MAKING THE PITCH: Kansas City Royals

Felipe M

We take a look at the projected starting rotations and closer situations of every MLB team.  Of course, this will come from a fantasy perspective.  All cited stats are based on 2013 projections.  

Please take a quick look at the terrible Houston Astros pitching staff.  

Now let's take a look at the Kansas City Royals:

2013 Pitching Projections
Player	Team	K/BB	K/9	BB/9	H/9	WHIP	HR/9
James Shields	Kansas City	3.66	8.64	2.36	8.40	1.20	0.92
Ervin Santana	Kansas City	2.31	7.25	3.14	8.72	1.32	1.20
Wade Davis	Kansas City	2.29	7.53	3.29	8.80	1.34	1.01
Jeremy Guthrie	Kansas City	2.05	5.42	2.64	9.47	1.35	1.18
Greg Holland	Kansas City	2.60	10.17	3.91	6.52	1.16	0.52

As you can see, James Shields is really the only guy worth having on your fantasy team.  He was listed as a Top-20 pitcher on my list.

There's speculation that Ervin Santana has been hiding an injury for the last couple of years.  So far in the spring, he's pitched fairly well (18 K's in 19 innings as of March 25th) and might be worth a pickup from waivers as he's only owned in 42% of CBS Leagues and only 2.3% of ESPN Leagues.  

Wade Davis has been an intriguing pitcher since his days with the Tampa Rays.  However, injuries, bad luck, and a stacked pitching staff in Tampa have seem to always get in the way of his progress.  He projects to have a bad WHIP.  This spring, his ERA is 1.29 but has walked more batters than strikeouts.  He's only owned in 33% of CBS Leagues.

Not a big fan of Jeremy Guthrie and was appalled when the Royals decided to give him a new contract over the winter.  Just bad!

Closer Greg Holland can be a dominant closer if he can do a better job with his walks.  Of all projected closers coming into the 2013 season, Holland's 3.91 BB/9 is the 5th worst in the league.  

Luis Mendoza is the 5th starter and after looking at his numbers from last season, he's not worth the space I just wasted on this page.

More MLB content is available here.  

2012 MLB PROSPECT REVIEW: #30-26

Felipe M

The following is a review of a list that was compiled way back in March of 2012.  "2012 Outlooks" are based on a summation of scouting reports (entering the 2012 MLB season) of each player condensed into a sentence or two for easier reading.

30. Anthony Rizzo--1B--Chicago Cubs

• 2012 Outlook: "If Bryan LaHair falters, he will make Cubs' roster. Would be much better at Wrigley than at Petco."
• 2012 Achievements: #5 Prospect in Pacific Coast League as well as its Best Batting Prospect.
• Conclusion: Not many prospects were hyped up more than Rizzo. Very rarely does a player's call-up make such a big deal. But these were no ordinary circumstances; these were the Chicago Cubs under new management and in the middle of a losing season. The pressure was on Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer for their handpicked "franchise player" to come up with a big game. He did. More importantly, Rizzo bounced back from a disappointing stint in San Diego. Rizzo would go on to play 87 games and accumulate 337 at bats for the Cubs. He hit .285 with an OPS of .805 and a BB:K of .44. Compared that to Rizzo's minor league numbers (.47 BB:K, .303 batting average, and .914 OPS), Rizzo is more or less on par to continue to improve and is all ready slated to play for Italy in the World Baseball Classic and will indubitably start 2013 as the Cubs' starting 1B.

29. Mike Montgomery--SP--Tampa Rays

• 2012 Outlook: "Struggled in Triple-A, but might get called up in 2012."
• 2012 Achievements: Best Changeup in Royals' farm system
• Conclusion: Montgomery was one of the players moved out of Kansas City in order for the Royals to acquire starting pitcher James Shields. Montgomery once looked like a bonafide prospect, but has been struggling since moving up to Double-A ball in 2010. Control issues continue to plague him and during that time span, has seen his K/9 drop and his H/9 soar. He also struggled with keeping the ball in the park in 2012.  His career 1.72 groundball/flyball ratio probably doesn't help in keeping his homerun rate in check. Perhaps the Tampa system will help him regain his confidence that once made him a legit pitching prospect in Kansas City. In the meantime, Montgomery can be added to a list of highly touted pitching prospects that have fizzled in the Royals' system.

28. Alex Torres--RP--Tampa Rays

• 2012 Outlook: "Command issues, but might be first call-up for Tampa."
• 2012 Achievements: N/A
• Conclusion: To recapitulate, Torres' continued to have control and command issues in 2012. He was used both as a starter and a reliever in 2012, making 12 relief appearances. If there is a glimmer of hope for Torres to make the Rays' 2013 squad, it would have to be as a relief pitcher, but he still has an outside chance of making it.

27. Garrett Richards--RP--California Angels of Anaheim

• 2012 Outlook: "A rotation spot away from joining the Angels in 2012."
• 2012 Achievements: N/A
• Conclusion: Richards make 30 total pitching appearances for the Halos last season, including 9 starts. The results were disastrous, but did manage to record one save. Richards was all ready struggling in Triple-A before the Angels called him up last season. Just like Torres, Richards has a slim chance to make the Angels, but if he does, he's projected to join their bullpen and also counted on to be the team's spot starter. Most likely, the Angels are hoping Richards can pitch like he did in Double-A, where he posted a 7.7 H/9, 2.5 BB/9, 6.5 K/9, and a WHIP OF 1.14.

26. Devin Mesoraco--C--Cincinnati Reds

• 2012 Outlook: "Will start Major League career as the Reds' backup catcher. He comes with a power/patience combo."
• 2012 Achievements: N/A
• Conclusion: After much optimism for the young catcher, Mesoraco garnered 165 at bats for the Reds. The results: Slash Line of .212/.288/.351 and a BB:K of .51. Mesoraco's claim to fame, however, was getting into a heated argument and then proceeding to deliberately bump an umpire during a game, earning him a suspension. He's projected to be the Reds' backup catcher once again as the club is hoping he can display his power/patience package that was evident in Triple-A (.289/.371/.484/.855, BB:K of .62).

Prospects #35-31 are available here. 

Prospects #25-21 are available here.

2012 MLB PROSPECT REVIEW: #60-56

Felipe M

The following is a review of a list that was compiled way back in March of 2012.  "2012 Outlooks" are based on a summation of scouting reports (entering the 2012 MLB season) of each player condensed into a sentence or two for easier reading.

60. Robbie Erlin--SP--San Diego Padres

• 2012 Outlook: "Smooth delivery, works both sides of plate with efficiency."
• 2012 Achievements: Pitched in Arizona Fall League
• Conclusion: Erlin missed 3 months due to elbow tendinitis, but reports show that he may not be too far away from making Padres' roster. At 22, he's displayed amazing control. He even impressed while pitching in AFL. There's a small concern that he might be a flyball pitcher, but we'll see how he bounces back in 2013. 

59. Travis d'Arnaud--C--New York Mets

• 2012 Outlook: "Better than J.P. Arencibia, but will have to wait."
• 2012 Achievements: #1 Prospect, Best Hitter for Average, and Best Power Hitter in Toronto Blue Jays' farm system; #2 Prospect in Pacific Coast League.
• Conclusion: d'Arnaud was traded to the New York Mets along with John Buck for R.A. Dickey and Josh Thole. Very likely that he will begin 2013 in the Minors. His season abruptly ended in June when he tore PCL ligament in knee. Before the injury, the young catcher was posting an increase in batting average, on-base%, SLG%, and OPS. Despite his slim chances of breaking with the Mets out of Spring Training, he will most likely take over catching duties for the Mets, eventually, in 2013.

58. Zach Lee--SP--Los Angeles Dodgers

• 2012 Outlook: "Future top of the rotation starter, but won't compete for Big League team until 2013."
• 2012 Achievements: #5 and #13 Prospect in both California and Southern Leagues, respectively.
• Conclusion: The Dodgers are so fully loaded at pitching (both rotation and bullpen) that it is highly probable that Lee will begin season in the Minors in '13. His control was as good as advertised in 2012, posting 2.4 BB/9 and 3.22 K:BB. He does have a H/9 of 9.0 in Minor League career. Should be interesting to see if that number decreases a bit next season.

57. Anthony Gose--OF--Toronto Blue Jays

• 2012 Outlook: "Progressed in Minors and is still 'blazing' fast."
• 2012 Achievements: #8 Prospect in California League as well as Best Baserunner and Defensive OF; Appeared in 166 at bats for the Blue Jays
• Conclusion: Gose's speed was on full display with the Jays in 2012, snatching 15 stolen bases. Unfortunately, Gose struggled mightily with big league pitching as well. He posted a BB/K of .29 (compared to .49 in Triple-A). Gose might have to start 2013 in Minors. 

56. Wil Myers--OF--Tampa Rays

• 2012 Outlook: "Struggled in Double-A, but had good Arizona Fall League (2011). Sharp batting eye might mean turnaround."
• 2012 Achievements: Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year; #1 Prospect, Best Hitter for Average, and Power Hitter in Royals' farm system; #3 and #1 Texas and Pacific Coast League Prospect, respectively; Best Power Hitter in PCL. 
• Conclusion: The Royals used Myers as trade-bait to acquire an established Starting Pitcher, which they accomplished when they acquired James Shields. Myers has also been repeatedly been compared to former Braves' great, Dale Murphy (needs to be inducted into Cooperstown already!). Myers destroyed Minor League pitching, posting Slash Lines of .314/.387/.600/.987. His .44 BB/K could use improvement, but Myers looks to be the real deal.  

Prospects #65-61 can be reviewed here.

Prospects #55-51 can be reviewed here.