Royals Opinion: Injuries to Gordon and Moustakas are gut punches, but no death knell

By Paul Thompson

Northeast News

May 27, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Can one play really submarine an entire season? Mike Moustakas and Alex Gordon put that idea to the test on Sunday, May 22, when they combined for a nasty collision in foul territory while chasing a fly ball hit by, of all people, former Royal Melky Cabrera.

It was bad enough when Gordon was placed on the disabled list early this week with a broken bone in his hand. With an expected return in roughly a month, though, the diagnosis almost felt like a relief. On Thursday, May 26, the other shoe dropped: Mike Moustakas was placed on the disabled list with a torn ACL and is expected to miss the rest of the year. When it rains, it pours; and we all know how it’s been raining in Kansas City over the past week.

The Moustakas injury is particularly demoralizing, considering his breakout 2015 season (.284/.348/.470 slash line with 22 home runs and 34 doubles) and the resulting high hopes for 2016. Even now, despite playing in just 27 of Kansas City’s 46 games this season, Moustakas is tied for second on the team with seven home runs. Thanks to a fluke injury, the 27-year-old Moustakas (and the Royals) will be forced to miss out on a prime year of production. His power will be sorely missed.

After two seasons of relative calm on the injury front, the Royals have been beset by the injury bug in 2016. Moustakas and Gordon join injured starters Chris Young, Kris Medlen, and Mike Minor on the shelf. If, like me, you’re searching for a ray of sunshine amid the dark and ominous storm clouds hovering over the city, the closest I’ve found is this: the injuries to Gordon and Moustakas open a window of opportunities for veteran farmhands Cheslor Cuthbert and Brett Eibner.

Cuthbert is a 23-year-old third baseman by trade who has been inconsistent but promising over his seven minor league seasons. Eibner is a 27-year-old outfielder whose underwhelming start to his minor-league career has now been overshadowed by two consecutive seasons worth of star turns at Triple-A Omaha. You might even recall that Eibner’s resurgence got me so excited that I advocated for his promotion over Paulo Orlando last week, a take almost as scorching as Orlando’s bat* since the column was posted.

To be fair, Eibner has also been on fire since the post, albeit in Triple-A. He smacked 10 home runs in just 149 at-bats in Omaha, and had already drawn 27 walks at the time of his promotion (for comparison, Eibner walked only 38 times in 2015 despite registering 389 at-bats). He’s a legitimately interesting player who gets on base at a 40% clip and plays stellar outfield defense. There’s a real chance he could help this team, and I don’t just say that as a thinly-veiled attempt to save face.

After a pair of largely dream-like seasons, the Royals will now get an opportunity to test their resiliency. If one or both of their young prospects can seize the chance, the team will be much better off for it long-term. That’s at least something, right?

*In that May 17 piece, I posited that either Orlando or Jarrod Dyson should be replaced in favor of Eibner. After taking Dyson to task I moved on to Orlando, proclaiming that he “…hasn’t been much better, posting a batting average-aided .653 OPS with two extra base hits, one RBI, and zero walks while striking out 13 times in 47 at-bats.” In related news, Orlando went 3-4 with a home run and 4 RBI on the day that piece was published. In fact, in the seven games the Royals have played since the woebegone piece was published, Orlando has recorded five multi-hit games. He’s riding a nine-game hitting streak overall, and has gone 15-26 at the plate with nine RBI and five extra base hits since. Hey, nobody’s perfect.

Want Northeast News articles sent straight to your inbox each week? Subscribe below!
Enter your email address and click on the Get Instant Access button.
We respect your privacy

Comments are closed.

  • Movie Review of ‘Nelly Don: The Musical Movie’

    September 29th, 2023
    by

    By Dorri Partain, Contributor Opening at select art theaters across Kansas City on Friday, September 29, Nelly Don, The Musical […]


    I-35 shutdown due to cattle truck, SUV collission

    September 28th, 2023
    by

    If you are southbound on interstate 35 this morning headed for downtown, you may want to find an alternate route. […]


    Book Review: Mafia Dreams by Frank Hayde

    September 27th, 2023
    by

    Michael Bushnell Publisher As an amateur Kansas City historian, pretty much any book that offers a glimpse into the city’s past […]


    Nelly Don: The Musical debuts for local viewing

    September 27th, 2023
    by

    Dorri Partain Contributor A new, locally filmed production, “Nelly Don: The Musical” recounts the life of Nell Donnelly Reed, who found […]


    Record numbers turn out for John V. Mesh Scholarship Fundraiser

    September 27th, 2023
    by

    Michael Bushnell Publisher Over 200 shooters turned out on a stormy Saturday morning at Powder Creek Shooting Park in Lenexa, Kan., […]


    Mattie Rhodes opens health clinic to serve Jackson County’s Latinos population

    September 27th, 2023
    by

    Abby Hoover  Managing Editor Last Friday, Mattie Rhodes Center announced the grand opening of its health clinic that will provide […]


    Developers break ground on Columbus Park Townhomes

    September 27th, 2023
    by

    Abby Hoover Managing EditorMichael BushnellPublisher Developers broke ground on the long-awaited Columbus Park Townhomes project on Pacific Street Friday morning, […]


    Scarritt School repurposing conversation continues

    September 21st, 2023
    by

    On Thursday, Sept. 21, Kansas City Public Schools’ (KCPS) Repurposing Initiative staff sent a message updating the community on the […]


    Bally’s Kansas City casino expansion opens

    September 20th, 2023
    by

    Abby Hoover  Managing Editor Bally’s Kansas City officially opened its land-based property expansion in the East Bottoms on Friday. The […]


  • Truman Road pawn shop owner sentenced for $744,000 scheme to sell stolen items online

    September 20th, 2023
    by

    Criminal Conspiracy Profited Most During COVID Pandemic Abby Hoover  Managing Editor The owner of a Kansas City, Mo., pawn shop […]


    Families who rely on interpreters find Kansas City area schools can come up short

    September 20th, 2023
    by

    Federal law requires that schools provide interpretation for families. But technology glitches, tight budgets and staffing issues can pose barriers […]


    Familias  recurren a intérpretes consideran que las escuelas del área de Kansas City se quedan cortas

    September 20th, 2023
    by

    Ley federal requiere que escuelas ofrezcan interpretación a familias. Pero fallas de tecnología, presupuestos ajustados, y escasez de personal imponen […]


    Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center hosts KC Police Chief Stacey Graves for community conversation

    September 20th, 2023
    by

    Abby Hoover  Managing Editor Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center (SURHC) on Euclid hosted Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) Chief Stacey […]


    We’re from the government, and we’re here to help

    September 15th, 2023
    by

    Michael Bushnell Publisher Maybe not so much. If you’ve been unlucky enough to drive down Belmont Blvd. this week, just south […]


    Secretario de Educación, Congresista Cleaver, visitan Mattie Rhodes Center para promover la participación de padres 

    September 14th, 2023
    by

    Escrito por Abby Hoover, directora editorial Traducción por Daisy Garcia Montoya, reportera de educación Mattie Rhodes Center en Northeast Kansas City […]


    Secretary of Education, Congressman Cleaver visit Mattie Rhodes Center to promote parent engagement

    September 13th, 2023
    by

    Abby Hoover Managing Editor Mattie Rhodes Center in Northeast Kansas City hosted U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05) and U.S. […]


    Festival to highlight urban agriculture and healthy eating

    September 13th, 2023
    by

    Dorri Partain Contributor From sweet and tart to savory, visitors to the 3rd Annual Ground Cherry, Garlic and Good Times […]


    KCU’s Score 1 for Health screens 400 students on Thursday

    September 13th, 2023
    by

    Michael BushnellPublisher Over 400 charter school students from Northeast-based Scuola Vita Nuova (SVN) were guests at the Kansas City University […]


  • Northeast Newscast


  • Remember This?

    Remember this?

    September 27th, 2023
    by

  • Want articles sent directly to your inbox each week? Subscribe below!
    We respect your privacy and will not distribute your information.