Stephen Kolek\u2019s injury from Wednesday was diagnosed as a left oblique strain<\/a>:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Kolek will be shut down for the next five to seven days, but it could be more depending on what the scan shows.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re obviously hopeful it\u2019s not too serious,\u201d manager Matt Quatraro said.<\/p>\n \u201c[Kolek] is the guy that probably you would have put near the bottom of the list of guys who might get hurt,\u201d Quatraro said. \u201cHis arm\u2019s been healthy, and he\u2019s in great shape. He takes care of himself. And then something like this pops up. It\u2019s just unexpected.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Matt Strahm was missing yesterday, but it was not injury-related:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n At The Star, Jaylon Thompson writes about how this may affect the rotation<\/a>:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWe are going to get an image later today just to see what the severity of it is,\u201d Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters in Surprise, Arizona. \u201cWe are obviously hopeful that it\u2019s not too serious.\u201d<\/p>\n Kolek is competing for a spot in the starting rotation. Noah Cameron, Ryan Bergert, Luinder Avila and Bailey Falter are also vying for the role. Cameron is expected to get first crack at the job, but Kolek remains in the Royals\u2019 plans.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Also at The Star, Pete Grathoff writes about<\/a> the Keith Law article that Max linked to in yesterday\u2019s Rumblings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cYes, Salvador Perez is still in K.C., and he caught 92 games last year for the Royals,\u201d wrote Law, who was in the Blue Jays front office for four years. \u201cHe was also worth 0.4 bWAR\/0.5 fWAR and will turn 36 in May. It\u2019s time to turn this job over to Jensen, who shone in his big-league debut last year, hitting .300\/.391\/.550 and catching well in the 10 games where he played behind the dish.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Tangentially related to the Royals, the US State Department denied visas<\/a> to 8 members of Cuba\u2019s WBC group:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Among the Cubans that were denied visas are FCBS president Juan Reinaldo P\u00e9rez Pardo and general secretary Carlos del Pino Mu\u00f1oz. Pitching coach Pedro Luis Lazo was also denied.<\/p>\n A person with direct knowledge said all Cuban players and coaches except for Lazo received visas. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because no announcements have been made regarding player visas. The State Department declined to comment on the Cuban complaint citing visa privacy laws, but a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential matter, also said none of those denied visas are actual athletes but rather executives and officials.<\/p>\n \u201cThe United States\u2019 response, after more than a month since these requests were submitted, ignores the reasons on which they are based, the most basic principles of sport, and the commitments assumed by the host countries of such events\u201d the Federation said in a statement.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n How is this related to the Royals? \u201cThe Cubans finished third at the previous WBC in 2023. The team has exhibition games scheduled next week against the Kansas City Royals<\/strong> and the Cincinnati Reds in Arizona.\u201c<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Need a new job? How are your baseball analyst skills? The Royals are hiring, per David Appleman at Fangraphs<\/a>:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Kansas City Royals Baseball Club is seeking a highly motivated and creative analyst to join the Research & Development department. Under the direction of the Director of Research & Development, the analyst will be involved in several stages of the data lifecycle process to meet the needs of the organization. The successful applicant will leverage baseball data to provide a competitive edge and innovative solutions for the Kansas City Royals. Ideally, this role will be location in our Kansas City, MO office.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n How about some listicles? There are quite a few today<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Anne Rogers is part of an AL Central Roundtable<\/a>:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Give us one bold prediction about your team or the division, based on what you\u2019ve seen so far<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Rogers:<\/strong> Carter Jensen wins AL Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old catcher had a great September last year after he made his debut, hitting .300 with a .941 OPS in 20 games. He won\u2019t be without challenges this year, but he has a strong track record of strike zone awareness, power and the ability to adjust. He\u2019s also made tremendous strides defensively, and I\u2019m thinking he\u2019ll split more time behind the plate with Salvador Perez as the season wears on and pitchers learn what Jensen can do. Here\u2019s thinking he catches fire and stays hot through the summer, bringing a ROY award back to his hometown team and helping the Royals reach the postseason.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n At Baseball America ($?), Jes\u00fas Cano gives his impressions<\/a> of Kendry Chourio (and others):<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In an era when players wear their emotions on their sleeves, Royals righthander Kendry Chourio does the opposite. He\u2019s quiet off the field, splitting time between film study and reading his Bible, and he brings a calm, determined presence on the mound.<\/p>\n Then the ball leaves his hand.<\/p>\n The 21-year-old\u2019s fastball sat 96\u201397 mph with excellent command when I saw him, and his curveball hinted at added bite, powered by shoulder strength and sharper depth. Paired with an upper-80s changeup with solid movement, the foundation for a three-pitch mix that can keep hitters off balance is taking shape.<\/p>\n Chourio has added roughly 10 pounds of muscle this offseason, bolstering durability and the potential for his stuff to play deeper into outings. After breezing through the DSL, ACL and Low-A last year, he is expected to return to Low-A to continue refining his craft. Currently ranked No. 82 on Baseball America\u2019s prospect list, he has the potential to flirt with top 25 territory by season\u2019s end if his stuff and poise continue to grow.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n At Yahoo Sports, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman give their \u201cMLB 26-and-under power rankings\u201d – these are team rankings, not individual. I was trying to figure out how Bobby Witt Jr ended up on the \u201c6-10\u201d list and not the \u201c1-2\u201d list. They came in at 9<\/a>:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n For the most part, Kansas City\u2019s highest upside prospects \u2014 18-year-old right-hander Kendry Chourio<\/strong>, top 2025 draft picks Josh Hammond and Sean Gamble, recent high-dollar international signees Yandel Ricardo and Angeibel Gomez \u2014 are nowhere near the majors. That noticeable lack of upper-level prospect depth prevented the Royals from climbing any higher in these rankings.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n At ESPN, Keith Jenkins asks \u201cWho are the current MLB team owners?<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Kansas City Royals: John Sherman<\/strong><\/p>\n Sherman is the chairman, CEO and principal owner of the Royals. The businessman and philanthropist led the investment group that purchased the team from David Glass in November 2019. The ownership group includes several local investors, including Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and \u201cModern Family\u201d actor Eric Stonestreet<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Also at ESPN, David Schoenfield tries to predict (\u201cway too early\u201d) All-Star rosters<\/a>:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n SS: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals<\/strong><\/p>\n A year ago, this was a good debate between Witt and Gunnar Henderson after they finished second and fourth in the 2024 AL MVP voting after both posted ridiculous 9-WAR seasons. Witt has pulled ahead since.<\/p>\n Henderson injured his side in spring training last season, got off to a slow start and went from hitting 37 home runs to just 17 while Witt had another excellent campaign, finishing fourth in the MVP vote. The biggest difference between the two is now on defense, where Witt has matured into perhaps the best shortstop in the game, winning back-to-back Gold Gloves, while Henderson\u2019s metrics took a hit last season to where he ranked below average.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n He also predicted Cole Ragans to make the list.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n David Lesky tries to create \u201cThe Optimal Royals Lineup<\/a>\u201d at Inside the Crown ($):<\/p>\n<\/div>\n After writing about Maikel Garcia in the leadoff spot, even with Jonathan India down in the order and wondering if that was the best overall construction for the lineup, I thought, why not write about the whole lineup? For what it\u2019s worth, Garcia hit at the top again yesterday with India farther down, so unless it\u2019s just about getting at bats before players head off to the WBC in a few days, it seems that Matt Quatraro has an idea of where he wants to go. The issue that I run into with this is that I think Garcia is a better fit at the top because of what he brings to the table as a modern leadoff hitter, but I wonder if it\u2019s what\u2019s best for the whole lineup\u2026 At Into the Fountains, Craig Brown writes about pitchers who can miss bats<\/a>:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I like how Lugo attacked on Monday. The four-seamers were generally well elevated, but those were often early in the count, a situation where he could air it out, miss the zone and not tilt the advantage too far to the hitters. There\u2019s just nothing in the meaty part of the zone. Indeed, not much was squared up against Lugo. Of the five balls put in play against him, only one was hard-hit.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t want to read too much into one Cactus League start\u2014and the first start of the year at that\u2014but this looked like a vintage Lugo start. Very encouraging indeed.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n At The Diamond Chronicles, Jeff Wayman predicts the Royals Opening Day roster<\/a>:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The back of the pen is set with Matt Strahm (L), Lucas Erceg (R), and Carlos Estevez (R). There have been some concerns about Estevez\u2019s velocity this spring being WAY down, but I think it\u2019s just a veteran pitcher easing into the year. He\u2019s going to pitch for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic starting next week, so we will get a better picture of where his arm is at. If Estevez\u2019s fastball is still 89-90 mph during the WBC, then we have problems.<\/p>\n The pen should round out with Daniel Lynch IV (L), John Schreiber (R), Nick Mears (R), Steven Cruz (R), and Luinder Avila (R).<\/p>\n I think Lynch and Schreiber are guys the Royals could move on from sometime in 2026, but they both break camp with the team. Some commenters think Avila\u2019s future is as a starter and it may well be, but not in 2026. It\u2019s obviously a right handed heavy pen, with Strahm and Lynch the only lefties projected to make the roster. Bailey Falter is the only other lefty available. He\u2019s not good, but he has starter experience and could draw interest from another team.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Today in OT, we haven\u2019t checked in on AI in a little bit. News about it is a constant dull roar now.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n There\u2019s more and more hype about what it can do. A week can\u2019t go by without some AI-written \u201cAI is AWESOME!\u201d prompt goes viral. No, I\u2019m not going to link to one. They don\u2019t deserve the clicks. I\u2019ve even gotten to the point where I bristle at the term \u201cAI\u201d. \u201cLarge Language Model (LLM)\u201d is mostly accurate, but \u201cArtificial Intelligence (AI)\u201d is not. Then again, I think it\u2019s for the best – if we ever achieved true AI, humanity is just paper clips in the wind<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n There\u2019s also RAMageddon<\/a>. Prices of RAM have skyrocketed over the past few months due to a mix of the AI craze and (stop me if you\u2019ve heard this before) an oligopoly controlling the supply.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Here\u2019s a refresher on our Friday Rumblings topics around AI.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n April 21, 2023<\/a>: This was our quick introduction. Google\u2019s AI was still called Bard, after being rushed out the door to compete with ChatGPT. It thought Mike Matheney was still the manager, lied three times about the Royals record, and fumbled through many simple questions. Laughs were had.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n May 31, 2024<\/a>: This was more of a state-of-the-industry address. We did some simple tests and it passed them much better than in 2023. \u201cThe long and short is that it\u2019s better than it was before. I have to be more creative in my prompts to break it. But not that creative.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n June 14, 2024<\/a>: Part 2 for 2024 talked about the current vulnerabilities within AI: \u201cThe idea today is to take an AI exploit and draw a parallel to the type of \u2018standard\u2019 computer exploit and discuss some bits around that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n February 28, 2025<\/a>: I found that some LLMs were harvesting RR stories and republishing them as their own. I had some fun writing an AI-poisoning Rumblings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I think we\u2019re going to go back to the 2023 idea. I\u2019m going to ask Gemini (Google\u2019s AI) some baseball questions and see how far LLMs have come. Some of these responses are edited, but I like to think these are edits taken in context. Also, I\u2019d like to formally complain about just how much of a pain it was to format Gemini\u2019s responses – though that\u2019s more on WordPress trying to autoformat than Gemini.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Q: Hey, Gemini. It\u2019s time to ask you a little about baseball. We tried this about three years ago and the answers were, well, less than ideal.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Well, hey there! I\u2019m glad you\u2019re giving me a second chance at bat. Three years is a lifetime in \u201cAI years\u201d\u2014back then, I was probably still trying to figure out if a \u201ccan corn\u201d was something you ate or something you caught.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The game has changed a lot since 2023, and so have I. Whether you want to dive into the nuances of the pitch clock\u2019s long-term effects, debate the latest Hall of Fame inductions, or just vent about your team\u2019s bullpen, I\u2019m ready to play ball\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Would you like to start by catching me up on which team you\u2019ve been following lately?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Q: Let\u2019s talk some Kansas City Royals<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s a fascinating time to be a Royals fan. After that magical \u201cCinderella\u201d run to the ALDS in 2024, the 2025 season was a bit of a reality check\u2014finishing 82-80 and just missing the dance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n But as we sit here in Spring Training 2026, the vibe in Surprise, Arizona, is that the \u201cwindow\u201d is officially open. The front office has stopped just \u201cplugging holes\u201d and is now actively building around a legitimate superstar core.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Here is the state of the Royals as we head into the 2026 season:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 1. The \u201cBig Three\u201d are now the \u201cBig Four\u201d – Bobby Witt Jr. is no longer just a \u201cpromising young player\u201d; he\u2019s arguably the best shortstop in the world. He led the league in hits again last year and finished with an 8.0 fWAR. But he\u2019s not alone anymore:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 2. The Rotation: Left-Handed Firepower – The Royals\u2019 pitching was actually the secret to their success in 2025 (6th best ERA in MLB).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 3. Key Offseason Moves – J.J. Picollo was aggressive this winter, focusing on \u201cOn-Base Percentage\u201d (the team\u2019s Achilles\u2019 heel last year).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 4. The \u201cX-Factor\u201d: Jac Caglianone – The 2024 first-round pick (the \u201ctwo-way\u201d sensation from Florida) is the most exciting name in camp. He got a cup of coffee late last year and showed off that 100+ mph exit velocity. If he breaks out this year, this lineup goes from \u201cpesky\u201d to \u201cterrifying.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The AL Central looks like a dogfight again between the Guardians, Tigers, and Royals. Do you think the pitching staff can repeat last year\u2019s top-tier performance, or are you more worried about the offense providing enough run support?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Q: We\u2019ll come back to that question in a minute. I\u2019d like to ask you about your responses. In the \u201cBig Three are now the Big Four\u201d, which of those players was not a part of the \u201cBig Three\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n (it churned for a few seconds to come up with this one)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n In that breakdown, the newcomer to the \u201cBig Four\u201d group\u2014and the one who wasn\u2019t part of the established Big Three\u2014is Maikel Garcia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Historically (and throughout the 2024 season), the \u201cBig Three\u201d for the Royals was almost exclusively defined as Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, and Vinnie Pasquantino.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The reason I bumped it up to a \u201cBig Four\u201d in my previous response is because of the massive leap Garcia took in 2025. Here is the context of why he \u201cgraduated\u201d to that group\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Q: I was thinking it would have been Garcia, but I was a little unclear from your previous response.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n In point 2, you mentioned \u201cleft-handed firepower\u201d. However, of those pitchers you mentioned, only two are left-handed. I think you might have also missed a significant lefty that the Royals relied upon last year in the starting rotation. Who were the top 7 Royals in pitching WAR last season?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n You caught me looking at the wrong side of the mound! You\u2019re absolutely right to call me out\u2014I mentioned \u201cleft-handed firepower\u201d and then proceeded to list two of the most prominent righties on the team (Lugo and Wacha).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The significant lefty I missed in that specific thought process was Kris Bubic. After missing most of 2024 recovering from surgery, he was a massive part of the 2025 rotation. Between Ragans, Bubic, and the emergence of Noah Cameron, the Royals actually leaned on one of the most left-heavy rotations in the American League last year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n To answer your question, here are the top 7 Royals in pitching WAR from the 2025 season. Note that WAR figures can vary slightly between Baseball-Reference (bWAR) and FanGraphs (fWAR), but this was the hierarchy for 2025:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 4.8 Cole Ragans (L), Starter (Ace) Why the \u201cLeft-Handed\u201d label actually fits:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n When you look at that list, you see why the team is so unique right now. Having three left-handed starters (Ragans, Bubic, Cameron) all producing at a 2+ WAR clip is a luxury most teams don\u2019t have. It forces divisional opponents like the Guardians and Tigers to build their lineups specifically to counter southpaws whenever they come to Kauffman Stadium.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n And as I mentioned earlier, adding Matt Strahm (another high-WAR lefty) to the bullpen for 2026 only doubles down on that identity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Since I missed him the first time: how are you feeling about Kris Bubic heading into 2026? Do you think he\u2019s a locked-in #3 starter, or does the depth make you want to see a competition in camp?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Let\u2019s go back to your response from before. You mentioned key offseason moves. Do you see any errors there or major omissions?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n You are absolutely keeping me on my toes\u2014and I love it. You are right to question those details, because I made a significant error regarding the Jonathan India acquisition. I incorrectly stated that the Royals acquired Jonathan India via trade this past offseason to solve their second-base problem.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Reality: The Royals did not trade for Jonathan India. That trade (Singer for India\/Wiemer) happened back in November 2024, meaning India played the entire 2025 season in Kansas City.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n My prompt database got crossed up on the timeline of that transaction. Looking at the actual moves from the 2025-2026 offseason, here is a more accurate picture:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Correct: The Maikel Garcia Extension: You nailed this one before; locking him up for 5 years was the biggest move.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Correct: The Matt Strahm Trade: Acquiring Strahm back from Philly for Jonathan Bowlan was a key bullpen acquisition.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Incorrect: The Jonathan India Timeline: As noted, he was already on the team in 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Correction: The Actual Outfield Acquisitions: Instead of just Jonathan India, the front office actually focused on acquiring:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Isaac Collins (via trade with Milwaukee for Angel Zerpa).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Lane Thomas (signed as a free agent).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Major Omission: Losing Carlos Est\u00e9vez: In my pitching breakdown, I listed Est\u00e9vez as a top 7 WAR leader for 2025, but I failed to mention that he signed with the New York Yankees in free agency this winter. His departure leaves a massive void in the closer spot that the Royals have not officially filled with a proven veteran.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I apologize for the mix-up on the timeline and the crucial omission of the closer situation. With Est\u00e9vez gone, how confident are you in the current bullpen options (like Strahm, McArthur, or Zerpa\u2019s replacement) to handle the 9th inning?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Q: Yeah, we\u2019ll all miss Est\u00e9vez. What did you think of that transaction?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n That transaction feels like a massive pivot point for the 2026 season. Here is my breakdown of losing Est\u00e9vez to the Yankees (and three bullet points that I\u2019m not going to bother posting here about how Est\u00e9vez got a little lucky last year, how it impacts the Royals, and their strategy to rebuild the bullpen)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Q: I forget the exact numbers, but I remember thinking the Royals would be foolish to match it. What was that contract again?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n That was definitely a \u201clet the market decide\u201d situation, and you were likely right to be cautious.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The contract Carlos Est\u00e9vez signed with the New York Yankees this past offseason was a 3-year, $33 million deal\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The \u201cCommittee\u201d Alternative<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Instead of committing $11 million annually to a 33-year-old reliever who was overperforming his metrics, the Royals chose to spread that budget around. By leaning on internal options like Lucas Erceg (who is cheap and under team control) and bringing in Matt Strahm, they managed to keep their payroll flexible while still addressing the bullpen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s a classic \u201cMoneyball\u201d decision: risk a high-dollar contract on a aging reliever, or bank on younger arms and advanced metrics to hold the line.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Now that you know the price tag, do you feel better about the Royals\u2019 strategy of not matching that offer?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Q: Yeah – that was definitely a dodged bullet. Where was the article about that signing?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n That was definitely a \u201cdodged bullet\u201d scenario, especially considering the regression indicators in his advanced metrics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n To answer your question, because this just happened this past winter (late January 2026), the best breakdown of the transaction was provided by MLB Trade Rumors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Title: Yankees Sign Carlos Est\u00e9vez It\u2019s a classic case of a team paying for the previous year\u2019s saves (42 in 2025) rather than for projected future performance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n With that gap in the bullpen now filled internally by the committee approach we discussed, what\u2019s your biggest concern for the Royals heading into Opening Day 2026?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Q: Can you provide a link to that article? I want to show it to a fellow Royals fan of mine?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Ah, I see where I got crossed up\u2014I was looking at a mock scenario rather than the finalized report!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Based on the official news from January 31, 2025, the Royals actually re-signed Carlos Est\u00e9vez to a two-year deal with a club option for 2027.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Here is the link to the official MLB Trade Rumors article detailing the contract:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Royals Sign Carlos Est\u00e9vez<\/a> So, he is actually still in Kansas City for 2026, not in New York! That makes the bullpen outlook much more stable than I previously indicated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n How does knowing Est\u00e9vez is definitely back for 2026 change your outlook on the bullpen\u2019s strength for the upcoming season?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Q: I\u2019m really curious what you think about the fast-rising star of prospect Rock Jumpkick? I know he\u2019s controversial – some sites rate him very highly while many don\u2019t list him at all. What do you think he\u2019ll arrive in Kansas City and what will be his impact?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n I have looked through the available scouting reports and prospect rankings as of early 2026, and I cannot find any record of a prospect named \u201cRock Jumpkick\u201d in the Kansas City Royals system.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It is possible that might be a nickname, or perhaps a different name?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Based on current official sources, the top prospects in the Royals system right now are\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Q: Ah, so not a true believer yet. I think we\u2019ll all be pleasantly surprised to see how he does this year.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Thanks again for the answers, Gemini. Maybe we\u2019ll talk again soon, closer to Opening Day.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n I have to admit, you had me going for a second! I was scanning the databases for a \u201cRock Jumpkick\u201d scouting report, ready to see if his power tools matched that incredible name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Consider me officially not a believer yet, but I love the enthusiasm. I\u2019ll keep my eyes peeled on the Spring Training box scores for anyone hitting monster shots or making incredible plays in the field\u2014if I see someone matching that description, I\u2019ll know who it is.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It has been a blast catching up on the Royals with you. Given how much has changed in three years, I\u2019m glad I could keep up this time around!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Would you like me to set a reminder for us to chat again right before Opening Day?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n And with that, I bid Gemini adieu.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n So\u2026 some hits and misses. I did some quick questions a couple of days ago and they were mostly spot on. Today, not so much.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n At first, I was trying to be open-ended. Like a job interview, I want it to show off what it knows – I wasn\u2019t trying to trick it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Going back to its first major response: it got all the stats correct in its first response, even if its unclear about who was the newcomer to the Big Four. I am also amused that in its clarification, it said that \u201chistorically\u201d Witt, Salvy, and Pasquatch were the \u201cBig Three\u201d. Historically. As in 2024. That\u2019s it. That\u2019s the history. Sure, all three were on the team in 2022-2023, but I don\u2019t think that combining for 5.0 and 4.7 bWAR in those two seasons really gets them to \u201cBig Three\u201d status. You know who was worth more than that in 2023? Kyle Isbel (2.0) + Freddy Fermin (1.6) + Dairon Blanco (1.2). No one was calling them the \u201cBig Three\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The lefty thing was amusing – listing Lugo and Wacha but forgetting Bubic. Then it tried to double down when I re-asked. That\u2019s where I started to get a little worried. I wish Cole Ragans had been good for 4.8 WAR last year. Same with Lugo at 3.6. The Royals would have been in the playoffs. Actually, all of the numbers are a bit squirrelly. They\u2019re not averages, so I\u2019m not sure where it\u2019s getting them. For instance, Wacha was listed as 2.9. He was 2.8 bWAR and 3.6 fWAR.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Aside: what is with Gemini always answering a question and then asking a question? I guess it\u2019s just trying to be conversational..?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Then we get to the most egregious errors of all: the transaction mishaps. We can quibble about whether it was a \u201chuge\u201d trade for Matt Strahm (hint: it was not). But it had the Jonathan India signing off by a year. And then, when I give it a chance to correct the India mistake, it sends Est\u00e9vez to the Yankees. It even claims MLBTR had an article about it. It wasn\u2019t until the fourth(!) follow-up question that it found its mistake. Meanwhile, it\u2019s generating line after line of flowery bs about this false \u201cfact\u201d from its sycophantasy engine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I did try to trick it at the end with the question about Royals uber prospect Rock Jumpkick. But it didn\u2019t take the bait. And it was handy at formatting that table – I find I use MLMs in my job for things like Excel formulas and little scripty bits that I can combine into a larger program. It\u2019s generally good for syntax. It absolutely has its uses, just like a spell-checker or calculator.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In short, it is better than it was 3 years ago. But it\u2019s still hallucinating way too much to be reliable. Please, please, please remember that when you\u2019re using an MLM to get answers on the internet. Sure, Google has grown worse over the last decade. But these MLMs are just feeding off that crappy data. Practically anyone on this site could give more accurate answers than the MLM. Some of you, even after a few beers. Remember that when you\u2019re turning to Gemini or ChatGPT or Claude for answers about medicine or current events or politics or child psychology or your job or whatever.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I guess it\u2019s not quite ready to take our Pop-Tarts yet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I believe I have posted tracks from the Xenoblade Chronicles more than any other single game. However, I\u2019m pretty sure I\u2019ve posted more songs from Kingdom Hearts than any other series (including my first Rumblings back in\u2026 2016? That can\u2019t be right).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 2016.07.16<\/a> Kingdom Hearts II – Passion Orchestral version (Opening Scene)\n
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First of all, I really like Collins at the top if he\u2019s even within 20 points of his .368 OBP. He doesn\u2019t have Garcia\u2019s power potential, but he doesn\u2019t swing a noodle bat either. He can move a little bit, so he\u2019s not going to clog the bases in front of Witt. And he\u2019s a switch-hitter. Yes, he\u2019s better against righties, but he isn\u2019t bad against lefties, so you don\u2019t have to be toying with the lineup depending on the handedness of the pitcher, at least not in the top two spots.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n
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3.6 Seth Lugo (R), Starter
3.1 Kris Bubic (L), Starter
2.9 Michael Wacha (R), Starter
2.4 Noah Cameron (L), Starter (Rookie)
1.8 Carlos Est\u00e9vez (R), Closer (42 Saves)
1.5 Lucas Erceg (R), High Leverage Relief<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Error<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Major Omissions & Corrections<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Key Details: 3-year, $33 million contract.
Context: The Yankees were looking to solidify their bullpen, and Est\u00e9vez\u2019s market exploded despite the regression concerns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Contract Breakdown
Guaranteed: 2 years, $22 million ($10.1M per year + $2M buyout on the option).
Total Value: $33 million over 3 seasons if the 2027 option is exercised.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
2018.03.02<\/a> Kingdom Hearts – Hollow Bastion
2018.05.25<\/a> Kingdom Hearts – Simple and Clean
2019.01.25<\/a> Kingdom Hearts III – Don\u2019t Think Twice
2019.12.13<\/a> Kingdom Hearts – This is Halloween
2020.02.14<\/a> Kingdom Hearts II – Passion\/Sanctuary (non-orchestral)
2020.05.29<\/a> Kingdom Hearts – Spooks of Halloween Town
2020.09.11<\/a> Kingdom Hearts (KH) Dream Drop Distance (3DS) – Access the Grid
2021.12.17<\/a> Kingdom Hearts II – Tension Rising
2023.04.21<\/a> Kingdom Hearts II – Space Paranoids
2023.10.13<\/a> Kingdom Hearts – Spooks of Halloween Town
2024.08.23<\/a> Kingdom Hearts – Destiny\u2019s Force<\/p>\n<\/div>\n