That's what's so frustrating. We've seen him do it. Either he can and he's not doing it, which is a problem or he can't and that's a problem too. Same issue with Bubic, but we know for sure he can.
Continuing optimism even as we lost badly last night! Words from Worthy that Royals may be thinking not to break up NickySS and Whit2B, to put Mondesi at 3B. Yay! Kowar starting tonight to see if he can pull off a Lynch (much better after first time disaster). Seeing if Junis can be one of the 8 or 9 viable starting pitchers that Dayton says good teams need as depth for when injury or ineffectiveness come (with ability to pay the depth pieces not to much and keep them stashed at Omaha on options unless/until needed or, if they continue to show good, perhaps traded as a more valuable commodity). The fact that the answer to last night's blip of a loss, and the fact that our only above average bats right now seem to be our first three hitters, that we may be able to add as many as FOUR more good hitters (Mondi, Witt, Pratto, and MJ) to our lineup at some point. The fact that Dayton and Matheny seem to be smartly playing our cards during this last month, as the moves with Junis, Kowar, and Mondi show. Please help them make the right decisions. Please let some, or even most, or even all of your promising young pieces blossom.
The issue with Junis on next year's roster comes down to a numbers game. As it stands right now, I see Keller, Lynch, Hernandez and Singer as rotation locks. I would say Minor, but I think there's an outside chance he's moved. That said, if he is, they're probably bringing someone else in anyway, but we can't count on that. Barlow, Staumont, Brentz and Lovelady are in the bullpen. They've obviously had room to keep Erv and Wade all year, but that doesn't mean they'll have that room next season.
Dylan Coleman, Tyler Zuber, Domingo Tapia, Ronald Bolaños, Kyle Zimmer and maybe even Grant Gavin have made cases that they could and should be part of next year's bullpen. At some point, the math just doesn't work for Junis, but he can make it work if he does what he did last night all September. His options help him, but there are 40-man issues too, so he's really pitching for his Royals life. If I had to guess, I'd say he's starting for the Pirates in their first series next year.
You have certainly spent more time than me thinking about the 40 man. As you know, I like to play chess for our best choice of our mlb position players and pitchers (starters and relievers). If you say that, as it is important to have good depth on the 40 man, that we have 7-8 better young starters, and 5-7 better young relievers, so no need and no room on the 40 man for him, so that he is one that we can trade for someone not on the 40 man, or a part of a package to fill the CF or veteran starting pitcher or another hold, I believe you.
Yeah, I mean I could see him being part of that package. Now that I've mentioned the Pirates, I'm going to go back on my crusade to figure out how they can get Bryan Reynolds.
"I think he’s broken Baseball Savant." Thanks for the LOL, David. Good piece as always. Junis is just another frustration to me. When he is on he is near unhittable, but if not....
Good article. If he can throw harder why don’t we see this?
That's what's so frustrating. We've seen him do it. Either he can and he's not doing it, which is a problem or he can't and that's a problem too. Same issue with Bubic, but we know for sure he can.
Continuing optimism even as we lost badly last night! Words from Worthy that Royals may be thinking not to break up NickySS and Whit2B, to put Mondesi at 3B. Yay! Kowar starting tonight to see if he can pull off a Lynch (much better after first time disaster). Seeing if Junis can be one of the 8 or 9 viable starting pitchers that Dayton says good teams need as depth for when injury or ineffectiveness come (with ability to pay the depth pieces not to much and keep them stashed at Omaha on options unless/until needed or, if they continue to show good, perhaps traded as a more valuable commodity). The fact that the answer to last night's blip of a loss, and the fact that our only above average bats right now seem to be our first three hitters, that we may be able to add as many as FOUR more good hitters (Mondi, Witt, Pratto, and MJ) to our lineup at some point. The fact that Dayton and Matheny seem to be smartly playing our cards during this last month, as the moves with Junis, Kowar, and Mondi show. Please help them make the right decisions. Please let some, or even most, or even all of your promising young pieces blossom.
The issue with Junis on next year's roster comes down to a numbers game. As it stands right now, I see Keller, Lynch, Hernandez and Singer as rotation locks. I would say Minor, but I think there's an outside chance he's moved. That said, if he is, they're probably bringing someone else in anyway, but we can't count on that. Barlow, Staumont, Brentz and Lovelady are in the bullpen. They've obviously had room to keep Erv and Wade all year, but that doesn't mean they'll have that room next season.
Dylan Coleman, Tyler Zuber, Domingo Tapia, Ronald Bolaños, Kyle Zimmer and maybe even Grant Gavin have made cases that they could and should be part of next year's bullpen. At some point, the math just doesn't work for Junis, but he can make it work if he does what he did last night all September. His options help him, but there are 40-man issues too, so he's really pitching for his Royals life. If I had to guess, I'd say he's starting for the Pirates in their first series next year.
You have certainly spent more time than me thinking about the 40 man. As you know, I like to play chess for our best choice of our mlb position players and pitchers (starters and relievers). If you say that, as it is important to have good depth on the 40 man, that we have 7-8 better young starters, and 5-7 better young relievers, so no need and no room on the 40 man for him, so that he is one that we can trade for someone not on the 40 man, or a part of a package to fill the CF or veteran starting pitcher or another hold, I believe you.
Yeah, I mean I could see him being part of that package. Now that I've mentioned the Pirates, I'm going to go back on my crusade to figure out how they can get Bryan Reynolds.
"I think he’s broken Baseball Savant." Thanks for the LOL, David. Good piece as always. Junis is just another frustration to me. When he is on he is near unhittable, but if not....
Yup. When the slider is sliding, it's disgusting. When he's not getting that movement, get the bullpen ready fast.