SportsBeat KC

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From trades to lineup, Kansas City Royals’ makeover is underway. What’s next? Podcast Jul 12, 2022

Show notes

Not a bad day for the Kansas City Royals on Monday. The team picked up two victories against the Detroit Tigers and three players from the Atlanta Braves. We discuss the haul and more on today’s SportsBeat KC podcast with beat writer Lynn Worthy.

The Royals didn’t surrender a player in the trade, giving up a competitive balance round draft pick, No. 35 overall, in exchange for three minor league players. The closest to the majors is center fielder Drew Waters, who has been added to the 40-man roster and assigned to Triple-A Omaha.

The deal prompts some questions: What does the deal say about the center field position going forward? And why surrender a draft pick?

Also, as the Royals look to the future, rookies occupied the top three spots in the batting order for the second game on Monday, and produced in a big way.

A couple of veterans also were in the news. Whit Merrifield’s club-record games played streak is over, and Andrew Benintendi is the team’s much-deserved All-Star selection. We discuss it all on SportsBeat KC.

Story links:

Here’s what the Royals trade means for center field and the MLB deadline

Bobby Witt Jr. has four hit night as Royals complete doubleheader sweep

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Playing offense, not defense appears to be Big 12’s position in this round of realignment: Podcast Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

The Big 12 isn’t exactly sitting out this round of realignment but the league didn’t take a direct hit this time. The latest move, USC and UCLA leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, has thrown the college landscape into another period of uncertainty.

What are the Big 12 options here? The league expanded after last year’s announcement of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC, and the conference could do the same again with remaining Pac-12 schools.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, beat writer Kellis Robinett discusses how the Big 12 appears to be operating from a position of strength and not playing defense like it has in other rounds of realignment.

After a break, we preview Big 12 media days that happen in Arlington, Tex., this week, and discuss the significance Kansas State’s latest football commitment, quarterback Avery Johnson.

Story links:

The question another school asked that led to Maize QB Avery Johnson picking K-State

K-State picked fifth, KU last in 2022 Big 12 Conference preseason football media poll

Winners & losers as college sports realignment sends USC, UCLA to Big Ten

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Sporting KC’s role in World Cup bid and what it’s like covering world’s biggest event Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

Four years from now, the World Cup will be winding down in North America, and Kansas City will have been a part of it. On today’s SportsBeat KC, we continue to examine how our selection as one of the host cities came to be.

Star columnist Sam McDowell breaks down the role of Sporting Kansas City and principal owner Cliff Illig in the World Cup process. The city’s soccer culture, which undoubtedly played a major role in the choice of Kansas City as a site, is due in large part to the presence and success of Sporting KC.

After a break, we speak to The Star reporter who has covered a World Cup to get an idea of what to expect in Kansas City. Pete Grathoff spent a month in Germany in 2006 and took in not only the games but the sites and sounds. He shares that experience on today’s show.

Story links:

Can’t miss this opportunity: How Kansas City is thinking big as World Cup host

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mcdowell/article262786973.html

This is how it will look and feel when the World Cup comes to Kansas City

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article262552327.html

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Royals would be one of baseball’s hottest teams except for that pesky ninth inning. Podcast Jul 05, 2022

Show notes

Two innings have cost the Royals a five-game winning streak. Relievers surrendered walk-off home runs in two of the past three games to prevent the perfect stretch.

But they’ve been playing better baseball lately, especially the starting pitching. On today’s SportsBeat KC hosted by Vahe Gregorian, KC Star writers break down the good and bad about the week and look ahead as the season closes in on the midway point.

Who is on the trading block and who is off-limits? How’s Vinnie Pasquantino adjusting to major league pitching? The group bats around these questions and more.

Story links:

Royals’ bullpen collapses late, serves up walk-off loss at Houston

Andrew Benintendi not sweating trade deadline, things he cannot control

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Can Kansas State keep football recruiting momentum? Next pledge will tell. SportsBeat KC podcast Jun 29, 2022

Show notes

Kansas State has some momentum on the football recruiting trail. Last weeks, Coach Chris Klieman’s program picked up a commitment from standout running back Dylan Edwards from Derby and soon hope to be the landing spot from another Wichita-area product, quarterback Avery Johnson from Maize.

On today’s SportsBeat KC, Kansas State beat writer Kellis Robinett talks all things Wildcats, including how the men’s basketball roster under new coach Jerome Tang is shaping up.

Also, the BIg 12 has a new commissioner. Brett Yormark, CEO of Jay Z’s Roc Nation, an entertainment agency, will succeed Bob Bowlsby. What is the advantage of departing from the traditional college adminstrator route?

Story links:

Maize quarterback Avery Johnson will choose among K-State, Oregon and Washington in early July

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/kansas-state/article262820758.html

Big 12 makes bold move, targets Brett Yormark for new commissioner

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/article262964138.html

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How getting younger impacts Kansas City Royals’ timetable to contend: Podcast Jun 28, 2022

Show notes

The future is now for the Royals. With the call up of first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, the Royals are likely to have three rookies in the lineup, along with infielder Bobby Witt Jr., and catcher MJ Melendez, for many games the remaining of the season.

To get young, the Royals had to bid farewell to a veteran, and that’s what happened with the trade of 36-year-old Carlos Santana to the Seattle Mariners. On today’s SportsBeat KC podcast, Star columnists Vahe Gregorian and Sam McDowell break down the moves and look ahead to what might come next.

Also, we discuss the return from the Mariners for the Santana trade, the thumb injury to catcher Salvador Perez that’s opened up playing time for Melendez, and more.

Story links:

A look inside Vinnie Pasquantino’s first day with the Royals

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article262945338.html

“I lost all feeling in my body,” What call up of Vinnie Pasquantino means to the Royals

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article262945373.html

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What Kansas City Chiefs player has the most to prove in 2022? We answer in podcast Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. Actually, the questions were ours, too. On today’s SportsBeat KC, Chiefs beat writer Jesse Newell and host Blair Kerkhoff batted around some reponses to such questions as:

*What Chiefs player has the most to prove this season?

*Who fills the leadership role left by safety Tyrann Mathieu?

*Which wide reciever leads the Chiefs in receptions?

And more. We didn’t always agree on the answers but covered plenty of ground in the attempt. Let us know if we didn’t get it right.

Story link:

Juan Thornhill seeks to fill leadership void in absense of mentor Tyrann Mathieu

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article262563567.html

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Why a time machine would complete KC Current’s new $18 million training center: SportsBeat KC podcast Jun 23, 2022

Show notes

With team owners, the league commissioner, some players on hand, the Kansas City Current cut the ribbon and opened their new training facility in Riverside, Mo. The $18 million structure includes the essentials except one, according to veteran midfielder Kristen Edmonds.

“A time machine,” Edmonds said, “for me to get five years younger so I could play a little bit longer.”

The facility is believed to be the first built exclusively for a women’s professional soccer team - in the U.S. or anywhere else.

Owners Angie and Chris Long, along with Jessica Berman, commissioner of the National Women’s Soccer League and Edmonds spoke to setting the bar for women’s teams and you’ll hear their interviews on today’s SportsBeat KC.

“People are talking about Kansas City in Europe,” Berman said.

Finally, you’ll hear from Sporting KC’s Peter Vermes. I asked about Kansas City landing the FIFA World Cup in 2026 after the team’s U.S. Open Cup victory over Omaha Union on Wednesday.

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How will NBA Draft play out for KU Jayhawks Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun? Podcast Jun 22, 2022

Show notes

The NBA Draft has arrived and there’s a good chance you’ll hear a pair of Kanasas Jayhawks who played high school basketball in the Kansas City area hear their names called.

Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun helped KU win the NCAA championship in April. They take center stage once again in Thursday’s draft Agbaji is widely seen as a first-round selection, Braun a late first-round/second round pick.

KU beat writer Gary Bedore breaks down the Kansas players’ draft prospects. After a break, you’ll hear from a KU player who won’t get drafted, Jalen Wilson. He recently announced is intention to return to KU and met with reporters this week. You’ll hear most of that interview here.

NBA Draft first-round players from Kansas under Bill Self

2020 Udoke Azubuike

2017 Josh Jackson

2015 Kelly Oubre

2014 Andrew Wiggins

2014 Joel Embiid

2013 Ben McLemore

2012 Thomas Robinson

2011 Markieff Morris

2011 Marcus Morris

2010 Cole Aldrich

2010 Xavier Henry

2008 Darrell Arthur

2008 Brandon Rush

2007 Julian Wright

2005 Wayne Simien

Story links:

KU’s Ochai Agbaji grew into projected NBA Draft lottery pick in 4 years with Jayhawks

Jalen Wilson in no hurry to leave KU Jayhawks for NBA: ‘I can’t rush a place like this’

Ochai Agbaji, Christian Braun look to join list of NBA first-rounders from KC area

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Too soon to reconsider Kansas City Royals’ direction during this mini hot streak? Podcast Jun 21, 2022

Show notes

Thanks to some success on the current road trip, the Kansas City Royals no longer have baseball’s worst record. But is winning four of the last five enough to change the way fans should feel about the season and this team’s potential?

On today’s SportsBeat KC podcast, beat writer Lynn Worthy and columnists Sam McDowell and Vahe Gregorian discuss the Royals’ mini-run, what it might mean and the importance of it being led by starting pitching.

Also, we break down why the Royals now are keeping three catchers, and with Lorenzo Cain out in Milwaukee and contemplating retirement, we remember some of his great moments in a Royals uniform.

Story links:

Why Mike Matheny doesn’t like MLB limiting rosters to 13 pitchers

Lorenzo Cain’s Royals legacy? Scoring from first and never a moment too big

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