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2009 Kansas City Royals Season
The 2009 Kansas City Royals season was the 41st season for the franchise, and their 37th at Kauffman Stadium. The season began on April 7 with a game against the Chicago White Sox at U. S. Cellular Field, which Chicago won. On April 10, the Royals hosted the New York Yankees in the first game at the newly renovated Kauffman Stadium for the Royals' home opener. Interleague opponents included the St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Royals looked to improve on their 2008 record of 75–87 and sought their first playoff appearance since 1985, as manager Trey Hillman returned for his second season with Kansas City. The Royals' payroll for the 2009 season was $70.5 million, approximately 25 percent higher than their 2008 payroll (and 21st in the major leagues). There was much optimism for the Royals heading into the season, with some experts saying they had the potential reach the postseason. After a strong star ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American League Central
The American League Central is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was formed in the realignment of 1994 by moving three teams from the American League West and two teams from the American League East. Its teams are all located in the Midwestern United States. Along with the National League East, the AL Central is one of two divisions in the Major Leagues in which all of its members have won a World Series title. In fact, each team has captured at least two World Series championships. The Kansas City Royals were the most recent team from the division to win the World Series. Division membership Current members *Chicago White Sox – Founding member; formerly of the AL West *Cleveland Guardians – Founding member; formerly of the AL East; known as the Cleveland Indians until 2021 *Detroit Tigers – Joined in 1998; formerly of the AL East *Kansas City Royals – Founding member; formerly of the AL West *Minnesota Twins – Founding member; formerly of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. They are one of two major league clubs based in Texas; the Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers belong to the same division. Based in Daikin Park, the team's name reflects Houston's role as the host of the Johnson Space Center. Established as the Houston Colt .45s, the Astros entered the National League as an expansion team in along with the New York Mets. The current name was adopted three years later, when they moved into the Astrodome, the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, and named "Eighth Wonder of the World". The Astros moved to Enron Field (now Daikin Park) in . The team played in the National League West, NL West division from 1969 to 1993, then the National League Central, NL Central division from 1994 to 2012, before being moved to the AL ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mike Jacobs (first Baseman)
Michael James Jacobs (born October 30, 1980) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Florida Marlins, Kansas City Royals, and Arizona Diamondbacks. Career Minor Leagues Mike Jacobs graduated from Hilltop High School (Chula Vista, California), Hilltop High School in Chula Vista and spent one season at Grossmont College in El Cajon, California before being selected by the New York Mets in the 38th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft. Originally signed as a catcher, Jacobs batted .333 with four home runs and 30 runs batted in his first professional season with the Gulf Coast League Mets. He quickly blossomed into a solid power-hitting prospect and, in , after a successful year with the Double-A Binghamton Mets, won an award. In May , while playing for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, Jacobs suffered an arm injury and underwent surgery for a torn labrum, which ended his season prematurely. Be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Mizerock
John Joseph Mizerock (; born December 8, 1960) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) catcher who played for the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves. He was the eighth overall pick in the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft. He later served as a coach for the Kansas City Royals and Philadelphia Phillies. He is currently the hitting coach for the Clearwater Threshers. Houston Astros The Houston Astros drafted eighteen-year-old Mizerock straight out of Punxsutawney High School in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. He was the second of five catchers selected in the first round of the June draft. After four seasons in their farm system, in which he batted .228 with eighteen home runs (twelve of which were hit in ) and 143 runs batted in, Mizerock made the Astros out of spring training as Alan Ashby's back-up. He allowed three passed balls in a game against the Cincinnati Reds on April 19 to not only lose the back-up catcher job, but to also get himself sent back down to the mi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rusty Kuntz
Russell Jay Kuntz ( ; born February 4, 1955) is an American baseball coach and former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder. He played for the Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers between 1979 and 1985. He never appeared in more than 84 games in any season during his playing career. In the final game of the 1984 World Series, Kuntz hit a pop fly to the second baseman that became the deciding run batted in (RBI). Kuntz grew up in Kansas and California, playing three sports in high school and community college. He went to the Division III World Series twice with California State University, Stanislaus before being selected by the White Sox in the 11th round of the 1977 Major League Baseball draft. After the 1984 season, Kuntz was unable to return to form the next year. He was demoted to the minor leagues early in the 1985 season and was out of professional baseball as a player shortly thereafter. Since his playing career ended, Kuntz has worked with several MLB o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bob McClure
Robert Craig McClure (born April 29, 1952) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from 1975 to 1993, most notably as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers with whom he won the 1982 American League pennant. Following his playing career, he has served as a coach for several MLB teams. Playing career Kansas City Royals McClure was born in Oakland, California, and attended Terra Nova High School in Pacifica, California, and College of San Mateo in San Mateo, California. He was both a Little League and high school teammate of Keith Hernandez. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round of the January phase of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft, however chose not to sign. Instead, he signed with the Kansas City Royals, who selected him in the secondary phase of the draft that June, also in the third round. The Royals used McClure as a starting pitcher his first professional season in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dave Owen (baseball)
Dave Owen (born April 25, 1958) is an American former professional baseball player who played as an infielder in Major League Baseball from -. He attended the University of Texas at Arlington and played for the Mavericks from 1977 to 1979. After getting to the major leagues, he played for the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals. He provided the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the 11th during the game in which Ryne Sandberg hit two home runs off Bruce Sutter on June 23, 1984. He was traded from the Cubs to the San Francisco Giants for Manny Trillo Jesús Manuel Marcano Trillo (born December 25, 1950), nicknamed "Indio", is a Venezuelan people, Venezuelan former professional baseball second baseman, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, Philade ... on December 11, 1985. Owen's younger brother Spike played for five major league teams from 1983 to 1995. Personal life Owen and his wife Yasmin have two daughters, Haley and Courtne ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games primarily at Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto. The name "Blue Jays" originates from the blue jay, bird of the same name, and blue is also the Sports in Toronto#Toronto's association with the colour blue, traditional colour of Toronto's College athletics, collegiate and Major professional sports teams of the United States and Canada, professional sports teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maple Leafs (ice hockey) and the Toronto Argonauts, Argonauts (Canadian football). In 1976, out of the over 4,000 suggestions, 154 people selected the name "Blue Jays." In addition, the team was originally owned by the Labatt Brewing Company, makers of the popular beer Labatt Blue. Colloquially nicknamed the "Jays," the team's of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bench Coach
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, who determines the starting lineup and batting order, decides how to substitute players during the game, and makes strategy decisions. Beyond the manager, more than a half dozen coaches may assist the manager in running the team. Essentially, baseball coaches are analogous to assistant coaches in other sports, as the baseball manager is to the head coach. Roles of professional baseball coaches Baseball is unique in that the manager and coaches typically all wear numbered uniforms similar to those of the players, due to the early practice of managers frequently being selected from the player roster. The wearing of uniforms continued even after the practice of playing managers and coaches waned; notable exceptions to this were Baseball Hall of Fame manager Connie Mack, who always wore a black suit during his 50 years at the helm of the Philadelphia Athletics, and Burt ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Gibbons
John Michael Gibbons (born June 8, 1962) is an American professional baseball coach, manager and former player. Gibbons played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher with the New York Mets in 1984 and 1986. Gibbons became a coach for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002 and then became manager in 2004. He was fired during the 2008 season. He coached for the Kansas City Royals from 2009 to 2011 and managed in the minor leagues in 2012 before managing the Blue Jays again from 2013 to 2018. He is currently the bench coach for the New York Mets. Early life Gibbons was born in Great Falls, Montana, and raised in San Antonio, Texas, where he attended Douglas MacArthur High School. The son of United States Air Force colonel William Gibbons, he had his first Little League Baseball at-bat while playing in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada, where the family lived temporarily. Playing career Gibbons was selected by the New York Mets with the 24th overall pick of the 1980 amateu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kevin Seitzer
Kevin Lee Seitzer (; born March 26, 1962) is an American former professional baseball third baseman who is currently the hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, and Cleveland Indians. He has also served as the hitting coach for the Royals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, and Atlanta Braves. Playing career After starring at Eastern Illinois University, Seitzer was drafted by the Royals in the 11th round of the 1983 draft. Seitzer made his big-league debut as a September call-up in 1986 with the Royals. He made it to the majors to stay in 1987, where he started the season as the Royals' regular first baseman. He traded positions with Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett later in the season, in hopes of reducing Brett's chances of injury. Seitzer hit .323 with 15 home runs and 207 hits (tying the MLB record) in his rookie 1987 season and, though overs ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mike Barnett (baseball)
Michael Lee Barnett (born February 1, 1959) is an American former baseball coach. He most recently served as a coach in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Guardians and Houston Astros. Playing career Barnett played catcher at Ohio University, but had his baseball career end following a shoulder injury. Coaching career Barnett had a six-year stint as an assistant administrator of baseball operations for the New York Yankees from 1982 to 1987. After leaving the Yankees, he spent two seasons on the coaching staff at the University of Tennessee from 1988 to 1989. Following that, Barnett served as hitting coach at all levels of the Chicago White Sox organization from 1990 to 1997. Barnett spent four seasons from 1998 to 2001 as hitting coach for Tucson (AAA) in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Barnett served as hitting coach of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2002 to 2005, where he played a key role in the development of such hitters as Vernon Wells and Orlando Hudson ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
