue Jays series up until a remarkable Lorenzo Cain run, and Wade Davis’s unlikely return from rain delay.

It was a fun show and we’re hoping our next episode is celebrating a Royals World Championship.

Recorded 10/26/15

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to KansasCityBaseballVault@gmail.com.

After another historic comeback win by the Royals in the postseason, the ALDS goes to a deciding Game 5.

It comes down to a Johnny Cueto start.

But first, we talked about the Game 4 comeback and the approach that saved the Royals season.

Then we looked at Game 5, wondering if the big comeback can fuel the Royals to another win and another big run like last season. We asked if Dallas Keuchel would pull a Madison Bumgarner, if Eric Hosmer has turned it back on, and if the Royals can pull it off.

Recorded 10/13/15

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to KansasCityBaseballVault@gmail.com.

While the Yankees and Astros played the AL Wild Card Game, Jeff and Mike went back in time to see how some pre-season predictions finished up.

We discussed the production and maturation of Eric Hosmer, the breakout of Lorenzo Cain, the impact Kris Medlen and Chris Young had on the pitching staff, and the tumultuous seasons from Danny Duffy and Yordano Ventura.

We also speculated about how the Yankees or Astros would match up with the Royals in an ALDS matchup (the Astros ended up winning after the recording had concluded).

Recorded 10/6/15

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to KansasCityBaseballVault@gmail.com.