The Royal Kingdom - A Kansas City Royals Blog

Greinke Gets The Cy Young He Deserved

2009-11-18T13:39:48Z

Baseball writers overlooked the fact that the Royals did not give Zack Greinke any run support this season and voted him the American League Cy Young Award winner. Greinke was just 16-8, but that record hid the fact that his ERA of 2.16 was the lowest the league has seen since Pedro Martinez’s 6 years ago. Greinke was dominant at the start and end of the season, but he could do little to help a team that had a weak offense and had trouble stringing wins together.

This is one of the few awards the writers have gotten right this year. They failed miserably with the Hank Aaron Award, which honors the games best hitters and for some reason went to Derek Jeter in the American League instead of oh I don’t know, Joe Mauer, who beat Jeter in every hitting category except hits and runs (which Jeter won because Mauer missed the first month of the season). Greinke beat out Felix Hernandez of the Mariners, another good pitcher on a lousy team, along with Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia for the Cy Young. Anyone who watched baseball this year knows Greinke was a notch above those other guys.

Tags: american league, baseball, cy young, zack greinke

The Moves The Royals Should Make In The Offseason

2009-10-13T16:30:25Z

The Royals had some very talented players on their team in 2009, but overall the season was still a failure. Here’s what they need to do to get back on the right track for 2010:
- Extend Greinke’s contract. I know, easier said than done, but we’ve got to try. He’s the face of the organization right now.
- Sign Eric Bedard
- Sign Xavier Nady. He might be available for cheap given his 2009 injury problems.
- Let Coco Crisp go
- Resign Olivo
- Sign Miguel Tejada
- Sign Jonathan Papelbon if the price is right. His stock should be much lower than expected following his playoff performance. This move would allow the Royals to transition Soria to a starter. They need more depth in the starting rotation, as there was a night-and-day difference between the Royals with Greinke starting and the Royals with anyone else starting. Greinke saved this team from being the Washington Nationals.

Tags: baseball, eric bedard, free agent, greinke, jonathan papelbon, kansas city royals, royals, trade, xavier nady, zach greinke

Royals Take Aaron Crow with 12th Overall Pick

2009-06-10T15:30:00Z

Aaron Crow, the same guy who caused headaches for the Nationals last season when they were unable to sign him, was drafted in the first round again this year by the Kansas City Royals. Crow was the 8th consecutive pitcher selected in the draft, although I think he should have gone in the 5th or 6th spot. He has a fastball that tops out at around 97 mph, but his power slider is what really has scouts talking. After not signing last year, he’s been playing for the Fort Worth Cats awaiting another chance this year, so it’s not like he’s been rotting away somewhere. I don’t think it would surprise too many experts if Crow ended up being the #1 or #2 pitcher to come out of this draft, and that’s with Stephen Strasburg included.

Tags: aaron crow, fort worth cats, kansas city royals, pitcher, stephen strasburg

Oh Crap!

2009-04-30T14:18:24Z

This is a picture of the current issue of Sports Illustrated. Everybody knows about the SI curse. Why did SI feel the need to harass the Royals when they’ve got someone who’s playing well right now? I’ll be saying a prayer to the baseball gods (and Jobu) tonight, so that they might protect the precious arm that belongs to Zach Greinke.

Tags: kansas city royals, zach greinke

John Buck Hits Grand Slam in Royals Win

2009-04-15T13:05:06Z

John Buck homered twice, including a grand slam in the 8th inning, as the Royals beat the Indians 9-3. The Indians started the oft-injured Carl Pavano, who seems to help his team out more when he’s on the bench than when he’s on the mound, against the Royals Kyle Davies. Neither pitcher fared very well, but Davies managed to prevent the Indians from getting any big hits to break the game open. The Royals, meanwhile, were ripping apart the Indians pitching for 6 extra base hits, including a triple from new center fielder Coco Crisp.

Tags: baseball, cleveland indians, coco crisp, john buck, kansas city royals, kyle davies

Zack Greinke Pitching Well Against Woeful Indians

2009-04-14T16:39:21Z

Zack Greinke found his way into and out of trouble tonight against an Indians team that has only won a single game in its first week of the 2009 season. The Royals are up 4-0 in the 8th inning as they go for their 4th win to put them above .500. Greinke gave up 6 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings, but his 9 strikeouts on the night helped him out of difficult situations time and again. He was also helped out by a homer from Mike Jacobs. Jamey Wright has pitched 2 scoreless innings in relief.

***Update***
Royals win 4-2.
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Tags: baseball, cleveland indians, jamey wright, kansas city royals, mike jacobs, zack greinke