Daily Clips
February 14, 2018
LOCAL
Closer competition to assume camp spotlight
Herrera looking to regain ninth-inning duties after demotion in 2017
February 13, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
As Royals pitchers and catchers start workouts, biggest questions are in the bullpen
February 13, 2018By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
How to watch, listen to Royals games this spring
February 13, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
Salvador Perez shares video from set of his new Price Chopper commercial
February 13, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Watch: Sluggerrr Gram delights local six-year-old Royals fan
February 13, 2018By Tammy Ljungblad/KC Star
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum announces major gift on 98th anniversary
February 13, 2018By Matt Campbell/KC Star
Good Neighbors, Strong Community aims to improve Ray-Pec, Belton communities
February 13, 2018By Anny Marie Hunter/KC Star
Royals pitchers and catchers report to Surprise, Ariz., for start of spring training
February 13, 2018By Marcus Officer/FOX4KC.com
Royals open camp with many pitchers but few certainties at back of bullpen
February 13, 2018FSKC.com (via AP)
The 2018 Royals: if you’re short on power, you need to make the routine play
February 13, 2018By Lee Judge/LeeJudgeKC.wordpress.com
MINORS
Schwindel named George Brett Hitter of the Year
2017 Omaha Player of the Year honored by Royals
February 13, 2018By Scott Popp/Omaha Storm Chasers
MLB TRANSACTIONS
February 14, 2018 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Closer competition to assume camp spotlight
Herrera looking to regain ninth-inning duties after demotion in 2017
February 13, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Mike Minor is gone. So is Scott Alexander. And Joakim Soria.
As the Royals' pitchers and catchers reported Tuesday for Spring Training, an intriguing camp battle looms in the back of the bullpen.
Who will be the team's closer in 2018? And how will the back of the bullpen shape up?
Minor took over the job from right-hander Kelvin Herrera last September and sparkled, going 6-for-6 in save opportunities. But Minor signed with Texas as a free agent over the offseason.
Alexander, who had a 2.48 ERA in 58 games and also had four saves, was traded to the Dodgers. Soria, who was traded to the White Sox, had a 3.70 ERA in 59 games with one save.
That leaves Herrera as the top candidate again to close.
The problem is, Herrera blew five saves last season before being demoted. And what Kansas City then learned was that the right-hander was far more effective in a familiar setup role -- in which he once shined as the bridge to Greg Holland and Wade Davis.
After his demotion last September, Herrera allowed two baserunners over five scoreless appearances, while striking out four.
Royals coaches said at the time it was the best Herrera had looked all season.
But fast forward to now, and Herrera may have to return to the closer's role simply out of necessity.
The only other candidate on the roster with experience in the closer's role is right-hander Brandon Maurer, acquired from San Diego in a deal prior to the non-waiver Trade Deadline. Maurer had two saves with the Royals and 20 with the Padres, but he also had an 8.10 ERA in two months with Kansas City.
"You look at two guys initially with Kelvin and Brandon," new pitching coach Cal Eldred said Tuesday. "They've both done it before and both have the stuff to be back-of-the-bullpen guys.
"We also have guys who see themselves now in starting positions. Everyone wants to be a starter. ... But it's our job to put guys in the best possible position to succeed."
In other words, Eldred and the Royals may have to get creative and convert some would-be starters to the bullpen -- the Royals have a history of such successful conversions, most notably Davis and Luke Hochevar.
Wily Peralta, a high-heat right-hander signed as a free agent formerly of the Brewers, could be a candidate to convert to the bullpen.
"We may or may not have to do something like that," Eldred said. "We have a long list of guys who are capable [of being late-inning guys]."
That list could include Rule 5 Draft acquisition Burch Smith, a right-hander who can throw in the upper 90s.
"We'll have to see how it plays out," Eldred said. "We've got a lot to watch this spring."
As Royals pitchers and catchers start workouts, biggest questions are in the bullpen
February 13, 2018By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
The Royals will open their 50th spring training Wednesday under the desert sun here in Arizona. The camp theme will be one of change. A new pitching coach will guide an overhauled staff and a rebuilt bullpen. And this is just the first day. The first full-squad workout is scheduled for Monday.
But for every question, for every rebuilding piece and development method, there are a number certainties. So perhaps that’s the place to start.
“You guys know I’d be lying if I said every position is open,” said Cal Eldred, the Royals’ first-year pitching coach. “That’s not true. We’ve got some guys that have proven they belong here. They’re part of the club. But the challenge really for myself and (bullpen coach) Vance Wilson has been getting to know the new guys we have.”
Among the more proven commodities: The Royals enter camp with Danny Duffy, Ian Kennedy and Jason Hammel penciled into their starting rotation. Nate Karns is returning from season-ending surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. Jakob Junis will seek to build on a strong rookie season.
All five will have an opportunity to begin the season in the starting rotation. Yet Karns and Junis could have competition from right-hander Jesse Hahn, acquired from Oakland in a January trade, and right-hander Trevor Oaks, acquired from the Dodgers in a three-team deal that sent Scott Alexander to Los Angeles and Joakim Soria to the White Sox.
For Eldred and the Royals, the more challenging puzzle could come in the bullpen, where the club must replace Alexander, Soria and left-hander Ryan Buchter and fortify a once-dominant unit. The club finished ninth in the American League in bullpen ERA in 2017, posting a 4.24 mark, its worst mark since 2010. In the offseason, the unit also lost Mike Minor to free agency while veteran Peter Moylan remains available.
The process, Eldred said, will begin with right-handers Kelvin Herrera and Brandon Maurer at the back end of the relief corps. The rest of the formula is less certain, more open to competition.
“Well, I think you look at two guys initially, both Kelvin and Brandon,” Eldred said. “They’ve both done that. They both have the kind of stuff that can play at the back end of the bullpen.”
Eldred said Tuesday that the Royals will be open to looking at a number of starters as bullpen pieces. The group will likely include newly acquired right-hander Wily Peralta, who began his career as a promising starter in Milwaukee before his performance waned across the last three seasons. It could also include Hahn, who is out of options and must make the 25-man roster or be exposed to other teams on waivers.
“We may or may not have to do that,” Eldred said. “We got a nice long list of relievers and guys that have done it. And if they’re going to step up, and they can do it, then that’s who will be doing it.”
The Royals will also look at relievers Kevin McCarthy and Brian Flynn, who have spent parts of the last two seasons with the club. And two other bullpen options exist in Rule 5 picks Burch Smith and Brad Keller. Smith, 27, made his major-league debut with the Padres in 2013 before missing all of 2015 and 2016 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Keller, 22, spent last season in the Diamondbacks organization, posting a 4.68 ERA for Class AA Jackson. As Rule 5 selections, both must be carried on the 25-man roster all season or be offered back to their respective teams at half the selection price.
The other pitchers on the 40-man roster include a cadre of young prospects and new faces. Among those: Scott Barlow, who joined the club on a major-league deal after spending his entire career in the Dodgers organization; Heath Fillmyer, who was acquired from Oakland along with Hahn in the deal that sent Brandon Moss and Buchter to the A’s; Sam Gaviglio, who returns after a stint in the rotation late last season; and former top prospect Kyle Zimmer, who is hoping for better health.
For now, Eldred is still learning each pitcher, he said, studying his pitches and style. The process will include many stages of development. But as the Royals prepared for their first workout on Wednesday, Eldred said he was ready for the challenge that awaited.
“We have some guys in camp that need growing pains in Triple-A or Double-A yet,” he said. “But if they’re ready, and we think they can handle the good days and the bad days on the big-league level, then they’ll be a part of the staff.”
How to watch, listen to Royals games this spring
February 13, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
The Royals return to televisions in the Kansas City area this spring with a slate of 10 exhibition games scheduled to air on Fox Sports KC.
The first glimpse fans will get of the 2018 Royals will be March 2, when the Royals travel to Peoria, Ariz., for a 2 p.m. Cactus League game against the San Diego Padres.
Road games scheduled for telecasts include contests against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers and the reigning American League Central champion Cleveland Indians. The five home games set to be televised include evening matchups against the Padres, Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants.
Seven of the telecasts will be exclusive FSKC productions, with the remaining three on a shared feed with that day’s opponent.
KCSP (610 AM) will carry at least 13 game broadcasts on radio, starting with the Feb. 25 Royals game against the Oakland A’s in Mesa. An additional seven radio broadcasts will be announced once Kansas State has received its postseason men’s basketball schedule.
Audio of Royals spring training games will also be available to registered users on royals.com.
The Royals’ first exhibition game in Arizona is a Feb. 24 split-squad contest against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Royals spring training games on radio
Feb. 25, at Oakland, 2 p.m.
Feb. 26, at San Francisco, 2 p.m.
Feb. 28, vs. Cincinnati, 2 p.m.
March 4, at Cincinnati, 2 p.m.
March 6, vs. San Diego, 7 p.m.
March 7, vs. Milwaukee, 2 p.m.
March 11, vs. Cleveland, 3 p.m.
March 12, vs. Texas, 8 p.m.
March 13, vs. Oakland, 3 p.m.
March 14, vs. Chicago Cubs, 3 p.m.
March 20, vs. San Francisco, 8 p.m.
March 21, at Cleveland, 8 p.m.
March 26, at Class AAA Omaha (Werner Park), 6 p.m.
Royals spring training games on TV
March 2, at San Diego, 2 p.m.
March 6, vs. San Diego, 7 p.m.
March 10, at Arizona, 2 p.m.
March 11, vs. Cleveland, 3 p.m.
March 12, vs. Texas (split squad), 8 p.m.
March 17, vs. Texas (split squad), 2 p.m.
March 18, at Chicago Cubs, 3 p.m.
March 20, vs. San Francisco, 8 p.m.
March 21, at Cleveland, 8 p.m.
March 22, at Milwaukee, 3 p.m.
*all times Central
Salvador Perez shares video from set of his new Price Chopper commercial
February 13, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Baseball is back.
Pitchers and catchers reported to Royals spring training on Tuesday, and opening day is a little more than six weeks away. No one can say what the regular season holds for the Royals, but one thing seems certain.
Catcher Salvador Perez will be featured in Price Chopper commercials again.
You may recall that last year’s commercials featured Perez “surprising” shoppers. Perez recently shared a video on his Instagram stories and it appeared to be from the set of his new commercial.
Behind a desk is the Price Chopper logo on the wall, and you can see what appears to be replicas (or perhaps the real thing) of Perez’s Gold Glove awards and Silver Slugger award. There is also a really big chair.
(click link for video.)
Watch: Sluggerrr Gram delights local six-year-old Royals fan
February 13, 2018By Tammy Ljungblad/KC Star
One school received a special Royals-themed treat Monday for Valentine's Day. Sluggerrr, the Royals mascot, surprised the students at Family Christian Academy in Independence during a quick visit filled with high-fives, a few cupcakes, and a lot of laughs. " We just thought it would be fun to have a Valentine's special for the kids, so we ordered Sluggerrr," said Rita Schowengerdt, the school’s owner, administrator, and a teacher.
For the past few days, Sluggerrr has been delivering roses, cupcakes and ticket vouchers to 30 different recipients around the metro area as part of Valentine's Day Sluggerrr Gram program. "He's part of a team you can depend on," said Aaron Middleton, 6, a first-grader at the school.
(click link for video.)
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum announces major gift on 98th anniversary
February 13, 2018By Matt Campbell/KC Star
The 98th anniversary of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum on Tuesday came with a big gift from Kansas City Southern: $100,000.
Museum President Bob Kendrick announced the donation along with the debut of a new exhibit celebrating the women of the Negro Leagues.
The exhibit, called “Beauty of the Game,” looks at the contributions of women both on and off the field. Three women — Toni Stone, Mamie “Peanut” Johnson and Connie Morgan — played against the men in the Negro Leagues of the 1950s for the Indianapolis Clowns. Effa Manley ran the Newark Eagles.
The exhibit includes rare photos and bronze busts of Stone, Johnson and Morgan.
The Negro Leagues was created at the Paseo YMCA by Andrew “Rube” Foster.
Good Neighbors, Strong Community aims to improve Ray-Pec, Belton communities
February 13, 2018By Anny Marie Hunter/KC Star
Despite frigid temperatures, more than 300 residents from the Belton and Raymore-Peculiar schools districts came together Saturday to share ideas about building healthier lives and creating more possibilities for youth, families, and the wider communities.
“Good Neighbors, Strong Community” was a day-long conference at Raymore-Peculiar High School during which community members met with professionals from health and governmental organizations to learn and discuss how they could, individually and collectively, contribute to these mutual goals.
The event, hosted by the Ray-Pec and Belton school districts, hopes to become a yearly gathering. The inaugural Good Neighbors, Strong Community event was open to the public and a number of breakout sessions, covering a wide spectrum of topics — mental health, bullying, suicide prevention, healthy relationships, community safety, and increasing emotional intelligence among others.
“All of today’s topics are prevalent in our society and topics we wanted to begin conversations about,” said Al Voelker, Raymore-Peculiar School District assistant superintendent. “There’s a growing need to talk about these issues and how we can help as a community. We believe if you increase the knowledge base, people in this community are willing to help. The important thing is to get people together, share ideas, and build relationships.”
The initial vision for the event belonged to Ray-Pec School Board President, Kim Bailey, who also led the planning committee.
“There are issues plaguing our youth,” said Bailey, who is also a registered family therapist. “People are expecting schools and school districts to fix these problems, but they are community issues. Schools are part of the solution, but they are not the total solution.”
Some of the current issues that concern Bailey most include extreme conflict in families and communities, as well as bullying in all forms.
“When parents argue and fight, children become hopeless,” Bailey said. “In communities, when people argue and fight the same thing happens, and not just to children, but to people of all ages. Fighting and disagreement surrounds us today.”
“It’s ok to disagree, but people need to learn to disagree well, otherwise it creates hopelessness. People need to learn to do relationships well. We’re not developing healthy relationship skills and we’re not prioritizing them.”
Bailey is also concerned about the loss of one-on-one relationships resulting from the prevalence of digital communication.
“People are not good at face-to-face relationships today,” she said. “However, we are biologically designed for these relationships. Digital devices don’t give us that face-to-face and it’s essential. We’re seeing ‘failure to thrive’ on a mass scale, because we don’t have that connection.”
Some of the professionals who addressed these crucial topics during Saturday’s breakout sessions included Dr. Shayla Sullivant, who spoke about suicide prevention; Dr. Gaylin Perry, who explained the importance of sleep; Cass County Sheriff’s Office Victim Advocate Crystal Beal on teen relationships; family service counselor Suzanne Taylor on addiction and the family; and CoxHealth Department of Public Safety Training Coordinator JJ Goulbourne on protecting children in the digital age.