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.

[Prison Bitch]

Gordon a platoon player now? 7-36 vs LH now sub Mendoza line. Slug less than 300. No HR, 3/9 bb/k ratio. He is helpless vs LH

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Gordon a platoon player now? 7-36 vs LH now sub Mendoza line. Slug less than 300. No HR, 3/9 bb/k ratio. He is helpless vs LH

How he has done against lefties that few years?

[Demonpenz]

sleeveless was so hot back in the day.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Gordon a platoon player now? 7-36 vs LH now sub Mendoza line. Slug less than 300. No HR, 3/9 bb/k ratio. He is helpless vs LH

Because he's trying to pull everything. He's completely forgotten how to hit to the opposite part of the field.

Where's Seitzer when you need him?

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Three7s

Because he's trying to pull everything. He's completely forgotten how to hit to the opposite part of the field.

Where's Seitzer when you need him?

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

How he has done against lefties that few years?

2010 .200
2011 .278
2012 .248
2013 .307
Career .250

[Prison Bitch]

Remember Rex beating off to Alex "new approach" last year vs LH? "I asked him what his approach was in the past and he said 'I didn't have one'. But now he does, that comes with age and I'm an annoying piece of dung homer paid by Glass to peddle this propaganda"

[OmahaChief]

Sure would be nice to have a hitting coach that could teach these guys how to hit and inspire them not to suck big camel wangs like they have been. Would also be nice if Ned where managing a team for someone else.

[Prison Bitch]

Que estas Duncan? That guy predicted 90+ wins and a playoff appearance. Looks like he's run for the hills and is in hiding.

[Sure-Oz]

Put Gordon at leadoff bat Aoki 9th

[SAUTO]

ok im changing my prediction.

92 wins

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Que estas Duncan? That guy predicted 90+ wins and a playoff appearance. Looks like he's run for the hills and is in hiding.

no ones hiding from shit

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

no ones hiding from shit

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Que estas Duncan? That guy predicted 90+ wins and a playoff appearance. Looks like he's run for the hills and is in hiding.

I spent the weekend in Memphis at the music festival for a bachelor party and returned late last night. Not hiding. Busy.

I didn't see any of the weekend games and only caught the tail end of the game last night. Tuned in just about in time to see Gyorko take Holland deep.

I did think this team was capable of winning 91-92 games, because I expected at least a league average offense with the additions of Aoki and Infante. Those two have been about what I expected.

I did not expect Butler and Gordon to be WORSE than they were last year, even in this small a sample size. Sal Perez also has not produced as well, again in a small sample size.

Pair a league average offense with this starting pitching and defense, and you're talking about a team that's on track with what I expected.

There's time left, but they must turn it around quickly.

The stuff about this management group that leaked over the weekend, I have no comment about that other than to say Craig Brown perfectly encapsulated my thoughts on the matter.

Dayton Moore and co. seem to have not adjusted to the internet age and the fact that hardcore fans have access to so much more data and analysis than in the "good old days."

But that shouldn't surprise me. Moore and his people have not adjusted to the modern game, post-strike, in any arena. No way they're going to be on the ball about this.

[RockChalk]

Posted in today's game thread, as well

No pressure, guys, but if the Royals lose today, they will have had a 6-game losing streak by Memorial Day FOR THE ELEVENTH YEAR IN A ROW.

— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) May 6, 2014

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

The stuff about this management group that leaked over the weekend, I have no comment about that other than to say Craig Brown perfectly encapsulated my thoughts on the matter.

I didn't see this article/info...could you link it for me please?