You wrote that you like the path KC is on offensively, despite their lack of offense this season. Can you elaborate on that? Because at this point, I'm not seeing anyone that opponents fear at the plate. Outside of maybe Witt, Jr. or Perez (if he's healthy), I'm just not seeing a consistent .300/30 HR/100 RBI guy in the lineup.
I'd be interested in an article with your assessment on where Lynch, Bubic and Heasley go from here and whether or not they should be a part of the Royals' plans going forward. Realize it's difficult to separate the coaching failures from the equation, but assuming we FINALLY make a change there in the offseason, what should happen with these guys? They all seem to have the necessary talent, but they just can't consistently perform at the major league level.
The unsolvable riddle that is Sonny Gray continues. It doesn't matter what year, and it doesn't matter what uniform he's wearing, and it doesn't matter how good or bad of a season he's having otherwise. The Royals just can't touch him. His ERA against them this year is now 0.47, I think.
At least he's in the low-3s against everybody else, too, unlike Joe Ryan, whose ERA against KC is 1.13 and 4.44 against everybody else.
Imagine this, Bobby having MJ's plate discipline and walking, MJ not taking so many called 3rd strikes. Vinnie, Pratto, Salsa, MJ will most definitely benefit from the shift rule. With the bags 3 inches larger, how many base hits would Bobby have beat out? How about caught stealing? I think Massey is going to be a quality second baseman. Waters has potential to be an everyday outfielder. Pitching is another story.
Besides Lynch and Heasley, not sure about starters. Barlow and Hernandez in the bullpen could be formidable. I, for one, am high on Cuas. He has done a respectable job and could get better. You previously wrote about having a plethora of infield and outfield talent. Maybe it is time to package up a couple of the kids and trade for, at least, middle of the rotation starter. Maybe the staff can change with a change of coaching. But this is getting difficult to watch.
Bobby does swing too much, but he's not atrocious at swinging at balls out of the zone... and he's 22 so I think he can definitely fix that. Even tho there is nothing to play for, it still a really important time for the Royals young players, who all have had some degree of success, but outside of Witt and Vinnie and MJ, not enough to show definitively that they belong in MLB. Sure hope they catch fire over whats left of the season. Confidence is big for young players going into next season.
It will be telling how committed Sherman is to winning this offseason because its going to take adding a couple of quality starters along with extending some of the young guys to put together a team that can compete for a number of seasons. Service time has started on all of these guys, results are encouraging but mixed with the hitters, and there is not a lot left in the farm system.
1. Why would the Royals want to resign Greinke, to me he is the pitching version of Dozier and it appears that his "influence with the young staff" is not working.
2. If we believe that the failure of the Royals pitching falls on Cal Eldred( I do) , it would be foolish to give up/make decisions on any of the young pitchers before we can get a real pitching coach and possibly a new pitching coordinator and who knows maybe a new manager and front office staff
You wrote that you like the path KC is on offensively, despite their lack of offense this season. Can you elaborate on that? Because at this point, I'm not seeing anyone that opponents fear at the plate. Outside of maybe Witt, Jr. or Perez (if he's healthy), I'm just not seeing a consistent .300/30 HR/100 RBI guy in the lineup.
I'd be interested in an article with your assessment on where Lynch, Bubic and Heasley go from here and whether or not they should be a part of the Royals' plans going forward. Realize it's difficult to separate the coaching failures from the equation, but assuming we FINALLY make a change there in the offseason, what should happen with these guys? They all seem to have the necessary talent, but they just can't consistently perform at the major league level.
The unsolvable riddle that is Sonny Gray continues. It doesn't matter what year, and it doesn't matter what uniform he's wearing, and it doesn't matter how good or bad of a season he's having otherwise. The Royals just can't touch him. His ERA against them this year is now 0.47, I think.
At least he's in the low-3s against everybody else, too, unlike Joe Ryan, whose ERA against KC is 1.13 and 4.44 against everybody else.
Imagine this, Bobby having MJ's plate discipline and walking, MJ not taking so many called 3rd strikes. Vinnie, Pratto, Salsa, MJ will most definitely benefit from the shift rule. With the bags 3 inches larger, how many base hits would Bobby have beat out? How about caught stealing? I think Massey is going to be a quality second baseman. Waters has potential to be an everyday outfielder. Pitching is another story.
Besides Lynch and Heasley, not sure about starters. Barlow and Hernandez in the bullpen could be formidable. I, for one, am high on Cuas. He has done a respectable job and could get better. You previously wrote about having a plethora of infield and outfield talent. Maybe it is time to package up a couple of the kids and trade for, at least, middle of the rotation starter. Maybe the staff can change with a change of coaching. But this is getting difficult to watch.
Where is Steve Busby!
Bobby does swing too much, but he's not atrocious at swinging at balls out of the zone... and he's 22 so I think he can definitely fix that. Even tho there is nothing to play for, it still a really important time for the Royals young players, who all have had some degree of success, but outside of Witt and Vinnie and MJ, not enough to show definitively that they belong in MLB. Sure hope they catch fire over whats left of the season. Confidence is big for young players going into next season.
It will be telling how committed Sherman is to winning this offseason because its going to take adding a couple of quality starters along with extending some of the young guys to put together a team that can compete for a number of seasons. Service time has started on all of these guys, results are encouraging but mixed with the hitters, and there is not a lot left in the farm system.
Regarding the pitching.....
1. Why would the Royals want to resign Greinke, to me he is the pitching version of Dozier and it appears that his "influence with the young staff" is not working.
2. If we believe that the failure of the Royals pitching falls on Cal Eldred( I do) , it would be foolish to give up/make decisions on any of the young pitchers before we can get a real pitching coach and possibly a new pitching coordinator and who knows maybe a new manager and front office staff