David Lesky
@dblesky.bsky.social
1.8K followers 230 following 2.5K posts
I write about the Royals on Inside the Crown and talk about them weekly on Kauffman Corner. And I do some radio too, so that's kind of cool. insidethecrown.substack.com/subscribe
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dblesky.bsky.social
Probably, and I think the Mariners would have run for Naylor if they had Canzone still available.
dblesky.bsky.social
In the offseason, the free article is Crown Jewels on Fridays. This week, I wrote about players with big arbitration numbers who could help the #Royals and might become available. I touched on three names for an assistant hitting coach I've heard mentioned and wrote a little about the playoffs.
Crown Jewels: Big Arbitration Numbers, New Voices and a Great Posteason So Far
Your Friday source of random Royals thoughts is back!
insidethecrown.substack.com
dblesky.bsky.social
Totally forgot to put this up here. I started my JJ for a Day series with the players who the #Royals have to make decisions on soon. There may even be a surprise cut/keep in there.
JJ For a Day, Part 1: Who Stays, Who Goes?
In the first in a series, I take over as JJ Picollo to make some decisions for the Royals.
insidethecrown.substack.com
dblesky.bsky.social
No Pat Strathman, so I'm a happy camper this week as I join Chance Liebau to talk some #Royals on ESPN Wichita.
dblesky.bsky.social
JJ said the #Royals may not be striking out enough, so I looked into what he said about early count outs and what he *really* meant when he said that to see if he’s right and why.
The Royals Should Strike Out...More?
Challenging old tropes is very different for the Royals.
insidethecrown.substack.com
dblesky.bsky.social
The #Royals gave a number at the end-of-season presser that I, quite frankly, don't believe. But that's all we have to go off right now for their payroll, so I wrote today about where they stand and what they might be able to do with what's left.
Where the Royals Payroll Stands Today
Whether we like it or not, the Royals have a budget, so let's see where things stand now and what they can (or can't/won't) do.
insidethecrown.substack.com
Reposted by David Lesky
sorenpetro.bsky.social
Click below for the latest Kauffman Corner Pod. @dblesky.bsky.social, Les Norman and I discuss...
- '25 a success?
- Shake up with Hitting Coaches?
- Still talking small ball!
- Payroll expectations.
- Salvy contract talks.

Apple
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YouTube
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dblesky.bsky.social
One week ago today, I was filled with hope. But that hope has been dashed as Pat Strathman is still behind the microphone today on ESPN Wichita. So I guess I'll take my good mood and put it in a drawer and talk about the #Royals with him.
dblesky.bsky.social
More like Troy Meltdown.
dblesky.bsky.social
The presser at the end of the year gives us a lot of insights into the thoughts of the #Royals right now. The big one that everyone wants to talk about is that Zumwalt will be back, so I wrote about it today and how I think the second half turnaround the stars saved him his job.
Royals Second Half Offense and the Stars Saved a Job
Alec Zumwalt will be back next season as the Royals hitting coach, but should he be?
insidethecrown.substack.com
dblesky.bsky.social
That was incredible.
dblesky.bsky.social
Time to talk some #Royals with @sorenpetro.bsky.social, @kseaboldt.bsky.social and @kylecollier810.bsky.social on Sports Radio 810 to wrap the season. Coming up now.
dblesky.bsky.social
Not #Royals related at all, unfortunately, but I took a stab at predicting all of October. If you’re a gambler, fade every one of these.
You CAN Predict the Baseball Playoffs
...but you'll likely be wrong.
insidethecrown.substack.com
dblesky.bsky.social
In the sense that basically nobody can hit that, yes. But the numbers come with a .302 xBA and a .455 xSLG. He’s never going to be a Yaz-type walker, but his chase rate was down some as well.
dblesky.bsky.social
I almost forgot to put it here that I’ve got a special for 25% off the first year of an annual subscription, so if you’ve been on the fence and want to save $9, now is the time!
Subscribe to Inside the Crown
Taking a deeper dive into all things Kansas City Royals. Click to read Inside the Crown, by David Lesky, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
insidethecrown.substack.com
dblesky.bsky.social
Smile because it happened or something. The #Royals went out with a bang yesterday and a series win this weekend. In the final Weekend in Review of 2025, I wrote about all three games, the player of the week and a look ahead at what’s next for the newsletter during the offseason.
Weekend in Review: That's All, Folks
A series win in Sacramento is the final image of an up and down season for the Royals.
insidethecrown.substack.com
dblesky.bsky.social
Sure, they’ve got a legit core and they can pitch.
dblesky.bsky.social
#HEYHEYHEYHEY

The #Royals just kept adding on, including back-to-back homers in the seventh that included a titanic blast from Carter Jensen. Cole Ragans pitched well again. And the team finished OVER .500 for the 2nd straight year. The offseason begins.
dblesky.bsky.social
Yeah, only if there’s a different Taylor Ward who they didn’t want Carter Jensen for last winter.
dblesky.bsky.social
Sort of. It gives them more of a fallback, but he also has back issues and those don’t just magically go away.
dblesky.bsky.social
I think they need a middle of the order bat and a complementary bat. He could be the complementary bat. But there are a lot of logistics there, obviously.
dblesky.bsky.social
There’s a lot to that, but I think they’d like to make it work somehow.