The baseball awards season is winding down...a few awards have yet to be announced and you can help decide the winners!  Royals Zack Greinke and Billy Butler are among the nominees for the This Year in Baseball awards at MLB.com.

Zack is up for the Starting Pitcher of the Year.  The A.L. Cy Young winner faces nine top notch candidates from across baseball, including N.L. Cy Young recipient Tim Lincecum.  Royals fans, let's get the vote out for number 23!

Billy was nominated for the Unsung Star of the Year honor.  The 23-year old had a breakout season, with career bests in nearly every category.   His 51 doubles rank second in franchise history to Hal McRae's 54 in 1977.  He became just the fifth player in Major League history to have 50 doubles and 20 homers in a season prior to the age of 24.  The others, you ask?  Hank Greenberg, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera!  Butler's competition for the Unsung Star award includes eight promising position players plus pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez of the Colorado Rockies.

The voting runs through December 11.  Vote for Zack and Billy today!

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/awards/y2009/tyib/index.jsp

The Royals have introduced the Royals Holiday Gift Sweepstakes at royals.com.  Three lucky Royals fans will take home a prize this holiday season, with the grand prize winner receiving a 9-Game Plan for the 2010 season.  9-game ticket plans offer flexibility in choosing the nine games, plus an option to add Opening Day, set for April 5 against the Detroit Tigers. 

 The grand prize winner will also receive a New Authentic New Era alternate powder blue cap, the same style of hat that the Royals will sport for home day games in 2010.  The second prize winner will take home a $50 Royals Gift Card and a New Authentic New Era alternate powder blue cap.  A Royals gift card is redeemable for merchandise at Kauffman Stadium Pro Shops and online at royals.com, single game tickets at the Kauffman Stadium box office and/or concessions at participating locations at Kauffman Stadium.  One third prize winner will receive a New Authentic New Era alternate powder blue cap. 

Fans must visit royals.com/holidaysweeps to enter the sweepstakes.  Registration for the Royals Holiday Gift Sweepstakes is open until 12:00 p.m. Central time on December 17, 2009 and is limited to one entry per person/e-mail address/household.  The contest is open to legal residents of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Colorado who are 18 years or older at time of entry.  A full list of official rules is available on the website.

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/kc/fan_forum/holiday_sweeps.jsp

The Kansas City Royals have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Bryan Bullington to a minor league contract for the 2010 season.

The former top overall pick of the 2002 Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates pitched in the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 2009, mainly at the Triple-A level for Las Vegas.  The 29-year old did make four relief appearances for the Jays in April, compiling a 3.00 ERA in 6.0 innings.  The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder was 3-1 with three saves and a 3.52 ERA in 28 relief stints for Las Vegas, striking out 43 and walking just seven in 38.1 innings.  Bullington is 0-5 with a 5.08 ERA in 13 games (5 starts) in his Major League career since breaking in with the Pirates in 2005.  He also spent time with the Indians in 2008.

The former Ball State University star was originally drafted in 1999 by the Royals in the 37th round out of Madison (Ind.) High School, but did not sign.  He is married with one child and currently resides in Mokena, Ill.

The Royals today announced their winter 40-man Major League roster. The Royals have selected the contracts of infielder Jeff Bianchi, outfielders Jarrod Dyson and Jordan Parraz, catcher Manuel Pina and right-handed pitcher Blake Wood from the Omaha (AAA) roster.

To make room on the Major League roster, the Royals outrighted right-handed pitchers Devon Lowery and Doug Waechter to Omaha.  Both can elect free agency beginning tomorrow.  In addition, the Royals designated infielder Tug Hulett for assignment and requested Unconditional Release Waivers on right-handed pitcher Julio Pimentel.

Parraz, 25, was acquired by Kansas City from the Astros on December 11, 2008.  The right-handed hitter and thrower opened 2009 at NW Arkansas, batting .358 with 17 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 42 RBI and 35 runs scored in 64 games, compiling a .451 on-base pct. and .553 slugging.  After rehabbing at Idaho Falls (R) for four games, the Henderson, Nev., native hit .298 in 13 games for Omaha.

The 23-year old Bianchi, the 2008 Frank White Defensive Player of the Year, split his season between Wilmington (High A) and NW Arkansas, hitting over .300 at each stop with a combined 29 doubles, 70 RBI and 22 stolen bases in 28 attempts.  The Royals' second-round pick in the 2005 Draft played mostly shortstop for the Surprise Rafters in the Arizona Fall League, batting .265 with 13 RBI in 17 games.

The speedy Dyson, 25, was Kansas City's 50th round pick in the 2006 Draft.  The left-handed hitter and right-handed thrower opened the season at Burlington (A) before spending the final two and a half months of the season with NW Arkansas.  The center fielder hit .258 for the Naturals in 63 games, stealing 37 bases in 43 attempts.  The McComb, Miss., resident continued his season in the Arizona Fall League for Surprise, hitting .310 with two steals in 16 games.

Pina, 22, was acquired by the Royals from the Rangers organization on September 3 of this year.  The Venezuelan did not appear for NW Arkansas after the trade, but hit .259 for Frisco (AA) prior to the deal and was selected as the starting catcher for the South Division in the Texas League All-Star Game. 

The 24-year old Wood, the Royals' third-round selection in 2006 out of Georgia Tech, was 2-8 with a 5.83 ERA in 17 games (13 starts) for NW Arkansas.  The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder also made three rehab appearances for Surprise (R).  Wood returned to the desert in October to pitch for the Surprise Rafters in the Fall League, going 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in eight games, including three starts.

Spring Training is just around the corner...pitchers and catchers report on February 17 - less than three months from now! 

The Royals announced their 2010 Spring Training schedule today. The club will open its eighth season as members of the newly-expanded 15-team Cactus League by playing a charity game against its Surprise complex mates, the Texas Rangers, on Thursday, March 4.  The game benefits the Surprise Sundancers.

Kansas City's 31-game Spring Training schedule features 15 home games at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Ariz., including the March 4 charity game.  The club will also face the Texas Rangers as the visiting team in one additional game at the facility.

The slate includes a road affair against the newest member of the Cactus League, the Cincinnati Reds, who will join their cross-state rival Cleveland Indians at the complex in Goodyear, Ariz.

The Royals will host every Cactus League squad at Surprise Stadium at least once with the exception of the Reds.  The March 30 home game against the Indians is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. (CT).  In addition, the Royals will play a 9:05 p.m. (CT) contest on March 15 in Glendale against the White Sox.  All other games will start at 2:05 p.m. (CT) until Daylight Saving Time on March 14 when the games will start at 3:05 p.m. (CT).  The April 1 game against the Diamondbacks will begin at 2:05 p.m. (CT) as the Royals will break camp immediately following the contest.

The Royals will conclude their 2009 Spring Training schedule by traveling to Texas to meet the Rangers for a pair of exhibition games.  The clubs will play at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Friday, April 2 at 7:05 p.m. (CT) and then travel on Saturday, April 3 to the Rangers' Double-A ballpark in Frisco, Texas, for a 1:05 p.m. (CT) start.  The Royals will not play on Sunday, April 4 before opening the season at Kauffman Stadium on Monday, April 5 against the Detroit Tigers.

The Surprise Recreation Campus will accept mail orders beginning on Tuesday, December 1.  For these orders, call 623-222-2222 or visit www.royals.com/springtraining to obtain a ticket brochure.  Individual Spring Training game tickets will go on sale January 9, 2010 beginning at 9 a.m. CT.  The tickets will be on sale at the Surprise Stadium Box Office, through Royals.com or by calling 800-745-3000.  Various spring season ticket packages are available now by calling 623-222-2222.  For more information, including information on special spring training travel packages, fans may visit royals.com.

Pitchers and catchers will report to Surprise on Wednesday, February 17.  Workouts for pitchers begin the following day, Thursday, February 18.  The remainder of the squad will report on Monday, February 22 and begin workouts for the 2010 campaign on Tuesday, February 23.

Please follow the link below for the full Spring Training schedule:

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/spring_training/tentative.jsp?c_id=kc

* Dates and times are subject to change

* April 4 - Charity game

Reporting Dates

                February 17 - Pitchers and Catchers Report

                February 18 - Pitchers and Catchers First Workout

                February 22 - Full Squad Reports

                February 23 - First Full Squad Workout

The Royals have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Brad Thompson on a minor league contract for the 2010 season.

The 27-year old Thompson has made 185 appearances (32 starts) for the St. Louis Cardinals over the past five seasons, posting a 21-17 record and a 4.36 ERA.  The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder was 2-6 with a 4.84 ERA in 2009 for the Cardinals in 32 games, including eight starts.  Thompson had spent his entire professional career in the Cardinals organization.  He was a 16th round selection in the 2002 Draft out of Dixie State College.  Thompson debuted in 2005 and was named the Cardinals' Rookie of the Year after going 4-0 with a 2.95 ERA in 40 relief appearances.

Thompson and his wife, Andrea, currently reside in Las Vegas, Nev.  We welcome Brad to the club!

The Royals announced that the club's Majestic Team Store near Gate C of Kauffman Stadium will have numerous Zack Greinke Cy Young merchandise on sale beginning today.

Fans will have the opportunity to purchase special Cy Young baseball plaques beginning today, exclusive Cy Young T-Shirts in adult and youth sizes on Friday, photos, hats, pennants and signs early next week and bracelets by the first few weeks of December.

The Royals Majestic Team Store is open this week through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Sunday and Monday, November 22 and 23.  The store will be open Thanksgiving Week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on November 24, 25 and 27.  The store is closed on Thanksgiving Day.  In addition, the store will be open on Saturday, November 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. prior to the University of Kansas and University of Missouri football game at Arrowhead Stadium at 2:30 p.m. 

The Royals have announced that in 2010 the club will don a New Authentic New Era alternate powder blue cap in conjunction with their home alternate powder blue jerseys, which have been worn for every home day game since the beginning of the 2008 season.  The cap will go on sale exclusively at the Royals Majestic Team Store near Gate C of Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday, November 24 at 10 a.m.

The Majestic Team Store will be open on November 24, 25 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  The store will also be open on Saturday, November 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. prior to the University of Kansas and University of Missouri football game at Arrowhead Stadium at 2:30 p.m.  On Friday, November 27, Royals alumni Willie Wilson, Kevin Seitzer and Willie Aikens will be signing autographs at the Majestic Team Store from noon to 2 p.m. 

The powder blue caps are priced at $38.  To contact the Majestic Team Store, please call 816-504-4045 or visit www.royals.com/teamstore.

The caps will be available for pre-order on-line at royals.com beginning on November 24, but won't be available to be shipped until December 1.

The Royals have announced the field staffs for their minor league affiliates in Omaha, Northwest Arkansas, Wilmington, Burlington (Ia.), Idaho Falls, Burlington (N.C.) and Surprise.  Coordinators and roving instructors were also announced.  For a full listing, please see the press release: 

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20091118&content_id=7683376&vkey=pr_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc

 It started as just another day for Zack Greinke in Orlando, Florida.  Sure, his wedding is this weekend, but all of the details are being planned by his fiancée, Emily.  Zack's job, according to him, is to "show up and hope everything goes ok."  As for offseason workouts, those are more "for fun" at the moment.  The serious preparation for 2010 will start after his honeymoon. 

Zack was resting Tuesday morning when he received word that he was the 2009 A.L. Cy Young Award recipient.  All of a sudden, there was "a lot of stuff going on" at a time in the offseason when Greinke likes "doing nothing."  He passed the word along to his dad and fiancée, who were very happy for him.  His mother and brother had yet to find out. 

Zack was pleased, but it was the usual low-key Greinke reaction.  He thought it would be a much closer balloting process as the Mariners' Felix Hernandez also had a fantastic season.

One reporter asked where the coveted trophy would be housed.  Greinke said that it would probably go at his parent's house, with his other trophies.   

Thanks for the help

Throughout the afternoon, several baseball players, coaches and baseball minds were noted by Zack as people who helped him mature as a pitcher.

Zack credited former Royals manager Buddy Bell, former general manager Allard Baird, reliever David Riske, and current pitching coach Bob McClure for helping him overcome his anxiety issues.  Greinke described McClure as a "really smart" coach who challenged him to pitch inside this season.

He has sought advice from two of the top pitchers in the league, who he did not wish to name.

Miguel Olivo caught a majority of Greinke's starts in 2009.  Zack was happy to have the same catcher throughout the season, saying that Olivo did a fantastic job.

We learned that Brian Bannister's interest in pitching statistics has rubbed off on Greinke.  FIP, or Fielder Independent Pitching, is the stat that Zack is now following.  FYI, he led the AL and was second in the Majors in that stat in 2009.

Zack read Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller's book a few years ago.  Feller talked about pitching at an 85-90 percent mark for the first few innings, then turning it up at the end.  It took a while for Zack to embrace the philosophy, but now he sees that it is the best way to pitch.

Next year and beyond

Reporters focused on whether Zack can improve upon this incredible season.  He says that he still makes mistakes and can improve in the physical aspect of the game.  He wants to stay with the same mental approach as it worked in 2009.

Dayton Moore comments

General manager Dayton Moore took questions from the local media after the Greinke video conference.  He said that people around baseball see the command of a Greg Maddux and the electricity of John Smoltz in Zack.  Moore mentioned Bob McClure's toughness as a pitcher and how he has brought that out in Zack.  When asked if Zack can repeat or top the incredible season, Moore noted that Greinke's one pitch at a time, one game at a time approach would help him.