Kansas City Royals Baseball Blog » Leo Nunez http://www.royalshomeplate.com A blog about Kansas City Royals Baseball Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:46:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 2009 Organizational Report: First Basemen http://www.royalshomeplate.com/2009-organizational-report-first-basemen/ http://www.royalshomeplate.com/2009-organizational-report-first-basemen/#comments Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:00:05 +0000 Landon http://www.royalshomeplate.com/?p=89 So I said that I would do this every few days, but I am bored and just itching to keep moving through the reports so today I am going to discuss First Basemen.

Fighting for a Big League Spot:

Let’s start with Mike Jacobs, because out of all the first basemen in camp I would say it is pretty clear that he is the most assured of a roster spot going into the season. Jacobs was acquired this offseason in a trade that was originally intended to send pitcher Carlos Rosa to Florida, however, after Florida backed away from Rosa due to injury concerns, the Royals shipped set up man Leo Nunez out to Miami for the left handed slugging first basemen Jacobs. This move has been heavily scrutinized in the media, considered Jacobs lack of on base percentage. While Jacobs OBP scares me, I am going to say that anytime you can acquire a 30+ home run guy for a right handed set up man, then it is a deal that you should pull the trigger on. Especially if you are a GM that seems to have a knack for putting together strong bullpens, which Dayton Moore appears to be.

 Next there is 22-year-old Billy Butler. Butler has yet to live up to the hype that has surrounded him as he arose through the Royals’ minor league system, but at the same time he is still only 22. Going into the season it seems that Royal fans have all but given up hope for Butler to figure out how to use a glove, however, sources have said that Butler thus far has played a more consistent first base than Mike Jacobs. Combine that with the fact that Butler has previously said that he feels more comfortable at the plate when he is playing the field, and that Jacobs has no problem with being a full time DH, then one could come to the conclusion that Butler will go into the year as the everyday first baseman and Jacobs as the everyday DH. I think this would be the ideal situation for the Royals as long as Butler could play average, or close to average defense. I also, expect Butler to have a very strong showing this year and flirt with a line of .295/.345/.450. Butler is one of the wild cards for the Royals this season (along with Gordon and Greinke) and if he breaks out could mean the difference between wins in the upper 70s, or getting up into the 80s and being in a playoff hunt.

Ross Gload is a gritty, hard-nosed player that does all the little things that a team needs to do to win a baseball game, or would say the Royals coaching staff. When I see Gload I see a consistent player and can provide above average defense at first base, but has one of the worst bats in the league when it comes to first basemen. (Actually there is statistical evidence to show that last season Gload was the worst among everyday first basemen.) Gload will most likely make the team again this season and provide a late inning defensive replacement, and occasional corner outfielder. This is fine by me, although I would much rather have this role, solely belong to Teahen. But Teahen can’t provide the Defense at first that Gload can, and I seriously doubt the coaching staff would even consider going into the season without the assurance of a strong glove at first.

Mark Teahen is also a possibility at first, but currently the Royals are giving him a shot at second base. But if Butler or Jacobs were to be injured and the Teahen at second experiment fails, I could see Teahen sliding to first to take up the full time job.

Ryan Shealy came to Kansas City a couple of years ago, in a trade with Colorado that sent Denny Bautista and Jeremy Affeldt to the Rocky Mountains. Shealy came with loads of promise and in some ways continues to have the same promise. For example last September when Shealy hit 7 home runs in just 73 at bats. However, Shealy has been injury prone and is out of options. The word on the street also is that GMDM is actively trying to find a trade partner to give Shealy an opportunity elsewhere. If no partner can be found, Shealy will most likely be claimed off waivers before the season starts.

Kila Ka’aihue last season won the Royals Minor League Player of the Year award after posting a line of .314/.456/.628 and being second in the minors in home runs with 37. The brass of Kansas City would like to give Ka’aihue more time in Omaha before making him a regular in the Majors. But if Jacobs or Butler go down Ka’aihue should be the first option down on the farm as a replacement.

Pinch Fillers:

With the depth of first basemen that the Royals have that are expected to make the Major League roster, the only real option in AAA will be Ka’aihue. Even if Jacobs or Butler go down with an injury, the Royals may elect to go with either Ross Gload or Mark Teahen at first before they make the call to Omaha for some Hawaiian Punch.

Keep Your Eye On:

Eric Hosmer: Hosmer was selected with the third overall selection in the 2008 draft and signed for a club record bonus of $6 million. Depending on the publication Hosmer is rated either 1st or 2nd among Royals prospects and according to Jim Callis is the 12th best prospect in all of minor league baseball. According to baseball America Hosmer is the best pure and power hitter in the Royals organization. Unlike most power hitters his age, Hosmer already has the ability to hit bombs to the opposite field. Hosmer could start the season the same place that Mike Moustakas did a year ago, Burlington Iowa in the Midwest League, or the Royals could send Hosmer to Wilmington in the Carolina League to catch him up with Moustakas, Giavotella and others.

Clint Robinson: After tearing up the Pioneer League at Idaho Falls for a .336 average and 15 homers in only 253 at bats, Robinson was sent to the Midwest League for the 2008 season. There Robinson hit .266, but continued to show decent pop by hitting 17 home runs with a .472 Slug. Unfortunately Robinson is a little old (24) for his level to be considered a strong prospect, but nonetheless if Robinson can continue to post strong numbers he could be a fun name to watch.

Jason Taylor: The other first basemen for Burlington last season, Taylor was a second round pick in 2006. Taylor is rated as the 17th best prospect in the minors by Baseball America and if not for some suspensions would probably be rated much higher. (Taylor will begin this season by serving a 50 game suspension.) Taylor has a .372 OBP in his minor league career and last season swiped a total of 40 bases while clubbing 17 home runs. Taylor is 21-years-old and hopefully can get back on the right track and be a productive player someday for the big league club.

]]> http://www.royalshomeplate.com/2009-organizational-report-first-basemen/feed/ 0 Royals trade Leo Nunez to the Marlins for Mike Jacobs http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-trade-leo-nunez-to-the-marlins-for-mike-jacobs/ http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-trade-leo-nunez-to-the-marlins-for-mike-jacobs/#comments Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:52:43 +0000 Royals04 http://www.royalshomeplate.com/?p=81 The Kansas City Royals and Florida Marlins have finally reached an agreement that will send Mike Jacobs to the Royals while Leo Nunez will be headed to the Marlins. The Royals wanted a new player at first base and they are hoping that Jacobs will be that solution.

Jacobs hit .299 with 32 home runs for the Marlins in 2008.

I don’t think the Royals gave up much to get Jacobs. Good trade if you ask me!

Royals Transactions

]]> http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-trade-leo-nunez-to-the-marlins-for-mike-jacobs/feed/ 2 Royals fall to the Tigers 7-1 and are swept http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-fall-to-the-tigers-7-1-and-are-swept/ http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-fall-to-the-tigers-7-1-and-are-swept/#comments Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:53:26 +0000 Royals04 http://www.royalshomeplate.com/?p=66 Just as I had predicted, the Kansas City Royals lost on Wednesday afternoon to the Detroit Tigers.  It was a 7-1 loss and the Royals were swept away in the three game series.  I’m sure they are glad that the Tigers are getting out of town after these last three games.

Zack Greinke gave up seven hits and five runs to take the loss for the Royals.  Greinke is now 7-7 on the season.  Horacio Ramirez gave up two more runs in the 7th inning.  Leo Nunez pitched a scoreless 8th inning before Ron Mahay pitched a scoreless 9th inning.

The one run for the Royals came the 7th inning when Jose Guillen singled to center and David DeJesus scored.  That was all the Royals could muster however as the bats were still swinging and not making very good contact.

The Royals will now begin a series on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays.  Uh oh, it looks like it could be another sweep!  Royals Blog

]]> http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-fall-to-the-tigers-7-1-and-are-swept/feed/ 0 Royals swept by the Red Sox after 11-8 loss http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-swept-by-the-red-sox-after-11-8-loss/ http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-swept-by-the-red-sox-after-11-8-loss/#comments Thu, 22 May 2008 20:57:36 +0000 Royals04 http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-swept-by-the-red-sox-after-11-8-loss/ The Kansas City Royals lost to the Boston Red Sox by the score of 11-8 Thursday afternoon as they dropped all three games of their three game series.  The Royals have now lost four games in a row as they head into a weekend series with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Royals pitching staff gave up two grand slams in the game as they were rocked for eleven runs.  Starting pitcher Brian Bannister pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up 12 hits and seven runs including a grand slam to J.D. Drew.  Jimmy Gobble was called into relieve Bannister and quickly gave up two hits including a grand slam to Mike Lowell.  Yasuhiko Yabuta and Leo Nunez were finally able to slow the Red Sox down as they pitched the seventh and eighth innings without allowing a run.

The Royals did pretty good at the plate a they scored eight runs.  Miguel Olivo hit a three run home run in the eighth inning and Jose Guillen also added a solo home run in the seventh inning.  Olivo finished the game with five rbi while Guillen had three rbi.

The Royals now have to go face The Toronto Blue Jays in a weekend series where they will try to break their four game losing streak on Friday night.  Royals Blog

]]> http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-swept-by-the-red-sox-after-11-8-loss/feed/ 0 Royals shutout the Tigers 2-0 for the win http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-shutout-the-tigers-2-0-for-the-win/ http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-shutout-the-tigers-2-0-for-the-win/#comments Thu, 15 May 2008 03:24:24 +0000 Royals04 http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-shutout-the-tigers-2-0-for-the-win/ The Kansas City Royals didn’t have much offense tonight but then again they didn’t really need it as they beat the Detroit Tigers 2-0.  Four different Royals pitchers combined to shutout the bad playing Tigers in the win.

Luke Hochevar pitched six innings and allowed four hits to pick up the win.  Hochevar is now 3-2 on the season and is starting to throw the ball better.  When Hochevar excited the game, Ron Mahay, Leo Nunez, and Joakim Soria all pitched an inning of scoreless baseball.  Soria pitched the ninth inning to record his tenth save of the season.

The two runs that that the Royals did get came in the second inning on a two rbi single by Joey Gathright.  The Royals didn’t have much offense, but it was enough to get by the Tigers tonight.

Royals Homeplate is currently seeking a Royals fan that would like to write game recaps for the games.  Recaps can be done right after the game is over or the next morning.  If you are interested be us the contact us link at the top of the site to email us.  Royals Blog

]]> http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-shutout-the-tigers-2-0-for-the-win/feed/ 0 Royals beat the Tigers 3-2 with a run in the eighth inning http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-beat-the-tigers-3-2-with-a-run-in-the-eighth-inning/ http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-beat-the-tigers-3-2-with-a-run-in-the-eighth-inning/#comments Wed, 14 May 2008 03:19:08 +0000 Royals04 http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-beat-the-tigers-3-2-with-a-run-in-the-eighth-inning/ Mark Teahen hit a ball to shortstop to Edgar Renteria who had an error on the plate that allowed Esteban German to score the game winning run in the eighth inning.  That is how the Royals came back and beat the Tigets on Tuesday night by the score of 3-2.

The Royals got down 2-0 early in the game as Zack Greinke gave up two early runs but then settled down as he pitched six innings.  Greinke ended up taking home the no decision in the game.  Leo Nunez improved to 3-0 on the season as he picked up the win in relief.  Joakim Soria pitched the ninth inning as he picked up his ninth save of the season.

Jose Guillen had the first two rbi in the game for the Royals when he doubled in the third inning to get the Royals on the board.  Those were the only two runs the Royals got until the eighth inning when they scored on the error by Renteria.

Royals Blog

]]> http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-beat-the-tigers-3-2-with-a-run-in-the-eighth-inning/feed/ 0 Royals Get Swept In The Series After A 7-1 Loss Against The A’S http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-get-swept-in-the-series-after-a-7-1-loss-against-the-as/ http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-get-swept-in-the-series-after-a-7-1-loss-against-the-as/#comments Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:11:11 +0000 Royals04 http://www.royalshomeplate.com/royals-get-swept-in-the-series-after-a-7-1-loss-against-the-as/ The Kansas City Royals got swept 3-0 for the series against the Oakland Athletics.  After getting three hits and scoring one run in the third inning, the Royals just could get a rally going all night long.  Falling behind early with the Athletics scoring five runs in the fourth inning, the Royals had a lot of work to do and just weren’t able to make it happen.

Luke Hochevar is now 0-1 for the year after opening his first game this season.  After pitching only 4.2 innings he gave up 9 hits and 6 runs.  Ron Mahay, Ramon Ramirez, and Leo Nunez were brought in to close it out but were unsuccessful in pulling out the win.

Coming off a three game losing sweep against the Athletics, do you think the Royals can pull it together to take on the Indians in Kansas City on Tuesday?

Royals Blog

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