The last three wins are so weird, so fluky: Exploding for 8 runs in the last 3 innings against a decent Angels bullpen, holding an abysmal Tigers offense to 0 runs in 9 innings, scoring 4 runs in the last 3 innings against a good Rays bullpen. Baby steps toward a decent team or just the flukes in a 162-game season? We'll see!
I don’t know about any sort of steps to a decent team, but I sort of feel like the lack of good luck has evened out some over the last week or so. So yeah, probably more fluke than anything but there should be a lot of flukes in a long season and it felt like they didn’t really have ANY for two plus months. I’m sure they did if I go back and look, but they were few and far between. Just nice to have a little fun this year. We definitely haven’t had enough of that.
It's fun to win! I didn't get to watch but it sounds like the Rays beat themselves as much as the Royals beat them. Nothing wrong with that, the result counts the same, and maybe it's the kind of game that gives a group of young guys the confidence they need to play a little looser.
They didn’t help themselves, that’s for sure. But other teams have definitely tried to beat themselves against the Royals and the Royals turn down their offer consistently. So I’ll take it for sure!
Q managed Thursday's game with highly uncharacteristic aggressiveness. I have no complaint about that but as I was watching the game I couldn't help but wonder if maybe he was doing that in order to impress his peeps in Tampa.
If you're talking about the steals, I suppose it was more than we'd seen, but Francisco Mejia has had a tough time throwing out runners this year and the situations arose perfectly to run wild. Otherwise, I'm not really sure what was done differently in this game than in the past other than that the Royals actually got the big hit a few times.
Certainly the steals were a major part of it but that's not the whole story. He pulled Cuas considerably more quickly than he has at other times when Cuas has struggled similarly. I also thought he was a bit quick on the trigger in pulling Austin Cox from the game. That's much more aggressive managing than we usually see from him. I like it. In fact I like it a lot. I just don't understand why we haven't seen a whole lot more of it this season.
I'm not sure he pulled Cuas quicker than before. He faced seven batters, which is the most he's faced since May 26 and the fifth-most this year. He also threw 27 pitches, which is the most he's thrown since May 26 and the fifth-most this year. If anything, I was a little surprised Cuas came out for the second. And with Cox, I guess he was aggressive with him, but I don't think it was especially out of the ordinary given the way Cox had been used in the big leagues to this point.
I should have mentioned: I recognize there's a fine line between managing aggressively and doing manager stuff just for the sake of doing manager stuff. Given the thousands of decisions that must be made over the course of a season it's inevitable that every aggressive manager will cross that line occasionally. But I'd rather see that than someone managing in overly passive and strictly conventional ways.
I agree with that, especially with a young (and bad) team. But I also think there are plenty of instances of aggressive managing as well. The fact is that no matter what a manager does, people will like it if he's right and hate it if he's wrong. The process is more important than the results for the long-term, but in the moment, the results are all that matter.
Great to get two newsletters in 3 days from you. I don't know if it is just me, but it seems to me that Q. sticks with pitchers too long sometimes. On Lyles staying with Lyles in the 7th cost them the game. Last night after Taylor gave up 3 hits to the first 3 batters, I he should have went to someone else. There are many other instances throughout the year when he could have had a quicker hook. Finally glad they let Cox get go more than 2 innings. Thanks David.
Hey, I told you I'd get back to writing more again! It helps that there's been something interesting to write about this week, but I was going to do it anyway!
I think Q is figuring out when to pull and when not to and he's certainly made some mistakes. The issue with last night with Clarke is that Clarke has been generally trustworthy so you're probably not warming someone up behind him even at the first remote sign of trouble. So he gives up the home run and then it's 5-3 just 10 pitches later. Even if Wittgren started throwing right when he gave up the home run, I'm not sure he'd have been ready to come in before Arozarena anyway.
Thanks David, some random thoughts today that actually have nothing to do with the game. However, shocker…a Rays pitcher got hurt. I actually need him to be ok for fantasy purposes though…lol.
Talent. Yes, there is talent on this team. They should be better than the record says right now. I actually think they have more talent than Detroit, Colorado, Washington…and then they lose all those series and I question everything I ever thought I knew about baseball. So IDK, I know they have talent….the system is going to produce “some” guys. Maybe not the dudes that are needed. But I’m in the mode of maybe I’m the one that is wrong on the thinking with these guys. I’m at a loss for it anymore.
Garcia. I’m not convinced yet this team isn’t better with Garcia at SS. I think I’m probably the minority on this but Garcia is slowly turning into one of the better trade chips. You can play with him at 3rd….the Rays do it all the time. So I’m fine if they do that. I think he has shown he can play. Here’s an outside the box suggestion. Has anyone thought of Bobby Witt Jr at second, with Garcia at SS? Bobby would immediately become the second best offensive 2nd baseman in the game behind Semien I think, Garcia can do his thing and you can live without the pop a little more. I like that idea a lot, but understand there are about 50 reasons against it that may not even be baseball related and just personal.
I feel like I’ve been reading your articles for years now David. I’m going to make my yearly pitch. I’m pretty sure I know what you are going to say. And you are probably right….BUT. Is it not time for the Royals to get a little crazy and actually get a top starter via trade? I feel like I bring this up every year, and every year EVERYONE says it’s not the spot they are in yet. My comeback is THEY ARE NEVER IN THAT SPOT. Lol, it’s a never ending cycle of sucking that maybe, just maybe, getting a number two with 2-3 years of control left helps you get out of. I don’t see the Royals winning 20 more games next year than this year without a big time upgrade in the starting rotation. Maybe it takes that move to get the Royals in the right direction. It’s time, it’s past time quite honestly. I know, I know, they aren’t there yet…..but maybe we need to be there regardless of the record. Who you ask? IDK, Alcantara has been down this year but has the track record. He signed a 5 year deal last year maybe? I’m not sure on that. But maybe you can get him. They match up really well with Miami anyway. Garcia, Melendez, and Barlow….maybe that doesn’t get it done. Bieber’ a numbers have been a bit down. I’m not sure of his contract situation….Alex Manoah? He’s someone I’d be going after. Sweeney and co can earn there paycheck with that one, but I know he has the talent and upside as he was an all star just last year. No guarantees….but tell me its time after three years now! LOL
I'm sure Witt could play second, but I wonder a little if maybe he actually can't. It seems like it should be an easy transition but going from the left side to the right side isn't easy. Now, in the era of shifts, maybe it's not as big of a deal because he used to play on that side of the bag a lot anyway. Still, I'm honestly fine with Garcia at third and Witt at short because Witt has improved enough for me to not especially care which order they're in. I think what you're more likely to see is Garcia at second if either of them move.
I think they should absolutely try to find a top of the rotation arm, but that's also easier said than done. And I don't care where they are in their rebuild, the only caveat is I don't want someone who only has one year of control left unless they can get an extension done before the trade is official. I wouldn't trade for Bieber because he's a free agent after next year, but Alcantara and Manoah are both very interesting. I think the Marlins ask for a Cy Young return in spite of Alcantara's season and I do wonder a bit if the Blue Jays would be willing to trade Manoah at his lowest value. And if you're the Royals, do you pay a 2022 price for a guy who is a mess right now? I don't know. Maybe? But they do match up exceptionally well with the Marlins. I love the idea. Not sure how likely it is, but I love the idea.
Yeah, I’m not sure how likely it is either. I think it’s sort of the same version of what other people have been saying. Basically, that its time for the Royals to get creative. IDK what that is, or what it looks like per se, but it’s time to do something in a manner you haven’t in the past. Maybe it’s Braxton Garrett with the Marlins. I could be convinced that he could become that guy at 25 now with improving numbers every year. IDK who it is….but hopefully they find a way to get creative.
I hope they do something on that front as well because I think they need to. I'd need to do a little research on this to know for sure, but I'd say that prices for controllable starting pitching at the deadline seem to be higher than in the offseason. Maybe that's because you're getting an extra two months and an in-season boost or maybe it's because teams at the deadline only have one way to acquire talent, but a trade for a starter like that may be better served in December than July.
Actually David, do you think it would help JJ to make a “statement” trade? This year has gone off the rails. I don’t think it would hurt him to do something that is so creative that people say “ok, I’m paying attention now, this will be different”. Again, saying and doing that are two separate issues and you are probably right that may be something easier done in the offseason. But I do kinda feel like a statement made from the front office would be helpful. You trade for a #2 starter……you will have my attention again and it’s a lot easier to believe this will be different. Right now…..it’s like Santa Clause when you’re 39. I want to believe…but it’s hard man.
To be honest, I don't really care if they make a statement. I care if they win. Making moves to appease a fan base might be good in the short term, but just do the right thing. If the trade is there, make it. If it's not, don't. And don't worry if it doesn't rally a fan base. I think there are ways to do both, absolutely, but I wouldn't do it just because it would make people happy.
Excellent post, fantastic game, that half-inning in the top of ninth w/ Garcia running wild, Witt/Perez whiffing (someone somewhere (maybe you??) has written about Witt having a harder time with fastballs than secondary pitches and that seemed dead on w/ his swinging third strike), and Melendez going all out to beat what turned out to be a bad toss (a scenario that nearly every previous time this season has featured Melendez playing the (metaphorical) role of bad tosser), was some of the most entertaining baseball I've seen in a long time. Totally agree re point about revealing strength of leadership, agree w/ your comments below re Q's game management, and continue to love watching Garcia.
If the Royals can just start hitting with the same OPS that they hit with the bases empty, they can play at a .400 winning pct. It's got to be a mental thing at this point. Their OPS with RISP is the worst in baseball... by a lot.
They're horrible situationally. I wrote about that a couple weeks ago (or maybe days or maybe months, who even knows anymore?). Some of it absolutely is mental. Some of it is approach. Some of it is dumb luck. But yeah, if they can just drive in some of the runners they get, they'll make their lives a lot easier.
I actually screamed at the TV and demanded MJ be DFAd when he flubbed that fly ball. He helped his cause with his balanced offensive game and that’s something I need to see more of. Witt has turned a corner in my eyes with his patience. Now it’s MJs turn to turn a corner.
I think the pitching staff has really started to show the benefit of Sweeney. Let’s just put Lyles in a corner for a second. Lynch has looked great for most of his time back. And he seems like a guy who’s willing to let data speak to him. Singer on the other hand seems like someone who does things his own way (this is completely anecdotal and apropos of nothing). But Bubic also seemed to buy in. And this speaks to their pedigree to me. UVA and Stanford are both excellent schools with a reputation for education whereas Florida is ..... Florida.
The last three wins are so weird, so fluky: Exploding for 8 runs in the last 3 innings against a decent Angels bullpen, holding an abysmal Tigers offense to 0 runs in 9 innings, scoring 4 runs in the last 3 innings against a good Rays bullpen. Baby steps toward a decent team or just the flukes in a 162-game season? We'll see!
I don’t know about any sort of steps to a decent team, but I sort of feel like the lack of good luck has evened out some over the last week or so. So yeah, probably more fluke than anything but there should be a lot of flukes in a long season and it felt like they didn’t really have ANY for two plus months. I’m sure they did if I go back and look, but they were few and far between. Just nice to have a little fun this year. We definitely haven’t had enough of that.
It's fun to win! I didn't get to watch but it sounds like the Rays beat themselves as much as the Royals beat them. Nothing wrong with that, the result counts the same, and maybe it's the kind of game that gives a group of young guys the confidence they need to play a little looser.
They didn’t help themselves, that’s for sure. But other teams have definitely tried to beat themselves against the Royals and the Royals turn down their offer consistently. So I’ll take it for sure!
Q managed Thursday's game with highly uncharacteristic aggressiveness. I have no complaint about that but as I was watching the game I couldn't help but wonder if maybe he was doing that in order to impress his peeps in Tampa.
If you're talking about the steals, I suppose it was more than we'd seen, but Francisco Mejia has had a tough time throwing out runners this year and the situations arose perfectly to run wild. Otherwise, I'm not really sure what was done differently in this game than in the past other than that the Royals actually got the big hit a few times.
Certainly the steals were a major part of it but that's not the whole story. He pulled Cuas considerably more quickly than he has at other times when Cuas has struggled similarly. I also thought he was a bit quick on the trigger in pulling Austin Cox from the game. That's much more aggressive managing than we usually see from him. I like it. In fact I like it a lot. I just don't understand why we haven't seen a whole lot more of it this season.
I'm not sure he pulled Cuas quicker than before. He faced seven batters, which is the most he's faced since May 26 and the fifth-most this year. He also threw 27 pitches, which is the most he's thrown since May 26 and the fifth-most this year. If anything, I was a little surprised Cuas came out for the second. And with Cox, I guess he was aggressive with him, but I don't think it was especially out of the ordinary given the way Cox had been used in the big leagues to this point.
I should have mentioned: I recognize there's a fine line between managing aggressively and doing manager stuff just for the sake of doing manager stuff. Given the thousands of decisions that must be made over the course of a season it's inevitable that every aggressive manager will cross that line occasionally. But I'd rather see that than someone managing in overly passive and strictly conventional ways.
I agree with that, especially with a young (and bad) team. But I also think there are plenty of instances of aggressive managing as well. The fact is that no matter what a manager does, people will like it if he's right and hate it if he's wrong. The process is more important than the results for the long-term, but in the moment, the results are all that matter.
Great to get two newsletters in 3 days from you. I don't know if it is just me, but it seems to me that Q. sticks with pitchers too long sometimes. On Lyles staying with Lyles in the 7th cost them the game. Last night after Taylor gave up 3 hits to the first 3 batters, I he should have went to someone else. There are many other instances throughout the year when he could have had a quicker hook. Finally glad they let Cox get go more than 2 innings. Thanks David.
Hey, I told you I'd get back to writing more again! It helps that there's been something interesting to write about this week, but I was going to do it anyway!
I think Q is figuring out when to pull and when not to and he's certainly made some mistakes. The issue with last night with Clarke is that Clarke has been generally trustworthy so you're probably not warming someone up behind him even at the first remote sign of trouble. So he gives up the home run and then it's 5-3 just 10 pitches later. Even if Wittgren started throwing right when he gave up the home run, I'm not sure he'd have been ready to come in before Arozarena anyway.
Thanks David, some random thoughts today that actually have nothing to do with the game. However, shocker…a Rays pitcher got hurt. I actually need him to be ok for fantasy purposes though…lol.
Talent. Yes, there is talent on this team. They should be better than the record says right now. I actually think they have more talent than Detroit, Colorado, Washington…and then they lose all those series and I question everything I ever thought I knew about baseball. So IDK, I know they have talent….the system is going to produce “some” guys. Maybe not the dudes that are needed. But I’m in the mode of maybe I’m the one that is wrong on the thinking with these guys. I’m at a loss for it anymore.
Garcia. I’m not convinced yet this team isn’t better with Garcia at SS. I think I’m probably the minority on this but Garcia is slowly turning into one of the better trade chips. You can play with him at 3rd….the Rays do it all the time. So I’m fine if they do that. I think he has shown he can play. Here’s an outside the box suggestion. Has anyone thought of Bobby Witt Jr at second, with Garcia at SS? Bobby would immediately become the second best offensive 2nd baseman in the game behind Semien I think, Garcia can do his thing and you can live without the pop a little more. I like that idea a lot, but understand there are about 50 reasons against it that may not even be baseball related and just personal.
I feel like I’ve been reading your articles for years now David. I’m going to make my yearly pitch. I’m pretty sure I know what you are going to say. And you are probably right….BUT. Is it not time for the Royals to get a little crazy and actually get a top starter via trade? I feel like I bring this up every year, and every year EVERYONE says it’s not the spot they are in yet. My comeback is THEY ARE NEVER IN THAT SPOT. Lol, it’s a never ending cycle of sucking that maybe, just maybe, getting a number two with 2-3 years of control left helps you get out of. I don’t see the Royals winning 20 more games next year than this year without a big time upgrade in the starting rotation. Maybe it takes that move to get the Royals in the right direction. It’s time, it’s past time quite honestly. I know, I know, they aren’t there yet…..but maybe we need to be there regardless of the record. Who you ask? IDK, Alcantara has been down this year but has the track record. He signed a 5 year deal last year maybe? I’m not sure on that. But maybe you can get him. They match up really well with Miami anyway. Garcia, Melendez, and Barlow….maybe that doesn’t get it done. Bieber’ a numbers have been a bit down. I’m not sure of his contract situation….Alex Manoah? He’s someone I’d be going after. Sweeney and co can earn there paycheck with that one, but I know he has the talent and upside as he was an all star just last year. No guarantees….but tell me its time after three years now! LOL
I'm sure Witt could play second, but I wonder a little if maybe he actually can't. It seems like it should be an easy transition but going from the left side to the right side isn't easy. Now, in the era of shifts, maybe it's not as big of a deal because he used to play on that side of the bag a lot anyway. Still, I'm honestly fine with Garcia at third and Witt at short because Witt has improved enough for me to not especially care which order they're in. I think what you're more likely to see is Garcia at second if either of them move.
I think they should absolutely try to find a top of the rotation arm, but that's also easier said than done. And I don't care where they are in their rebuild, the only caveat is I don't want someone who only has one year of control left unless they can get an extension done before the trade is official. I wouldn't trade for Bieber because he's a free agent after next year, but Alcantara and Manoah are both very interesting. I think the Marlins ask for a Cy Young return in spite of Alcantara's season and I do wonder a bit if the Blue Jays would be willing to trade Manoah at his lowest value. And if you're the Royals, do you pay a 2022 price for a guy who is a mess right now? I don't know. Maybe? But they do match up exceptionally well with the Marlins. I love the idea. Not sure how likely it is, but I love the idea.
Yeah, I’m not sure how likely it is either. I think it’s sort of the same version of what other people have been saying. Basically, that its time for the Royals to get creative. IDK what that is, or what it looks like per se, but it’s time to do something in a manner you haven’t in the past. Maybe it’s Braxton Garrett with the Marlins. I could be convinced that he could become that guy at 25 now with improving numbers every year. IDK who it is….but hopefully they find a way to get creative.
I hope they do something on that front as well because I think they need to. I'd need to do a little research on this to know for sure, but I'd say that prices for controllable starting pitching at the deadline seem to be higher than in the offseason. Maybe that's because you're getting an extra two months and an in-season boost or maybe it's because teams at the deadline only have one way to acquire talent, but a trade for a starter like that may be better served in December than July.
Actually David, do you think it would help JJ to make a “statement” trade? This year has gone off the rails. I don’t think it would hurt him to do something that is so creative that people say “ok, I’m paying attention now, this will be different”. Again, saying and doing that are two separate issues and you are probably right that may be something easier done in the offseason. But I do kinda feel like a statement made from the front office would be helpful. You trade for a #2 starter……you will have my attention again and it’s a lot easier to believe this will be different. Right now…..it’s like Santa Clause when you’re 39. I want to believe…but it’s hard man.
To be honest, I don't really care if they make a statement. I care if they win. Making moves to appease a fan base might be good in the short term, but just do the right thing. If the trade is there, make it. If it's not, don't. And don't worry if it doesn't rally a fan base. I think there are ways to do both, absolutely, but I wouldn't do it just because it would make people happy.
Excellent post, fantastic game, that half-inning in the top of ninth w/ Garcia running wild, Witt/Perez whiffing (someone somewhere (maybe you??) has written about Witt having a harder time with fastballs than secondary pitches and that seemed dead on w/ his swinging third strike), and Melendez going all out to beat what turned out to be a bad toss (a scenario that nearly every previous time this season has featured Melendez playing the (metaphorical) role of bad tosser), was some of the most entertaining baseball I've seen in a long time. Totally agree re point about revealing strength of leadership, agree w/ your comments below re Q's game management, and continue to love watching Garcia.
Oh many people have mentioned Witt's fastball issues. He's been better with them lately, for whatever that's worth, so that's a positive.
But yeah, nice to see the shoe on the other foot for once!
If the Royals can just start hitting with the same OPS that they hit with the bases empty, they can play at a .400 winning pct. It's got to be a mental thing at this point. Their OPS with RISP is the worst in baseball... by a lot.
They're horrible situationally. I wrote about that a couple weeks ago (or maybe days or maybe months, who even knows anymore?). Some of it absolutely is mental. Some of it is approach. Some of it is dumb luck. But yeah, if they can just drive in some of the runners they get, they'll make their lives a lot easier.
I actually screamed at the TV and demanded MJ be DFAd when he flubbed that fly ball. He helped his cause with his balanced offensive game and that’s something I need to see more of. Witt has turned a corner in my eyes with his patience. Now it’s MJs turn to turn a corner.
I think the pitching staff has really started to show the benefit of Sweeney. Let’s just put Lyles in a corner for a second. Lynch has looked great for most of his time back. And he seems like a guy who’s willing to let data speak to him. Singer on the other hand seems like someone who does things his own way (this is completely anecdotal and apropos of nothing). But Bubic also seemed to buy in. And this speaks to their pedigree to me. UVA and Stanford are both excellent schools with a reputation for education whereas Florida is ..... Florida.