It's very possible if he stays healthy and not on an innings limit.

So Duffy is another failed prospect?

If his control doesn't get any better, then yep, it's looking like it.

not yet, but he probably won't be the #5 starter on March 30.

I realize not every prospect is going to work out.....but the Royals must hold some kind of record for failed pitching prospects over the past 20 years. Its a big reason why they have sucked for most of that period.

Greinke didn't suck... But we also didn't hold on to him.

Hes about the only exception.

The only other pitcher is maybe Rosado, he could have been good if his arm was not destroyed by the Royals stupidity.

Welp.

Well there's that, at least

How long until he's QB'ing at Nebraska?

I don't understand the talk about Duffy being a bust. Yes, he is losing a battle with Ventura...but all the other positions were given to Chen, Vargas, Shields, and Guthrie. It was predetermined to be Ventura vs Duffy. Ok, he lost. He's struggling with command. He also no hit the Tigers last year through 5 or 6. He has time to figure things out. Luckily for the Royals, they don't need him right now. If he finds his control mid season and changes spots with Chen look out. Is losing to Ventura a really bad thing? Maybe Ventura is really good. We better hope so. I'd rather it be the case that Ventura is a beast than have Duffy beat him out. Duffy has time, he just doesn't have a spot now. And that's a great thing.

If Duffy can't beat out 50 year old Chen........come on.....that's pretty telling.

fyp

He isn't competing with Chen. Looks like the only spot in rotation available currently is the ventura/duffy spot.

I hope that changes later in season. Duffy needs to keep innings down as well.

Duffy will be in the rotation at some point this year. Just cause he's not starting in it doesn't mean he's through.

Chen is better used out of the bully, imo. He's a good starter, but a great setup/long relief guy. At least that's the impression I got watching him before they re-inserted him in the rotation last season. He didn't suck as a starter by any means, but....

I'm still convinced the plan with Chen is for him to make around 10 starts and cover the innings they want out of his spot in the rotation but know they can't get out of Duffy (because he's limited to 140-150 this year) or Zimmer.

I'd rather see Duffy in Omaha continuing to work on his slider than pitching out of the bullpen, but using him out of the Royals pen at the start of the year DOES allow them to limit his innings while still having his work supervised by Eiland.

I wonder, too, how much Duffy's development would have been helped if they'd just let him start throwing a slider 3-4 years ago rather than insisting he stick to a curveball as his breaking pitch. His arm slot is probably more conducive to a slider, and it works better off of his fastball than a curve (and is harder to recognize, improving the swing and miss ability of both pitches).

Interesting article on the star today. The Royals are doing a bunch of different things to try to keep Salvy from suffering another concussion.

They are trying out more padding in his helmet this spring, and they ordered a heavier old-fashioned solid steel mask to replace his lightweight mask. (the lightweight masks are more comfortable, but they don't disperse impact as well as the old-fashioned steel masks) They also want Salvy to inch up closer to the plate to make foul balls less likely to hit his head.

I wonder what sport costs more money in injuries throughout the USA: baseball or football..

Football easily.
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Football it would seem.

Dyson displaying his power

Gio displaying his power

3-0 KC over a split squad Cubs team.

Shields: 10K in 6IP, only 75 pitches

He's mowing em down.
Too bad it's not only a split squad team, but a Cubs split squad team :)

Still nice to see though no doubt.

Rauch and Collins give up 3 runs each and the SS Cubs take the lead 6-5.

Hes not competing directly, no. But in a way he is. If he was any good, then he would push the weakest other starter (Chen) out.


Chen is ok as long as hes not overworked.. IMO the reason he played well last season is because he wasnt overworked the beginning of the year. He was used sparingly, and still had enough in the tank the last half of the year.

Dodgers started a 17 year old today against the Padres.

In a last hour switcheroo, the Los Angeles Dodgers decided to start 17-year-old phenom Julio Urias during Game 1 of their split squad doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

Urias handled one inning of work against the San Diego Padres and was absolutely flawless, striking out two on only 14 pitches. He started off the inning with a strikeout of six-year pro and left-handed hitting Will Venable despite falling behind in the count 3-0.

How's that for poise under pressure?

After getting Chris Denorfia on a grounder to third, Urias struck out another left-hander swinger with major league experience in Yonder Alonso.

All three players will be on the Padres opening day roster, so it's not like the Dodgers threw him into a cupcake matchup. And based on the information coming from Camelback Ranch, he's already an extremely tough at-bat for left-handed hitters. Now just imagine how much better he'll be with experience and a little bit of seasoning.

It's a scary thought if you're not a Dodgers fan.

The Tigers just lost their shortstop for most of 2014.

Everyone now expects the Tigers to rescue Stephen Drew from QO purgatory, but that would probably be a downgrade.

What happened?

Some kind of shin injury. After medical exam today, it turned out to be worse than they thought. Iglesias is out for several months.

Hate to see anyone get hurt but **** the Tigers anyway

They thought it was going to be minor, but according to the doctors, whatever Iglesias has is very dangerous, needs to be fully rehabbed, and can't be messed around with.

So a buddy and I were just having this conversation....what does everyone realistically expect Shields to command after this year and do we have any shot of retaining him?

I know this has probably been beat into the ground but I was curious to see how everyone else's numbers contract wise compared to ours.

If he repeats 2013? 9 digits (or at least 90), and no.

My guess was 5 yrs. $90 mil.

Maybe they'd trade us Verlander or Scherzer straight up for Escobar.

:clap:

Laird to Nats

http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/na...d-from-royals/

If it was bigger... I'd use it as my background on my laptop.

The Royals have traded Brandon Laird to the Nats for a PTBNL or cash.

That's pretty good.

If Ventura pans out, which I think he is more than capable of doing so, this should be revised to (when appropriate)

Ace Ventura.

That's beautiful

I'm pretty sure they plan for Duffy to eventually take that spot in the rotation. Chen's contract has a major incentive included if he makes more than 15 starts, and they've talked a lot about the flexibility he gives them.

All just reads to me like they're planning for Chen to be part of the rotation early and then move out as the season goes on.

I know it's just spring training, but Vargas is looking good at the mound today. 3-0 Royals over the Padres.

Not just today, he has looked pretty good all ST. Hope he can carry that over to the season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kyle Blanks boomed a 2-run HR off Vargas. Carlos Peguero opted not to move from his post in LF on that one. Second HR allowed this IP.</p>&mdash; Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughStar/statuses/445314478565892096">March 16, 2014</a></blockquote>
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As a side note, I put the over under at 3 for the number of years Andy McCullough lasts at the Star before a bigger paper picks him up. He's way too good to last long in KC.

I jinxed it. :(

I'll take the under assuming you don't mean a literal paper. Grantland or ESPN would be my real guesses. As Poz showed, there is no need to move to a bigger market to get noticed..

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Royals&amp;src=hash">#Royals</a> baseball hits the air tonight at 7:30 on FOX Sports Kansas City: Yordano Ventura and the <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals">@Royals</a> vs. Texas. <a href="http://t.co/Qq07YxxGgU">pic.twitter.com/Qq07YxxGgU</a></p>&mdash; FOX Sports KC (@FSKansasCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/FSKansasCity/statuses/445561529681723393">March 17, 2014</a></blockquote>
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I know it's spring and offensive numbers should be seriously looked at, but is there anything to Maxwell's ST figures so far? Could he take a small jump?

Nice! :thumb:

Iglesias will be out at least 4 months and might miss the whole season. Detroit has decided not to pursue Stephen Drew to replace him, they'll either work out a trade or just go with whoever their backup is.

According to Rosenthal, we almost traded Hochevar for Mark Ellis last year.

:doh!:

That might have been enough to get KC into the postseason last year.

He was a 3 WAR player. Probably enough to take KC to 90-91 wins.

It apparently fell apart on their end, not ours.

Lets do this.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Royals&amp;src=hash">#Royals</a> lineup for first night game. 8:05 CT vs. Texas on <a href="https://twitter.com/610SportsKC">@610SportsKC</a> <a href="http://t.co/uGLU3Die3j">pic.twitter.com/uGLU3Die3j</a></p>&mdash; Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshVernier/statuses/445658723327823872">March 17, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Finally a game from a Royals perspective.

Very excited

So Escobar is "resting" until Friday? Does that mean he is headed for the DL soon?

The boys in green!

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bi9qW2wCUAAeMg7.jpg

Separate game thread anyone?

hearing infante is out now, too

**** yeah

Yeah Infante's out. Good thing we have tons of middle infield depth.

Sore right elbow

GMDM will probably find a way to make a deal with Toronto to get Getz back

This time... on boys in the hall.

Wow I was joking but I turn on pregame and there's a message at the bottom saying they are having technical difficuties, and please stand by. LMAO

Annnnnd they just switched over to live Royals stuff! Woo!

I wish I got live Royals stuff :(

All i get is "Stay Tuned this game will begin shortly."

Me too =/

Oh how I missed this :D


Edit: And Rex, missed you too man

Ventura starts the game with a 3 pitch K

That was a nasty pitch he struck out Andrus on.

Just filthy.

Yordano Ventura is a future cy young award winner