I thought that something quite striking and revealing happened during the first two games of the Cleveland series: the Royals faced two starting pitchers who were drafted well after 2018 and found them nearly unhittable.
I have no idea if either of those guys will be long-term starters in MLB. But it was such a vivid illustration of the vast, yawning gulf between the Royals and well-run organizations like the Guardians. These two pitchers, drafted after 2018, looked like viable starters (whatever their season numbers turn out to be) while the much-hyped Royals class of 2018 continues to be extraordinarily…. non-thrilling.
What you said is exactly why they turned their pitching development upside down and we're seeing results in it. Alex Duvall over at Royals Farm had a great couple of tweets about Ben Kudrna and how they altered his arm slot a bit and it's leading to big swing and miss. He struck out 10 last night. Frank Mozzicato is 12th in all of minor league baseball in strikeout rate among pitchers with 40+ innings. They have four guys at 30% or higher, all real prospects. Last year, doubling the innings (because we're halfway through), they had zero. I said it the other day. We'll see if it works up the ladder. Marsh gets a big test tonight. But they're doing things very differently and the results are showing it.
With the greatest respect: Alex Duvall's hopeful tweets about minor leaguers don't win any games for the Royals now, and they probably won't win any games in the future.
Bass. I actually enjoy Alex Duvall and some of the work he puts out. But I do feel like I’m getting sold sometimes. He’s very passionate about it and I enjoy that and he can’t control the outcome. But nobody seems to really hit the ground running. Actually, I take more notice when he is down like he was a few weeks ago. That’s when you know it is bad when Duvall is down. Lol.
I don't mean to monopolize the comments, but....I found it interesting on Thursday that John Sherman said he wouldn't be spending money on this team until they were "ready to compete." Isn't that exactly backwards?
Perhaps a top-flight organization like the Rays or Guardians could make that work. Perhaps. But this crew? No. I very strongly doubt that they'll be "ready to compete" (if ever) until AFTER, not before, the payroll increases substantially. If he waits for them to get good before he opens his checkbook he'll be waiting for the rest of his life. He's willing to spend $1 billion on an enormously profitable new stadium. So why is he, by his own admission, unwilling to spend to improve the roster?
I'm not talking about spending another $17mil on the next Jordan Lyles and I'm not talking about trying to squeeze the last drop of juice out of retreads like Greinke and Nick Wittgren and Franmil Reyes and Matt Duffy and JBJ. I'm talking about having the wisdom and cojones to spend real money on real-life legitimate MLB ballplayers. Some of them will come from the Royals organization but most probably won't. I'm extremely skeptical that there's anyone in the organization who has that kind of vision or wisdom. If so, (s)he has certainly kept it well-concealed so far.
I'd have to go back and listen again, but I didn't take it that way when I was listening live. I thought he was more explaining why they didn't spend much this past offseason. But maybe I heard what I wanted to hear. He talked quite a bit about the roster in place and how they are figuring out what they have and don't have and, like I wrote, said that they have less and will need to supplement. Again, maybe I took it way wrong, but I don't think he was saying they're not going to spend until they're close to being good.
For what it's worth, they should always be taking flyers on guys like Reyes and Duffy and even Wittgren (JBJ was reaction to Waters getting hurt and, well, whatever on that). You talk about the good teams and what they do and they absolutely do that. Maybe it doesn't work and that's fine. The key is moving on before it's too late. They cut bait on Reyes really fast. Wittgren has been fine. Duffy might get traded. JBJ didn't work, but he was gone as soon as they had healthy center fielders. But I will be very surprised if they don't spend this winter. And I'll rake them over the coals if they don't too.
Again with the greatest respect: I can't go there with you. I heard what the man said with my own ears.
When I think about the process of building toward those 2014-15 teams I'm struck by how many of those players came from other organizations and from international free agency: Salvy, Aoki, Vargas, Davis, Shields, Ventura, Escobar, Cain, Herrera, Guthrie, Frasor, Chen, Hendriks, Morales, Zobris, Cueto, Young and Volquez are just some of the names.
Now John Sherman has publicly admitted that he isn't willing to spend for such players until AFTER the team gets good again. (He failed to specify exactly how he expects that to happen.) It's backwards, especially now that even the worst team isn't guaranteed a top or top 3 first-round draft choice.
David, I have to push back on hating Ramirez. Come….on…..man. I’ve cut back on my Royals watching as the summer has gone on…but had the game on yesterday while working. I’ve seen a lot of baseball but that was one of the coolest things I’ve seen. The confidence to pull that off with that slide in that situation. Balls man. Full swagger mode knowing he was safe after being called out. I know you are joking but how can you hate on that! I’d pay to watch that guy play ever time. Lol.
Sherman……IDK, I’m full on frustrated with him. Frustrated because he’s been a successful business man for many years and this felt like business 101 that he failed on. IDK if JJ is different than Moore. I care, but at the same time I don’t care if he is you know? By failing in cleaning house, you put the entire front office in a terrible spot. Not to mention the same front office that is still in place has all been part of this mess to begin with. So I’m extremely frustrated the owner half assed a change regardless of the people. Everyone can disagree with that and it’s ok.
The one comment that stuck with me this whole article…..well besides that you hate Ramirez (how, HOW?) is that you mentioned Sherman said they thought they were deeper. I’m still 100% of the opinion that the only way this can be salvaged by JJ is that if he is the only person in the room next year that is part of the old guard. It has to be that way. Whoever, or whichever department, told you they were deeper than this has to be gone. Has to be. You can’t be listening to your buddies of 10 years next year continue to tell you things that are wrong. If this season has shown nothing else, it’s that the scouting and development departments are way off. The tide has gone out and they are left without swimsuits. And it has to be overhauled. JJ has to be the only one, or one of just a handful from this year.
I just really don't think the change was as half-assed as it seemed the more I talk to people. Now, it's easier to blame the old guy, so I think you probably have to take some of it with a grain of salt, but I think Dayton was a bigger problem organizationally than we even realized. As I've said, I'd have done things differently than Sherman has, but I think there's at least an explanation for why he did it the way he did. I think we've seen how drastically different things are in the pitching development realm this season. Will it play out? Hard to say until we see it, but there's reason to be encouraged and that's a huge change that I think you can directly attribute to Dayton/Cal.
I’m not saying JJ hasn’t done some good things. He’s just going to run out of time. I could be way off, but I don’t think he gets the next 4 years in this environment. He needs some wins, badly. Both on the field and player development wise. We can blame DM for about 4 more months. After then its been a year, its fully on your watch now. We’ll see what happens. I’m at least excited about the trade deadline.
Not to go on another off on something. But I was listening to the Kaufman corner podcast yesterday. Rany threw out the stat that Singer used a change up (i don’t care what pitch just a third pitch) 3%, 4%, last year his best year 7%, and he’s back down to 5% this year. What the hell man? Send his ass to the bullpen for a little bit. The results aren’t there, he clearly doesn’t understand what helped make him successful last year. Make a point already. They made a point and started him in the minors last year. Guess what it worked. Anywho, won’t happen but that was hard to hear. Apparently, nobody said this guy won’t listen and IDK if last years results were sustainable. At some point, SOON, they need to get the value on their own guys right and move them at the right time.
He does need some wins. I don't know that I completely agree that he only gets a year to get out of the purgatory his old boss put him in, but that's also the risk when you don't fully clean house, so it is what it is.
Yeah, they need to either make an example of Singer or he needs to pitch better. I understood previously why they didn't make that example out of him before because they were running on fumes, but the depth, as we've discussed, is close enough. Let's say Marsh pitches well tonight (and I don't think anything would surprise me, either way with him). How do you send him down if he handles the Dodgers? Yeah, the easy answer is to put Lyles in the bullpen or whatever, but maybe the answer is he takes Singer's spot if Singer gets lit up again. I don't think they'd do that and I'm fine if they don't just yet, but with depth arriving, there is no excuse for Singer. It's sink or swim time.
If Marsh pitches well he doesn’t go down, that’s my opinion. He’s 25….its go time man. Quite honestly, I don’t want to see him in AAA ever again. Him and Jackson Kowar are kinda the same to me. Once some of these guys get moved at the deadline. I don’t want to ever see Kowar or Marsh in AAA again. They are up and they either can or they can’t. They are 25 and 26 respectively. One of the commenters mentioned Gavin Williams. He’s 23 and mowing down guys. Its evaluation time and its sink or swim time for Kowar and Marsh to me. Maybe that jumping the gun a little bit. But you have to have a go or no go decision on them this offseason.
I mean I don't *want* to see him in AAA again either, but he also hasn't been there very long. Now, I personally don't see a huge reason to have any real prospect pitch in AAA, but that's another battle to fight later, I think. I also have a feeling they've made their decision on Kowar at this point, and it's not what we all wanted to happen but it's what we all kind of figured was happening.
On Kowar, I kind of think the same thing. Its frustrating. Injuries I can deal with. If they’ve made the decision on Kowar I’m fine with it. At least they have made a decision. But then it becomes just another example of “you had this shiny prospect with value” and you let it deteriorate to nothing. And it’s not like this doesn’t happen all the time with all teams…..but they have to be moved and your evaluation right on “some” guys. I just look at the Cleveland. I had the thought yesterday that it shouldn’t be this hard. The Guardians are no different than the Royals. They have Ramirez and Naylor. The Royals have what hope to be that in Witt and Vinnie. The Guardians just have the pitching. But you know what they did. They moved Lindor (they were right), they moved Bauer (in the end right), they moved Clevinger (right)…I’m sure they had misses everyone does. But I really want to see JJ make a move this trading season that shows conviction on someone. Everyone has already said it can’t just be Chapman and Barlow. I 10000% agree.
You nailed it. The excuse that "well, they're young pitchers" doesn't really fly when they're not all that young anymore. It's not just go time. It's past go time.
An excellent example will be the guy the Royals are facing tonight. He's hit a snag the last two starts, but in his first three ML starts he allowed 1 ER in 18 IP. And then the guy they faced against Cleveland on Tuesday is another example.
And...and...and...there seem to be so many in other organizations who get to the majors and they're ready to fly while KC's pitchers are still picking the down from their feathers. I know that some of it just may be bad scouting and selection, but good Lord develop somebody wouldya?
I'm going to make a prediction: the Royals are going to score before the seventh inning at some point in this series. Doesn't seem so bold except for the fact that they didn't do it in the last series. :)
Marsh coming up has me more interested in a game than I've been in weeks. I don't even particularly care what the final line is, I just want to see how he goes about his business. Thanks for the continued coverage David!
Yep, absolutely. I was begrudgingly going to the game tonight. Then at about 4:30 when the announcement was made, I was excited as hell to go to the game tonight.
agree w/ your basic sentiments. 1) Willing to give JJ a chance, although tend to agree that if the very frontline scouts were the ones responsible for the 'we've got some depth here' prognostications, need to do some house cleaning at that level; 2) regardless of JJ/Sherman issues, don't think you can put any of that at feet of Q - doing exactly what he should in this tough year ... keeping this team playing hard and together, even through some brutal moments (just see yesterday when they came back after that steal of home and were unanimously ecstatic when Fermin hit the walk-off)... Francona himself said it, i.e., it's one thing to know you're signed up for a rebuilding year, it's another when you're losing nonstop in June/July and trying to keep clubhouse united/working hard -- Q seems to be doing as well as anyone possibly could given the ingredients in his kitchen; 3) Sherman gets until April 2024 -- after that, benefit of doubt is out the window; 4) not thrilled about leaving the K, will be way less thrilled if leaving the K means anything other than going downtown; 5) I'm actually not hating this year ... frustrating moments for sure - was sitting there in person when Singer started against the Braves in April and got totally bombed, the RISP experiences this year have been pretty rough, the inability to throw strikes has been annoying. But seeing the young guys get their feet wet has been nice, the rule changes have improved the game (immensely, IMO), love the extra action on the base paths, glad the powder blues are back, feel good about Q and Sweeney in the dugout, cautiously optimistic that one day #7 will have an OPS above 750, loving Garcia (and was loving Pasquatch), I believe in Pratto, and getting to see Greinke and Salvy do their respective things on the regular is not the worst thing, etc. Just hope we beat the Cleveland Spiders record!
I am never pleased when the Royals began an inning with a double and he's still there when the inning ends. Enjoyed your comments. I do not and never will like the man on second base rule. I don't care if it speeds up the game or not.
Disgust - that is how I feel about Sherman's press conference.
Think anyone remembering my comments knows I am generally supportive and optimistic, but I am really going half full, if not empty now.
I know the importance here is about the baseball on the field, which is how it should be, but Sherman's comments really sent me on a downward spiral.
Did you catch the beginning of the conference? Sherman lead off with the new stadium being "the most important thing" and that the development surrounding was 'the focus from the time we bought the team'. The wins and losses were second or third on his agenda.
I get it, baseball is a business at all levels, but what he said really got to me. I am really starting to believe this is a money grab and everything else is talk/throw a little cheap bone to the masses. IDK maybe its just the losing, or my trolling all the pundits, but I call bs on Sherman. He looked uncomfortable as hell (touching face, Rodney Dangerfield adjusting of tie) whenever he talked about the stadium, and I have never seen that in previous pressers.
Am I ok with evaluation season? yes. Do I appreciate he was fairly honest? yes. Do I like that he seemed to give the reigns of the play in the future to JJ and Q? yes. Do I think asking for a new stadium is reasonable? yes. Should they make a small return on their investment? yes. Was he somewhat vague on when he is spending money players? yes.
Do I think you are on point that he will be pressured to add some serious money this April? YES
Sorry, guess I have finally reached the end of the rope. Thanks for providing this space for letting me vent.
what made me laugh about the royals today?
"and the Royals can trade him for some guy who will be released in three years"
Thoughts on Chapman trade! Love the 17 year old outfielder. Disgusted with the MLB major league ready arm with a career 4.95 era. They VERY MUCH value major league ready low upside in return and this didn’t feel much different. Do we feel good, bad, meh…about this? I know at one point some people were expecting a package with a top 100 player back potentially. Does that change now?
Couldn't agree with you more about "the absolute worst rule in all of sports." I hate it as much as you do.
I thought that something quite striking and revealing happened during the first two games of the Cleveland series: the Royals faced two starting pitchers who were drafted well after 2018 and found them nearly unhittable.
I have no idea if either of those guys will be long-term starters in MLB. But it was such a vivid illustration of the vast, yawning gulf between the Royals and well-run organizations like the Guardians. These two pitchers, drafted after 2018, looked like viable starters (whatever their season numbers turn out to be) while the much-hyped Royals class of 2018 continues to be extraordinarily…. non-thrilling.
What you said is exactly why they turned their pitching development upside down and we're seeing results in it. Alex Duvall over at Royals Farm had a great couple of tweets about Ben Kudrna and how they altered his arm slot a bit and it's leading to big swing and miss. He struck out 10 last night. Frank Mozzicato is 12th in all of minor league baseball in strikeout rate among pitchers with 40+ innings. They have four guys at 30% or higher, all real prospects. Last year, doubling the innings (because we're halfway through), they had zero. I said it the other day. We'll see if it works up the ladder. Marsh gets a big test tonight. But they're doing things very differently and the results are showing it.
With the greatest respect: Alex Duvall's hopeful tweets about minor leaguers don't win any games for the Royals now, and they probably won't win any games in the future.
Bass. I actually enjoy Alex Duvall and some of the work he puts out. But I do feel like I’m getting sold sometimes. He’s very passionate about it and I enjoy that and he can’t control the outcome. But nobody seems to really hit the ground running. Actually, I take more notice when he is down like he was a few weeks ago. That’s when you know it is bad when Duvall is down. Lol.
I don't mean to monopolize the comments, but....I found it interesting on Thursday that John Sherman said he wouldn't be spending money on this team until they were "ready to compete." Isn't that exactly backwards?
Perhaps a top-flight organization like the Rays or Guardians could make that work. Perhaps. But this crew? No. I very strongly doubt that they'll be "ready to compete" (if ever) until AFTER, not before, the payroll increases substantially. If he waits for them to get good before he opens his checkbook he'll be waiting for the rest of his life. He's willing to spend $1 billion on an enormously profitable new stadium. So why is he, by his own admission, unwilling to spend to improve the roster?
I'm not talking about spending another $17mil on the next Jordan Lyles and I'm not talking about trying to squeeze the last drop of juice out of retreads like Greinke and Nick Wittgren and Franmil Reyes and Matt Duffy and JBJ. I'm talking about having the wisdom and cojones to spend real money on real-life legitimate MLB ballplayers. Some of them will come from the Royals organization but most probably won't. I'm extremely skeptical that there's anyone in the organization who has that kind of vision or wisdom. If so, (s)he has certainly kept it well-concealed so far.
I'd have to go back and listen again, but I didn't take it that way when I was listening live. I thought he was more explaining why they didn't spend much this past offseason. But maybe I heard what I wanted to hear. He talked quite a bit about the roster in place and how they are figuring out what they have and don't have and, like I wrote, said that they have less and will need to supplement. Again, maybe I took it way wrong, but I don't think he was saying they're not going to spend until they're close to being good.
For what it's worth, they should always be taking flyers on guys like Reyes and Duffy and even Wittgren (JBJ was reaction to Waters getting hurt and, well, whatever on that). You talk about the good teams and what they do and they absolutely do that. Maybe it doesn't work and that's fine. The key is moving on before it's too late. They cut bait on Reyes really fast. Wittgren has been fine. Duffy might get traded. JBJ didn't work, but he was gone as soon as they had healthy center fielders. But I will be very surprised if they don't spend this winter. And I'll rake them over the coals if they don't too.
Again with the greatest respect: I can't go there with you. I heard what the man said with my own ears.
When I think about the process of building toward those 2014-15 teams I'm struck by how many of those players came from other organizations and from international free agency: Salvy, Aoki, Vargas, Davis, Shields, Ventura, Escobar, Cain, Herrera, Guthrie, Frasor, Chen, Hendriks, Morales, Zobris, Cueto, Young and Volquez are just some of the names.
Now John Sherman has publicly admitted that he isn't willing to spend for such players until AFTER the team gets good again. (He failed to specify exactly how he expects that to happen.) It's backwards, especially now that even the worst team isn't guaranteed a top or top 3 first-round draft choice.
David, I have to push back on hating Ramirez. Come….on…..man. I’ve cut back on my Royals watching as the summer has gone on…but had the game on yesterday while working. I’ve seen a lot of baseball but that was one of the coolest things I’ve seen. The confidence to pull that off with that slide in that situation. Balls man. Full swagger mode knowing he was safe after being called out. I know you are joking but how can you hate on that! I’d pay to watch that guy play ever time. Lol.
Sherman……IDK, I’m full on frustrated with him. Frustrated because he’s been a successful business man for many years and this felt like business 101 that he failed on. IDK if JJ is different than Moore. I care, but at the same time I don’t care if he is you know? By failing in cleaning house, you put the entire front office in a terrible spot. Not to mention the same front office that is still in place has all been part of this mess to begin with. So I’m extremely frustrated the owner half assed a change regardless of the people. Everyone can disagree with that and it’s ok.
The one comment that stuck with me this whole article…..well besides that you hate Ramirez (how, HOW?) is that you mentioned Sherman said they thought they were deeper. I’m still 100% of the opinion that the only way this can be salvaged by JJ is that if he is the only person in the room next year that is part of the old guard. It has to be that way. Whoever, or whichever department, told you they were deeper than this has to be gone. Has to be. You can’t be listening to your buddies of 10 years next year continue to tell you things that are wrong. If this season has shown nothing else, it’s that the scouting and development departments are way off. The tide has gone out and they are left without swimsuits. And it has to be overhauled. JJ has to be the only one, or one of just a handful from this year.
It's the world's most respectful hate!
I just really don't think the change was as half-assed as it seemed the more I talk to people. Now, it's easier to blame the old guy, so I think you probably have to take some of it with a grain of salt, but I think Dayton was a bigger problem organizationally than we even realized. As I've said, I'd have done things differently than Sherman has, but I think there's at least an explanation for why he did it the way he did. I think we've seen how drastically different things are in the pitching development realm this season. Will it play out? Hard to say until we see it, but there's reason to be encouraged and that's a huge change that I think you can directly attribute to Dayton/Cal.
I’m not saying JJ hasn’t done some good things. He’s just going to run out of time. I could be way off, but I don’t think he gets the next 4 years in this environment. He needs some wins, badly. Both on the field and player development wise. We can blame DM for about 4 more months. After then its been a year, its fully on your watch now. We’ll see what happens. I’m at least excited about the trade deadline.
Not to go on another off on something. But I was listening to the Kaufman corner podcast yesterday. Rany threw out the stat that Singer used a change up (i don’t care what pitch just a third pitch) 3%, 4%, last year his best year 7%, and he’s back down to 5% this year. What the hell man? Send his ass to the bullpen for a little bit. The results aren’t there, he clearly doesn’t understand what helped make him successful last year. Make a point already. They made a point and started him in the minors last year. Guess what it worked. Anywho, won’t happen but that was hard to hear. Apparently, nobody said this guy won’t listen and IDK if last years results were sustainable. At some point, SOON, they need to get the value on their own guys right and move them at the right time.
Hate Jose Ramirez….you need to get checked out at the doctor man!
Nope. Gonna keep hating him until he stops hating the Royals. Or loving them too much.
Ok, Ok, I’ll admit. I can’t stand Aaron Judge. Don’t know why, will never meet the guy. Maybe just a Yankees thing. But I can’t stand him.
What? You hate Aaron Judge? HOW?!?!
Of course, kidding.
He does need some wins. I don't know that I completely agree that he only gets a year to get out of the purgatory his old boss put him in, but that's also the risk when you don't fully clean house, so it is what it is.
Yeah, they need to either make an example of Singer or he needs to pitch better. I understood previously why they didn't make that example out of him before because they were running on fumes, but the depth, as we've discussed, is close enough. Let's say Marsh pitches well tonight (and I don't think anything would surprise me, either way with him). How do you send him down if he handles the Dodgers? Yeah, the easy answer is to put Lyles in the bullpen or whatever, but maybe the answer is he takes Singer's spot if Singer gets lit up again. I don't think they'd do that and I'm fine if they don't just yet, but with depth arriving, there is no excuse for Singer. It's sink or swim time.
If Marsh pitches well he doesn’t go down, that’s my opinion. He’s 25….its go time man. Quite honestly, I don’t want to see him in AAA ever again. Him and Jackson Kowar are kinda the same to me. Once some of these guys get moved at the deadline. I don’t want to ever see Kowar or Marsh in AAA again. They are up and they either can or they can’t. They are 25 and 26 respectively. One of the commenters mentioned Gavin Williams. He’s 23 and mowing down guys. Its evaluation time and its sink or swim time for Kowar and Marsh to me. Maybe that jumping the gun a little bit. But you have to have a go or no go decision on them this offseason.
I mean I don't *want* to see him in AAA again either, but he also hasn't been there very long. Now, I personally don't see a huge reason to have any real prospect pitch in AAA, but that's another battle to fight later, I think. I also have a feeling they've made their decision on Kowar at this point, and it's not what we all wanted to happen but it's what we all kind of figured was happening.
On Kowar, I kind of think the same thing. Its frustrating. Injuries I can deal with. If they’ve made the decision on Kowar I’m fine with it. At least they have made a decision. But then it becomes just another example of “you had this shiny prospect with value” and you let it deteriorate to nothing. And it’s not like this doesn’t happen all the time with all teams…..but they have to be moved and your evaluation right on “some” guys. I just look at the Cleveland. I had the thought yesterday that it shouldn’t be this hard. The Guardians are no different than the Royals. They have Ramirez and Naylor. The Royals have what hope to be that in Witt and Vinnie. The Guardians just have the pitching. But you know what they did. They moved Lindor (they were right), they moved Bauer (in the end right), they moved Clevinger (right)…I’m sure they had misses everyone does. But I really want to see JJ make a move this trading season that shows conviction on someone. Everyone has already said it can’t just be Chapman and Barlow. I 10000% agree.
You nailed it. The excuse that "well, they're young pitchers" doesn't really fly when they're not all that young anymore. It's not just go time. It's past go time.
An excellent example will be the guy the Royals are facing tonight. He's hit a snag the last two starts, but in his first three ML starts he allowed 1 ER in 18 IP. And then the guy they faced against Cleveland on Tuesday is another example.
And...and...and...there seem to be so many in other organizations who get to the majors and they're ready to fly while KC's pitchers are still picking the down from their feathers. I know that some of it just may be bad scouting and selection, but good Lord develop somebody wouldya?
I'm going to make a prediction: the Royals are going to score before the seventh inning at some point in this series. Doesn't seem so bold except for the fact that they didn't do it in the last series. :)
Whoa. Let's not get crazy.
Marsh coming up has me more interested in a game than I've been in weeks. I don't even particularly care what the final line is, I just want to see how he goes about his business. Thanks for the continued coverage David!
Yep, absolutely. I was begrudgingly going to the game tonight. Then at about 4:30 when the announcement was made, I was excited as hell to go to the game tonight.
agree w/ your basic sentiments. 1) Willing to give JJ a chance, although tend to agree that if the very frontline scouts were the ones responsible for the 'we've got some depth here' prognostications, need to do some house cleaning at that level; 2) regardless of JJ/Sherman issues, don't think you can put any of that at feet of Q - doing exactly what he should in this tough year ... keeping this team playing hard and together, even through some brutal moments (just see yesterday when they came back after that steal of home and were unanimously ecstatic when Fermin hit the walk-off)... Francona himself said it, i.e., it's one thing to know you're signed up for a rebuilding year, it's another when you're losing nonstop in June/July and trying to keep clubhouse united/working hard -- Q seems to be doing as well as anyone possibly could given the ingredients in his kitchen; 3) Sherman gets until April 2024 -- after that, benefit of doubt is out the window; 4) not thrilled about leaving the K, will be way less thrilled if leaving the K means anything other than going downtown; 5) I'm actually not hating this year ... frustrating moments for sure - was sitting there in person when Singer started against the Braves in April and got totally bombed, the RISP experiences this year have been pretty rough, the inability to throw strikes has been annoying. But seeing the young guys get their feet wet has been nice, the rule changes have improved the game (immensely, IMO), love the extra action on the base paths, glad the powder blues are back, feel good about Q and Sweeney in the dugout, cautiously optimistic that one day #7 will have an OPS above 750, loving Garcia (and was loving Pasquatch), I believe in Pratto, and getting to see Greinke and Salvy do their respective things on the regular is not the worst thing, etc. Just hope we beat the Cleveland Spiders record!
How hot was it on the field yesterday?
Hot enough. I don't know the exact temperature.
I am never pleased when the Royals began an inning with a double and he's still there when the inning ends. Enjoyed your comments. I do not and never will like the man on second base rule. I don't care if it speeds up the game or not.
Yeah, the stranded runners thing is getting pretty old. We get it, Royals. Bad prank!
Disgust - that is how I feel about Sherman's press conference.
Think anyone remembering my comments knows I am generally supportive and optimistic, but I am really going half full, if not empty now.
I know the importance here is about the baseball on the field, which is how it should be, but Sherman's comments really sent me on a downward spiral.
Did you catch the beginning of the conference? Sherman lead off with the new stadium being "the most important thing" and that the development surrounding was 'the focus from the time we bought the team'. The wins and losses were second or third on his agenda.
I get it, baseball is a business at all levels, but what he said really got to me. I am really starting to believe this is a money grab and everything else is talk/throw a little cheap bone to the masses. IDK maybe its just the losing, or my trolling all the pundits, but I call bs on Sherman. He looked uncomfortable as hell (touching face, Rodney Dangerfield adjusting of tie) whenever he talked about the stadium, and I have never seen that in previous pressers.
Am I ok with evaluation season? yes. Do I appreciate he was fairly honest? yes. Do I like that he seemed to give the reigns of the play in the future to JJ and Q? yes. Do I think asking for a new stadium is reasonable? yes. Should they make a small return on their investment? yes. Was he somewhat vague on when he is spending money players? yes.
Do I think you are on point that he will be pressured to add some serious money this April? YES
Sorry, guess I have finally reached the end of the rope. Thanks for providing this space for letting me vent.
what made me laugh about the royals today?
"and the Royals can trade him for some guy who will be released in three years"
fwiw I like the chapman trade
CRXN - Lurking v/s trolling, Yep im old
Thoughts on Chapman trade! Love the 17 year old outfielder. Disgusted with the MLB major league ready arm with a career 4.95 era. They VERY MUCH value major league ready low upside in return and this didn’t feel much different. Do we feel good, bad, meh…about this? I know at one point some people were expecting a package with a top 100 player back potentially. Does that change now?
Let me clarify. Potentially maybe Chapman and Barlow for a top 100 guy. Not just Chapman himself.