Photo by Nikos Pekiaridis/NurPhoto via Getty Images
No surprise there.
The Royals had the second-largest decline in local TV viewership in baseball, according to reporting from Sports Business Journal, with a 30 percent drop in ratings, behind only the Chicago White Sox. The Royals tied a club record with 106 losses, their third 100+ loss season in the last six years. These numbers seem to reflect traditional television ratings without including streaming numbers on Bally Sports+....
J.J. Picollo looks to the future after wrapping up the season
The Royals ended the 2023 season last week with 106 losses, tying a club record for losses in a year, and finishing with the second-worst record in baseball. It was not a season they had expected to contend, with the focus on developing young players. Still, the rough season was “an eye-opener”, according to General Manager J.J. Picollo in his address to the media following the season.
“106 losses is a difficult...
The postseason is underway
Yesterday’s Wild Card results:Rangers 4, Rays 0
Twins 3, Blue Jays 1
D-Backs 6, Brewers 3
Phillies 4, Marlins 1
Though there is a former Royal on every team, Kansas City alums only got playing time on the losing sides yesterday. For Toronto, Whit Merrifield pinch hit in the 7th inning and popped out, but drew a walk his next time up. Carlos Santana went 1-for-5 for the Brewers with an RBI, and RHP Joel Payamps gave Milwaukee 1.2 scoreless innings. Jorge...
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Time for October baseball!
Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays
LHP Jordan Montgomery vs. RHP Tyler Glasnow
First Pitch — 2:08 p.m. CT
How To Watch — ABC
Toronto Blue Jays @ Minnesota Twins
RHP Kevin Gausman vs. RHP Pablo Lopez
First Pitch — 3:38 p.m. CT
How To Watch — ESPN
Arizona D-backs @ Milwaukee Brewers
RHP Brandon Pfaadt vs. RHP Corbin Burnes
First Pitch — 6:08 p.m. CT
How To Watch — ESPN2
Miami Marlins @ Philadelphia Phillies
LHP...
Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images
That’s all folks
Now that the baseball season is over, I figure it’s a good time to revisit some of the highlights and lowlights of the season.
The good, the bad and the ugly
The 2023 Royals played August and September like a team that didn’t want their season to end, and I applaud them for their effort.
Despite eclipsing 100 losses for the seventh time in club history (and third time in the past six seasons) and tying the club record for most...
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The playoffs begin today.
The MLB playoffs begin today with the Astros seeking to defend their title. The Marlins are in the playoffs for the first time since winning it all in 2003. The Orioles are in the playoffs for the first time since 2016, after three 100+ loss seasons in the interim. It has been 22 years since the Diamondbacks won it all, 30 years for the Blue Jays, 32 for the Twins, and 40 for the Orioles. The Brewers, Rangers, and Rays are all...
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Keep Bobby in Kansas City!
David Lesky at Inside the Crown reflects on Zack Greinke’s last start of the year.
Two things I want to touch on with Greinke. One, I think it was more than reasonable to bring him back this year given the lack of pitching and the way he finished 2022 with a 3.68 ERA. It didn’t work out as well as anyone would have hoped, but it was a reasonable gamble. And two, he’s a Hall of Famer. There’ll be debate over him...
Yes, we are talking about TravTay too.
Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco are joined by Honey once again for today’s episode! The three talk about Bobby Witt Jr. making Kansas City Royals history and why fans should not discount his slow September. Plus, Edward Olivares has turned things around at the plate. Does this change his 2024 roster chances?
Michale Massey’s award, Dylan Coleman breaking a record, and more on today’s episode!
You can follow the team on Twitter with Jeremy...
Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The season is over.
Zack Greinke got a curtain call after his last start of the season.
“Chills the whole time,” Witt said.
Then Greinke got a curtain call, and he obliged, stepping out from the dugout to wave one more time at the crowd of 20,662.
Greinke pocketed the ball that put him in line for the win, and then he went to the side of the dugout to see his sons and wife, Emily.
“It was nice,” Greinke said with a small...
Zack Greinke #23 of the Kansas City Royals waves to the crowd as he leaves the game after pitching against the New York Yankees in the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. | Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images
Bobby Witt Jr. couldn’t steal his 50th base, but did lead the league in triples!
The Royals, and by extension we, have achieved the off-season.
They managed to check off two of the three things on their final checklist as Zack Greinke...
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) warms up before facing the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale
Much like Who’s Line, the points don’t matter but there are plenty of reasons to watch today’s game.
Today is the final day of the regular season. All the playoff teams are locked in, though some of them have one final chance to alter their seeding. None of that, of course, matters to the Royals. The...
Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images
Bobby Witt Jr. tries to swipe #50, but is caught stealing.
The Royals went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine runners on base in a 5-2 loss to the Yankees on Saturday night. Every hitter in the starting lineup collected at least one hit, as well as Dairon Blanco, who entered the game in the fourth inning, but the Royals had trouble getting runners in all night. Bobby Witt Jr. went 1-for-4 with a walk, but was caught stealing as he attempted...
Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images
Can Bobby go 30/50?
The Royals can win their final series of the year by defeating the Yankees tonight. Steven Cruz will be the opener with Alec Marsh the bulk man. Bobby Witt Jr. needs one stolen base to become the third member of the 30/50 club, joining Eric Davis (1987) and Barry Bonds (1990).
Steven Cruz heads to the mound to open tonight as we look to take the series vs. the Yankees.#WelcomeToTheCity pic.twitter.com/htDgjL6Fo1
— Kansas City...Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Fin.
Jaylon Thompson writes about Bobby Witt Jr. reaching the 30/30 mark.
Witt is the fifth shortstop to produce such historic numbers, following Barry Larkin, Alex Rodriguez, Jimmy Rollins and Hanley Ramirez. “You’d think that was Game 7 of the World Series,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of the celebration that ensued after Witt hit home run No. 30.
“People are just so happy for him. “Everybody has been anticipating it...
Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images
It’s an impressive feat for a stellar player.
Bobby Witt Jr. has become the first player in Kansas City Royals history to reach 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season. He stole his 30th stolen base back on August 2, but on Friday he launched his 30th home run into the record books. That achievement has been accomplished just 68 times in league history by 46 different players. Outfielder Julio Rodriguez became the newest member of the 30-30 club...
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Bobby Witt Jr. joins the 30/30 club.
The Royals piled on nine runs in the first inning off Yankees lefty Carlos Rodón on their way to a 12-5 win over the Yankees on Friday evening. Rodón faced eight hitters and failed to retire any of them before exiting the game. Bobby Witt Jr. also hit his 30th home run, joining the 30/30 club.
Rodón signed a $162 million deal with the Yankees last winter, but this season has been a nightmare as he has missed much of the...
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
It’s Jordan Lyles Time.
The Royals begin their final series of the year, hosting the New York Yankees. The Royals need a sweep to avoid tying or breaking the club record for losses in a season. The Yankees need a sweep to avoid having their most losses in a season since 1992.
Jordan Lyles takes the mound for the Royals tonight. He is still tied with Darrell May’s 2004 record of 38 home runs allowed for most in a single season in club history. Could this...
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Join us at home this October, Yankees fans!
The Yankees are having a dreadful season. Well, dreadful by their standards. Their 81 wins are more than any Royals team since 2016, but if they drop a single game this weekend the Yankees will have their most losses in a season since 1992. The Bronx Bombers will also be at home for October for the first time in seven seasons, leaving uncertainty as to whether manager Aaron Boone will return next year.
The...
Zack Greinke #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers trots around the bases after hitting a two-run homer off of Mike Kickham #59 of the the San Francisco Giants in the top of the six inning at AT&T Park on September 13, 2014 in San Francisco, California. | Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
What have the Royals got to lose?
This Sunday, Zack Greinke will pitch the last game of the season. It’s a home game against the New York Yankees, and it might just be the last game of...
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Cutting the fat plus improvements from a few players is paying dividends in Kansas City
Going into 2023 I believed that the Royals offense could be in the upper half of baseball, but then they got off to an atrocious start. By start, I mean about 100 games. It took a very long time for the offense to find some consistency. In the second half however, they found their bats in a way that convinces me that next year will be different. Remind me of that when I...