Not getting my hopes up until Marsh sees a team twice. And gets loaded into the fancy pitching machine teams have in the tunnel that shows a video image of the pitcher as it delivers his pitches. If he can still hold his own then I'll feel some hope for his future.
That's fair. But I'm also not going to sit around and not write about him until he sees a team twice. Given the schedule, that may not happen until the end of the month, but if he doesn't see the Twins, the Royals are done with them. Then his next best shot is maybe Seattle in late August? I totally get it, though.
I'm glad but not surprised that you found reasons for optimism or at least tiny little rays of hope.
But I couldn't entirely suppress an
ironic smile at "wins and losses are long past mattering." With a couple of very rare and extremely brief exceptions, that's been the mantra of Royals fans for four full decades now. Note to Royals: it's getting very, very old.
I look forward to reading what you write each and every time. After being relatively entertaining against LA over the weekend, how can an entire team look so flat and so dead against Minn. And I have little to no optimism that it gets any better this weekend. This is really getting old quick. Oh well, on to the games.
As much as I ping you and am frustrated (maybe it sounds like complaining) with this team, hell, with this organization I agree with you 100% that Marsh could be something and Heasley needs to be tried in the bullpen. I’d actually argue all failed starters need to be tried in the bullpen….period. If you aren’t going to trade them, get value out of them in the pen….which means move your entire damn pen already. Does the front office need major overhaul (keep JJ that’s fine)? Yes, absolutely but I see some good things happening. Marsh has the tools….what I can’t figure out is why the results are ALWAYS meh to not good the last few years. But at least the coaches are working with the right tools. You’re may disagree with this, but my eyes see more tools to mold with Marsh than with Lynch. Bobby Witt will be an all-star. I hope that’s because he’s earned it and not just because they have to have someone. But I’d put money down he’s an all-star within the next couple years. He may never be as good as everyone hoped, but he’s a start. Garcia…he can play. Where, IDK, but at least he can play. Vinnie, Witt, and Garcia. Is it enough, no. But its a start.
Here’s one for you. Based on your evaluation right now. Can Isbel and Waters be in the same outfield? Yes or no…..just simple yes or no because I know it all depends. But I’m asking if both can be starters. Right now…..I’d have to say no.
I think the results with Marsh were meh because (and I don't know this to be 100% true, but I've heard things) he was not being coached properly with locations. Also, I think his fastball has gotten a lot better this season with some changes they've made. I think Marsh absolutely has higher upside than Lynch. I think there's a chance we see Lynch unlock some of that upside, but until he does, he looks like a back-end guy, which is fine, but you need more.
I agree on Witt. I agree on Garcia. I think Vinnie is definitely part of the future. I think we'll find out that one of Pratto/Massey/Waters/Isbel can be a part of that too. But to answer your Waters and Isbel question, I don't think they can coexist in the same outfield unless the rest of the lineup has some teeth. You can sacrifice a little if six or seven other guys are hitting. You can't if two or three are.
Now, this isn’t fair…..and you still have half a year. But to me, the line is started to get separated somewhat. Witt, Vinnie, Garcia yes, move along. Massey, Pratto, Waters in the middle category of ehhh, maybe yet. And then Isbel, Melendez in the this isn’t working category right now.
As much as I don’t like the Ragans move, I’m at least seeing some of what is happening. Get Ragans in the rotation at 25/26, give me Singer 27, Lynch 26, Marsh 25, ok we are at least younger and at or right at the pitchers typical peak. Now, the big caveat is, nobody is established yet, but at least realistically there is still a chance for peak performance. Rather have a 23 year old arm, but I can at least see the rotation getting in front of the age curve a bit. They have to actually be good to serviceable…but I at least see a plan.
I think there's a plan in place and I think the pitching at the lower levels is going to be where you see the organizational improvement for the long-term.
Sure hope so. Everyone is riding on it. If it doesn’t, nobody will be here anyway and we’ll be watching another overhaul.
Interestingly, what do we do with Garrett and Clarke if they don’t trade them. I’d actually rather get some answers on guys like Heasley, Kowar, Snider (what the hell man) the rest of the year than those guys pitching. Not saying they aren’t talented, but idk if that’s the point of the rest of the year.
And by answers, I actually mean answers. Not like past years where its “lets hope for improvement as we throw them out there in 24.” No, answers like it will work in the bullpen, or you have to go…type answers. I know you think that has already been made with Kowar.
There are plenty of roster spots to keep a couple of veterans like them, though I'd still guess Garrett gets moved. Eight relievers with most of them having options gives them plenty of time to evaluate even if they don't move every veteran.
Waters , Pratto and Massey should all be part of their future, no to Isbel, Melendez, Lopez. If you’re not going to catch Melendez get rid of him, mediocre OF at best, can’t continue to carry players just barely hitting above the Mendoza line. As long as they don’t put a consistent line up and batting order on the field there will never be any consistency or continuity with this team. Mgr and coaches are letting down this young talented team. Sat behind the bullpen in Baltimore, a lot of talk about how situations were being Bradley handled, pitchers hoping to be traded, not good!
Greinke should retire while he is hurt, he has been a waste of money for 2 years, no other team wanted him, still paying him and Dozier put them to work as ball or bat boys, or on this lame coaching staff. They can’t keep moving forward with the players Judy barely breaking the Mendosa line. They need someone like a Schowalter t manage this team. I have been rooting and following this team since I was a kid from a distance (York, PA), this is the most disappointing they have ever been.
. Yes there is light at the end of the tunnel , the talent is individually and as a team is there, but is being handled poorly. No faith in Greinke calling his own pitches, either let Mendoza catch or get rid of him, mediocre outfielder at best, keeps dropping his but while swinging his average isn’t going to come up, Isbel, Lopez will never hit for average, speed doesn’t do you a bit of good if you don’t get on base. Fermin glove floats too much on low pitches and occasionally on pitches on the inside t batters, could be getting more strike calls. Enough said for now.
The likes of Alex Marsh coming up and actually being able to contribute is what I expected to see with the firing of the bulk of royals management last year. It's still early, but I hope this is the reversal of a bad trend in Royals pitching develop.
On another note...I have only been following the stadium issue a bit, not that I will likely ever attend given I'm on the west coast but...have we heard anything about the filed configuration or size? I would hate to see the royals move to any stadium that is smaller than the one we have in terms of filed size...have you heard anything?
Marsh's leap and what we've seen from guys like Chandler Champlain, Frank Mozzicato, Ben Kudrna, etc. have been really encouraging. They'll need to do it at the higher levels, but encouraging nonetheless.
On the stadium front, I feel like I remember seeing something about a smaller capacity. That's sort of the trend in new stadia these days. But I don't know anything about dimensions. I think some of that will depend largely on the location, which is still unknown, at least publicly.
I hope the dimensions are similar...or royals baseball (speed, defence...) as I've known it for the past 50 years (for better or worse) will be lost....
Responsibly? I'd offer four years and $88 million and he'd say no. Irresponsibly? I'd give him the Wheeler deal plus a million or something to get him to come and say who cares about the end of the deal?
I wonder if he gets more than five years from anyone. The strikeout dip is a little concerning.
Ha you always nail it - "that they’re determining now which of the players we’re screaming at through the television every night will be players we’re cheering for through the television soon enough"
I also am optimistic on Marsh and cautiously optimistic on Heasley in the bullpen
David, thanks for all of your insights, I really appreciate them. What are the specific changes in organizational teaching to develop pitching and hitting? It seems like major league hitting instruction has really regressed (or maybe the players are just not that good). I'd love to hear some insight that gives me hope. I expected the losing, I am actually angry that we didn't end up in the top 5 of this amazing 2023 draft, and given where we are now, we should be gunning for pick 1/1 or 1/2 at this point for next year (in a much weaker 2024 draft). I do believe that Dayton was a cancer to this organization's long term health, but I would love to understand specifics of what the new (or actually mostly same old) regime is doing differently to inspire confidence. Thank you!
The biggest change on the pitching side is a little hard to explain because it’s that they have really individualized their approach based on the player. That’s been more of a gradual change over the years, but still. The overriding change has been the use of the technology available to them. That allows them to track what works for this player or that player and May not work for someone else. There’s also a new willingness to tinker. Previously the Royals had been hesitant to work with pitch shape and pitch design. Actually hesitant is the wrong word. I think the edict from the top was to perfect what you have before adding. That’s silly. If what you have isn’t working, why do you have to stick with that? But now they’re willing to work and add pitches and change pitches. That’s huge. There’s also a usage philosophy change where they work to maximize location, spin, etc. It’s encouraging.
I’m not sure it’s fair to say they’ve regressed instructionally on the hitting side. We’ve seen Bobby Witt Jr. make some big strides. Maikel Garcia has looked great. They’d look a whole lot better with a healthy Vinnie and Salvy (more on him today). MJ looks bad. Waters looks pretty good right now. Isbel just probably can’t hit. Massey had his ups and downs. It’s more of a mixed bag than it seems.
Thanks, it makes so much sense to individualize pitch instruction using available technology and information, crazy that the former leader was opposed to this. Agree that it is very encouraging. Fair enough on the hitting, I guess the people making the player acquisition decisions need to re-examine the skillset and tools of the hitters they acquire.
I definitely have questions about the hitting instruction. I just don’t know where the root cause is because I (and many) were pretty well all in on the changes made. I can’t come to a conclusion that’s so drastically different than the one I came to just a few months ago and think that it has to be right is all.
Not getting my hopes up until Marsh sees a team twice. And gets loaded into the fancy pitching machine teams have in the tunnel that shows a video image of the pitcher as it delivers his pitches. If he can still hold his own then I'll feel some hope for his future.
That's fair. But I'm also not going to sit around and not write about him until he sees a team twice. Given the schedule, that may not happen until the end of the month, but if he doesn't see the Twins, the Royals are done with them. Then his next best shot is maybe Seattle in late August? I totally get it, though.
Fair. I'm just being a bit of a downer about the team. Didn't mean that as a criticism.
I really do totally get it!
I'm glad but not surprised that you found reasons for optimism or at least tiny little rays of hope.
But I couldn't entirely suppress an
ironic smile at "wins and losses are long past mattering." With a couple of very rare and extremely brief exceptions, that's been the mantra of Royals fans for four full decades now. Note to Royals: it's getting very, very old.
I can't control what the reality is. I can just write about the team that's put in front of me. I can't argue that it's gotten old.
I fully understand what you're saying there. But my friend, if you were my age you wouldn't have any trouble making that argument at all!
I don't think you have to be any age to be frustrated with this much losing.
I look forward to reading what you write each and every time. After being relatively entertaining against LA over the weekend, how can an entire team look so flat and so dead against Minn. And I have little to no optimism that it gets any better this weekend. This is really getting old quick. Oh well, on to the games.
There's something about the Twins. I don't get it.
As much as I ping you and am frustrated (maybe it sounds like complaining) with this team, hell, with this organization I agree with you 100% that Marsh could be something and Heasley needs to be tried in the bullpen. I’d actually argue all failed starters need to be tried in the bullpen….period. If you aren’t going to trade them, get value out of them in the pen….which means move your entire damn pen already. Does the front office need major overhaul (keep JJ that’s fine)? Yes, absolutely but I see some good things happening. Marsh has the tools….what I can’t figure out is why the results are ALWAYS meh to not good the last few years. But at least the coaches are working with the right tools. You’re may disagree with this, but my eyes see more tools to mold with Marsh than with Lynch. Bobby Witt will be an all-star. I hope that’s because he’s earned it and not just because they have to have someone. But I’d put money down he’s an all-star within the next couple years. He may never be as good as everyone hoped, but he’s a start. Garcia…he can play. Where, IDK, but at least he can play. Vinnie, Witt, and Garcia. Is it enough, no. But its a start.
Here’s one for you. Based on your evaluation right now. Can Isbel and Waters be in the same outfield? Yes or no…..just simple yes or no because I know it all depends. But I’m asking if both can be starters. Right now…..I’d have to say no.
I think the results with Marsh were meh because (and I don't know this to be 100% true, but I've heard things) he was not being coached properly with locations. Also, I think his fastball has gotten a lot better this season with some changes they've made. I think Marsh absolutely has higher upside than Lynch. I think there's a chance we see Lynch unlock some of that upside, but until he does, he looks like a back-end guy, which is fine, but you need more.
I agree on Witt. I agree on Garcia. I think Vinnie is definitely part of the future. I think we'll find out that one of Pratto/Massey/Waters/Isbel can be a part of that too. But to answer your Waters and Isbel question, I don't think they can coexist in the same outfield unless the rest of the lineup has some teeth. You can sacrifice a little if six or seven other guys are hitting. You can't if two or three are.
Now, this isn’t fair…..and you still have half a year. But to me, the line is started to get separated somewhat. Witt, Vinnie, Garcia yes, move along. Massey, Pratto, Waters in the middle category of ehhh, maybe yet. And then Isbel, Melendez in the this isn’t working category right now.
As much as I don’t like the Ragans move, I’m at least seeing some of what is happening. Get Ragans in the rotation at 25/26, give me Singer 27, Lynch 26, Marsh 25, ok we are at least younger and at or right at the pitchers typical peak. Now, the big caveat is, nobody is established yet, but at least realistically there is still a chance for peak performance. Rather have a 23 year old arm, but I can at least see the rotation getting in front of the age curve a bit. They have to actually be good to serviceable…but I at least see a plan.
I think there's a plan in place and I think the pitching at the lower levels is going to be where you see the organizational improvement for the long-term.
Sure hope so. Everyone is riding on it. If it doesn’t, nobody will be here anyway and we’ll be watching another overhaul.
Interestingly, what do we do with Garrett and Clarke if they don’t trade them. I’d actually rather get some answers on guys like Heasley, Kowar, Snider (what the hell man) the rest of the year than those guys pitching. Not saying they aren’t talented, but idk if that’s the point of the rest of the year.
And by answers, I actually mean answers. Not like past years where its “lets hope for improvement as we throw them out there in 24.” No, answers like it will work in the bullpen, or you have to go…type answers. I know you think that has already been made with Kowar.
There are plenty of roster spots to keep a couple of veterans like them, though I'd still guess Garrett gets moved. Eight relievers with most of them having options gives them plenty of time to evaluate even if they don't move every veteran.
Waters , Pratto and Massey should all be part of their future, no to Isbel, Melendez, Lopez. If you’re not going to catch Melendez get rid of him, mediocre OF at best, can’t continue to carry players just barely hitting above the Mendoza line. As long as they don’t put a consistent line up and batting order on the field there will never be any consistency or continuity with this team. Mgr and coaches are letting down this young talented team. Sat behind the bullpen in Baltimore, a lot of talk about how situations were being Bradley handled, pitchers hoping to be traded, not good!
Greinke should retire while he is hurt, he has been a waste of money for 2 years, no other team wanted him, still paying him and Dozier put them to work as ball or bat boys, or on this lame coaching staff. They can’t keep moving forward with the players Judy barely breaking the Mendosa line. They need someone like a Schowalter t manage this team. I have been rooting and following this team since I was a kid from a distance (York, PA), this is the most disappointing they have ever been.
. Yes there is light at the end of the tunnel , the talent is individually and as a team is there, but is being handled poorly. No faith in Greinke calling his own pitches, either let Mendoza catch or get rid of him, mediocre outfielder at best, keeps dropping his but while swinging his average isn’t going to come up, Isbel, Lopez will never hit for average, speed doesn’t do you a bit of good if you don’t get on base. Fermin glove floats too much on low pitches and occasionally on pitches on the inside t batters, could be getting more strike calls. Enough said for now.
Showalter is your answer? Maybe you are just trolling, but a manager of the highest payroll team in mlb and less than .50 record?
The likes of Alex Marsh coming up and actually being able to contribute is what I expected to see with the firing of the bulk of royals management last year. It's still early, but I hope this is the reversal of a bad trend in Royals pitching develop.
On another note...I have only been following the stadium issue a bit, not that I will likely ever attend given I'm on the west coast but...have we heard anything about the filed configuration or size? I would hate to see the royals move to any stadium that is smaller than the one we have in terms of filed size...have you heard anything?
Thanks
Greg
Marsh's leap and what we've seen from guys like Chandler Champlain, Frank Mozzicato, Ben Kudrna, etc. have been really encouraging. They'll need to do it at the higher levels, but encouraging nonetheless.
On the stadium front, I feel like I remember seeing something about a smaller capacity. That's sort of the trend in new stadia these days. But I don't know anything about dimensions. I think some of that will depend largely on the location, which is still unknown, at least publicly.
I hope the dimensions are similar...or royals baseball (speed, defence...) as I've known it for the past 50 years (for better or worse) will be lost....
I would guess it'll play a little more even than the current park. Maybe a bit better for home runs, but less space in general.
How much would you pay Aaron Nola to stabilize the rotation? Use the power of the baby to suspend your disbelief for a moment.
Responsibly? I'd offer four years and $88 million and he'd say no. Irresponsibly? I'd give him the Wheeler deal plus a million or something to get him to come and say who cares about the end of the deal?
I wonder if he gets more than five years from anyone. The strikeout dip is a little concerning.
No because he wouldn’t want to pitch under this staff
Wishful thinking.
Ha you always nail it - "that they’re determining now which of the players we’re screaming at through the television every night will be players we’re cheering for through the television soon enough"
I also am optimistic on Marsh and cautiously optimistic on Heasley in the bullpen
Yeah I mean I’m certainly not sold or anything but the early returns are at least encouraging.
David, thanks for all of your insights, I really appreciate them. What are the specific changes in organizational teaching to develop pitching and hitting? It seems like major league hitting instruction has really regressed (or maybe the players are just not that good). I'd love to hear some insight that gives me hope. I expected the losing, I am actually angry that we didn't end up in the top 5 of this amazing 2023 draft, and given where we are now, we should be gunning for pick 1/1 or 1/2 at this point for next year (in a much weaker 2024 draft). I do believe that Dayton was a cancer to this organization's long term health, but I would love to understand specifics of what the new (or actually mostly same old) regime is doing differently to inspire confidence. Thank you!
The biggest change on the pitching side is a little hard to explain because it’s that they have really individualized their approach based on the player. That’s been more of a gradual change over the years, but still. The overriding change has been the use of the technology available to them. That allows them to track what works for this player or that player and May not work for someone else. There’s also a new willingness to tinker. Previously the Royals had been hesitant to work with pitch shape and pitch design. Actually hesitant is the wrong word. I think the edict from the top was to perfect what you have before adding. That’s silly. If what you have isn’t working, why do you have to stick with that? But now they’re willing to work and add pitches and change pitches. That’s huge. There’s also a usage philosophy change where they work to maximize location, spin, etc. It’s encouraging.
I’m not sure it’s fair to say they’ve regressed instructionally on the hitting side. We’ve seen Bobby Witt Jr. make some big strides. Maikel Garcia has looked great. They’d look a whole lot better with a healthy Vinnie and Salvy (more on him today). MJ looks bad. Waters looks pretty good right now. Isbel just probably can’t hit. Massey had his ups and downs. It’s more of a mixed bag than it seems.
Thanks, it makes so much sense to individualize pitch instruction using available technology and information, crazy that the former leader was opposed to this. Agree that it is very encouraging. Fair enough on the hitting, I guess the people making the player acquisition decisions need to re-examine the skillset and tools of the hitters they acquire.
I definitely have questions about the hitting instruction. I just don’t know where the root cause is because I (and many) were pretty well all in on the changes made. I can’t come to a conclusion that’s so drastically different than the one I came to just a few months ago and think that it has to be right is all.