Game 3 of the Arizona series: 0 runs, 5 hits,13 K's.
We've all seen this movie ("Shutout at the OK Corral") many times before and it has grown indescribably tiresome. At least we didn't have to wait until nearly midnight for it to end.
Their subsequent 3-hit 13-K performance against Minnesota was disappointing but perhaps not surprising when one takes a close look at the lineup: The best BA among the bottom seven guys is .205. Five of them are well below .200. If we were only a few games into the season that would be irrelevant but we've played nearly 1/6th of the schedule now. No, BA clearly isn't as important as OPS. But we've played enough games that it's definitely not insignificant anymore.
Other than watching the PA's of BWJ and Vinnie (plus some idle curiosity as to how long the starting pitcher might last) I'd be hard-pressed to identify even a semi-compelling reason to tune in to these games. Certainly bad baseball is better than no baseball. But I have to make myself flash back to the summer of 1968 in order to keep that perspective.
As far as the schedule, I was thinking just the opposite yesterday: Holy Hell, how ugly is it going to be when they start playing the genuinely good teams: Yankees, Rays, Astros, Mets, Dodgers, Padres? They've only played two so far--Blue Jays & Braves--and looked like they didn't belong on the same field with them.
I think the Rangers, with deGrom at the top, are legit. I'm not sure he's healthy all year, but the Royals caught them when he pitched twice, so that changes who they are. I also think the Twins, specifically their pitching, are really good. And the hope is that you catch other actually good teams at bad times. They have 41 games against teams that I either thought would be among the worst to start the year or are among the worst. They haven't played a single game against *any* of those teams. Do they go 20-21 against them? Do they go 28-13? I don't know and I think that makes a difference between, as I said, bad and horrible.
As you've pointed out, they seem to be getting less competitive, too. I'm not sure what buttons to push, either, since they made so many big changes last year (except in retaining Picollo) and the organization is so bereft of talent. I guess we should just acknowledge that this is going to be a two- to three-year rebuild from the ground up.
It certainly will take a little time. I continue to hear phenomenal things from the lower minors with the pitching and the results largely are showing that, so hopefully that can help things out quickly.
I agree with all these changes David. It would spark some fan interest too and hopefully restore some hope for this team. Deadwood needs to be moved out and lean even more on the young players...at the very least the Royals should have a better idea of gaps to fill in the offseason.
Taylor should be promoted rather than Garcia as he gives you more position flexibility--send Massey down. When they bring Garcia up they should move Witt to 3rd base and leave him there as Garcia is a SS and not a 3B and upon doing this cut bait on Dozier. Quit pampering Witt as he's not the superstar that they make him out to be. Cut Bradley upon Waters arrival and go with an OF of Oliveraes, Isbel, Waters, MJ and occasionally Taylor. Play Pratto at 1B and live with him--Pasquatino DH most days and cut Reyes loose. Keep Duffy as versatile utility player. Look to trade Chapman, Barlow & Garrett. MY MOVES. By the way I've watched extended spring training daily and Waters has looked good but Austin Charles has stolen the show!
I don't think they're pampering Witt as much as actually giving him a shot at shortstop with proper coaching and not moving him around. I don't think it necessarily lasts the whole year even if they come to a determination before then. I wouldn't have an issue with them moving Witt to third and bringing up Garcia to play shortstop, but that specific scenario isn't happening right now. Plus, Garcia isn't exactly tearing up AAA either, so I don't think it's a huge necessity.
Very good to know about Austin Charles, I'm really excited to see him get into low-A whenever he does.
I don't really care so much about bat playing at this position or not as long as it's covered elsewhere. The only spot that matters for that to me is first base because it's so low on the defensive spectrum. But if you can get a great defender at third who hits 10 homers and have a shortstop who hits 30, who cares if it's not traditional?
Last night was the first game this year that I didn't see one minute of. I got tuned in on the draft and was compelled with it. I had the Royals taping on my VCR, but never even looked at it. If they keep running Bradley, Reyes, Dozier, etc. a lot of folks are going to completely start tuning out. I don't care who they bring up, just bring somebody different up.
Glad we are hearing good things in the low minors. I’m beginning to wonder if that is going to be the true measuring stick for this group. Essentially, the major league team minus (Witt, Pasq) were too far gone to help….or injuries derailed. That thought is starting to creep up a little more and more. It’s the next group that they have to really improve. I’ve already voiced my thoughts on if JJ gets that chance….but more from the coaching perspective and changes. Maybe this group can’t be helped that much. But big time developments will happen in low minors. That paragraph makes me feel zero percent better. But hey, it’s something I guess.
The more people I speak with, the more I believe that this staff was brought on knowing they were going to get some time to impact the whole organization and not just the big league level. I do think we've seen a lot of positive big league changes as well and I'd include Melendez in that group with Witt and Vinnie, even though he's the guy who is likely to be moved if and when they can.
Royals are both bad and falling victim to the balanced schedule. At least we have 18 games against teams below .400 coming up in May. It will probably make whatever moves happen on May 1 look ingenious. At some point Sherman is going to have to stop shopping the bargain bin for veterans and spend to keep us competitive.
Reading the start of your post when you say you wonder when they start to believe they are this bad, made me think of the movie The Natural and the "Losing is a disease" scene. If the pitching looks good, we can't hit, if we are hitting we can't pitch and then there are nights that it all looks bad. Maybe ownership needs to worry a little less about building a new billion dollar stadium (I love Kaufman btw) and spend some money on some actual professional baseball players.
*yawn*
Game 3 of the Arizona series: 0 runs, 5 hits,13 K's.
We've all seen this movie ("Shutout at the OK Corral") many times before and it has grown indescribably tiresome. At least we didn't have to wait until nearly midnight for it to end.
Their subsequent 3-hit 13-K performance against Minnesota was disappointing but perhaps not surprising when one takes a close look at the lineup: The best BA among the bottom seven guys is .205. Five of them are well below .200. If we were only a few games into the season that would be irrelevant but we've played nearly 1/6th of the schedule now. No, BA clearly isn't as important as OPS. But we've played enough games that it's definitely not insignificant anymore.
Other than watching the PA's of BWJ and Vinnie (plus some idle curiosity as to how long the starting pitcher might last) I'd be hard-pressed to identify even a semi-compelling reason to tune in to these games. Certainly bad baseball is better than no baseball. But I have to make myself flash back to the summer of 1968 in order to keep that perspective.
As far as the schedule, I was thinking just the opposite yesterday: Holy Hell, how ugly is it going to be when they start playing the genuinely good teams: Yankees, Rays, Astros, Mets, Dodgers, Padres? They've only played two so far--Blue Jays & Braves--and looked like they didn't belong on the same field with them.
I think the Rangers, with deGrom at the top, are legit. I'm not sure he's healthy all year, but the Royals caught them when he pitched twice, so that changes who they are. I also think the Twins, specifically their pitching, are really good. And the hope is that you catch other actually good teams at bad times. They have 41 games against teams that I either thought would be among the worst to start the year or are among the worst. They haven't played a single game against *any* of those teams. Do they go 20-21 against them? Do they go 28-13? I don't know and I think that makes a difference between, as I said, bad and horrible.
As you've pointed out, they seem to be getting less competitive, too. I'm not sure what buttons to push, either, since they made so many big changes last year (except in retaining Picollo) and the organization is so bereft of talent. I guess we should just acknowledge that this is going to be a two- to three-year rebuild from the ground up.
It certainly will take a little time. I continue to hear phenomenal things from the lower minors with the pitching and the results largely are showing that, so hopefully that can help things out quickly.
I agree with all these changes David. It would spark some fan interest too and hopefully restore some hope for this team. Deadwood needs to be moved out and lean even more on the young players...at the very least the Royals should have a better idea of gaps to fill in the offseason.
Taylor should be promoted rather than Garcia as he gives you more position flexibility--send Massey down. When they bring Garcia up they should move Witt to 3rd base and leave him there as Garcia is a SS and not a 3B and upon doing this cut bait on Dozier. Quit pampering Witt as he's not the superstar that they make him out to be. Cut Bradley upon Waters arrival and go with an OF of Oliveraes, Isbel, Waters, MJ and occasionally Taylor. Play Pratto at 1B and live with him--Pasquatino DH most days and cut Reyes loose. Keep Duffy as versatile utility player. Look to trade Chapman, Barlow & Garrett. MY MOVES. By the way I've watched extended spring training daily and Waters has looked good but Austin Charles has stolen the show!
I don't think they're pampering Witt as much as actually giving him a shot at shortstop with proper coaching and not moving him around. I don't think it necessarily lasts the whole year even if they come to a determination before then. I wouldn't have an issue with them moving Witt to third and bringing up Garcia to play shortstop, but that specific scenario isn't happening right now. Plus, Garcia isn't exactly tearing up AAA either, so I don't think it's a huge necessity.
Very good to know about Austin Charles, I'm really excited to see him get into low-A whenever he does.
I agree that they don't need to rush Garcia up here but when they do he needs to play SS not 3B as his lack of power doesn't play at 3B.
I don't really care so much about bat playing at this position or not as long as it's covered elsewhere. The only spot that matters for that to me is first base because it's so low on the defensive spectrum. But if you can get a great defender at third who hits 10 homers and have a shortstop who hits 30, who cares if it's not traditional?
Last night was the first game this year that I didn't see one minute of. I got tuned in on the draft and was compelled with it. I had the Royals taping on my VCR, but never even looked at it. If they keep running Bradley, Reyes, Dozier, etc. a lot of folks are going to completely start tuning out. I don't care who they bring up, just bring somebody different up.
Time to go full youth
Love your thoughts on "What Can They Do." I'm hoping the Royals in fact take some of those steps.
Glad we are hearing good things in the low minors. I’m beginning to wonder if that is going to be the true measuring stick for this group. Essentially, the major league team minus (Witt, Pasq) were too far gone to help….or injuries derailed. That thought is starting to creep up a little more and more. It’s the next group that they have to really improve. I’ve already voiced my thoughts on if JJ gets that chance….but more from the coaching perspective and changes. Maybe this group can’t be helped that much. But big time developments will happen in low minors. That paragraph makes me feel zero percent better. But hey, it’s something I guess.
The more people I speak with, the more I believe that this staff was brought on knowing they were going to get some time to impact the whole organization and not just the big league level. I do think we've seen a lot of positive big league changes as well and I'd include Melendez in that group with Witt and Vinnie, even though he's the guy who is likely to be moved if and when they can.
Royals are both bad and falling victim to the balanced schedule. At least we have 18 games against teams below .400 coming up in May. It will probably make whatever moves happen on May 1 look ingenious. At some point Sherman is going to have to stop shopping the bargain bin for veterans and spend to keep us competitive.
Reading the start of your post when you say you wonder when they start to believe they are this bad, made me think of the movie The Natural and the "Losing is a disease" scene. If the pitching looks good, we can't hit, if we are hitting we can't pitch and then there are nights that it all looks bad. Maybe ownership needs to worry a little less about building a new billion dollar stadium (I love Kaufman btw) and spend some money on some actual professional baseball players.