Excellent choices. Saw each one and many as you alluded to were windows to what the Royals could be. Hope the new leadership team brings out the best in 2023. I don't expect them to win but I do expect them to serve youth and develop. It is the only way outside of a free agent route that we will eventfully win.
They at least potentially have a core in place. We’ll see what these guys become but it’s easy to dream on Witt, Vinnie, MJ and Singer to be a nice start with a bunch of guys who could join them this year. Those games last year that featured all of them were really fun.
Can't help but think the omission of the TOR win from the Christmas Eve marathon was a concentrated effort from the FO. COVID vax erasure and such. I'd bet that's the win that most fans will remember about last season. But I digress...
I'd add a "technically not a Royals game but a Royals-adjacent win" on my list. The Omaha Storm Chasers 10-4 win over the Syracuse Mets on July 27. Hicklen and Waters both take a rehabbing deGrom deep (Waters being a 3-run shot), Salvy in early stages of his own rehab assignment, 5 scoreless innings from Carlos Hernandez including a dominating K vs. #1 prospect, Francisco Alvarez.
Seeing Mets fans/national media salivating over deGrom being close to returning to the majors put a spotlight on the Royals farm and seeing the Storm Chasers mash allowed us fans to poke fun at the rest of the league for once. Made for a fun day.
Blue Jays series was the most paid attention series I had with the team all year. Best games or not really.
Topic for another day - but I see the Royals designated for assignment O’Hearn. They finally get to the right conclusion I suppose. I don’t know many businesses where management can literally light 1.4 million on fire for no good reason. Its not my money, but the whole saga is just so weird.
Very weird for sure, but the right decision was eventually made and maybe they have a trade partner for him. I’m not holding my breath but there are a few teams who could use a stopgap.
Great news about O'Hearn. Better late than never. I thought game 1 might be on the list. It was kind of the coming out party for BWJ. He got that double to get them the lead in 5th or 6th, I have slept since then. Then he made that crazy throw to get out of the 10th. Then they won it in the bottom of 10th. I thought it was an exciting start to the season. Happy New Years to you sir!!!!
I think the dodgers victory has to be here somewhere. I believe they were in the middle of a substantial winning streak when we took a game from them. Didn't think we'd be able to hang with that lineup.
Excellent choices. Saw each one and many as you alluded to were windows to what the Royals could be. Hope the new leadership team brings out the best in 2023. I don't expect them to win but I do expect them to serve youth and develop. It is the only way outside of a free agent route that we will eventfully win.
They at least potentially have a core in place. We’ll see what these guys become but it’s easy to dream on Witt, Vinnie, MJ and Singer to be a nice start with a bunch of guys who could join them this year. Those games last year that featured all of them were really fun.
The Blue Jays game was the most fun game to watch for me.
Zero pressure on the kids. Finally getting to see them all in the lineup. And they played their butts off!
Eaton's bomb was the cherry on top.
It was incredible. It even felt like zero pressure as a fan, as weird as that sounds.
Talking about looking back, I got my 2015 WS box set out and watched last week. Man, I miss that team!
That game 2 against deGrom they couldn't swing and miss!
Really would love to have pitching coach, Dave Eiland and hitting coach Dale Sveum, back for these kids now. And of course Rusty Kuntz.
Tremendous
Man, I still don’t know why they moved on from Eiland. But yeah, so much fun to watch those games!
After reading this, I really have my Royals fever up! It was up anyway, only 92 days til first day at the K!
Good to know others are counting down!
Great recap/writeup per usual, Mr. Lesky!
Can't help but think the omission of the TOR win from the Christmas Eve marathon was a concentrated effort from the FO. COVID vax erasure and such. I'd bet that's the win that most fans will remember about last season. But I digress...
I'd add a "technically not a Royals game but a Royals-adjacent win" on my list. The Omaha Storm Chasers 10-4 win over the Syracuse Mets on July 27. Hicklen and Waters both take a rehabbing deGrom deep (Waters being a 3-run shot), Salvy in early stages of his own rehab assignment, 5 scoreless innings from Carlos Hernandez including a dominating K vs. #1 prospect, Francisco Alvarez.
Seeing Mets fans/national media salivating over deGrom being close to returning to the majors put a spotlight on the Royals farm and seeing the Storm Chasers mash allowed us fans to poke fun at the rest of the league for once. Made for a fun day.
Yeah I’m sure they left it off because of the situation and the Royals probably were a part of that choice. Still, such a fun game!
And you’re right. That was awesome for Omaha too.
Blue Jays series was the most paid attention series I had with the team all year. Best games or not really.
Topic for another day - but I see the Royals designated for assignment O’Hearn. They finally get to the right conclusion I suppose. I don’t know many businesses where management can literally light 1.4 million on fire for no good reason. Its not my money, but the whole saga is just so weird.
Very weird for sure, but the right decision was eventually made and maybe they have a trade partner for him. I’m not holding my breath but there are a few teams who could use a stopgap.
Great news about O'Hearn. Better late than never. I thought game 1 might be on the list. It was kind of the coming out party for BWJ. He got that double to get them the lead in 5th or 6th, I have slept since then. Then he made that crazy throw to get out of the 10th. Then they won it in the bottom of 10th. I thought it was an exciting start to the season. Happy New Years to you sir!!!!
I did think about that game and even the next one, which is where the throw was from. Those were fun games to start the season!
And happy new year to you too!
I think the dodgers victory has to be here somewhere. I believe they were in the middle of a substantial winning streak when we took a game from them. Didn't think we'd be able to hang with that lineup.
They were. Had won a bunch in a short time. For me, the game was fairly whatever but the result was meaningful.