Using these lists as a baseline could be interesting as we progress to the new season and beyond. Changes will probably still be the rule again this year. What I find most interesting as a thought experiment is the new coaching staff. What are they seeing in the prospects we have been following for up to 5 years ago in the system. Do they see the same potential as the outgoing staff, or will substantial changes take place as the organization moves on from some of them.
I agree. And I'll actually get into that a bit tomorrow with the pitching staff. It'll be very interesting to see how things change during spring training for sure, but also throughout the year.
The pitching side for sure, but I also wonder about the position players. Will the new manager have a defense first lean, will he want power over OBP, etc. Will there be changes in other areas of direction?
Absolutely. I think we've gotten some information on that in that Quatraro wants to utilize the whole roster, but we all know that baseball people say a lot of things. We'll see if that's how he actually manages.
This article is depressing. Nothing wrong with the writing or analysis, I hasten to add. I agree with basically everything. It's just the team isn't very good and does not have much potential upside. Witt, Pasquantino, Melendez, Isbel, Easton maybe improve. But Lopez, Salvy, Taylor, Dozier are who they are. And we all know Mondesi is a synonym for "chronically injured." So, if you squint hard, maybe .500 is possible for the Royals if a lot of things go right. But that is the limit.
I think it's a little unfair to say there isn't much upside in the position player group. You mentioned one-third of the for sure lineup and two more guys, but I don't think you can watch Massey and Waters also and think there's not upside there as well. That's more than half the lineup and Salvy can still hit. Lopez is a utility guy, Taylor's getting traded and Dozier's gone one way or another by midseason is my guess.
Well, I didn't want to go through the whole list. But I stand by my conclusion. (Side note: I actually think Taylor is a good player. Gets on base, great defender, great speed. Who else do the Royals have in the outfield that is likely to contribute significantly more? ) Overall, for a 65-win team to improve to .500 would be a big jump. For that to happen, almost everyone in the lineup would have to improve over last year, Salvy would have to hold off for another year on the sharp decline we all know is sadly coming, and no one could get significantly worse. It's possible, but unlikely.
I think Taylor is useful. I'm not sure I'd classify him as especially good, but he's appropriately priced at least. Still, I just don't agree that there isn't much upside with this position player group.
Reading through the list just pounds home what a hot mess this roster is. Too many guys that don't have a position that they've just seized, not so bad to totally write-off, too much duplication and yet not enough star power. Really need to make some trades and be more transactional, but so far that isn't happening under JJ despite the talk about doing so.
I guess. I feel like you've got Witt at short or third, Vinnie at first or DH and Melendez somewhere. This year is about figuring all of that stuff out. I feel like a broken record, but I weirdly don't think it's a big deal that they're not making huge moves. There's just too much they don't know.
If you (generic you) were looking at another team that had a consensus top-three prospect who had a league average rookie season was on the left side of the infield, a rookie who led the minors in home runs and showed legitimately elite plate discipline at the big leagues fit somewhere and another player was a top-30 hitter as a rookie, I think you'd be a lot more optimistic about that team than most are with this group because they're so close to this group.
Thanks for the insight dad! Before starting, I just want say that metrics are what they are, but the time for potential and demonstrated ability had arrived. Fans have dealt with potential for a bit, so show us something! MJ had some pop last year, but average not so much. Eaton had a couple of plays at 3rd where he cut off Bobby, which caused errors. He seemed like it was no big deal. Just something about him I don't like and I don't know why. Mondesi needs to show some durability and more than potential. If not, he is a liability. I've always been high on Oliveras. Speed and enthusiasm for the game. But i think a trade with Taylor and or Eaton/ Oliveras could get a third baseman. And if Pratto years up spring training, it will force JJ to make some moves he hasn't planned on. All in all, I am excited and wished spring training was starting tomorrow. Can't wait to see your thoughts on our pitchers!
You're absolutely right that this is a big year for a lot of guys. I think I wrote last year that we've become almost numb to how amazing it is when a young player comes to the big leagues and tears it up right away because it happens and is more visible than ever. I think it's happening more than ever because development programs are better than ever, but that doesn't mean that a rookie being just okay is the end of the world. That said, these guys have too much talent and we've seen guys like Hosmer and Moustakas have all the talent in the world and end up being solid to good rather than great. I agree that I want to see guys like Melendez break out. The tools are there.
As for Eaton, I was very surprised at how rough he played at third because he was much better in the minors there. Maybe it was the lack of time before being thrown there toward the end of the season. I'd be curious to see how he looks this spring because I do really like Eaton, though I think he could be an interesting piece to move as you'll see with the pitchers here in a couple of hours.
Using these lists as a baseline could be interesting as we progress to the new season and beyond. Changes will probably still be the rule again this year. What I find most interesting as a thought experiment is the new coaching staff. What are they seeing in the prospects we have been following for up to 5 years ago in the system. Do they see the same potential as the outgoing staff, or will substantial changes take place as the organization moves on from some of them.
I agree. And I'll actually get into that a bit tomorrow with the pitching staff. It'll be very interesting to see how things change during spring training for sure, but also throughout the year.
The pitching side for sure, but I also wonder about the position players. Will the new manager have a defense first lean, will he want power over OBP, etc. Will there be changes in other areas of direction?
Absolutely. I think we've gotten some information on that in that Quatraro wants to utilize the whole roster, but we all know that baseball people say a lot of things. We'll see if that's how he actually manages.
This article is depressing. Nothing wrong with the writing or analysis, I hasten to add. I agree with basically everything. It's just the team isn't very good and does not have much potential upside. Witt, Pasquantino, Melendez, Isbel, Easton maybe improve. But Lopez, Salvy, Taylor, Dozier are who they are. And we all know Mondesi is a synonym for "chronically injured." So, if you squint hard, maybe .500 is possible for the Royals if a lot of things go right. But that is the limit.
I think it's a little unfair to say there isn't much upside in the position player group. You mentioned one-third of the for sure lineup and two more guys, but I don't think you can watch Massey and Waters also and think there's not upside there as well. That's more than half the lineup and Salvy can still hit. Lopez is a utility guy, Taylor's getting traded and Dozier's gone one way or another by midseason is my guess.
Well, I didn't want to go through the whole list. But I stand by my conclusion. (Side note: I actually think Taylor is a good player. Gets on base, great defender, great speed. Who else do the Royals have in the outfield that is likely to contribute significantly more? ) Overall, for a 65-win team to improve to .500 would be a big jump. For that to happen, almost everyone in the lineup would have to improve over last year, Salvy would have to hold off for another year on the sharp decline we all know is sadly coming, and no one could get significantly worse. It's possible, but unlikely.
I think Taylor is useful. I'm not sure I'd classify him as especially good, but he's appropriately priced at least. Still, I just don't agree that there isn't much upside with this position player group.
Reading through the list just pounds home what a hot mess this roster is. Too many guys that don't have a position that they've just seized, not so bad to totally write-off, too much duplication and yet not enough star power. Really need to make some trades and be more transactional, but so far that isn't happening under JJ despite the talk about doing so.
I guess. I feel like you've got Witt at short or third, Vinnie at first or DH and Melendez somewhere. This year is about figuring all of that stuff out. I feel like a broken record, but I weirdly don't think it's a big deal that they're not making huge moves. There's just too much they don't know.
If you (generic you) were looking at another team that had a consensus top-three prospect who had a league average rookie season was on the left side of the infield, a rookie who led the minors in home runs and showed legitimately elite plate discipline at the big leagues fit somewhere and another player was a top-30 hitter as a rookie, I think you'd be a lot more optimistic about that team than most are with this group because they're so close to this group.
Thanks for the insight dad! Before starting, I just want say that metrics are what they are, but the time for potential and demonstrated ability had arrived. Fans have dealt with potential for a bit, so show us something! MJ had some pop last year, but average not so much. Eaton had a couple of plays at 3rd where he cut off Bobby, which caused errors. He seemed like it was no big deal. Just something about him I don't like and I don't know why. Mondesi needs to show some durability and more than potential. If not, he is a liability. I've always been high on Oliveras. Speed and enthusiasm for the game. But i think a trade with Taylor and or Eaton/ Oliveras could get a third baseman. And if Pratto years up spring training, it will force JJ to make some moves he hasn't planned on. All in all, I am excited and wished spring training was starting tomorrow. Can't wait to see your thoughts on our pitchers!
You're absolutely right that this is a big year for a lot of guys. I think I wrote last year that we've become almost numb to how amazing it is when a young player comes to the big leagues and tears it up right away because it happens and is more visible than ever. I think it's happening more than ever because development programs are better than ever, but that doesn't mean that a rookie being just okay is the end of the world. That said, these guys have too much talent and we've seen guys like Hosmer and Moustakas have all the talent in the world and end up being solid to good rather than great. I agree that I want to see guys like Melendez break out. The tools are there.
As for Eaton, I was very surprised at how rough he played at third because he was much better in the minors there. Maybe it was the lack of time before being thrown there toward the end of the season. I'd be curious to see how he looks this spring because I do really like Eaton, though I think he could be an interesting piece to move as you'll see with the pitchers here in a couple of hours.
What about Edwin Rios for 3rd base, I didn’t see Prato on the Spring training invite
That’s because he’s on the 40-man roster.
I guess they could go after Rios and it’d be fine, but I don’t think he’s anything special.