Daily Clips
March 30, 2017
LOCAL
Duffy has little trouble in KC's scoreless tie
March 29, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan & T.R. Sullivan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221447596/dillon-gee-danny-duffy-star-in-scoreless-tie/
Gordon embraces Royals' leadoff spot
March 29, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221424286/royals-alex-gordon-happy-to-lead-off/
Duffy, Hosmer early awards candidates
Emerging lefty could vie for Cy, slugger for MVP
March 29, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221477662/danny-duffy-eric-hosmer-awards-candidates/
Starting job wasn't on Mondesi's radar
Second baseman was worried about being in camp long enough to get meal money
March 29, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221416480/raul-mondesi-was-not-thinking-starting-job/
Royals conclude Cactus League schedule with 0-0 tie against the Rangers
March 29, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article141580214.html
Alex Gordon set to lead off as Ned Yost offers look at opening day lineup
March 29, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article141457054.html
After frustrating 2016, Royals’ Alex Gordon happy to be leading off again
March 29, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article141573309.html
Kauffman Stadium has undergone biggest renovation since 2009
March 29, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article141519719.html
“The Thing” you never want to mention to a ballplayer
March 29, 2017 By Lee Judge/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/judging-the-royals/article141502214.html
Royals’ Brandon Moss finds power stroke after minor adjustment
March 29, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article141459979.html
NATIONAL
Bold prediction: Royals' Danny Duffy wins the AL Cy Young
March 28, 2017 By Gabe Lacques/USA Today
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/03/28/bold-prediction-royals-danny-duffy-wins-al-cy-young/99750840/
Williams' dominance leads top prospect performers
March 29, 2017 By William Boor/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221474308/pirates-williams-leads-top-prospect-performers/
MLB TRANSACTIONS
March 30, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions
LOCAL
Duffy has little trouble in KC's scoreless tie
March 29, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan & T.R. Sullivan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221447596/dillon-gee-danny-duffy-star-in-scoreless-tie/
Rangers right-hander Dillon Gee, a former Royal, threw six dominant innings as the two teams played to a 0-0 tie on Wednesday at Surprise Stadium.
Gee, who's hoping to earn a spot as a long reliever/spot starter, allowed just two singles, while striking out nine and walking none.
Royals Opening Day starter Danny Duffy worked four strong innings in his final tuneup before Monday's opener. Duffy gave up three hits, walked none and struck out two.
"I'm just happy to be leaving Arizona with a sub-9.00 ERA," Duffy said, who had a 4.30 ERA this spring. "Everything feels good. But it's time to take it home."
Carlos Gomez, who had been sidelined for eight days with a jammed left shoulder, was 2-for-4 in his return to the Rangers' lineup.
"I felt good, really good," Gomez said. "Four at-bats, full game, swung at high pitches, low pitches, it felt really good."
The Royals finished the Cactus League at 17-13-2.
"It was a good spring," Royals manager Ned Yost said, "but it's time to get out of Arizona. We're ready to go."
The Rangers finished 15-16-3.
Rangers Up Next: Texas returns home to Globe Life Park to face the Royals at 7:05 p.m. CT on Friday, live for free on MLB.TV. Cole Hamels will be on the mound for the Rangers, with Andrew Cashner pitching behind him. It will be the first time this spring Cashner has pitched in a Major League exhibition game.
Royals Up Next: After an off-day Thursday, the Royals will play the Rangers at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, live for free on MLB.TV. Right-hander Ian Kennedy, who will start next Wednesday in Minnesota, will get the call in the exhibition.
Gordon embraces Royals' leadoff spot
March 29, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221424286/royals-alex-gordon-happy-to-lead-off/
As the Royals prepped to bug out of Arizona on Wednesday, manager Ned Yost revealed what likely will be his Opening Day lineup and batting order.
Alex Gordon, who has hit leadoff most of the spring, was there again against the Rangers.
1. Gordon
2. Mike Moustakas
3. Lorenzo Cain
4. Eric Hosmer
5. Salvador Perez
6. Brandon Moss
7. Paulo Orlando
8. Alcides Escobar
9. Raul Mondesi
"I'm excited about it," Gordon said. "Ned came to me early in spring and said he'd like to try it out. I'm cool with it. I'm happy with my approach and my swing.
"I'm not a typical leadoff hitter, but I feel like I can get the job done."
But Gordon has vast experience hitting leadoff -- he has started 316 games there over his career, the most of any spot in the lineup.
And aside from a handful of starts hitting second, leadoff has been Gordon's most productive spot. He has an .801 OPS there.
"I like the chance to get things started for Cain and Hosmer and get a rally going," Gordon said. "It's fun."
Gordon also has split time between left field and right field this spring. He even logged some games in center.
"It was kind of a surprise," Gordon said. "I've been in left for the last five or six years, but it was nice to see balls from different angles. Got a lot of repetitions in at the other spots.
"Center field is a lot of fun, but we all know it's Cain's job."
Gordon had pestered outfield coach Rusty Kuntz for years about playing some center. Getting that chance this spring put a smile on his face.
"Maybe it's because I was a big Ken Griffey Jr. fan," Gordon said.
Duffy, Hosmer early awards candidates
Emerging lefty could vie for Cy, slugger for MVP
March 29, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221477662/danny-duffy-eric-hosmer-awards-candidates/
So when it comes to Most Valuable Player or Cy Young Awards, or Esurance Player and Pitcher of the Year honors, it is rare when Royals players are even mentioned -- although Lorenzo Cain did finish third in the AL MVP Award voting in 2015.
Could this year be different? Yes.
The defensively minded Royals no doubt will contend for Gold Glove Awards at multiple positions all over the diamond, but they also have an ascending left-hander in Danny Duffy who has emerged as the team's ace, and who could find himself in the conversation for the AL Cy Young Award or the Esurance Pitcher of the Year.
"He's evolved into an elite pitcher," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "He's definitely become one of the top left-handers in the game."
Duffy started last season in the bullpen. But because of injuries, the southpaw was thrown into the rotation and became a dominant starter relatively quickly.
Duffy finished the season 12-3 with a 3.51 ERA. He nearly no-hit Tampa Bay in August, throwing seven no-hit innings before allowing a double. He also struck out a franchise-record 16 in that game.
"He has that potential each time out," Yost said.
Of course, there are some big names in any Cy Young conversation, such as Justin Verlander and Corey Kluber, rising star Aaron Sanchez and last year's winner, Rick Porcello.
Another ascending Royals player is first baseman Eric Hosmer, a three-time Gold Glove Award winner, an All-Star Game MVP, and recently a unanimous pick to the all-World Baseball Classic team while playing for the champion United States squad.
Hosmer reached career highs last season with 25 homers and 104 RBIs.
Royals officials believe Hosmer is capable of 30-35 home runs, 120 RBIs and a .330 batting average.
Is this the year, which could be Hosmer's last with the Royals (he is a pending free agent), that the slugger puts it all together?
Hosmer, like Duffy, would face stiff competition for postseason awards. Mookie Betts, Mike Trout and Jose Altuve are all solid candidates for MVP honors every year.
"We still don't know Hoz's ceiling," Yost said. "He's a special player."
Starting job wasn't on Mondesi's radar
Second baseman was worried about being in camp long enough to get meal money
March 29, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/221416480/raul-mondesi-was-not-thinking-starting-job/
Royals catching coach Pedro Grifol recalled a funny admission from Raul Mondesi about a week ago.
"He comes up to me and says, 'Man, I just hope I can hang on in big league camp for another week,'" Grifol said. "'I could really use the meal money.'"
Mondesi apparently had no idea he was winning the battle for the second-base job, which was awarded to him on Monday.
Royals manager Ned Yost loves that story.
"The fact that he didn't have a clue how well he was doing," Yost said, "tells you something about his character. All he was worried about was meal money, and here he was having a great camp and working his way to winning the starting job."
Mondesi beat out Christian Colon and Whit Merrifield for the job, despite not even really being a part of the competition early in camp.
"It just shows you how humble the kid is," Grifol said of the meal-money line. "That's a good thing."
Royals conclude Cactus League schedule with 0-0 tie against the Rangers
March 29, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article141580214.html
The final afternoon in Arizona lasted just 2 hours and 11 minutes. There were 18 scoreless half-innings, 54 outs and zero runs. That was enough for manager Ned Yost.
The Royals concluded their Cactus League schedule Wednesday with a 0-0 tie against the Texas Rangers. In the moments after the ninth inning, the club packed up its bags, loaded a convoy of trucks and prepared to fly to Dallas for a day off Thursday and a two-game exhibition set in Texas starting Friday.
“I think that was probably the quickest game I’ve ever been a part of,” Royals starter Danny Duffy said.
It was really fast. But before the Royals left town for exhibitions against the Rangers at Globe Life Park, they put on a display of solid pitching that defined much of their stay in Arizona.
Duffy allowed three hits and struck out two in four innings, his final tuneup before an opening day start against the Minnesota Twins on Monday at Target Field. The bullpen piled up five scoreless innings in relief.
Kelvin Herrera worked a scoreless fifth. Joakim Soria pitched a perfect sixth. Matt Strahm struck out the side in the seventh. The final two innings belonged to Chris Young, who struck out two, and Mike Minor, who finished spring training with a 0.69 ERA in 13 innings.
“Great wrap-up for everybody,” Yost said.
In his final appearance before opening day, Duffy was limited to just 41 pitches, a “taper down” start before the real thing on Monday. In a spring that was interrupted by a gold-medal winning performance at the World Baseball Classic, Duffy finished with a 4.30 ERA.
“I had a sub-9.00 ERA here in Arizona,” Duffy deadpanned. “So I’m with that. I felt like I did pretty good.”
On Wednesday, he was enthused by the performance of his change-up. He neutralized the Rangers’ offense for four innings. The afternoon served as a useful bridge to the regular season.
“I threw a lot of good change-ups today,” Duffy said. “I don’t think I missed on one change-up, to be honest with you. It felt good.”
As Duffy and the Royals’ bullpen cruised, the offense was shut down by former Royal Dillon Gee, who struck out nine and allowed two hits in six innings. The Kansas City offense managed just four hits, though it did put two runners on in the ninth. It just couldn’t push the winning run across.
For the Royals, the most positive news from this spring training stemmed not from their 17-13-2 record, but from their mostly healthy roster. Right fielder Jorge Soler is expected to begin the season on the 10-day disabled list and will accompany the club to Texas and Minnesota as he waits to resume baseball activities. But other than that, Yost said, the team will open the season with its health intact.
“Everybody is ready to leave Arizona and move on,” Yost said.
The Royals return to the field at 7:05 p.m. Friday in Texas. They will play a matinee at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday. Then they will prepare for opening day.
“Now we got to take it back to the house,” Duffy said.
Alex Gordon set to lead off as Ned Yost offers look at opening day lineup
March 29, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article141457054.html
Royals manager Ned Yost likes to point out that the club’s batting order is an organizational decision, with input drawn from coaches, front office staff and members of the club’s analytics department.
Still, Yost has a handful of preferences in his optimal lineup. He likes a left-right-left blend in the middle of the order, a ploy to stop teams from stacking relievers in the late innings. He’s also come to like Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer in the No. 3 and 4 spots.
So in some ways, Yost’s opening day lineup, which he revealed on Wednesday, offered few surprises. He opted for Alex Gordon at the top and Mike Moustakas in the two-spot. The rest of the lineup more or less fell into place. Cain and Hosmer will bat third and fourth, respectively, while the right-handed hitting Salvador Perez will bat fifth behind Hosmer. Designated hitter Brandon Moss will bat sixth, while right fielder Paulo Orlando, thrust into a starting role after an injury to Jorge Soler, will bat seventh. Shortstop Alcides Escobar and second baseman Raul Mondesi, a switch hitter, will bat eighth and ninth, respectively.
“It gives us a nice left-right-left balance,” Yost said.
Gordon emerged as the favorite to lead off after a strong start to camp. Following a disappointing season in 2016, Gordon entered Wednesday batting .364 (20 for 55) with .462 on-base percentage and five extra-base hits.
On a club with no obvious choice to lead off, Gordon has long offered the best combination of on-base skills and production. He has posted a .345 on-base percentage in his career. Before last season’s decline, he had logged an OPS-plus of better than 118 in three of his last four seasons.
For now, the lineup is set. But it could remain fluid, especially after the return of Soler.
“If you need to make adjustments down the road,” Yost said, “you make adjustments.”
The projected opening day lineup:
1. Alex Gordon, LF
2. Mike Moustakas, 3B
3. Lorenzo Cain, CF
4. Eric Hosmer, 1B
5. Salvador Perez, C
6. Brandon Moss, DH
7. Paulo Orlando, RF
8. Alcides Escobar, SS
9. Raul Mondesi, 2B
Yost remains open on bullpen roles
Five days before Opening Day, Yost maintained his stance that the Royals’ bullpen roles will remain loose and undefined during the first weeks of the season. Reliever Kelvin Herrera has settled into the closer role, and Joakim Soria and Matt Strahm will serve as the primary setup men for Herrera. But Yost will opt to play matchups as the season begins, he said.
“The roles haven’t been defined,” Yost said. “If we were going to do it tomorrow, we’d probably use [Soria] in the eighth inning, depending on what the matchups are.”
The Royals could also lean on left-hander Mike Minor and left-hander Travis Wood in high-leverage roles. Minor posted a 0.69 ERA in the Cactus League, allowing one run in 13 innings. Wood posted a 2.95 ERA in 61 innings for the Chicago Cubs in 2016.