Redoing the Royals Prospect List Starting with the 1-5

1. Mike Montgomery Prev #1 - No need to change this one around the kid seems like the real deal so far in 2010.

2. Mike Moustakas Prev #3 - It's still early but Moustakas is showing major power and improved patience at the plate.

3. Aaron Crow Prev #2 - Still adjusting to AA ball but some bumps were expected considering he hasn't played ball in quite some time.

4. Eric Hosmer Prev #7 - The Hos is showing that last year could be blamed by the eyesight and injuries after all. .400+ thru 32 games is ridiculous especially in the Carolina league.

5. Wil Myers Prev #5 - Myers has a sweet swing and plenty of patience at the plate.

NW Arkansas is showing that they are the class of AA so far this season which shouldn't be a shock to us as this group of kids has continued to win since the 2nd half of 2008. Moustakas, Giavotella, Clint Robinson and others have continued to win at each level, hopefully they'll take that winning attitude to the major league level.

Alex Gordon to the Outfield?

When GMDM first made this move the other day I was quite angry. I felt it was just another move one of many the last three seasons that has stunted what looked like the development of Gordon in '08. After reviewing GMDMs quotes and the subsequent side moves that seem to be taking place though I find myself more on board with it, here's why:

#1 Mike Aviles got called up. Yuni was starting to become Yunified going 1 for his last 21 and while the Royals have talked a good game I don't think they were fully on board with his offseason training. Mariners fans and front office have said how lazy he was in the past and while the Royals were gung-ho about him if his laziness was an issue then that could quickly have soured the Royals on him. Scouts and GMDM might have liked Yuniesky but Trey has got to watch Aviles and Yuni play everyday for the last two seasons and one would think that Trey with his job on the line would lean more towards Aviles after his '08 production.

Aviles good start 3-5 with a HR Tuesday.

#2 Alberto out of the middle of the field. Alberto's defense has been horid the last couple years and I don't think it has to do with his hands as much as his feet. The guy has great hand eye coordination but he just isn't quick enough to play in the middle of the diamond. Maybe he is Ryan Braun light and just can't hack it with the glove but I think the move to third initially plays to his strengths as a ball player.

#3 Ankiel won't be here long. I think this definitely signals that Ankiel won't be with this organization long. While Gordon won't play centerfield I don't think they make this move if they thought that Ankiel and Podsednik could both possibly be with this team for long. While I'm not sure they have given up on Podsednik due to his production I do believe Trey and GMDM have already grown tired of Ankiel's Jacobslike performance. Still I wouldn't be shocked if we saw a outfield of Gordon-Pods-DDJ instead of the preferred Gordon-Maier-DDJ.

I don't know if GMDM is really being honest to why he is doing this after years of watching his disasterous moves no one could really no but until proven wrong I'll go along with it.

UP NEXT: Alex in Omaha, I'll take video Thursday and post.

Welcome back Moose and the Players of the Week !

Players of the Week (Apr 18-24)

Omaha Royals 3-4 (7-10 4 GB)

Buck Coats - The AAAA type outfielder had a decent week hitting .353 with a couple doubles.

Bruce Chen - Chen had a solid outing before getting bumped up to the KC bullpen starting on the 20th and going 8 innings striking out eight and giving up 5 hits and 1 walk while not allowing a run.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals 4-2 (9-6 2 GB)

Edgar Osuna - Osuna the Rule 5 from the Braves pitched a solid game Thursday going 7 Innings giving up only 5 hits while walking 1 and striking out 6. Osuna(2-1) has yet to give up an earned run in his 17 Innings of work.

Johnny Giavotella - Great week by Little Italy getting a hit in all six games and earning multiple hits in five of the six games. Gio is definitely going to have to continue knocking the ball around as his defense might be worse than Callaspo's. Week stats .480/.536/.560

Wilmington Blue Rocks 4-3 (8-8 2 GB)

Buddy Baumann - Lefty from Missouri State continued his hot hand this week pitching 5.1 Innings while striking out 10 and letting five reach(2 walks 3hits). If he continues pitching like this he should move up to Arkansas by mid season. Nice Stat 16.03 K/9

Eric Hosmer - Yowza the Hos just keeps on hitting and hitting going 11 for 24 this week (.458) and adding some pop to it which he hadn't been doing previously with his first Home Run and a couple doubles. .458/.552/.667 I am a proponent of letting Hos play in Wilmington for nearly all of the season but if he continues this hitting for another month he might force their hand to move him to Arkansas.

Burlington Bees

John Lamb - Lamb gave up 1 earned run over 9.1 innings while striking out 12 over that same period of time. Seven hits and four walks during his last two outings for the Bees.

Wil Myers - No Bee offensive player had the type of breakout weeks that some of the others did but it does seem that Myers is making some good adjustments to full season ball. Week stats .304/.360/.522

April in Burlington

Moustakas '08 84 abs .190/.253/.226 1 HR 7-11 BB-K

Hosmer '09 63 abs .222/.342/.286 4-2b 0 Hr 12-21 BB-K

Myers '10 62 abs .242/.304/.403 2-2b 1-3b 2 HR 5-16 BB-K

It has been nice to see the higher rated prospects in the system get off to very good starts. Montgomery and Hosmer have had excellent starts while Mike Moustakas has jumped out with a terrific first three games in Arkansas. Hopefully these guys all keep it up while a few others emerge, giving us something to watch instead of Kansas City.

Players that could be on the move

Positives

Michael Montgomery - Not much needs to be said about this one Monty has dominated in his first three High A starts in 2010 after fairing very well there in '09.

Stats thru 12 High A starts 70 IP 44 H 16 BB 13 ER 73 K's

Buddy Baumann- Baumann was Missouri Valley pitcher of the year in 2009 and as a college pitcher might be too advanced for the hitters at High A where he is making them look silly at the moment. Baumann could be a candidate to move to AA once Mendoza or any other KC BP flunky is DFA'd and rosters start to shuffle. Probably too early to move him up now but if he continues his pace he will need a better challenge.

Stats 2010 8.1 IP 6 H 1 ER 15 K 2 BB that's 16.2 K/9

Frederico Casteneda - Casteneda is dominating AA currently in his second trip in the league. Last season he bounced his K/9 up to 9.17 when he was moved to the pen and it seems he is carrying that over to 2010. There isn't much room left in the Omaha bullpen but Casteneda like Baumann a level below could move once the hacks are released, traded or thrown into space.

Stats in 2010 9.2 IP 4 H 11 K 1 BB 0 ER

Kila Ka'aihue - It will never happen but Kila deserves to move on to KC more than any player I can ever remember. Aviles in '08 was hackin like crazy but had really never done it prior while Kila now has proved to be an on base machine the last three seasons while hitting HRs in '08 and he appears to be in that kind of mood this season. If he continues this pace and isn't called up by June the fanbase may start to revolt.

Stats in '08 .314/.458/.629 37 HR 106 BB

Stats in '09 .252/.392/.433 17 HR 102 BB

Stats in '10 .325/.491/.700 4 HR 13 BB 11 Games

Negatives

Sam Runion - It might be time for the 2nd round '08 pick to hang'em up. I would never tell someone to quit but it just isn't working out for Runion. He lacks control and a solid pitch that can he can count on to get anyone out. It's only getting worse for Sam and despite a fanbase that roots him on he just can't seem to get it done.

Appearances in 2010

Apr 10 1 IP 1 H 3 BB 1 K 2 R 1 ER

Apr 13 1 BF 1 BB - Walked in the game winning run the only batter he faced.

Apr 14 1 IP 3 H 1 K 2 ER

Apr 18 2 IP 6 H 1 BB 1k 6 R 4 ER

News

Castaneda and Montgomery both won their league honors for Pitcher of the Week

Streaks

Eric Hosmer has an 11 Game hitting streak stats .447/.533/.658 7-4 BB/So 1 HR 2-3b 1-2b

Derrick Robinson's 8 Game hitting streak .382/.432/.588 3-7 BB/So 3-3b 1-2b 5 SB

Minor League Players of the Week and Blowing up the Bullpen

I get the feeling anyday now that GMDM is going to blowup the KC bullpen. First off Roman Colon was DFA'd for Josh Rupe, rumors of the Royals interested in trading Juan Cruz and the lack of performance compared to the qualified candidates in Omaha should lead to some more movement very soon. Look for Mendoza to be the next to be moved with a Juan Cruz trade and possibly a Dusty Hughes swap with a Omaha Royal arm.

Minor League Performers of the Week (Apr 11-17)

Omaha Royals 3-4

Kila Ka'aihue 6-20 .300 2 Hr 2-2b 5 BB .444 obp .800 slg - Kila continues to prove why he should be on KCs roster as opposed to Omaha's.

Bryan Bullington 10 IP 9 Ks 0 Bb 6 H 2 r 1 ER - I believe Bullington will earn a spot in the KC bullpen as soon as there is room.

Disco Hayes was activated from the taxi squad

Northwest Arkansas Naturals 3-3

Derrick Robinson 11-24 .458 2-3b 1-2b 2 bb 5 SB 1 CS - Robinson is showing his adjustment in his lefthanded stance is working out getting all but one hit from the left side. He currently has a 14% line drive rate which would be a career high.

Louis Coleman 4.2 IP 2 H 1 ER 2 K 1 BB - No Natural pitcher jumped off the stat sheet so I took someone that I hope can challenge for a bullpen role by years end.
Mike Moustakas could be activated sometime this week.

Wilmington Blue Rocks 4-2

Eric Hosmer 9-21 .429 4 bb 4 Rbi - The Hos isn't hitting for a ton of power but at least he is hitting. The power will come as long as he consistently makes contact and all signs show he is going to do that all season long.

Mike Montgomery 1-0 7 IP 2 H 1 ER 13 K 0 BB- Montgomery put on an absolute clinic against the Kinston Indians taking a perfect game into the 7th while setting a career high in strikeouts. Montgomery will probably be in Arkansas by May sometime if he continues pitching the way he has his first two starts.

Burlington Bees 2-5

Gerard Hall 7-24 5-2b 6 BB 3 SB - Hall has been consistent reaching base in all but one Burlington game while showing decent gap to gap pop and plenty of speed.

John Lamb - 4.2 IP 6 K 2 BB 1 H 0 R - Nice bounceback by the #1 prospect on the Bees roster

Sunday Scheduled Pitchers

Omaha Royals - Gaby Hernandez

NW Arkansas Naturals - Everett Teaford

Wilmington Blue Rocks - Unknown

Burlington Bees - John Lamb

Next Video April 24 Omaha Royals

Important day for Royal minor leaguers

It's just one start but Tim Melville's start on Wednesday against the Kinston Indians had to help his psyche quite a bit. He bounced back with 5 Innings of one hit ball while striking out 8 against the punchless Indians. As good as Montgomery was the night before that start by Melville might have been a more important start for the Royals minor league system. With the hiatus of Duffy and unknown arm injury to Noel Arguelles the KC "Deep" minor league pitching staff wasn't looking so hot after Melville's 2/3 IP 5 R performance in his first start. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come.

Kelvin Herrera gave up a HR in the first inning of his start on Wednesday. Normally this wouldn't be a big deal but considering Herrera had pitched the last 2 seasons and first 4 innings of this season without give up one it's kind of a big deal. That's 130 Innings in between Home Runs! Herrera got the win for the Bees going 5 Innings giving up 6 hits, walking 2 while striking out 6 and giving up just the two runs on the Home run in the first inning. The win broke a four game losing streak for the Bees and also included Wil Myers first HR in full season ball.

First(s)

Wil Myers hit his 1st HR for the Bees Wed Apr 14

Hilton Richardson hit his 1st HR for the Bees Thur Apr 15

Buddy Baumann 1st Minor league Sv Wed Apr 14

Thru Apr 15 Royals Minor League HR Leaders
Kila Ka'aihue (3) Omaha Royals
Joey Lewis (2) Burlington Bees
Wilson Betemit (2) Omaha Royals

Thru Apr 15 Royals Minor League K Leaders
Michael Montgomery 19 Ks Wilmington Blue Rocks 12 IP
Kelvin Herrera 12 Ks Burlington Bees 9 IP
Bruce Chen 12 Ks Omaha Royals 12.2 IP

JJ Cooper tweets beautiful things about Mike Montgomery

1st Inning -Royals Montgomery 13 pitch first touched 95 mph struck out all 3

2nd Inning - 10 pitch 2nd for Montgomery one more k with a nasty change 6 up 6 down

3rd Inning - 10 pitch perfect third for Montgomery 2 more k's putting on a pitching clinic

4th Inning - 4 IP 12 batters for Montgomery one ball squared up by kinston

5th Inning - Royals Montgomery fans side in fifth 15 pitches touched 95 2 times in inning but got k's on off-speed

7th Inning - Montgomery loses perfect game in seventh on infield hit. Royals Montgomery gives up 2 hits including RBI 2b but fans 2 more (now 11) for game 86 pitches after 7 ip

Final Totals for Montgomery 86 pitches 23 batters faced 7 IP 13 strikeouts 0 Walks 5 groundouts 2 flyouts. Impressive doesn't quite say it.

Also said this about Hosmer when I asked how he looked : good swings against a lefty lined a 1b has done good job recognizing bb