Kansas City Baseball Vault

Last week was very bad, but this week was...not *as* bad! 

The Royals suffered some ugly, ugly blowouts, and it seems like Jake Junis and Scott Alexander are the only pitchers doing well who are healthy right now. That's not ideal.

And yet, the Royals are still hanging around in the wild card race. They need a blistering hot final 24 games of the year to do it, but it's not impossible. 

Also, Mike Moustakas tied Balboni. We're still waiting for #37...

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

That was...not a good week. The Royals got crushed by Cleveland and also went through an epic (and almost historic) scoring drought.

And then Danny Duffy got into trouble.

So, we try to pick up the pieces this week. We discuss Duffy's DUI and how we're processing it. We discuss the futility of the offense, and the sudden power outage from Mike Moustakas.

We also threw in a bit of silliness about uniforms at the end.

Hopefully, next week will be better...

Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes and BlogTalkRadio. You can also download this episode here (mp3).

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

The Royals didn't take advantage of a matchup with Cleveland but they haven't really lost ground on the teams in the wild card race.

Despite injuries, their September schedule will give them a shot at the playoffs, but they're going to have to take charge themselves, rather than expect the league to help them out. It gets tougher when the Royals bullpen is running on fumes, and with injuries to Neftali Feliz, Joakim Soria, and Kelvin Herrera, their depth will be tested.

And in a short week, Mike Moustakas didn't even break the home run record yet. Next week, perhaps, would be nice.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

The Royals haven't played very well in August, but they're hanging on. Despite their struggles, they're still in view of a path to the playoffs and the next two weeks will shape their destiny. With half their games against Cleveland and a series against Wild Card contender Tampa Bay, the Royals will have a shot to take control. If they slip up, they're odds get more and more slim.

On top of that, we updated the Mike Moustakas home run chase. With the team record all but broken, we reflected on the symbolism and meaning of watching a long-standing record fall. We've been tracking this chase all season, so hopefully by our next episode, Kansas City will have a new home run king.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

The Royals have been on the Royalcoaster in the second half and while they're still in the playoff hunt, there's a lot going on to toy with all of our emotions.

We got caught up and discussed the two trades the Royals made to bulk up their roster, as well as the other roster moves, including Alex Gordon's break, Sal Perez's DL trip, and how the new acquisitions fit in.

The Royals have opportunities during the remainder of August but especially in September as the schedule gets easier. Can they get right and take advantage, or will Mike Moustakas chasing Steve Balboni be the only intrigue left in 2017?

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

The Royals have opened the second half in a pretty poor way, but they're still a good week from jumping ahead of Cleveland. Still, with the way things go, should they sell? Should they buy?

We look at the recent trade deadline deals to try to decipher what the Royals might expect if they were making players available...or if they go shopping themselves.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

In this week's episode, we went back and reviewed our over/under predictions that we made last March to see what we've gotten right and wrong so far this season. 

We also discussed some recent pitching news, reviewed some All-Star Game info, and talked about what needs the Royals may have for the second half and how the schedule lays out for another playoff push.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

This week, we marveled at the homerun hitting power of Mike Moustakas and the All-Star invitations given to Sal Perez and Jason Vargas. 

Then there's that little matter of the Royals jumping into a wild card spot and being within a game and a half of first place.

Oh, also Danny Duffy returned a couple weeks ahead of schedule. 

So there was a lot to discuss. Are you all in yet? Hop on board. Where we're going we don't need...roads. 

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

The Royals were busy this week, going above .500, going back under .500, and shifting guys around.

We discussed Danny Duffy's rehab start and his timeline to return. We discussed Nate Karns going to the 60 day disabled list. We discussed Jorge Soler coming up while Cheslor Cuthbert went on the DL and we discussed the departure of Chris Young and the arrival of Neftali Feliz (who you may remember, Jeff and Mike both had on their relief pitcher free agent wish lists).

Phew. That's a lot of news.

Along the way we got an update in Mike Moustakas's quest to slay the Balboni Homer Demon, a comparison of Jorge Bonifacio and Jorge Soler, plus a look at the schedule up to the All Star break.

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.

Hours after Salvador Perez hit a game-winning grand slam against Boston, Jeff and Mike talked about the Royals' improved play since the start of May and if it's too crazy to buy into a potential playoff run.

We discussed home run paces, the next couple months of schedules, and how weird and fun it is to get excited about a team that's a game below .500. 

Follow the Vault at @KCBaseballVault. Follow host Jeff Herr at @TheJeffReport, co-host Michael Engel at @michaelengel. You can also email feedback to [email protected]. Email us a question and if we answer it on the air, we’ll send you a gift certificate to our friends at Kelly’s Westport Inn.