Last year, a key to the Royals improvement was the bounce back in the bullpen. After a disastrous campaign in 2018 (ranked 29th in reliever WAR) and a ho-hum one in 2019 (ranked 17th in reliever WAR), the Royals took a big step up in 2020, ranking 12th in reliever WAR and 8th in reliever… Read More Are Royals fans not talking about Scott Barlow enough?
There was some hope going into this weekend’s series against the Brewers that the Royals could finish the year around .500. At 21-29 going into Friday’s game, if the Royals went 9-1 over their last 10 games, they would finish the year 30-30. While that seemed like a tall feat, the Brewers, Cardinals, and Tigers… Read More ‘Another Missed Chance’: Three takeaways from the Brewers-Royals series
While it was nice to see the Royals pull of a win on the road, it has been a rough stretch for the Kansas City Royals. The team is still in last place in the American League Central at 15-28, and their -51 run differential is the third-worst mark in the American League in general… Read More Three Royals stories to pay attention to down the stretch (even if it may be rough)
While the Kansas City Royals have been an slightly pleasant surprise at 8-11 going into this weekend’s series in Minnesota against the Twins, one player that has been a disappointment so far in 2020 has been reliever Ian Kennedy. Signed in 2016 to a five-year $70 million contract (which cost the Royals a first-round pick… Read More What should the Royals do with Ian Kennedy for the remainder of 2020?
One of the more interesting reliever stories going into 2020 was Josh Staumont, a former second-round pick of the Royals in the 2015 MLB Draft who is known for his top-notch stuff, but has been plagued by wild control and command as a professional. The Royals’ top prospect according to Baseball America going into the… Read More Looking at Josh Staumont’s 2020 start…and what it could mean for the Royals in 2021
It’s hard to be optimistic about the 2020 outlook after the Royals lost their opening series to the Cleveland Indians two games to one. Yes, the Indians were the better and more favored team in the pre-season, so the idea that the Royals would win this series, on the road nonetheless, seemed like quite a… Read More Matheny has decisions to make on Royals bullpen after Indians series
So it’s here…finally…the Kansas City Royals will be playing actual Major League Baseball! It feels like it has been forever since COVID shut down play back in March, but it’s exciting to see the Boys in Blue back on the field, even if they will be starting the season at Progressive Field in Cleveland rather… Read More Five questions to ask on Royals Opening Day
As I have regularly mentioned on this blog, the start of this MLB season looks hazy at best. While there are some signs that baseball could return, it is unlikely that a.) we will have a full season and b.) that will baseball return to home stadiums anytime soon. If baseball does return, then it… Read More Four reasons why the Royals should move Kennedy back to the rotation in 2020
While it only Spring Training, baseball games officially begun, as the Royals and Rangers kicked things off in the Cactus League, Friday. While the Royals did lose 5-4, blowing a lead in the ninth, there were some positives from the game, with reliever Josh Staumont being the one that may have stood out the most… Read More Does Josh Staumont have closer potential?
Bullpens can always be unfairly evaluated by baseball fans. As fans, we are prone to recency bias, and tend to unfairly hone in one good or one bad stretch from a bullpen when it comes to judgment. A closer blows a save? He’s the worst closer of all time in the eyes of the fans… Read More Was the Royals bullpen actually a strength in the second half of 2019?
