Couple things on Singer. IDK that I buy that some of those 90 mph pitches are changup. Maybe they are, but if that is the case I question why they are SO close in speed when part of the point is to throw off timing.
This isn’t anyone’s fault, because I’m fine with them holding on as well. But you start to have to wonder if maybe the Reds being interested wasn’t the high water mark of value on Singer. Cause it is sure looking like it would be hard to trade him this winter for good value. They have time for him to regain the value, and maybe the next deadline he’s back to normal. But it does make me hope we haven’t missed the best time on a guy yet again. Nobody has a crystal ball and it’s hard. Shoot the Rangers wouldn’t have traded Ragans if they did. But pitchers are a crap shoot. Lol.
Hopefully this doesn't mean that they have to have walk-off balks to win a series now, since the last two series wins have featured them... :)
I'm glad you wrote specifically about two situations I was thinking about as they unfolded: Massey's AB in the sixth and the decision not to intentionally walk Salvy in the ninth with first base open and the winning run at third base.
For Massey, I was thinking that Shaw might walk him and set up a "Sonic Slam" AB for Mikael, but then he went and made that boneheaded throw to second. At that point, I was thinking "bird in the hand, man." Just ground out to second base and make sure that one run scores. I didn't think the Royals would have a problem scoring again (I was almost wrong). And Massey looked like he went out of his way to put a pitch in play to second base.
For Salvy, I was gobsmacked that they didn't walk him. I thought the same thing you did--borderline disrespectful. That disrespect went OVER the borderline in my estimation when they DID intentionally walk MJ with two outs. Of course, we know what happened next.
Another thought: with Zerpa coming out of the bullpen last night, I guess they're not going with a six-man rotation and there's no thought to sitting Greinke. His starts provide nothing at this point, but maybe it's a courtesy to him as the farewell to a long and successful career. I don't think his miserable year this season really matters; it certainly didn't matter to the 2023 Royals and it shouldn't matter to anyone at BBWA.
That's an interesting observation about Massey's plate appearance on the RBI groundout. It illustrates the biggest difference I* have noticed under Zumwalt & co, which is that the guys seem come up to the plate with a specific plan in mind, instead of what seemed to be the "swing if it looks good" mindset before.
Some times you win ugly as the Royals did last night! But, to me winning ugly shows that these guys are beginning to mature and do what it takes to put the ball in play rather than looking at called third strikes like some of them did all last year!
Balk This Way
Couple things on Singer. IDK that I buy that some of those 90 mph pitches are changup. Maybe they are, but if that is the case I question why they are SO close in speed when part of the point is to throw off timing.
This isn’t anyone’s fault, because I’m fine with them holding on as well. But you start to have to wonder if maybe the Reds being interested wasn’t the high water mark of value on Singer. Cause it is sure looking like it would be hard to trade him this winter for good value. They have time for him to regain the value, and maybe the next deadline he’s back to normal. But it does make me hope we haven’t missed the best time on a guy yet again. Nobody has a crystal ball and it’s hard. Shoot the Rangers wouldn’t have traded Ragans if they did. But pitchers are a crap shoot. Lol.
I had 3 thoughts at the end of the game.
1. Melendez has come a long way this season if the thought was to put him on base.
2. The pitch clock seemed to start really quick after the intentional walk.
3. Kowar didn't look half bad. Weird night when bullpen looks better than starters.
Hopefully this doesn't mean that they have to have walk-off balks to win a series now, since the last two series wins have featured them... :)
I'm glad you wrote specifically about two situations I was thinking about as they unfolded: Massey's AB in the sixth and the decision not to intentionally walk Salvy in the ninth with first base open and the winning run at third base.
For Massey, I was thinking that Shaw might walk him and set up a "Sonic Slam" AB for Mikael, but then he went and made that boneheaded throw to second. At that point, I was thinking "bird in the hand, man." Just ground out to second base and make sure that one run scores. I didn't think the Royals would have a problem scoring again (I was almost wrong). And Massey looked like he went out of his way to put a pitch in play to second base.
For Salvy, I was gobsmacked that they didn't walk him. I thought the same thing you did--borderline disrespectful. That disrespect went OVER the borderline in my estimation when they DID intentionally walk MJ with two outs. Of course, we know what happened next.
Another thought: with Zerpa coming out of the bullpen last night, I guess they're not going with a six-man rotation and there's no thought to sitting Greinke. His starts provide nothing at this point, but maybe it's a courtesy to him as the farewell to a long and successful career. I don't think his miserable year this season really matters; it certainly didn't matter to the 2023 Royals and it shouldn't matter to anyone at BBWA.
That's an interesting observation about Massey's plate appearance on the RBI groundout. It illustrates the biggest difference I* have noticed under Zumwalt & co, which is that the guys seem come up to the plate with a specific plan in mind, instead of what seemed to be the "swing if it looks good" mindset before.
* a decidedly amateur hitting analyst
I have no idea how Zerpa came away unscathed. Thank goodness for the White Sox, I guess
Some times you win ugly as the Royals did last night! But, to me winning ugly shows that these guys are beginning to mature and do what it takes to put the ball in play rather than looking at called third strikes like some of them did all last year!