Play ball, indeed! I assume you had a typo and Witt is not switching positions (I think we have a big enough logjam at first -- HA!). I also perused your wife's t-shirt collection. Nice collection, though I couldn't find the Cyclone wear I wanted.
(signed) Iowa boy from the other side of the state
Love the prediction of making the playoffs in 2023. Hope the predication of Bobby Witt Jr. being a Gold Glove finalist at first base was actually meant to be third base. I enjoy your writing nearly as much as I enjoy watching the Royals. Keep up the great work!
Bobby Witt Gold Glove finalist at *first* base? Hoping that's a typo, because I no wanna see Emmanuel Rivera or Mondesi at 3B. Well, maybe September 2018 Mondesi. Also, that T-shirt is a thing of beauty, compliments to your designer.
You and I must be seeing things through the same lense, b/c I share the same exact concerns.
As for your crystal ball - If all of the positive predictions come true, I'm down with the negative ones - although I'd rather see Beni included in the deal than Pratto.
I have been thinking about this lately and the Whit move made me think it is even more likely: Maybe we're quietly shopping Lopez in a true 'sell high' transactional approach. To me, Lopez would return the highest return of any of our position players not named Witt and that frees up right when Whit moves back to second. IF Mondesi goes down, BWJ to short and HD (or Melendez if he's the first one ready as you predict) to third, which frees up the DH (or at least that's the play on Mondesi rest days). Carlos will be gone one way or another by the break, so the 1st is freed up... The Lopez move is the one that I think falls the most dominoes.
And speaking of Whit - CONGRATULATIONS!!!! The man has more than earned the money and I think, it shows we are positioning ourselves for some major free agent pitcher money for next year - or picking one up this year with at least two years of control. Let us not forget, if Greinke balls we will have to sign him again next year.
I agree that Lopez wouldn’t be a bad sell high option. I don’t think they will, but with that Whit move maybe? Although Mondesi and Whit will be free agents after 2023 so who knows?
The only thing that concerns me with the spring training pitching numbers is the walks. The hitting environment will change drastically here. But its a common theme of Royals pitchers to walk too many guys. Too small a sample size…..but the initial returns aren’t good in the walk column.
While I agree walks have been a problem, the 8.2% rate from spring for the guys on the roster is actually pretty good. That would have been top 10 last year and would have been top half in spring this year.
Play ball, indeed! I assume you had a typo and Witt is not switching positions (I think we have a big enough logjam at first -- HA!). I also perused your wife's t-shirt collection. Nice collection, though I couldn't find the Cyclone wear I wanted.
(signed) Iowa boy from the other side of the state
I think those might be coming. She sort of pivoted to glasses and there’s Cyclones gear there!
Love the prediction of making the playoffs in 2023. Hope the predication of Bobby Witt Jr. being a Gold Glove finalist at first base was actually meant to be third base. I enjoy your writing nearly as much as I enjoy watching the Royals. Keep up the great work!
Haha, yep. Whoopsadoodle.
Bobby Witt Gold Glove finalist at *first* base? Hoping that's a typo, because I no wanna see Emmanuel Rivera or Mondesi at 3B. Well, maybe September 2018 Mondesi. Also, that T-shirt is a thing of beauty, compliments to your designer.
Ha whoops. And yeah, she’s okay. I’ll keep her around haha.
You and I must be seeing things through the same lense, b/c I share the same exact concerns.
As for your crystal ball - If all of the positive predictions come true, I'm down with the negative ones - although I'd rather see Beni included in the deal than Pratto.
I have been thinking about this lately and the Whit move made me think it is even more likely: Maybe we're quietly shopping Lopez in a true 'sell high' transactional approach. To me, Lopez would return the highest return of any of our position players not named Witt and that frees up right when Whit moves back to second. IF Mondesi goes down, BWJ to short and HD (or Melendez if he's the first one ready as you predict) to third, which frees up the DH (or at least that's the play on Mondesi rest days). Carlos will be gone one way or another by the break, so the 1st is freed up... The Lopez move is the one that I think falls the most dominoes.
And speaking of Whit - CONGRATULATIONS!!!! The man has more than earned the money and I think, it shows we are positioning ourselves for some major free agent pitcher money for next year - or picking one up this year with at least two years of control. Let us not forget, if Greinke balls we will have to sign him again next year.
I agree that Lopez wouldn’t be a bad sell high option. I don’t think they will, but with that Whit move maybe? Although Mondesi and Whit will be free agents after 2023 so who knows?
Whoops on the first base part! Thanks, all. Tip your editors.
The only thing that concerns me with the spring training pitching numbers is the walks. The hitting environment will change drastically here. But its a common theme of Royals pitchers to walk too many guys. Too small a sample size…..but the initial returns aren’t good in the walk column.
While I agree walks have been a problem, the 8.2% rate from spring for the guys on the roster is actually pretty good. That would have been top 10 last year and would have been top half in spring this year.
The crystal ball should say Carlos Hernandez will be the one to receive Cy Young votes.