Royals Rumblings - News for February 17, 2015

Royals Rumblings - News for February 17, 2015

Baseball Prospectus ranks the Royals as having the 14th best farm system.

Fans may be a bit sick of hearing about all the minor-league talent the Royals continue to bring to the table, after having what many considered the best minor-league system in recent memory as prospects like Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, and Yordano Ventura were coming along. While that may be true, and the Royals’ system doesn’t have the luster of just a couple of years ago, that doesn’t mean they are without impact talent ready to form the next wave of youth. As players like Sean Manaea, Miguel Almonte and Raul Mondesi get closer to the major-league level—not to mention Brandon Finnegan, who had a taste of the spotlight last October, and Hunter Dozier, who has already reached the Double-A level—the Royals will have to hope their latest crew of intriguing low-level talent begins to develop to backfill the minor-league ladder and keep the pipeline flowing.

The Royals want to go back to the World Series. Who knew?

"In my mind, there's not much doubt that the Central is the best division in baseball," manager Ned Yost said. "You look at what the White Sox did -- they got better in a lot of ways. The Tigers got better, I think. Minnesota got better. And the Indians are always tough and they added to their team. "It's going to be really interesting. We're going to be right there as well."

Royals President Dan Glass has three messages for Royals fans.

• Be optimistic. The Royals enjoyed a terrific season in 2014, a truly magical ride. And our plan is to build on that.

• Be proud. Win or lose, be assured that this Royals team gives 100 percent every play in an effort to win. That's all you can ask for.

• Be a believer. All the ideas and planning that general manager Dayton Moore started with back in 2006 came to fruition last season. And this is a proud organization that should remain competitive for titles from here on.

Glass also makes "Live, Love, Laugh" home decor signs for Target.

Joel Sherman of the NY Post counts down the 50 most intriguing people in baseball, and ranks Lorenzo Cain 31st.

The Royals are blessed with a group of young but experienced players who blossomed enough to get them to the World Series last year. Cain’s emergence — and promise of potentially more to come — is the most intriguing.

The Royals land seven player on Fangraph's list of Top 200 prospects. The list will be revealed today.

Bruce Chen will be cracking wise with the Indians this year.r

Eric Hosmer talks about the popularity of his new haircut. Have you gotten a "Hos" lately?

The Royals need to step up their Twitter game.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe ranks Ned Yost the 14th best manager in baseball.

Missouri taxpayers will continue to subsidize those poor ol' Royals.

Jason Giambi retires, just eleven years after his younger brother, former Royals player Jeremy Giambi, last played in the big leagues.

Former big leaguer C.J. Nitkowski has a pretty good piece about what its like to really sign a minor league free agent contract.

Padres minor leaguer Tommy Medica shirtless in a bad music video for some reason.

Rob Neyer has an amazing tale of Bill Murray's stint as a professional baseball player. He has a higher lifetime average than Bubba Starling!

Dave Zirin of "The Nation" writes that the Jackie Robinson West Little League scandal is about gentrificaiton. Daniel Kay Hertz of Deadspin disagrees. Zirin responds here.

All the American Presidents, assigned to the appropriate college football program. Its worth it just for the first comment.

Bill Simmons reviews the SNL 40th Anniversary show in all its bloated glory.

The Eagles nearly acquired suspended receiver Josh Gordon from the Browns for quarterback Nick Foles.

Conan is heading to Cuba.

Will the new Apple car be self-driving? Or is it worm-powered?

A creepy robot hotel, because...Japan.

Your song of the day is Zero 7 with "In the Waiting Line."