This is a great damn read. Highly recommended you guys to read this.

That was sweet!

I thought so, it's long, but damn good, persistence paid off!

Gave me a warm smile.

Yup, definitely an incredible read.

I may have missed this somewhere along the line, but have they said for sure that Chen is going to be the 5th starter? I've got Shields, Vargas, Ventura, and Guthrie for the other four.

Yes
The rotations goes:
Shields
Vargas
Ventura
Guthrie
Chen

Guthrie gives up a homer on his 3rd pitch to Billy Hamilton

1-0 Reds

For now? As in the short time?

Royals shouldn’t pen Danny Duffy to a relief role in the majors


The Royals’ season changed the other night when Ned Yost confirmed the worst-kept secret in the Cactus League. Yordano Ventura, who is drawing wild comparisons to Pedro Martinez, will be in the starting rotation.


Already, some rival coaches and players are crying uncle on the 102-mph fastball and a curveball and change-up that seem to get better every day. Listening to scouts talk about Ventura is a bit like listening to a teenage boy talk about Kate Upton.

But the consequences for the 2014 Royals don’t end with Ventura. There is an overlooked part of this equation that is still uncertain, but is critical and potentially damaging to another important piece of the pitching staff.

Ventura’s “competition” for the last rotation spot was left-hander Danny Duffy, himself once the franchise’s hot pitching prospect. So instead of the original plan for Duffy to develop in Class AAA Omaha and provide insurance, the Royals are looking at him to complete their big-league bullpen.

The plan stinks of letting emotions trump logic, and of an overreaction to a few setbacks in what is still a strong bullpen without Duffy or Luke Hochevar.

This is risky, to say the least, and is in place without even close to unanimous agreement within the organization. A team that already has a surplus of relievers and needs rotation depth is set to put a talented left-handed starter into the bullpen?

There is so much that can go wrong here, most notably putting a pitcher who struggles with command and steady emotions into critical late-inning spots chock-full of adrenaline.

Remember Duffy’s return from Tommy John surgery last year, when he gave up a triple to the first batter he faced and then allowed him to score on a wild pitch that nearly went over the backstop?

Internally, the Royals are adamant that they are not giving up on Duffy as a starter. General manager Dayton Moore oversaw the process in which Zack Greinke returned to baseball after walking away, found himself as a reliever and then won a Cy Young Award as a starter. No two people or situations are exactly the same, and Duffy isn’t as talented as Greinke, but there is some potential symmetry here.

One plan could be for Duffy to be in the big-league bullpen for the first few months before going to the minors to transition back to the rotation. But recent Royals history is also full of starters who go to the bullpen, never to return. Aaron Crow is the best current example.

The decision-makers within the organization are split on a lot of things with Duffy. There are differing opinions about his best ultimate role in the big leagues and the best route to get there from here. Duffy is, apparently, fully on board with at least a temporary role in the big-league bullpen and that should be considered, but Moore and his assistants are the ones paid to make the best decisions.

The story of spring training across baseball this year has been injuries to pitchers. And without Duffy, the Royals would have four bad options to patch a hole in the rotation: wear out the bullpen (which would tax the other starters), stretch Wade Davis out in a hurry (which would weaken the bullpen), or plug in Chris Dwyer (who has struggled this spring and has not had extended success beyond Class A ball).

Letting Duffy try out for a bullpen spot is not without merit. He’s scheduled for no more than 150 innings in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. The Royals are at that win-now stage, and the dream scenario of Duffy going all Greinke and building confidence while saving his arm for a second-half return to the rotation is tantalizing. Duffy is now 25 years old, and sooner or later the club needs to get value.

There is no perfect solution here, and good for the Royals in considering every possibility with an important piece.

But this plan also comes with a hint of desperation, both about what the Royals may see in Duffy and their bullpen. Spring-training struggles of Tim Collins shouldn’t influence Duffy’s career.

In terms of both Duffy’s value and a critical season, the most concerning part is that his problems with command and controlling adrenaline are not just red flags against moving to the bullpen — we’re talking about flashing neon signs with tornado sirens.

Nobody knows how this will turn out, of course. Duffy won’t move to the bullpen unless the Royals think he can be a big help. He’ll have three or four chances to pitch in a game before the season opener in Detroit on March 31, and his chances are probably 50-50.

Duffy wants to be a major-leaguer, and he should. But the Royals are a stronger organization with him as a starter.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2014/03/18...#storylink=cpy

That is the rotation to begin the regular season. Chen, I have learned from a fellow CP user, has a clause in his contract that gives him bonus money for starting 15 games. So it is very likely he will make 14 starts and then his spot will be given to someone else, i'm assuming Duffy if he gets it together.


EDIT: Finding "fellow CP user"

EDIT 2: fellow CP user= SPchief

Ok, thanks....also DeBerg1990, thanks for posting that.

That was one of the best baseball articles I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

According to twitter, Moustakas is hitting the ball hard again tonight.

Yep, he hit a RBI double. Absolutely raking this spring.

Which sucks because I've had really tempered expectations for him this season, but now I'm starting to get my hopes up again.

I'll need to see far more, but the-other-day Moose is not '13-Moose.

He was short, compact, and not lunging with his front side. The latter creates all sorts of ****ing problems. Lunge and you're ****ed on everything off-speed and away and hard and in.

Absolutely.

This is what I noticed too. All means nothing if it's back to old habits at the first sign of a slump. Nonetheless, it's encouraging to see! Ready to hit the FF button and get to opening day.

That's why I was talking the other day about rewinding and watching his at-bats multiple times.

That swing looks completely different, and he doesn't seem to have lost any power. Awesome work.

If Pedro Grifol fixes Moustakas and Hosmer in back-to-back years, KC needs to do whatever he remains a member of the coaching staff no matter what.

My sister is at the game tonight, and just texted me saying that Perez just hit a liner off the Reds' pitchers face and it looks bad.

Salvy apparently just killed Aroldis Chapman

Yeah, Andy McCullough just tweeted about it. Aroldis Chapman was pitching.

Trying to find info about that too. Saw the tweets that Chapman's dad ran out onto the mound to check on him.

He literally might be dead.

Game has been called. That can't be good.

Game has been called

She's saying that he may have lost an eye from the impact... not sure.

Game has been called, Perez appears to be crying per McCullough

Christ, very scary. Hope Chapman is okay.

Holy. Shit.

On twitter they are saying it looks like it hit him right in the forehead.

I don't want this to be taken the wrong way, but I feel bad for Sal in this too. I mean, he must be devastated.

Can't find any info.. Ugh.. Bad day for baseball..

They put Chapman on the backboard. Hope it didn't fracture the skull there.

Getting struck hard enough in the forehead can turn the lights out for good.

Deadspin says the pitch from Chapman was 99 mph, no surprise.

ESPN just announced it.

@YordanoVentura1 · 2m

Esperemos en Dios todo salga bien chapman por la salud de el Dios esta con el oremos todo para que todo salga bien ������


....


Hopefully everything goes well in God's health chapman God is with him all to pray that everything goes well �� �� ��

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Royals&amp;src=hash">#Royals</a> Yost described Sal&#39;s liner as a bullet, noting how the ball ricocheted all the way back to Royals dugout on 3rd base side.</p>&mdash; Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshVernier/statuses/446491120013291522">March 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Chapman suffered a laceration above left eye. Never lost consciousness and was talking and moving according to the Reds manager.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Royals&amp;src=hash">#Royals</a> Yost thought Chapman was moving, didn&#39;t think he lost consciousness, &quot;but he was bleeding a lot,&quot; thought it got him above eye.</p>&mdash; Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshVernier/statuses/446491504165404674">March 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Royals asked reporters to leave the clubhouse. The incident understandably left them rattled.</p>&mdash; Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughStar/statuses/446491512092635137">March 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Whew, that's good news. At least he has some level of cognitive function.

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Reds closer Aroldis Chapman was carried off on a stretcher after being struck in the head by a line drive off the bat of Royals catcher Salvador Perez, creating a terrifying moment in the sixth inning on Wednesday night.

Chapman entered the game vs. Kansas City to begin the bottom of the sixth with Cincinnati trailing by a 5-3 score and was struggling through the inning. With two outs and four walks issued, Perez crushed a 99 mph 0-2 pitch up the middle. The ball struck Chapman in the front of his head, and he immediately went down. A run scored on a Perez single.

Trainers from both clubs immediately rushed to aid Chapman, who was laying face down on the mound while the Surprise Stadium crowd fell completely silent. Players from both teams took a knee near the mound. Chapman's father, who was in the stands, also rushed onto the field.

Chapman was immobilized and placed on a stretcher and carried off by a medical cart. Moments later, it was decided that the game would not continue. The Royals won by a 6-3 score.

mlb.com

I know it's bad...I do hope that Chapman is okay.

But I also really hope this doesn't get in Salvy's head.

No, he was batting. It got in Chapman's head.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Former pitcher and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Mets&amp;src=hash">#Mets</a> scout Roy Smith, who was sitting behind home plate when <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Reds&amp;src=hash">#Reds</a>’ Chapman got hit: “As bad as I’ve seen.”</p>&mdash; Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/statuses/446496922371506178">March 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Continued...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>More Smith on Chapman: “Usually guys turn their head a little bit. This was like getting punched right in the face. It was straight on.”</p>&mdash; Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/statuses/446497165620174848">March 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Salvy is thinking about retirement cause if it.

Aroldis Chapman has facial fractures

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman suffered fractures to bones in his nose and left eye while taking a line drive to the face Wednesday night.

Chapman was carted off the field and transported by ambulance to a hospital and would be kept overnight for observation, the Reds said on their Twitter account.

The Reds said Chapman was originally taken to Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center in Sun City, Ariz., where tests indicated the facial fractures. He was then transferred to Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, where he was to undergo further testing.

Reds manager Bryan Price said Chapman was conscious and talking as he was taken off the field during the game against the Kansas City Royals.
"Not good," Price said. "He left the field on a stretcher, took a line drive just above his left eye is what it looks like -- a contusion, a laceration, and certainly needs to be taken to the hospital and checked. We've got Tomas Vera, an assistant trainer, is going to be with him. And then we'll get our updates from there."

The hard-throwing left-hander was struck by Salvador Perez's hit with two outs in the sixth inning. The pitcher crumbled to the ground, face down and flailing his legs. The ball caromed into the third base dugout. Medical personnel, including Royals Dr. Vincent Key, rushed the field. Chapman's father was among the people to run onto the field immediately after he was struck.

Players from both teams huddled around the mound as the 26-year-old Cuban was being attended to and the stadium became silent. An ambulance's siren could be heard in background while Chapman was loaded onto the stretcher.
"I know this isn't uncommon as we would like it to be, but it was frightening, certainly frightening," Price said.

The game was then called with Kansas City leading 6-3.
Chapman, who throws a 100 mph fastball, had walked four Royals in the inning before being hit.

The two-time All-Star had 38 saves for the Reds last season.
In January, Major League Baseball approved protective cap for pitchers after the occurrence of several terrifying incidents similar to this one in the last few years.

The heavier and bigger new hats were available for testing during spring training on a voluntary basis but the cap apparently would not have helped Chapman in this case.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10...ive-carted-off

I was at the game in Surprise last night sitting next to Lewdog. Chapman went down like he'd been shot. The sound of the ball hitting his face was disgusting. Pretty somber ending to a game.

This

Moose playing second today

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Today vs. the Angels. <a href="http://t.co/aaJiHyy4Vu">pic.twitter.com/aaJiHyy4Vu</a></p>&mdash; Mike Swanson (@Swanee54) <a href="https://twitter.com/Swanee54/statuses/446674132147527680">March 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Here's the video of the incident last night. If you don't want to watch it then move along.

<iframe src='http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=31593793&topic_id=41332114&width=400&height=224&property=mlb' width='400' height='224' frameborder='0'>Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe>

That's.... ahhhhh....

Holy shit. :(

Nick Schwartz said that Chapman is going to need Tommy John surgery.

More likely he'll need Rudy Tomjanovich surgey

Chapman's gonna set off metal detectors everywhere now. Plates in the head are weirdly cool.


I joke because it looks as if, incredibly, he's going to be OK. At least physically.

Chapman apparently got off as lightly as could possibly be expected. Broken bone above left eye and a slight concussion, but thats it. No eye damage, and no brain damage, doctors say he was lucky.

He's going into surgery to have a metal plate permanently put into his head.

Damn. I'm glad he's going to be fine. That looked like a brain scrambling kill shot.

http://www.bupasalud.com/sites/defau...on_427x240.jpg

The frontal sinus is part of what is called the "Crumple Zone," in that the anterior (front) part can be crushed on direct impact without affecting the posterior portion.

Jesus Christ! Wow, prayers... So many times, especially at times like these, I'm glad my son is a catcher.. Wow!!! WOW!!!

Yeah, I'm on board with exploring what we can do to help pitchers be better protected.

Finally got the chance to read through this, and like others have said, it's great. Sent it to my dad, and I know he'll like it too.

Thanks for sharing it!

Royals vs. Angels on MLB Network.

You just threw a hanging curveball, but I'm not an ass... so I'll let it drop in for a strike.

KCUnited and I were at the game last night and that hit was as bad as I've seen, but it seems the outcome is going to be better than expected. He might be pitching in a few months again? The sound of the ball hitting his face was louder than I ever thought a baseball hitting human flesh could sound. Almost as loud of the ball coming off the bat. It was downright gruesome and everyone was glad they called the game.

Chen gives up a 2 run HR to Trout in the 6th.

Jason Donald goes DEEP.

Duffy warming up in the pen

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Royals&amp;src=hash">#Royals</a> Duffy first inning out of the pen - (L8, P6, L8) 12 pitches, 7 strikes.</p>&mdash; Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshVernier/statuses/446766033987047425">March 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>A 1-2-3 relief inning for Danny Duffy. A couple balls were hit hard, but you're allowed to station defenders throughout the playing field.</p>&mdash; Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) <a href="https://twitter.com/McCulloughStar/statuses/446765991133859840">March 20, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Valencia got hit in the wrist by a pitch, and left the game in pain.

I hate to say it, but if he's hurt that might be an easy solution to our bench problem, he could start the year on the DL and we keep both Dyson and Maxwell.

edit: sounds like nothing was broken, just pain and he'll be out a few days.

610 airing josh verniers GMDM interview part one right now..

The Jirschele article was phenomenal. Man, I'm glad he finally got to Kansas City.

And on a related note, the George Brett quote about attending the charity event they had was priceless:

"I wouldn't do that for just anybody," Brett says. "They gave me cheese and crackers everywhere I went. I didn't shit for a week."

LMAO George sure loves to talk about shit.

Cheap shot by Salvy on Chapman. Hopefully he gets suspended.
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Just one game, but Valencia looked like warm barf at 3rd today. One was a ball down the line that he didn't even react to. Honestly, it looked like he didn't even see the play.

As opposed to cool barf?

Room temperature barf

Let's only show pics of his wife. Agreed?

Valencia was actually getting heckled by the crowd, which is amazing considering the afternoon crowd is made up of Canadians over 65.