Glad to see Homer as well. I guess you could throw Cain in there as well but his ending with the Royals was about as well as it could go. The Padres made the huge offer, the Royals could just part ways. Happy ending all around. After seeing Whit’s departure and thinking back on Moustakas they didn’t all end up that way.
Isbel…….Its too early yet. But he’s into his second year now. I’m not saying not plenty of time to figure it out and the situation has been tough for him. That said…..He’s on the struggle bus big time. I wouldn’t mind if he got a fresh start somewhere this offseason to be honest. Probably not the best thing for the royals but for him anyway. Feels like he’s getting passed up a bit here. And the playing time has been sparse…I get it….but its also one of those you have to take advantage of the opportunity deals I think he’s missed on.
Bubic…..let me start by saying I’m glad he’s back to pitching the way he can. And this isn’t a dog on Bubic….I just want to make sure the pitching coach doesn’t get credit for getting Bubic back to who he is. LOL. He’s a 4….4.50 ERA pitcher he’s shown the last couple of years. A slow starter and comes on strong later in the year. That’s his track record……or at least that’s the information we have. Eldred doesn’t get credit for getting him back to being the pitcher he is. I’m not sure it’s actual year over year improvement yet as much as just getting back to the pitcher he is. If that makes sense.
What I'd say about Isbel is he's had 251 big league plate appearances over nearly more than as season and a half. He has absolutely looked terrible this season and a lot of it is that his approach has taken about six steps back, but I wonder if that has to do with trying to do way too much every single time he's in there just to potentially get a start the next day. He's probably been passed over by a few guys, so it likely is in his best interest to get a fresh start, but I also wouldn't even come remotely close to giving up on him. He needs to reset for sure. I'd send him to AAA and let him play every day and either let him rebuild value to be part of a deal or give him a legitimate shot to play every day in 2023.
No now….but some point later on down the road. I’d love a piece on the packages it would take to get a top starter. I know….if they do it……everyone will immediately hate the trade because we fall in love with our guys. I don’t think fans are used to the “if you can turn a 11th round pick into this…you can do it again” way of thinking yet. So whoever it is I’m sure people will get up in arms. Maybe its an offseason piece.
I’ve thought quite a bit about it. Here’s the problem, though. I’m struggling to find who might be available other than Pablo Lopez. I like Lopez, but he’s thrown a career high in innings this year already and it’s only 118.2. I’m sure I’ll put something together after the season though.
Isbel is running out of chances. I think he's a tremendous defensive outfielder..... Benintendi somehow won a Gold Glove last year and imo Isbell is closer to Alex Gordon than Benentendi defensively. But he has to hit. You've got Drew Waters and Tyler Gentry that are on the cusp of being ready. He has a half season to do something.
Again, 250 plate appearances over more than a year and a half. If he’s running out of chances, then he didn’t start with nearly as many as he should have.
I don’t think he’s necessarily running out of chances as much as it is he’s keeping the door open for other guys to get more chances than him. He’s got a lot of rope yet…maybe not as much as used to be but still long.
Yeah, I don't disagree. He still has an excellent chance to stick around as a 4th outfielder because of his defensive skills and pinch running speed. If I had my way tho, either LF or RF is taken by Melendez, Waters is tearing it up at AAA and is likely the future CF and I really like Tyler Gentry. 1000+ OPS at NWA. If he doesn't start hitting, there are real alternatives to turn to.
He was barreling the ball for a while and hitting into bad luck, but lately, he just hasn't made much solid contact at all. Doesn't help a young player to play a couple of times a week tho.
Realistically, who would they bring up to sit on the bench? I'd rather guys get every day at bats in Omaha than sit on the bench in KC just to marginally improve the roster.
Sure I wouldn’t bring up a real prospect or anything and maybe this doesn’t matter if Dozier is going to play less, but it’d be nice to have a righty bat like the guy they just acquired, Brent Rooker, over a lefty given that I don’t see them pinch hitting for really any of the righty bats in a late game situation.
The eternal question when it comes to the Royals.... probably won't happen soon. There is no one else that they really want to get major exposure at the MLB level. They've got the guys they wanted up and playing regularly. They don't want to bring up a young player to ride the bench.... so we are stuck with him as a bench player and PH for a while longer it seems. Seems like we traded for a RH version of him the other day.
Clarke pitched well. Neither hit was barreled and the RBI single came on a 95mph fastball at the very top (and not middle) of the zone. Pretty sure thats exactly where Sal and Clarke intended it to go.
Michael Massey as impeccable swing mechanics along with a certain swagger, like he knows he's going to be good.
Pratto has a >40% K rate. Not good....
KC Royals baseball is fun again even tho they aren't actually good yet. I haven't been this excited about a bunch of young players since 2012.
Granted Pratto is going to have to improve on that strike out rate, but he needs to regularly play the rest of the year to see if he can improve. I don't need to see Dozier playing first.
Nothing baseball related today. The title of the story made me think of Dr. Seuss and the B Book - Big Brown Berar Blue Bull Beautiful Baboon Blowing Bubbles Biking Backwards......
Loved reading that book to my kids. Thanks for making me think of it.
It was really encouraging to see the way Bubic pulled himself together after that wobbly first inning. There are few starting pitchers who are immune to that whole "wobbly first inning" thing, so I'm not going to ding him much for that.
In the larger picture it seems that somehow, some way, a few of the younger pitchers are finding ways to overcome the coaching they've received in this organization, from Eldred down through the minor leagues.
Some pitchers who are unusually fiery and emotional seem to be able to channel all of that into pitching well. Guys like Pedro and Schilling come to mind. Closer to home, I think of Shields and Cueto, maybe even Kelvin Herrera. We all watched Yordano struggle with that at times.
Then there are other guys who seem to constantly be seeking to avenge some imagined wrong, or who are out to prove their manhood rather than looking to get outs. Those guys usually don't do well because they're unable or unwilling to control or channel their emotions.
I've seen enough of Amir Garrett to have him classified in the latter group. Sure, he has a MLB-caliber arm. But I'm feeling very little confidence that he has a MLB-caliber head.
David - just wanted to let you know I REALLY enjoyed your August 5 article on the "Baby Royals" at Royals Review. (Except for the mention of Mondesi, of course.)
BWJ to 3rd base absolutely makes sense to me! Lopez played SS at a Gold Glove level last year and there's no reason to waste that. Put Pratto at 1B with Massey at 2B and leave that infield alone! Sorry Vinnie but it looks like you're a DH.
As far as MJ in RF goes, maybe they can convince Rusty Kuntz to work with him over the winter???? I know he isn't officially an outfield coach anymore but he still has all that coaching knowledge and experience. I can hardly think of a better way for him to use it unless (maybe) it's coaching Olivares.
Glad to see Homer as well. I guess you could throw Cain in there as well but his ending with the Royals was about as well as it could go. The Padres made the huge offer, the Royals could just part ways. Happy ending all around. After seeing Whit’s departure and thinking back on Moustakas they didn’t all end up that way.
Isbel…….Its too early yet. But he’s into his second year now. I’m not saying not plenty of time to figure it out and the situation has been tough for him. That said…..He’s on the struggle bus big time. I wouldn’t mind if he got a fresh start somewhere this offseason to be honest. Probably not the best thing for the royals but for him anyway. Feels like he’s getting passed up a bit here. And the playing time has been sparse…I get it….but its also one of those you have to take advantage of the opportunity deals I think he’s missed on.
Bubic…..let me start by saying I’m glad he’s back to pitching the way he can. And this isn’t a dog on Bubic….I just want to make sure the pitching coach doesn’t get credit for getting Bubic back to who he is. LOL. He’s a 4….4.50 ERA pitcher he’s shown the last couple of years. A slow starter and comes on strong later in the year. That’s his track record……or at least that’s the information we have. Eldred doesn’t get credit for getting him back to being the pitcher he is. I’m not sure it’s actual year over year improvement yet as much as just getting back to the pitcher he is. If that makes sense.
What I'd say about Isbel is he's had 251 big league plate appearances over nearly more than as season and a half. He has absolutely looked terrible this season and a lot of it is that his approach has taken about six steps back, but I wonder if that has to do with trying to do way too much every single time he's in there just to potentially get a start the next day. He's probably been passed over by a few guys, so it likely is in his best interest to get a fresh start, but I also wouldn't even come remotely close to giving up on him. He needs to reset for sure. I'd send him to AAA and let him play every day and either let him rebuild value to be part of a deal or give him a legitimate shot to play every day in 2023.
No now….but some point later on down the road. I’d love a piece on the packages it would take to get a top starter. I know….if they do it……everyone will immediately hate the trade because we fall in love with our guys. I don’t think fans are used to the “if you can turn a 11th round pick into this…you can do it again” way of thinking yet. So whoever it is I’m sure people will get up in arms. Maybe its an offseason piece.
I’ve thought quite a bit about it. Here’s the problem, though. I’m struggling to find who might be available other than Pablo Lopez. I like Lopez, but he’s thrown a career high in innings this year already and it’s only 118.2. I’m sure I’ll put something together after the season though.
Isbel is running out of chances. I think he's a tremendous defensive outfielder..... Benintendi somehow won a Gold Glove last year and imo Isbell is closer to Alex Gordon than Benentendi defensively. But he has to hit. You've got Drew Waters and Tyler Gentry that are on the cusp of being ready. He has a half season to do something.
Again, 250 plate appearances over more than a year and a half. If he’s running out of chances, then he didn’t start with nearly as many as he should have.
I don’t think he’s necessarily running out of chances as much as it is he’s keeping the door open for other guys to get more chances than him. He’s got a lot of rope yet…maybe not as much as used to be but still long.
Yeah, I don't disagree. He still has an excellent chance to stick around as a 4th outfielder because of his defensive skills and pinch running speed. If I had my way tho, either LF or RF is taken by Melendez, Waters is tearing it up at AAA and is likely the future CF and I really like Tyler Gentry. 1000+ OPS at NWA. If he doesn't start hitting, there are real alternatives to turn to.
Joel, who is Homer? You must have meant Hosmer? I wish I could afford to see a game at the park again but I am not wealthy, so I just watch on TV.
Isbel's average exit velo is in the top four among MLB rookies. The guy is definitely doing something right, but the game just hates him right now.
He was barreling the ball for a while and hitting into bad luck, but lately, he just hasn't made much solid contact at all. Doesn't help a young player to play a couple of times a week tho.
When are they going to DFA O’Hearn to free up another roster spot
If I had the answer to that, I’d be a lottery winner and on a beach never to be found again.
Realistically, who would they bring up to sit on the bench? I'd rather guys get every day at bats in Omaha than sit on the bench in KC just to marginally improve the roster.
Sure I wouldn’t bring up a real prospect or anything and maybe this doesn’t matter if Dozier is going to play less, but it’d be nice to have a righty bat like the guy they just acquired, Brent Rooker, over a lefty given that I don’t see them pinch hitting for really any of the righty bats in a late game situation.
The eternal question when it comes to the Royals.... probably won't happen soon. There is no one else that they really want to get major exposure at the MLB level. They've got the guys they wanted up and playing regularly. They don't want to bring up a young player to ride the bench.... so we are stuck with him as a bench player and PH for a while longer it seems. Seems like we traded for a RH version of him the other day.
I heard they want to get Ohearn to 10 years of service time so he can draw a full pension.
In connection with that, I heard a rumor. Something about "hell freezing over....."
Clarke pitched well. Neither hit was barreled and the RBI single came on a 95mph fastball at the very top (and not middle) of the zone. Pretty sure thats exactly where Sal and Clarke intended it to go.
Michael Massey as impeccable swing mechanics along with a certain swagger, like he knows he's going to be good.
Pratto has a >40% K rate. Not good....
KC Royals baseball is fun again even tho they aren't actually good yet. I haven't been this excited about a bunch of young players since 2012.
Granted Pratto is going to have to improve on that strike out rate, but he needs to regularly play the rest of the year to see if he can improve. I don't need to see Dozier playing first.
Nothing baseball related today. The title of the story made me think of Dr. Seuss and the B Book - Big Brown Berar Blue Bull Beautiful Baboon Blowing Bubbles Biking Backwards......
Loved reading that book to my kids. Thanks for making me think of it.
LOL! In college a buddy of mine tried to write a Dr Seuss version of the book of Genesis. I only remember one little part of it:
They were naked as jaybirds, but they weren't ashamed, 'cause their doo-dads and hoo-ha's had yet to be named. 😁
It was really encouraging to see the way Bubic pulled himself together after that wobbly first inning. There are few starting pitchers who are immune to that whole "wobbly first inning" thing, so I'm not going to ding him much for that.
In the larger picture it seems that somehow, some way, a few of the younger pitchers are finding ways to overcome the coaching they've received in this organization, from Eldred down through the minor leagues.
What a shame that they have to do that!
Some pitchers who are unusually fiery and emotional seem to be able to channel all of that into pitching well. Guys like Pedro and Schilling come to mind. Closer to home, I think of Shields and Cueto, maybe even Kelvin Herrera. We all watched Yordano struggle with that at times.
Then there are other guys who seem to constantly be seeking to avenge some imagined wrong, or who are out to prove their manhood rather than looking to get outs. Those guys usually don't do well because they're unable or unwilling to control or channel their emotions.
I've seen enough of Amir Garrett to have him classified in the latter group. Sure, he has a MLB-caliber arm. But I'm feeling very little confidence that he has a MLB-caliber head.
David - just wanted to let you know I REALLY enjoyed your August 5 article on the "Baby Royals" at Royals Review. (Except for the mention of Mondesi, of course.)
BWJ to 3rd base absolutely makes sense to me! Lopez played SS at a Gold Glove level last year and there's no reason to waste that. Put Pratto at 1B with Massey at 2B and leave that infield alone! Sorry Vinnie but it looks like you're a DH.
As far as MJ in RF goes, maybe they can convince Rusty Kuntz to work with him over the winter???? I know he isn't officially an outfield coach anymore but he still has all that coaching knowledge and experience. I can hardly think of a better way for him to use it unless (maybe) it's coaching Olivares.