Didn’t love the presser yesterday with JJ. But totally understand lowering expectations just to beat them. I’ll reserve the right to be concerned later in the offseason after we see what happens on a few of these things as far as signing anyone is involved. Question is, and it might not be something you can answer now. But at what point would you be concerned they didn’t do enough on the pitching development side. JJ certainly made it sound like they weren’t making a whole lot of changes on that side. Unless, I heard wrong, Gibson is staying on. If we are blaming everything on Eldred that’s fine….but this better work.
Here’s what gives me pause. Gibson is staying on. I would not be surprised, though, if someone from the list above is both not the pitching coach but still oversees everything. There’s some buzz right now about multiple hires to supplement the overall organizational pitching approach. I would say to wait a bit to see if the only change is the pitching coach or if there are three or four additions including the pitching coach.
I have something on RR today about this, but before this season, the pitching wasn’t bad in the minors. A lot of the young guys matched up in the minors with some of the very best young starters in the majors today and what THEY did in the minors. I wonder how much the transition was the problem vs. the whole process. So I guess I need to see what they do other than hire a new pitching coach.
Hire a guy to spearhead an organizational philosophy for pitching development and another to be the pitching coach who has the communication skills to implement the organizational philosophy with the staff. Multiple positions are needed.
Would you anticipate the manager to be hired first and then have a role in selecting his pitching coach? I know the days of a manager bringing along his own pitching coach (e.g., Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan) are generally past us, but I wonder if the field manager gets to have any voice in the process.
I think that's likely how it will go. But they're also going to have to be working simultaneously to ensure they actually get their guy. So, for example, I mentioned Dusty Wathan yesterday and Brian Kaplan today. Both are from the Phillies. Maybe they talk to Wathan, get his thoughts on pitching coaches and if they both like Wathan for another interview and he mentions Kaplan, they start the process with Kaplan. If that makes sense. Kind of convoluted, I know.
But! If they do hire an overarching director of pitching type to oversee the whole organization, I could see THAT hire coming even before a manager.
As has happened almost every year since the Bob Gibson world series, once the postseason starts I'm blown away again by the quality of pitching (and the Scherzer-Darvish matchup hasn't even happened yet!)
Maybe Brady Singer at his best could hang with these guys. Nobody else on the staff, probably not even Zack, could do so. The new pitching coach likely has a long, uphill slog in front of him.
As I heard JJ talk, seemingly endlessly, about how long this hiring process would take all I could hear was "We'll let the other teams hire the best managerial candidates. Once that has happened we'll be happy to pick through the leftovers and take a long shot on someone cheap."
I suspect that same process will play out if and when it finally becomes time to hire a pitching coach.
They may all say the same thing. Problem is, history teaches us that they're wrong when they say that. And JJ's comments strongly indicate that I'm probably right.
I fully expect almost every open managerial position to be filled before the Royals finally hire their 7th choice and pretend like "this is the guy we wanted all along."
The last time the Royals had a managerial opening was 2019/2020. By my count, 10 managers were hired that winter (two by the Mets). The last man hired was Dusty Baker. The first man hired was Joe Maddon. Before Matheny was also Joe Girardi, David Ross and Jayce Tingler. After Matheny, including Baker, was Gabe Kapler, Derek Shelton, Carlos Beltran (and Luis Rojas).
If you want to look at more, that's fine, but that's a pretty heavy hiring season and I don't think it proves what you think it does. I know it's really easy to get worked up because of words spoken in a press conference by someone who is ALWAYS going to speak conservatively, but, man, it's just not worth the energy.
I stand corrected: it was likely their 5th choice, not their 7th, that time.
If Matheny was any higher than 5th on their list, that indicates a level of decision-making ineptitude that's difficult to fathom.
Does anybody really think that Matheny or Trey Hillman or Tony Pena or Tony Muser were at the top of their list? God, I hope not!
In more than a half-century of closely observing the Royals decision making, one thing I've noticed is that changes in ownership and management do not guarantee improvements in the timing or quality of decisions made. In fact, I'd go so far as to say there's rarely a correlation there.
No, it doesn't matter to me if the Royals strike first or last. I just want them to hire the right man for the task at hand. When Kevin Cash was hired by the Rays was that considered an astute hire by their fans or the media? I don't want a new manager who is the popular hire I want the one that is the right individual for the job of leading the Royals back to respectability, winning the division, advancing in the play offs, and winning American League Pennants, and World Series titles. Why? Well, the end result is all that matters to me.
I honestly don't remember what fans or media thought of Cash. Smart baseball people loved it. Smart baseball people love Quatraro and Espada and quite a few others. And for what it's worth, Cash was the last manager hired in the 2015 manager hiring season.
FWIW: a radio guy from Houston told Soren today that Espada is widely regarded by insiders and outsiders alike in Houston as the Astros next manager.... Dusty Baker isn't getting any younger, that's for sure!
Don't answer this, but Royals may have to eat a couple of years before things get better. I like Matheny, but he may suck as a coach. Royals lost 9? games from the 2021 total, so I understand this part but Royals have to get better fast or will be left behind. Too bad about Moore, but Sherman had to do something. The winning part is infectious; 'member when the Chiefs sucked....
Watching the Mariners playoff game today, I can't help but wish we had THAT Castillo instead of the one we have. I may be a little premature in that judgment but I don't think so.....
Of course, if we had him there's no telling how much damage Eldred would have done by now. He probably wouldn't be the same Luis Castillo that has me so envious of the Mariners.
Definitely not Dane Johnson. I have seen Omaha relieve pitchers fail to produce for years and have not noticed any improvement for the pitchers who remain in Omaha for most of the year.
What are the MLB rules regarding contacting coaches / managers who are under contract for next year with a team?
The team has to give them permission to interview but as long as it’s not a lateral move, permission is almost always granted.
Didn’t love the presser yesterday with JJ. But totally understand lowering expectations just to beat them. I’ll reserve the right to be concerned later in the offseason after we see what happens on a few of these things as far as signing anyone is involved. Question is, and it might not be something you can answer now. But at what point would you be concerned they didn’t do enough on the pitching development side. JJ certainly made it sound like they weren’t making a whole lot of changes on that side. Unless, I heard wrong, Gibson is staying on. If we are blaming everything on Eldred that’s fine….but this better work.
Here’s what gives me pause. Gibson is staying on. I would not be surprised, though, if someone from the list above is both not the pitching coach but still oversees everything. There’s some buzz right now about multiple hires to supplement the overall organizational pitching approach. I would say to wait a bit to see if the only change is the pitching coach or if there are three or four additions including the pitching coach.
I have something on RR today about this, but before this season, the pitching wasn’t bad in the minors. A lot of the young guys matched up in the minors with some of the very best young starters in the majors today and what THEY did in the minors. I wonder how much the transition was the problem vs. the whole process. So I guess I need to see what they do other than hire a new pitching coach.
Hire a guy to spearhead an organizational philosophy for pitching development and another to be the pitching coach who has the communication skills to implement the organizational philosophy with the staff. Multiple positions are needed.
A lot of what I’m hearing is there are people who will likely be brought in to do just that. I’m working to get a little more info on that.
Thought that last name was Max Reiper on first read and I was like wah...? Surely he would be enthusiastic about the job at the least!
Boy I love Max, but I’m not sure he should be the pitching coach. I think assistant maybe, but let’s start slow.
The list should begin and end with Winston Doom.
The absolute best name on the list. Maybe in baseball.
Brings to mind... Was Homer Bailey the worst name ever for a MLB pitcher? 😸
Would you anticipate the manager to be hired first and then have a role in selecting his pitching coach? I know the days of a manager bringing along his own pitching coach (e.g., Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan) are generally past us, but I wonder if the field manager gets to have any voice in the process.
I think that's likely how it will go. But they're also going to have to be working simultaneously to ensure they actually get their guy. So, for example, I mentioned Dusty Wathan yesterday and Brian Kaplan today. Both are from the Phillies. Maybe they talk to Wathan, get his thoughts on pitching coaches and if they both like Wathan for another interview and he mentions Kaplan, they start the process with Kaplan. If that makes sense. Kind of convoluted, I know.
But! If they do hire an overarching director of pitching type to oversee the whole organization, I could see THAT hire coming even before a manager.
As has happened almost every year since the Bob Gibson world series, once the postseason starts I'm blown away again by the quality of pitching (and the Scherzer-Darvish matchup hasn't even happened yet!)
Maybe Brady Singer at his best could hang with these guys. Nobody else on the staff, probably not even Zack, could do so. The new pitching coach likely has a long, uphill slog in front of him.
As I heard JJ talk, seemingly endlessly, about how long this hiring process would take all I could hear was "We'll let the other teams hire the best managerial candidates. Once that has happened we'll be happy to pick through the leftovers and take a long shot on someone cheap."
I suspect that same process will play out if and when it finally becomes time to hire a pitching coach.
Literally every team hiring a manager says the same thing. I wouldn’t worry too much about it.
They may all say the same thing. Problem is, history teaches us that they're wrong when they say that. And JJ's comments strongly indicate that I'm probably right.
I fully expect almost every open managerial position to be filled before the Royals finally hire their 7th choice and pretend like "this is the guy we wanted all along."
The last time the Royals had a managerial opening was 2019/2020. By my count, 10 managers were hired that winter (two by the Mets). The last man hired was Dusty Baker. The first man hired was Joe Maddon. Before Matheny was also Joe Girardi, David Ross and Jayce Tingler. After Matheny, including Baker, was Gabe Kapler, Derek Shelton, Carlos Beltran (and Luis Rojas).
If you want to look at more, that's fine, but that's a pretty heavy hiring season and I don't think it proves what you think it does. I know it's really easy to get worked up because of words spoken in a press conference by someone who is ALWAYS going to speak conservatively, but, man, it's just not worth the energy.
I stand corrected: it was likely their 5th choice, not their 7th, that time.
If Matheny was any higher than 5th on their list, that indicates a level of decision-making ineptitude that's difficult to fathom.
Does anybody really think that Matheny or Trey Hillman or Tony Pena or Tony Muser were at the top of their list? God, I hope not!
In more than a half-century of closely observing the Royals decision making, one thing I've noticed is that changes in ownership and management do not guarantee improvements in the timing or quality of decisions made. In fact, I'd go so far as to say there's rarely a correlation there.
When I opened my phone’s email app, the headline for your post appeared so, “Cal Eldred’s Replacement Is Insane...” and I was ready to despair.
Whew!
Thank you again for a great analysis of some of the hopefully healthy-in-brain choices facing the Royals.
Hoping for Doom and yet, not despairing!
I mean with this staff, he might be insane!
No, it doesn't matter to me if the Royals strike first or last. I just want them to hire the right man for the task at hand. When Kevin Cash was hired by the Rays was that considered an astute hire by their fans or the media? I don't want a new manager who is the popular hire I want the one that is the right individual for the job of leading the Royals back to respectability, winning the division, advancing in the play offs, and winning American League Pennants, and World Series titles. Why? Well, the end result is all that matters to me.
I honestly don't remember what fans or media thought of Cash. Smart baseball people loved it. Smart baseball people love Quatraro and Espada and quite a few others. And for what it's worth, Cash was the last manager hired in the 2015 manager hiring season.
FWIW: a radio guy from Houston told Soren today that Espada is widely regarded by insiders and outsiders alike in Houston as the Astros next manager.... Dusty Baker isn't getting any younger, that's for sure!
Don't answer this, but Royals may have to eat a couple of years before things get better. I like Matheny, but he may suck as a coach. Royals lost 9? games from the 2021 total, so I understand this part but Royals have to get better fast or will be left behind. Too bad about Moore, but Sherman had to do something. The winning part is infectious; 'member when the Chiefs sucked....
Watching the Mariners playoff game today, I can't help but wish we had THAT Castillo instead of the one we have. I may be a little premature in that judgment but I don't think so.....
Of course, if we had him there's no telling how much damage Eldred would have done by now. He probably wouldn't be the same Luis Castillo that has me so envious of the Mariners.
Definitely not Dane Johnson. I have seen Omaha relieve pitchers fail to produce for years and have not noticed any improvement for the pitchers who remain in Omaha for most of the year.