The Royals are packing their bags and will soon be off to spring training in Surprise, Arizona. But before they leave, they greeted fans and chatted up the season at Royals Rally at Kauffman Stadium.

On SportsBeat KC, the sports podcast of The Star and KCUR, beat writer Jaylon Thompson and columnist Vahe Gregorian dig into the upcoming season and whether the Royals can return to their playoff form of two years ago.

Also, you’ll hear from Chairman and CEO John Sherman on the latest in their stadium search, GM JJ Picollo on the team’s biggest needs and first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino with his take on the shorter distances to the fences at The K this season.

Then after the break, the vote heard all around the country: Vahe digs into why he didn’t vote for Bill Belichick in the recent Pro Football Hall of Fame vote after explaining it in a column last week.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

1:07 — John Sherman talks stadium update

9:21 - JJ Picollo on the lessons learned last season

14:20 - Vinnie Pasquantino on The K’s shortened fences

21:32 - Vahe on why he didn’t vote for Bill Belichick

The offensive coordinator who was part of the Chiefs staff through one of their most productive stretches is back in Kansas City. Eric Bieniemy, who had three different jobs in the past three years, has been rehired.

That also means Matt Nagy, who held the job for the past three years, is out.

Why the moves? On SportsBeat KC, the sports podcast of The Kansas City Star and KCUR, columnist Sam McDowell and Chiefs Insider Pete Sweeney explore the moves and discuss what it means for the Chiefs.

Rundown (timestamps are approximate)

0:23 — Why Eric Bieniemy?

9:13 — Who else did the Chiefs interview for OC?

18:25 — How the Chiefs’ offense got stale last season

26:21 — KU vs BYU & Royals Rally

Local college basketball has experienced some wild mood swings this season — but at the moment KU and Mizzou are feeling better about themselves than last month. K-State, not so much.

On SportsBeat KC, the sports podcast of The Kansas City Star and KCUR, beat writers Shreyas Laddha and Kellis Robinett along with columnist Vahe Gregorian take the pulse of KU, K-State and Mizzou, and get into how the next few weeks might unfold.

KU could go as far as oft-injured freshman sensation Darryn Peterson can take them. But how far is that, exactly? Meanwhile, Mizzou has found new life in conference play, but that part of the schedule hasn’t been so kind to K-State.