Kansas City Royals news: The roadtrip starts with a familiar style of loss

The Kansas City Royals lose another low-scoring affair, wasting six scoreless innings from starter Cole Ragans.

The Royals have scored two or fewer runs in six of their last seven games, but managed a pair of wins when starters Kris Bubic and Michael Wacha blanked the White Sox on Friday and Saturday, with seven and eight scoreless innings, respectively.

Kansas City pitchers have almost no margin for error right now.

Ragans was asked about the frustrations he and the other starters could be feeling, but dismissed that, saying, “Ahh, yeah, I mean, we know what we’ve been doing well, and what we haven’t. We’ve been through stretches like this before, and tomorrow’s a new day. That’s the beauty of baseball.”

David Lesky looks at how the Royals could break out or settle into their slump in the lineup.

The question is both if and when the team will come out of it. I think we saw last year that they likely will come out of it. But the problem last season came that they dug themselves such a hole in the first three months that even being one of the 10 best offenses in baseball for the last three didn’t even get them to average. So they need to figure this out sooner than later because later likely means another season like last year. Nobody will complain about another winning season, but the goals are much loftier this year than that. But, maybe against better judgment, I think they’ll be okay.

The biggest reason why I think that is the easiest one to understand. There isn’t a lot of science or stats to back this one up, but the Royals simply currently aren’t getting anything out of Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez, their three and four hitters. Sometimes people say things like that and it’s hyperbolic, but the Royals are actually getting essentially nothing.

The Kansas City, Missouri, City Council introduced an ordinance to finance a stadium near Crown Center at Washington Square Park. Brooks Sherman, the Royals’ president of real estate and development, had some comments after the council moved forward with the plan.

The underlying proposal would allow City Manager Mario Vasquez to negotiate a deal of up to $600 million for a $1.9 billion stadium project at Washington Square Park near Crown Center and Union Station. “We look very much forward to the continued process,” Sherman told reporters. “We’ll continue our work with Mario and his staff toward an agreement, as was put forth in the ordinance today.” He added that “this stuff isn’t easy,” an apparent reference to the team’s years-long search for a new stadium that has frustrated and exhausted political leaders and fans alike.

What could be next for the stadium process and how did the public react to Tuesday’s developments?

While the City Council is likely to approve the proposal on Thursday, that vote would not officially solidify the team’s move near downtown. The funding deal itself would have to go back before the council at a future date once the proposal is fleshed out, city staff told council members on Tuesday. Tuesday’s finance committee meeting offered members of the public their first chance to weigh in on the stadium proposal. One by one, opponents and supporters stepped up to a microphone to address the deal in front of council members. Local business advocates and organized labor groups touted the potential stadium as a major boost to the city’s downtown landscape and construction jobs. Meanwhile, members of some progressive groups framed the proposal as corporate welfare for rich team owners. More than one speaker referenced economic studies that have shown stadiums are not major engines for economic development.

Royals fall from 15th to 21st in the latest power rankings from The Athletic.

Early surprise: Bobby Witt Jr.

Through the Royals’ first 16 games, Witt has 16 hits and 10 walks for an on-base percentage of .371. Additionally, he has stolen a league-leading eight bases, so while he’s not hitting for much power yet (only 3 XBH’s, all doubles), he’s still getting into scoring position.

And yet, he has scored precisely one run, back on March 29 against Atlanta.

Witt scored 99 of the Royals’ 651 runs last year. That’s 15.2 percent, a pace only exceeded by five other players: Shohei Ohtani (17.7, Dodgers), Aaron Judge (16.1, Yankees), José Ramírez (16.0, Guardians), Fernando Tatis Jr. (15.8, Padres) and Juan Soto (15.7, Mets).

The 651 runs ranked 26th out of 30 teams last year. This year, they’re tied for 26th. So it’s not like there’s been a drastic change in runs scored. It’s just not Witt scoring them, for some inexplicable reason.

Royals outfield prospect Carson Roccaforte popped up in Down on the Farm’s Weekly Pearls.

Roccaforte has some solid upside, possessing a rare blend of speed and power, and has plus CF potential. His big gain this season has been in lifting the ball: he’s (probably unsustainably) reduced his GB% to 17.4%, which aligns well with his plus power. Because of his age/level combo (he just turned 24 and is in Double-A), our model has him as unlikely to make an impact in the show, especially with below-average strikeout and contact rates. The tools are intriguing, though, and his good glove gives him a floor that is higher than most older prospects.

Royals outfielder Issac Collins exited Tuesday’s loss early with a right knee contusion.

ClutchPoints tries to put a positive spin on the Royals struggles at the plate.

No, MLB players don’t use hand signals or PitchCom to communicate with one another.

Some MLB Draft scouting notes from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.

The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres are reportedly interested in free agent pitcher Lucas Giolito.

Philadelphia Phillies player Alec Bohm has now fired super-agent Scott Boras amidst legal battle against his parents.

Check out the latest Down on the Farm Podcast.

Lance Brozdowski ponders what is wrong with Eury Perez after the Miami Marlins starter’s rough opening stretch.

Boston Red Sox Jarren Duran outfielder says another fan, this time in Minnesota, told him to kill himself.

Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz returns to the dugout a day after being hit by a foul ball, breaking his jaw.

Milwaukee Brewers veteran Christian Yelich could miss at least a month with an adductor strain.

Can the Indiana Hoosiers go back-to-back? Yogi Roth and Todd Blackledge visit the team’s spring practice for some more insight.

A nonprofit journalism operation bought the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, saving the newspaper from shutting down.

Renowned college basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale is facing his fifth battle with cancer.

How to turn $117 into a Picasso painting with a seven-digit value.

Today’s song of the day is The Boxer by Simon & Garfunkel.