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.
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
Color
Meaning
Green
Player will return to team
Light Green
Player joins team
Crimson
Player will not return to team (released, option not exercised, signed with new team, or retired)
White
Player's status undetermined
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] [ 4] 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] pitcher Octavio Dotel to the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Kyle Davies .[ 6] [ 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] the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis collapsed with a death toll of at 13.[ 9] moment of silence was held for the victims of the collapse.[ 9] 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
Record vs. opponents
Sources: [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]
Team
BAL
BOS
CWS
CLE
DET
KC
LAA
MIN
NYY
OAK
SEA
TB
TEX
TOR
NL
Baltimore
—
6–12
5–3
3–4
1–5
7–0
3–7
0–7
9–9
4–4
2–7
11–7
4–6
8–10
6–12
Boston
12–6
—
7–1
5–2
3–4
3–3
6–4
4–3
8–10
4–4
4–5
13–5
6–4
9–9
12–6
Chicago
3–5
1–7
—
7–11
11–7
12–6
5–4
9–9
4–6
4–5
1–7
6–1
2–4
3–4
4–14
Cleveland
4–3
2–5
11–7
—
12–6
11–7
5–5
14–4
0–6
6–4
4–3
8–2
6–3
4–2
9–9
Detroit
5–1
4–3
7–11
6–12
—
11–7
3–5
12–6
4–4
4–6
6–4
3–4
5–4
4–3
14–4
Kansas City
0–7
3–3
6–12
7–11
7–11
—
5–2
9–9
1–9
6–4
3–6
4–3
5–4
3–4
10–8
Los Angeles
7–3
4–6
4–5
5–5
5–3
2–5
—
6–3
6–3
9–10
13–6
6–2
10–9
3–4
14–4
Minnesota
7–0
3–4
9–9
4–14
6–12
9–9
3–6
—
2–5
5–2
6–3
3–4
7–2
4–6
11–7
New York
9–9
10–8
6–4
6–0
4–4
9–1
3–6
5–2
—
2–4
5–5
10–8
5–1
10–8
10–8
Oakland
4–4
4–4
5–4
4–6
6–4
4–6
10–9
2–5
4–2
—
5–14
4–6
9–10
5–4
10–8
Seattle
7–2
5–4
7–1
3–4
4–6
6–3
6–13
3–6
5–5
14–5
—
4–3
11–8
4–5
9–9
Tampa Bay
7–11
5–13
1–6
2–8
4–3
3–4
2–6
4–3
8–10
6–4
3–4
—
5–4
9–9
7–11
Texas
6–4
4–6
4–2
3–6
4–5
4–5
9–10
2–7
1–5
10–9
8–11
4–5
—
5–5
11–7
Toronto
10–8
9–9
4–3
2–4
3–4
4–3
4–3
6–4
8–10
4–5
5–4
9–9
5–5
—
10–8
Roster
2007 Kansas City Royals
Roster
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Manager
Coaches
Game log
2007 Game Log
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
1
April 2
Red Sox 7 – 1
Meche Schilling (0-1)41,257
1-0
2
April 4
Red Sox 7 – 1
Beckett (1-0)Pérez 22,348
1-1
3
April 5
Red Sox 4 – 1
Matsuzaka (1-0)Greinke Papelbon (1)23,170
1-2
4
April 6
Tigers 3 – 1
de la Rosa Mesa (0-1)Riske 13,330
2-2
5
April 7
Tigers 6 – 5
Maroth (1-0)Meche Jones (2)13,899
2-3
6
April 8
Tigers 3 – 2
Rodney (1-1)Riske Jones (3)13,109
2-4
7
April 9
@ Blue Jays
9 – 1
Burnett (1-1)Pérez 50,125
2-5
8
April 10
@ Blue Jays
5 – 3
Greinke Towers (0-1)Soria 22,106
3-5
9
April 11
@ Blue Jays
7 – 4
Chacín (1-0)de la Rosa Ryan (3)15,218
3-6
10
April 12
@ Orioles
2 – 1 (10)
Ray (1-1)Standridge 13,229
3-7
11
April 13
@ Orioles
8 – 1
Bédard (2-1)Duckworth 20,922
3-8
12
April 14
@ Orioles
6 – 4
Williamson (1-0)Peralta Ray (3)15,244
3-9
--
April 15
@ Orioles
Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for September 24 3-9
13
April 16
@ Tigers
12 – 5
Verlander (1-0)Greinke 21,832
3-10
14
April 17
@ Tigers
7 – 6
Ledezma (3-0)Riske Jones (7)21,263
3-11
15
April 18
@ Tigers
4 – 3 (10)
Soria Rodney (1-3)27,945
4-11
16
April 20
Twins 11 – 7
Pérez Ponson (1-2)Riske 31,813
5-11
17
April 21
Twins 7 – 5
Neshek (2-0)Peralta Nathan (6)20,566
5-12
18
April 22
Twins 3 – 1
de la Rosa Ortiz (3-1)Soria 14,801
6-12
19
April 23
White Sox 7 – 4
Buehrle (2-0)Gobble Jenks (7)12,265
6-13
20
April 24
White Sox 9 – 7
Logan (1-0)Soria Jenks (8)14,907
6-14
21
April 25
@ Twins
4 – 3
Pérez Ponson (1-3)Soria 21,496
7-14
22
April 26
@ Twins
1 – 0 (11)
Rincón (1-0)Wellemeyer 18,520
7-15
23
April 27
@ Mariners
7 – 4
Ramírez (2-1)de la Rosa Putz (3)37,281
7-16
24
April 28
@ Mariners
8 – 3
Meche Weaver (0-4)Duckworth 32,441
8-16
25
April 29
@ Mariners
5 – 1
Morrow (2-0)Bannister 26,019
8-17
26
April 30
Angels 3 – 1
Lackey (4-2)Pérez Rodríguez (9)10,866
8-18
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
27
May 1
Angels 7 – 5
Colón (3-0)Greinke Rodríguez (10)11,225
8-19
28
May 2
Angels 3 – 1
de la Rosa Santana (2-4)Soria 9,697
9-19
29
May 3
Angels 5 – 2
Meche Weaver (1-3)Soria 12,683
10-19
30
May 4
Tigers 6 – 3
Verlander (2-1)Bannister Jones (11)17,614
10-20
31
May 5
Tigers 7 – 5
Mesa (1-1)Duckworth Jones (12)26,070
10-21
32
May 6
Tigers 13 – 4
Durbin (2-1)Greinke 17,034
10-22
33
May 8
Athletics 6 – 1
Gaudin (2-1)de la Rosa 10,989
10-23
34
May 9
Athletics 3 – 2
Gobble Duchscherer (3-2)Soria 10,974
11-23
35
May 10
Athletics 17 – 3
Kennedy (1-2)Hudson 31,006
11-24
36
May 11
@ White Sox
2 – 1
Garland (2-2)Pérez Jenks (12)34,522
11-25
37
May 12
@ White Sox
5 – 4 (10)
MacDougal (1-0)Duckworth 36,702
11-26
38
May 13
@ White Sox
11 – 1
de la Rosa Vázquez (2-2)34,468
12-26
39
May 14
@ Athletics
2 – 1
Gobble Duchscherer (3-3)Soria 12,477
13-26
40
May 15
@ Athletics
5 – 4 (11)
DiNardo (1-1)Soria 14,966
13-27
41
May 16
@ Athletics
4 – 3
Gobble Calero (0-3)Riske 16,242
14-27
42
May 17
@ Athletics
7 – 4
Elarton Braden (1-3)Soria 21,037
15-27
43
May 18
@ Rockies
5 – 2
Duckworth Corpas (0-2)Soria 22,399
16-27
44
May 19
@ Rockies
6 – 4
Buchholz (2-2)Meche Fuentes (11)24,017
16-28
45
May 20
@ Rockies
10 – 5 (12)
Peralta Ramírez (1-1)25,829
17-28
46
May 22
Indians 4 – 3
Greinke Mastny (3-2)Soria 19,776
18-28
47
May 23
Indians 11 – 7
Duckworth Lee (2-1)11,506
19-28
48
May 24
Indians 10 – 3
Sowers (1-4)de la Rosa 11,681
19-29
49
May 25
Mariners 10 – 2
Hernández (3-2)Meche 28,651
19-30
50
May 26
Mariners 9 – 1
Baek (2-2)Bannister 21,138
19-31
51
May 27
Mariners 7 – 4
Washburn (5-4)Pérez Putz (12)16,091
19-32
52
May 28
Orioles 9 – 1
Trachsel (4-3)Elarton 14,758
19-33
53
May 29
Orioles 6 – 2
Guthrie (3-1)de la Rosa 13,556
19-34
54
May 30
Orioles 3 – 0
Bédard (4-3)Meche Ray (12)10,513
19-35
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
55
June 1
@ Devil Rays
4 – 1
Bannister Kazmir (3-3)Dotel 12,032
20-35
56
June 2
@ Devil Rays
9 – 4
Pérez Jackson (0-7)14,403
21-35
57
June 3
@ Devil Rays
5 – 1
Howell (1-0)Elarton 12,220
21-36
58
June 4
@ Devil Rays
4 – 2
Shields (5-0)Meche Reyes (14)9,435
21-37
59
June 5
@ Indians
1 – 0
Sabathia (9-1)de la Rosa 14,036
21-38
60
June 6
@ Indians
4 – 3
Bannister Byrd (6-2)Dotel 17,632
22-38
61
June 7
@ Indians
8 – 3
Carmona (7-1)Pérez 19,315
22-39
62
June 8
Phillies 8 – 4
Elarton García (1-5)Dotel 19,121
23-39
63
June 9
Phillies 4 – 0
Lieber (3-4)Meche 23,734
23-40
64
June 10
Phillies 17 – 5
Greinke Moyer (5-5)16,034
24-40
65
June 12
Cardinals 8 – 1
Bannister Thompson (4-2)29,354
25-40
66
June 13
Cardinals 7 – 3
Wainwright (5-5)Pérez 25,555
25-41
67
June 14
Cardinals 17 – 8
Greinke Wells (2-11)28,837
26-41
68
June 15
Marlins 6 – 2
Meche Mitre (2-3)Dotel 28,015
27-41
69
June 16
Marlins 9 – 8
VandenHurk (2-2)de la Rosa Gregg (11)24,323
27-42
70
June 17
Marlins 5 – 4
Bannister Olsen (5-6)Dotel 19,433
28-42
71
June 18
@ Cardinals
5 – 3
Pérez Wainwright (5-6)Dotel 43,524
29-42
72
June 19
@ Cardinals
5 – 1
Thompson (5-2)Elarton 42,712
29-43
73
June 20
@ Cardinals
7 – 6 (14)
Wells (3-11)de la Rosa 42,623
29-44
74
June 22
@ Brewers
11 – 6
Suppan (8-7)de la Rosa 36,328
29-45
75
June 23
@ Brewers
7 – 1
Bush (5-6)Bannister 41,721
29-46
76
June 24
@ Brewers
4 – 3 (11)
Riske Capellán (0-2)Gobble 44,064
30-46
77
June 25
@ Angels
5 – 3
Thomson Lackey (10-5)Dotel 43,895
31-46
78
June 26
@ Angels
12 – 4
Meche Santana (5-8)44,002
32-46
79
June 27
@ Angels
1 – 0
de la Rosa Weaver (6-4)Dotel 41,269
33-46
80
June 29
White Sox 8 – 1
Bannister Contreras (5-9)Greinke 20,525
34-46
81
June 30
White Sox 3 – 1 (10)
Bukvich (1-0)Dotel Jenks (21)25,119
34-47
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
82
July 1
White Sox 3 – 1
Garland (6-5)Thomson Jenks (22)23,004
34-48
83
July 2
Mariners 3 – 2 (11)
Dotel Morrow (3-2)13,257
35-48
84
July 3
Mariners 17 – 3
de la Rosa Feierabend (1-3)28,140
36-48
85
July 4
Mariners 4 – 0
Washburn (8-6)Bannister Putz (24)27,797
36-49
86
July 6
Devil Rays 6 – 5
Shields (7-4)Pérez Glover (1)18,753
36-50
87
July 7
Devil Rays 8 – 7
Dotel Camp (0-3)20,458
37-50
88
July 8
Devil Rays 12 – 4
de la Rosa Kazmir (5-6)14,726
38-50
89
July 13
@ Indians
5 – 4
Borowski (2-3)Greinke 32,624
38-51
90
July 14
@ Indians
6 – 5
Meche Sabathia (12-4)Dotel 31,599
39-51
91
July 15
@ Indians
5 – 3
Carmona (11-4)de la Rosa Borowski (26)29,657
39-52
92
July 16
@ Red Sox
4 – 0
Gabbard (3-0)Bannister 37,099
39-53
93
July 17
@ Red Sox
9 – 3
Gobble Wakefield (10-9)37,001
40-53
94
July 18
@ Red Sox
6 – 5
Pérez Tavárez (5-8)Dotel 36,681
41-53
95
July 20
@ Tigers
10 – 2
Meche Rogers (3-2)43,200
42-53
96
July 21
@ Tigers
10 – 8 (10)
Durbin (7-3)Soria 43,408
42-54
97
July 22
@ Tigers
5 – 2
Bannister Robertson (6-7)42,201
43-54
98
July 23
Yankees 9 – 2
Clemens (3-4)Pérez 30,746
43-55
99
July 24
Yankees 9 – 4
Wang (11-5)Elarton 38,212
43-56
100
July 25
Yankees 7 – 1
Mussina (5-7)Meche 28,460
43-57
101
July 26
Yankees 7 – 0
de la Rosa Igawa (2-3)37,036
44-57
102
July 27
Rangers 6 – 1
Bannister Wright (3-3)21,730
45-57
103
July 28
Rangers 6 – 5
Pérez Millwood (7-9)Dotel 27,700
46-57
104
July 29
Rangers 10 – 0
Núñez Loe (5-9)Peralta 15,638
47-57
105
July 30
@ Twins
3 – 1
Baker (5-4)Meche Nathan (23)23,628
47-58
106
July 31
@ Twins
5 – 3
Silva (9-11)de la Rosa Nathan (24)22,890
47-59
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
107
August 1
@ Twins
5 – 3 (10)
Greinke Rincón (3-2)Soria 24,880
48-59
---
August 2
@ Twins
Postponed (I-35W bridge collapse ) Rescheduled for August 31 48-59
108
August 3
@ Yankees
7 – 1
Wang (13-5)Pérez 54,246
48-60
109
August 4
@ Yankees
16 – 8
Myers (1-0)Bale 54,056
48-61
110
August 5
@ Yankees
8 – 5
Mussina (7-7)Meche Rivera (17)54,525
48-62
111
August 7
Twins 5 – 1
Bannister Bonser (5-8)15,648
49-62
112
August 8
Twins 11 – 4
Santana (12-9)Pérez 21,503
49-63
113
August 9
Twins 1 – 0
Davies Garza (1-3)Soria 14,569
50-63
114
August 10
Blue Jays 2 – 1
Marcum (9-4)Meche Accardo (21)21,276
50-64
115
August 11
Blue Jays 4 – 1
Núñez McGowan (8-6)Soria 25,934
51-64
116
August 12
Blue Jays 4 – 1
Burnett (6-6)Bannister Accardo (22)18,381
51-65
117
August 13
Blue Jays 6 – 2
Pérez Litsch (4-5)14,845
52-65
118
August 14
@ Rangers
5 – 3
Millwood (8-9)Davies Wilson (5)23,906
52-66
119
August 15
@ Rangers
4 – 3
Wood (3-1)Meche Wilson (6)24,529
52-67
120
August 16
@ Rangers
6 – 2
Braun Eyre (4-6)22,674
53-67
121
August 17
@ Athletics
9 – 2
Bannister Meyer (0-1)18,185
54-67
122
August 18
@ Athletics
7 – 3
Pérez Gaudin (9-9)24,638
55-67
123
August 19
@ Athletics
6 – 1
DiNardo (8-6)Davies 26,445
55-68
124
August 20
@ White Sox
4 – 3
Thornton (4-4)Riske Jenks (34)35,391
55-69
125
August 21
@ White Sox
5 – 2
Vázquez (11-6)Núñez Jenks (35)35,309
55-70
126
August 22
@ White Sox
7 – 6
Bannister Contreras (6-16)31,739
56-70
127
August 24
Indians 2 – 1
Bale Sabathia (14-7)Soria 25,640
57-70
128
August 25
Indians 9 – 4
Laffey (2-1)Davies 23,167
57-71
129
August 26
Indians 5 – 3 (11)
Betancourt (3-0)Peralta Borowski (37)18,268
57-72
130
August 28
Tigers 6 – 3
Bannister Robertson (7-11)16,193
58-72
131
August 29
Tigers 5 – 0
Braun Miller (5-5)Riske 11,628
59-72
132
August 30
Tigers 6 – 1
Bonderman (11-7)Núñez 11,196
59-73
133
August 31
@ Twins
9 – 4
Davies Garza (3-5)15,736
60-73
134
August 31
@ Twins
5 – 0
Baker (8-6)Meche 24,986
60-74
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
135
September 1
@ Twins
6 – 4
Silva (11-13)Duckworth Nathan (29)21,738
60-75
136
September 2
@ Twins
8 – 1
Bannister Bonser (6-12)26,454
61-75
137
September 3
@ Rangers
8 – 1
Greinke Loe (6-11)19,214
62-75
138
September 4
@ Rangers
9 – 8
Rheinecker (2-1)Núñez Wilson (11)18,892
62-76
139
September 5
@ Rangers
3 – 2
Padilla (5-9)Davies Benoit (3)17,232
62-77
140
September 7
Yankees 3 – 2
Farnsworth (2-1)Musser Rivera (24)27,462
62-78
141
September 8
Yankees 11 – 5
Pettitte (13-8)Bannister 35,518
62-79
142
September 9
Yankees 6 – 3
Wang (18-6)Duckworth Rivera (25)24,910
62-80
143
September 10
Twins 4 – 2
Bonser (7-12)Buckner Nathan (31)10,525
62-81
144
September 11
Twins 6 – 3
Baker (9-7)Davies Nathan (32)12,891
62-82
145
September 12
Twins 6 – 3
Meche Silva (11-14)10,102
63-82
146
September 14
@ Indians
5 – 4
Borowski (4-5)Riske 35,230
63-83
147
September 15
@ Indians
6 – 0
Carmona (17-8)Greinke 32,113
63-84
148
September 16
@ Indians
4 – 3
Buckner Laffey (3-2)Soria 30,112
64-84
149
September 17
White Sox 11 – 3
Vázquez (13-8)Davies 14,421
64-85
150
September 18
White Sox 3 – 2
Meche Floyd (1-4)Soria 15,015
65-85
151
September 19
White Sox 7 – 0
Contreras (10-16)Bannister 11,857
65-86
152
September 20
White Sox 3 – 0
Greinke Garland (9-13)Soria 10,264
66-86
153
September 21
@ Tigers
5 – 4
Byrdak (2-0)Núñez Jones (38)40,117
66-87
154
September 22
@ Tigers
7 – 4
Davies Rogers (3-3)41,792
67-87
155
September 23
@ Tigers
7 – 2
Verlander (18-6)de la Rosa 40,068
67-88
156
September 24
@ Orioles
3 – 2
Walker (3-2)Meche Bradford (2)15,769
67-89
157
September 25
@ White Sox
9 – 5
Duckworth Wassermann (0-1)31,607
68-89
158
September 26
@ White Sox
3 – 0
Garland (10-13)Greinke 32,091
68-90
159
September 27
@ White Sox
10 – 0
Broadway (1-1)Buckner 34,477
68-91
160
September 28
Indians 5 – 3
Sabathia (19-7)Davies Borowski (44)29,846
68-92
161
September 29
Indians 4 – 3
Soria Pérez (1-2)24,274
69-92
162
September 30
Indians 4 – 2
Laffey (4-2)Hochevar Borowski (45)19,104
69-93
Team leaders
Batting
Pitching
Stats as of September 26
Royals among league leaders
Batting
Pitching
Stats as of September 26
Awards and honors
2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Gil Meche, Pitcher, Reserve
Farm system
References
^ 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 . ^ "USA Today Salaries Database" . USA Today . October 24, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2010 .^ http://www.kansascitykansan.com/articles/2007/06/12/sports/sports2.txt ^ [1] ^ [2] ^ [3] ^ "How they scored" . USA Today . April 18, 2006. Retrieved April 22, 2010 .^ "Bell stepping down as Royals skipper" . Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved August 1, 2007 .^ a b "Twins postpone Thursday's game after bridge collapses near Metrodome" . ESPN. August 1, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2007 .^ http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_hut.shtml
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Seasons (57)
1960s
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