Kansas City Royals Manager for a Day

Overtime Heroics Editorial

2209 days ago

Have you ever thought about what you would do if you were the manager of the Kansas City Royals for a day? If it was an important pennant race style game you would put together the best lineup possible. What if it was challenge style game? A friend challenges you to put together your strangest lineup and coaching options just to see who would win. The rules are pretty simple, no one can play in a position they already have professionally. They can’t coach something they would be considered experts in. You can use athletes from other teams, sports, and at any level. Here is what I would do if I were the whacky Royals manager for a day. I promise it is going to get a little weird.

The Coaches for the Royals

I am the manager of this strange collection of players and coaches, but who would I want by my side? My bench coach, the smiling face I want to take over when I inevitably get ejected, is Cheslor Cuthbert. Next up my pitching coach would have to be Patrick Mahomes, he wouldn’t be an expert even though his dad was a pitcher. The hitting coach would be the Gnar Dog himself, Danny Duffy. He has a career .100 BA in 20 at bats and a .200 OPS. Definitely the man for the job there. The man in charge of timing steals as the first base coach would be Salvador Perez. On the other side of the diamond in charge of risky sends at third is Lucas Duda. He has been ensuring Royals players get home safe since 2015. A little bonus, my replay coordinator is my mom. She only kind of watches baseball when I make her but moms are always right.

Time to Reveal the Royals Pitching Staff

Just to be the most difficult I can be every pitcher gets an inning. No situational pitching changes, the whole inning is their responsibility. My starting pitcher would have to be Adalberto Mondesi who would actually get two innings. I know he would bring that fire for Yordano Ventura (RIP Ace). I would follow him up with Whit Merrifield in the third and Aaron Judge in the fourth. The fifth would belong to Humberto Artega. Next up for the Kansas City Royals would be Travis Kelce. Seventh inning relief would be found in Hunter Dozier. Followed by my set up man who is someone very special to me, Eric Hosmer. Finally, to close out my dominate pitching staff Bubba Starling would come out for the ninth. He pitched in high school but not professionally so I’ll allow it.

My Royals Defense and Batting Order

My defense is arguably a little easier to come up with. The backstop on the diamond would have to be Alex Gordon. I don’t know why but I have always wanted to see him catch. Then meet my corner infielders Bryce Harper and Eric Skoglund at first and third respectively. Additionally, going up the alley I would have Jakob Junis at second and Brett Phillips at shortstop. Next, the outfield would be patrolled by Nicky Lopez in left, Jose Altuve in center, and Zion Williamson in right. Finally my designated hitter would be Christian Yelich. This year he has a .335 BA/.424 OBP/1.112 OPS. Those are amazing numbers, but the National League doesn’t have a Designated Hitter so he has never played the position before.

My bench would consist of: Josh Staumont, Chase Litton, Tyrann Mathieu, Jabrill Peppers, and Mike Trout. Last but not least my batting order would be: Nicky Lopez, Alex Gordon, Bryce Harper, Christian Yelich Jose Altuve, Brett Phillips, Zion Williamson, Jakob Junis, Eric Skoglund.  

Phone a Friend to be a Royals Manager

When this idea first popped into my weird little brain I asked some people in my life what things they would do. I got some fun ideas from a couple coworkers and my childhood best friend. Now they did not build whole teams or even try to mix up positions but they had some fun with it. My friend built a team she calls “The Hotties of Baseball.” She did not assign new positions but it’s still a great combination of players. This team includes: Kevin Keirmaier, Anthony Recker, Bryce Harper, David Robertson, Eric Hosmer, Kris Bryant, Adam Ottavio, Jonathan Lucroy, Leonys Martin, and Buster Posey. I would pay to watch that team every day.

My coworkers however gave me some fun switcheroo players and positions. One suggested having Salvador Perez play shortstop and Whit Merrifield as pitcher. She also thought Adalberto Mondesi in right field and Cheslor Cuthbert in center would be interesting. My favorite coworker thinks a lot like I do and he had Alex Gordon catching, Nicky Lopez in left field, a starting pitcher at first, and a relief pitcher (Richard Lovelady obviously) be the designated hitter.

Concluding My Royals Manager for a Day

I am going to be honest, I am not exactly sure my team would win. I think my lineup is pretty solid and my defense could prevent some runs from scoring. It is the pitching I am worried about. If we are being honest that has just been the story of the Royals all this year anyway. I figure if we aren’t going to be contenders this year, or for awhile, I might as well have fun with what this team could be if I was the Royals’ manager for a day. What kind of changes would you make?

By: Jorden Miller

Twitter: @cap_jrm

Come discuss this and much more at the Overtime Heroics forums!