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Michael Massey has been a standout in camp.
Anne Rogers breaks down the latest roster battles in camp.
Kris Bubic and Ryan Yarbrough both entered camp looking for a rotation spot but both sustained injuries — Bubic’s shoulder and Yarbrough’s groin — that delayed them. Yarbrough seems prepared for a multi-inning reliever role to start the season; the Royals signed him to be that swingman pitcher for them this year.
Where does that leave Bubic?...
New name, same great coverage.
Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco get you up to date on a litany of Kansas City Royals transactions from this week. What is the update on Diamond Sports and how will it affect Royals fans watching their team? Plus, why are they talking about the Yankees’ Wifi woes? All that and more on today’s episode!
Follow the team on Twitter! You can find Royals Review at @royalsreview, Jeremy Greco at @hokius, and Jacob Milham at @JacobMilhamKC.
Check out all the...
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Who will be in Q’s circle of trust?
The days of HDH are a distant memory. Last year the Royals posted a bullpen ERA of 4.66, fourth-worst in baseball. Royals relievers had the most walks and the worst strikeout-to-walk ratio. But it wasn’t all bad for the bullpen. Royals relievers were above average in not allowing inherited runners to score, their FIP was significantly better than their ERA, and Royals relievers...
It appeared during the video that Greinke was having issues with the PitchCom system. With the pitch clock nearing zero, he elected to throw an eephus pitch rather than have an automatic ball be issued.
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Vinnie’s back!
Anne Rogers writes that Brad Keller’s curve is his key to making the starting rotation.
The Royals are hoping the new pitch in his arsenal, along with some mechanical changes he made with the help of Driveline Baseball this past offseason will result in a performance more reminiscent of 2020 than ’21-22.
“Guys like him, he’s got an interesting pitch profile,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “He’s got a...
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Viva Las Vegas!
The Royals go split-squad again today, with some of the gang in Vegas with Brad Keller on the hill to take on the Rockies, while the rest stay home with Zack Greinke to take on the Diamondbacks.
Here’s how we’re lining up today vs. the Rockies in Las Vegas and the Diamondbacks in Scottsdale.#RoyalsST pic.twitter.com/d5vNRbhsGk
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 19, 2023The Vegas game airs on 610 Sports in Kansas City at...
Photo by David Madison/Getty Images
Welcome to Vegas!
The Royals and Rockies will be playing two split squad games today. One will feature Kansas City as the host team in Surprise, but the other will see the Rockies play the home team in Las Vegas. The Vegas game will even be on TV!
At this point in Spring Training there’s not much to say that hasn’t already been said. If you missed the news, Jonathan Heasley was officially demoted to AAA Omaha following his disastrous outing last night....
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Maybe you’re not superstitious, but you’re at least a little stitious?
Baseball is a game that has a long history of superstition. Of course, it’s far from the only place where you can find such a thing. Somewhat famously, actors superstitiously wish each other to “break a leg” before a performance because wishing someone good luck directly would presumably result in bad luck instead. That said, baseball superstitions are...
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Jake Brentz has a new deal.
David Lesky writes about some non-roster invitee pitchers in camp like Ryan Weiss.
Weiss, though, is the interesting one to me. The Royals claimed him off waivers from the Diamondbacks on July 1 and put him on the 40-man. Most people didn’t notice it. He proceeded to five up 49 hits in 35.2 innings with 34 strikeouts and 16 walks. He was non-tendered and ended up re-signing with the Royals on a minor league deal with an invite...
Former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Zack Greinke is a national treasure.
Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images
Will they be wearing green?
It’s mostly minor leaguers in the lineup today. José Briceño is your cleanup hitter.
Here's how we'll take the field today against the Angels in Tempe.#RoyalsST pic.twitter.com/myRBPsQh0E
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 17, 2023Jonathan Heasley gets the start today.
Jonathan Heasley is scheduled for 3-4 innings today in Tempe. Behind him:
Richard Lovelady (1 inning)
Brooks Kriske (2)
Drew...
Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
So you think you can pitch?
A lot can change in a year and that’s certainly the case for the Royals' starting rotation. A year ago, Brady Singer found himself on the outside, looking in at the rotation at the conclusion of spring training. He started his season in the bullpen before his eventual demotion to Omaha on April 28. The Royals started their 2022 season with a starting five of Zack Greinke, Brad Keller, Kris Bubic, Carlos Hernández, and...
Nate Eaton #18 of the Kansas City Royals gives high-fives to teammates after scoring in the top of the first against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix on March 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. | Photo by Patrick Mulligan/Getty Images
An intriguing player
There’s a romantic notion about the underdog making it in Major League Baseball, and another romantic notion about the hard-nosed kid willing to do anything to help his team. Both are cliches, and if that’s not your...
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
The Royals signed pitcher Jake Brentz to a two-year deal and added him to the 40-man roster.
Brentz opened the 2022 season with Kansas City but pitched in only eight games while trying to play through injury. He went on the injured list at the end of April with a left flexor strain. After trying to come back without surgery, Brentz eventually had season-ending Tommy John surgery at the end of July. A typical recovery from Tommy John is...
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
Is Michael Massey the Cactus League MVP?
Game today!
Michael Massey leads all Royals with 3 HR and 10 RBI in spring training with a line of .375/.385/.833. Safe to say second base is his?
Kris Bubic heads to the mound as we take on the A's in Surprise.#RoyalsST pic.twitter.com/cZwKoH5pfa
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) March 16, 2023Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
The Guardians have become a machine.
The Guardians are the franchise the Royals would seemingly like to emulate, competing year in and year out despite not splurging much in player payroll. The organization has become a machine, churning out young pitching and not being afraid to trade big stars at their peak to restock the farm system.
The Guardians surprised everyone and won the division last year with their proven recipe of young talent. They beat...
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Get to know Q.
The Star publishes a series from Lynn Worthy on Matt Quatraro, talking to his former boss, Cam Bonifay.
The characteristics Bonifay recognized — the inquisitive nature, ability to communicate and being a good teammate — made him a strong candidate to join the player development department.
“With his background, his ability, his work ethic, his understanding of the game, the ability to communicate with the...
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Royals North v. Royals South
I am pretty on the record about my support of Dayton Moore. I think he is a genuinely good dude, took the Royals to two (not at all fluky) World Series appearances and had jewelry before Andy Reid or Patrick Mahomes.
But yeah, as far as general managing and building teams and the stuff generally associated with being a general manager goes, the game had left him behind. Probably more around 2013.
After being fired by the...
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Fastball, not a speedball
“I had a friend was a big baseball player back in high school
He could throw that speedball by you make you look like a fool, boy”
Bruce Springsteen – “Glory Days”
The Boss obviously never played any baseball. I’ve never heard anyone call a fastball a speedball. A speedball to my generation was a mixture of speed (or cocaine) and heroin, injected into the bloodstream. This is the nasty concoction...
The Kansas City Royals weren’t very good last season. They won’t be good this season either. That may sound blunt, but it’s the truth, and there’s no point in dancing around the obvious.