Mailbag: Will Royals honor Sweeney?
02/27/2006
Without a doubt. Among other things, Sweeney has led the club in hitting five times, been a five-time All-Star and ranks third in team history with 182 home runs and a .304 batting average. He's second in slugging percentage (.500). He's had a 25-game hitting streak and tied an American League record with RBIs in 13 straight games. Sweeney has spent his entire career in the Royals organization and is the team captain. And he's not finished yet.
Where do you see Alex Gordon starting the season? Is there a chance for him to go to Omaha, which would ignite Royals fever in Nebraska? -- Jeff Z., Omaha, Neb.
He'll probably start the season at Double-A Wichita. If he does well, he could advance to Triple-A Omaha, but don't count on it. The Royals, in recent years, have had a tendency to bring up their hot prospects directly from Wichita while skipping Triple-A. Because of his Nebraska ties, of course, an Omaha move would make sense.
Billy Butler has crushed pitching at every step in the Minors. Will we see him in The Show this year? -- Levi P., Neosho, Mo.
If he does well at Double-A, he might get a callup in September. Before that? Not likely. He needs to learn to play defense somewhere.
Why do the Royals keep drafting positions they already have solidified at the Major League level? -- Andrew E., St. Joseph, Mo.
If a guy can hit, like Gordon or Butler, they'll find a position for him. Both were drafted as third basemen, where Mark Teahen fit in quite well last season, but Gordon has already tried first base and Butler the outfield. Gordon might also wind up in the outfield.
Why do managers wear uniforms while coaches in other sports do not? -- Shannan M., Lee's Summit, Mo.
That dates back to the game's early years, when almost every manager also was in the lineup for every game. It just continued to be a custom. Connie Mack of the Philadelphia A's and Burt Shotton of the Brooklyn Dodgers were two exceptions.
Will Colt Griffin ever develop into the pitcher the Royals expected or will he be a bust? -- Phil G., Springfield, Mo.
Griffin, the first-round pick of 2001, never has prospered. Last year, he had 37 relief outings for Wichita with more walks (43) than strikeouts (36). His days in the organization are probably numbered.
Who will be the Opening Day first baseman -- Sweeney, Matt Stairs or Doug Mientkiewicz? -- Shawn S., Ames, Iowa.
Mientkiewicz, because of his defense.
Has anyone hit that truck out in left field? What Royal do you think has the best shot at hitting it? -- Michael L., Lee's Summit, Mo.
That's a 475-foot shot which only one batter, Bo Jackson, has accomplished at Kauffman Stadium. No one has hit the truck during a game, although Emil Brown got it during batting practice. I'd say Sweeney, though, might have the best shot.
Although there is work to be done, I was impressed with hard-throwing Leo Nunez last year. Where does he fit this year? -- Jordan H., Dodge City, Kan.
Nunez, 22, picked up some weight over the winter and no longer looks like a batboy. He was in 41 games but his 7.55 ERA indicates he needs some polishing at Wichita or Omaha.
Last season I heard of a knuckleball pitcher the Royals had in their farm system. Who was he? -- Lynn L., Lindsborg, Kan.
You're probably thinking of Ryan Jensen, who was 2-11 for Omaha. The Royals didn't have any plans for him so he became a free agent and signed a Minor League deal with the Baltimore Orioles. He's not a true knuckleballer, though, just using it on occasion.
Why do we keep debating the powder blue uniforms when we are the Royals, not the Powder Blues? -- Amy D., Wayne, Neb.
Thank you, Amy.
Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/
Without a doubt. Among other things, Sweeney has led the club in hitting five times, been a five-time All-Star and ranks third in team history with 182 home runs and a .304 batting average. He's second in slugging percentage (.500). He's had a 25-game hitting streak and tied an American League record with RBIs in 13 straight games. Sweeney has spent his entire career in the Royals organization and is the team captain. And he's not finished yet.
Where do you see Alex Gordon starting the season? Is there a chance for him to go to Omaha, which would ignite Royals fever in Nebraska? -- Jeff Z., Omaha, Neb.
He'll probably start the season at Double-A Wichita. If he does well, he could advance to Triple-A Omaha, but don't count on it. The Royals, in recent years, have had a tendency to bring up their hot prospects directly from Wichita while skipping Triple-A. Because of his Nebraska ties, of course, an Omaha move would make sense.
Billy Butler has crushed pitching at every step in the Minors. Will we see him in The Show this year? -- Levi P., Neosho, Mo.
If he does well at Double-A, he might get a callup in September. Before that? Not likely. He needs to learn to play defense somewhere.
Why do the Royals keep drafting positions they already have solidified at the Major League level? -- Andrew E., St. Joseph, Mo.
If a guy can hit, like Gordon or Butler, they'll find a position for him. Both were drafted as third basemen, where Mark Teahen fit in quite well last season, but Gordon has already tried first base and Butler the outfield. Gordon might also wind up in the outfield.
Why do managers wear uniforms while coaches in other sports do not? -- Shannan M., Lee's Summit, Mo.
That dates back to the game's early years, when almost every manager also was in the lineup for every game. It just continued to be a custom. Connie Mack of the Philadelphia A's and Burt Shotton of the Brooklyn Dodgers were two exceptions.
Will Colt Griffin ever develop into the pitcher the Royals expected or will he be a bust? -- Phil G., Springfield, Mo.
Griffin, the first-round pick of 2001, never has prospered. Last year, he had 37 relief outings for Wichita with more walks (43) than strikeouts (36). His days in the organization are probably numbered.
Who will be the Opening Day first baseman -- Sweeney, Matt Stairs or Doug Mientkiewicz? -- Shawn S., Ames, Iowa.
Mientkiewicz, because of his defense.
Has anyone hit that truck out in left field? What Royal do you think has the best shot at hitting it? -- Michael L., Lee's Summit, Mo.
That's a 475-foot shot which only one batter, Bo Jackson, has accomplished at Kauffman Stadium. No one has hit the truck during a game, although Emil Brown got it during batting practice. I'd say Sweeney, though, might have the best shot.
Although there is work to be done, I was impressed with hard-throwing Leo Nunez last year. Where does he fit this year? -- Jordan H., Dodge City, Kan.
Nunez, 22, picked up some weight over the winter and no longer looks like a batboy. He was in 41 games but his 7.55 ERA indicates he needs some polishing at Wichita or Omaha.
Last season I heard of a knuckleball pitcher the Royals had in their farm system. Who was he? -- Lynn L., Lindsborg, Kan.
You're probably thinking of Ryan Jensen, who was 2-11 for Omaha. The Royals didn't have any plans for him so he became a free agent and signed a Minor League deal with the Baltimore Orioles. He's not a true knuckleballer, though, just using it on occasion.
Why do we keep debating the powder blue uniforms when we are the Royals, not the Powder Blues? -- Amy D., Wayne, Neb.
Thank you, Amy.
Source: http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/
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