MLB Blogcast AMA: Royals’ Joys Are a Royal Pain for Opponents

It is April 30, 2015, and we are closing in on our first month of the MLB season. We are in the middle of Week 4 and, like any other baseball week, there are several highlights to discuss.

A lot has happened since our inaugural MLB Blogcast. However, in this interview, Sports Genius has chosen to deliberately stay consistent with a webbing of storylines that have only made their presence stick out like a man who made the benches clear for a third straight start. That’s right, we’re talking about:

The Kansas City RoyalsIn an offseason comprised of several blockbuster free agent signings, the majority of Kansas City’s boys in blue stayed together and made their presence known right off the bat. They were the last team standing with an undefeated record and are currently a half-game behind of the offensively ferocious Detroit Tigers.

Several analysts (including ones on ESPN) did not think very highly of the reigning American League champs to start off the season, as they were ranked 15th in their MLB Power Rankings right before Opening Day. It’s about a month later, and the gears have shifted. Despite their 5-6 record subsequent to their 7-0 winning streak, the same five voters who placed the Royals in the dead center of the rankings were considered kings of the castle this past Sunday. They are now 14-7, tied with Houston Astros for the second-best record in the American League.

The Interview/AMAsEarlier this week, newly promoted Baseball Editor and Royals Beat Reporter @MichaelLowry was asked 6 questions about his team’s progress, along with some of the concerns raised thus far into the season.

Ezzo:
It’s been quite an interesting turn of events so far for the Royals, hasn’t it? A 7-game winning streak to start off the season and, despite their bumpy ride since then, ESPN has them ranked them at #1 in their power rankings. Do you personally agree with their decision as of right now?

Lowry:
I don’t disagree with them. The Royals are still winning games despite the injuries and suspensions is really amazing. It is a true testament to the drive and emotion that is displayed throughout this ballclub. I have to imagine that ESPN looked at similar factors. If the Royals are in first place with all this happening, think of how dangerous they can be (and were for the first 7 games) with all of their key players.

Ezzo:
It just seems like things just click when the Royals work cohesively. What do you think makes them so special coming into this season, aside from the fact that they are the reigning American League champs?

Lowry:
What really makes the Royals special is their passion. I have no doubt that the Royals show more passion on the field than any other team. While there has been plenty of drama that’s unfolded with the Royals thus far, to me it’s a testament to how much they want this. The players are so tight that they call each other brothers, and they’ll do anything to stick up for one another. The other night, Moustakas bobbled a ball that ended up resulting in 3 unearned runs. At the time it seemed like he ruined the game for Vargas. As Vargas was leaving the game that same inning Moustakas came to the mound to apologize. Vargas wasn’t angry at all. This is a great representation of how this team functions every single day. Through the highs and the lows, they are always in full support of each other.

Ezzo:
One thing that I think people have still kept under the radar due to more prominent news items happening on the field (which we’ll get to later) is how the Royals have sustained so many injuries. About three weeks into the season, Alcides Escobar was battling a bone bruise for a few days after colliding with Oakland A’s third baseman Brett Lawrie on a force play at second base; Omar Infante had a day-to-day groin strain; Alex Gordon is still undergoing the wrist surgery he underwent in the offseason. On a more serious note, though, Alex Rios was placed on the disabled list recently with a fractured hand, and closer Greg Holland is going to miss a significant amount of time with a right pectoral strain.

How much of an impact has that played on the Royals, from your standpoint?

Lowry:
This has had an impact on the Royals, but the fact that it hasn’t had a huge impact on the Royals is what’s surprising everyone. There are a few reasons why injuries haven’t been as detrimental as they should have been. Alcides Escobar and Alex Gordon have turned out to not be that be that big of a deal. Escobar was only out for a game, and then came back fully healthy. Alex Gordon had to sit out some games to protect his wrist, but he is playing most games and it doesn’t seem to be affecting the way that he throws. Alex Rios is definitely a bigger deal, but Paulo Orlando turned out to be a very welcome surprise in Kansas City on how well he’s playing.

Greg Holland is by far the biggest hit to the Royals. Holland very well might be the best closer in baseball. Without him, the three-headed seemingly unstoppable bullpen becomes very stoppable. While still a great bullpen, without Holland it’s not the World Series quality that we saw in 2014.

Ezzo:
You touched on Paulo Orlando in your last answer, which brings me to another point about the great, young talent the Royals seem to have… or at least their energy and the way they play the game seem to reflect that they haven’t aged much with their experience in the Majors.

Do you think the new faces in Orlando, Christian Colon, or even Terrence Gore-- someone who isn’t new, but was recently called up-- going to impress the baseball world?

Lowry:
I see a very bright future for Paulo Orlando. In Kansas City, he’s really been turning heads. As he eases into the Major Leagues, I think he will only get better. Christian Colon is a tossup for me. So far, I really haven’t been impressed with him. He’ll get some more time in the Majors, so we will just have to see if any progress is made. Terrance Gore will always impress people with his speed. He could be the fastest guy in the Majors (although he comes close with Jarrod Dyson). He got called up recently, but got sent quickly back down. I don’t think the Royals are going to make that mistake again, unless they have to. Gore is great at fielding and running, but he just cannot hit. If he doesn’t learn to hit, he will most likely be staying in Omaha every year until September.

Ezzo:
Of course, I had to save the question everyone's waiting for near the end of the interview:

Everyone has been talking about the “Bad Boys in Blue” and how they’re really living up to their name now. Yordano “Ace” Ventura has certainly been at the forefront of that conversation, with the benches clearing the last three times he has been on the mound. Lorenzo Cain has served his suspension after his altercation with Jeff Samardzija and the White Sox, and so has Jonathan Herrera; Volquez and Ventura still have to serve the rest of theirs.

What do you make our of the situation as a follower of the Royals?

Lowry:
From everyone I’ve talked to and heard in the Kansas City area, it seems that the general consensus is that people are tired of all of this happening. With that being said, I can understand where the Royals are coming from. The fights that have happened have been a result of players sticking up for their team members (or as they call, their “brothers”). A lot of teams don’t like that Kansas City is a competitor now, and they still don’t take them seriously. This isn’t the first time this has happened. The same thing happened fairly recently when the Rays became contenders. Most baseball fans can remember the fights that occurred when they battled the Red Sox. The same thing also happened when the Twins became contenders in the early 2000s. There were many fights between them and the Indians. A lot of what’s happening really has to do with the Royals sticking up for themselves and their teammates.

As for Ventura, he does need to learn to keep his emotions under control. While he’s trying to help stick up for his brothers, he’d be helping the team more if he didn’t get suspended on every start. Ventura rightfully got a 7-day suspension, not because what he did in that particular brawl was that bad; it was more because he keeps doing this over and over. Along with that, Volquez will be missing a start, then Cain and Herrera both got two game suspensions. The Royals are lucky that these suspensions didn’t turn out worse.

Ezzo’s Pay-Off Pitch:
Taking your blue-blooded bias out of the equation, how does Alex Gordon’s catch rank compared to the other tremendous defensive plays made so far this season?

Lowry’s Walk-Off Answer:
I don’t think I’m being biased when I say that is definitely in the top 3 of the year so far. The Freddy Galvis play was amazing; too bad the play ended with him holding his arm in pain. I have to give the best play of the year so far to Kevin Pillar scaling the wall. When you take into account how big that wall is in Rogers Centre, I think that’s the best.

As for Alex Gordon, it’s not amazing that he went into the crowd; it’s amazing that he crashed into so many people and still held onto the ball. Also good on him for giving the kid he crashed into a ball after the inning.

Want to offer some color commentary?It doesn't have to be Royal blue.Do you agree/disagree with anything Michael Lowry said in the interview?

- Will we see more (blue) blood shed this season?
- Is Paulo Orlando going to continue making his presence known over the course of the season?
- What do you think of the Royals' unstoppable bullpen (without Holland)?

Show some love for Michael Lowry, our newest baseball editor, promoted by Community Leader @ScopeY less than two weeks ago! Pitch him any additional questions, or comments what you would like elaborated, on the Boys in Blue... and I'm sure he will deliver!