Around the World with ATH in KC: A tour to the east and a trip to the Mile High City
Thank you to everyone who sent in pictures this week!
First up, we meet Maria and her family from Pennsylvania. This family loves to see the Royals! Each year, they try to see a series in a different city and they’ve been to Baltimore, Washington, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
Next is Maggie…originally from Kansas City, she now lives in Denver, where she met John, who is the “biggest Rockies fan ever”. Maggie and John go every Rockies vs. Royals game, no matter where it’s at…so expect to see them at Coors Field on July 1, 2 and 3! It’s a “bragging rights” relationship as they give one another a rough time, depending on the outcome. For instance, John received the broom treatment from local Royals fans in 2008.
Royals agree to terms with Nate Adcock, Jesse Chavez, David Lough, Clint Robinson and Derrick Robinson
The Royals have announced that the club has agreed to terms on 2011 Major League contracts with right-handed pitchers Nate Adcock and Jesse Chavez, outfielders David Lough and Derrick Robinson and infielder Clint Robinson. Consistent with club policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
Adcock, who will turn 23 on February 25, was selected from the Indianapolis (AAA) roster of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization with the fifth overall pick in the Major League phase of the 2010 Rule 5 draft. He went 11-7 with a 3.38 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) for Bradenton in the Florida State League in 2010, fanning 113 in 141.1 innings pitched.
The 27-year old Chavez was 2-3 with a 5.88 ERA in 23 relief appearances for the Royals in 2010 after being acquired from Atlanta on July 31. Chavez posted a 1.74 ERA in his final nine outings of the year, holding batters to a .167 average over the span.
Lough, 25, saw his first action at the Triple-A level in 2010, spending the entire season with Omaha. The left-handed batter and thrower hit .280 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI in 120 games. The 2009 George Brett Hitter of the Year was added to the 40-man roster on November 19, 2010.
23-year-old Derrick Robinson patrolled center field for the Texas League champion Northwest Arkansas Naturals in 2010, batting .286 with a league-leading 50 stolen bases in 67 attempts. The switch-hitter also finished among the league leaders with eight triples (T-2nd) and 146 hits (3rd). Robinson, who has swiped 236 bases in his professional career, was added to the 40-man roster on November 19, 2010.
Clint Robinson, who turned 26 on Wednesday, won the Triple Crown in the Texas League in 2010, pacing the circuit with a .335 average, 29 home runs and 98 RBI. In addition, the left-handed slugger also led the league in doubles (41), total bases (298), slugging pct. (.625) and OPS (1.035). The 2010 Northwest Arkansas Player of the Year was added to the Royals’ 40-man roster on November 19, 2010.
Spring Training kicks off!
Spring Training is underway! We’ll post updates on the blog from time to time. Follow the Royals on Twitter for additional updates:
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Around the World with ATH in KC: Time for a road trip!
We’ve heard from fans near and far…today we’ll meet fans from Alabama, Washington, Texas and Wyoming:
Joseph and Kristie are from Gadsden, Alabama. Joseph is a big fan of the Royals but he hasn’t had the chance to visit Kauffman Stadium. He was thrilled when he learned that the Royals would play in Atlanta in 2010. This picture is from their first Royals game on June 19, 2010 at Turner Field. We hope you can make it to Kansas City soon!
Abigail recently moved to the Seattle-Tacoma area (look for her at Safeco when the Boys in Blue visit September 8-11). Her Dad took her to her first Royals game in 1993 and she saw George Brett tie the game with a home run. Her room is decorated with autographed memorabilia, World Series souvenirs, bobbleheads and baseball cards.
Next is Jason with his son Jeff and daughter Elyse. The family from Round Rock, Texas recently took in a game while visiting family in Kansas City. They also watch the Royals when the team is in Texas to play the Rangers. Jason, born in Kansas City, remembers watching the 1976 ALCS when he was a resident of Roswell, New Mexico. In 1985, he lived in Midland, Texas. He discovered that he could pick up the Royals Radio Network affiliate from distant Coffeyville, Kansas after 9 p.m. We’ve researched this and that’s 506 miles as the crow flies! Jason says that Denny Matthews sounded great through the heavy static as he listened to his beloved Royals.
Finally, we heard from Matt in Laramie, Wyoming, who didn’t have a picture to send. The lifelong Royals fan remembers baseball trips to Kansas City as his favorite vacations. He’s been away from the area for some time – though he keeps up on radio from Wyoming. He spent some time in Louisville, Kentucky, where he cheered on the Triple-A Omaha club from behind the visiting dugout.
Thanks to these great fans who cheer on the Royals while living hundreds of miles from Kansas City!
In case you missed it, here are links to our previous Around the World posts: Billy and Kenley Butler at Spring Training – http://mlblogsroyals.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/jason-thumb-260×195-2648981.jpgarchives/2011/02/around_the_world_with_ath_in_k_1.html
Australia and Greece: http://mlblogsroyals.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/jason-thumb-260×195-2648981.jpgarchives/2011/01/around_the_world_with_ath_in_k.html
Spring Training:
Truck Day: Spring Training is around the corner!
The overnight low in K.C. was two below, however, we are thinking spring! Staff from ballpark operations, the grounds crew and clubhouse operations braved the cold to load the spring training truck this morning. The truck is headed to Surprise, Arizona, where pitchers and catchers officially report in five days!
Around the World with ATH in KC: The Butler family
Thank you to everyone who sent pictures and stories for our travel feature! Spring Training is just a week away as Kansas City’s pitchers and catchers report on Valentine’s Day! We will have at least one more “Around the World” post in the near future, featuring road cities. You are welcome to send additional Royals-related photos of road cities and places around the world to blog@royals.com.
Today we have two great Spring Training photos submitted by Katie Butler, wife of first baseman Billy Butler. It is nice to know that Katie follows our blog!
According to Katie: “These are my two favorite Spring Training pictures from 2010! Billy & Kenley Butler (15 months at the time) on the Spring Training back fields! We spend a lot of time out back of the complex after Billy gets done with his game so he can get some play time in with Kenley…She is a big daddy’s girl!”
Royals and FOX Sports Kansas City announce 2011 television schedule
The Royals and FOX Sports Kansas City today announced a 142-game television schedule for the 2011 season, featuring two exhibition games and 140 regular season games. For the first time, all 140 regular season telecasts will be presented in High Definition.
The Royals and FOX Sports Kansas City are entering the fourth season of a long-term agreement in which FOX Sports Kansas City is the exclusive television home of Royals baseball. The 140-game regular season television schedule features 67 road games and 73 from Kauffman Stadium. Every game on FOX Sports Kansas City will be preceded by a 30-minute pre-game show, “Hy-Vee Royals Live,” and followed by the “Boulevard Royals Live” post-game show.
FOX Sports Kansas City’s coverage of Royals baseball kicks off with a Spring Training telecast from Surprise, Ariz., on Friday, March 25, when the Royals host the World Series champion San Francisco Giants at 8:05 p.m. (CDT). A second exhibition game will be broadcast on Monday, March 28, when the Royals host the Milwaukee Brewers in a 3:05 p.m. (CDT) start. The Milwaukee contest will be re-aired in prime time.
FSKC will air Kansas City’s Opening Day contest on March 31 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. A one-hour edition of the “Hy-Vee Royals Live” pre-game show will precede the game. Opening Day, along with most other weekday afternoon games, will be replayed in prime time.
To see the month-by-month schedule with the FSKC games denoted, visit royals.com:
http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=kc&m=3&y=2011
Royals agree to terms with infielder Pedro Feliz on a minor league contract
The Royals announced today that the club has signed infielder Pedro Feliz to a minor league contract for 2011. The deal includes an invitation to Royals’ Major League Spring Training.
The 35-year-old Feliz is a career .250 hitter with 140 home runs and 598 RBI in 11 Major League seasons with the Giants (2000-07), Phillies (2008-09), Astros (2010) and Cardinals (2010). He played in 137 games last season with Houston and St. Louis, hitting .218 with five home runs and 40 RBI. Primarily a third baseman throughout his career, Feliz originally signed with the Giants as a non-drafted free agent in 1994.
Born in Azua, Dominican Republic, he and his wife, Niurka, now reside in Windermere, Fla., with their three daughters, Isa, Helen and Heidi.
Pedro Feliz player page: http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=150268
Royals Hot Stove to feature Francoeur, McClure
Outfielder Jeff Francoeur and pitching coach Bob McClure join hosts Denny Matthews and Bob Davis on Thursday’s Hot Stove. The show airs from 6 to 7 p.m. Central on 610 Sports in Kansas City and on royals.com (http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/kc/fan_forum/hotstove.jsp).
Visit the Hot Stove page on royals.com, where you can listen to archived broadcasts.
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