Fanshots

The Sandlot: The Hos Edition

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Back before he was stealing home plate in the World Series, and stealing hearts all across KC. Our beloved former Royal/hero Eric Hosmer was this plucky little youngster. We miss you Hos! Photo credit: my co-workers childhood school yearbook

Royals top affiliate throws some shade at their opponent

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Omaha plays Colorado Springs, top affiliate of the Brewers.

23 days until Opening Day

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A daily snack-sized meditation on how much closer we are to Opening Day than we were yesterday. Today:

23

is how many hits Alcides Escobar piled up in the 2015 postseason. That was the most playoff hits by any of the World Champions, leading runner-up Ben Zobrist by three.

As the leadoff hitter, Escobar got more chances at the plate than anyone else, and also didn't walk at all in the playoffs. Instead, his "ambush" style netted him a homer, 3 triples, 4 doubles, and 15 singles.

23 is also:

-the jersey number of Zack Greinke when he was a Royal

-the jersey number of Nori Aoki, bless his heart, when he was a Royal

-the number of double plays into which Salvador Perez grounded in 2015

-the number of doubles Omar Infante hit

-how many runs Ben Zobrist drove in as a World Champion Kansas City Royal

-the number of runs Kelvin Herrera gave up

-the number of plate appearances by the Royals' whole pitching staff

25 days until Opening Day

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A daily snack-sized meditation on how much closer we are to Opening Day than we were yesterday. Today:

25

is Kendrys Morales's jersey number. Incidentally, it has been five years to the day since we all found out that we had been spelling and saying his name wrong. The Angels signed him as a 21-year-old free agent in 2005, but for whatever reason lopped the 'S' off the end of his first name. Morales didn't correct anyone who called him "Kendry" for years. His contract, his baseball cards, his MLB.com page, announcers, media guides and newspapers all said "Kendry."

Evidently, he made the correction known by asking to have his glove embroidered with his actual name.

At the time, adjusting to "Kendrys" seemed awkward. But now, after five years, "Kendry" looks weird.

New Royals themed art from Kansas City artist Chris Rau

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I've linked to his stuff here before, but Chris Rau is a local artist pouring his love of the Royals into his work. With these comic-book-styled posters, Chris immortalizes fan favorites Salvador Perez, Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, and Lorenzo Cain much like he did Wade Davis in the past. Visit Chris's Etsy page if you're interested. If he didn't send some my way gratis, I'd definitely be buying them because they look great on my wall.

26 days until Opening Day

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A daily snack-sized meditation on how much closer we are to Opening Day than we were yesterday. Today:

26

was, in the 2015 season, the age of Danny Duffy. Duffy made his big league debut at the tender age of 22, in 2011.

The Royals had several other 26-year-olds in their World Championship season: Christian Colon, Mike Mariot, and Mike Moustakas. Moose also made his Major League debut in 2011, at the age of 22.

26 is also:

-the number of walks drawn by Alcides Escobar

-the number of bases stolen by Jarrod Dyson in 2015, down from 36 in 2014

-the number of batters walked by both Kelvin Herrera and Greg Holland

-the number of games in which Jason Frasor pitched as a Royal

29 days until Opening Day

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A daily snack-sized meditation on how much closer we are to Opening Day than we were yesterday. Today:

29

was Mike Sweeney's jersey number from 1995-2007. Remember 1995 to 2007? The Royals played over .500 exactly once, in 2003. Remember when 2003 was the best thing going? "Nosotros creemos" was our rallying cry, and it led to precisely nothing that year, and even less than nothing for over a decade thereafter.

Good times.

Anyway, through all that, Mike Sweeney was a dang good hitter. I'm grateful to Sweeney to have something positive in my Royals memories from childhood.

29 is also:

-The 2015 playing age of Lorenzo Cain, Paulo Orlando, Greg Holland, Franklin Morales, Kris Medlen, and Wade Davis

-the number of bases stolen in 2015 by outfielder Reymond Fuentes. This was good for 3rd in the Pacific Coast League.

-the number of doubles hit by superutilityman Whit Merrifield for Omaha