KC Royals - An OOTP 25 Narrated Playthrough - Day 1

[Biggp07]

Alec Marsh had to be taken out early in the game due to back tightness, and our bullpen stepped in to provide solid support. We didn’t get the win, but the guys showed resilience and stamina, which I’m glad to see. Alec will be DtD for about a week I think.

KANSAS CITY PITCHING LINESCORE

Player 	Rslt (W-L) IP  H R ER BB K HR PI ERA    
A. Marsh           3.1 6 3 3  3  1 0  78 4.71    
J. McArthur        2.0 2 1 1  2  1 0  37 3.26    
J. Topa            1.2 1 0 0  0  3 0  24 0.00    
C. Ferguson        3.0 0 0 0  0  4 0  31 0.64    
A. Claudio L (2-2) 1.0 1 1 0  0  0 0   6 3.38

Batters Faced: A. Marsh 19, J. McArthur 10, J. Topa 6, C. Ferguson 9, A. Claudio 3
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: A. Marsh 5-4, J. McArthur 1-4, J. Topa 1-1, C. Ferguson 4-1, A. Claudio 1-1
Pitches - Strikes: A. Marsh 78-47, J. McArthur 37-21, J. Topa 24-15, C. Ferguson 31-21, A. Claudio 6-5
Inherited Runners - Scored: J. Topa 2-0, C. Ferguson 1-0
Balk: A. Marsh

Game Summary – September 3rd – Guardians Capture Close Win



The Cleveland Guardians secured a win at Kauffman Stadium, defeating the Kansas City Royals 5-4. On the mound for Cleveland was right-hander Tanner Bibee, who played a key role in the victory. Cleveland has now won five straight games. The Guardians also benefited from the timely hitting of Steven Kwan, who helped seal the win. The centerfielder delivered a run-scoring single in the top of the 11th inning to give Cleveland the lead, 5-4. It was his only hit in four at-bats, but it was a game-changing moment. Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt praised his team's "businesslike approach."

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Tanner Bibee
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Clear skies (67 degrees), wind blowing out to left at 10 mph
Start Time: 6:40 PM CT
Time: 4:10
Attendance: 18057
Special Notes: SP Alec Marsh was injured while pitching. RP Cade Smith was injured while pitching.

[Biggp07]

Our lineup crushed the ball tonight with four home runs against Cleveland starter Logan Allen and reliever Sandin. Nola, India, and Bobby each hit one off Allen in the early innings, and Bobby hit another homer off Sandin in the 7th to seal our win. Zac Eflin suffered a finger blister in the first inning, so I had to bring in David Lynch IV on short notice as our emergency starter. I’m glad I decided to bring him up on September 1st during roster expansion. Zac will get that finger blister healed over the next couple of days and he’ll get a chance at redemption against the Yankees next week.

Game Summary – September 4th – Witt Jr. Goes Deep Twice in 8-2 Royals Win



The exploits of shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who finished fourth in the AL with 30 stolen bases in 2022, helped the Kansas City Royals defeat the Cleveland Guardians, 8-2. Witt Jr. was 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs, and two runs scored. Daniel Lynch IV earned the win, improving to 4-5, allowing one run on two hits in 4.2 innings. The Royals improved to 61-80. Jonathan India hit a big two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning. With Kansas City trailing 1-0 and a runner on first, he sized up a splitter from Logan Allen, who is on pace for 203 strikeouts this season, and crushed it. The result was his second home run of the season, putting the Royals ahead, 2-1.

"I was just going up there trying to see good pitches, that was about it," said Witt Jr.

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Bobby Witt Jr.
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Partly Cloudy (69 degrees), wind blowing out to the center at 16 mph
Start Time: 6:40 PM CT
Time: 3:17
Attendance: 18531
Special Notes: SP Zach Eflin was injured while pitching.

[Biggp07]

Yes, another unsatisfactory month from our staff in terms of offense and pitching. We are a work in progress, I guess, like building a plane while in flight. Our record in August was 11-16 for a .407 percentage. That’s worse than July’s record. We managed some series wins, although it didn't matter in the standings or the wild-card race.



We did take a couple of key series within our division, but throughout the month, we still failed to capitalize on any of them.



As has been the case all season, we are not getting or putting guys on base enough to score in games, and it is glaringly obvious. Even with our speedy baserunners and base stealers like Bobby, Rosario, and Garcia, the lineup is not producing enough hits to bring them home for a score. Relying solely on base stealing is not effective and risks players like Bobby getting injured and sidelined for long periods, as we've already seen this season.

Our pitching staff has declined significantly since the start of the season but has been well supported by our bullpen. We need to work on consistency in our rotation during the offseason, focusing on increasing strikeouts and opposing batting averages. Our starters must generate more movement on the ball in the zone and induce more swings on close pitches. I think my decision to trade Seth Lugo at the trade deadline was too focused on cutting salary. I should have waited until the winter meetings to make that decision.

My main goal this offseason offensively is to improve our ability to get on base and enhance our wOBA by emphasizing plate discipline and better contact. I want hitters like Pasquatch and Bobby, along with some prospects from Triple-A, to be patient at the plate and work pitchers’ counts. For us to truly click as a lineup, Paul Hoover and I need to make some adjustments and put players in positions that leverage their strengths. I need to trust Paul more with day-to-day decisions because I am also managing the role of GM and working with Picollo to bring in the right talent for the team. I plan to focus on managing the pitching staff and bullpen rotations, starting by finding a better pitching coach than Brian Sweeney and a more effective team trainer than Kyle Turner. I want to hold him accountable for damaging our pitching staff early in the season due to his poor ratings at arm rehab and fatigue recovery, with little initial improvement. However, I can’t blame him entirely because I understand how fragile Ragans and all starters are. I probably should have reduced pitch counts for the entire rotation until they were a few starts in and more comfortable on the mound.

If we can get past 65 wins, and I still have my job after the postseason, I’ll be happy.

[Biggp07]

There is nothing about this September schedule that gives me hope for reaching a .500 season. I’m not sure we’ll even come close to that. We have three homestands left, two of which are against division rivals the Twins and the Tigers, and having just lost a homestand against the Guardians has not improved our standings at all.



With 21 games remaining, including 9 at home and 12 on the road, against 7 teams—4 of which have already clinched their division or are nearing it—we are struggling to avoid finishing at the bottom of the league. We can hardly be a spoiler to most of the teams we face this month, so my focus is already shifting to the off-season and preparing for next year’s run. Our owner, John Sherman, hasn't given me much trouble yet for missing nearly every goal he set for me this year, but I expect I’ll hear something from him soon.



There’s not much to cling to as I review the year-to-date totals, but a few minor signs of hope have stayed with us and shown progress. Our attendance is up from as far back as 2019, and we might still be able to reach a record close to our 2021 season of 74-88. That is my current assessment. We need to win 13 more games out of the remaining 21, which is about 60%. It’s possible, but is it possible with the team we have right now?

I know for a fact that John will not be happy about his highest priority goals set for me regarding the farm system and prospects. But I knew at the start of the season, and I even mentioned to him, that it may take a couple of years to see any progress from the changes and moves I made when I first took on this role. There are positive conclusions to draw from a quick review of our farm system if we look beyond the overall league ranking.



Our Rookie and Carolina A league teams have secured top positions in the standings or are just a game or two behind the top spot. This was where I focused most of my initial re-staffing of some minor league coaching, and it seems to have paid off. That is what I’ll stress to John in our upcoming meeting and my annual review board. I’ll highlight that the rebuilding of the farm system is not yet complete, and it needs another year to marinate before drawing any firm conclusions about our success there. Top prospects take time to develop, and finding them requires time and our valuable resources to integrate them into our system. Neither of these provides any guarantee either.

Meeting only 1 out of 6 goals fails in almost any boardroom, but it remains one of the top three priorities I have maintained throughout the year despite changes in the front office and team. I look forward to keeping my job and moving forward with the team as GM and Manager next season, God willing. But if I don’t, I’ll have this short journal as a memoir to reflect on in about 20 years.

To reiterate the goals I’ve communicated to the front office and John;

My main goal this offseason offensively is to improve our ability to get on base and boost our wOBA by focusing on plate discipline and better contact. I want hitters like Pasquatch and Bobby, along with some prospects from Triple-A, to be patient at the plate and work the pitchers’ counts. For us to truly click as a lineup, Paul Hoover and I need to make some adjustments and put players in positions that play to their strengths. I need to trust Paul more with day-to-day decisions because I am also managing the role of GM and working with Picollo to bring in the right talent for the team. I plan to focus on managing the pitching staff and bullpen rotations, starting by finding a better pitching coach than Brian Sweeney and a more effective team trainer than Kyle Turner. I want to hold him accountable for damaging our pitching staff early in the season due to his poor ratings at arm rehab and fatigue recovery, with little initial improvement. However, I can’t blame him entirely because I understand how fragile Ragans and all starters are. I probably should have reduced pitch counts for the entire rotation until they were a few starts in and more comfortable on the mound.

[Biggp07]

Jason McLeod wrapped up his visit to Venezuela with some encouraging news today. He discovered a 16-year-old third baseman named Bellchyor Cassm, a tall 6-foot-4, 210-pound player from Maturín, Venezuela. He is expected to consistently make contact with the ball and has above-average strike zone recognition. Cassm is likely to land a big league role once he matures. Like most prospects, his future is uncertain, but he's definitely worth watching and has been assigned to our international complex.



The Minnesota Twins, our upcoming opponent in a three-game series, are 78-62 so far this year, with a .557 winning percentage. They are leading the Central Division. Their total runs scored of 675 rank fourth in the American League, and their .250 batting average ranks fifth. On defense, they have conceded 579 runs (first in the league), with their starters posting an ERA of 3.90, which also ranks first. Their bullpen has an ERA of 3.72, ranking sixth. When facing our Royals this season, they hold a record of 6 wins and 4 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups:
RHP B. Singer (5-5, 4.08 ERA) vs RHP S. Woods Richardson (7-5, 3.83 ERA)
LHP A. Veneziano (3-2, 3.83 ERA) vs RHP D. Festa (1-2, 3.58 ERA)
LHP K. Bubic (1-3, 6.66 ERA) vs RHP P. Lopez (13-10, 3.65 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. CF Byron Buxton (Age: 30, Overall: 80, Potential: 80)
2. CL Jhoan Duran (26, 70, 70)
3. SS Carlos Correa (29, 65, 65)
4. SP Pablo Lopez (28, 65, 65)
5. SP Chris Paddack (28, 60, 65)

Game Summary – September 6th – Kansas City Defeated By Twins, 2-1



The Minnesota Twins secured a victory at Kauffman Stadium, defeating the Kansas City Royals 2-1. Right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson pitched for Minnesota and played a crucial role in the win. Now 8-5, Woods Richardson earned the win, pitching 6.1 innings, surrendering 5 hits, striking out 5, walking 1, and allowing no runs. Jhoan Duran earned the save, his 35th in 40 opportunities. Minnesota took a 2-0 lead on Matt Wallner's 26th home run of the season. The solo shot, hit by Wallner in the top of the seventh, clearly frustrated Kansas City pitcher John McMillon. "We'll take some time to unwind," said Woods Richardson, "and then get after it again." The American League Central Division-leading Twins have a record of 79-62.

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Simeon Woods Richardson
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Cloudy (70 degrees), wind blowing out to right at 12 mph
Start Time: 7:10 PM CT
Time: 3:06
Attendance: 22691

[Biggp07]

Minnesota is now very much in the pennant chase after tonight's game.

Game Summary – September 7th – Twins Drop Royals, 4-2



The Minnesota Twins defeated the Kansas City Royals, 4-2, in American League action at Kauffman Stadium. The standout performance was by Minnesota pitcher and Verona, New Jersey, native David Festa. Festa earned the win, improving to 2-2. He allowed 6 hits and walked none over 6.1 innings, giving up 2 runs. Jhoan Duran secured his 36th save in 41 chances. Jose Caballero, who is tied for 5th in the AL in stolen bases with 33, had a direct impact on the game. Caballero contributed a 2-run single in the top of the third inning to put Minnesota ahead, 4-0. "Trying isn't good enough in this league," said Caballero. "You've got to get results." The first-place Twins are aiming for a deep playoff run.

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: David Festa
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Clear skies (72 degrees), wind blowing out to the left at 12 mph
Start Time: 6:10 PM CT
Time: 3:07
Attendance: 24208

[Biggp07]

We acquired RP Stevie Emanuel off waivers this morning. I’m not sure why Oakland let him go since he appears to be a reliable reliever for any team, with no injury history and two control years remaining before arbitration. He could serve as a back-end starter but is better suited for middle relief and mop-up duty from the bullpen. He offers several years of versatility and helps us as we start planning for our 2025 season.



He got his first appearance in tonight's game and pitched well across 2.2 innings.

KANSAS CITY PITCHING LINESCORE

Player 	Rslt (W-L) IP  H R ER BB K HR PI ERA    
K. Bubic           4.1 3 1 1  4  8 0  89 5.97    
S. Emanuels W(1-0) 2.2 0 0 0  2  3 0  40 0.00    
J. Topa     H (1)  1.0 0 0 0  0  1 0  16 0.00    
B. BernardinoSV(9) 1.0 1 0 0  1  2 0  22 4.15

Batters Faced: K. Bubic 20, S. Emanuels 9, J. Topa 4, B. Bernardino 5
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: K. Bubic 3-2, S. Emanuels 2-2, J. Topa 1-1, B. Bernardino 1-0
Pitches - Strikes: K. Bubic 89-56, S. Emanuels 40-23, J. Topa 16-11, B. Bernardino 22-13

Game Summary – September 8th – Royals Win at Home, 4-1



Kyle Isbel played a key role in the 4-1 victory of Kansas City over Minnesota. The Royals' center fielder went 1 for 2 with a walk and was hit by a pitch. He scored three times. Brennan Bernardino earned his 9th save in 10 chances. Kansas City now stands at 62-82, while Minnesota is 80-63. The Royals received a significant at-bat from catcher Austin Nola. Overall, Nola went 2 for 4 with a double and added 2 RBIs. In the bottom of the sixth, with runners on second and third, he hit a 2-run double. His fourth double of the season gave Kansas City a 3-1 lead.

"Nice win for us," said Nola. "Now we'll go after the next one."

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Kyle Isbel
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Clear skies (66 degrees), wind blowing out to left at 11 mph
Start Time: 1:10 PM CT
Time: 3:35
Attendance: 22959

[Biggp07]

Today, we begin a three-game series against the New York Yankees on the road. They play in a ballpark that slightly favors hitters and can hold 52325 fans. With a record of 84 wins and 59 losses, the Yankees have a winning percentage of .587. They are in second place in the AL East, 7.5 games behind the division leader. Their 722 runs scored rank third in the American League, while their .245 batting average ranks tenth. On defense, they've allowed 635 runs (ninth), with starters posting an ERA of 4.01, which is second in the league. Their bullpen has an ERA of 4.60, ranking 13th. When facing our Royals this season, they have an undefeated record of 4 wins and no losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups:
RHP Z. Eflin (8-10, 4.71 ERA) vs LHP C. Rodón (9-8, 4.03 ERA)
RHP A. Marsh (2-3, 4.71 ERA) vs RHP M. Stroman (15-7, 3.05 ERA)
RHP B. Singer (5-6, 3.95 ERA) vs LHP N. Cortes (17-6, 3.55 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. RF Aaron Judge (Age: 32, Overall: 80, Potential: 80)
2. RF Juan Soto (25, 80, 80)
3. CL Clay Holmes (31, 60, 60)
4. SP Marcus Stroman (33, 60, 60)
5. SP Carlos Rodón (31, 55, 55)

Game Summary – September 9th – Soto Slugs Yankees to 12-7 Win



The Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees left fans buzzing. The Yankees defeated the Royals 12-7, with much of the credit going to designated hitter Juan Soto. Soto hit 2 home runs for the Yankees. The win brings New York's season record to 85-59. New York took the lead, 7-6, on Everson Pereira's second home run of the season. The two-run homer came off Kansas City pitcher Huascar Brazoban in the bottom of the seventh.
"We can always improve and get better, but we're feeling confident after that win," said Soto.

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Juan Soto
Ballpark: Yankee Stadium
Weather: Partly Cloudy (68 degrees), wind blowing right to left at 11 mph
Start Time: 7:05 PM ET
Time: 3:15
Attendance: 43312

[Biggp07]

Game Summary – September 10th – Volpe Helps Yankees Beat Royals, 6-5



The New York Yankees relied on shortstop Anthony Volpe's hitting to beat the Kansas City Royals, 6-5. In the game, Volpe went 3 for 4, hitting a home run and a double. He scored twice and drove in three runs. Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle earned the win, improving his record to 5-4. Justin Topa took the loss. With this win, the Yankees improved to 86-59. If Josh Bell hadn't hit a crucial single in the bottom of the eighth, the result might have been different. Instead, with two outs and runners on 1st and 3rd, Bell hit a run-scoring single. That made the score 6-5 in favor of the Yankees. Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed satisfaction with the team's effort. "Our guys played hard," he said.

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Anthony Volpe
Ballpark: Yankee Stadium
Weather: Partly Cloudy (66 degrees), wind blowing out to left at 11 mph
Start Time: 7:05 PM ET
Time: 3:28
Attendance: 45600

[Biggp07]

Before the final game of the three-game series between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium, both teams and fans observed a moment of silence to mark the 23rd anniversary of September 11, 2001. The stadium was silent as players, coaches, and spectators honored those who lost their lives, along with first responders, reflecting on the event's importance for New York City and the nation. This touching ceremony highlighted the ongoing sense of unity and remembrance that is observed each year at Yankee Stadium.


https://pinstripesnation.com/yankees-pay-tribute-to-9-11-heroes-sporting-fdny-and-nypd-hats-2024-09-11/

Yankees players paid tribute to 9/11 heroes by wearing hats labeled “FDNY” and “NYPD,” representing the brave first responders who died in 2001. Catcher J.T. Realmuto* also honored the occasion by sporting a custom mask dedicated to the fallen. The mask featured red, white, and blue colors of the United States and included logos of the New York City Police Department and the New Jersey Police Department. On the back, a pentagon with an American flag inside, along with the word “Remember” and the date “9/11/01,” served as a solemn homage. Realmuto’s mask exemplified the collective spirit of remembrance that sports foster.
*Catcher for actual game on the day was Jose Trevino. Name changed to J.T. Realmuto in this fictional narrative to represent the simulated game storyline.


https://pinstripesnation.com/yankees-pay-tribute-to-9-11-heroes-sporting-fdny-and-nypd-hats-2024-09-11/

It was a moving, solemn tribute that will always resonate with me.

Game Summary – September 11th – Yankees Prevail, 10-8, Over Kansas City



New York and Kansas City faced off, with the Yankees coming out on top. Everson Pereira was a key player in the 10-8 victory over Kansas City. The Yankees' center fielder went 3-for-5, hitting a home run and a double, scoring three times and driving in two runs. Kyle Finnegan earned the win in relief, bringing his record to 2-1. The losing pitcher was James McArthur. Juan Soto, who is tied for sixth in the AL with 153 hits, contributed to the New York offense in the bottom of the fourth inning with a run-scoring sacrifice fly. Overall, the designated hitter drove in one run for the game. Aaron Judge hit a 2-out RBI homer in the bottom of the first to bring the score within one run of the Royals.

"Enjoyed this one," Soto told the New York Times. "But it's back to work tomorrow." With the win, New York improved its record to 87-59.

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Everson Pereira
Ballpark: Yankee Stadium
Weather: Clear skies (64 degrees), wind blowing left to right at 13 mph
Start Time: 7:05 PM ET
Time: 3:21
Attendance: 45095

[Biggp07]

Today, we start a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates on the road. The Pirates play their games at PNC Park, a ballpark that favors pitchers. The stadium seats 38362 fans. With a record of 70 wins and 76 losses, the Pirates have a winning percentage of .479. They are in fifth place in the Central Division, 11.0 games behind the leader. Their total runs scored of 605 rank 14th in the National League, and their .236 batting average ranks 15th. On the other side of the diamond, they have given up 638 runs (fifth), with their starters compiling an ERA of 4.59, which ranks ninth. Their bullpen sports an ERA of 3.47, ranking third.

Here are the projected pitching matchups:
LHP A. Veneziano (3-3, 4.26 ERA) vs RHP M. Keller (5-16, 5.95 ERA)
LHP K. Bubic (1-3, 5.97 ERA) vs RHP R. Contreras (9-6, 3.92 ERA)
RHP Z. Eflin (8-10, 4.80 ERA) vs RHP P. Skenes (13-8, 2.97 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Paul Skenes (Age: 22, Overall: 80, Potential: 80)
2. CL David Bednar (29, 65, 65)
3. SS Oneil Cruz (25, 60, 65)
4. LF Bryan Reynolds (29, 60, 60)
5. 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes (27, 55, 55)

Game Summary – September 13th – Royals Deal Pirates 4-2 Defeat



Kansas City pitcher Alec Marsh contributed to his team's 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The right-hander limited the opposing batters' opportunities. Brennan Bernardino earned the save, his 10th in 11 chances. The win improves Kansas City's record to 63-85. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino delivered a key at-bat; he went 1 for 4 with a home run. In the sixth inning, with the bases empty, he hit a solo shot. His 12th home run of the season put Kansas City ahead 3-2.

"Alec was able to execute his pitches," said Kansas City manager Todd "BigP" Pollard. "Simple as that."

KANSAS CITY PITCHING LINESCORE

Player 	Rslt (W-L) IP  H R ER BB K HR PI ERA    
A. Marsh W   (3-3) 6.0 4 2 2  2  7 0  91 4.46    
S. Emanuels H (1)  2.0 0 0 0  1  3 0  27 0.00    
B. Bernardino SV(10)1.0 0 0 0 0  0 0  12 4.02

Game Score: A. Marsh 61
Batters Faced: A. Marsh 23, S. Emanuels 7, B. Bernardino 3
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: A. Marsh 6-4, S. Emanuels 2-1, B. Bernardino 2-0
Pitches - Strikes: A. Marsh 91-59, S. Emanuels 27-15, B. Bernardino 12-6

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Alec Marsh
Ballpark: PNC Park
Weather: Rain (69 degrees), wind blowing out to the center at 9 mph
Start Time: 6:40 PM ET
Time: 3:00
Attendance: 22696

[Biggp07]

Anthony Veneziano pitched a great game tonight, holding the Pirates lineup to just 1 earned run on 4 hits—a 2-out homer in the 1st inning by LF Bryan Reynolds. That was all for the rest of his 7-inning start, and he showed his grit. I can’t wait to get him in the training facility and develop another pitch in his arsenal this offseason. He has the stamina and stuff to be a solid mid-rotation starter for us, which would really help our pitching staff.

KANSAS CITY PITCHING LINESCORE

Player 	Rslt (W-L) IP  H R ER BB K HR PI ERA    
A. Veneziano       7.0 4 1 1  1  7 1  99 3.86    
C. Ferguson W(2-0) 2.0 0 0 0  0  3 0  22 0.95    
H. Brazoban SV(3)  1.0 0 0 0  0  2 0  12 7.23

Game Score: A. Veneziano 71
Batters Faced: A. Veneziano 26, C. Ferguson 6, H. Brazoban 3
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: A. Veneziano 3-11, C. Ferguson 2-1, H. Brazoban 1-0
Pitches - Strikes: A. Veneziano 99-62, C. Ferguson 22-15, H. Brazoban 12-8

Game Summary – September 14th – Pittsburgh Loses, 3-1, in 10



The Kansas City Royals secured a win at PNC Park, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-1, in 10 innings. Anthony Veneziano was the key player. Huascar Brazoban recorded his 3rd save in 4 attempts. With this win, the Royals now have a record of 64-85. Maikel Garcia, who is tied for 2nd in the AL in stolen bases with 52, made a significant impact on the game. Garcia drove in a run with a single in the top of the tenth inning to give Kansas City a 2-1 lead.

"It feels good to get this one," Veneziano told Kansas City Today.

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Anthony Veneziano
Ballpark: PNC Park
Weather: Cloudy (68 degrees), wind blowing out to left at 8 mph
Start Time: 6:40 PM ET
Time: 3:24
Attendance: 23074

[Biggp07]

I was hoping to get a win from Zac Eflin’s start tonight against Skenes, but it was not happening. Skenes is just too good a pitcher to beat with our low-production offense.

Game Summary – September 15th – Kansas City Defeated by Pirates, 4-1



The Pittsburgh Pirates received an outstanding effort from pitcher Paul Skenes, aiding Pittsburgh in a 4-1 victory over the visiting Kansas City Royals. The Pirates now stand at 71-78, placing them last in the National League Central Division. Jack Suwinski, who is tied for sixth in the NL with 79 walks, contributed a three-run homer for Pittsburgh in the bottom of the third inning. In the game, the right fielder went 2-for-4 at the plate, hitting one home run and one single, scoring a run, and driving in three RBIs.

"Paul was doing a good job pouring in strikes," said Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton.

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Paul Skenes
Ballpark: PNC Park
Weather: Cloudy (71 degrees), wind blowing out to the center at 10 mph
Start Time: 1:35 PM ET
Time: 3:12
Attendance: 18344
Special Notes: LF Bryan Reynolds was injured while running the bases.

[Biggp07]

The Texas League has made it official -- Osiris Johnson is this week's winner of the Player of the Week Award. The Northwest Arkansas shortstop was sensational with a .538 batting average, 2 home runs and 8 RBIs. Johnson also had 4 walks and posted a .600 on-base percentage. So far this year, Johnson is batting .261 with 8 home runs.



We acquired him in a trade with the Marlins in July, just a few days before the trade deadline. He was sent along with RP Huascar Brazoban and 2B Jordan McCants in exchange for SP Michael Wacha and LF Javier Vaz. I remember that trade as being one to dump Wacha, but we had to include Vaz for it to go through. In the end, as seen today, I don’t think it hurt or helped us. We're in a rebuild phase anyway and looking ahead to next year.

We have a three-game series at home starting today against the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers are hitting .467 this season, with a record of 70 wins and 80 losses. They sit in 3rd place in the Central Division, 14.5 games behind the leader. The Tigers are currently playing well, riding a three-game winning streak. They have scored 626 runs, ranking 13th in the American League, and their .236 batting average is 14th. On the defensive side, they have allowed 629 runs, which is second most in the league, with their starters posting an ERA of 4.18, ranking 4th. Their bullpen has an ERA of 3.44, the best in the league. When facing our Royals this season, they hold a record of 5 wins and 5 losses.

Here are the projected pitching matchups:
LHP K. Bubic (1-3, 5.97 ERA) vs RHP J. Jobe (4-4, 4.35 ERA)
RHP B. Singer (5-6, 4.30 ERA) vs LHP T. Skubal (11-14, 3.40 ERA)
RHP A. Marsh (3-3, 4.46 ERA) vs RHP R. Olson (10-10, 4.62 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Tarik Skubal (Age: 27, Overall: 75, Potential: 80)
2. 2B Colt Keith (23, 60, 80)
3. RF Riley Greene (23, 60, 80)
4. SP Reese Olson (25, 55, 60)
5. CF Parker Meadows (24, 50, 55)

Game Summary – September 16th – Bubic Now 2-3 After Beating Tigers



The Kansas City Royals won at Kauffman Stadium, beating the Detroit Tigers 4-3. Left-hander Kris Bubic was on the mound and was crucial to the victory. Kansas City now has a record of 65-86, while Detroit is 70-81. Bubic delivered a quality start, giving up no earned runs on 3 hits over 7 innings. Kris stayed focused, fought hard, and made key outs when needed.
However, the bullpen almost let us down tonight. Brazoban nearly lost the lead we had going into the 8th inning and gave up a 2-out, 3-run, 2-RBI homer to Detroit’s DH Colt Keith. I had to pull him and hope that Topa could get the final out to help us escape the inning without further damage. Thankfully, that’s how it all worked out.

KANSAS CITY PITCHING LINESCORE

Player 	Rslt (W-L) IP  H R ER BB K HR PI ERA    
K. Bubic W   (2-3) 7.0 3 0 0  1  7 0  91 4.79    
H. Brazoban        0.2 3 3 3  1  1 1  29 8.38    
J. Topa H (2)      0.1 0 0 0  0  0 0   1 2.25    
B. Bernardino SV(11)1.0 0 0 0 1  0 0   9 3.90

Game Score: K. Bubic 77
Batters Faced: K. Bubic 24, H. Brazoban 6, J. Topa 1, B. Bernardino 3
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: K. Bubic 5-8, H. Brazoban 0-1, J. Topa 0-1, B. Bernardino 1-1
Pitches - Strikes: K. Bubic 91-65, H. Brazoban 29-16, J. Topa 1-1, B. Bernardino 9-4
Inherited Runners - Scored: J. Topa 1-0

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Kris Bubic
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Clear skies (72 degrees), wind blowing in from left at 6 mph
Start Time: 6:40 PM CT
Time: 2:54
Attendance: 17062

[Biggp07]

Tonight’s win was a solid performance by the players, considering how the season has gone. I’m proud of how we fought to secure the victory. We still demonstrate some pride.

Game Summary – September 17th – Royals Earn 5-3 Home Win



The Detroit Tigers received a strong performance from pitcher Tarik Skubal, but the Kansas City Royals still won, 5-3. Skubal pitched 6.0 innings and allowed 5 runs. This loss brings Detroit's record to 70-82. The Royals had a key at-bat from left fielder MJ Melendez. For the game, Melendez went 1 for 4 with a double. He drove in 2 runs and scored once. In the bottom of the first, with runners on first and third, he hit a 2-run double. His 32nd double of the season gave Kansas City a 3-1 lead.
"I'm just looking for a good pitch that I can hit well," said Melendez. "And not try to do too much."

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Tarik Skubal
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Cloudy (63 degrees), wind blowing out to the right at 12 mph
Start Time: 6:40 PM CT
Time: 3:21
Attendance: 19292
Special Notes: Rain delay of 15 minutes in the 5th inning.

[Biggp07]

What a thrilling night to sweep one of our division rivals! It didn’t get us into the playoffs, but it was satisfying, nonetheless.

Game Summary – September 18th – Royals Come Back Late to Clip Tigers



The Kansas City Royals just edged past the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City pitcher Alec Marsh delivered a standout performance. Reliever Brennan Bernardino earned the win, improving his record to 2-3. Alex Lange, tied for 9th in the AL with 30 saves, took the loss. Kansas City has now won three straight games, while Detroit has lost three in a row. Drew Waters was the walk-off hero for Kansas City. With the game tied in the bottom of the ninth, the Royals' right fielder hit a dramatic run-scoring single to send the teams home with the victory.

"Great to get the crowd on its feet," Waters said.

Alec pitched a great game through 6 innings, allowing no runs on 3 hits, earning a 3.91 ERA.

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Alec Marsh and Drew Waters
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Partly Cloudy (72 degrees), wind blowing in from left at 9 mph
Start Time: 6:40 PM CT
Time: 2:57
Attendance: 20125
Special Notes: 2B Zach McKinstry was injured in a collision at a base.

[Biggp07]

Our postseason hopes are now gone, as we were officially eliminated from playoff contention. This is our ninth straight playoff miss. We last appeared in the postseason in 2015. Overall, the Royals have missed the playoffs 48 times in their 56-year history. In the last 10 seasons, we have missed the playoffs 8 times and won the World Series twice.



“Not the first time I've gone through this in my life, but it's the first time since becoming both GM and team manager," said Royals manager Todd "BigP" Pollard, "but it never gets fun." We can now really dig into our rebuild for next year.
With 9 games remaining in the season—3 at home and 6 on the road—we’re focused on finishing strong, and I really want to do so on a positive note. If we can win enough games to reach 70 wins, I’ll be very happy. At the very least, that demonstrates we have a solid team with pride still intact and are already looking forward to next season, regardless of this season’s outcome.

I’ll be reviewing stats, minors, coaching, free agency, injuries, and ownership objectives during this final week to determine our path forward as we begin the offseason. There’s a lot to consider, which means there’s probably plenty to do, and now is the perfect time to get started. I’m fairly certain that a few coaches will be leaving both at the major league level and in the minor leagues.

Since we’re profitable on the budget and ranked 28th in both budget and payroll, it'll be interesting to see what our owner thinks of the year and how he wants to prepare us for next year. I’m hoping for a budget increase and to maintain the same objectives, but we’ll see.
----------
Today, we start a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants at home. The Giants are playing .582 ball this season, with a record of 89 wins and 64 losses. They lead the West Division. Their 712 runs scored rank fifth in the National League, and their .245 batting average is tenth. On the defensive side, they've allowed 627 runs (third), with their starters posting an ERA of 3.96, which also ranks third. Their bullpen has an ERA of 3.64, placing them sixth.

Here are the projected pitching matchups:
LHP A. Veneziano (3-3, 3.86 ERA) vs LHP B. Snell (15-12, 4.32 ERA)
RHP Z. Eflin (8-11, 4.82 ERA) vs RHP K. Winn (6-2, 3.53 ERA)
LHP K. Bubic (2-3, 4.79 ERA) vs RHP K. Hendricks (17-9, 3.75 ERA)

The top 5 players on their team are:
1. SP Logan Webb (Age: 27, Overall: 75, Potential: 75)
2. SP Blake Snell (31, 65, 65)
3. CF Jung-hoo Lee (26, 65, 65)
4. CL Camilo Doval (27, 60, 60)
5. LF LaMonte Wade Jr. (30, 60, 60)

Game Summary – September 20th – Royals Stun Giants, 7-2



The Kansas City Royals racked up a win at Kauffman Stadium, bumping off the San Francisco Giants, 7-2. Anthony Veneziano, who started for Kansas City, pitched effectively for his team. The last-place Royals have won 4 straight. Kansas City took a 4-2 lead on Jonathan India's 9th double of the season. The 2-run double, which India hit in the bottom of the eighth, left San Francisco pitcher Hector Neris visibly frustrated.
"I just tried to see the ball and put a good swing on it," said India.
It was a great late-game rally that led us to a win tonight! If we keep this up, I’ll be glad to end the season on a high note and with success.

KANSAS CITY PITCHING LINESCORE

Player 	Rslt (W-L) IP  H R ER BB K HR PI ERA    
A. Veneziano       6.0 8 2 2  0  4 0  96 3.77    
H. Brazoban        1.2 2 0 0  2  1 0  33 7.71    
S. Emanuels W(2-0) 1.1 0 0 0  0  1 0  10 0.00

Game Score: A. Veneziano 52
Batters Faced: A. Veneziano 25, H. Brazoban 9, S. Emanuels 4
Ground Outs - Fly Outs: A. Veneziano 8-5, H. Brazoban 3-1, S. Emanuels 2-1
Pitches - Strikes: A. Veneziano 96-62, H. Brazoban 33-17, S. Emanuels 10-8
Inherited Runners - Scored: S. Emanuels 2-0
WP: H. Brazoban

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Anthony Veneziano
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Partly Cloudy (66 degrees), wind blowing out to center at 11 mph
Start Time: 7:10 PM CT
Time: 3:16
Attendance: 20513

[Biggp07]

We couldn’t get it done tonight. I feel for Zac, too, because he pitched a solid game with 8.0 innings, allowing only 2 earned runs on 10 hits with 6 strikeouts. Our offense didn’t have the same rally tempo as last night.

Game Summary – September 21st – Giants Top Royals, 5-0, Behind Winn



Keaton Winn performed exceptionally well to lead San Francisco to a 5-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals. With this win, San Francisco moves to a 90-65 record and maintains a 2½ game lead in their division. Winn was dominant, shutting down Kansas City’s batters over 7.1 innings, throwing 97 pitches, and allowing no runs on 3 hits, along with 6 strikeouts. "Keaton was in attack mode," said San Francisco manager Bob Melvin.

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Keaton Winn
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Clear skies (68 degrees), wind blowing out to the left at 5 mph
Start Time: 6:10 PM CT
Time: 3:00
Attendance: 22650

[Biggp07]

It was a thriller, and we led at one point but couldn’t hold on to it. I’m glad we at least gave the home fans an edge-of-the-seat ride for the final season home game.

Game Summary – September 22nd – Giants Drop Royals, 9-7



Luis Matos added some punch to the San Francisco offense, helping them outmuscle the Kansas City Royals, 9-7. In the game, Matos was 2-3 with a home run, 2 walks, and was hit by a pitch. He scored 2 runs and drove in 2. The win was credited to Camilo Doval in relief. His record improves to 8-5. Brennan Bernardino took the loss. The victory puts San Francisco at 91-65 for the season. The game was tied until catcher Patrick Bailey came to bat in the top of the tenth. Facing Kansas City pitcher Brennan Bernardino, he hit a 1-2 fastball for a run-scoring single. It was a game-changing moment, putting San Francisco ahead, 8-7. "Nice to see our side come away with the win," Bailey said after the game.

GAME NOTES
Player of the Game: Luis Matos
Ballpark: Kauffman Stadium
Weather: Clear skies (77 degrees), wind blowing out to the right at 12 mph
Start Time: 1:10 PM CT
Time: 4:04
Attendance: 24147

[Biggp07]

Jason McLeod arrived home hours after leaving Venezuela on the team jet yesterday. He claims to have found some intriguing prospects, though the only one worth mentioning was Luis Contreras, a 16-year-old starting pitcher.

Luis Contreras is a tall 6-foot-8, 210-pound starting pitcher from Barquisimeto, Venezuela. At his best, his repertoire should include an excellent curveball with good rotation, a decent slider, a fringe fastball, and a fringe changeup. You might be able to tolerate long fly balls and walks, but combining both could cause problems. He might still be surprised, but at this point, I don't see him as more than a depth organizational player. He has been assigned to our international complex for further assessment and observation over the next few years to see if he develops a better personality. Still, at this point, I’m very skeptical.



Before heading out on this road trip, as we approached the final week of the regular season and after receiving the official notice of our elimination from the playoffs, I decided to visit John Sherman in his office to discuss a few matters with him. During that meeting, although it was his lowest priority, I brought up the request to upgrade left field. I wanted to leave him some positive news rather than the overwhelmingly negative summary it seemed to be.



So, I convinced him to recognize that the clubhouse chemistry was much improved this year and that I believe it will continue into next season. He seemed satisfied with that so that I might keep my job.



As far as our finances sit going into the off-season, I think we are pretty good. Our free agent arbitration is minimal, and we have culled the pricey ones from the list before reaching the point where we’re stuck with them.



Our cost-effective players have maintained an excellent payroll ratio, but I need to decide soon on a few highly paid players other than Salvy and Bobby. Our attendance remains steady, and future payroll costs into 2026 seem manageable for now.



Finally, our record is at least respectable compared to our 2021 record of 74-88, with six more regular-season games remaining, and a chance that we finish with 70 wins, currently sitting at 68-88, with a .436 winning percentage. If we can do that, I’ll be happy.