2007 Kansas City Royals season

The 2007 Kansas City Royals season was the 39th season for the franchise, and their 37th at Kauffman Stadium. the season began with the team attempting to win the Central Division of the American League - a task not achieved since the division was formed in 1994.

2007 Kansas City Royals
Major League affiliations
Location
Results
Record69–93 (.494)
Other information
Owner(s)David Glass
General manager(s)Dayton Moore
Manager(s)Buddy Bell
Local televisionKMCI
RSTN
Local radioWHB 810AM
KCXM 97.3FM
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In trying to improve on their 62–100 record in the 2006 season, the team avoided a fourth straight 100-loss season. Buddy Bell returned for his second and final full season as manager, while Dayton Moore began his first season as the team's general manager.

Anticipation surrounded the Royals' newfound approach to once again become a playoff contender with rebuilding the roster. Roster moves generated much interest in the Kansas City area, including the big-budget signing of starting pitcher Gil Meche, and the arrival of young, new talent—such as rookie third baseman Alex Gordon and designated hitter Billy Butler. The team's payroll for the 2007 season was increased to $67 million (22nd in the major leagues).[1][2]

Free agency and roster moves

The biggest free-agent pickups for the Royals in 2007 included RHP Gil Meche—who was signed to a 5-year, $55 million deal—and RHP Octavio Dotel, who quickly became trade bait to the Atlanta Braves.

Royals activity in free agency
  • (x) = club option for 2007
  • (m) = mutual option for 2007
  • (y) = player option for 2007

Color Code Key

ColorMeaning
GreenPlayer will return to team
Light GreenPlayer joins team
CrimsonPlayer will not return to team (released, option not exercised, signed with new team, or retired)
WhitePlayer's status undetermined
PlayerPosition2006 Team2007 TeamComments
Steve AndradeRPRoyalsDevil RaysSigned a minor league contract
Paul BakoCRoyalsOriolesSigned for 1 year
Adam BerneroSPRoyalsRed SoxSigned a minor league contract
Dewon BrazeltonSPPadresRoyalsSigned a minor league contract
Jose DiazRPRoyalsNoneDid not return in 2007
Scott DohmannRHPRoyalsDevil RaysSigned one-year contract
Octavio DotelRHPYankeesRoyalsSigned for 1 year, $5 M
Brandon DuckworthRHPRoyalsRoyalsSigned a minor league contract
Seth EthertonRPRoyalsNoneDid not return in 2007
Wayne FranklinRPBravesRoyalsSigned a minor league contract
Alex S. Gonzalez3BPhilliesRoyalsSigned a minor league contract
Runelvys HernándezRHPRoyalsRed SoxSigned a minor league contract
Ken HarveyIFRoyalsTwinsSigned a minor league contract
Jason LaRueCRedsRoyalsSigned by Reds to a two-year contract, then traded to Royals
Gil MecheRHPMarinersRoyalsSigned for 5 years, $55 M
Doug MientkiewiczIFRoyalsYankeesSigned one-year contract
Mark RedmanLHPRoyalsBravesSigned a minor league contract
David RiskeRHPWhite SoxRoyalsSigned one-year contract with club option
Kerry RobinsonOFRoyalsRed SoxSigned a minor league contract
Jason ShiellRHPBravesRoyalsSigned a minor league contract
Jason StandridgeRHPMetsRoyalsSigned a minor league contract

Regular season

Season summary

April

The Royals began the season with expectations of improvement from their fans, and the team never ceased to impress in their home opener against the Boston Red Sox. The Royals defeated the Red Sox 7–1 in front of the sold-out home crowd. The magic did not last, however—Kansas City was just 3–7 through the first ten games of the season, and 8–18 by the end of April.

May

The Royals hit minor spots of winning when the team won 8 of 10 games from May 13 to 23, but finished the month of May on a seven-game losing streak with series sweeps by the Seattle Mariners and Baltimore Orioles. Kansas City went 11–17 in May and finished the month with an overall record of 19–35.

June

In the 2007 MLB draft held on June 7, the Royals selected shortstop Mike Moustakas at No. 2 overall.[3] The team went 15–12 in June, their first winning month since July 2003.[4] Pitcher Brian Bannister won the American League Rookie of the Month Award.

July

Gil Meche was the only Royal selected to represent the team at the 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in San Francisco.[5] At the All-Star break, the Royals had a record of 38–50 and the lowest team ERA in 13 years. On July 31, the Royals traded pitcher Octavio Dotel to the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Kyle Davies.[6] The Royals went 13–12 in July, giving the team its first consecutive winning months since June and July 2003.[7] Billy Butler won the Rookie of the Month Award.

August

On August 1, manager Buddy Bell announced his intention to resign following the 2007 season before a game against the Minnesota Twins.[8] Also, about an hour before the first pitch, the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis collapsed with a death toll of at 13.[9] Before the game, a moment of silence was held for the victims of the collapse.[9] The team rescheduled their August 2 game against the Twins to the afternoon of August 31 for a double-header. Brian Bannister won his second Rookie of the Month Award for the season. The Royals went 13–15 in August, completing a three-month stretch in which the team compiled a record of 41–39.

September

On September 12, the Royals defeated the Minnesota Twins 6–3 to win their 63rd game, guaranteeing that they would not lose 100 games in 2007. The victory ended the team's string of three consecutive seasons of 100 losses of more from 2004–2006. While the Royals struggled with a 9–19 record in September, their overall record of 69–93 was the team's best finish since 2003.

Season standings
AL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road
Cleveland Indians 9666 0.593 — 51–29 45–37
Detroit Tigers 8874 0.543 8 45–36 43–38
Minnesota Twins 7983 0.488 17 41–40 38–43
Chicago White Sox 7290 0.444 24 38–43 34–47
Kansas City Royals 6993 0.426 27 35–46 34–47

Record vs. opponents
2007 American League Records

Sources:
Team BAL BOS CWS CLE DET KC LAA MIN NYY OAK SEA TB TEX TOR NL 
Baltimore —6–125–33–41–57–03–70–79–94–42–711–74–68–106–12
Boston 12–6—7–15–23–43–36–44–38–104–44–513–56–49–912–6
Chicago 3–51–7—7–1111–712–65–49–94–64–51–76–12–43–44–14
Cleveland 4–32–511–7—12–611–75–514–40–66–44–38–26–34–29–9
Detroit 5–14–37–116–12—11–73–512–64–44–66–43–45–44–314–4
Kansas City 0–73–36–127–117–11—5–29–91–96–43–64–35–43–410–8
Los Angeles 7–34–64–55–55–32–5—6–36–39–1013–66–210–93–414–4
Minnesota 7–03–49–94–146–129–93–6—2–55–26–33–47–24–611–7
New York 9–910–86–46–04–49–13–65–2—2–45–510–85–110–810–8
Oakland 4–44–45–44–66–44–610–92–54–2—5–144–69–105–410–8
Seattle 7–25–47–13–44–66–36–133–65–514–5—4–311–84–59–9
Tampa Bay 7–115–131–62–84–33–42–64–38–106–43–4—5–49–97–11
Texas 6–44–64–23–64–54–59–102–71–510–98–114–5—5–511–7
Toronto 10–89–94–32–43–44–34–36–48–104–55–49–95–5—10–8

Roster
2007 Kansas City Royals
Roster
Pitchers
  • 47 Ryan Z. Braun
  • 43 Leo Núñez
 Catchers

Infielders

  •  1 Tony Peña, Jr.
 Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Game log
2007 game log
April
May
June
July
August
September

Team leaders

Batting
Stat Player Total
Avg.Mark Teahen.286
HRJohn Buck18
RBIEmil Brown61
RDavid DeJesus100
HDavid DeJesus156
SBAlex Gordon14

Pitching
Stat Player Total
WBrian Bannister12
LJorge de la Rosa
Gil Meche		12
ERAGil Meche3.69
SOGil Meche149
SVJoakim Soria17
IPGil Meche210

Stats as of September 26

Royals among league leaders

Batting
Stat Player Total AL Rank MLB Rank
RDavid DeJesus1001326
3BDavid DeJesus92 (tie)5 (tie)
GDavid DeJesus15316 (tie)30 (tie)

Pitching
Stat Player Total AL Rank MLB Rank
ERAGil Meche3.691424
IPGil Meche210913
GJimmy Gobble72625

Stats as of September 26

Awards and honors

2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

  • Gil Meche, Pitcher, Reserve

Farm system
See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Omaha Royals Pacific Coast League Mike Jirschele
AA Wichita Wranglers Texas League Tony Tijerina
A Wilmington Blue Rocks Carolina League John Mizerock
A Burlington Bees Midwest League Jim Gabella
Rookie Burlington Royals Appalachian League Darryl Kennedy
Rookie AZL Royals Arizona League Lloyd Simmons
Rookie Idaho Falls Chukars Pioneer League Brian Rupp
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References
  • Game Logs:
1st Half: Kansas City Royals Game Log on ESPN.com
2nd Half: Kansas City Royals Game Log on ESPN.com
  1. Dutton, Bob (April 4, 2010). "Royals to Open 2010 Season With $70.1 million Payroll". Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on April 9, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  2. "USA Today Salaries Database". USA Today. October 24, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2010.
  3. http://www.kansascitykansan.com/articles/2007/06/12/sports/sports2.txt
  7. "How they scored". USA Today. April 18, 2006. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
  8. "Bell stepping down as Royals skipper". Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
  9. "Twins postpone Thursday's game after bridge collapses near Metrodome". ESPN. August 1, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2007.
  10. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_hut.shtml
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