Daily Clips
March 29, 2017
LOCAL
Royals ride trio of home runs; Karns K's 7
March 28, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan & Scott Merkin/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221300360/royals-ride-trio-of-hrs-vs-white-sox/
Colon loses bid to start, aims for reserve role
Second baseman will compete with Merrifield to back up Mondesi
March 28, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221257272/royals-christian-colon-loses-bid-to-be-starter/
Duffy partners with shelter to get out the vote
Left-hander lending support to KC Pet Project for budget referendum
March 28, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221265582/royals-danny-duffy-helping-kc-pet-project/
Inbox: Can Mondesi make the leap?
Royals beat reporter Jeffrey Flanagan answers fans' questions
March 28, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221293402/can-royals-raul-mondesi-make-the-leap/
Alex Gordon, Brandon Moss hit towering blasts in Royals’ 7-4 win over White Sox
March 28, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article141345868.html
Royals still choosing between Christian Colon and Whit Merrifield for 25th man on roster
March 28, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article141248303.html
Royals will wait to put outfielder Jorge Soler on the disabled list
March 28, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article141228328.html
Mellinger Minutes: Royals
March 28, 2017 By Sam Mellinger/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mellinger/article141212108.html
KFOR to air Royals baseball games
March 28, 2017 By Jeff Korbelik/Lincoln Star Journal
http://journalstar.com/entertainment/tv-radio/kfor-to-air-royals-baseball-games/article_2a5d6da8-46fb-5bd0-9d18-982315b46a9e.html
NATIONAL
Royals, key players looking for bounce-back season in 2017
March 28, 2017 By FOXSports.com (via AP)
http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/royals-key-players-looking-for-bounce-back-season-in-2017-032817
MLB TRANSACTIONS
March 29, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions
LOCAL
Royals ride trio of home runs; Karns K's 7
March 28, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan & Scott Merkin/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221300360/royals-ride-trio-of-hrs-vs-white-sox/
The Royals' recent home run barrage continued on Tuesday, as they clubbed three more homers in a 7-4 win over the White Sox at Surprise Stadium.
The Royals hit four home runs on Monday in a win over the A's.
On Tuesday, Royals leadoff hitter Alex Gordon belted a home run that cleared the complex and landed in the street. The in-house projection system measured it at 481 feet.
Cheslor Cuthbert and Brandon Moss also delivered home runs.
"Moss is just crushing the ball right now," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "And Gordo, you don't see many balls hit that far."
White Sox starter Chris Volstad, a Minor Leaguer, lasted 3 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and four runs.
New White Sox center fielder Jacob May collected two hits.
Royals starter Nathan Karns, the No. 5 starter, went six innings in his final Cactus League start, giving up five hits and one run. Karns walked one and struck out seven.
Karns has struck out 16 in his last 12 innings.
"I worked on my changeup more today," Karns said. "My curveball wasn't there. But it was good to get stretched out the last two times and I'll have a little tuneup on Saturday in Arlington and then be ready for the regular season."
White Sox Up Next: The final 2017 Cactus League game for the White Sox takes place Wednesday afternoon at Camelback Ranch, with the Padres visiting for a 2:05 p.m. CT first pitch on MLB.TV. Dylan Covey and Anthony Swarzak, who both figure to break camp with the team, pitch on Wednesday. One of them will take Carlos Rodon's fifth starter slot at the season's outset, or it could be a combination of the two.
Royals Up Next: Left-hander Danny Duffy makes his final Cactus League start on Wednesday in preparation for Monday's Opening Day start against the Twins. Duffy and the Royals will take on the Rangers in a 2:05 p.m. CT start at Surprise Stadium, in a game available on Gameday Audio. The Royals then have an off-day Thursday.
Colon loses bid to start, aims for reserve role
Second baseman will compete with Merrifield to back up Mondesi
March 28, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221257272/royals-christian-colon-loses-bid-to-be-starter/
It is hard for Royals infielder Christian Colon to hide the disappointment.
Colon worked hard in the offseason, training with Alex Gordon in Kansas City, hoping it would lead to him earning a starting job at second base.
That won't happen after manager Ned Yost named Raul Mondesi the starter on Monday.
"It's disappointing," Colon said. "You just have to move on. I've been here before and I need to just be ready to do whatever they ask me to do and be part of the 25-man roster hopefully."
That is the next phase of the decision-making process. With Cheslor Cuthbert already likely on the team as the primary backup to third baseman Mike Moustakas, Colon is now in a battle with Whit Merrifield for a spot on the 25-man roster.
Colon, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2010 Draft, has one advantage: He does not have options, while Merrifield does.
Then again, there are other factors, such as the fact that the Royals may need to clear space on the 40-man roster to make room for right-hander Peter Moylan if he is the final bullpen arm. That could lead to someone getting traded or designated for assignment.
The Royals aren't likely to make a final decision on the 25-man roster until Sunday.
"I'm preparing myself for anything," Colon said. "I know I can be an everyday player. If it's not here it can be somewhere else. But I want to be here. This is the only organization I've known.
"I understand it's tough. These are tough decisions and they have to take the best 25 to Kansas City. It's about winning."
Colon was convinced coming into camp he could be that everyday second baseman.
"You feel like you did enough to get a shot at it," Colon said. "But Mondi came out and played great and you have to respect that."
Duffy partners with shelter to get out the vote
Left-hander lending support to KC Pet Project for budget referendum
March 28, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221265582/royals-danny-duffy-helping-kc-pet-project/
If there is one thing that Royals left-hander Danny Duffy is as passionate about as baseball, it is his love of animals.
Specifically, dogs.
That's why Duffy has so enthusiastically supported KC Pet Project, a nonprofit charitable organization that takes in thousands of pets a year and is one of the largest no-kill animal shelters in the country.
But, as Duffy points out, the KC Pet Project facility, which is located near Kauffman Stadium, is woefully inadequate for its needs. So Duffy has jumped on board to get behind a crucial vote in Kansas City on April 4 that would provide finances to build a new KC Pet Project facility.
"I've done a couple of promotional videos for it," Duffy said. "I'm passionate about whatever they're passionate about, whether it's dogs, cats, animals of all species. They genuinely care."
Duffy visits the facility often and knows first-hand that it desperately needs to be replaced. Question 3 on the ballot for April 4 is a bond initiative that would provide funding for a new building -- the present facility is over 45 years old and originally was designed as a construction shed for equipment to build Arrowhead Stadium, the home of the Kansas City Chiefs.
"That's the thing," Duffy said. "They do such a good job that every dog is still wagging its tail over there. But they could use a new facility big time.
"I know they're one of the largest [no-kill shelters]. They do whatever it takes to mend animals no matter what condition they show up in, and they have an incredible adoption rate. They've got my support 100 percent.
"I don't see why [the vote] wouldn't pass. I don't see why people wouldn't want to help out man's best friend."
Duffy, who has had a love-hate relationship with Twitter over the years and has dumped his account several times, is back on Twitter (@Duff805) for one reason: To support the Kansas City community in helpful movements such as the KC Pet Project vote.
"Nothing really gets to me anymore in terms of trollers on Twitter," Duffy said. "It's a good opportunity for me to use the platform for good. It would be irresponsible for me not to."
Duffy presently has an Alaskan Malamute named Sadie. But he's been an animal lover all his life.
"My house growing up was literally like a zoo," Duffy said. "We had cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, you name it. Always loved animals."
Inbox: Can Mondesi make the leap?
Royals beat reporter Jeffrey Flanagan answers fans' questions
March 28, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221293402/can-royals-raul-mondesi-make-the-leap/
Spring Training is winding down and it's a good time to take your questions on how this 2017 Royals squad is shaping up.
Here we go:
@RoyalsCollector: with the possibility of Hosmer, Moustakas, Cain and Esky leaving. How much pressure is on Raul Mondesi to be the next big thing?
The best-case scenario for the Royals is to find out in 2017 if Mondesi can hit at the big league level, especially because if shortstop Alcides Escobar leaves for free agency, Mondesi will be the Royals' shortstop for possibly years to come. To that end, the club has named Mondesi the starter at second base. He doesn't have to be a star, at least not now, though he certainly has the athleticism and the "wow" factor to become one.
@jhb2006: now that we know pretty much the makeup of the pen, Will Ned stick to 7th inning guy & a 8th inning guy before Kelvin? If so who?
Royals manager Ned Yost likely will do a little more mixing and matching in the late innings than he has in the past, at least until he sorts through his relievers. Left-hander Matt Strahm and right-hander Joakim Soria figure to set up closer Kelvin Herrera quite a bit, but Yost will not hesitate to use left-handers Mike Minor and Travis Wood in the seventh and eighth, either.
@BalboniWatchPod: Who are your pre-season #BalboniWatch favorites to break club's single season home run record?
Some day we may be talking about Jorge Soler breaking Steve Balboni's club record for homers in a season (36). Soler has that kind of raw power. But the thinking here is it will be tough in his first season, as he adjusts to a new league. I'll put out a name that perhaps few think of in terms of breaking the record: Mike Moustakas. Moose had seven homers last season by early May. If he keeps improving, he may have a whopper year.
@acsguy: do Royals start the year w/ colon, cheslor, whit all on roster? Isn't that waste of cuthbert? Any way one gets traded?
The only thing we know for sure is that Mondesi, Cheslor Cuthbert, Whit Merrifield and Christian Colon won't all be on the 25-man roster. Now that Mondesi has won the second base job, one of two things must happen: Either Merrifield, who has options, gets sent down, or Colon or Cuthbert (neither of whom has options) gets dealt or designated for assignment if no trade partner can be found.
@Scott_ZT: does O'Brien belong in AAA in April? The list of pitchers he's taken deep in spring is far from impressive #RoyalsInbox #DongTown
Peter O'Brien showed everyone in Royals camp what kind of power he has. There simply isn't an available roster spot for him, so there is logic to having him continue his development at Triple-A Omaha. And Yost said something interesting toward the end of camp: If the need did arise through injury or trade or whatever, Yost would not hesitate to use someone like O'Brien at the big league level. The Royals like O'Brien's future.
@paintingcorner: what's the organization's thoughts on Yender Caramo? He's had a really solid spring.
Yender Caramo was one of the big surprises in camp and as of this writing was still in the battle for the final bullpen spot. Yost and his staff love Caramo's heavy sinker and the fact that he throws strikes. Even if he doesn't make the team out of camp, there's a pretty good chance Royals fans will see him at the big league level at some point this season.
@raynadams: in your eyes, who has made the best adjustments to improve over last year?
Mondesi looks like a different hitter this year. He's more confident and he showed he has the pop to hit home runs and the finesse to lay down a perfect drag bunt. The other impressive young guy is outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, who just crushed the ball during spring. Bonifacio is just 23 and is on the brink of the big leagues -- now he just needs the opportunity.
@DylanOnDeck: cargos or khakis?
Do we even have to ask? Cargos.
Alex Gordon, Brandon Moss hit towering blasts in Royals’ 7-4 win over White Sox
March 28, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article141345868.html
The confines at Surprise Stadium are typical for a Cactus League venue. The dimensions are relatively large — 350 feet in the corners and 400 in dead center. The outfield walls are surrounded by a spacious grass berm, perfect for spectating, with a large white tent sitting above the hilly terrain in right field.
What is not typical here is a baseball clearing the grass berm and soaring over the stadium’s secondary white fence, which surrounds the property in right and left field. Well, it did not seem typical until Tuesday afternoon, when Alex Gordon and Brandon Moss took turns at the plate in a 7-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Gordon clobbered a solo blast to right field in the bottom of the first inning that left the stadium premises. Moss delivered a towering shot in the fourth that cleared the pavilion tent and disappeared from view. Both homers came against White Sox right-hander Chris Volstad, who made the start while staff leader Jose Quintana pitched in a minor-league game.
Gordon’s homer, his second of the spring, left the bat at 113 mph and carried an estimated 481 feet through the dry desert air, according to the Royals’ in-stadium TrackMan system. Moss’s homer — his third in three games — didn’t even register, perhaps a glitch, perhaps a result of the long distance.
“Brandon Moss is on fire right now,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He crushed that ball.”
The solo homers provided support for starting pitcher Nathan Karns, who allowed one earned run in six innings in his final start before the regular season. Karns, who will make his regular-season debut April 9 in Houston, struck out seven and issued one walk while throwing 91 pitches.