Nice commentary David. I think the positives outweigh the negatives. Bubic was good, but the team has just not learned how to win very often. I think Lopez or Rivera will see more time at Omaha this year. Not much room for two weak hitting infielders, though Rivera certainly started off strong and may get back to that. I saw the Orioles (the closest American League team to me In Virginia Beach) released former Royal Chris Owings. He 'was hitting .107 at the time. I cringed fearing Dayton would sign him back. He seems the type of players Dayton loves to bring in. I think Dayton should be committed to an insane asylum if he does, but you can never be sure of the depth of Dayton's or JJ's poor decisions. I mean the Royals signed Roman Quinn. The Phillies tried for 3-4 years to make him their center fielder, but the man just flat out can not hit. Our outfield was crowded enough with MJ, Olivares, Isbell, Taylor, Benintendi and Dozier needing spots. I've probably missed a couple of more. This year is set and it's going to be ugly. Dayton doesn't have to make it worse than it already is. In his 6th year of the rebuild, he has already produced the worst team in baseball. Accountability in the Royal's organization doesn't extend any higher than the hitting coach. Everyone else can put their feet up and relax. They are safe. Mr. Sherman, are you watching this season?
I’ve heard the commentary on the mound visits as well. It’s something you talk about when the team sucks but I don’t put much into it either.
I think I’ve come to the realization that this is what it is. I still can’t fully comprehend that they (front office) are going to let them barrel past 100 losses this year without more urgency. The only thing I can think of is they know there jobs are safe. Which is incredibly sad and frustrating all at the same time. How can you not make a move if only for the optics of it by now?
Once again the manager left the starting pitcher in too long. Wanting him to finish 6 innings and having him be able to do it are 2 different things. Bubic already had thrown enough pitches when he gave up those runs. The pitching coach is a disaster and the manager is too much of a gambler. Matheny couldn't manage the Cardinals and he is no better in Kansas City. It's time for a change!
Thank you for the article, great as always. Have the Royals given up on trying Melendez at 3rd base? Seems to me this would be a nice fit as whenever he isn't catching it would free up an OF/DH spot. I'd like to see an alignment sometime this year of:
1B-Pratto/Dozier/Vinnie
2B-Merrifield
SS-Witt
3B-MJM
LF-Olivares (Benni traded)
CF-Isbel/Taylor
RF-Dozier/Pratto
DH-Vinnie
Bench
Gallagher
Lopez
Rivera
Taylor/Isbel
Would set up some L/R platoon opportunities and some additional position rotation to optimize when Perez DHs/MJM catches.
Quit blaming the pitching, get to the root cause, Matheny and Eldred. They couldn’t manage and coach a T-Ball team properly. These young pitchers under other leadership would be excelling. They have misused this staff since day 1 of this year. Greinke and Garrett were worthless pick-ups, haven’t helped the staff at all. Bad things happen every time Payamps, Garrett, Bolanos come into a game. Did you ever notice where the catchers set up on a 0-2, 1-2 count, belt high in the middle of the plate. Bullpen coach or pregame warm ups are not getting the staff ready to start or come in for relief, vide t by 1st inning runs, inherited runners scoring. Singer the other night threw pitches down the heart of the plate and pitches were called balls, next batter homered. Bubic didn’t get calls when solid strikes were thrown, you could see SF pitchers questioning calls also. They have the kids wasting too many pitches when ahead in the count. KC also needs to unload, Santanna, Mondessi, Taylor, Rivera, Greinke, Garrett, Bolanos, O’Hearn, Gallagher and maybe Lopez. They keep saying trade Merrifield and Benintendi, for steady young pitchers, doesn’t make sense, develop what good young talent they have with better coaching. Everyone KC trades or looses through FA always excels at their next destination.
Did you see the stats James White posted on twitter in responding to Rany? I've put them down below:
From James White
Ok I wasted way too much time on this but since May 1, there have been 60 mound visits (pitching changes NOT included). Opponents are slashing .292/.433/.479 with 28 RBI, 9 BB, and 3 HBP
Nice commentary David. I think the positives outweigh the negatives. Bubic was good, but the team has just not learned how to win very often. I think Lopez or Rivera will see more time at Omaha this year. Not much room for two weak hitting infielders, though Rivera certainly started off strong and may get back to that. I saw the Orioles (the closest American League team to me In Virginia Beach) released former Royal Chris Owings. He 'was hitting .107 at the time. I cringed fearing Dayton would sign him back. He seems the type of players Dayton loves to bring in. I think Dayton should be committed to an insane asylum if he does, but you can never be sure of the depth of Dayton's or JJ's poor decisions. I mean the Royals signed Roman Quinn. The Phillies tried for 3-4 years to make him their center fielder, but the man just flat out can not hit. Our outfield was crowded enough with MJ, Olivares, Isbell, Taylor, Benintendi and Dozier needing spots. I've probably missed a couple of more. This year is set and it's going to be ugly. Dayton doesn't have to make it worse than it already is. In his 6th year of the rebuild, he has already produced the worst team in baseball. Accountability in the Royal's organization doesn't extend any higher than the hitting coach. Everyone else can put their feet up and relax. They are safe. Mr. Sherman, are you watching this season?
I’ve heard the commentary on the mound visits as well. It’s something you talk about when the team sucks but I don’t put much into it either.
I think I’ve come to the realization that this is what it is. I still can’t fully comprehend that they (front office) are going to let them barrel past 100 losses this year without more urgency. The only thing I can think of is they know there jobs are safe. Which is incredibly sad and frustrating all at the same time. How can you not make a move if only for the optics of it by now?
Once again the manager left the starting pitcher in too long. Wanting him to finish 6 innings and having him be able to do it are 2 different things. Bubic already had thrown enough pitches when he gave up those runs. The pitching coach is a disaster and the manager is too much of a gambler. Matheny couldn't manage the Cardinals and he is no better in Kansas City. It's time for a change!
Thank you for the article, great as always. Have the Royals given up on trying Melendez at 3rd base? Seems to me this would be a nice fit as whenever he isn't catching it would free up an OF/DH spot. I'd like to see an alignment sometime this year of:
1B-Pratto/Dozier/Vinnie
2B-Merrifield
SS-Witt
3B-MJM
LF-Olivares (Benni traded)
CF-Isbel/Taylor
RF-Dozier/Pratto
DH-Vinnie
Bench
Gallagher
Lopez
Rivera
Taylor/Isbel
Would set up some L/R platoon opportunities and some additional position rotation to optimize when Perez DHs/MJM catches.
Quit blaming the pitching, get to the root cause, Matheny and Eldred. They couldn’t manage and coach a T-Ball team properly. These young pitchers under other leadership would be excelling. They have misused this staff since day 1 of this year. Greinke and Garrett were worthless pick-ups, haven’t helped the staff at all. Bad things happen every time Payamps, Garrett, Bolanos come into a game. Did you ever notice where the catchers set up on a 0-2, 1-2 count, belt high in the middle of the plate. Bullpen coach or pregame warm ups are not getting the staff ready to start or come in for relief, vide t by 1st inning runs, inherited runners scoring. Singer the other night threw pitches down the heart of the plate and pitches were called balls, next batter homered. Bubic didn’t get calls when solid strikes were thrown, you could see SF pitchers questioning calls also. They have the kids wasting too many pitches when ahead in the count. KC also needs to unload, Santanna, Mondessi, Taylor, Rivera, Greinke, Garrett, Bolanos, O’Hearn, Gallagher and maybe Lopez. They keep saying trade Merrifield and Benintendi, for steady young pitchers, doesn’t make sense, develop what good young talent they have with better coaching. Everyone KC trades or looses through FA always excels at their next destination.
Did you see the stats James White posted on twitter in responding to Rany? I've put them down below:
From James White
Ok I wasted way too much time on this but since May 1, there have been 60 mound visits (pitching changes NOT included). Opponents are slashing .292/.433/.479 with 28 RBI, 9 BB, and 3 HBP