Category Archives: alex gordon

2018 MLB Season Preview: Kansas City Royals

The Kansas Royals are no longer World Series contenders. They had a nice run with homegrown talent. They saw some of those guys leave for big money deals, but they still have a competitive squad coming into the season…but could look different by season’s end.

The Royals were able to keep one of their core homegrown talents that led them to a World Series title a few seasons ago. Mike Moustakas was hoping to land a huge contract after belting 38 homers last season. He turned down a qualifying offer, but found the landscape barren. Teams are saving their money for a talented free agent class next offseason. Moose came back for a deal that’s about half of the qualifying offer he turned down.

Will the Royals make any more moves towards a full rebuild?

Here is the 2018 MLB season preview for the Kansas City Royals.

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2017 MLB Season Preview: Kansas City Royals

The Royals made some move this offseason that were more long-term decisions. I think Kansas City’s front office is looking to the future instead of trying to build a contender this year. They have contracts coming up and they need to make some trades or see them walk after this season with just draft pick compensation.

The Royals did make a few short-term motivated deals too, but those were made out of an immediate need following the death of Yordano Ventura. Their starting rotation is a bit of a patchwork job, but it will need to get them through the season.

Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain are all in the last year of their contracts. Will any stay in Kansas City the entire season or will the Royals move them all in deals?

Here is the 2017 MLB season preview for the Kansas City Royals.

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2016 MLB Season Preview: Kansas City Royals

It has been a long time since the Kansas City Royals won a World Series. George Brett was playing third base and Ronald Reagan was President. 30 years later, the Royals did it again. I’m happy for the city and the organization.

Kansas City spent the offseason trying to keep their own on the team. They signed a few new arms, but their biggest splash was when they re-signed Alex Gordon. Most thought his price-point would have been out of the Royals price-range at the beginning of the offseason.

The Royals have been winning games with defense, smart base-running and a solid bullpen. All of the same pieces are still in place, so could we see a third-straight World Series for the Royals?

Here is the 2016 MLB season preview for the Kansas City Royals.

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2015 MLB Team Preview: Kansas City Royals

Kansas City defied all odds and represented the American League in the 2014 World Series. They gave San Francisco quite a battle. The Giants needed seven games to win their third ring in five years.

Kansas City are coming off back-to-back winning seasons. They are trending in the right direction. They aren’t a prime free agent destination, but did manage to lure a few former All-Stars to the team in the offseason.

The Royals core group of players are still quite young. It seems they are older than what they are since we’ve been talking about them from the time Kansas City drafted them. They have relied heavily on their farm system.

Here is the 2015 MLB season preview for the Kansas City Royals.

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2014 MLB Team Preview: Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals have been in the basement of the AL Central for a long time. They have picked near the top of the draft for the last decade, but it never translated into Major League success. Some of their top picks have worked out (Alex Gordon) and others did not develop into All-Star level talent (Luke Hochevar).

Kansas City had their first season over .500 since 2003 and their best overall season since 1992. The young talent is the reason why they are having success. Building through the draft is the only way a small market team can contend today.

Will Mike Moustakas have a breakout season? Can Jason Vargas adequately replace Ervin Santana in the starting rotation?

Here is the 2014 MLB season preview for the Kansas City Royals.

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2013 MLB Team Preview: Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals made one of the biggest trades this offseason. They traded a package featuring top prospect Wil Myers to Tampa Bay for two MLB-level starters James Shields and Wade Davis. Does this movie make you believe the Royals are ready to win now?

The Royals have not shown any signs they are ready to compete in the AL Central. Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer were once top prospects, but haven’t made ways in the Majors. There are holes in their team that won’t be fixed by the end of the season.

Will the Royals trade Jeff Francoeur for major-league ready players or prospects to build toward the future?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Kansas City Royals. Continue reading →

Fantasy God – Evan Longoria

Evan Longoria was deemed the savior of the Tampa Bay Rays, much like Jay Bruce is being coined in Cincinnati. Longoria was supposed to be the starting 3rd basemen at the start of the season, but the team wanted to give him a month in the minors to ease him into the league. They saw Longoria as more of a Ryan Bruan-type talent that needed a month in the minors to sharpen up before making his major league debut. This was a smart idea, since the Kansas City Royals had a similar scenario last season with their prospect, Alex Gordon. He ended up struggling his first two months in the Majors, but ended up turning it on towards the end of the season.

Evan Longora was finally brought up the majors in mid-April with much fanfare. He started out hot, but cooled down in May. He has been a monster in June, he has hit over half of his 15 homers so far this month. He has been extraordinarily hot over the past week. He has hit 4 homers, driven in 12 runs and batting .448. Some would suspect that his hot streak is due to inter-league play, but I think it should carry on throughout the rest of the season.

Tampa Bay is off to its best start in franchise history (48-32) and are in contention for both the AL East crown or the Wild-Card spot this season. Longoria, Carl Crawford, Scott Kazmir, and B.J. Upton arer the thank for their surprisingly great start. If Carlos Pena ever gets back his power stroke and they somehow get Rocco Baldelli back healthy, this team will not only be playoff-worthy this season, but the nucleus is young and should be great for years.

If you have Longoria on any of your fantasy teams, hold on to him. If you are in a keeper league, I would keep him for years to come. I look for Longoria to hit around 33 homers and have around 108 RBI. He is currently hittin .254, but look for a spike in his average once he figures out better pitching. Longoria should end up with a .286 average, give or take a few points.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Eminem Will Start To Wear Royals Gear

The Kansas City Royals started off the season with the dubious task of trying to tame the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers are favored to win the World Series this year. They added a lot of offense to their already prolific line-up. The Royals are projected to be basement dwellers in the AL Central and possibly lose 100 games.

The Royals made the Tigers look horrible! Kansas City completed the sweep yesterday and surprised everyone. The Tigers couldn’t hit the ball, their pitching looked juvenile, and they looked completely lost on the diamond. I know the Achilles’ Heel of the Tigers is their relief pitching, but it appears to be ruptured. The Royals starting pitchers (Meche and Bannister) made Gary Sheffield and Magglio Ordonez look like….Royals! Alex Gordon was actually living up to the hype and looking like George Brett.I know it is really early to predict the Royals to have a decent season, but I think everyone could be wrong about the Tigers. I know they will score runs this season, but if they give up more than they score, you can’t win. The Tigers need to look to the clubs that have deep bullpens and offer up what’s left of their depleted farm system. The Tigers could end up struggling for the Wild Card in a very tough AL Central or staying home from the post-season and looking like kittens.Congratulations Kansas City, you actually made me stop and write a blog about the Royals. I’d be really surprised if I mention them again, but if they keep it up, I will gladly join Royals Nation. *Population is slightly less than Red Sox Nation* I would probably think it would be considered “Royals Town.”

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.