2014 Royals Repository

[duncan_idaho]

With my 6,000th post on ChiefsPlanet (it only took me 12 years to get here), I bring you: The 2014 Kansas City Royals Repository.

To be discussed here: All things Royals, as they attempt to post another winning season and make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 1985.

25-man RosterAvailable HERE

AL Central Standings:

Link

Duncan's Top 20 Royals Prospects

Spoiler!

1) 3B Hunter Dozier ETA: 2015
Dozier started slowly at A+ Wilmington but caught fire in May and June, earning a mid-season promotion to AA Northwest Arkansas. Big, strong kid with good plate discipline skills and solid power who projects to be an above-average glove at 3B with solid power.

2) SS Raul (Adalberto) Mondesi ETA: 2017
Mondesis is the opposite of Dozier…. Started red-hot at Wilmington before back spasms derailed him for a few weeks and hasn’t gotten it going since coming back. Scouting reports have been great – defense and speed both improved over the offseason. Still a chance to be an elite SS, with 40 SB speed, plus glove, .300 average and some pop.

3) LHP Sean Manaea | ETA: 2015
Scouting reports outperform the stat line so far. Missing a ton of bats at A+ but not preventing runs like you’d expect to see. Needs to work deeper into games (gradually working about an inning deeper/month so far this year) and improve control. Walks are biggest concern right now, but could be elevated due to work on extra off-speed offerings. Still has No. 2 starter potential, could be higher if the great control he exhibited before his hip surgery eventually comes back.

4) RHP Kyle Zimmer| ETA: 2015
Should be NO. 1 on the list and is probably the Royals most VALUABLE current prospect, but he hasn’t thrown a ball in 4-5 weeks and had only been throwing for 2-3 weeks when he was shut down then.

5) LHP Brandon Finnegan| ETA: 2015
Top 2014 draft choice is an undersized lefty who will start at A+ Wilmington after anchoring CWS run for TCU. Good fastball, better slider, change that needs work to stick as a starter, but if he sticks, No. 2/No. 3 starter upside. Likely a top 10 or even top 5 pick if he doesn’t miss 1 start in the middle of the college season as a precautionary move.

6) RHP Miguel Almonte| ETA: 2016
Have heard some say Almonte is more advanced as a pitcher at A+ than Yordano Ventura was (comparison because both were cheap signs out of Latin America). Really advanced changeup and a curve that is working out well (where the ‘more advanced’ comment comes from). Fastball velo is good but not great – 92-94. Like Manaea, working on his second-best offspeed pitch and leaning less on his bread-and butter (changeup), which has hurt his numbers a bit.

7) RHP Christian Binford 2017
Reverse case of “don’t just scout stat lines.” Based on his stats at A+, you’d think he was an elite prospect, but there are questions about Binford’s stuff playing up at higher levels. Tall righty with great command of fastball, slider and a good and still developing changeup. None of those pitches profiles as better than average, though, limiting his likely upside to back-end rotation guy.

8) SS Orlando Calixte| ETA: 2016
I still like him more than many. Good combination of SS/MI skills and power. Started hot at NWA but in a slump at moment.

9)LHP Foster Griffin | ETA: 2019
Tall, projectable lefty taken in 2014 draft. Viewed as a great value in the sandwich round and probably would have been KC’s pick at No. 17 if Finnegan hadn’t fallen. High school arm who is going to take a while to develop.

10) RF Jorge Bonifacio| ETA: 2016
Hasn’t hit as well as expected in his second go-round at AA NWA. Power still sapped, and average skills have dipped. Once looked like he might be an option in RF at some point in 2015, now looks like 2016 is optimistic. Still young for his level.

11) 3B/2B Cheslor Cuthbert| ETA: 2016
Cuthbert has had better luck at NWA than Boni and is also extremely young for level. HE’s been moved to 2B since Dozier was promoted, which could put a new spin on Cuthbert’s prospects. If he sticks at 2B, bat plays up much better. Good OBP/plate discipline and solid power, but needs to continue improving contact skills

12) C Chase Vallot| ETA: 2020
Young (just 17) C with tremendous power. One of the top prep bats and a great value for KC where it got him. If he sticks at C, expect him to move slowly, but the bat may force the issue (or force him to another position).

13) C Zane Evans| ETA: 2017
GA Tech product has handled Wilmington better than most RH bats and probably is in line for a promotion to NWA sometime soon. Decent pop, decent skills behind the plate. Could be a nice reserve catcher.

14) RHP Scott Blewett| ETA: 2020
Tall, projectable righty with a fresh arm but some injury concerns on his shoulder that slipped him out of Round 1 of MLB draft. Big time potential.

15) CF Bubba Starling | ETA:
Bubba Starling has great tools. Bubba Starling (still) can’t hit. That’s all I have to say about that.

16) 1B Samir Duenez| ETA:
I still like him, even though the attempt to run him through full season ball at 17 did not go well.

17)LF/RF Elier Hernandez| ETA:
Hernandez still pops up in scouting reports but still is very raw and toolsy.

18) RHP Pedro Fernandez| ETA:
Pop-up player on the same track as Ventura and Almonte. Similar signing, similar profile. One to watch over next few years.

19) SS Marten Gasparini| ETA:
Royals’ most expensive international signing likely moves to CF eventually, but his speed and athleticism are intriguing abilities. Early reports from complex ball are very positive on him.

20) RHP Niklas Stephenson| ETA:
Interesting pop-up candidate who found 10 more MPH on his fastball by using a weighted ball during workouts over the winter. Now sits mid-90s with fastball and is dominating at rookie ball (after having an ERA over 8 there a year ago). Likely promoted to a higher challenge soon.

[siberian khatru]

Although Fringe, that 76 Royals team hit only 65 HRs ... about what this team is on pace to hit.

But that 76 team also led the league in doubles and triples.

This year's Royals would be better if they led the league in doubles and triples, instead of just being average. But I still think in this environment you're severely handicapping yourself with so few homers. The league average for HRs in 1976 was only 94. SEVEN teams hit fewer than 100 homers.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Bias over who's the worst Pro Sports franchise?

LOL
Posted via Mobile Device

Not really over this franchise, but some of the others he mentioned.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Although Fringe, that 76 Royals team hit only 65 HRs ... about what this team is on pace to hit.

But that 76 team also led the league in doubles and triples.

This year's Royals would be better if they led the league in doubles and triples, instead of just being average. But I still think in this environment you're severely handicapping yourself with so few homers. The league average for HRs in 1976 was only 94. SEVEN teams hit fewer than 100 homers.

That '76 team was also very fast, efficient team that could get around the base paths (finished 2nd in the AL in SB's). They also knew how to hit in key situations, as they led the AL in Sac Flies.

[WhawhaWhat]

Haven't been watching or listening to the game today but this is about all I need to know.

Nori Aoki just swung and missed at a pitch. The problem was the pitch hit him in his left shoulder. He also fell down.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) May 28, 2014

Louis Coleman hit George Springer with a pitch. Because Springer did not swing at it, he was able to take first base.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) May 28, 2014

[Jerm]

It's time.....

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Yes, because it was a different environment. That was the point. Baseball of the 2000s is different than the game of the 1970s. Pitching is different, ballparks are different, philosophies are different.

Heh, I've mentioned this before half heartedly, but this team would have benefited from the 90s K fences pulled in era. Or maybe not with Vargas......
Posted via Mobile Device

[lewdog]

We are at the ****ing embarrassment stage. I can't defend a single one of them right now. Not one hitter looks even close to figuring it out.

[okcchief]

Again. I think you have to hire a new GM and let him bring in his people from top to bottom. Every step of the Org needs to change. Firing Yost isn't enough IMO.

[duncan_idaho]

Heard some really nasty things about Grifol over the weekend... from a source inside the front office.

Basically, was told Grifol is a politician who says all the right things and knows how to play old school baseball guys who can't see any other type of game (like Dayton Moore, Ned Yost and Jack Z in Seattle) like a fiddle... but is not really qualified to be an MLB hitting coach, doesn't put in much work, and never talks about approach (focuses only on swing).

Oh, and he's two faced and willing to stab guys in the back at the drop of a hat. Stellar (and shocking, considering his rep around baseball).

[Prison Bitch]

If any (much less all) of that is true Duncan, that's still not on Grifol. That's on the man who hired him.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Heard some really nasty things about Grifol over the weekend... from a source inside the front office.

Basically, was told Grifol is a politician who says all the right things and knows how to play old school baseball guys who can't see any other type of game (like Dayton Moore, Ned Yost and Jack Z in Seattle) like a fiddle... but is not really qualified to be an MLB hitting coach, doesn't put in much work, and never talks about approach (focuses only on swing).

Oh, and he's two faced and willing to stab guys in the back at the drop of a hat. Stellar (and shocking, considering his rep around baseball).

Grifol should be the first to go, and that's without factoring in what you've just said. How in the hell has he held on to his job? He must have blackmailed George Brett to vouch for him somehow.

[ChiefsCountry]

The Dayton Moore Replacement List

Thad Levine - Assistant General Manager, Texas Rangers

Michael Girsch - Assistant General Manager, St. Louis Cardinals

David Forst - Assistant General Manager, Oakland A's

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

If any (much less all) of that is true Duncan, that's still not on Grifol. That's on the man who hired him.

I had two reactions:

1) Disappointment. I had heard good things about Grifol from a lot of guys (not just the KC broadcast, either).

2) Resignation. Just another sign of Dayton Moore's struggle to hire good people. Really seems to get the wool pulled over his eyes quite often and easily.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Grifol should be the first to go, and that's without factoring in what you've just said. How in the hell has he held on to his job? He must have blackmailed George Brett to vouch for him somehow.

Politician who is really good at playing people, from what I was told.

[ChiefsCountry]

Yost really isn't that bad of a manager. He is pretty much league average. That being said every MLB hates their manager and questions every move they make. I'm lucky enough I guess to get hear enough talk from across the state. Fan base hated LaRussa every thing he did was wrong all the time. Same thing with Matheny now. Outside of pro basketball its the most Jimmy and Joe sport, than Xs and Os. If we replace it need to be from top down. General Manager is the more important position in baseball.