At the 2026 World Baseball Classic, the Royals thrived, potentially boosting their season outlook with stellar play. Can they return to the postseason?
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But I do wanna highlight your 16th best team in baseball, the Kansas City Royals, man.
But I do wanna highlight your 16th best team in baseball, the Kansas City Royals, man.
It just seems like nationally they get slept on a little bit more than they should, and a huge piece of that remedy came a couple of weeks ago.
It just seems like nationally they get slept on a little bit more than they should, and a huge piece of that remedy came a couple of weeks ago.
The World Baseball Classic was a huge two-week stretch for the Kansas City Royals.
The World Baseball Classic was a huge two-week stretch for the Kansas City Royals.
Salvador Perez being the captain of that WBC champion Venezuelan team, Michael Garcia being the MVP of the World Baseball Classic, Bobby Witt Jr. showing out the way he did defensively.
Salvador Perez being the captain of that WBC champion Venezuelan team, Michael Garcia being the MVP of the World Baseball Classic, Bobby Witt Jr. showing out the way he did defensively.
There were so many other pieces, Cag Leone and Vinnie Pasquantino with Team Italy, Seth Lugo spinning his way, to, I think, a win in pool play.
There were so many other pieces, Cag Leone and Vinnie Pasquantino with Team Italy, Seth Lugo spinning his way, to, I think, a win in pool play.
He might’ve struggled a little bit in the knockout round, if I remember correctly.
He might’ve struggled a little bit in the knockout round, if I remember correctly.
But, you know, man, there were so many positive things for Kansas City that came out of the World Baseball Classic, and it seems like they’re just gonna ride that mojo into the regular season.
But, you know, man, there were so many positive things for Kansas City that came out of the World Baseball Classic, and it seems like they’re just gonna ride that mojo into the regular season.
Yeah, I mean, if we look back at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, does anybody remember some top-end performances that just blended straight into the MLB season and it was incredible?
Yeah, I mean, if we look back at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, does anybody remember some top-end performances that just blended straight into the MLB season and it was incredible?
Probably off the top of your head it’s hard to remember, I think for a reason.
Probably off the top of your head it’s hard to remember, I think for a reason.
And another thing that came out of the World Baseball Classic, Salvador Perez and Team Venezuela won, MVP Michael Garcia, another Royal.
And another thing that came out of the World Baseball Classic, Salvador Perez and Team Venezuela won, MVP Michael Garcia, another Royal.
Salvador Perez also came out and said, “I would be fine retiring.”
Salvador Perez also came out and said, “I would be fine retiring.”
I don’t love that going into the season.
I don’t love that going into the season.
Sure.
Sure.
Now, I, I think Salvador Perez is a legend.
Now, I, I think Salvador Perez is a legend.
I’ve loved watching his career.
I’ve loved watching his career.
What type of season do we get from Salvador Perez where you feel like he’s accomplished everything- Sure and now he’s How old is he?
What type of season do we get from Salvador Perez where you feel like he’s accomplished everything- Sure and now he’s How old is he?
36 years old, playing catcher.
36 years old, playing catcher.
Don’t love that.
Don’t love that.
Now, at the top of the lineup, I love Vinnie, I love Bobby Witt.
Now, at the top of the lineup, I love Vinnie, I love Bobby Witt.
Obviously I think he’s the third-best player.
Obviously I think he’s the third-best player.
Overall in baseball goes Ohtani, Judge, Bobby Witt.
Overall in baseball goes Ohtani, Judge, Bobby Witt.
There you go.
There you go.
There’s a spoiler for tomorrow’s top 100 player.
There’s a spoiler for tomorrow’s top 100 player.
Re- real quick, hitter-wise, hitter-wise, Soto’s a better hitter than Bobby Witt Jr., but player-wise, Bobby Witt’s a better player than Soto.
Re- real quick, hitter-wise, hitter-wise, Soto’s a better hitter than Bobby Witt Jr., but player-wise, Bobby Witt’s a better player than Soto.
Correct.
Correct.
Correct.
Correct.
Okay.
Okay.
Yes.
Yes.
I would probably rank Juan Soto fourth, and I did.
I would probably rank Juan Soto fourth, and I did.
then the rest, it’s like, Kags could break out, Carter Jensen could break out.
then the rest, it’s like, Kags could break out, Carter Jensen could break out.
Again, these two guys where I gotta see it.
Again, these two guys where I gotta see it.
You know, Jonathan India, we talk in our Discord all the time, I don’t even think Royals fans are that high on him.
You know, Jonathan India, we talk in our Discord all the time, I don’t even think Royals fans are that high on him.
Isaac Collins, we’ll see, broke out as like a 27, 28-year-old, and it was kind of a relative breakout.
Isaac Collins, we’ll see, broke out as like a 27, 28-year-old, and it was kind of a relative breakout.
He’s just more kind of a, a well-rounded player.
He’s just more kind of a, a well-rounded player.
Let’s see if he can replicate that.
Let’s see if he can replicate that.
And then Kyle Isbell is pretty much just in there for their def- his defense.
And then Kyle Isbell is pretty much just in there for their def- his defense.
I think it’s easy to forget that this Royals offense finished 20th in OPS, and an argument could be, well, they’re moving the fences in.
I think it’s easy to forget that this Royals offense finished 20th in OPS, and an argument could be, well, they’re moving the fences in.
Well, if that helps the offense, great, it probably will.
Well, if that helps the offense, great, it probably will.
But will that hurt the pitching staff?
But will that hurt the pitching staff?
Because Cole Ragans, I love.
Because Cole Ragans, I love.
I think he’s one of the most talented pitchers in baseball.
I think he’s one of the most talented pitchers in baseball.
I think he’s gonna shove this year, but projections for him are kinda all over the place because he is returning from some major arm injuries.
I think he’s gonna shove this year, but projections for him are kinda all over the place because he is returning from some major arm injuries.
Michael Waka is as solid as they come.
Michael Waka is as solid as they come.
Seth Lugo, I said it when he signed the extension, I was like, “I’m not a big fan.
Seth Lugo, I said it when he signed the extension, I was like, “I’m not a big fan.
I think this stuff is regressing,” and he showed that.
I think this stuff is regressing,” and he showed that.
Bubic- You’re a hater.
Bubic- You’re a hater.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Keep going.
Keep going.
I mean, it’s, it’s been true.
I mean, it’s, it’s been true.
It’s been true throughout.
It’s been true throughout.
No, I Listen, as someone that has been historically a Chad Innings Eater respecter, you don’t love spin machine Lugo, and that’s a little weird and contradictory.
No, I Listen, as someone that has been historically a Chad Innings Eater respecter, you don’t love spin machine Lugo, and that’s a little weird and contradictory.
I loved Seth Lugo when he was putting up an ERA in the mid threes, but then I’m like, all right, as he ages I’m not gonna like it, and that’s exactly what has happened.
I loved Seth Lugo when he was putting up an ERA in the mid threes, but then I’m like, all right, as he ages I’m not gonna like it, and that’s exactly what has happened.
And then Bubic, tons of talent, has to stay on the field.
And then Bubic, tons of talent, has to stay on the field.
Sure.
Sure.
And I think- Yeah when people picture Bubic they’re like, “Oh, the 2.8 ERA that he was putting together in 70 innings.
And I think- Yeah when people picture Bubic they’re like, “Oh, the 2.8 ERA that he was putting together in 70 innings.
That’s just going to be extrapolated over 170, and then he’s automatically gonna be an ace.”
That’s just going to be extrapolated over 170, and then he’s automatically gonna be an ace.”
Like, I need to see that.
Like, I need to see that.
I need to see that- Sure to believe it.
I need to see that- Sure to believe it.
And then Cameron, again, all the underlying metrics say he should pitch to around a 4 ERA, and he’s a fastball changeup guy.
And then Cameron, again, all the underlying metrics say he should pitch to around a 4 ERA, and he’s a fastball changeup guy.
I think he’s talented.
I think he’s talented.
Does he pitch to a 3.9 ERA and be a pretty solid pitcher?
Does he pitch to a 3.9 ERA and be a pretty solid pitcher?
I think so.
I think so.
They don’t have a ton of depth.
They don’t have a ton of depth.
I really like their bullpen though.
I really like their bullpen though.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think their bullpen is actually what’s getting slept on.
I think their bullpen is actually what’s getting slept on.
Like, everyone wants to talk about the offense, people wanna talk about the rotation.
Like, everyone wants to talk about the offense, people wanna talk about the rotation.
I think the bullpen’s what’s being slept on.
I think the bullpen’s what’s being slept on.
Estevez, it’s funny, I think he’s like the third-best reliever in here- Sure but he’s their closer.
Estevez, it’s funny, I think he’s like the third-best reliever in here- Sure but he’s their closer.
Love Urshela, love Matt Strom.
Love Urshela, love Matt Strom.
I think Schreiber is really solid too.
I think Schreiber is really solid too.
So it’s a good team, it’s just I have a lot of questions.
So it’s a good team, it’s just I have a lot of questions.