Royals Rumblings

Royals Rumblings - News for March 3, 2017

In like a lion.

By Max Rieper@maxrieper Mar 3, 2017, 8:00am EST

Royals Rumblings - News for March 3, 2017

Nathan Karns is making a strong impression with his spring performance.

Armed with a fastball in the low to mid 90s and a strong curveball, Karns can resemble his new teammate Ian Kennedy in mechanics and style. And after a chaotic beginning to his career, Karns would also welcome’s Kennedy’s results and longevity.

For the moment, the process includes working on a change-up with pitching coach Dave Eiland. It’s a pitch, Karns said, that he has attempted to master before. The main tinkering has come in the last couple of years.

“I think this camp I’ve really just doubled down on it (and) committed to it,” Karns said. “I have a pretty good feel for it right now, and I think that’s something that Dave and I are really going to push at this camp.”

Peter O’Brien is making a case to make the roster.

"Our mindset is to put the best team together on the field, but still protect ourselves in the Minors," Yost said. "You get a guy who has an option and the other guy is about even, the guy with the option is probably going to go down. That all plays into it.

"But this kid still has tremendous power and is very smart. But he still has options where you can continue his development to get at-bats."

Dale Sveum gives his assessment of Jorge Soler.

"Very raw," Sveum said. "But obviously you saw tremendous strength and bat speed and tools and all that. You still see it. The thing we have to remember is this young man still has only got 1,300 professional at-bats, where half of that development has been in the big leagues.

"(With) minor-leaguers, we don’t really even try evaluating until a couple thousand professional at-bats. Otherwise, I think you’re pissing against the wind."

Craig Brown at Baseball Prospectus Kansas City is ready to move on from Eric Hosmer after this year.

Hosmer’s TAv over the last three years is exactly the same as his career mark. Offensively, he’s not making an obvious improvement. His WARP is steady as well. It’s not like you can point to the Hosmer we saw in 2016 and definitively make the statement he’s improved since his rookie campaign. He shown flashes, but he hasn’t improved. He certainly hasn’t taken a seat at the table with the prime players at his position. Also of note is the fact Hosmer’s WARP and TAv over the last three seasons are again below average for a first basemen. This time, there are 25 regular first basemen who totaled more than 1,200 plate appearances since 2014. Hosmer’s WARP ranks him 13th.

Hosmer is clearly not a franchise player. His track record among fellow first basemen says he’s treading water in a sea of mediocrity.

Hosmer is not a big believer in spring training stats.

"We're always paying attention to something we're doing," Hosmer said. "You're always working on something. Yeah, Spring Training numbers don't count, but you work on things. You work on situations.

"It's just really about getting the eyes trained, and seeing pitches."

Jonathan Sanchez is still trying to make this club.

“I’ll never give up,” Sanchez says. “You just want to keep playing until God says you’re done.”

Salvador Perez and Danny Duffy make Dan Szymborski’s list of best contracts in baseball.

Today's Fun Fact: Kyle Zimmer asked for and received the rib bone removed from him during TOC surgery. Might make a necklace out of it.
— Jeffrey Flanagan (@FlannyMLB) March 2, 2017