Can you please comment on the lineup merry-go-round? Are other teams changing their lineups daily? Don’t players prefer the stability of knowing where they will play each day and in which order they they will be hitting?
The problem with this team's MO for so long is that they will never cut bait soon enough. The players they have and hold onto almost never get better. I didn't think Isbel, Nicky Lopez, Dozier. They won't be anything significant.....but they are their GUYS drafted and brought up. They always want to save face and will never cut marginal players they draft. It's agonizing. Get talent from another team....but that's not what our GMs will ever do.
I'm not quite as pessimistic as you but I'm close. IMO Lopez is a legit MLB infielder. I'm getting fairly uncertain that Isbel will ever be a consistent offensive player. And we all know exactly what Dozier is and isn't.
I honestly think it depends on the team and while I understand questioning it, especially with the results, I think that Matt Quatraro is an excellent communicator and I'd be surprised if anyone on the team isn't in the loop about the decisions. I think actual lineup stability is a little bit of a myth because most guys do their thing and it doesn't really matter where they hit. There is probably something to hitting first vs. fourth if you're moving back and forth there, but the approach is generally the approach. I think they'd ultimately love to have a set lineup, or least a set handful of spots, but nobody has taken those yet.
And there's the argument that maybe they haven't taken them because they haven't had a chance to get comfortable, but for all I've seen about people being frustrated that guys are sitting, the top four in plate appearances are Witt, Pasquantino, Perez and Melendez. They all have between 74 and 78 plate appearances. Fifth most is Kyle Isbel with 53. I think actually playing is more important than where they're hitting when they play and the only four who have proven they deserve to play every day (and you could argue Melendez hasn't proven that even), have.
Take the rest of the day off David. You deserve it for watching this all the innings. I tuned out yesterday after the third inning maybe…the Melendez passed ball followed by whatever the heck Olivares was doing in the outfield on the rbi double. Nope, no thanks. Lol.
Here’s my deal. And I know what you are going to say. This is more therapeutic for me. Lol. JJ Picollo. I have nothing against him. But I didn’t like him staying on after DM was fired. The half foot in half foot out doesn’t work and that’s what it felt like the Royals did. We can pretend (and I think we all did) that he hasn’t been a part of this stink for the last five years, but the truth is he has. He doesn’t get a 100 loss season. While I respect the fact you told us this year wasn’t it, the product on the field shows that next year isn’t the year either so you don’t get to just continue to push back the goal posts and make David take the gloves off. They should have just cleaned house completely and none of this would be an issue. Loose 100 games and it wouldn’t be an issue then as you give the new crew time. I can listen to the argument that it isn’t JJ’s fault…but when it goes this bad someone takes the blame and I’m not going to blame the new manager and pitching coach. The only person around for the last 5 years of stink gets the blame. I didn’t expect .500…but I did expect improvement on the record. JJ is in a position that a big time trade needs to happen this year. And IDK what that is or how he gets that done. Maybe its Melendez (not now), maybe its Singer (not now), but something needs to happen at the deadline. Barlow certainly looks like a missed opportunity….and thats on JJ. Time for all this to work itself out…but if the record is worse than last year….or the same. Next year isn’t the year either. A signing, something needs to happen that’s a win from the front office. If they have to blow this up, JJ is not the person that gets that chance. They had the chance to completely start anew from the DM era and they botched it.
Great minds think alike. Once the Rangers took that 3-0 lead in the second inning I gave up all hope and for the first time this season turned the TV off early in a Royals game. (The upside was that I enjoyed a remarkably frustration-free afternoon.)
The outfield doesn't look promising at all. I don't see how any of those guys besides Melendez are going to be impact players in the next several years. It is discouraging to me to see how few LEAGUE AVERAGE PLAYERS THE ROYALS ARE DEVELOPING AT ALL. Average players plus a few stars makes a competitive team. Vinnie, Salvy, and Witt Jr. plus below average players won't cut it. It's going to be interesting to see who shakes out as average producers by June or so with the guys on the 25 man and those knocking on the door in AAA.
Not to delve too deep into another troubling topic, but with the A's news..and another dreadful start to a season sapping almost any remaining fan support, is there legitimate concern about the future of this club in the next decade? I've generally not commented about this, because I'm of the belief a new ballpark is coming one way or the other. I'm also not suggesting the team will relocate as our ownership group is KC based. However, could a continual lack of young development/talent, roster investment, and on field success lead to a really messy battle between ownership and tax payers?
I'm confident there is next to no chance the team moves. I also think that people really overestimate the success of the team in relation to voting on a new stadium. Now, they can't be historically bad. People notice that, but if they're merely bad, the casual maybe not even fan voting just thinks it's cool to have a downtown stadium and entertainment district. I think they have a few weeks before they have to commit to being on the August ballot, so how the team is playing might impact that, but I'd be surprised if it doesn't pass relatively easily once it's on the ballot. Now, I say that as someone who won't be able to vote for it, so I'm just an onlooker, but that's my two cents.
I don't think this team is this bad either. However a lineup that continually contains the likes of Dozier, Duffy, Isbel, Reyes, Lopez, JBJ, Eaton, etc..is..unsurprisingly, not good. A rotation consisting of a 40yr old HOF, journeyman, former rule5 pick, and unproven "young" starters in their 3rd and 4th years is..unsurprisingly, not good. There are positives and thankfully there are many more deserving options waiting for a chance in the minors, at least in the field. Pitching is still a distant hope and until that changes with legitimate results or significant investment, we will just have to continue to watch, listen and comment as the deranged Royals fans we are..
Is there any concern that Brian Sweeney has perhaps tinkered too much implementing changes for some of the pitchers? Injuries to Lynch and Bubic plus velocity drop from Singer is concerning and makes one wonder if there is a connection. On the positive side, Chapman "might" look like the flame-thrower of 5 years ago, Zack is throwing a new pitch for perhaps his betterment while it remains to be seen if Keller's changes are going to benefit him for the whole season but sounds like his delivery has been tweaked. Just seems like a lot going on with a pitching staff at this point in the season.
I mentioned this with Soren Petro on Monday, but one thing that I find interesting about the Rays is that they have A LOT of pitching injuries and I wonder if some of that is that they think the trade-off for this pitch or that pitch maybe causing more injuries is worth it. The Royals might be there now, just without the depth of the Rays. That said, pitchers also get hurt. Lynch has had back and blister issues before. Bubic started spring with soreness, which could be from the new pitches, I suppose, but it's probably more just that he got hurt.
No blame can go on Sweeney this year. If the pitching doesn’t improve, the royals don’t have the right talent. If nothing else, this experiment solidify’s that and there is no more debating it.
And I will point out that if it turns out to be a talent case, anyone associated with picking that talent has to be out. They’ve blamed all sorts of coaches and said it’s not development. We are only 18 games in or whatever, plenty of time for some development wins. But I think we all kinda thought a new coaching staff might be worth 10 wins over the year. That certainly doesn’t appear to be the case, so it has to be talent. And that falls back on…..(see what I did there, that was good, that was good, patting back).
You are truly correct there. This team lacks talent. We've seen a lot of these pitchers for 3+ years now. You have to say that everyone who is a farm developed or acquired pitcher on this team is not an ESTABLISHED major league pitcher (except Greinke). I can list them off:
Bubic
Keller
Singer
Clarke
Barlow
Cuas
Hernandez
Lynch
Heasley
I'm going to say that none of these guys really has done anything yet as far as being consistently good for 2-3 years and because of that none of them have "arrived" and sniffed a long term deal.
My brother and I have gone back and forth for a long time about this. The Royals have not developed any starting pitching from the FARM in a long time. The only 2 names I will give you are Greinke and Danny Duffy who have produced long term consistent results. I'd argue there's nothing in the last 10+ years that falls into the category. Wish there were more.
And I wonder how much credit you can give them for Greinke. Someone smarter than me about this stuff might know, but it just seems like his talent won out in spite of them, instead of because of them maybe. I will give them all the credit in the world for how they handled his mental health issues - which I suppose falls under the "development" umbrella.
I shared a couple thoughts with Vern yesterday that I’d like to disseminate here.
1. The Royals are presently less of a baseball team an more of a comedy troupe. Bobby, Vinny and maybe Lopez and Reyes are the straight men surrounded by a bunch of pranksters.
2. Moving forward, anyone batting .200 or below losses the privilege to choose their walk on music. Instead, the stadium will be subjected to a blast of circus music as they approach the plate. Surpassing the Mendoza line will restore their ability to choose music of their liking.
If shaming and angering these highly payed professionals is what it takes, so be it.
This team may not be as bad as they look right now but they certainly are not even entertaining to watch. I find myself watching not to see if we can win but which will be worse each night our hitting or our pitching or both.
I know that but aren't there a couple of LSU players that are suppose to be studs? I am just trying to see if that is the logic for running Dozier out everyday.
Thanks for opening up the therapist couch for the beleaguered Royals’ fans to vent. And you definitely deserve the day off. Okay, I’ll have a go…I’m currently embarrassed that one of my preseason predictions was that the offense would actually keep them in games. Man, that looks bad right now. I do think it is 100% true that it is never as good as it seems when you’re going well or as bad when not, but gosh this looks so much like most of last year without the excitement of a bunch of rookies cutting their teeth. And I can talk myself into patience with Massey, Melendez, Eaton, and they guys who don’t even have a full year in the bigs yet. But if you are going to be this bad stop running out a bottom half of the lineup that has no upside. JBJ, Dozier, and Duffy (although he hasn’t been the problem) are not young guys trying to find their way. They are below average players who are exactly who they are. Probably could add Reyes to that as well, though I like the vibe he brings. It sucks watching games where you feel like whatever reliever “they” bring in is going to get three quick outs and whatever guy “we” bring in is going to walk or hit someone, get the bases packed, and then groove one. And when you watch it everyday, none of us need Hud explaining that the ball hit over Olivares (with a 95% catch rate) was “smoked with topspin and a hard play”. They are major leaguers (in theory) and expected to make those plays. It’s okay to be disappointed Hud, and to set down the pom-poms for an inning or two when it’s going this bad. Okay, that’s it. Thank you. See you next week, Doctor.
I'd like to see some roster turnover soon. Dozier, JBJ need to be DFA'd. I assume one of those will happen when Waters returns. Time to get younger and find out what we have in AAA. This season already feels lost. On the pitching side, I would like to see the same -- use openers and the Omaha train. Find out who can work in relief. Trade Chapman for the first good deal. At a minimum this season should be about evaluating young talent and opening up 40-man spots to grab a few discarded gems from other teams.
I'm beginning to think this team is a serious threat to the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, who went 20-134.
Just plain disappointed but still with them. Fingers are crossed.
"....the Rangers offense is disciplined and that makes life hell for opposing pitchers."
Hmmm.... I wonder if there might be a lesson in there for the Royals hitters. (Can you say "Chase rate"????)
Buddy Bell has cursed us with knowledge.
Can you please comment on the lineup merry-go-round? Are other teams changing their lineups daily? Don’t players prefer the stability of knowing where they will play each day and in which order they they will be hitting?
I agree...play guys daily instead of 3 days per week. Dozier can sit. He can't hit or defend.
You are so right about Dozier
The problem with this team's MO for so long is that they will never cut bait soon enough. The players they have and hold onto almost never get better. I didn't think Isbel, Nicky Lopez, Dozier. They won't be anything significant.....but they are their GUYS drafted and brought up. They always want to save face and will never cut marginal players they draft. It's agonizing. Get talent from another team....but that's not what our GMs will ever do.
What I meant to say is nobody believes those 3 are going to make it.
I'm not quite as pessimistic as you but I'm close. IMO Lopez is a legit MLB infielder. I'm getting fairly uncertain that Isbel will ever be a consistent offensive player. And we all know exactly what Dozier is and isn't.
I honestly think it depends on the team and while I understand questioning it, especially with the results, I think that Matt Quatraro is an excellent communicator and I'd be surprised if anyone on the team isn't in the loop about the decisions. I think actual lineup stability is a little bit of a myth because most guys do their thing and it doesn't really matter where they hit. There is probably something to hitting first vs. fourth if you're moving back and forth there, but the approach is generally the approach. I think they'd ultimately love to have a set lineup, or least a set handful of spots, but nobody has taken those yet.
And there's the argument that maybe they haven't taken them because they haven't had a chance to get comfortable, but for all I've seen about people being frustrated that guys are sitting, the top four in plate appearances are Witt, Pasquantino, Perez and Melendez. They all have between 74 and 78 plate appearances. Fifth most is Kyle Isbel with 53. I think actually playing is more important than where they're hitting when they play and the only four who have proven they deserve to play every day (and you could argue Melendez hasn't proven that even), have.
Take the rest of the day off David. You deserve it for watching this all the innings. I tuned out yesterday after the third inning maybe…the Melendez passed ball followed by whatever the heck Olivares was doing in the outfield on the rbi double. Nope, no thanks. Lol.
Here’s my deal. And I know what you are going to say. This is more therapeutic for me. Lol. JJ Picollo. I have nothing against him. But I didn’t like him staying on after DM was fired. The half foot in half foot out doesn’t work and that’s what it felt like the Royals did. We can pretend (and I think we all did) that he hasn’t been a part of this stink for the last five years, but the truth is he has. He doesn’t get a 100 loss season. While I respect the fact you told us this year wasn’t it, the product on the field shows that next year isn’t the year either so you don’t get to just continue to push back the goal posts and make David take the gloves off. They should have just cleaned house completely and none of this would be an issue. Loose 100 games and it wouldn’t be an issue then as you give the new crew time. I can listen to the argument that it isn’t JJ’s fault…but when it goes this bad someone takes the blame and I’m not going to blame the new manager and pitching coach. The only person around for the last 5 years of stink gets the blame. I didn’t expect .500…but I did expect improvement on the record. JJ is in a position that a big time trade needs to happen this year. And IDK what that is or how he gets that done. Maybe its Melendez (not now), maybe its Singer (not now), but something needs to happen at the deadline. Barlow certainly looks like a missed opportunity….and thats on JJ. Time for all this to work itself out…but if the record is worse than last year….or the same. Next year isn’t the year either. A signing, something needs to happen that’s a win from the front office. If they have to blow this up, JJ is not the person that gets that chance. They had the chance to completely start anew from the DM era and they botched it.
Great minds think alike. Once the Rangers took that 3-0 lead in the second inning I gave up all hope and for the first time this season turned the TV off early in a Royals game. (The upside was that I enjoyed a remarkably frustration-free afternoon.)
there is still time to fire JJ.... I guess its up to Mr. Sherman
The outfield doesn't look promising at all. I don't see how any of those guys besides Melendez are going to be impact players in the next several years. It is discouraging to me to see how few LEAGUE AVERAGE PLAYERS THE ROYALS ARE DEVELOPING AT ALL. Average players plus a few stars makes a competitive team. Vinnie, Salvy, and Witt Jr. plus below average players won't cut it. It's going to be interesting to see who shakes out as average producers by June or so with the guys on the 25 man and those knocking on the door in AAA.
Not to delve too deep into another troubling topic, but with the A's news..and another dreadful start to a season sapping almost any remaining fan support, is there legitimate concern about the future of this club in the next decade? I've generally not commented about this, because I'm of the belief a new ballpark is coming one way or the other. I'm also not suggesting the team will relocate as our ownership group is KC based. However, could a continual lack of young development/talent, roster investment, and on field success lead to a really messy battle between ownership and tax payers?
I'm confident there is next to no chance the team moves. I also think that people really overestimate the success of the team in relation to voting on a new stadium. Now, they can't be historically bad. People notice that, but if they're merely bad, the casual maybe not even fan voting just thinks it's cool to have a downtown stadium and entertainment district. I think they have a few weeks before they have to commit to being on the August ballot, so how the team is playing might impact that, but I'd be surprised if it doesn't pass relatively easily once it's on the ballot. Now, I say that as someone who won't be able to vote for it, so I'm just an onlooker, but that's my two cents.
Also, we're all in this together! I will continue reading, supporting and commenting on your work. Hang in there!
I don't think this team is this bad either. However a lineup that continually contains the likes of Dozier, Duffy, Isbel, Reyes, Lopez, JBJ, Eaton, etc..is..unsurprisingly, not good. A rotation consisting of a 40yr old HOF, journeyman, former rule5 pick, and unproven "young" starters in their 3rd and 4th years is..unsurprisingly, not good. There are positives and thankfully there are many more deserving options waiting for a chance in the minors, at least in the field. Pitching is still a distant hope and until that changes with legitimate results or significant investment, we will just have to continue to watch, listen and comment as the deranged Royals fans we are..
Is there any concern that Brian Sweeney has perhaps tinkered too much implementing changes for some of the pitchers? Injuries to Lynch and Bubic plus velocity drop from Singer is concerning and makes one wonder if there is a connection. On the positive side, Chapman "might" look like the flame-thrower of 5 years ago, Zack is throwing a new pitch for perhaps his betterment while it remains to be seen if Keller's changes are going to benefit him for the whole season but sounds like his delivery has been tweaked. Just seems like a lot going on with a pitching staff at this point in the season.
I mentioned this with Soren Petro on Monday, but one thing that I find interesting about the Rays is that they have A LOT of pitching injuries and I wonder if some of that is that they think the trade-off for this pitch or that pitch maybe causing more injuries is worth it. The Royals might be there now, just without the depth of the Rays. That said, pitchers also get hurt. Lynch has had back and blister issues before. Bubic started spring with soreness, which could be from the new pitches, I suppose, but it's probably more just that he got hurt.
No blame can go on Sweeney this year. If the pitching doesn’t improve, the royals don’t have the right talent. If nothing else, this experiment solidify’s that and there is no more debating it.
Pitchers get hurt, that’s not on pitching coach.
And I will point out that if it turns out to be a talent case, anyone associated with picking that talent has to be out. They’ve blamed all sorts of coaches and said it’s not development. We are only 18 games in or whatever, plenty of time for some development wins. But I think we all kinda thought a new coaching staff might be worth 10 wins over the year. That certainly doesn’t appear to be the case, so it has to be talent. And that falls back on…..(see what I did there, that was good, that was good, patting back).
You are truly correct there. This team lacks talent. We've seen a lot of these pitchers for 3+ years now. You have to say that everyone who is a farm developed or acquired pitcher on this team is not an ESTABLISHED major league pitcher (except Greinke). I can list them off:
Bubic
Keller
Singer
Clarke
Barlow
Cuas
Hernandez
Lynch
Heasley
I'm going to say that none of these guys really has done anything yet as far as being consistently good for 2-3 years and because of that none of them have "arrived" and sniffed a long term deal.
My brother and I have gone back and forth for a long time about this. The Royals have not developed any starting pitching from the FARM in a long time. The only 2 names I will give you are Greinke and Danny Duffy who have produced long term consistent results. I'd argue there's nothing in the last 10+ years that falls into the category. Wish there were more.
And I wonder how much credit you can give them for Greinke. Someone smarter than me about this stuff might know, but it just seems like his talent won out in spite of them, instead of because of them maybe. I will give them all the credit in the world for how they handled his mental health issues - which I suppose falls under the "development" umbrella.
I shared a couple thoughts with Vern yesterday that I’d like to disseminate here.
1. The Royals are presently less of a baseball team an more of a comedy troupe. Bobby, Vinny and maybe Lopez and Reyes are the straight men surrounded by a bunch of pranksters.
2. Moving forward, anyone batting .200 or below losses the privilege to choose their walk on music. Instead, the stadium will be subjected to a blast of circus music as they approach the plate. Surpassing the Mendoza line will restore their ability to choose music of their liking.
If shaming and angering these highly payed professionals is what it takes, so be it.
This team may not be as bad as they look right now but they certainly are not even entertaining to watch. I find myself watching not to see if we can win but which will be worse each night our hitting or our pitching or both.
Do you think this team is tanking to get a high pick? I mean they may not come out and say it but it sure is looking that way.
Based on our history of how well we have developed our top picks, that doesn't seem like a good strategy.
Actively tanking? No. But I don't think they mind the byproduct of losing when it comes to draft position. That said, remember there's a lottery now.
I know that but aren't there a couple of LSU players that are suppose to be studs? I am just trying to see if that is the logic for running Dozier out everyday.
They're in this year's draft. Thinking about 2024 draft rankings at this point is a fool's errand.
Good point. I think I am just that frustrated that they are hard to watch. It seems like we are going back to 2005 all over again.
Thanks for opening up the therapist couch for the beleaguered Royals’ fans to vent. And you definitely deserve the day off. Okay, I’ll have a go…I’m currently embarrassed that one of my preseason predictions was that the offense would actually keep them in games. Man, that looks bad right now. I do think it is 100% true that it is never as good as it seems when you’re going well or as bad when not, but gosh this looks so much like most of last year without the excitement of a bunch of rookies cutting their teeth. And I can talk myself into patience with Massey, Melendez, Eaton, and they guys who don’t even have a full year in the bigs yet. But if you are going to be this bad stop running out a bottom half of the lineup that has no upside. JBJ, Dozier, and Duffy (although he hasn’t been the problem) are not young guys trying to find their way. They are below average players who are exactly who they are. Probably could add Reyes to that as well, though I like the vibe he brings. It sucks watching games where you feel like whatever reliever “they” bring in is going to get three quick outs and whatever guy “we” bring in is going to walk or hit someone, get the bases packed, and then groove one. And when you watch it everyday, none of us need Hud explaining that the ball hit over Olivares (with a 95% catch rate) was “smoked with topspin and a hard play”. They are major leaguers (in theory) and expected to make those plays. It’s okay to be disappointed Hud, and to set down the pom-poms for an inning or two when it’s going this bad. Okay, that’s it. Thank you. See you next week, Doctor.
I'd like to see some roster turnover soon. Dozier, JBJ need to be DFA'd. I assume one of those will happen when Waters returns. Time to get younger and find out what we have in AAA. This season already feels lost. On the pitching side, I would like to see the same -- use openers and the Omaha train. Find out who can work in relief. Trade Chapman for the first good deal. At a minimum this season should be about evaluating young talent and opening up 40-man spots to grab a few discarded gems from other teams.
Chapman should have been dealt yesterday. He looks great.