SB Nation Kansas City: All Posts by Matthew Hays

Fans go rogue with Christmas presents for Dayton Moore and the Royals

2012-12-22T14:00:04Z

Well, it's that time folks. But before Cousin Eddie and the kids arrive to spend the next 10 days eating all your food and drinking all of your good adult beverages that you were saving for yourself, let's discuss something serious. And by that, I mean the Kansas City Royals.

This writer is in the giving spirit, and we are comparing the current Kansas City Royals roster to everyone's favorite toys that they received as a child. But since we are discussing the Royals, there will unfortunately be some gifts from Santa that you may not like. Don't worry folks, at least there will be no socks. For this exercise we'll examine the 40-man roster with the obvious choices.

Noel Arguelles (Magic 8 ball) - "Magic 8 ball: Do I really exist?" Answer? "My sources say no" Arguelles was supposed to be a prized possession after signing a huge international contract out of Cuba a few years back. With that, he has gone 8-19 with a 4.92 record while only reaching AA ball. He's soon to be 23 and still on the 40-man roster.

Billy Butler (Legos) - He's the foundation of the current roster. He can be overlooked by the potential glitz and glamour of Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, but Butler is old Mr. Reliable. Like legos, you can always count on Butler being there when you are bored and need a pick me up.

Lorenzo Cain (Microscope Set) - I wish this wasn't the case, but Cain always seems to be injured. We were excited to see him play centerfield last year, as most of us wondered what the Royals actually had in Cain. However he ran into a wall in Oakland, and was pretty much done for the rest of the season.

Bruce Chen (Joybuzzer) - If you go to The K, you will probably be witnessed to Chen's jokes on the video board. A prankster gift, for the life of the clubhouse.

Tim Collins (Fisher-Price Little People) - Self explanatory.

Jarrod Dyson (Superball) - When I think of playing with a Superball as a child, I remember trying to throw it off the wall so hard that it would often go right past you in the opposite direction. Before I was even able to turn my head it was already behind me. That sounds very similar to Dyson's speed attributes on the basepaths.

Alcides Escobar (Viewfinder) - At first it seems kind of dull, nothing special. But as you look through the viewfinder you find yourself wanting to go back and see more. That is how we all feel as we watch Shortstop Jesus play baseball. Sometimes he leaves you thinking, did I really just see that?

Jeff Francoeur (Pet Rock) - A Pet Rock does nothing for you, much like Frenchy does for the team. It seems like a good idea at first, and nearly everyone had one at one time, but you eventually throw it out 6 months later. Unfortunately the Royals haven't reached that point after two years. Alternate Toy - (Wiffle Ball) Alternate Alternate Toy - (Troll Doll)

Chris Getz (Cornpopper) - By design, it's meant to be annoying. Parents are annoyed by the stupid noise it makes, and Royals fans are annoyed with Getz's offensive ineptitude.

Johnny Giavotella (Teddy Ruxpin) - Everyone loves Teddy Ruxpin, and everyone seemingly love Gio.

Danny Duffy (See 'n Say) - If you follow Duffy on twitter, you realize he has a vocabulary all to himself. His California roots seem to provide the background for his gnarness, something that many Kansas City fans are just now learning. The See 'n Say was created as an educational tool to help children learn vocabulary. With any hope, as Duffy returns from Tommy John surgery, he'll have fans creating their own words to describe his pitching efforts.

Alex Gordon (Army Men) - Like these classic toys, Gordon may not do anything special that makes him stand out from the rest of the other equally talented outfielders. However Army Men are so universal that everyone always found a use for their Army Men, and every major league team could find use for an Alex Gordon on their squad.

Luke Hochevar (Sit and Spin) - It seems fun at first, right? Well in all actuality, you are just going around in circles and never really getting anywhere. You never go anywhere folks! That sounds a lot like Hochevar's career with the Royals.

Eric Hosmer (Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots) This may be more hopeful foreshadowing than anything. Standing 6'4" and coming in at 230 lbs, Hosmer is the size of many NFL linebackers. If he is able to bounce back from a poor 2012, Hosmer will be the fighter in the middle of the Royals batting order through at least 2017.

Donnie Joseph (Donatello Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Action Figure) - Get it? Ha!

Mike Moustakas (Tonka Truck) - Someone with the nickname Moose probably played with Tonka trucks as a kid. Moose is another cornerstone of the Royals and defensively showed great signs of being able to handle the full workload at the hot corner last season.

Felipe Paulino (Etch-A-Sketch) - Paulino was plucked off the waiver wires, much like the random Etch-A-Sketch you always see at garage sales. This toy doesn't get enough credit, as they are actually a lot of fun. However Paulino's season was done when he joined the Tommy John crew, much like the classic Etch-A-Sketch drawing that you dropped on the floor at your Great Aunt Mildred's house.

Salvador Perez (Radio Flyer Wagon) - We're not talking about the crappy cheap plastics ones made today. Instead, Perez is the heavy duty stamped metal version. It's the classic all-around toy, and Perez is quickly becoming a great all-around player. Not only does Perez have a cannon behind the plate, but he's developing solid power for a catcher as well. Let's just hope his career from this point forward can hold up as well as the original Radio Flyer wagons.

James Shields (Stretch Armstrong) - No matter your reaction to the trade, you can't sneeze at the fact that Shields has thrown at least 200 innings in each of the past six seasons. With 14 complete games over the last two seasons, here's to hoping Shields is stretched out and ready to do the same in Kansas City.

Other notables-

David Glass (Star Wars Action Figure) - There is little doubt that many in Kansas CIty aren't big fans of Glass and Company.

Rex Hudler (Big Wheel) - It's colorful, much like Hudler. Many hated Hud at the beginning of last season, but he quietly developed a cult following over the season. With Hud being known for his catchphrases like "Call the cops" and "Busdriver", Hudler is always going places...much like the classic Big Wheel. For those of you not on #TeamRex, he can be your ChattyCathy.

Denny Matthews (Matchbox Car) - Maybe the premier toy, for the premier person involved with the Royals. When people ask me my favorite Royal of all-time? I'd say it's likely not someone such as George Brett or Carlos Beltran, it's Denny. I grew up listening to him on the radio, and fans are still fortunate to have him on the air...much like my journey with matchbox cars (Shoutout to my parents and the plastic tote of matchbox cars located somewhere in their basement).

Dayton Moore (Play-Doh) - I'm actually kicking myself that Moore gets to be such a cool Christmas toy, but ultimately it is Moore's job to mold the team into what it is. Let's hope Dayton remembers to put the Play-Doh back in the canister when he is done playing. I don't think fans can handle this team drying out so quickly in 2013.

Ned Yost (Magna Doodle) - At times when you see the lineup the Royals roll out each day (especially the batting order), I picture Ned sitting in the dugout, treating it like a magna doodle.

Cody Ross and Ryan Sweeney lead right field options for the Kansas City Royals

2012-12-18T13:15:03Z

No matter how much the majority of fans despise it, the Kansas City Royals are set at heading into 2013 with Jeff Francoeur starting in right field. The fan disdain for Frenchy has reached the point there is even a new twitter account (@FrancoeurFacts) that mentions just how historically overvalued Francoeur has been during his major league career. In half a week, the account already has nearly 200 followers. That means by Christmas, the twitter account may be approaching Francoeur's batting average last season (.235).

It has been reported the Royals will likely try to bring someone in who can spell Francoeur and ultimately push him next season. Outfielders Willy Taveras and Xavier Nady were both signed to minor league contracts. While each has extensive major league experience, neither figure to be involved in the every day plans of the major league roster.

Looking at the MLB Trade Rumors free agent tracker, there are currently 11 players listed that could play right field. Nick Swisher is one, and automatically tossed out from discussion because of the contract he will earn on the free agent market. So what about the Royals. Well they "may" have roughly $1-2 million to spend this year on a low cost free agent to add major league depth. Let's take a look-

Jeff Baker - Primarily a second basemen, Baker provides a utility option for the squad, but as someone who posted a -1.1 WAR in 2012, he isn't to be considered a serious option.

Endy Chavez - Many may forget, but Chavez cut his teeth with the Royals as a rookie all the way back in 2001, but he will soon be 35 and has seen his range decrease sharply since 2009.

Mark DeRosa - DeRosa is another swiss army knife player, who can fill in at many positions, however with him being 38 next season, the Royals would be smart to avoid an aging outfielder.

Ben Francisco - Francisco has bounced around a bit since being a 5th round draft choice of the Cleveland Indians in 2002. Essentially his hitting is similar to Frenchy, with just a modestly higher on base percentage. He has posted negative WAR each of the past two seasons, is older than Frenchy, and worse defensively. Pass.

Kosuke Fukudome - Soon to be 36, pass.

Scott Hairston - Hairston can provide a little pop, as last year he hit 20 home runs in just 298 at-bats for the New York Mets, but he also strikes out a lot. As evidence he has struck out in 23.1% of career major league at-bats, compared to just 19.4% for Francoeur. His range isn't great, but he did post a 1.5 WAR last season due mostly to his power ability. Each of the last two seasons he has earned $1.1 million.

Don Kelly - Kelly is coming off an abysmal 2012 season with the Detroit Tigers in which he hit just .186/.276/.248. However he was serviceable in both 2010 and 2011 as he posted a cumulative 2.5 WAR.

Ryan Raburn - Much like Kelly, Raburn struggled with the Tigers last season, posting arguably his worst season in the big leagues. Statistically he has a career line very similar to Frenchy (.256/.311/.430 to .266/.310/.426). Pass.

Cody Ross - Ross was the hero for the San Francisco Giants in 2010 during their post season run. He turned that into a one year free agent contract with the Boston Red Sox. All he did was hit 22 home runs with 81 RBI. The soon-to-be 32-year old has a solid 10.6 WAR over the course of a nine year big league career. He saw a rebound in his outfield play last season, that hadn't been as good since he was with the Florida Marlins. While he may be aging, I hope the Royals are keeping tabs with his agent to see how expensive the price would cost.

Ryan Sweeney - Sweeney, 27, has age on his side. With a respectable .280/.338/.378 line, Sweeney's downfall offensively has been just 14 career home runs. Sweeney is arguably above average defensively, and combined with the bat would be a good look for the Royals. The local kid (Iowa native) could probably be signed somewhere between $1-2 million.

James Shields becomes the ace of the Kansas City Royals' rotation

2012-12-10T13:10:21Z

So it has happened, by now you have heard that Kansas City Royals have traded Wil Myers, Jake Odorizzi, Mike Montgomery, and Patrick Leonard to the Tampa Bay Rays for major league pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis, and a player to be named later (or cash).

This move speaks of jobs being on the line, both for Ned Yost and more importantly Dayton Moore. Kansas City is now all in for 2013, but sadly it may still not make them a playoff team immediately. All the while, it hurts the franchise in the long run too.

However, without being able to control what happens in our organization, it is what it is. James Shields is now the face of the Kansas City Royals rotation.

Shields, 31 on December 20th, was an All-Star in 2011 and finished third in the Cy Young vote. He owns the Tampa Bay record books in wins and strikeouts among other numerous categories.

The pros are Shields has 14 complete games and six shutout victories in the last two years, he's also third in the American League in strikeouts over that time. In 2011 alone, he threw 11 complete games.

However the downsides of looking at Shields are there as well. He has tossed a lot of innings and has a lot of wear on the arm. Over the last two seasons, he has pitched 477 innings, and at 31, will now likely be starting the decline of his career.

Not to mention, he's only under contract for two seasons. If he does sustain success in Kansas City, he'll likely be traded sometime prior, or leave at the end of 2014 if the Royals happen to be in contention during the year.

Now obviously it's a small sample size, and he'll be on the home side, but Shields also has a 6.35 ERA in four starts in Kansas City. In his career, Shields has a 4.54 road ERA, while he had a 3.33 ERA in games played in Tampa.

It's time to get on board with the new pitching depth, even if you weren't a fan off the trade. Even though Kansas City found their ace, I question if he really will be the standout on the mound that the Royals needed, or should have gotten for the package they gave up.

We knew this type of move was coming for quite awhile, but it still comes as a shock. Dayton Moore is fighting for his job, and unfortunately it may come at the expense of long suffering Royals fans.

Day one recap of the winter meetings

2012-12-04T13:15:11Z

Things are off and running in Nashville as the annual winter meeting are running now through Thursday. Last season was quiet for the Royals at the meetings, but Dayton Moore has a history of making quite a few moves during the week.

2012 looks to be an active year at the meetings, with Kansas City looking for a front of the rotation starter to help solidify a staff that added Ervin Santana and brings back Jeremy Guthrie for his first full season with the squad.

Going into the meetings we knew Kansas City was interested in possibly trading for one of Jeremy Hellickson, James Shields, or Jon Lester. Lately it seems as though the Royals have turned their attention to R.A. Dickey. Beyond the Royals, it looks like other potential suitors for Dickey include the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Texas Rangers. This winter the Dodgers are seemingly in on everyone, as they have overnight become one of baseball's organizations that is mostly likely to toss around the cash.

Now obviously the market for Dickey is somewhat linked to with whom Zack Greinke signs. Should the Dodgers or Rangers ink Greinke, it likely takes them out of the running for Dickey.

Also noted, it appears that Royals have also kicked the tires on pitchers Shaun Marcum, Bud Norris, and Brett Myers among others. Marcum is still coming back from a serious injury, while Myers really does nothing for me as a fan. I like Norris the most of the trio.

Meanwhile, Danny Knobler of CBS Sports wrote an interesting story that the Royals could indeed still be in the mix for Anibal Sanchez. While many had passed Sanchez off as being out of the Kansas City price range, Knobler said club officials have been sending signals that Kansas City is still in play.

Also of note, on Monday morning the Tampa Bay Rays signed first basemen James Loney, which likely means that for the Royals to acquire Hellickson or Shields they would have to part with Wil Myers. That is something I am definitely against. Shields is the better pitcher, but would only be a two-year rental for the Royals at this point.

Billy Butler has also been linked with both the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners is discussions. The Orioles have the premiere pitching prospect in baseball, in Dylan Bundy, However Bundy is likely more untouchable than any other prospect in baseball as well. To even get a sniff of Bundy in a return, the Royals would have to find a package centered around Butler and Myers, which means they likely won't be a fit.

Seattle does have pitching that is near major league ready and could obviously intrigue the Kansas City brass, but at this point it is unknown how likely a deal would be.

In other non Winter Meeting news, FanFest is back in Kansas City, and it will take place January 19th at the Overland Park Convention Center. You can read the full write up in Bob Dutton's report at the Kansas City Star.

Dutton also wrote about Ned Yost's recent comments on Luke Hochevar. Yost sticks up for Hochevar, believing that he can turn the corner and bounce back. I like that Yost is saying the right things about backing Hoch, however I am concerned that he actually believes what he said. In order to bounce back, one would think Hochevar had to have it to begin with.

Always being known as someone that "has the stuff", Hochevar has done quite well when there aren't any runners on base, however when people are on base, Hochevar has never shown the true ability to pitch with confidence and go through long stretches of productive pitching.

Lastly, on Saturday evening at 8pm CST, ESPN will debut "30 For 30: You Don't Know Bo", which will feature former Royals slugger Bo Jackson. It will definitely be appointment television and you can view the trailer here.

"Our Time" arrives for local Kansas City Royals fan in big Powerball win

2012-11-30T13:15:14Z

Wow.

That's really all you can say. Obviously, unless you live under a rock, you've by now heard that one of the recent winners in the big $587.5 million Powerball lottery drawing was 52-year old Mark Hill of nearby Dearborn, Missouri. That's great, until you hear the backstory about Mr. Hill.

For those of you not familiar with Dearborn (and you may not be), it's a tiny town of 496 people that lies just 43 miles north of Kauffman Stadium. You can miss the town in the blink of an eye, but you have no doubt gone past the gas station where the winning ticket was sold anytime you venture north of the metro on Interstate 29.

This would be big news anywhere, but in Dearborn it takes on a life of it's own. There will be a 11 am press conference on Friday morning at local North Platte High School to officially announce the winner.

Sports seem to be in the veins of the Hill family, as his son was recently named a first team all-conference defensive back for the North Platte Panthers.

However that isn't where the thread ends, as there are multiple reports that the winning numbers were picked based on favorite former Kansas City Royals. Even various national sports writers are starting to validate the theory.

The winning numbers?

5 (George Brett)

23 (Mark Gubicza)

16 (Bo Jackson)

22 (Dennis Leonard)

29 Dennis Quisenberry

and of course, the Powerball 6 (Willie Wilson)

In what has been a downtrodden era for Royals fans, this is extremely exciting news, not only for the winner, but the fanbase as well.

What will Hill do with the winnings? We will find out when he speaks on Friday, but as of now you have to believe they overnight he is instantly going to become a celebrity fan of the franchise. I wouldn't be surprised if he were to have season tickets this year (or an upgrade, if didn't already have them), and it wouldn't shock me to see him probably throwing out a first pitch at some point in the future.

But for now we will enjoy the story, the connection to the Royals, and how good things do indeed happen to fans of the club (even if it isn't witnessed on the diamond).

We are all likely a few dollars poorer after not having the winning tickets, but for the fans this is a small victory for the Royals.

Here's to hopefully gaining another victory later in the day, when the Royals non-tender Luke Hochevar...

As winter blows in, so do Wil Myers trade rumors

2012-11-27T13:15:04Z

Growing up I often remember hearing the phrase "don't put the cart before the horse", and that rings true with the Kansas City Royals and the situation surrounding Wil Myers.

As of now, we know the Kansas City Royals are listening on offers for Wil Myers, but again we also know the Royals are listening on any offers for every player in the organization not named Alcides Escobar or Salvador Perez.

As a cautionary tale, I remind all fans to be hesitant to quickly assume that Myers is as good as gone. Even more so, I caution fans to take a deep breathe and not get worked up over thinking we are going to get hosed in a trade that hasn't yet or may not even take place.

Fans have the right to jump to conclusions, that is one of the great parts of being passionate about a team. However with the winter meeting approaching quickly, let's not put the cart before the horse.

Instead of focusing on a trade that may or may not happen, I am more concerned with the coming week and the decision of what is done with Luke Hochevar. Now that may go a long way in determining how intently the Royals plan on going after a true first or second starter. Obviously with the saved money by dumping Hochevar, the team also has more cash on hand to take on a heavier contract.

First the Royals were interested in James Shields, then Jeremy Hellickson, the back to Shields, and now Jon Lester. What that means is Kansas City is interested in pitching, but also buying time until after the non-tender deadline has passed and/or the winter meetings. Obviously the longer you wait, the more time you have to get suitors interested and potentially drive the return up.

As a closing note, let's just take a step back and let this one play out before going off the deep end and claiming this is all going to be a failure. We've been surprised before and on both ends of the spectrum good and bad.

Kansas City Royals Trade Target: Jeremy Hellickson or James Shields?

2012-11-19T13:45:05Z

If you take a look around the web, rumors are starting to become more intense that the Kansas City Royals will indeed be hitting the trade market sometime between now and the end of December, with major league ready pitching being sought after in return.

Commonly you read about the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners being targets for pitching, as both teams are again rumored to have interest is some of the young Royals hitters. Additionally there is always the chance that Kansas City (and namely Dayton Moore) visits a trade with the Atlanta Braves.

Let's zero in on two of the names mentioned as pitchers that the Royals may be seeking to build a deal around. They are right-handers Jeremy Hellickson and James Shields of the Rays.

First off, let's start with a little background info. Hellickson, 25, has two and a half years of major league experiences, while Shields, 31 in December, have seven years of pro ball under his belt.

Hellickson was the Rookie of the Year in 2011 and followed that up by winning a Gold Glove this past season. For his career he is 27-21 with a 3.06 ERA.

Shields was an All-Star in 2011 and finished third in the Cy Young voting. For his career he is 87-73 with a 3.89 ERA. In 2011, he was 16-12 with a 2.82 ERA and 1.04 WHIP.

Shields may be the more flashy of the two, as he has a much higher strikeout rate, however Shields also is much more prone to allow home runs.

Shields may be the better pitcher as of now, but if the Royals do make a trade for one of the two, I hope it is for Hellickson. The reasoning would be that he is younger and is under control through 2016. Shields can become a free agent in 2014 and is owed $21 million over the next two seasons.

The week that was in Kansas City Royals baseball

2012-11-06T13:19:30Z

The hot stove is officially off and running as the Kansas City Royals have added three new players to the 40-man roster, which included the trade for Ervin Santana. In addition the Royals added pitcher Guillermo Moscoso, recently of the Colorado Rockies, and catcher Brett Hayes from the Miami Marlins in a pair of waiver pickups. Reliever Blake Wood, who missed 2012 due to Tommy John surgery, was claimed on waivers by the Cleveland Indians.

Throughout the week, many have been critical of the Santana trade and the salary taken on. However I am fine with the trade. Though it does take probably half of the budget that the Royals had to spend during the offseason, it doesn't hamstring the Royals for further seasons.

Realistically the Royals would not be able to acquire a solid starting pitcher via free agency, without overpaying for a long term deal. With this move, it doesn't hurt the long term vision of 2014 and beyond. It is frustrating seeing Dayton Moore's timetable to realistically compete continue to be pushed back, but Santana does address the need of added depth in 2013.

The critics point to Santana's struggles in 2012, and the concern is valid, but remember the Royals only had to give up reliever Brandon Sisk, and the move has no effect on the payroll in 2014 and beyond. For fans I offer a wait and see approach as to seeing what other corresponding moves are made before spring training. As an example, I'd much rather pay Santana on a one-year deal in 2013 than sign 34-year-old Kyle Lohse to a four-year contract.

As for the moves of Moscoso and Hayes, I like the pick-up of Moscoco, but am not a fan of the addition of Hayes. Moscoso had a 6.12 ERA and 1.72 WHIP for the Rockies last season, but he is just a year removed from being 8-10 with a 3.38 ERA for the Athletics. Granted Oakland is very much a pitchers park, but as we saw with Jeremy Guthrie, a pitcher failing at Coors Field doesn't mean they are completely done as a pitcher.

Now with Hayes, I understand the need for catching depth, but we all realize Salvador Perez will be given every opportunity to catch the vast majority of games. After that, Brayan Pena is still currently the backup. At AAA Omaha, you have Adam Moore, Max Ramirez, and Manuel Pina. As you can see, there is already you have a multitude of catchers between Omaha and Kansas City. Was Hayes really worth a 40-man roster spot? We shall see over the course of the winter.

Moving on, the Royals made a few organizational moves on Monday as former big leaguer Terry Bradshaw was named the minor league hitting coordinator. Previously he had been the hitting coach at AA Northwest Arkansas for the last four years. By all accounts, Bradshaw has been great so far in his tenure with the Royals minor leaguers and I am excited for this new role he will take. Jose Castro comes over from the Seattle Mariners to be Bradshaw''s assistant. Castro was previously the minor league hitting coordinator for the Mariners for the past five years.

Additionally, Milt Thompson joins the Royals from the Houston Astros, and will be the new outfield, bunting, and baserunning coordinator. Thompson was a 13-year major league veteran and will be joining his fourth club as a coach.

Felix Francisco also join the Royals from the Astros organization, and will be a special assignment scout dealing with international and pro scouting. Francisco has a history with the Royals brass as he worked with Moore in the Atlanta Braves organization in the late 90's. Francisco is heavily involved as a GM in the Dominican Winter League.

In prospect news, MLB.com posted an article and video on the young Royals taking part in the Arizona Fall League this winter. The narrative focuses on outfielder Whit Merrifield, but mentions the play so far of the others. Orlando Calixte is standing out among the hitters, batting .303, while Edwin Carl and Justin Marks are doing well on the mound in Arizona.

Lastly, and humorously, general managers were recently surveyed by Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, with one executive each thinking the Royals will sign Josh Hamilton or Zack Greinke during the offseason. While it may be a nice sight to read, it's not happening folks.