Looking Way Too Far Ahead – Opening the post-2017 Window

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If you look at the Royals’ financial commitments past 2017, it’s pretty obvious that a lot of guys on the team today won’t be around two years from now.

Many of the contracts on the team will expire after 2017, so we tried to assess the situation and think of what the fate of the bigger likely-to-depart names might be, weighing the cases of Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar, and Wade Davis, specifically.

Joining Mike this week as guest co-host is Ben Nielsen, formerly of the Walkoff Talk podcast and various KC sports blogs. You can follow him on Twitter at @BenThereBro.

NOTE – Part of the conversation referenced future free agents, comparing current Royals to that crop. Unfortunately, we were going off a list of free agents for the year AFTER this class, which does change the equation a bit, at least so far as comparing potential Royals free agents to other free agents. Cain in particular won’t have as star-studded a cast to contend against when he’s a free agent, and Moustakas won’t have Donaldson or Machado to fend off. To me, the general conclusion is the same – that Moose and Cain are probably most likely to stick and have situations best-suited to find something now if they can – even if the steps to get to that point are slightly different. Thanks to Hunter Samuels for catching our error. The responsible parties have been sacked.

(Today’s short music clip: “Achilles” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

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Also check out No Halftime.com – No Halftime is daily fantasy with a twist. Now you can pit individual players against each other, challenge friends, set up leagues, and have a lot of fun winning prizes. Sign up with Promo Code ROYALS at NoHalftime.com or download the app on iTunes.

AND — we’re back on iTunes! Here’s where you need to go to find us. Of course, you can also follow the podcast on SoundCloud or via Stitcher depending on your podcast app of choice.

Reviewing Predictions and Waiting For The ALDS

While the Yankees and Astros played the AL Wild Card Game, Jeff and Mike went back in time to see how some pre-season predictions finished up.

We discussed the production and maturation of Eric Hosmer, the breakout of Lorenzo Cain, the impact Kris Medlen and Chris Young had on the pitching staff, and the tumultuous seasons from Danny Duffy and Yordano Ventura.

We also speculated about how the Yankees or Astros would match up with the Royals in an ALDS matchup (the Astros ended up winning after the recording had concluded).

Recorded 10/6/15

AND — we’re back on iTunes! Here’s where you need to go to find us. Of course, you can also follow the podcast on SoundCloud or via Stitcher depending on your podcast app of choice.

Also, we’re happy to mention that we’re a new affiliate of DraftKings.com. If you’re into playing daily fantasy games, we’d love if you signed up through our affiliate link HERE or by using promo code “KCBBV”. DraftKings offers daily fantasy games for baseball, football, MMA, golf, and many many more along with deposit bonuses and free games or games as low as a quarter.

Follow us at @KCBaseballVault
Follow the hosts at @TheJeffReport and @michaelengel

And give our sponsor, Kelly’s Westport Inn, a follow at @KellysBarKC

Royals Concerns and Optimism: Pre-Playoffs Edition

The Royals have clinched the AL Central, but the rough September has raised some questions.

We brought up some of those concerns and discussed how this year’s team is different from last year’s.
But we didn’t want to dwell on the negatives, because this Royals team has a lot going for it. So we compared last year’s offense to this year’s. We raved about roster flexibility and safety nets in case of injury.

And we also talked about why not having home field advantage for the ALCS isn’t something to panic about.

Recorded 9/29/15

Articles referenced this week:

• Rany returned and two of his blog posts were on my mind: Here on home field and the lessened impact in a seven game series, and here, where he has a good breakdown of the Royals’ roster flexibility, which I enjoyed.
• Joe Posnanski’s mention of the clashing styles and stadiums of the Royals and Blue Jays is from this link.
• “The night Kansas City baseball came back to life” by Andy McCullough, which should be required reading. A detailed recap of the Royals’ win in the Wild Card game last year.

Also, we’re happy to mention that we’re a new affiliate of DraftKings.com. If you’re into playing daily fantasy games, we’d love if you signed up through our affiliate link HERE or by using promo code “KCBBV”. DraftKings offers daily fantasy games for baseball, football, MMA, golf, and many many more along with deposit bonuses and free games or games as low as a quarter.

AND — we’re back on iTunes! Here’s where you need to go to find us. Of course, you can also follow the podcast on SoundCloud or via Stitcher depending on your podcast app of choice.

Follow us at @KCBaseballVault
Follow the hosts at @TheJeffReport and @michaelengel

And give our sponsor, Kelly’s Westport Inn, a follow at @KellysBarKC

Kansas City Baseball Vault: First Half Rundown (and ASG Watch Party Info)

The Kansas City Royals have finished the first half with 52 wins. They lead the American league. They’ve had seven players selected to the All Star team. They’re defending AL Champs.

So what elements have come together so far for this run? Jeff and Mike discuss the team approach and identity and the breakouts that have brought the Royals to this point. We also revisted our semi-bold predictions from just before Opening Day.

We’ll talk more about the first place Royals and what lies ahead on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

There will be baseball, beer, drink specials, friends old and new, pizza in the back (at Joe’s), and we’re working on some special guests and giveaways.

Giveaway items:
-1 Autographed copy of Frank White’s book “One Man’s Dream”
-1 Copy of Willie Mays Aikens’s book “Safe At Home”
-1 Copy of Chris Kamler’s (@TheFakeNed) book “The Silence, the Series, and the Season of SungWoo”
-Watch party t-shirts
-KCBBV/Kelly’s hats
(giveaway items subject to change and availability – but the books are guaranteed, at least)

Invite your friends, come on out, and enjoy the Royals on the national stage. (21 and older). More information will be posted here: www.facebook.com/events/822763797838454/

Email your thoughts to kansascitybaseballvault@gmail.com
Follow us at @KCBaseballVault
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And visit Royalspodcast.com for all the latest shows by and for Royals fans.

Kansas City Baseball Vault: All Star Game Election and Watch Party Info

Mark your calendar for July 14 when the Royals invade the All Star Game. We’ll be out at Kelly’s Westport Inn recording a live podcast and talking baseball while Royals fans come out to enjoy a watch party. There will be giveaways and guests and a lot of fun. More information will be posted here: www.facebook.com/events/822763797838454/

The Royals will send a record six players to the 2015 All Star Game after a flood of fan votes and some wicked relief performances.

We talked about the elections of Salvador Perez, Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain, and Alcides Escobar to the AL starting lineup, and the relief selections of Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis. Where do they stand in relation to others at their positions? What happened with the fan voting and what’s next in that process? We talked about it all this week. We also talked about Mike Moustakas as the Final Vote candidate.

And then, on July 14, we get to see all the Royals in the game when we host an All Star Game watch party at Kelly’s Westport Inn. For more information, go to http://www.facebook.com/kansascitybaseballvault.

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 – Episode 62

This week we talk about the Huston Street extension, the Phillies promotion of Maikel Franco, the Astros promotion of Lance McCullers and the MLB/Atlantic League player agreement.

On the Royals side of things, we talk about Joe Blanton’s promotion, troubles with the rotation and the red hot Royals corner infielders.

Kansas City Baseball Vault – Season Preview and Predictions

Editor note: RECORDED 4/2/15 prior to the final roster being set.

As the Royals open their defense of the AL Championship, Jeff and Mike talked about the latest spring training news and the makeup of the roster – which is mostly set, barring injuries.

We offered some bold predictions for the upcoming season, some of which are probably nowhere near going to come true – but hey they might. We also wandered down memory lane to recall some past Royals and past seasons and events, including some painful Kansas City sports moments.

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 – Episode 53

This week we have another MONSTER show. We preview the NL Central, wrapping up the National League. We also cover the Indians and what they have in store this season.

Mike Moustakas says he’ll bunt more and Mike Sweeney was voted into the Royals Hall of Fame.
Follow us @HunterSamuels @Deviator77 @DrTokuBall

Triple Play Podcast – Episode 50

We actually had some news this week. The Royals reached deals with Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas and Danny Duffy.

Around the league, we talked about Wade Miley’s extension with the Red Sox. Ryan Ludwick and Nate Schierholtz signed minor league deals with the Rangers and will form an interesting platoon.

We also talk a long while about the one and only James Shields who signed a 4-year deal with the San Diego Padres.

Kansas City Baseball Vault: 10/13/14 – Rainout and ALCS Toughts

With the Royals rained out, Jeff and Mike talked about the incredible Royals playoff run, including the importance of the bullpen in a postseason series, the strategy between the Orioles and Royals, the sudden power surge by KC, and what the rainout does to the Royals plan for the rotation.

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.