Nice write up David. I’m glad you brought up Santana. You mentioned his offense and speed. I’m more worried about his defense. If the royals are going to have three shortstops on the infield making really difficult plays there are going to be low throws from time to time. Mondesi should have gotten his throws up but an average major league first basemen should be able to dig balls like that. He struggled with it last year too. I feel like playing Santana at first negates a part of the benefit of having three stellar defenders on the infield.
I don’t have a huge issue with Santana defensively, but getting Pratto there will definitely improve the defense even more. I agree he should have probably had that pick. And he likely would have more often than not, but when you’re coming off the end of the year he’s coming off, I feel like everything is magnified.
Given the weather and the short spring training, I'm willing to give Santana a pass on missing that pick. But he needs to get the next 6-8 before he misses another. And if his OBP isn't .350+ by mid-May, it is time to move on. Because at this point that's his only real offensive skill.
Ah, baseball. I feel like I just had a cheeseburger after months of dieting. I know it was the first game, but this one had a little bit of deja vu for me, and not just because Greinke was on the mound. Did it not resemble a lot of the games the Royals won in 2014-15, with great defense, steady starting, excellent relief and timely hitting? Game tied 1-1 due to good defense, get the Cleveland starter out, tag their bullpen, and ours shuts it down. I know it wasn't HDH (BSB anyone?), but I think this bullpen will be a strength. And Witt did what the Hollywood script said, and was a humble interview besides. Did you notice he referenced just wanting to stay up with the major league club and contribute (as opposed to going back to Omaha). He doesn't seem to be taking his anointment for granted. Last thought; Greinke may have been the perfect opening day pitcher to set the tone for the season. To me there was a calm, get to work feeling about the game. The guy is the ultimate been-there-done-that professional.
It was definitely the formula. Keep it close and let the bullpen shut down the other side and score some late runs. I think they’ll catch the ball as well or better as they did in 14/15 and I think the bullpen is very good though not as good. They need to get that starting pitching to get me to truly believe, but it was a good start for Greinke. And yes, definitely the perfect guy.
I along with you, hated the bunt by Dozier. I thought Matheny made one mistake yesterday. I was in my car traveling at the time. I was yelling at the radio, pinch run for Santana. On the radio they made it sound like the play at second was close. Other than that great game and great post by you, David.
I probably overstated it, but it shouldn't have even been close was really my point on it. It was like he was moving in quicksand. And look, it was cold, the ground may have been a little wet, I don't know. I'm not saying dump him now because he was slow yesterday, but it's definitely something to watch.
Bobby will be the best Royal since George Brett. Pratto I think will be a valuable 1B for his glove, power and OBP, tho may be more of a 250 hitter. Pasquantino has hit at every level and every season since being drafted. He's never NOT hit in his professional career and until he does fail, I'm going to assume he can just flat out hit.
When Greinke is pitching, and Pratto is at 1B, the Royals may have a legitimate claim to one of the best defenses ever. Potential or reigning Gold Glovers at 8 positions with Whit as a pretty decent RF.
Oh yeah. And I forgot about Melendez. Hope springs eternal and the Royals are back baby.
OMG - the Dozier bunt. The ultimate WT,,, Heck moment. I just about came unglued. The commentators made it sound like that was the batter's decision. I know hitters get a lot more leeway than they used to, but are we giving batters the leeway to lay down a bunt with a rotund first baseman at first? If not, how did the staff think that was a good idea? I mean I'll take Salvy in a footrace vs. Santana!
Greinke was an artist through three and the ball seemed to ride high and out on him but man, how he handled the counts was FUN to watch. I don't know if you caught the feed but LeFebvre made a great point in that how Greinke pitched yesterday was very similar to when he first made the bigs. He wasn't a 'pure flamethrower', he was clever and often times outwitted hitters by being willing to throw anything at anytime to anyone.
BWJ sure looks the part. One of my childhood friends is heavily involved in all things KC Sports Media Coverage and when I texted him about how much BWJ's expressions were "little league joyous", his response was that he's "just a Big Kid". Clark mentioned in his comment how Witt talked about just trying to "stay up" in the bigs and I saw/heard that too. Someone with those skills, having fun like a kid and with that humility - How fun is that!
You are spot on with the bullpen and the fielding. Besides a few high throws, which didn't cost us, the infield was damn good. And the outfield, well plays the Indians didn't make, our OF made look routine.
162-0 and BWJ for MVP with 162 game winning RBIs baby!
I'd really love to know who called for that Dozier bunt. I may have missed it, but I don't think Matheny was asked about it. It's just a disaster all around and I hope we never see it again.
And yeah, Greinke was great. I was at the park so I didn't hear the broadcast, but it definitely was vintage Zack from before he figured out he should throw 97. That pitching intelligence is why even if he does fall off some, I don't think he'll fall off a cliff anytime soon. I hope I'm right!
As for Witt, what more can you say? He played well at third, got the big hit and then stayed humble. I think I said on the radio a few days ago that if Witt doesn't become a star, we can't predict anyone will. It's fun that we get to watch him.
If we never see it again it'll still be too soon. However, today I did literally LOL thinking about what Santana must've thought when he saw the call...
Nice write up David. I’m glad you brought up Santana. You mentioned his offense and speed. I’m more worried about his defense. If the royals are going to have three shortstops on the infield making really difficult plays there are going to be low throws from time to time. Mondesi should have gotten his throws up but an average major league first basemen should be able to dig balls like that. He struggled with it last year too. I feel like playing Santana at first negates a part of the benefit of having three stellar defenders on the infield.
I don’t have a huge issue with Santana defensively, but getting Pratto there will definitely improve the defense even more. I agree he should have probably had that pick. And he likely would have more often than not, but when you’re coming off the end of the year he’s coming off, I feel like everything is magnified.
Given the weather and the short spring training, I'm willing to give Santana a pass on missing that pick. But he needs to get the next 6-8 before he misses another. And if his OBP isn't .350+ by mid-May, it is time to move on. Because at this point that's his only real offensive skill.
Ah, baseball. I feel like I just had a cheeseburger after months of dieting. I know it was the first game, but this one had a little bit of deja vu for me, and not just because Greinke was on the mound. Did it not resemble a lot of the games the Royals won in 2014-15, with great defense, steady starting, excellent relief and timely hitting? Game tied 1-1 due to good defense, get the Cleveland starter out, tag their bullpen, and ours shuts it down. I know it wasn't HDH (BSB anyone?), but I think this bullpen will be a strength. And Witt did what the Hollywood script said, and was a humble interview besides. Did you notice he referenced just wanting to stay up with the major league club and contribute (as opposed to going back to Omaha). He doesn't seem to be taking his anointment for granted. Last thought; Greinke may have been the perfect opening day pitcher to set the tone for the season. To me there was a calm, get to work feeling about the game. The guy is the ultimate been-there-done-that professional.
It was definitely the formula. Keep it close and let the bullpen shut down the other side and score some late runs. I think they’ll catch the ball as well or better as they did in 14/15 and I think the bullpen is very good though not as good. They need to get that starting pitching to get me to truly believe, but it was a good start for Greinke. And yes, definitely the perfect guy.
I along with you, hated the bunt by Dozier. I thought Matheny made one mistake yesterday. I was in my car traveling at the time. I was yelling at the radio, pinch run for Santana. On the radio they made it sound like the play at second was close. Other than that great game and great post by you, David.
I probably overstated it, but it shouldn't have even been close was really my point on it. It was like he was moving in quicksand. And look, it was cold, the ground may have been a little wet, I don't know. I'm not saying dump him now because he was slow yesterday, but it's definitely something to watch.
Bobby will be the best Royal since George Brett. Pratto I think will be a valuable 1B for his glove, power and OBP, tho may be more of a 250 hitter. Pasquantino has hit at every level and every season since being drafted. He's never NOT hit in his professional career and until he does fail, I'm going to assume he can just flat out hit.
When Greinke is pitching, and Pratto is at 1B, the Royals may have a legitimate claim to one of the best defenses ever. Potential or reigning Gold Glovers at 8 positions with Whit as a pretty decent RF.
Oh yeah. And I forgot about Melendez. Hope springs eternal and the Royals are back baby.
OMG - the Dozier bunt. The ultimate WT,,, Heck moment. I just about came unglued. The commentators made it sound like that was the batter's decision. I know hitters get a lot more leeway than they used to, but are we giving batters the leeway to lay down a bunt with a rotund first baseman at first? If not, how did the staff think that was a good idea? I mean I'll take Salvy in a footrace vs. Santana!
Greinke was an artist through three and the ball seemed to ride high and out on him but man, how he handled the counts was FUN to watch. I don't know if you caught the feed but LeFebvre made a great point in that how Greinke pitched yesterday was very similar to when he first made the bigs. He wasn't a 'pure flamethrower', he was clever and often times outwitted hitters by being willing to throw anything at anytime to anyone.
BWJ sure looks the part. One of my childhood friends is heavily involved in all things KC Sports Media Coverage and when I texted him about how much BWJ's expressions were "little league joyous", his response was that he's "just a Big Kid". Clark mentioned in his comment how Witt talked about just trying to "stay up" in the bigs and I saw/heard that too. Someone with those skills, having fun like a kid and with that humility - How fun is that!
You are spot on with the bullpen and the fielding. Besides a few high throws, which didn't cost us, the infield was damn good. And the outfield, well plays the Indians didn't make, our OF made look routine.
162-0 and BWJ for MVP with 162 game winning RBIs baby!
I'd really love to know who called for that Dozier bunt. I may have missed it, but I don't think Matheny was asked about it. It's just a disaster all around and I hope we never see it again.
And yeah, Greinke was great. I was at the park so I didn't hear the broadcast, but it definitely was vintage Zack from before he figured out he should throw 97. That pitching intelligence is why even if he does fall off some, I don't think he'll fall off a cliff anytime soon. I hope I'm right!
As for Witt, what more can you say? He played well at third, got the big hit and then stayed humble. I think I said on the radio a few days ago that if Witt doesn't become a star, we can't predict anyone will. It's fun that we get to watch him.
If we never see it again it'll still be too soon. However, today I did literally LOL thinking about what Santana must've thought when he saw the call...
Ha, that's a fun thought.