David, your going to have to get off the umpiring. It’s the Royals vs the Yankees…you know they aren’t getting calls going into it. Lol. But I’m past ready for needing an umpire to call balls and strikes. We have the technology lets go already.
Here’s my thought process as a Royals fan seeing Singer do this
1. He’s on a heater for sure….but looks the part of a number 2 for sure moving into next year. Reason to believe!
2. Great, Singer’s looking good and they are going to Keep Eldred and use him as the reason!
Even when its a good thing I can’t fully be positive until I actually see them do it at this point.
I can’t remember where I saw it now. But I saw something about ownership group (I can’t remember the exact term) hovering/being more involved with the FO here lately. You heard anything or rumblings about that?
Oh yeah, I’ve definitely heard some similar things to that. Sherman and Co. are in full evaluation mode, but I get the impression that JJ is fully safe which I’m fine with.
Saw your Lesky Notes article this morning. One thing on the pitching depth……and this is actually me being positive. If, IF, IF, IF they go out and make a James Shield type move…aka Montas/Castillo to lead this rotation and go with….Montas, Singer, Grienke, Keller, Lynch/Heasley/Bubic…..even if you don’t resign Greinke….I can believe in that. Yes, they would lose Keller (FA), Greinke (ret), Montas (FA) potentially after next year…but that could sniff you .500 next year with an improving offense for at least one year and save jobs potentially. What I’m saying is…..the TIME IS NOW (or this offseason) for a top of the rotation piece….record be damned.
I wouldn't go after someone with one year left, but there are some other possibilities. Pablo Lopez, German Marquez or Freddy Peralta could theoretically become available at some point. I think Peralta is the longest shot and he's had injury issues this year, but I'd much rather go after someone who they can keep a little longer.
Agreed, but we are probably talking about giving up a Pratto/Melendez/Vinny type then. But even if you revamp the entire pitching development…..its probably not going to be a super quick fix….I mean maybe….but you have to give it a year or two…which depending on what happens does this FO have (maybe JJ does which is fine). It’s going to hurt is what I think I’m saying…but we are to the point that it is needed now. They are closer than the record shows with JUST ONE top of the rotation piece. Slide Singer, Keller, Lynch in behind that….injuries will happen but they have guys. It’s not that far away if they make the move that hurts now.
Joel, you've given me hope! Hope that John Sherman will start forcing "the Cleveland way" on the front office whether they like it or not. It would be nice to see him start with the pitching coaches and development people.
O thing is going to change until Moore, Matheny, Eldred, Carter and Wilson are let go. This team has no motivation, different line-up every night, manages like these games are try outs and everyone gets a chance. Batting order sucked, like Matheny pulls names out of a hat. Still need to get rid of Gallagher, O’Hearn, Garrett, Payamps, Bolonois, Mondessi, maybe Taylor, Rivera, Isbel and Greinke.
I agree with most of your list but I wouldn't mind seeing Gallagher and Isbel and Greinke stick around. I think there's still a chance, however small, that Isbel and Oliveras can form an effective platoon combo.
Of course, that assumes having a manager who actually knows what a platoon is and is willing to use one when that's what's best for the team.
Too much good young talent that needs managed and coached properly. Catchers, Perez, Melendez and Rivera, don’t need Gallagher (get rid of Carter and make him the bullpen coach). I don’t think Isbel is a long term fix, better talent at AAA
I'm not at all a fan of the way MJ sets the target, but then drops his glove to the ground as soon as the pitcher begins his windup, which is presumably when the target is needed most. I realize he's not the only catcher to do that but I really wish he'd stop it.
Clearly it didn't hurt Singer last night, but that glove movement can't be on the list of "catching best practices."
I don't know that it actually makes that much of a difference to be honest. Watch Jose Trevino tonight. He ranks at the top of the list for catcher framing and is the number one catcher for one of the three best staffs statistically in baseball. He does it. Sean Murphy is considered one of the best defensive catchers in baseball and he does it. I think it's just something catchers do.
I have absolutely no doubt that you're right about those guys, but maybe they're outliers....(????) I wouldn't pretend to know. It just seems counterintuitive to me to say that absolutely no pitcher finds that distracting.
Maybe that's the case but when I mentally try to put myself in a pitcher's shoes I have trouble believing it.
But what do I know? I pitched ONCE in Jackson County 3&2 baseball and walked the three guys I faced. (And no I don't remember what my catcher did with his glove!) I totally blame my manager for that - what was he thinking, putting his third baseman on the mound?
Virtually no one believed that the Royals would overall their minor league hitting development department yet they did. Do I wish they did it a lot sooner? Of course, but at least they did it. So, I believe that they'll over haul the minor league pitching department shortly...hopefully, in the off-season. If JJ Piccolo is in charge, then Cal Eldred won't be brought back next year. I'd hire someone from the Marlins, Rays, Brewers or even the hated Yankees and pay them big bucks to revitalize the minors on the pitching as has been accomplished on the hitting. I'd also throw huge dollars towards a pitching coach from an organization that has a proven track record of developing pitching and this person has been integral to that success.
As usual I greatly enjoyed your radio appearance on 810 today. I found it interesting that you now see Brady Singer as a #2 to #3 starter. That would be absolutely fine with me! But I'm curious.... What would you need to see from him, and for how long, before you called him a legit #1 starter?
Or do you still see flaws in his game that you think will prevent him from ever achieving that status?
I just need to see what he's done the last few starts for longer. Before the last two starts, he was good but not great in his 11 starts after he came back from Omaha. What he's done has been very impressive, but I just need to see more of it.
David - if Salvy and Vinnie and Pratto and MJ are all going to be in the lineup at the same time, then one of the latter two will have to play in the OF. (I'm assuming here that 3B isn't an option for any of those guys.) Do you see either Pratto or MJ as capable of becoming at least a competent/average MLB-caliber outfielder? Or is that a pipe dream in both cases?
ARRGGHH Amir Garrett is so frustrating. Coming into Sunday's game, his .159 opponents' batting average would lead you to believe that his other numbers must be pretty good as well. But you'd be wrong.
21BB in 28IP goes a long way toward explaining his over-5 ERA. He must have enjoyed those walks a lot because just for fun he walked his first batter on Sunday as well.
BTW Royals pitchers have walked the #9 hitter 51 times this season. (Words fail me.) Cuas was so inspired by Garrett's performance that he walked the #9 guy on four pitches to lead off the 7th, with LeMaiheu and Judge due up next. That's always a good idea, because what could possibly go wrong? Just to double down he walked Judge as well. Which set the table nicely for Rizzo's 3-run HR.
At least we can take comfort in the fact that "Cal Eldred is doing an excellent job." We know that's true because Dayton said so.
David, your going to have to get off the umpiring. It’s the Royals vs the Yankees…you know they aren’t getting calls going into it. Lol. But I’m past ready for needing an umpire to call balls and strikes. We have the technology lets go already.
Here’s my thought process as a Royals fan seeing Singer do this
1. He’s on a heater for sure….but looks the part of a number 2 for sure moving into next year. Reason to believe!
2. Great, Singer’s looking good and they are going to Keep Eldred and use him as the reason!
Even when its a good thing I can’t fully be positive until I actually see them do it at this point.
If I have to get off the umpiring, you’re going to have to get past finding negatives in positives haha.
Even with Singer looking great, I still don’t think Cal is back next year, so I hope that helps.
I can’t remember where I saw it now. But I saw something about ownership group (I can’t remember the exact term) hovering/being more involved with the FO here lately. You heard anything or rumblings about that?
Oh yeah, I’ve definitely heard some similar things to that. Sherman and Co. are in full evaluation mode, but I get the impression that JJ is fully safe which I’m fine with.
Saw your Lesky Notes article this morning. One thing on the pitching depth……and this is actually me being positive. If, IF, IF, IF they go out and make a James Shield type move…aka Montas/Castillo to lead this rotation and go with….Montas, Singer, Grienke, Keller, Lynch/Heasley/Bubic…..even if you don’t resign Greinke….I can believe in that. Yes, they would lose Keller (FA), Greinke (ret), Montas (FA) potentially after next year…but that could sniff you .500 next year with an improving offense for at least one year and save jobs potentially. What I’m saying is…..the TIME IS NOW (or this offseason) for a top of the rotation piece….record be damned.
I wouldn't go after someone with one year left, but there are some other possibilities. Pablo Lopez, German Marquez or Freddy Peralta could theoretically become available at some point. I think Peralta is the longest shot and he's had injury issues this year, but I'd much rather go after someone who they can keep a little longer.
Agreed, but we are probably talking about giving up a Pratto/Melendez/Vinny type then. But even if you revamp the entire pitching development…..its probably not going to be a super quick fix….I mean maybe….but you have to give it a year or two…which depending on what happens does this FO have (maybe JJ does which is fine). It’s going to hurt is what I think I’m saying…but we are to the point that it is needed now. They are closer than the record shows with JUST ONE top of the rotation piece. Slide Singer, Keller, Lynch in behind that….injuries will happen but they have guys. It’s not that far away if they make the move that hurts now.
Joel, you've given me hope! Hope that John Sherman will start forcing "the Cleveland way" on the front office whether they like it or not. It would be nice to see him start with the pitching coaches and development people.
O thing is going to change until Moore, Matheny, Eldred, Carter and Wilson are let go. This team has no motivation, different line-up every night, manages like these games are try outs and everyone gets a chance. Batting order sucked, like Matheny pulls names out of a hat. Still need to get rid of Gallagher, O’Hearn, Garrett, Payamps, Bolonois, Mondessi, maybe Taylor, Rivera, Isbel and Greinke.
I agree with most of your list but I wouldn't mind seeing Gallagher and Isbel and Greinke stick around. I think there's still a chance, however small, that Isbel and Oliveras can form an effective platoon combo.
Of course, that assumes having a manager who actually knows what a platoon is and is willing to use one when that's what's best for the team.
Too much good young talent that needs managed and coached properly. Catchers, Perez, Melendez and Rivera, don’t need Gallagher (get rid of Carter and make him the bullpen coach). I don’t think Isbel is a long term fix, better talent at AAA
I'm not at all a fan of the way MJ sets the target, but then drops his glove to the ground as soon as the pitcher begins his windup, which is presumably when the target is needed most. I realize he's not the only catcher to do that but I really wish he'd stop it.
Clearly it didn't hurt Singer last night, but that glove movement can't be on the list of "catching best practices."
I don't know that it actually makes that much of a difference to be honest. Watch Jose Trevino tonight. He ranks at the top of the list for catcher framing and is the number one catcher for one of the three best staffs statistically in baseball. He does it. Sean Murphy is considered one of the best defensive catchers in baseball and he does it. I think it's just something catchers do.
I have absolutely no doubt that you're right about those guys, but maybe they're outliers....(????) I wouldn't pretend to know. It just seems counterintuitive to me to say that absolutely no pitcher finds that distracting.
Maybe that's the case but when I mentally try to put myself in a pitcher's shoes I have trouble believing it.
But what do I know? I pitched ONCE in Jackson County 3&2 baseball and walked the three guys I faced. (And no I don't remember what my catcher did with his glove!) I totally blame my manager for that - what was he thinking, putting his third baseman on the mound?
I went and looked at a few more. Realmuto does it. Salvy does it. They don't all do it, but I think it's pretty common.
Virtually no one believed that the Royals would overall their minor league hitting development department yet they did. Do I wish they did it a lot sooner? Of course, but at least they did it. So, I believe that they'll over haul the minor league pitching department shortly...hopefully, in the off-season. If JJ Piccolo is in charge, then Cal Eldred won't be brought back next year. I'd hire someone from the Marlins, Rays, Brewers or even the hated Yankees and pay them big bucks to revitalize the minors on the pitching as has been accomplished on the hitting. I'd also throw huge dollars towards a pitching coach from an organization that has a proven track record of developing pitching and this person has been integral to that success.
As usual I greatly enjoyed your radio appearance on 810 today. I found it interesting that you now see Brady Singer as a #2 to #3 starter. That would be absolutely fine with me! But I'm curious.... What would you need to see from him, and for how long, before you called him a legit #1 starter?
Or do you still see flaws in his game that you think will prevent him from ever achieving that status?
I just need to see what he's done the last few starts for longer. Before the last two starts, he was good but not great in his 11 starts after he came back from Omaha. What he's done has been very impressive, but I just need to see more of it.
David - if Salvy and Vinnie and Pratto and MJ are all going to be in the lineup at the same time, then one of the latter two will have to play in the OF. (I'm assuming here that 3B isn't an option for any of those guys.) Do you see either Pratto or MJ as capable of becoming at least a competent/average MLB-caliber outfielder? Or is that a pipe dream in both cases?
ARRGGHH Amir Garrett is so frustrating. Coming into Sunday's game, his .159 opponents' batting average would lead you to believe that his other numbers must be pretty good as well. But you'd be wrong.
21BB in 28IP goes a long way toward explaining his over-5 ERA. He must have enjoyed those walks a lot because just for fun he walked his first batter on Sunday as well.
BTW Royals pitchers have walked the #9 hitter 51 times this season. (Words fail me.) Cuas was so inspired by Garrett's performance that he walked the #9 guy on four pitches to lead off the 7th, with LeMaiheu and Judge due up next. That's always a good idea, because what could possibly go wrong? Just to double down he walked Judge as well. Which set the table nicely for Rizzo's 3-run HR.
At least we can take comfort in the fact that "Cal Eldred is doing an excellent job." We know that's true because Dayton said so.