Looking to get away from the cold winter in Kansas City?

Well, Arizona is a great place to take a little vacation, where the average temperatures during the day are 74 degrees at the end of February. Just in time for spring training.

There is a lot of hype surrounding the Royals this year, now that they hopefully made their rotation better. They start playing games in the Cactus League on February 22nd against the Texas Rangers. That’s just when the winters are getting unbearable.

You can fly into Phoenix, which is about a 36 minute drive to Surprise, the spring training home of the Royals (and Rangers). Phoenix is also home to the Oakland A’s (and the NHL Coyotes and NBA Suns). The Royals play the A’s in Phoenix on March 12th. Maryvale Stadium is also in the vicinity, so you could check out Milwaukee there (or the Royals playing the Brewers there on March 27th). Or you could just stay in Phoenix.

If you choose to stay in Surprise and want to spend your vacation strictly watching baseball, there is plenty of that less than an hour away.

If you head to Arizona in the beginning of March, Pool D of the World Baseball Classic will be taking place. There will be two games at Salt River Field at Talking Stick (March 7 & 8). Three more WBC games involving the USA will be played at Chase Field, home to the Arizona Diamondbacks during the regular season.

If you want to strictly just see spring training baseball, there is still plenty of that. I mentioned earlier that the Royals and Rangers share the Surprise facility, meaning there is a game every day.

Peoria is a short 15 minutes away, where Seattle and San Diego share the complex. Both teams don’t have the money to spend, but have wreaked havoc in their respective divisions. The Royals play the Padres on February 28th. They head to play the Mariners on March 26th.

» Continue reading “Guide to Royals Spring Training Part 1″

With the BBWAA (Baseball Writers Association of America) not electing anyone into the Hall of Fame this year, I though it would be a good time to look at some possible former and current KC Royals players who could get enshrined in Cooperstown in the future. It is probably wishful thinking because it is highly doubtful I will see a Royals player inducted into the HOF in my lifetime.

Johnny Damon in 2007 with the Yankees (Keith Allison/Flickr)

Outfielder Johnny Damon. If and when he actually retires, the five year clock will start. That means that Damon could be on the 2018 ballot (at the earliest). There was a bit of a debate last year, but he still has not reached the “magical” 3,000 hit plateau (currently at 2,769 hits).

Damon has the playoff pedigree, as he won World Series titles with both Boston (2004) and the NY Yankees (2009).

If Damon were to not play again, he would be a career .284 hitter with 1,668 runs scored and 408 stolen bases. He has also hit 235 homeruns and driven in 1,139.

In his final season with the Royals (2000), he led the American League in runs scored (136) and stolen bases (46), and was second in the league in hits with 214. He was a two-time All-Star with the Red Sox (2002 and 2005). In 2002, Damon was the first player selected by fans in the inaugural All-Star Final Vote.

His best year was in 2004 when he hit .304 with 20 homeruns and 94 RBIs. He was also key to the Red Sox first World Series championship in 86 years.

Damon hit the DL for the first time in his career in July 2008 and at the time was one of only three active players to play at least ten years without heading to the DL.

Since his playing career with the Yankees came to an end following another championship in 2009, Damon has bounced around. He played with Detroit in 2010 and reached a few milestones: his 1,000th career RBI (fittingly against the Royals) and his 2,500th career hit against Baltimore. He moved on to Tampa Bay in 2011 and then Cleveland in 2012, where he was released in August and has not played since (besides for Thailand in the World Baseball Classic Qualifier).

» Continue reading “Will I See Another Royals HOFer?”

The KC Royals got revenge on Saturday night, as they walked off against the LA Angels by a score of 3-2.

Shutout by former ace Zack Greinke for eight innings, the Royals offense went to work in the ninth. After a strikeout, Greinke allowed a single to Alex Gordon.

That brought in Angels closer Ernesto Frieri. He threw just four pitches and quickly coughed up the game.

Billy Butler hit the first pitch he threw out of the park to dead center to tie the game at 2-2. Three pitches later, Salvador Perez gave the Royals the victory with a homerun to left.

Jeremy Guthrie had another solid outing, despite leaving the game with a loss. He allowed five hits, the first one coming in the 4th inning. Mike Trout singled to lead off the inning, but Guthrie picked him off.

The next hit came to lead off the fifth, a solo homerun by  Kendrys Morales.

Guthrie got into trouble in the 8th inning with two outs. He walked Trout with a runner on third base, but Torii Hunter followed with an RBI single to give the Angels a 2-0 lead.

The Angels dropped to 7.5 games back of the American League West leading Texas Rangers (though their lead over second place Oakland is down to two games). The Angels are however 2.5 games back for the second wild card spot.

*In minor league news, Triple-A Omaha lost in the Pacific Coast League finals on Saturday night. Now everyone will want to know, will the Royals call up outfielder Wil Myers and pitcher Jake Odorizzi?

The KC Royals ruined the return of their former ace, as they beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 2-1.

Zack Greinke’s return to Kauffman Stadium started out on a sour note. Alex Gordon led off the bottom of the first inning with a homerun. From there, Greinke was virtually spotless.

However Luis Mendoza was even better. He looked alot like the pitcher who dominated during spring training. Mendoza did not allow a hit until Ryan Braun singled leading off the 7th inning (it was an infield single).

After two throwing errors on that play, Mendoza then walked Aramis Ramirez. That was all for Mendoza and in came Aaron Crow. Taylor Green flied out to left field and Gordon threw Braun out at the plate, thus bailing out Crow. But Crow coughed up a run when Rickie Weeks singled to tie the game at 1-1.

Mendoza threw just 74 pitches, 46 for strikes. He walked two while striking out four.

With Francisco Rodriguez on the mound to start the 8th inning, Gordon led off with a double. Chris Getz then sacrificed him to third base. Billy Butler then delivered an RBI single to give the Royals the lead.

Royals closer Jonathan Broxton made it interesting in the 9th inning. Ramirez singled to lead off the inning (he was then pinch run for). On a strikeout, Carlos Gomez stole second base and went to third base on a Weeks’ single.

With runners at the corners,  Broxton struck out George Kottaras and got pinch-hitter Brooks Conrad to ground out to end the game.

On offense, Gordon, Butler, and Jeff Francoeur each had two hits.

*Chris Getz returned from the DL, started at second base, and went 1-for-3 batting in the two-hole. Johnny Giavotella was sent back to Triple-A.

**I was a little disappointed that I never received an ESPN text alert that Mendoza had a no-hitter. Apparently Colby Lewis’ with Texas over just five innings was more important.

 vs. 

After being swept in Pittsburgh, the KC Royals returned home to continue Interleague Play and welcome the Milwaukee Brewers to Kauffman Stadium for a three-game series beginning today (Tuesday).

With the loss of Prince Fielder this offseason, the Brewers find themselves in fourth place (28-32) in the National League Central. They have a sputtering offense, which is one of the worst in baseball. Their .240 team batting average ranks 25th overall (though the Royals were just swept by the second-worst offense in the game).

The power is still there, as the Brewers have hit 71 homeruns (compared to just 44 for the Royals). But they strike out at an alarming rate (486 in 2018 at-bats), whereas the Royals have struck out the least amount in baseball (355 in 1999 at-bats).

Tuesday: Luis Mendoza (2-3, 5.36 ERA) vs. Zack Greinke (7-2, 3.13 ERA)

With Felipe Paulino on the DL, the Royals are giving Mendoza another crack at the rotation. Hopefully he can show some signs of the guy who dominated in spring training.

The Royals welcome back Greinke for the first time since trading him away. He has been awful on the road for the Brewers, but Kauffman Stadium is like a second home for him.

Wednesday: Luke Hochevar (3-7, 6.57 ERA) vs. Randy Wolf (2-5, 5.45 ERA)

Both of these pitchers pitched well in their last start. However both have struggled this season and could easily be lit up. Look for a possible power surge for the Royals, as Wolf gives up the long ball (though he’s only given up six so far this season).

Thursday: TBA vs Shaun Marcum (5-3, 3.50 ERA)

Will we see the return of Jonathan Sanchez from the DL? I hope not, but I’m not sure what else the Royals could throw out there (maybe Nate Adcock).

Marcum has won three straight starts and is having yet another solid first half. He has gone at least six innings in every start but three (but those he lasted at least five innings). In 12 starts, he has only given up four or more runs three times and he lost two of those games.

The World Series begins tonight as the Texas Rangers make their second consecutive appearance in the Fall Classic against the St. Louis Cardinals. With the National League winning the All-Star Game, the Cardinals will have home-field advantage.

If you follow the KC Royals, you may be thinking “Why should I care about the 2011 World Series?” Well, if you like baseball in general, it should be a good series. You can also watch a few former Royals try to win a title, which is every professional’s goal.

The Rangers have four former Royals that will be with the team in the World Series. Speedy outfielder Endy Chavez made two starts against the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS. He went 0-for-4. Expect to see him get a few pinch-running opportunities. If you watched Game 6 of the ALCS, you probably saw Andres Blanco as their head cheerleader, greeting teammates at the top of the dugout steps after big plays, waving his towel. Because of a stress fracture in his back, Blanco has not been on the Rangers playoff roster. Esteban German has been on the playoff roster, but has yet to appear in a game. That could change with the first two games being played in St. Louis (and possibly four total). Catcher Matt Treanor was not on the ALCS roster (but was on the ALDS roster) though he could be added to the World Series roster with their need for an extra bat (and catcher).

If you happened to watch the NLCS, Octavio Dotel and his high socks toed the rubber in just about every game. He pitched in four of the Cardinals six games against the Milwaukee Brewers, including the World Series clincher. Dotel is a big reason why the Cardinals are in the World Series. In four LCS games, he allowed one earned run on two hits over four innings. He also struck out five, which seemed to be Ryan Braun every time they faced each other. You may just root for the Cardinals because they are a fellow Missouri team.

Who are you rooting for?

» Continue reading “Royals Fans: Who Are You Rooting for in the World Series?”

With the divisional series coming to an end in Major League Baseball, let’s take a look at how some former KC Royals performed in those playoff games.

Let’s start with the first series that ended and the only series that did not reach five games. The Texas Rangers knocked out the TB Rays in four games as the Rays again could not win a home playoff game. While the four former Royals for the Rangers (Matt Treanor, Andres Blanco, Esteban German, and Endy Chavez) did not get into a game, those who played for the Rays played prominent roles (good and bad).

DH Johnny Damon began the barrage against Rangers starter CJ Wilson as he hit a two-run homerun in the 2nd inning of their Game 1 win (and their only win). In Game 1, Damon went 2-for-5 with three RBIs. After that, Damon went just 2-for-12 with one run scored. The Rays bullpen was speckled with former Royals. Closer Kyle Farnsworth did not pitch in a game, though he was up a few times in the ‘pen. Setup man Joel Peralta got the most work. Though he struggled a bit in his final appearance in Game 4 (two walks but Wade Davis cleaned up the mess), Peralta did not give up a run. His postseason line: 2.1IP, 1H, OR, 2BB.

In the 6th inning of Game 2, Juan Cruz entered with the bases loaded. On the first pitch he threw, Ian Kinsler ripped a two-run double (Cruz recovered from there). In Game 3, he entered with two men on base but Rays catcher John Jaso threw Elvis Andrus out trying to steal home. Cruz then pitched a scoreless 8th inning. In that same game, lefty JP Howell entered the 7th inning (right before Cruz) with the bases loaded and two outs to face lefty Josh Hamilton. Hamilton ripped the second slider for a two-run single (that inning gave the Rangers the lead). That was the only batter Howell faced in the series.

» Continue reading “How Did the Former Royals Do?”

That’s a headline KC Royals fans hope to enjoy as soon as next season. With the way the team played over stretches this season, it’s not hard to picture that scenario.

However this year, we are left to root for another team.

Being a baseball junkie, the playoffs are one of my favorite times of the year (outside watching guys make their debuts and the start of the season). It’s when nobody’s become somebody’s and sometimes superstars become choke artists.

While the Royals are beginning the offseason, some of their former players have the luxury of participating in the postseason. Actually, the only team without a former Royal on its roster is the NY Yankees.

Let’s start with former ace Zack Greinke. The whole reason he wanted out of KC was because he was tired of losing. Well, in his first year in Milwaukee, the Brewers won the National League Central and he is undefeated at home (Miller Park). Despite pitching the team’s finale at home on Wednesday as the Brewers secured home-field advantage against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS, Greinke is expected to start Game 2 at Miller Park on Sunday (on short rest).

Greinke isn’t the only former Royal on the Brewers. Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt was also included in the deal that sent Greinke to Milwaukee. Betancourt has had a solid season (.252) in teaming with Rickie Weeks (and others when Weeks was on the DL) to form the Brewers double-play combination.

The Brewers counterpart, the Diamondbacks, have Willie Bloomquist on their roster. The Dbacks have yet to finalize their NLDS roster, so I am not 100% sure he made the cut. He had solid seasons in 2009 and part of 2010 with the Royals. He also had another solid season in Arizona this year (.266).

Utility man Wilson Betemit was traded to the Detroit Tigers during this summer to bolster their offense at third base. Despite dealing with a knee injury late in the season, Betemit started the Tigers final two games of the season. Betemit and the Tigers won the American League Central and begin their playoff push tonight against the NY Yankees in New York.

Catcher Matt Treanor was traded at the end of August while he was finishing up his rehab assignment (a concussion put him on the DL). Who was he traded to? The same team that dealt him to the Royals during spring training, the Texas Rangers. The Rangers won the AL West and secured home-field advantage in the ALDS. Surprisingly, Treanor made the Rangers ALDS roster, as they chose to carry three catchers. The Rangers begin their quest for a second consecutive AL title at 5pm ET today against the visiting TB Rays.

Treanor isn’t the only former Royal on the Rangers. Middle infielder Andres Blanco, who can be seen as more of a cheerleader than an actual player for the Rangers (he got into just 36 games this season), spent the beginning of his career with the Royals (I remember him as a youngster in Wilmington). He actually isn’t on the ALDS roster as he is dealing with a stress fracture in his lower back (though I’m sure you’ll still see him cheering). His replacement on the roster? You guessed it, a former Royal. That would be Esteban German (2006-2008), who can give them some speed and flexibility, but most likely won’t play (like last year). Another speed guy off the bench for the Rangers is Endy Chavez, who spent his first year in the big leagues (2001) with the Royals.

Speaking of the Rays, they have a host of former Royals on their roster, most notably in their revamped bullpen. Closer Kyle Farnsworth, who looks to be healthy, spent half of 2010 in KC before being traded to Atlanta. Farnsworth signed with the Rays this past offseason and helped solidify a brand new bullpen. His setup man, Joel Peralta (who can also close if Farnsworth is unavailable), spent 2006-2008 with the Royals. The past two seasons (in Washington and TB) may have been his best seasons yet. Juan Cruz, the guy who runs like a greyhound, spent the last two seasons with the Royals before signing with the Rays this year. Cruz has become the 7th inning guy or the reliever who comes in to get out of the mess. Lefty JP Howell is, thankfully, finally healthy. Howell was a 2004 draft pick of the Royals and started for them back in 2005. It has been a tough season on the quirky left-hander, but if he can figure it out, he will be tough.

The big name on the Rays that came from KC is Johnny Damon. Who can forget the guy who never wanted to leave, but has won how many World Series titles since? Damon will be batting 5th tonight for the Rays against the Rangers and lefty CJ Wilson. Despite his age, Damon has proven that he can still play the game and play it well.  I heard a rumor about a month ago that Damon wants to retire as a Royal.

The Philadelphia Phillies are the favorite yet again to win the NL title and Raul Ibanez is a big reason why. Though he struggled mightily against lefties this year and for most of the first half, he really came on strong down the stretch (he has seven RBIs over his last ten games). Ibanez spent 2001-2003 with the Royals.

The Phillies will face the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS beginning on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals can bring reliever Octavio Dotel in early or late, and he doesn’t seem to care. Since being acquired at the trading deadline from the Toronto Blue Jays, Dotel is 3-3 with a 3.28 ERA in 29 games. He has struck out 32 over 24.2 innings. Dotel pitched in 24 games for the Royals in 2007.

So, who will you be rooting for Royals fans?

Let me know in either the comments section or on my Facebook page.

(Check out my Tigers-Yankees Preview on Around the Horn, which should be up shortly.)

The NW Arkansas Naturals were again postponed due to bad weather on Sunday. They will make up this game on May 23rd. The Kane County Cougars had an off day today.

It was a great pitching matchup on paper today between the Omaha Storm Chasers and the Nashville Sounds. Veteran Jeff Suppan was making the start for Omaha as he is trying to return to the big leagues. For the Sounds, former Royal Zack Greinke was making a rehab start. Greinke threw 54 pitches in his 2.2 innings of work. He allowed two runs on three hits and a walk while he struck out two. Suppan allowed just two runs (none earned) in his six innings of work. He gave up just three hits and did not walk a batter. The two runs came on a Brendan Katin two-run homer in the 1st inning.

Omaha took the game 7-3 as they collected 10 hits (only Eric Hosmer did not collect a hit). The top two in the Storm Chasers order, Lorenzo Cain and David Lough, both went 2-for-5 with a triple. Omaha has now won seven in a row and sits atop the American North standings in the PCL.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks won a slugfest over the hosting Winston-Salem Dash 11-10. There were a combined six homeruns (three for each team). The Blue Rocks scored in every inning but the 3rd, 5th, and 9th and banged out 16 hits.

The Blue Rocks 4-5 hitters (Nick Francis and John Whittleman) combined to go 6-for-9 with five runs scored and seven RBIs. Whittleman and Francis both homered, with Whittleman’s being a grand slam.

Ian Gac of the Dash homered in the 9th inning off Ryan Dennick with one out to cut the lead to 11-10, but Dennick got Andy Wilkins to ground out and Austin Yount to fly out to end the game. The Blue Rocks sit atop the Carolina League North standing with a 4.5 game lead.

With the current struggles at the big league level, many wonder about possible callups from Omaha. Well Royals manager Ned Yost doesn’t think right now is the best time:

Yost has concerns but no changes imminent Royals.com

My first minor league baseball game was back when I was in 8^th grade in 1995 and my dad received tickets to the game from a softball teammate of mine as a ‘thank you coach’ gift. From that moment on, I was hooked on minor league baseball. From the great seats, great access to the players, great promotions, and cheap prices, what was there not to love? That first game was at the home of the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Though they switched affiliates for two years in the mid-2000s to the Boston Red Sox, the Blue Rocks have been with the Royals since 1993. My love for minor league baseball grew to baseball in general as I followed minor leaguers through their big league debuts and careers.

I have seen some great players play in Wilmington (and on the opposing teams), with many reaching the big leagues with the Royals or making a name for themselves with another team. Though I missed Johnny Damon, I did have the privilege of seeing Mike Sweeney, Carlos Beltran, Chad Durbin, Jeremy Affeldt, Mark Ellis, Mike MacDougal, Brian Sanches, David DeJesus, and Zack Greinke, just to name a few.

Since my first Blue Rocks game, the Royals have had just one winning season, 2003. I spent that spring training and part of the season in Florida working at Roger Dean Stadium. I was drinking the Royals Kool-Aid then, buying into their hot start and trying to get my co-workers to jump on the bandwagon. I stated then that I would fly to Kansas City to see my first game at Kauffman Stadium if the Royals made the playoffs.

Fast-forward to the present and 2011 and the Royals have yet to make the playoffs (or finish above .500 since then) and I have yet to make my trek to the Midwest. Every Opening Day there is hope.

Just about every major baseball publication ranks the Royals farm system as the best in the game. Their crop of young prospects is pretty deep and talented and could reach the big leagues over the next two years. The future is bright for those who have been dreaming of a playoff series (as long as the Royals combine the prospects with solid players around them). I just hope that the losing doesn’t dampen their spirit because this young group shouldn’t be expected to win right away.

The last two seasons, the Blue Rocks roster (along with Northwest Arkansas) has been stocked with prospects. Last year, I had the chance to watch Chris Dwyer pitch, with Christian Colon at shortstop, Eric Hosmer at first base, Wil Myers as the DH, and Salvador Perez behind the plate, all in the same game. All could make an impact sometime in the near future, which is expected to be a bright future for the Royals.