I have never understood why pitchers throw a waste pitch. Always seem that takes them out of rhythm and just increases pitch count. Bubic pitched well, but when you start to nibble, seems you go south in a hurry. Not sure if that is Cal making the call or what. I would like to see them maintain an aggressive approach and stop the finesse. Not everyone can be a Greg Maddux, sorry for the spelling.
I think the issue with our staff is lack of mental toughness and an ability to maintain focus. With the exception of Brady Singer and Greinke (and sometimes Barlow), our pitchers don't seem to be able to consistently buckle down and execute against each and every hitter. We're prone to letdowns and brain farts at key times - lack of first pitch strikes, walking the leadoff batter in an inning, failure to get the 7-8-9 hitters out are all the same issue to me. At least some of this has to be caused by poor coaching and lack of the right mental approach to pitching. I think we have the arms, but not the brains. Your thoughts?
It was good to see Bubic using his change-up more. We've always heard how his change was 80 grade or best in the org, etc, but usually a guy with a dominant change will use it as a primary pitch. Bubic always seems to be using his FB and curve to set up his change rather than throwing his best pitch more often, and hasn't thrown it often enough IMO. With a great change, even if you know its coming, its still hard to hit. Last night was one of the few times where his change-up lived up to its reputation. It seems like he lacked conviction in his change being a "great" pitch. Bubic like all pitchers without extreme velocity ... his success is very much dependent on location. His FB gets pounded unless its at the top of the zone and his change-up is vulnerable if its up or in the middle, and he's lacked consistency with getting strikes on his curve- which is an effective pitch for the most part. He can be a decent back of the rotation starter. At least he has shown he can stay healthy. Being awful for a month or two and serviceable for a few months isn't a recipe for long term success.
Bubic, Lynch and Measley waste too many pitches that aren’t even close to have a batter chase after. Too many 0-2, 1-2 ways and hits where the ball is waste high in the middle of the plate. When is Matheny going to realize that Melandez is not a lead off hitter. As much as I try to support Dozier this may be his last month in baseball, O’Hearn also has no value to the organization, too many better fielders and hitters in front of him, he shouldn’t be see playing time at all. 2023 Crowded catching role with Perez, Melendez, Rivero, Fermin and Eaton, also infield Witt, Lopez, Massey, Garcia, Mondesi, outfield, Walters, Oliveras, Taylor, Isbel, Pratto, Eaton, Melandez, Rooker, where do they cut the line. Rooker, O’Hearn, Mondesi, Dozier and maybe Isbel gone. Can’t keep Garcia
Don't you guys remember your little league games, where some idiot coach or parent is yelling at the pitcher to just throw strikes because the bottom of the order is up to bat. The Royals Staff seem to have that same philosophy. Just one more example of a Royals player/pitcher being poorly prepared for his start.
I've been hospitalized for the last 6 days and haven't done much interneting although I've been lurking here and there. I know this makes life harder for the Royals and Royals fans but I really enjoyed having the opportunity to watch them play against teams who are still genuinely interested in playing and winning real baseball games! Now that I'm back home I'm ready for a 10 game winning streak. But something tells me that's not going to happen anytime soon and that's okay too.
I know what to make of the pitching. It HAS to be better next year. If it isn't, then I've lost faith in the front office. The question is what if no changes are made, and the pitching is just as bad? How long will it take management to realize they need to make significant changes? As for Dozier, it's no surprise that he's a disappointment, given how bad he was last year. He's not hitting and he's not a good defender at any position. Sure, you can say he should be playing less. But most of the young guys are hitting .250 or lower. Getting walks are great but you need someone who can consistently drive them in. The Royals scored only 8 runs in the Cleveland series and almost got swept at home. What I hope will happen is management will say: "We can't assume we're going to compete next year and we can't assume that the hitters and pitchers will play better. We need to make trades in the offseason to make this team better from here on." No one on the team is exactly setting the league on fire.
I have never understood why pitchers throw a waste pitch. Always seem that takes them out of rhythm and just increases pitch count. Bubic pitched well, but when you start to nibble, seems you go south in a hurry. Not sure if that is Cal making the call or what. I would like to see them maintain an aggressive approach and stop the finesse. Not everyone can be a Greg Maddux, sorry for the spelling.
I think the issue with our staff is lack of mental toughness and an ability to maintain focus. With the exception of Brady Singer and Greinke (and sometimes Barlow), our pitchers don't seem to be able to consistently buckle down and execute against each and every hitter. We're prone to letdowns and brain farts at key times - lack of first pitch strikes, walking the leadoff batter in an inning, failure to get the 7-8-9 hitters out are all the same issue to me. At least some of this has to be caused by poor coaching and lack of the right mental approach to pitching. I think we have the arms, but not the brains. Your thoughts?
It was good to see Bubic using his change-up more. We've always heard how his change was 80 grade or best in the org, etc, but usually a guy with a dominant change will use it as a primary pitch. Bubic always seems to be using his FB and curve to set up his change rather than throwing his best pitch more often, and hasn't thrown it often enough IMO. With a great change, even if you know its coming, its still hard to hit. Last night was one of the few times where his change-up lived up to its reputation. It seems like he lacked conviction in his change being a "great" pitch. Bubic like all pitchers without extreme velocity ... his success is very much dependent on location. His FB gets pounded unless its at the top of the zone and his change-up is vulnerable if its up or in the middle, and he's lacked consistency with getting strikes on his curve- which is an effective pitch for the most part. He can be a decent back of the rotation starter. At least he has shown he can stay healthy. Being awful for a month or two and serviceable for a few months isn't a recipe for long term success.
Bubic, Lynch and Measley waste too many pitches that aren’t even close to have a batter chase after. Too many 0-2, 1-2 ways and hits where the ball is waste high in the middle of the plate. When is Matheny going to realize that Melandez is not a lead off hitter. As much as I try to support Dozier this may be his last month in baseball, O’Hearn also has no value to the organization, too many better fielders and hitters in front of him, he shouldn’t be see playing time at all. 2023 Crowded catching role with Perez, Melendez, Rivero, Fermin and Eaton, also infield Witt, Lopez, Massey, Garcia, Mondesi, outfield, Walters, Oliveras, Taylor, Isbel, Pratto, Eaton, Melandez, Rooker, where do they cut the line. Rooker, O’Hearn, Mondesi, Dozier and maybe Isbel gone. Can’t keep Garcia
Don't you guys remember your little league games, where some idiot coach or parent is yelling at the pitcher to just throw strikes because the bottom of the order is up to bat. The Royals Staff seem to have that same philosophy. Just one more example of a Royals player/pitcher being poorly prepared for his start.
I've been hospitalized for the last 6 days and haven't done much interneting although I've been lurking here and there. I know this makes life harder for the Royals and Royals fans but I really enjoyed having the opportunity to watch them play against teams who are still genuinely interested in playing and winning real baseball games! Now that I'm back home I'm ready for a 10 game winning streak. But something tells me that's not going to happen anytime soon and that's okay too.
I know what to make of the pitching. It HAS to be better next year. If it isn't, then I've lost faith in the front office. The question is what if no changes are made, and the pitching is just as bad? How long will it take management to realize they need to make significant changes? As for Dozier, it's no surprise that he's a disappointment, given how bad he was last year. He's not hitting and he's not a good defender at any position. Sure, you can say he should be playing less. But most of the young guys are hitting .250 or lower. Getting walks are great but you need someone who can consistently drive them in. The Royals scored only 8 runs in the Cleveland series and almost got swept at home. What I hope will happen is management will say: "We can't assume we're going to compete next year and we can't assume that the hitters and pitchers will play better. We need to make trades in the offseason to make this team better from here on." No one on the team is exactly setting the league on fire.