He's almost definitely only a depth piece. I think I'd rather have him on the roster than Beaty, though, so he might be that last man until Waters gets healthy.
I don't see the logic in signing JBJ. He appears to me as someone who in the end may end up taking bats away from the young guys. We surely have enough minor league outfielders to play in the spring games, without putting him in the picture. I can see them keeping him on the opening day roster. Just my take.
I don't know that he, in particular, was the right guy. But I also see the logic. Waters is hurt and likely out until the end of April. Diego Hernandez is hurt and out for months. Kyle Isbel is the only true center fielder on the 40-man roster and while the metrics are great with him, I've gotten the sense that they're a little worried about him not having elite speed. I see this as adding a true center fielder to the mix. He may not even make the Opening Day roster, but I think it's a true depth move. I question it being JBJ. I think maybe Albert Almora made more sense given the roster, but I understand why they brought someone in.
Do the royals overvalue having a great defensive center fielder? This isn’t regarding JBJ actually, I’ve just long thought the Royals overvalue this a bit. We’ve had Taylor and Benny roaming the outfield and getting gold gloves but that doesn’t keep them from losing 90-100 games each year. I just feel like the Royals put the cart before the horse with some of these things. I’m completely fine with Melendez, Isbel, and Reyes roaming the outfield. The defensive center fielder is fine….but they need pitchers who can throw strikes more than a great defensive center fielder this year anyway. The reality is they just have so many pieces to find yet that some of these things that are important….get made to be more important right now than they really are…..when in reality they are more important when you have a MLB average pitching staff and competent offense. Which they’ve been struggling to put together for a while. Hopefully this staff is the staff to do it!
I don't think they overvalue it. They have the second biggest outfield in baseball in terms of square footage in an era where more fly balls are hit than ever. Out of 12 playoff teams, three were bottom half in center field OAA. One of them was the Phillies who traded their best prospect to improve there. One of them was the Yankees who traded a solid starting pitcher to improve there. And the other was the Blue Jays, who decided they needed to sign one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball to shore up the spot. Center field defense is important and maybe even more in a stadium like the Royals play in and I think you could argue even more with a young staff who you're trying to coax into the strike zone more.
I'm not 100% sold on Isbel in CF. He is like Alex Gordon, tremendous jump, great instincts, etc but he really does lack elite speed. Put him at a corner OF spot and you get Gold glove level. In CF, in KC we will see.
Rather than taking at bats away from young guys, JBJ may do the opposite. If he makes the final squad he would be the extra outfielder/defensive replacement/pinch runner, etc...getting few at bats. I'd rather have him sitting on the bench than one of the young guys who could be playing every day at Omaha.
Also David, you reference Hernandez possibly getting another option, and I think I've heard the same for another player (slips my mind who). What is this additional option about? Somehow I've missed that story. Thanks!
I feel like the final bench spot was between a guy like Matt Beaty or Matt Duffy with Johan Camargo maybe in there too. Now I think you can add JBJ to that group. With an outfield featuring Melendez, Olivares and Reyes at times, I don’t think it hurts to have a guy who can go get it for late in games.
The extra option thing comes from players who were hurt. They often evaluate around now I think and decide if they can get a fourth option, which would allow the Royals to send him down. I’m not sure if another player who is likely to get it, but I know the Royals are confident Hernandez fits the criteria from the past to get that.
1) Is it still too soon to expect much, if anything, out of Angel Zerpa? Or is he just not good enough, period?
2) I understand why various Royals would want to participate in the WBC. But it seems as if every so often we hear about a player who sustains a catastrophic injury down there. Until all of the Royals return home safe and healthy, it worries the crap out of me.
I think Zerpa gets a strange amount of love. I like him, but it's easy to see a guy who has a 6.3% walk rate in 16 innings for an organization that has historically walked too many and fall in love. He's also generally just ben okay in the minors. He gave up 70 hits in 64 innings in AA last year. I think there's a big league future for him and he can certainly develop more, but his pedigree is that of a swingman, which certainly has value.
I think the injury risk is probably a bit elevated given the competition is greater than in spring training, but stepping on a field can lead to an injury at any time. I mean Salvy missed time carrying luggage, so it even goes beyond the field. I guess I understand worrying, but I don't think there's that much to worry about.
I found it easy to fall in love with Zerpa's whole "utterly fearless bulldog on the mound" vibe so I probably gave him more credit than he really deserved.
I just like going with a guy until he shows you that he can't succeed. He definitely isn't top of the rotation stuff, but he has a career 1.13 ERA. Yeah, granted that's about as meaningful as Garcia's .750 spring BA, but until he actually sucks.... it's also due to the direct comparison with Lynch, Kowar etc and all of the more highly thought of young pitchers who debuted as if they were completely unprepared and out of their league.
It's 16 innings. I don't think you can take literally anything from it. Find any 16-inning sample from anyone other than Kowar and you can find something impressive. He's struck out seven in those 16 innings. I like the mentality, I like his control, but he hasn't earned anything any more than any of the other young pitchers.
Let's just hope that JBJ isn't a Dayton Moore type blocker. Historically, the Royals have loved to plug in old guys who can no longer hit and play the hell out of them.
That was the question I immediately asked myself when I heard they had signed JBJ: "Who's he gonna block and for how long?" I sincerely hope I jumped the gun on that but we'll see.
The TV situation is absurd. In the last couple of years, I've lived both in and out of the KC area. Mlb.com's price is too high no doubt, but to add insult to injury, the geographical blackout area is ridiculous. If you live within 6 hours drive of KC, and have MLB, you won't see at least half of the games for your money. If you live outside the Midwest area, you can't get Bally, correct? As it is, I can now see almost all of the Royals games except when they play Tampa.... which is literally 8 hours drive away. Its stupid. Zero people say "oh the game is blacked out. Ima drive 8 hours to see it in person, while paying $150 per season". Pisses me off MLB. Fix it. I'm paying a premium price for a mediocre product already.
I actually disagree that the price is too high. I think $150 to be able to watch all those games is pretty fair. Plus this year you can watch minor league games too. The blackouts are the real problem and if those are taken care of with all of this, then it ends up a good thing long-term.
We moved out to the Nashville area from KC 3 years ago or so. I get the monthly MLB subscription and genuinely like it. Best part of it is come August if you are done with the Royals…you can just cancel if you do monthly. I don’t have issues with the blackout but understand it is a problem. I don’t have any inside knowledge…or sources…or anything like that…but get the impression that MLB is quite ok with Bally going bankrupt and this is a great opportunity for them to fix some of the blackout issues you guys are talking about. People are in a panic right now, which I understand, but I really think better things are going to come of this.
I agree with MLB.TV being a good deal. I happily pay it every year, even though I also have to have DirecTV Stream to watch the Royals. If they add the Royals games to the MLB package I might actually be able to ditch "cable".
One other recent wrinkle in this whole story is that the Scripps company started a Sports department awhile back, & they supposedly have their eye on getting some MLB if it becomes available. They own a bunch of TV stations around the country, so it's possible we might even see some games on good ol' over-the-air TV in the near future. And when's the last time you could say THAT?
They own Channels 38 and 41 in KC - didn't 41 carry some Royals games way back in the day? That would be really cool if they added a few to their schedule, maybe Sunday afternoon games when all they'd have to pre-empt would be gymnastics or track and field.
That’s a bit of a difficult question to answer because they’ll almost surely lose more than they win, but when they do win, my guess is it’ll be because they got power from the middle of the lineup, steals from their speed guys and threw strikes on the mound. When they lose, their big bats will likely be quiet and the staff will likely be walking hitters.
I see JBJ as purely a break-glass depth signing. He only gets on the roster if Isbel or Eaton go down with an injury.
He's almost definitely only a depth piece. I think I'd rather have him on the roster than Beaty, though, so he might be that last man until Waters gets healthy.
I don't see the logic in signing JBJ. He appears to me as someone who in the end may end up taking bats away from the young guys. We surely have enough minor league outfielders to play in the spring games, without putting him in the picture. I can see them keeping him on the opening day roster. Just my take.
I don't know that he, in particular, was the right guy. But I also see the logic. Waters is hurt and likely out until the end of April. Diego Hernandez is hurt and out for months. Kyle Isbel is the only true center fielder on the 40-man roster and while the metrics are great with him, I've gotten the sense that they're a little worried about him not having elite speed. I see this as adding a true center fielder to the mix. He may not even make the Opening Day roster, but I think it's a true depth move. I question it being JBJ. I think maybe Albert Almora made more sense given the roster, but I understand why they brought someone in.
Do the royals overvalue having a great defensive center fielder? This isn’t regarding JBJ actually, I’ve just long thought the Royals overvalue this a bit. We’ve had Taylor and Benny roaming the outfield and getting gold gloves but that doesn’t keep them from losing 90-100 games each year. I just feel like the Royals put the cart before the horse with some of these things. I’m completely fine with Melendez, Isbel, and Reyes roaming the outfield. The defensive center fielder is fine….but they need pitchers who can throw strikes more than a great defensive center fielder this year anyway. The reality is they just have so many pieces to find yet that some of these things that are important….get made to be more important right now than they really are…..when in reality they are more important when you have a MLB average pitching staff and competent offense. Which they’ve been struggling to put together for a while. Hopefully this staff is the staff to do it!
I don't think they overvalue it. They have the second biggest outfield in baseball in terms of square footage in an era where more fly balls are hit than ever. Out of 12 playoff teams, three were bottom half in center field OAA. One of them was the Phillies who traded their best prospect to improve there. One of them was the Yankees who traded a solid starting pitcher to improve there. And the other was the Blue Jays, who decided they needed to sign one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball to shore up the spot. Center field defense is important and maybe even more in a stadium like the Royals play in and I think you could argue even more with a young staff who you're trying to coax into the strike zone more.
I'm not 100% sold on Isbel in CF. He is like Alex Gordon, tremendous jump, great instincts, etc but he really does lack elite speed. Put him at a corner OF spot and you get Gold glove level. In CF, in KC we will see.
He was great there last year, but I think they're at least hedging a little in case he isn't as great this year.
Rather than taking at bats away from young guys, JBJ may do the opposite. If he makes the final squad he would be the extra outfielder/defensive replacement/pinch runner, etc...getting few at bats. I'd rather have him sitting on the bench than one of the young guys who could be playing every day at Omaha.
Also David, you reference Hernandez possibly getting another option, and I think I've heard the same for another player (slips my mind who). What is this additional option about? Somehow I've missed that story. Thanks!
I feel like the final bench spot was between a guy like Matt Beaty or Matt Duffy with Johan Camargo maybe in there too. Now I think you can add JBJ to that group. With an outfield featuring Melendez, Olivares and Reyes at times, I don’t think it hurts to have a guy who can go get it for late in games.
The extra option thing comes from players who were hurt. They often evaluate around now I think and decide if they can get a fourth option, which would allow the Royals to send him down. I’m not sure if another player who is likely to get it, but I know the Royals are confident Hernandez fits the criteria from the past to get that.
The other player is Lovelady.
Oh duh. I always forget he's out of options. Thank you.
Lesky, do you know why the Royals hate Lovelady? I know injuries here lately…but even before then I remember them refusing to call him up.
He and Cal had issues. I don’t think there are any issues anymore. He was a free agent and willingly came back.
Lol no problem
Two things....
1) Is it still too soon to expect much, if anything, out of Angel Zerpa? Or is he just not good enough, period?
2) I understand why various Royals would want to participate in the WBC. But it seems as if every so often we hear about a player who sustains a catastrophic injury down there. Until all of the Royals return home safe and healthy, it worries the crap out of me.
I think Zerpa gets a strange amount of love. I like him, but it's easy to see a guy who has a 6.3% walk rate in 16 innings for an organization that has historically walked too many and fall in love. He's also generally just ben okay in the minors. He gave up 70 hits in 64 innings in AA last year. I think there's a big league future for him and he can certainly develop more, but his pedigree is that of a swingman, which certainly has value.
I think the injury risk is probably a bit elevated given the competition is greater than in spring training, but stepping on a field can lead to an injury at any time. I mean Salvy missed time carrying luggage, so it even goes beyond the field. I guess I understand worrying, but I don't think there's that much to worry about.
I found it easy to fall in love with Zerpa's whole "utterly fearless bulldog on the mound" vibe so I probably gave him more credit than he really deserved.
He's been very interesting in a limited sample. The bigger sample has been fine, not great.
I just like going with a guy until he shows you that he can't succeed. He definitely isn't top of the rotation stuff, but he has a career 1.13 ERA. Yeah, granted that's about as meaningful as Garcia's .750 spring BA, but until he actually sucks.... it's also due to the direct comparison with Lynch, Kowar etc and all of the more highly thought of young pitchers who debuted as if they were completely unprepared and out of their league.
It's 16 innings. I don't think you can take literally anything from it. Find any 16-inning sample from anyone other than Kowar and you can find something impressive. He's struck out seven in those 16 innings. I like the mentality, I like his control, but he hasn't earned anything any more than any of the other young pitchers.
Let's just hope that JBJ isn't a Dayton Moore type blocker. Historically, the Royals have loved to plug in old guys who can no longer hit and play the hell out of them.
Dayton's gone, Matheny's gone. I understand you can't just flip a switch and assume they'll be better, but this is a very different regime now.
That was the question I immediately asked myself when I heard they had signed JBJ: "Who's he gonna block and for how long?" I sincerely hope I jumped the gun on that but we'll see.
The TV situation is absurd. In the last couple of years, I've lived both in and out of the KC area. Mlb.com's price is too high no doubt, but to add insult to injury, the geographical blackout area is ridiculous. If you live within 6 hours drive of KC, and have MLB, you won't see at least half of the games for your money. If you live outside the Midwest area, you can't get Bally, correct? As it is, I can now see almost all of the Royals games except when they play Tampa.... which is literally 8 hours drive away. Its stupid. Zero people say "oh the game is blacked out. Ima drive 8 hours to see it in person, while paying $150 per season". Pisses me off MLB. Fix it. I'm paying a premium price for a mediocre product already.
I actually disagree that the price is too high. I think $150 to be able to watch all those games is pretty fair. Plus this year you can watch minor league games too. The blackouts are the real problem and if those are taken care of with all of this, then it ends up a good thing long-term.
We moved out to the Nashville area from KC 3 years ago or so. I get the monthly MLB subscription and genuinely like it. Best part of it is come August if you are done with the Royals…you can just cancel if you do monthly. I don’t have issues with the blackout but understand it is a problem. I don’t have any inside knowledge…or sources…or anything like that…but get the impression that MLB is quite ok with Bally going bankrupt and this is a great opportunity for them to fix some of the blackout issues you guys are talking about. People are in a panic right now, which I understand, but I really think better things are going to come of this.
I agree with MLB.TV being a good deal. I happily pay it every year, even though I also have to have DirecTV Stream to watch the Royals. If they add the Royals games to the MLB package I might actually be able to ditch "cable".
One other recent wrinkle in this whole story is that the Scripps company started a Sports department awhile back, & they supposedly have their eye on getting some MLB if it becomes available. They own a bunch of TV stations around the country, so it's possible we might even see some games on good ol' over-the-air TV in the near future. And when's the last time you could say THAT?
They own Channels 38 and 41 in KC - didn't 41 carry some Royals games way back in the day? That would be really cool if they added a few to their schedule, maybe Sunday afternoon games when all they'd have to pre-empt would be gymnastics or track and field.
They need a $1 per win option.
So how do you see this team winning games?
That’s a bit of a difficult question to answer because they’ll almost surely lose more than they win, but when they do win, my guess is it’ll be because they got power from the middle of the lineup, steals from their speed guys and threw strikes on the mound. When they lose, their big bats will likely be quiet and the staff will likely be walking hitters.
Are Hud and Joel no longer part of the broadcast team?
No, they’re both still part of the team.