ChiefsPlanet - Royals 2014 Royals Repository

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).

I don't know where you get all your info but as always, it's greatly appreciated. thanks,

I just read where Sulbaran was part of the Broxton trade that also brought the Royals Donnie Joseph.

duncan_idaho

07-01-2014 09:11 AM

OP updated. Mid-season top 20 prospect list now available for those interested.

duncan_idaho

07-01-2014 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepSouth (Post 10725459)

I don't know where you get all your info but as always, it's greatly appreciated. thanks,

I just read where Sulbaran was part of the Broxton trade that also brought the Royals Donnie Joseph.

It's an amalgamation of:

Reading several sources (BA, BP, Scout board, PineTarPress, game stories, Twitter)
Understanding minor league scouting (what matters, when to pay attention to stats, what peripheral stats matter most)
Understanding the Royals minor league philosophy (I have an inside guy who helps me a bit on this one)

I'm an amateur and am usually pulling things together from what I hear/read, but I do have some basic training in baseball scouting and do try to get to NWA and Omaha at least once a year each.

DeepSouth

07-01-2014 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho (Post 10725523)

OP updated. Mid-season top 20 prospect list now available for those interested.

You're slipping. The LINK says, "Top 15 prospects".

WhawhaWhat

07-01-2014 09:21 AM

Duffy in June: 37.1 IP, 1.69 ERA, 31 Ks, 12 BBs, BAA .169, Opp SLG .237.

RockChalk

07-01-2014 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat (Post 10725538)

Duffy in June: 37.1 IP, 1.69 ERA, 31 Ks, 12 BBs, BAA .169, Opp SLG .237.

The ace of the staff so far this year, IMO

Shields has brought #5 starter crap the last couple of months. Not sure if he is hiding an injury or just lost his changeup, but he has been pretty "meh" lately.

DeepSouth

07-01-2014 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockChalk (Post 10725542)

It's all a ploy to reduce Shields' value so the Royals can afford him next year.

duncan_idaho

07-01-2014 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeepSouth (Post 10725529)

You're slipping. The LINK says, "Top 15 prospects".

Whoops. Edited in Word because that's way too much to do in the edit box and ended up expanding my list a bit. Fixed now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockChalk (Post 10725542)

According to PitchF/X, Shields is throwing a lot more cutters this year, and that pitch has been hit pretty hard (.290 average against it). He also is not putting people away with the change like he has in the past (K rate has basically been halved on the changeup, though he's on track to throw about 200 fewer changeups this year).

Compare that to what we've seen, and it definitely seems like he's lost some of the bite on his changeup. Needs to find that pitch (and I expect once he does, we'll see vintage James Shields).

kcxiv

07-01-2014 11:48 AM

SO the Royals signed Raul Ibanez. Dudes old, but maybe he can bring a little power to the team. I know he struggled this year though.. Then again he is 42.

Mama Hip Rockets

07-01-2014 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat (Post 10725538)

Duffy in June: 37.1 IP, 1.69 ERA, 31 Ks, 12 BBs, BAA .169, Opp SLG .237.

He has been lights out. I know people like to bash the offense (and deservedly so a lot of the time), but the Royals are a team that can win in the postseason if they keep pitching like this.

Three7s

07-01-2014 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thurman merman (Post 10725803)

He has been lights out. I know people like to bash the offense (and deservedly so a lot of the time), but the Royals are a team that can win in the postseason if they keep pitching like this.

Too bad we got Lame Game James to totally screw over our pitching stats every 5th day.

gblowfish

07-01-2014 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja (Post 10725793)

SO the Royals signed Raul Ibanez. Dudes old, but maybe he can bring a little power to the team. I know he struggled this year though.. Then again he is 42.

Raul's theme song.....

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Am5s0vKcfiI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

C3HIEF3S

07-01-2014 12:18 PM

Alright here's a hypothetical scenario for you all.

We make the second wild card spot, travel on the road for a one game playoff. Who do you put on the mound?

Choose based on how the pitchers have pitched up until now, not what they could do in the second half.

okcchief

07-01-2014 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S (Post 10725849)

That is an extremely tough question. I pondered the same thing last week as I was watching Shields blow ass again. I think a case could be made for and against all five starters. Obviously, Duffy has been the best recently and I think I'd go with the hot hand. However, if Shields returns close to form he's an easy choice.

Three7s

07-01-2014 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S (Post 10725849)

Tough one. I knew Yost would put in Shields, but me? I dunno, I'd probably go with Duffy. He's been the most consistent pitcher on the roster.

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