If the Royals win tonight they better go back to that same strip club

Kruk just analyzed the AL East. Says its wide open and will go down to the end with 4 or 5 teams battling it out. What would we do without analysts?

Clint Robinson hit the game winning RBI for the Dodgers today

@McCulloughStar: Inside the Royals clubhouse, the post-game playlist featured a raucous version of "I Luv Dem Strippers" by 2 Chainz. Ballplayers, man.

I watched Sunday's game...the one you obviously missed

Barring some unforeseen injury or trade, the Royals have four starters already set for the 2015 season; Vargas, Ventura, Duffy, and Guthrie. In my opinion, that's not a bad start for a five man rotation.

Who will be the fifth starter? I looked at the starters currently at Omaha and only one has impressive stats. Dwyer, Lamb, Marimon, Brooks, and Verdugo do not look impressive. Clayton Mortenson (who I know nothing about) is 3 - 0 with a .99 era.

Based on stats alone, I see no one in NWA to get excited about.

If the 5th started is to come from within, we can only hope that either Zimmer or Finnegan make the jump.

If the 5th spot is filled by someone not currently in the organization, who are the candidates. Either by free agency (another Vargas) or trade (Shields / Wade), who could it be?

Interested to know what ya'll think?

I just hope they don't try to use Wade Davis or Hochaver to fill the spot.

I saw Brooks pitch last Saturday. He definitely has swing and miss stuff.

Isn't Hochaver a free agent after this year? And, speculation is Holland could be traded with Wade taking over closer duties.

Seems the Royals see something special in Brooks. They did give him a spot start in the majors (which he got hammered). And, his stats aren't that bad in Omaha; 7 - 2, 3.67 ERA. Maybe he's the one?

He made the OKC Redhawks lineup look reeruned. Occasionally someone would get a deep drive off him, but mostly they were left guessing.

The organization's plan was for Kyle Zimmer to be that guy, but that's questionable at this point (especially considering he has only thrown a few ST starts so far and isn't throwing currently - I think he's out a few more weeks. He's not going to be built up for a bunch of innings).

Finnegan will be a candidate if he moves quickly (they're starting him at A+ Wilmington).

Sean Manaea has not moved as quickly as expected. He's had some control problems at Wilmington and given up a lot of hits, though he's pitched better of late (as he is stretched out and able to go deeper in games). If something clicks - like it did for Zimmer last year - we could see Manaea move really quickly. He's missing bats at an incredible rate (78 Ks in 59 1/3 IP).

Beyond that, they may be looking at a not-bank-breaking FA arm. It's hard to say exactly what will be out there, as there are a lot of guys with team options or mutual options.

Actually, I was at that game. Was that the first game you watched in June?

I didn't include Manaea as a possibility after I looked at his line. He's only pitched more that five innings one time and that was his last outing. I guess they could be limiting his innings because he's still building up strength after hip surgery. And, his ERA is over 4.80.

What do you know about NWA's Juan Carlos Antonio Sulbaran? He's 5 -5 with a 3.02 ERA.

It's hard to just stat-watch with minor league players, especially at levels like Low-A.

Manaea has had consistently excellent scouting reports and is throwing the ball really well (velo, movement, deception). He also is missing an absolute ton of bats. They've been limiting his innings and pitch counts pretty closely (75 pitches earlier in the year, with a 30-pitch limit in an inning) and he's had bad luck with the bullpen and his inherited runners.

A+ is usually the level where the Royals take away the pitcher's most advanced secondary pitch to have them focus on developing other pitches (for Zimmer last year, his curve, for Manaea his slider, for Almonte his changeup, etc).

I place more stock in what we hear about guys at A+ than what their stat line is.

JC Sulbaran has an OK ERA at NWA, which shouldn't be pooh-poohed away, but he also is outpitching his peripherals (not missing many bats - just 62 K in 80 2/3 IP and a high WHIP). I don't think he's a REAL prospect, but he might end up as a bullpen arm (where his stuff would play up to an acceptable level).