Kauffman Corner

The Royals continue to hang around .500 with little to no help from their bats. Is there anything that can be done to get the offense going? David Lesky (Publisher - Inside the Crown/@DBLesky) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) discuss the lack of offense, the great starting pitching and the latest on the stadium… - When will the bats wake up? - Is it time to change the lineup? - Should Maikel Garcia hit further down? - When will Pasquantino awaken? - Is Salvy done? - Great starting pitching more about the schedule? - Pitching depth taking a hit. - City Connect uni’s. - The Mayor has a financing plan. 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5883084893847552

The Royals had a chance to measure themselves against the current King of Small Market Baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers, dropping 2 of three over the weekend. David Lesky (Publisher - Inside the Crown/@DBLesky) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) discuss the Royals performance against the Brewers and Twins earlier in the week… - Is the bullpen officially a problem? - What to make of the Kris Bubic start today? - Which Royals hitters are we worried about? - Has Kyle Isbel turned a corner? - Is Seth Lugo back to his ’24 form? - Luinder Avila is not a Starter! - Did we over-rate the Royals pitching depth in the minors? 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5883084893847552

The first series of the season is in the books. So why not over-react to the good, the bad and the ugly? David Lesky (Publisher - Inside the Crown/@DBLesky) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) discuss the Royals dropping two of three in Atlanta to begin the year… - Carlos Estevez was blown up by the Braves. - What are the other options to close? - Wacha and Lugo look strong in their starts. - What should the Royals expect from Bubic and Cameron? - Did we over-rate the offense? - Carter Jensen has already gone deep! - Looks like the new “City Connect” uniforms have leaked. 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5883084893847552

On a special Royals Opening Day edition of the Kauffman Corner Podcast, Rany Jazayerli is back to help us make our “Bold & Daring Predictions” for the 2026 Season. David Lesky (Publisher - Inside the Crown/@DBLesky) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) welcome Dr. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder of Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) to lay out 15 “Bold & Daring Predictions”… - How many homers will this team hit? - Who will have the big seasons at the plate? - Are any Royals headed for MLB Hardware? I- s the Farm System ready to blossom? - Will this pitching staff dominate with the K? - Who scores all the runs for this team? - Is the Royals Offense really ready to walk? ⁃ Does Caglianone get on base enough to make a difference?

The 2026 Season is less than a week away for the Kansas City Royals, so it’s time to make our predictions for the Royals ’26 Postseason awards. The good doctor, Dr. Rany Jazayerli joins us to put in his two cents are who the best of the Kansas City Royals will be. David Lesky (Publisher - Inside the Crown/@DBLesky) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) welcome Dr. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder of Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) to help us predict what the ’26 Royals season will be and who will win the awards. - Player/Pitcher of the Year. - Breakout Player. - Biggest Disappointment. - Best Position Player not named Bobby Witt Jr. - Best Pitcher not named Cole Ragans. - Best Reliever. - Biggest Impact Rookie. - Top Prospect at the end of the year. - Royals Record. ⁃ Key Story Line of the season will be…

The Royals are making quite a statement at the WBC. Taking walks and knocking the ball over the wall. Does this mean the Royals Offense is fixed? David Lesky (Publisher - Inside the Crown/@DBLesky) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) break down the impressive offensive explosion from Royals hitters at the WBC and more… - Vinnie Pasquantino has his first three homer game. - Royals batters are taking their walks. - Jeff Passan says the Royals will have a top 10 Offense. - How much better can the Royals be at the plate? - What will Carter Jensen’s career look like? ⁃ Where is the floor and ceiling for Jac Caglianone?

The WBC is under way and numerous Royals have seen action. How have they done and what does it mean for the upcoming Royals season. David Lesky (Publisher - Inside the Crown/@DBLesky) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) break down the latest from the WBC and the Royals. - Should the Royals worry about how many players are in the WBC? - Bobby Witt Jr. embraces the leadoff at the WBC. - Seth Lugo looks good in his first start. - What to make of Michael Wacha’s mixed bag? - Maikel Garcia bats second for Venezuela. - Vinnie Pasquantino starts slow. - Jac Caglianone sits for Italy. - Luinder Avila allows too many baserunners. - Still no Carlos Estevez for the Dominican Republic. - Adding to the Royals Broadcast team. 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5883084893847552

The Royals have reportedly agreed to a deal with veteran outfielder, Starling Marte. What should the Royals expect from him and how does he fit into the lineup? David Lesky (Publisher - Inside the Crown/@DBLesky) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) break down the Marte addition and the latest from Royals Spring Training. - Starling Marte bring what to the Royals? - How Marte fits into the Outfield. - Bobby Witt Jr. in the leadoff? - Key players showing patience at the plate. - Lugo, Ragans and Bubic make their debuts. - Putting the bullpen together. - Carter and Jac have a big day! 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5883084893847552

We’ve got real Spring Training baseball to discuss, so let’s over-react to the first few games of Spring Training. David Lesky (Publisher - Inside the Crown/@DBLesky) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) react to the Royals first three games and discuss how the roster may come together… - Who are the most important pitchers after Cole Ragans? - How will the Royals fit their pitching depth? - Where should Maikel Garcia bat? - What’s the best batting order for the Royals? - Where are the roster battles? - Who and where are the best spots for the Royals to platoon? 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5883084893847552

With Spring Training underway it’s time to start breaking down the American League Central. How do the Royals measure up to the Tigers, Guardians, Twins and White Sox? David Lesky (Publisher - Inside the Crown/@DBLesky) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) rank the American League Central 1 to 5 in five key categories… - Offense. - Starting Pitching. - Bullpen. - Defense. - Base Running. ⁃ Conclusions!

The Royals lose another member of their 2015 Championship team and what do the Royals need to accomplish at Spring Training? Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) are talking… - Remembering Terrence Gore. - Lugo, Bergert and Bubic throwing free and easy! - Carter Jensen looks like an everyday catcher. - Lucas Erceg is getting the K's. - Can Jac Caglianone take the next step? - Has the power returned for Blake Mitchell? - Can Issac Collins keep his OBP up? 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5883084893847552

With just 10 days remaining until Spring Training we chat with Royals General Manger, JJ Picollo. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) welcome the Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Kansas City Royals to discuss the job of a General Manager and the season ahead. - What plans did Picollo have going into the job? - What has been more difficult than expected? - Hiring Matt Quatraro. - Getting more On Base Percentage. - Building the Farm System. - Signing young Stars. - Getting bad offers from other GM’s. ⁃ What can still get done before the season?

A week ago we looked at the Hitters with the biggest potential variance in their 2026 season and how they would affect the success of the Royals. This week we look at the Pitchers. Which of the 2026 arms have the biggest potential distance between their ceiling and floor and thereby will have the biggest impact on the season? David Lesky (Publisher - Inside the Crown/@DBLesky), Les Norman (Former Royals OF/Author - Teaching the Tools of Hitting) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) are selecting the pitchers that can have the biggest impact on the Royals success or failure in 2026. - What did we learn from putting our list together? - Which Pitcher has the biggest distance between ceiling and floor? - How to handle all the pitchers returning from injury? - Where to put Cole Ragans on the list? - Does a reliever make a big enough difference to make the list? - Which pitchers just missed making the list? 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5883084893847552

The Royals have become one of the savviest organizations in baseball when it comes to pitching. The man behind that is Pitching Coach, Brian Sweeney. David Lesky (Publisher - Inside the Crown/@DBLesky), pinch hitting for Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli), and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) welcome Sweeney to discuss… - Creating a Pitching Legacy in KC. - What went into trading Freddy Fermin. - Dealing with injuries in ’25. - The importance of the Strikeout. - Chase Rates. - Changing the fences at Kauffman Stadium. ⁃ Working cohesively with all parts of the organization.

Major League Baseball teams love consistency in a player. At the same time they are always happy to discuss a player’s “ceiling”. So which of the 2026 Royals have the biggest distance between their ceiling and floor and thereby will have the biggest effect on the Royals chances? David Lesky (Publisher - Inside the Crown/@DBLesky), Les Norman (Former Royals OF/Author - Teaching the Tools of Hitting) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) are selecting the players that can have the biggest impact on the Royals success or failure in 2026. - Which Hitter has the biggest distance between ceiling and floor? - Does moving the fences in change the list? - Where does Jac Caglianone fit into the equation? - Is there still upside with Salvy? - Can the Royals expect the same number from Carter Jensen? - Is Bobby Witt Jr. too good to make this list? - What Hitter is the most consistent and reliable? - What did we learn from making the lists? 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5883084893847552

ESPN’S Senior Major League Baseball Insider joins the Kauffman Corner Podcast to talk Royals and all things Baseball. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) welcome Jeff Passan to discuss the Royals offseason and more. - Have the Dodgers ruined the sport? - Are we headed to a labor stoppage in ’27? - Evaluating the Royals Offseason. - Is trading Cole Ragans a good idea? - Where Matt Quatraro ranks among Managers? ⁃ What will bringing the fences in means for the Royals?

The Royals are moving the fences in. What this means for the ’26 Royals and beyond. David Lesky (Publisher - Inside the Crown/@DBLesky), Les Norman (Former Royals OF/Author - Teaching the Tools of Hitting) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) break down what the effect of a smaller ballpark will be for the hitters, pitchers and the and the fans… - Biggest winners and losers? - Will this attract more free agents? - Does it change the type of players the Royals look for? - Will it affect the Outfielders defensively? - Why not move Center Field in as well? - How many Homers will the Royals hit in ’26? 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5883084893847552

It there any help on the Farm? Did the Royals get it right in arbitration? How many players on the Royals Hall of Fame ballot should get the call? Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) discuss where the Royals can expect help form their Minor Leagues and more. - The Royals avoid arbitration with 6 players. - Pasquantino and Bubic head to arbitration. - Is there an arm or two in the minors that can help? - Will any bat from Omaha even make the bigs? - The Royals Hall of Fame ballots are in. 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5883084893847552

The Royals continue to get in-house business done by extending the contract of Matt Quatraro through the 2029 season, but they remain in a holding pattern when it comes to acquiring another bat. David Lesky (Publisher - Inside the Crown/@DBLesky), Les Norman (Former Royals OF/Author - Teaching the Tools of Hitting) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) break down the Quatraro extension and what moves might still be possible for the Royals. - Quatraro locked up through at least 2029. - Is the Bubic market heating up? - Could Bo Bichette be a Royal? - AL Central Win Totals. - The Jensen/Caglianone effect. - In other news… 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5883084893847552

Last week (Episode 241) we projected where the Royals would be better/worse among the Position Players and this week we’re taking a look at the Pitching Staff. Rany Jazayerli (Co-Founder Baseball Prospectus/@Jazayerli) and Soren Petro (Sports Radio 810-WHB, 810whb.com/@SorenPetro) break down the pitching staff by how many wins they think the Royals have improved or regressed this offseason. - Royals extend Matt Quatraro through '29/Option for '30. - Health is the key at the top of the Rotation. - Back of the rotation may not be what it looks like now. - Is middle relief one of the biggest improvements? - Did the back of the bullpen improve with the Strahm addition? - Should the Royals fear the age of the back of the pen? 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5883084893847552