This year brought another winning season, giving the Royals back-to-back-winning seasons for the first time since 2014-15. But the team fell short of a playoff spot, a disappointing result that reflects the raised expectations. From another excellent season from Bobby Witt Jr., to outstanding starting pitching, to a terrible offensive outfield, to Maikel Garcia breaking […]
This year brought another winning season, giving the Royals back-to-back-winning seasons for the first time since 2014-15. But the team fell short of a playoff spot, a disappointing result that reflects the raised expectations.
From another excellent season from Bobby Witt Jr., to outstanding starting pitching, to a terrible offensive outfield, to Maikel Garcia breaking out, to trade talks, and more ballpark rumors, here’s the best of what Royals Review produced in 2024.
Best opinion articles
Brian Henry wants Salvador Perez to get more days off.
Max Rieper pointed out how silly baseball scorers have gotten after a Bobby Witt Jr.’ flirtation with the cycle was taken away.
He also wrote that Alec Zumwalt needed to be accountable for the lack of offense.
Greg Walker covered this year’s Royals draft class.
Matthew Lamar praised the team’s “Moneyball” trade deadline.
Bradford Lee was frustrated the Royals aren’t sitting at the “big boy” table for free agents.
Jeremy Greco argued that if any team wants to trade for Cole Ragans, it should come at a very steep price.
Matthew is not a fan of the idea of the Royals moving to Overland Park, but gave an endorsement to the team moving to North Kansas City.
Best analytical articles
Kevin Ruprecht wrote that the Royals were taking too many first-pitch strikes.
Jeremy Greco agreed and said they could learn from Alcides Escobar and ambush pitchers.
He also wrote about the good and bad from Michael Lorenzen.
Trenton Kraxner wrote about the play that broke the Royals’ offense.
Cullen Jekel argued the idea of the Jonathan India trade made sense, even if the deal hadn’t worked out.
Connor Moylan was impressed with Carter Jensen’s hot start.
He also liked that the Royals were acquiring guys who don’t chase.
Brian Henry wrote about what a Maikel Garcia extension would look like (before he actually signed one!)
Max Rieper wrote about how much Royals ownership has spent on players.
He also examined the Hall of Fame case for Salvador Perez.
It’s easy for an infielder to learn the outfield – tell ‘em Wash! Matthew Lamar talked to Rusty Kuntz and learned it is actually quite difficult!
Best history articles
Matthew LaMar looked at the worst outfields in Royals history.
Brian Henry compared Jac Caglianone to other left-handed power hitters.
Max Rieper reflected on a poor 2020 draft class for the Royals.
He also wondered what the Royals missed by letting Brent Rooker get away.
Cullen Jekel looks at the mixed legacy of Whit Merrifield.
Bradford Lee looked at how Noah Cameron stood up to the best rookie pitching performances in club history.
He also looked at the best Royals players from the last quarter-century.
And he wrote about the best moments from Bo Jackson’s career.
He also wrote about some of his favorite baseball announcers through history.
Best humor articles
Max Rieper wrote about how MLB Network’s rankings HATE the Royals.
Matthew LaMar ranked the possible outcomes of a Royals season.
He also wrote about his favorite vintage Royals gear.
Connor Moylan introduced a panic level scale for Royals hitters.
Max wrote about how Michael Massey got charged with an error despite throwing a runner out.
He also wrote up a Spotify-style Royals Wrapped.
Best game recaps
Jeremy Greco listed winners and losers after a 2-0 Royals win over the Astros to win their sixth in a row in April.
The Royals hung some dong in a slugfest win over the Orioles.
The White Sox had an epic meltdown in a game in May to hand the Royals a walk-off win.
Trenton Kraxner wrote about Matt Quatraro’s head-scratching decisions in a loss to the A’s in June.
A 4-3 win over the Rangers in August gave hope the Royals could climb back into the race.
The Royals were out of the race, but it was still fun to put up 20 runs on the Blue Jays in September.
Best fanposts
ItsJustBusiness compared this year’s club to the 1994 team.
ThunderStreetWorkshop compared this pitching staff to the 1985 pitching staff.
BHWick compared how much or little Royals hitters improved in the second half.
Suff76 listed some interesting stats on the pitching staff.
DJourn asked when we all became Royals fans.
Kilgore7777 is putting together top decades teams and has his best Royals of the 1970s.
royalcannabis offered his interesting predictions.
Best GIFs/videos/photoshops/social media
Only Severance superfans will get this reference.
Truce?
Rex Hudler does his best horse impression.
The Royals signed 45-year-old Rich Hill, but he didn’t last long.
Vinnie Pasquantino is bilingual.
Former Royals All-Star Frank White lost his recall election.
Best comments
Dadunca had a Shakespearean answer for what the Royals could do at second base.
The positional switching made Moose_Tacos come up with an idea for acquiring Starling Marte.
Max was a bit ageist when the Royals signed Rich Hill, and Brett_390 was offended.
Other
Our predictions thread was mostly wrong, of course.
Here are Max’s specific Royals predictions for 2025 that were mostly wrong.
Connor Moylan wrote in August that we still don’t know where the next Royals ballpark will be (it’s now December and we still don’t know!)
He also wrote about how the Royals were dropped by their gaming partner.
Matthew LaMar asked Royals players what it was like to hit at Kauffman Stadium.
Cullen Jekel reflected on how baseball was the backdrop of his memories of his father.
Thanks again to all our readers for another terrific season, and here’s hoping the Royals can return to the playoffs in 2026! Have a Happy New Year!
Category: General Sports
