I don't think Bonifacio was cut for $ reasons. I have heard that he demanded a starting position and refused to be a utility guy. Clubhouse cancer was removed. Whether that is true, I don't know. Obviously if Infante is out for some time, Bonifacio would be much better option than Ciriaco or Colon or Gio, et al.

Despite losing Santana, the rotation is going to be almost as good as last year imo.
Yordano + Vargas + Chen ~= Santana + Davis + Mendoza

Vargas should get a similar defensive and ballpark boost that Santana received. I don't expect anywhere near a 3.25 ERA, but sub 4 is certainly possible. Ventura looks like a complete stud Pedro reincarnate. Obviously, he'll have some wobbly starts, but the guy throws 100 with seemingly no effort.

Bullpen remains very strong.

Lineup is going to be way better and deeper with Aoki and Infante at 1 & 2. Both reach base around 35% of the time. With Hosmer/Butler/Gordon/Perez after, that should be really strong.

Moose is in a make or break year and will have Valencia giving him some days off against tough lefties (ridiculous L/R splits for these 2). Moose has had a great winter/spring, and as a former #2 overall pick, has the talent to become a much better hitter.

Their win range if healthy is fairly wide, probably 80-92. To reach the high end, Moose, Ventura, Vargas, Chen need to be very good. Hosmer still has room to grow as well. Butler bounces back from a poor 2013.

I'm fairly optimistic at our chances right now. I think Cleveland way overachieved last year and should fall back to near .500. Detroit has had a baffling offseason, and are at least vulnerable. White Sox are still bad and Minny is hot garbage for at least 1 more year.

With Duffy and Kyle Zimmer at AAA, Chen & Guthrie (imo) should give us quality starts or be on notice. They seem to think Zimmer may be a Sept callup if we're in the playoff hunt. He has #1 stuff. Duffy still has talent to be a #1-2 starter if he regains command.

chen/guthrie giving us quality innings is a huge if imo

seems like both have been outpitching their peripherals for a while now. hopefully that's just how they roll. think i would rather just gamble with duffy pitching fifth tbh


also think ventura looks like the real deal but it's not out of the question he struggles/gets hurt, etc unfortunately. our offense should be much improved although the infante injury stuff is disconcerting considering his history. another year of hoping moose turns the corner. he certainly looks good in springtraining (again)

i think with the royals it pays to be pessimistic or you are gonna have a bad time

Healthy amount of pessimism is probably correct. It's just that all the pieces are there for a playoff team.

love it

ROYALS
1 RF Norichika Aoki - L
2 2B Omar Infante - R
3 1B Eric Hosmer - L
4 DH Billy Butler - R
5 LF Alex Gordon - L
6 C Salvador Perez - R
7 3B Mike Moustakas - L
8 CF Lorenzo Cain - R
9 SS Alcides Escobar - R
(J. Shields - R)

TIGERS
1 2B Ian Kinsler - R
2 RF Torii Hunter - R
3 1B Miguel Cabrera - R
4 DH Victor Martinez - S
5 CF Austin Jackson - R
6 C Alex Avila - L
7 3B Nick Castellanos - R
8 SS Alex Gonzalez - R
9 LF Rajai Davis - R
(J. Verlander - R)

Perez raking early with 2 doubles. 1st was the deepest double location possible. 2-1 good guys in the 4th.

first game of the year and I yelled and fist pumped the double.. I'm def having a heart attack at some point during the summer

Hosmer could have ended the game there with a GS. Oh well, good start.

No heart attacks, only joy this summer.

Dammit.

Took a long lunch and got to watch a lot of the game. I was feeling really good up 3-1. I don't know why he brought Shields out in the 7th. He was over 90 pitches and it was opening day. And I don't know about Davis as our designated 8th inning guy. Hoch was great as a starter turned bullpen guy, but Davis doesn't have Hoch's stuff.

But I'm feeling good about this year. We have a set starting lineup without any gaping holes, defense looks to be solid, and our bullpen is similar to last years. Starting pitching is a big question though. I don't expect Vargas to be Santana 2.0, but we don't have Davis out there every 5th day either. If Chen can be Chen for one more year, and Ventura do what he's capable of, I think the rotation will put up similar numbers to last year.

I think we can win this division if we avoid the huge losing streak we always seem to have in May.

Part of me kind of wants us to suck because my work is so damn busy right now, I'm buying a house where I can't get mlb tv free, and a ****load of other stuff going on.

i'm kind of tilted already

was feeling great watching the game at 810 zone, left in the 7th, tilt when i got back to work and checked the score

now we have a damn off day and then vargas v scherzer. what could go wrong

i just would feel so much better off if we could start hot or if we had a game tomorrow heh. crow has not been good for a while now and i don't trust him at all. moose doin his moose thing still. aoki rarely striking out and striking out twice today. one game i know, just wanted to win that one

They should relegate this scrub team so so you cow towners can support the only real baseball team in the state. Go CARDS!

don't be jelly that we have the best soccer team in the country br0

lol baseball

i'm over it

Scoreboard:

Yeah well your BBQ is....awesome. I have Mariners tickets I hope I get to see the young Royals flame thrower. I like your team I will follow them with interest.

i can't wait to see them vs. someone other than verlander or sherzer... holy crap that was frustrating to watch.

Sup

Sanchez?

Home opener win!!!

I'll take it. Beautiful assist by Gordon.

It's finally Yordano day.

Vargas looks good so far.

Infante is assuredly going to DL after getting hit in the chin. Sucks. If healthy, this team is pretty damn good, but there is no infield depth. Johnny Giavotella, Christian Colon?

Escobar and Moose on pace to be a WOAT offensive infield tandem. This team would be so scary if Moose can just provide league-average offensive production for a 3B.

And if Butler didn't hit into a double play every AB

Valencia what the fuuuuuuuuu

just so sick of this **** already