Kauffman Corner

If you are going to win in the big leagues you have to be able to pitch. The Royals proved that with their playoff run last year. For a small market team developing pitching is a must. Paul Gibson, the Sr. Director of Pitching Performance for the Kansas City Royals joins us to discuss KC's pitching development. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) talk to Gibson about... - What goes into Gibson's job? - Communicating with the pitchers in the organization. - Promoting pitchers that haven't put up big numbers yet. - Alec Marsh's development. - When and how to move starters back to the bullpen. - Daniel Lynch's conversion to the bullpen. - Teaching velocity. - Working with outside pitching academies. - David Shields - Ben Kudrna - Pitching more innings. - Developing pitching in Latin America. - Young pitching in the system from Latin America. - Asa Lacy - Carlos Estevez

The Free Agent market is drying up quickly. What can the Royals still get done before heading to Arizona for Spring Training? Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) and David Lesky (Inside the Crown/@DBLesky) pinch hitting for Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) discuss if the Royals can still find help on the market, plus... - Where to turn if there's not a bat? - Could Kris Bubic be the key? - Can the Royals still add to the bullpen? - Where does Jonathan India play? - How optimistic are we about Melendez's new swing? - How does the outfield fit together right now? - Is there help in the system? - What kind of win total are we feeling?

After a playoff season in '24, what's the best and worst the '25 season can be? Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) discuss what it will take for the Royals to actually take a step forward from the massive step they took last season and what could go wrong if the season heads South. BEST CASE - MJ Melendez breaks out! - Michael Massey hits 30 HR's. - Joey Wiemer becomes an everyday player. - Vinnie Pasquantino raps out 50 doubles. - Maikel Garcia's bat takes a step up. - Royals acquire an everyday OF at the deadline. - The bullpen gets a boost. - Kris Bubic becomes a #2 SP. WORST CASE - Injuries rob the Royals of Bobby Witt Jr. or Cole Ragans. - Who plays CF if Isbel gets hurt or can't hit? - Jonathan India doesn't work out. - Salvy gets old. - Lack of bullpen depth. - Vinnie gets hurt.

Royals First Baseman Vinnie Pasquantino joins the Pod to discuss the Royals run to the Playoffs, his incredible recovery from a late thumb injury and how much he uses analytics to play the game. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) talk with Vinnie... - Coming back from the late season thumb injury. - What Vinnie’s offseason workouts look like. - Defensive numbers at first. - How to use analytics. - Evaluating his 2024 season. - Taking struggles personally! - Pressure of the “Pasquatch”! - Being a Jets Fan. - It's OK... the Chiefs are his 2nd favorite team

Fueled by some unexpected seasons from their core player the Royals were the American League’s biggest surprise. Looking ahead to 2025 which Pitchers can the Royals expect to be better and which should they expect to be worse? Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) breakdown the core arms for the 2025 Royals after they discuss the Royals re-upping with Michael Lorenzen. - Michael Lorenzon signs back with the Royals? - Where does he fit best? - Better or Worse - Michael Lorenzen - Cole Ragans - Seth Lugo - Michael Wacha - Kris Bubic - Alec Marsh - Daniel Lynch - Lucas Erceg

Fueled by some unexpected seasons from their core player the Royals were the American League’s biggest surprise. Looking ahead to 2025 which offensive players can the Royals expect to be better and which should they expect to be worse? Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) breakdown the core offensive players... - Salvador Perez - Freddy Fermin - Vinnie Paquantino - Michael Massey - Maikel Garcia - Bobby Witt Jr. - MJ Melendez - Kyle Isbel - Hunter Renfroe - Jonathan India

The rebuilding of the Royals Pitching Staff in 2024 was nothing short of remarkable. Royals Pitching Coach Brian Sweeney discusses the thoughrts and processes behind building a top shelf pitching program. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) talk about how the pitching staff came together and how the Royals will progress moving forward... - How the 2024 Royals Pitching Staff came together. - What went into Sweeney taking the PItching Coach job? - Sweeney's core philosophy. - Building trust with the pitchers. - The building of Cole Ragans. - Why the Royals wanted Seth Lugo so bad. - Adding the slider to Michael Wacha's repetoire. - Pitchers working with outside Pitching Instructors. - Importance of being on the cutting edge of technology. - How to switch a pitchers roles? - Avoiding injuries. - Reacting to Brian Sweeney's comments.

The Royals Hall of Fame Ballots are out. There's a long list of players with ties to the 2014/2015 World Series teams. Who measures up? Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) are discussing the latest candidates for the Royals Hall of Fame as well as who should the Royals be looking at giving a long term contract to. - Which player or players should the Royals be looking to lock up? - Who is on Petro's Royals HOF ballot? - Who would Rany vote for? - Which player was the toughest cut? - What player just makes the cut?

Juan Soto has reset the Major League Baseball's salary structure with his 15-year $765-million deal. What does it mean for the Kansas City Royals? Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) discuss how the Soto contract affects the Royals. - What does this deal mean for all of baseball? - How this deal affects the Royals in Free Agency. - Will this deal impact Cody Bellinger's trade value? - O'Neil/Holmes/Conforto are all off the board for KC. - Where should the Royals look now? - World Series Odds for the Royals, what do they mean? - Do the Royals make a Rule 5 selection?

MLB handed out their 2024 Awards and a number of Royals were prominently featured. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) discuss the recognition the Royals did and didn't receive. Plus what should the Royals do next this offseason? - Did they get the awards right? - How does a 30 win improvement not equal Executive of the Year? - What else could Quatraro have done? - Should we expect bobby Witt Jr. to win the MVP at some point? - What kind of awards are on the horizon for the Royals? - What free agent should the Royals make now? - What trade should the Royals make at the Winter Meetings?

It didn't take long for the rumors about the Royals trading Brady Singer to become true. How did the Royals do on the trade? Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) breakdown the Singer for India and Wiemer trade. - Did the Royals get enough for Singer? - Where will Jonathan India play? - What does Joey Wiemer bring to the Royals? - The numbers for India/Wiemer will look like what? - What makes this trade a success? - Who takes Singer's spot in the rotation? - The next move for the Royals should be...

The Royals improved their win total by 30 games... what role did analytics play in the Royals run to the playoffs? Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) welcome Royals Vice President - Assistant General Manager/Research & Development, Daniel Mack to the Pod. - What role did analytics play in signing Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha? - How do the Royals handle their pitchers? - Do the Royals value OBP? - How can analytics guide the Royals through this offseason? - What do the numbers say about Jac Caglianone? - How analytics helped Bobby Witt Jr.? - Rumors have the Royals talking Singer for India.

Speaking at the GM Meetings, J.J. Picollo gave some idea of how the Royals view their team moving forward and what they are looking for. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) are breaking down the Picollo comments and more... - Bubic is a starter? - Lynch could be a starter? - Singer's locked in the rotation. - Where will the Royals find OBP? - Shopping Bubic and Marsh? - Jac Caglianone scalding baseballs!

The Royals lock up Michael Wacha on a 3-year $72-million deal. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) discuss the Royals resigning of Wacha and... - Bobby Witt Jr. and Seth Lugo grab Gold Gloves! - Michael Wacha stays in KC. - Is Wacha worth 3-$72M? - Are the Royals now more likely to trade a Starting Pitcher? - Who should KC target in Free Agency? - Is there a trade that makes sense for the Royals?

Reviewing the Royals 2024 Minor League season. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) look back at the Royals 2024 Minor Leagues. - 2024 Minor League recap. - Surprises. - Disappointments. - Our top 12 prospects. - Who can help the 2025 Royals?

How did we do on our preseason Royals predictions? Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) take a look back at what they thought this season would be and why. How did we do on our Bold & Daring Predictions and did we get the awards winners correct? Plus... - What to do with the impending FA's? - How to handle Michael Wacha? - Who are the two players the Royals should look at trading and why? - What should they target in return?

One of the most surprising and enjoyable seasons in Royals history comes to an end in the American League Division Series. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) put a bow on the 2024 Royals Season... - Why did the Royals come up short vs. the Yankees? - Where can the Royals get better? - Kevin Seitzer is available. - How about a walk? - What needs to change? - What's the future of the Royals on TV in KC?

Giancarlo Stanton proves to be too much for the Royals. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) bring on friend of the Pod, Joe Sheehan (Joe Sheehan MLB Newsletter) to break down the Royals Game 3 loss to the Yankees. - Did the Yankees win because of their payroll? - Lugo not sharp. - Royals pitchers walk 9. - Stanton proves to be too much! - Royals can’t get the clutch hit. - What to expect in Game 4?

A back and forth Game 1 of the ALDS goes to the Yankees. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) break down the Royals 6-5 loss in the Bronx. - What happened last night? - Where was the bullpen? - Did the umpires rob the Royals of a win? - Anything Quatraro got wrong? - What should the Royals do differently in Game 2? - Should the Royals stick with the same lineup? - How much does the legacy of this season ride on this series?

The Royals are moving on to New York and the American League Division Series with the Yankees. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) break down the Royals Game 2 Wild Card win over the Orioles. - Seth Lugo only goes 4+, but only gives up 1 run. - The bullpen continues to dominate. - Offense is still missing. - Bobby Witt Jr. comes up clutch again! - Can KC beat the Yankees scoring only two runs? - How should the Royals lineup their starters? - What to expect from the Yankees?