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]

Wow that list is great, I remember so many of them. But 1985 was "The Thrill Of It All" no? I have an old VCR tape of the Royals 85 title and it was titled that. What is that all about?

2004 was not Together We Can. It was latinized: "Nosotros Creemos". 1998's "This...is Hardball" generated more jokes than I'd care to repeat here.

[Cephalic Trauma]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Wow that list is great, I remember so many of them. But 1985 was "The Thrill Of It All" no? I have an old VCR tape of the Royals 85 title and it was titled that. What is that all about?

2004 was not Together We Can. It was latinized: "Nosotros Creemos". 1998's "This...is Hardball" generated more jokes than I'd care to repeat here.

Did you go on meds or something?

[Prison Bitch]

Que?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

If we can get another 1/2 season of production out of Chen as a Starter, I will be absolutely amazed. I would have guessed that we had squeezed about as much blood out of that turnip as humanly possible.

I'm pretty convinced you get get average to above-average 4/5 starter innings out of him for about half a season. Maybe longer, if you limit him to 5-6 IP and never ask him to stretch too much.

What he gave them as a starter last year was above average (3.61 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 15 starts). If he can give them 12 starts of 3.75/1.25, I think you take it and run... and drop in someone else.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Oh, and it should be noted that Royals threads are easily some of the best on CP since the great douche migrations of '09 and '13.

for sure.


im just glad we didn't get a ton of douches following shields around, although im worried some good posters might have followed getz out the door...

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

1990: Catch the Thrill

I remember this from when I was a kid. I thought their little jingle was the greatest.

"Roooooyalllls baaaaaseballll...catch the thrill!"

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by thurman merman

I remember this from when I was a kid. I thought their little jingle was the greatest.

"Roooooyalllls baaaaaseballll...catch the thrill!"

My favorite Royals radio jingle comes from the mid-2000s. "Kansas City Royals basebaaaaal... sit where ever you'd liiike!"

[Coach]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Yeah, I'm not necessarily second-guessing the decision to move quickly, I'm just a bit frustrated that it worked out this way. Its easy to complain that we should have waited, but I think back in November most of us thought the value of pitching was going to be sky-high, and if you really think pitchers will get paid a ton then you should grab the first guy whose contract demands are anywhere close to reasonable because you don't want to be one of the last teams scrounging around in that musical chairs game. Next year acting quickly could be the correct move.

I'm not second guessing the decision to move quickly as well, since as you stated above, but I honestly thought the pitching market would have been insane.

I'm beginning to wonder that the teams are getting into the habit of not interested in giving up their first round pick for a "suspect" pitcher on the market. If the Royals didn't give Santana the QO (Qualifying Offer), more than likely Santana would have been off the market. So the QO is a great tactic for the team.

If my memory serves me right, the Royals gave the QO to Santana of $14 million. At this rate, I would imagine that it's looking more and more likely that Santana could end up having few suitors coming into spring training, and be forced to negotiate a team friendly contract with the Royals, possibly less than $14 million.

I wonder if Santana is kicking himself for turning down that QO.....

[KevB]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Yeah, I'm not necessarily second-guessing the decision to move quickly, I'm just a bit frustrated that it worked out this way. Its easy to complain that we should have waited, but I think back in November most of us thought the value of pitching was going to be sky-high, and if you really think pitchers will get paid a ton then you should grab the first guy whose contract demands are anywhere close to reasonable because you don't want to be one of the last teams scrounging around in that musical chairs game. Next year acting quickly could be the correct move.

While we have a relatively educated fan base, we don't get paid 7 figures to make these judgments. If GMDM made a bad call on the market, that goes in the loss column from a performance standpoint.

[HolyHat]

Originally Posted by KevB

While we have a relatively educated fan base, we don't get paid 7 figures to make these judgments. If GMDM made a bad call on the market, that goes in the loss column from a performance standpoint.

It amazes me how much smarter of a fan base we have for the Royals as opposed to the Chiefs.

[tomahawk kid]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

There's no financial reason why the Royals could not sign Santana. None.

Injury concern? Productivity? Valid reasons. Financial? Bunk.

Agreed, other than the owner is a greedy, penny pinching, no good SOB.

[alnorth]

Yost says this will probably be his lineup, and he doubts he'll be tinkering with it.

1. Aoki
2. Infante
3. Hosmer
4. Butler
5. Gordon
6. Perez
7. Moustakas
8. Cain
9. Escobar

So, L, R, L, R, L, R, L, R, R

[tomahawk kid]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Yost says this will probably be his lineup, and he doubts he'll be tinkering with it.

1. Aoki
2. Infante
3. Hosmer
4. Butler
5. Gordon
6. Perez
7. Moustakas
8. Cain
9. Escobar

So, L, R, L, R, L, R, L, R, R

I predict that "no tinkering" BS will last until AT LEAST the 5th game of the season.

That simpleton just can't help himself.

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

for sure.


im just glad we didn't get a ton of douches following shields around, although im worried some good posters might have followed getz out the door...

Hopefully the Getz wife posters remain

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Yost says this will probably be his lineup, and he doubts he'll be tinkering with it.

1. Aoki
2. Infante
3. Hosmer
4. Butler
5. Gordon
6. Perez
7. Moustakas
8. Cain
9. Escobar

So, L, R, L, R, L, R, L, R, R

Lineup is great as long as Infante puts together a solid .330ish OBP. If he starts falling below that, you're not using an optimal lineup for run production.

I'd still go:

Aoki
Gordon
Butler
Hosmer
Perez
Infante
Moustakas
Cain
Escobar

But that's not a BIG deal.