Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - Kansas City Royals | Profile & Projection | 607

Episode Date: February 21, 2023

Use code TALKIN for $20 off your first SeatGeek order. https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TALKINThe Royals front office changed a lot this offseason. Will a new Manager and GM along with their roster moves help turn around the franchise? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're back. What's going on, everybody? Welcome back to another team profile and projection here on Talking Baseball, where we're doing an episode today every day until opening day. And today we're doing about the Kansas City Royals. Hi, Gris-O. And these TPPs are brought to you by Seat Geek, code talking $20 off your first order with Seat Geek.

Royals. Frisky team, trading away everybody. and tryouts. Jake, what did they do? New team in a couple ways. Sneaky, who they lost. Dayton Moore. Change of, you know, the architect of those Royals teams that used to torment Trev's twins.

They added Jordan Liles, my guy, making the rounds. Ryan Yarborough, friend of the program. He'll get an actual chance to be a starting pitcher for the first time in his career. Araldus Chapman from the Yanks.

Josh Taylor just came over from a trade. Couple minor league guys. They traded Ryan O'Hern, Michael A. Taylor, your mom's favorite player. Adelberto Mondesie, Wyatt Mills, Luke Weaver's gone. Zach Grinky remains unsigned. I wonder if there's any smoke there. Well, this is coming out very later, but there's, there's hot right now that it's looking like they're going to get back together. I saw some headlines about probably an incentive-laden deal. It probably happened a month ago, as you're hearing this. We'll see what happens there. Trevor Plough, what's What's that lineup look like for you?

Are we doing some like time traveling here or something? What are you guys talking about? Let's go over the lineup. We'll start with our guy, MJ Melendez, who's a catcher. He's an outfieler. He's a hitter is what he is. Then my guy Bobby Witt, Jr., at shortstop. I think he ended up putting up a 2020 season last year after starting slow.

He's an absolute stud. Sal Perez, behind the dish, Deachian. our guy, Vinie Pasquantino. Is he the Italian nightmare or the Pasquatch? Because I think we're in between nicknames for him right now. We have Pasquot shirts on sales. We do have Pasquot shirts on sales. Shop.jomboid media.com. Check those out.

Edward Olivares and right field. Kyle Isabel, he's a left-handed bat, left field. Drew Waters, switch hitter and center. And then a guy guy, Nikki Lopez at second beat. Second beat. Second beat. Maybe they're calling them beats this year because they're bigger. Think about that while I announced the bench.

Nate Eaton, utility guy. Freddie Fermin, he'll be a catcher. Could be Furman. Michael Massey, left-handed bat. He's an infielder. Then Samad Taylor, another utility guy. If I butcher those names, I apologize. Some of these guys, I haven't heard of yet.

But James, tell me about that. You had all the names, man. You crushed it. Even doubles. Thanks. Yeah. Rotation. You got Brady Sanger.

he pitched last year for them. Had a decent year. He kind of looks like a punk on the mount. Like a guy that fights with his, like a little 13-year-old that fights with his mom in the grocery store. That's the vibe I get from watching him on the mount. Brad Keller. Okay.

He didn't have a good year. But he had a great COVID season. So maybe he plays better during quarantine. Also, he dropped down a little bit because they brought in Liles and Yarbrough, who I was just trying to message on Instagram. because I think if they don't let Yarbrose start, I'm going to glitter bomb the Royals.

I'm going to let him know that. Let them, let me know if they are not planning on starting you. I'll glitter bomb them right away. They do have some really nice bullpen pieces that I think, as we get closer to the arbitration seasons that you might see some trades happening for the royals here. I mean, they got Scott Barlow.

He's, I think people want them right now. I wouldn't be, we're recording this late January. You're listening to it late February. I wouldn't be surprised if there's more rumors about him in between. You got Stelmont. He's really fun to watch. I don't know how he did last year, but I just know his stuff is really fun.

Amir Garrett, he's been friendly with us and hung out with us and is always good for, you know, drama. Or all just Chadman. He's there to mix things up. Dylan Coleman. So I like their pull. Is that their best assets to bullpen? Yes.

Dylan Coleman might be the best reliever you don't know about. That guy throws a hunch. It's one of those. It was one of my eye-opening moments last year that I was like, Dylan Coleman came in against the Yankee. Let's see what this kid's got. Oh, there's your triple. No, that bullpen is nice.

I mean, Josh Stallman's a guy they used to rely on a lot more. They picked up Josh Taylor and that Alberto trade that they've got dudes in the pen. it looks like they're going back to those Kansas City Royal teams they used to torment Trev. And that is the strength of this team. The lineups, a little funky. There's some guys you like. Brady Singer, I think you could see it last year. I don't think it's a Jake take or anything.

I think the turn happened, and I think he's going to have an even another level. I think he's going to be a breakout player this year. I think some of the depth and some of the parts in the rotation and the lineup are what make you do a little bit of the head turn and you're like, ah, I don't, I don't know where I'm at with these royals. How you guys talked about the pirates is how I feel about the royals. It's a full tryout year for young guys.

They're trading away. People, you're like, oh, you're getting rid of him? Oh, you're getting rid of him? I think they're trying to move Dozier right now. They're just trying to free up spots and it's, let's see what we got mode. And it's almost feels like they're trying to do a full year of like, let's see what these prospects are.

And they could be good. They could be middling. They could be, you know, I think if they finish up 75 wins, but they get solidified that like three of these guys are like, oh, we're going to keep them around. They're worthwhile. Like they're panning out and play at the MLB level. Then they could take the next step.

But it seems like I didn't think they were going to be big movers of people, but they have been lately. And I think they're just trying to free up spots to let the kids play. And they do have some fun talent. I wonder how much base stealing they look. lose. I know not

Witt Jr., but what's the other Toronto now? Whitmanerfield. He grabbed a lot of bases. Bobby Witt Merrifield. Yeah, Bobby Witt, stole a bunch. Like, they're always, they've always been

a fast brand of baseball, which I want to remain. I like knowing when the Royals come to town and play the Yanks, shit, catchers better be ready. And that's what's been like for like five years now. so I keep the speed going I think they got some guys in their lineup that they know we're going to be part of the future

they graduated a bunch of guys from that prospect list and you're talking about Bobby Witt the pass squash and Melendez so they know those guys are being part of it and I agree there's going to be some some run for some other guys to prove it and I think that's really cool if you're a royals fan you do probably remember 2013 you know it wasn't great but you started to see these guys emerge and then 2014 you took the step and what they were able to do back then we'll see if they can do it again in the near future is supplement that team and have an identity. They were all about outfield defensive pitching and the bullpen. And that was, they were the first people to really rely on their bullpen to shorten games.

I believe they were revolutionary in that aspect. They kind of changed baseball when they started, you got through five and you knew that you had the score before that because you weren't going to score on their bullpen. I don't know if they have that level of bullpen yet. They got some guys backed that are really good. But that was their identity. You know, I don't share the same optimism. You know, I know the division's not great. Well, I said, I had said 75 was good.

I don't know if that was optimistic. I just think it's funny. Yeah. I guess I could see them approaching that. They'd have to have some really special seasons from Bobwood Jr. I said last year, I thought that of these rookies that came up, I thought he was the surest thing. Well, Julio Rodriguez said, go F yourself.

Adley Rushman said go F yourself But I still If you watch They did They called me and said I can't believe you would make that assessment But if you watch Bobby Wood Jr. play I mean dude

He's a star It's just a matter of time before he absolutely breaks out I mean he was Even last year as a rookie you go 2020 I think it happened five times In the history of baseball That a first year player has gone 2020 And he did it

So that just tells you that he's a dude I guess is Julio the other guy Did he get 20 last year 20 bags? I think so, yeah. Pretty good. There's some things to be excited about here. Scott Barthab, I wanted to mention. Not my hands all over him,

but my brother's hands all over at Golden Valley High in San Karita. I remember going to watch this guy pitch throw bullpents. And now here he is, one of the best relievers in the game. How about it? Yeah, I like,

I mean, those top four names, I feel like that's different as we go through these teams and we're coming down. Like, Melendez, a really sweet swing, like, has a chance to be very good. I think they're kind of getting him off the catcher position. Plus, Salvi loves to catch. Salvi Perez, you know what he's going to be.

You know, there's a range of Salvi. We saw his crazy home run season. We saw him come down for that. It's where is he going to land in there. Pasquintino, I'm obviously biased on the situation now. But go look at his stats from last year. More walks than strikeouts. The dude hit at a real level.

And Bobby Wood Jr. like you guys have talked about. So within those four, you know, there's a serious peak there that those four can get to. After that, it's just, it's kind of pure question marks for me, not to be rude to my Royals nation, but Olivares, Isbel, Dozier, waiters, you know, Nikki Lopez, Massey, whoever's filling in there. I just don't know what you're going to get from those guys. and sneaky on last year's Royals team. Michael A. Taylor racked up a lot of war for them, mostly defensively, but that's what he does.

Benny had a huge first half for them before they traded him. I have some concerns in the lineup, especially if those top couple guys aren't doing their thing. And then Singer, he's the guy I really like in the rotation after that. I don't know. And I do think, you know, we haven't gotten to our twins yet, but I think the twins are going to get better. It's hard to say the guardians are going to get worse.

Maybe they don't have as much magic. White Sox are a coin flip, but the Royals, kind of like what you were saying, Jim, I guess I think there's more of a feeling out with this team this year that I don't know if it's going to have that kind of Orioles juice to it. Like, let's win some games. Let's try to get to 500.

Maybe they do. I don't know. This is a let the kids play type of team. where you say waiters, you're talking about waters? It's got to be waters, right? I think it's waiters. Has it spelled? Like water.

Oh, that's a hell of an assumption. Jake must have heard it. It doesn't have a pronunciation key. It feels like Jake had to hear it then, because you don't read the word water and say waiter. Well, unless you have an inkling. We're talking about, guys. I mean, Reds fans are.

I hope you're right, because then I look like an idiot. Sometimes I like that. I like looking like an idiot sometimes. Okay. Sure. What I like it, about this team is you can see who they think are going to be guys by the numbers that they wear MJ Melendez number one bobwood junior number seven and jimelandez they just feel this team feels

like a bunch of like um cocksure team jonathan india belongs on this team hmm trade he'd have to cut the hair up a little bit they're a little more clean cut india went from like clean cut i don't know if they are anymore dating more bobby witts they can not yeah a lot of fun yeah had what bobby wood has then he went one year too long. Like if you see videos of Jack Doyle from earlier in the year, you're like, oh, Jack, your hair was too long. Now looks great. It could be waters. I don't know. Could be waters?

I feel like I've heard waiters. I think I have two, but I think I've heard of so I might be starting. That is bizarre if you're just straight up, reed and water waiter for no reason at all. Who's the other guy who we butcher his name on purpose? What is it? We have another guy like that. Let's not start that with this guy. I like him. That sounded right. Who is the guy?

Ion Anderson. Ion Anderson. That's rude. It's just messed up. It's like prospect-wise. Mikel Garcia might get the call for them this year. Maybe some Martian loft in a otherwise I'm not too sure. I don't know.

The bullpen's fun. If they can find Fix Chapman. They got rid of their pitching coach last year. True, false. Royal. It was like long time pitching coach because they had all the, or am I talking about the Tigers?

It was one of the AL central teams. Royals hire Brian Sweeney as pitching coach. And that was this off season. Yeah, I think it was a decent deal because they had so many pitching prospects like Singer and a couple others. Chris Boobitch was,

talked about him in the past couple years. I think they fired a lot of their staff because they just thought this group was going to develop better. Make it better. So hopefully that helps, you know. What do we have the over under at? 69 and a half. Yeah, I said that's pretty good.

I'd say that's right. I think I'm taking the under. Oh, I'm a conservative guy, and I thought like 75 was a big win. They won 65 games last year. Did they get five games better? I don't think so because they're traded away a lot of MLB talent. I'm going with the under, you know, I'm drinking some twins getting better Kool-Aid.

Also, if we did Central Division teams, they're playing more out of division. I mean, last year they had Whit Merrifield. He wasn't ever a fantastic year. Yeah. But he probably had some good stretches that helped him win some games. They had Ben in 10 years having a great year. All-Star. Michael, I mean, they just had like MLB players.

So you're these. younger guys would have to come up and play at, you know, MLB level or have stretches where they're helping you with games. Um, I think the rotation is better than last year. Yeah, it has to be. It's an interesting take when you're talking about A.L. Central now playing the A.L. Central less and the other teams more because last year we found kind of this, this, uh, are the Central's about to be dog shit? Oh. Even more. Is this hurt them even more? I know somebody

I wish we did this earlier I know somebody did a study on like which divisions are helped out the most AL East gets a lot better by less division play and the centrals are going to get dog shit on the general Yeah I didn't think of that But the centrals don't get to play the central as much

How many games is it total that they don't have to play against They don't get to play against the centrals? I want to say it's 14 games instead of 19 You lose 20 in division games You lose five teams per the other four You lose 20 indivision games? 15. Like 19.

Before you cut me off, James, I was talking about a loophole we found last year in the betting. A lot of us took unders on RBI totals. They were very inflated last year. Don't know why. We'll tell them again. This could be the loophole. The central teams now, like having to go out of division and losing those 20 games against, you know, we'll call probably lesser teams. I'm a coastal elitist.

I'm taking under. Change my picks on all the Midwest teams to under. I am going to, I'm going to take the over on this team. I'm going to take the over on this team. Okay. I'm going to take the over on this team because I believe that we're going to have a couple breakouts. I think Bobbywood Jr. is going to go absolutely nuts this year.

I think he's going to go, I think he's going to approach 30-30. I think he needs to shit himself. Absolutely go absolutely nuts. I mean, just. So give me the over. Under. I'm taking the under as well. 71 wins.

You want your pirates over, flip to an under? First flip? What was it at? 64 and a half. All three were over. You can be the one. Yeah, they got to play the Eastmore. They got to play the ALEs.

They got to play the Astros. That's a sweep. It's not a sweep. You can't know one sweeps. You know that. Yeah, it is tough to sweep. Definitely a series loss. It is tough to sweep.

Sweepings. They sleep through. I want to start seeing when, hold on. Well, you don't have to hold on. This doesn't need to be part of the show. Thanks, everyone. Thanks to everybody. Yeah, because I'm not even doing royal shit.

Royal. They're beautiful uniforms. I think Royals, one of more underrated uniforms. I agree. I think that's why I like them sometimes. Royal blue. It's a nice color. Look at Pasquantino's stats.

The fountains are kind of, like, not that cool. Hot take. Shit.