Results tagged ‘ Dayton Moore ’
Royals Hot Stove show kicks off tonight
Brrr…it’s cold! Kansas City is blanketed with snow and the temperature continues to drop. Wherever you are located, warm up with the Royals Hot Stove show, which airs live on KCSP 610 AM and across the web on royals.com! Steve Stewart and Ryan Lefebvre host the program every Thursday through February 25 from 6:00-7:00 p.m Central. The Royals Hot Stove features interviews with players, coaches and the front office. Tonight’s guest is general manager Dayton Moore.
Here’s the link to the Hot Stove page on royals.com, where you can listen to tonight’s show. Each show will be archived for playback.
Zack Greinke media notes
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.
Aaron Crow Introduced (photos)
Aaron Crow is a lifelong Royals fan whose dream has been to play in the big leagues for the Royals. Today, he took a step toward that dream as he was introduced at an afternoon press conference.
Crow is ready to get out onto the field, and he will have that opportunity soon as he will report to the Royals’ instructional league team in Arizona on Sunday. Workouts begin on Monday.
He has stayed in shape with workouts, bullpen sessions, simulated games and side sessions. Crow says that he is just older and wiser than last year. His pitching repertoire is mainly a fastball and a sinker, with a slider and change-up mixed in. He has worked a lot on improving his change-up over the last year.
When asked if the Major League contract put pressure on him, Aaron calmly said he doesn’t see it as pressure but a challenge.
General Manager Dayton Moore said that the Royals will not put limitations on Aaron. As a player in Major League camp, he will be given the opportunity to make the team out of Spring Training. However, the overall goal is for Aaron to have a 15+ year career in the Majors. Moore sees a tremendous competitor with great drive.
Assistant General Manager-Scouting & Player Development J.J. Picollo mentioned that signing the first-round pick was a priority. He is anxious to get Crow into the mix.
Jose Guillen was placed on the 60-day D.L. to create a spot on the 40-man roster for Crow.
Dayton Moore chat today at 3 p.m. CT
General Manager Dayton Moore will take part in a Royals Relay Chat today (Tuesday) at 3:00 p.m. Central. If you’re not already registered at royals.com, be sure to stop by royals.com to register for the chat session!
Trey Hillman Pregame Media Session: September 4
Who is in and who is out?
For the time being, Royals starters Gil Meche and Brian Bannister will be sidelined with sore right shoulders. Both seem to be suffering from fatigue and tiredness, leaving their return to the starting rotation to be not far off, but undetermined at this point. Taking Meche’s spot tonight in the rotation against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will be reliever Robinson Tejeda (RHP, 1-1, 4.07). Manager Trey Hillman thinks Tejeda should rise to the occasion tonight. “We’ll see what he can do, if he maintains his stuff, is effective in his delivery, and efficient with his pitch counts it should be a favorable night for us. There will be no pitch count for him tonight, we don’t want to put any more added pressure on him then there already is,” Hillman stated.
Hillman high on Moore
Hillman was asked about the vote of confidence he received from General Manager Dayton Moore these past couple of days with regards to him coming back as manager. “It’s nice to have a boss believe in you as a person, he believes in my track record and my ability to get these guys ready to play baseball. I came into this job knowing it would be challenging, I can’t control what other people do only what I can do for myself. I take full responsibility and accountability for everything that goes on in that locker room and will continue to do the very best I can. With Dayton signing a recent extension to his contract and my coming back next season, I look forward to the future of this organization. This community and organization deserve stability, and I hope I can contribute to making that a reality.”
Royals extend General Manager Dayton Moore through 2014
The Kansas City Royals today announced they have extended the contract of General Manager Dayton Moore through the 2014 season. Moore has exercised his option for 2011 with the Royals extending the deal to cover the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons. Consistent with club policy, terms of the extension were not disclosed.
Around the Horn will be sitting in on a media session with G.M. Dayton Moore today. We’ll bring you a summary of that event.
Next week, you can ask the questions as Moore will participate in a Royals Relay chat next Tuesday, September 8th at 3:00 p.m. CT on royals.com. Be sure to stop by royals.com next Tuesday!http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/fan_forum/chat.jsp?c_id=kc
Royals Draft Notes
The 2009 Draft is in the books, with the Royals selecting 49 players. That doesn’t mean that the Royals are taking any time off. Scouts are headed to Minnesota this weekend to look at players and the Royals will continue to look at international talent. Here are a few notes from both today’s press conference and yesterday’s teleconference.
Wil Myers
J.J. Picollo noted that Myers, a third-round selection, played seven positions in high school and that he has expressed a desire to catch. Picollo says that the Royals will start him as a catcher.
College picks
Kansas City selected 27 college players this year, plus Aaron Crow, who was listed as unaffiliated. That’s up from 23 college players last year. The Royals had just two high school picks among their first 11 selections this year. Last season, Johnny Giavotella was the only four-year college player in the first 10 rounds. Moore said that he likes a blend of high school and college pitchers. Some of the college pitchers from this year’s draft will be relievers. He hopes that they can reach the Majors at the same time.
Strategy and budget
Moore noted that Picollo used a strategy in which he chose three to four players with top round talent. He also said the Royals must strive to use every penny of their scouting budget wisely. Many of the players chosen in the final ten rounds are summer follow selections who have several college options. Moore is hopeful that the Royals can budget their dollars in a way that will allow them to sign a few of the summer follow picks.
Local connections
The Royals made several picks with local ties, starting with Aaron Crow, their first-round selection. Moore noted that it is important to “scout your own backyard aggressively.” He also said that the Royals employed “good old-fashioned scouting.”
The Royals selected a pair of local prep pitchers today. Michael Morin of Shawnee Mission South was selected in the 40th round and Jeffrey Soptic from Shawnee Mission East was nabbed in the 43rd round. ATH just spoke with the local high school baseball fanatic in the Royals front office, Sr. Director of Corporate Sales, Mitch Wheeler. His son Seth has caught Morin since they were nine years old. Mitch says that Morin and Soptic faced off twice this season, including once in the Frank White Classic right here at Kauffman Stadium! What an exciting moment for these two players to be selected by their hometown team!
Royals have something to "Crow" about
The Royals landed a highly touted prospect in the first round today, and the pitcher was in their own backyard. University of Missouri product Aaron Crow, who went to Washburn Rural High School in Topeka, was the 12th overall pick. Crow went 13-0 with Mizzou as a junior in 2008 to earn Big 12 Pitcher of the Year honors. He was selected by Washington last year, but did not sign. Crow has pitched for the Fort Worth Cats in the independent American Assocation in 2008 and 2009.
Royals team photographer Chris Vleisides was in the “war room” during today’s first round. Here are some exclusive pictures.
First, we see General Manager Dayton Moore as he talks with Midwest Regional Supervisor John Flannery.
Here’s Dayton discussing draft strategies with Lonnie Goldberg, Mike Arbuckle, J.J. Picollo, Steve Williams, and Dean Taylor.
The Royals have made their pick! J.J. Picollo gets congratulations from the baseball operations staff, including National Supervisor Junior Vizcaino.
The Bees get their rings
Championship rings were presented this morning to the 2008 Midwest League champion Burlington Bees. After a 30-39 start to the season, the Bees made a second half surge, going 43-26. Burlington went a perfect 6-0 in the playoffs to earn the league championship.
The 2008 Bees were managed by Brian Rupp, the 2008 Dick Howser Award winner. Rupp (right with Dayton Moore) is now the manager at Class A-Advanced Wilmington.
Burlington General Manager Chuck Brockett displays a championship ring while pausing for a picture with Dayton Moore.
Here’s Royals Hall of Famers John Mayberry, Dennis Leonard, and Willie Wilson. They’ve been at camp this week working with the minor league squads. Special thanks go to Mayberry, Leonard, and Wilson for passing their knowledge on to the next generation of Royals!
Date announced for 2009 Kansas City Royals Celebrity Golf Tournament
You love to watch your favorite Royals hit the ball out of the park…now see if they can keep another white ball in bounds! The second annual Kansas City Royals Celebrity Golf Tournament presented by Sprint is set for Monday, May 18.
The popular tournament will match current players and alumni with participants in an 18-hole golf tournament. All proceeds will again benefit the Special Olympics of Greater Kansas City Metro. To register, please visit:
http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/kc/community/golf_tourney_form.jsp.
Pictures: Above – Billy Butler tees off; below left – Gil Meche takes a picture with a new fan; below right - a few golfers talk baseball with General Manager Dayton Moore
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