64 Comments

Really fun watching all the aggressive base running now. And with less of the "little league" base running mistakes.

Sad that the bullpen got the credit for the win.

Amazing that Angel Hernandez is still umpiring even when the league knows how bad he is. Wish MLB had something like the KBO does where umpires could get sent down to the minors.

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Yeah, it's a shame Wittgren gets the win there, but I am happy the Royals got the win. That could've been one of the worst losses of the year and when you've lost 81 by mid-August, there are a lot of choices.

As for Angel Hernandez, well, yeah, he gotta go.

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I'm really glad Singer is leaning toward consistency. Again. Until he's not. Again. Or maybe THIS time is different! I honestly don't know how to feel about him. Part of me wants him to finish out the season like an absolute stud and then they trade him away for two or three great prospects and he's someone else's problem. Then, of course, he will remain a stud forever and win a Cy Young and those prospects will fizzle or become other utility players on a team that collects them like pogs. Or they'll keep him and we'll keep playing the Which Singer Is It THIS Game? game for a couple more years. Or maybe they make the right choice this time and we get lucky and either he or the players they trade for are solid pieces of a decent team. He's so frustrating I don't even know which way I want to lean.

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Yeah, I don't think there's a wrong answer with Singer, which is pretty nice actually. Sign him long-term, sure. Trade him, sure. Go year-to-year and run out the clock, sure. The one thing that I don't think the Royals can care about is if he succeeds more elsewhere. I think they're past that, but I don't know for sure. With him and Ragans right now, it's nice at least that they have at least two starters who *can* go out and give a performance like last night.

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David, I don’t want to…but i have to grumble just a little bit about Hernandez. If you kept him, he has to be better…otherwise you are once again missing the high point on a reliever. BUT, at least they have a number of years to get back to being the talked about commodity he was before the deadline. But they need him to get there. We’ll see.

They are starting to look like they have some things figured out. Maybe that’s just another bat or two with MJ and Massey hitting much better. But I do agree, this is a better team with Blanco on the roster over Olivares. This is a better team with Garcia at third over Dozer/Beaty/can’t remember the other guys name. The defense is much better and that’s all I was asking for earlier in the year when they were booting it all over the place. This does feel like a roster that Q would have…over what he was given to start the year. Is Blanco going to be on a winning team here…..uh IDK, probably not, but he makes this team better. So that’s something I guess.

Singer, nice. I’m still on team trade him as two good is better than one. Of course, you have to get a couple good players back. But they have options. Always good.

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I know they need to get it right, but they also can't see into the future. He'd given up four runs on eight hits in 20.2 innings in his 19 outings prior to the deadline. Sure, sell high, but there isn't a need to trade just to trade. Had their crystal ball been working, they'd have traded him before this, but it wasn't, so he's in a bit of a pitching slump. One that I might add would not look nearly as bad if Vic Carapazza was paying attention and made the correct call on that check swing. Hernandez still deserves blame, but I just can't sit here and rag on them because he's had three bad outings.

I generally agree on the offense, but one thing I'd push back on is that I think Blanco is exactly the type of player a winning team has and if they can start to piece some things together, there's no reason he couldn't be on this club in 2025 as an excellent fourth or fifth outfielder. One of the biggest things that helps teams get better is cutting the fat from the bottom of the roster. Blanco is a big league weapon at the bottom of a roster.

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Sure, agree on both. I’m not trying to be negative today really. Lol. I just know there will be another Hernandez next year and the year after that. That’s all. It’s fine the bullpen is crap the rest of the offseason. I really believe you can rebuild a pen in one offseason. Hernandez wouldn’t bother me if they didn’t have a history of not trading relievers at the right time. It’s just a sore spot is all. I don’t really care whose fault it is, learn from it fellas.

Blanco is a great piece on a winning team. Wholeheartedly agree, I’m just not sure the Royals are by 25. I expect them to be competitive by then honestly, but at 32….when does the speed start to diminish. That’s all. If I were putting odds on him being on a winning team here I’d be at 50/50 so IDK. But yeah, he’s the perfect 4th outfielder in my eyes.

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Let’s put it this way. I don’t really care the age or “potential”. Blanco always made more sense to me as a 4th outfielder than Olivares. It may just be me not being very high on Olivares. And yes, he’s probably a 4th outfielder in his own right. I don’t value defense near as much as the royals. But I value it a little bit. Lol.

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I think it's all very team dependent. Olivares may fit perfectly as a fourth outfielder on a team like the Yankees. They have guys who need to rotate. His bat can be supported by others. On this team, until recently, he was too good of a hitter to be a fourth outfielder because he was both hitting better and they didn't have enough. I just think it's all about the situation.

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That’s fair. When you aren’t hitting you feel the need to get his bat in the lineup. Totally get that. Ultimately, I think we all realize they have too many 4th/5th outfielders. Wouldn’t be near the conversation if they had a solid hitting outfield. Hopefully, it is improving. We shall see.

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I at least appreciate they're trying things out there. I still think they need to get Gentry up, but I honestly don't know how they do it right now. Which is a good problem to have.

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I like Blanco! He hustles every time he is in the game and his speed is outstanding! Frankly, I think he is better than Isbel!

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It's funny, I was doing the no-hit headline as well. Oh well. Extremely disappointed the bullpen could not hold a lead for a Singer win. Dang, they are just truly awful. Someone needs to sit their butts down and show them how a reliever is supposed to pitch. Anyway, loved the comeback. Always enjoy your comments.

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What’s kind of interesting to me is. I can squint and see it on the offense. Even if MJ never comes around, I can be sold a little bit on it. Or at least think, I see enough for that to make sense.

What I’m really having a hard time with is the starting pitching. I just, I don’t know how you can sell that. Singer, I’d say good big leaguer. But he’s also maybe the only player on the roster that you can get a lot back for in a trade. You get three prospects back, and two are really good. I think the Royals need to do that. But then you have a rotation of Ragans, Greinke, Lyles, Lyles, Bubic….Greinke (as anti Royals as it is, I’d rather he retire), Lyles…not thanks, Bubic…of injury…eh have to see it first, Lynch….of injury…have to see it first. Marsh…like the stuff results never seem to be there. IDK man, that one is the BIG Question on if this team progresses.

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The rotation is a huge question. If they think they can take a step forward, you go sign Jordan Montgomery and another starter. Maybe you splash in the semi-deep end or maybe you piece it together and try some reclamation projects like Luis Severino or Carlos Carrasco (Sweeney connection, fwiw). It's tough to see how it ends up working right now for sure. I really think they need to get Anthony Veneziano up. I don't think he's an answer long-term, but why not find out a little more?

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I think Jordan Montgomery makes a lot of sense. I’d be fine with that.

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Agree with you two on a Jordan Montgomery type. But will the Royals give him something like 3/75 to get him here? Because it will take a substantial overpay to get a number 2 starter to sign.

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I know what the numbers are, but I can tell you the industry doesn't see him as a number 2 starter so while they'd probably need an extra year and/or an extra couple million, it wouldn't take 3/75.

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I don’t think Jordan Montgomery is a #2. He’s a solid middle of the rotation arm. That’s fine. It is needed. He would only be a “#2” on this team I think. If you dream of a Singer, Montgomery, Ragans, Lyles rotation…..is it good? No, not really. But you start getting a little deeper and it is certainly better than what they have now.

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I actually don’t care about the money. The money game is all a hack anyway. They have the money to pay people. I don’t believe for a second they don’t. I’m more concerned about getting in actually good people. Not Lyles, the money never really bothered me. What bothered me is he isn’t good.

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No Carrasco...please.

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I’m jumping the gun a little here but the BWJ extension talk has me intrigued. Was talking to some friends in a Royals group chat we have and the other day I threw out 11 for $245M, curious if the number you come up with is around that. I do agree on the no in-between for the amount of years. If Sherman and JJ want to improve fan sentiment towards the team in general or for stadium building reasons I think you lean towards the 8 years of FA. Wander got $16 mil a year with more low cost seasons left to play out so I figured I’d put Bobby in the low 20’s. Looking forward to that article!

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Just some back-of-the-napkin math for me is $1 million for next year, $6 million, $12 million, $18 million for the arbitration years. I haven't done any research there, but let's just go with that for a minute. That's $37 million for four years. Let's call it $40 million for round numbers. What does seven more years cost? If it's $30 million per, that's $250 for 11 years, but I question a bit if that's enough. I think what you probably end up at is the shorter deal at something like six years and $110 million and then some options that can get it to 12/300 maybe? Again, no research here, so just sort of thinking out loud.

I think if you do the 12 years right now, you probably end up a little lighter, but I think it gets more player friendly with the option.

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Here’s an interesting food for thought for you guys. Does it matter the number? Meaning, I don’t think there is too high of a number. If Sherman really wants this downtown stadium, and the public money, knowing he will recoup his $2 billion investment in x year. And you know they know that information. Then what’s another 12/300 million for BWJ to show support for the team? Its peanuts. They figure they can make x amount from the baseball district, if it takes locking up BWJ to get the fan support then you do it no matter the cost. This is the part that I’m starting to question Sherman on. He doesn’t seem to be reading the room very well. Which is surprising to me.

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But let’s not compare BWJ to Franco in any form or fashion. In fact, first make sure they aren’t in the same friends circle.

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Does it really matter? No, of course not. It would be an amazing pitch of "we don't care what the contract costs in the future because that's how much money we believe we can pump into the payroll with our new ballpark village."

If they believe locking Witt up is a good baseball decision, they should get it done no matter what it takes.

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Yep, it’s just right there. That’s what has me intrigued by it. It’s a win/win. It makes the baseball team better, locks up payroll certainty, good PR move, and owner is happy. Just do it boys!!!

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Part of the issue when people have problems with the owner is there just isn't much that's going to happen this time of year short of, oh I don't know, firing the long-term president of baseball operations that will make people change their opinion. I've held fast that I'm willing to see how they handle this offseason. The fact that they've been willing to include money (both actually in some deals and reportedly in some deals that didn't get done) is big to me. I don't have too much worry about him as an owner even though I feel like I'm in the growing minority there.

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I just don’t think he has a good feel for the room. I’m a billion feet away. I don’t know, I don’t care that much. You get goodwill for firing the long time president of baseball operations and you squander it by hiring his second in command. JJ fault, not his fault, doesn’t matter. Your 100 loss team when you had all the cover you needed for it to happen and blame it on previous regime. You said you woundn’t have done it that way. I’m not really trying to get back into that. The stadium deal with announcements about nothing. No new news, but trying to keep relevant with it. IDK, certainly feels like he’s hurt his standing a little bit. A little in my book as well but I couldn’t tell you exactly why. Lol. Who knows.

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Add two or three opt outs....this guy is gonna get top dollar or be gone. How many opt outs did Julio R get?

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Just looked at his contract...it gave me a headache.... but if he's really good....its top dollar. Witt's will be similar... up to 500 million?

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Wander who?

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I agree with your last sentiment that this team is more in line with what Q has in mind. The overall roster just fits better than it did at the beginning of the year. Roles are defined. We are mostly healthy (sorry Vinnie P). Players seem to be more relaxed. I’ve said on here and on the Kaufman Korner chat, I truly believe Maikel and Witt can be a championship left side of the INF. If Massey is legit and Vinnie is ok, ok we’re good. I also am on the side of let Isbel hit 9th and pick it in CF. So really that leaves the corner OF in my mind. Both Waters and MJ have shown flashes. But to me Waters is the superior defender, I say keep him and move MJ citing the stats you have championed since the break and get something for him. Replace LF with a FA or some combo of the flotsam we have in the organization. Another underrated thing that has gone by the wayside. I liked the pickups of FA bench pieces that JJ got, I’m going to include Jackie Bradley and Franmil because I think they were worth the gamble, especially Bradley in CF while Waters was out, but Beaty and Duffy have both been solid professionals on their roles.

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I've generally been fine with all the moves but the second year on Lyles and the Lopez trade, though I've even softened on that since it happened. Ultimately, it doesn't really matter who they pick as long as they pick and make some decisions based on that. They have multiple outfielders who could be part of the future, but they all need playing time. So figure out who you want to roll with and make some calls to see about upgrading the areas that need upgrading with the guys you're willing to trade.

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Agreed. Also like the Bubba Thompson pickup. It’s almost like he’s part of the Aroldis trade and that makes it even better. That being said, I see him in the Dyson role and Blanco has been doing so well in that role the past month.

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I think it's great to be picking up former top prospects. If it doesn't work, oh well. And you never know, maybe it clicks in a new place.

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The kid ran 120 yards around the bases in about 13.9 seconds if he had run all out from the plate! I do not know if anybody in MLB can match that speed right now???

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Based on sprint speed, Elly De La Cruz is the only one faster so maybe him I guess. Blanco and Bubba Thompson are tied with BWJ in sprint speed as well, so the Royals have three of the four fastest in baseball.

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I wondered why the Mariners didn’t put Salvy on in the 9th, but I suppose they thought he was an easy strikeout and they were playing for the win, not the tie and extras.

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Yeah, it made no sense to me either.

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I know it's a really, REALLY small sample size, but since Scott Barlow was traded, Carlos Hernandez has been positively dreadful:

4.2 IP

7 H

7 ER (13.50 ERA)

5 BB (2.571 WHIP)

7 K

I hope that it's just a bad stretch and not a harbinger...we need Carlos to be dominant. Well, we don't in 2023, but we do in 2024.

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How do you feel if it's:

5 IP

6 H

3 ER

4 BB

8 K

A little better, right?

I'm not saying that everything can be blamed on umpires, but he had an inning ending strikeout turned into a walk and then gave up a grand slam on the next pitch in Boston because of a bad call.

Not that I'm saying he's pitched well because he got himself in that situation that there were even two on, but that's how small the sample is. One flap of a butterfly's wings can change the perception quite a bit. The stuff still looks fine to me. His command is a bit of a mess right now, but that's fixable.

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Yeah, I could live with that as a subpar week. I'm not going to say I'm concerned, and I think it's just a fluke, but it was just ill-timed with the departure of SB.

Is there any way to assign ERA to home-plate umpires? If so, Carapazza's was 54 for that outing!

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I wish there was a way to do that. They deserve a lot.

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Can you tell me why Beatty and Duffy are still on the roster.... I know the arguments for the rest of them...but these guys I have not heard it yet given where this team is at....

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I don’t have a huge issue with backups not being prospects. I’d rather actual potential future pieces play and there are only so many ABs. I don’t like Beaty playing this much though.

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Just wondering why these guys are blocking player development of others with a possible future.

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Who would you want to bring up to play twice a week?

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Any one to get their feet wet....Loften for sure.

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Mind you they will need to make room for pratto soon...

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Loftin needs to play. I’d love to see him up but having him sit on the bench is a bad idea.

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This is going to shock you David. McClanahan needs tommy john surgery.

Civale is next!!!!

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My reaction when I saw that news yesterday:

https://media.giphy.com/media/uy0Kiq0uqlR87dyeQh/giphy.gif

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