Oh yeah, priorities change with kids. The difference is you are writing about this team multiple times a week and I get to shut it off or watch another game after multiple errors. Hopefully you do too. I think the view changes to entertainment over time. That’s what is a so frustrating about this organization. They can’t even be good enough to entertain me the majority of the time.
I think at this point I’d just like to see an identity established. If it’s the Rays pitching and defense….I’m in. I’ll buy that. You can keep Witt at SS for the year but quite jacking around everyone else. Dozier is not the fit at third, Melendez pick a spot, and for gods sakes stop playing Olivares in the outfield. Going forward, pitching and defense that’s what I want to hear preached. The offense sucks right now anyway….why are they compounding it with bad defense behind them. I like the opener tonight, now it’s probably more because they don’t have anyone else but still. I’ll take that over Castillo. But put the better defense you can muster on the field. Ohtani will probably carve them up…but if you can keep it 3-0…I’ll watch a bit and maybe they can surprise me. Entertain me Royals. Pitch Grienke every inning of every game please.
This is really good info, David. I don't know how you stay interested enough to do all this digging but I'm glad that you do! Problem is, with all this losing so far this season I have all the enthusiasm right now of a Ross Gload or a Jonathan Sanchez. (Quite possibly my two most hated Royals ever.)
Certainly there's some very encouraging stuff going on in the minor leagues but that's been true (or at least allegedly true) in every season in Royals history. I can't help but think of all the minor league heroes who turned out to be AAAA players at best. I'm hopeful but not particularly confident that some of these guys will become legit MLB-caliber players, ideally while they are still wearing Royals uniforms. They can't all be nothing but another Colt Griffin, can they?
It was a good night to watch minor league baseball last night. I tuned in to watch Noah Cameron at QS. He looks legit.
But the most impressive performance in the entire organization is someone you haven't even mentioned. Steven Zobac, a 4th rounder from Cal out of last years draft came in in relief for his second appearance. So far in his professional career, he has struck out 14 in 5 innings of work including 8 of the 10 batters he faced last night. He started his career striking out each of the first 10 batters he faced. 5 IP 14K 1 single allowed, 0 walks. That'll work... looked to be throwing a mid to upper nineties FB at the top of the zone with a slider that Low A hitters had zero ability to hit.
Why are the official scorers so reluctant to record errors? I think it was the last game where Olivares WAY missed a fly ball that Eisenberg noted had a 95% chance of being caught, but when I looked at box score he did not have an error. Is it possible that we are way worse defensively than we look on paper?
So, I just can’t figure this team out. The roster ..... is just weird. Am I crazy or is MJ a legitimately good RF which completely changes his profile? Olivares needs to have his gloves burned in a sage ceremony. Witt seems to be trying and making the leap to an average SS. We have no answer at 3B. Massey looks like a kid lost on the Appalachian Trail while at the plate.
Appreciate your perspective as always. Glad you touched on the approach, I have been equally confused by the amount of bad swings when we know that's not what the coaches are preaching. Your previous comment about this roster being a jumbled mess really sums up how I feel right now. What are your thoughts on the timeframe given to Dozier, Olivares, Massey, etc with Garcia, Loftin and Taylor raking in AAA? Dozier should be cut and as much as I've always liked Olivares at the plate, he's not valuable enough as a DH and he can't play outfield still. Haven't given up on Massey but at some point you have to make a change. Getting Waters back will help the outfield, but we still don't know what he really is at the plate either. A lot to figure out. A lot of patience required for this staff. Thrilled to see Mozzicato pitching well and excited to hear any insight you have on development changes. Still wish they would have made more personnel changes and additions, but seeing some early success is nice. There is talent in the mess, like you said, but finding the real talent, how it fits, and the time required to optimize it might be more difficult and depressing than I thought..
Oh yeah, priorities change with kids. The difference is you are writing about this team multiple times a week and I get to shut it off or watch another game after multiple errors. Hopefully you do too. I think the view changes to entertainment over time. That’s what is a so frustrating about this organization. They can’t even be good enough to entertain me the majority of the time.
I think at this point I’d just like to see an identity established. If it’s the Rays pitching and defense….I’m in. I’ll buy that. You can keep Witt at SS for the year but quite jacking around everyone else. Dozier is not the fit at third, Melendez pick a spot, and for gods sakes stop playing Olivares in the outfield. Going forward, pitching and defense that’s what I want to hear preached. The offense sucks right now anyway….why are they compounding it with bad defense behind them. I like the opener tonight, now it’s probably more because they don’t have anyone else but still. I’ll take that over Castillo. But put the better defense you can muster on the field. Ohtani will probably carve them up…but if you can keep it 3-0…I’ll watch a bit and maybe they can surprise me. Entertain me Royals. Pitch Grienke every inning of every game please.
This is really good info, David. I don't know how you stay interested enough to do all this digging but I'm glad that you do! Problem is, with all this losing so far this season I have all the enthusiasm right now of a Ross Gload or a Jonathan Sanchez. (Quite possibly my two most hated Royals ever.)
Certainly there's some very encouraging stuff going on in the minor leagues but that's been true (or at least allegedly true) in every season in Royals history. I can't help but think of all the minor league heroes who turned out to be AAAA players at best. I'm hopeful but not particularly confident that some of these guys will become legit MLB-caliber players, ideally while they are still wearing Royals uniforms. They can't all be nothing but another Colt Griffin, can they?
It was a good night to watch minor league baseball last night. I tuned in to watch Noah Cameron at QS. He looks legit.
But the most impressive performance in the entire organization is someone you haven't even mentioned. Steven Zobac, a 4th rounder from Cal out of last years draft came in in relief for his second appearance. So far in his professional career, he has struck out 14 in 5 innings of work including 8 of the 10 batters he faced last night. He started his career striking out each of the first 10 batters he faced. 5 IP 14K 1 single allowed, 0 walks. That'll work... looked to be throwing a mid to upper nineties FB at the top of the zone with a slider that Low A hitters had zero ability to hit.
A not-so-fun fact that's stuck with me for 25 years: The 1998 Royals had a 29-51 record at home ... but a 43-38 record on the road.
Why are the official scorers so reluctant to record errors? I think it was the last game where Olivares WAY missed a fly ball that Eisenberg noted had a 95% chance of being caught, but when I looked at box score he did not have an error. Is it possible that we are way worse defensively than we look on paper?
So, I just can’t figure this team out. The roster ..... is just weird. Am I crazy or is MJ a legitimately good RF which completely changes his profile? Olivares needs to have his gloves burned in a sage ceremony. Witt seems to be trying and making the leap to an average SS. We have no answer at 3B. Massey looks like a kid lost on the Appalachian Trail while at the plate.
Appreciate your perspective as always. Glad you touched on the approach, I have been equally confused by the amount of bad swings when we know that's not what the coaches are preaching. Your previous comment about this roster being a jumbled mess really sums up how I feel right now. What are your thoughts on the timeframe given to Dozier, Olivares, Massey, etc with Garcia, Loftin and Taylor raking in AAA? Dozier should be cut and as much as I've always liked Olivares at the plate, he's not valuable enough as a DH and he can't play outfield still. Haven't given up on Massey but at some point you have to make a change. Getting Waters back will help the outfield, but we still don't know what he really is at the plate either. A lot to figure out. A lot of patience required for this staff. Thrilled to see Mozzicato pitching well and excited to hear any insight you have on development changes. Still wish they would have made more personnel changes and additions, but seeing some early success is nice. There is talent in the mess, like you said, but finding the real talent, how it fits, and the time required to optimize it might be more difficult and depressing than I thought..