Brandon Finnegan – Kansas City Baseball Vault

Kansas City Baseball Vault — Royals Over /Under Prediction Jamboree

This time around, we talked about the bullpen battles and how the roster is starting to round into shape two weeks from opening day, including the optioning of Brandon Finnegan to Double A.

The bulk of this week’s show, though, was spent guessing at the production of various Royals in 2015 via our first annual KCBBV Royals Over/Under Jamboree. Will Kendrys Morales hit more than or less than 15 homers? Will Danny Duffy throw more or less than 200 innings? We brought up a handful of other benchmarks and tried to peg which Royals would exceed or fall short of that number.

There was also at least one Pitch Perfect reference.

(The Ned Yost clip is an autotune production by Twitter follower @PeraKCnRoyals. You can find his YouTube channel here.

The Kansas City Baseball Vault is brought to you every week via the Royals Podcast Network with the support of Kelly’s Westport Inn, the best bar to stop by to watch a ball game.

Email your thoughts to kansascitybaseballvault@gmail.com
Follow us at @KCBaseballVault
Follow the hosts at @KCRoyalman, @TheJeffReport, and @michaelengel

And visit Royalspodcast.com for all the latest shows by and for Royals fans.

Kansas City Baseball Vault – 1/12/15: Offseason thoughts, Finnegan’s Role, and the Royals Hall of Fame

This week Royalman Troy Olsen joined Mike to talk about the offseason and general impressions, the Royals payroll surpassing $100 million, and what Jarrod Dyson might bring in a trade (and if there’s a viable replacement in the system if something might happen). We also discussed Brandon Finnegan’s future and how he might fit as a starter or reliever.

After a break, we then discussed the Royals Hall of Fame candidates, including Gil Meche, Kevin Seitzer, Mike Sweeney, and the phenomenal Bo Jackson.

The Kansas City Baseball Vault is brought to you every week via the Royals Podcast Network with the support of Kelly’s Westport Inn, the best bar to stop by to watch a ball game.

Email your thoughts to kansascitybaseballvault@gmail.com
Follow us at @KCBaseballVault
Follow the hosts at @KCRoyalman, @TheJeffReport, and @michaelengel

And visit Royalspodcast.com for all the latest shows by and for Royals fans.

WalkOff Talk Episode 37: Audra Gone Wild (Card)

Episode 37 brings you the first ever official Royals postseason edition of WalkOff Talk! Ben and Audra discuss postseason excitement, postseason joy, and postseason fever. The wild wildcard game, the possibilities in the upcoming ALDS, and more. POSTSEASON POSTSEASON POSTSEASON. The least sad these two have ever been on a show. Maybe. Enjoy! If we’re lucky, the next time you’ll hear us will be for an ALCS show.

Kansas City Baseball Vault: 10/1/14 – “Wild”

After 29 years, postseason baseball returned to Kansas City. Jeff and Mike talked with Kevin Scobee about Tuesday night’s wild card game and the elements that went into the Royals’ comeback.

But we looked a little past just the events of the game. We talked about the impact a game like this has and what it means about how the Royals have been constructed, including a focus on specialists, speed, leadership, and an emphasis on contact in a strikeout world.

Then Kevin took off, but we kept going, this time talking about some of the weird moments – the Ventura decision, the bunts, the double “steal” – and how it fits with Ned Yost’s track record.

But it’s a happy time, so we had to also talk about what is to come and the Angels and the ALDS and what other impressions we have from the Wild Card game.

Relevant links:

The Kansas City Baseball Vault is brought to you every week via the Royals Podcast Network with the support of Kelly’s Westport Inn, the best bar to stop by to watch a ball game.

Email your thoughts to kansascitybaseballvault@gmail.com
Follow us at @KCBaseballVault
Follow the hosts at @KCRoyalman, @TheJeffReport, and @michaelengel

And visit Royalspodcast.com for all the latest shows by and for Royals fans.

Kansas City Baseball Vault: Playoff Race Anxiety

As the season enters its final weeks, the pressure is mounting. The Royals offense has sputtered and some players are showing signs of wear.

We talked about the remaining series against Detroit, the expanded rosters, tried to do some schedule math (we failed – that suspended game crosses everyone’s wires…) and talked about the impact of Danny Duffy’s injury.

We also looked at what options exist to fill in for Duffy in his next start and the quick ascent of Brandon Finnegan. We also talked briefly about Lorenzo Cain in comparison to Jarrod Dyson.

And now…we see what the Royals have left in the tank.

The Kansas City Baseball Vault is brought to you every week via the Royals Podcast Network with the support of Kelly’s Westport Inn, the best bar to stop by to watch a ball game.

Email your thoughts to kansascitybaseballvault@gmail.com
Follow us at @KCBaseballVault
Follow the hosts at @KCRoyalman, @TheJeffReport, and @michaelengel

And visit Royalspodcast.com for all the latest shows by and for Royals fans.

Triple Play Podcast 28 – Monster Trade Deadline Edition

We talk for nearly 2 hours in this bad boy because it was a rich week in trades. We break down nearly every trade that went through on the deadline.

The biggest acquisition was probably David Price who found a new home in Detroit after being involved in a three-way trade that sent Drew Smyley and some guy named Willy Adames to the Rays and Austin Jackson to the Mariners. In return, the Mariners shipped Nick Franklin to Tampa. We all agreed that the Mariners got a huge upgrade at center field and Detroit’s rotation is that much scarier. Tampa Bay probably could have done better.

The A’s made headlines by trading Yoenis Cespedes to the Red Sox for Johnny Gomes and Jon Lester. The A’s also swapped Tommy Milone for Sam Fuld, even though they gave him the boot early in the season. The A’s now have a rotation that can go toe-to-toe with Detroit’s, increasing their chances to advance in the playoffs.

The Red Sox also went nuts by improving their offense dramatically for next season. They traded off most their pitchers for impact bats Yoenis Cespedes and Allen Craig, front end bullpen talent Edwin Escobar and Heath Hembree, and back-end starter Joe Kelly. All of the players are locked up for years and Matt thinks the Sox have enough capital to make big moves for front-end starters which is pretty much their only weakness now.

On the Kansas City Royals front, Eric Hosmer fractured a bone in his hand and will miss 3-6 weeks. We all want Josh Willingham to fill in at DH and Billy to move to first, but the Twins stubbornly refuse to put him on waivers. We talk about a few internal and external options, but most of them aren’t very appealing.

We also talk about Brandon Finnegan’s promotion and a possible move for Hunter Dozier.

If you have any questions about the show or want to send us comments, you can email us at kctripleplay@gmail.com

Hunter

Matt

Reese