Do you know the background on the McMillon injury? I remember it being an elbow injury…but he didn’t get surgery. I guess, the question is are they just trying to have it heal on its own…knowing he is going to need TJ? Or it’s not bad enough now but he will. Just weird to me they would shut him down…and I totally get being cautious with him to start the year. But I would think if they knew it would need TJ they would have just done it already and get it over with. So curious if you know what the problem is or could be if not TJ related.
yeah, we’ll see. Kinda feels like a player knows he is on the cusp and doing everything he can to push it off. Hopefully not the case and they play this right. Time will tell.
So it’s still kinda weird to say. But they are still going to need Lyles. I was hoping for Lynch…and rooting for Lynch but if he looks like same I’m ready to move on to Marsh. But even Marsh, no way you can expect him to throw 25 starts this year. I think Lyles can be used better and put up some better results. But they are still going to need him to make starts I think. Maybe a blah Lynch is just as good who knows I guess.
If he's the pitcher he was last year, they don't need him. Innings are good, bad innings are kind of useless when you've got 20 pitchers you can move up and down.
This is why I despise the concept of the innings eater having value. If he's "eating innings" while giving up 6.6 runs/9 innings, he's not eating innings, he's a (virtually) guaranteed loss.
I agree. It makes me pretty nervous that he's still our #5, even though he's injured and has barely thrown this spring. I guess I was hoping for better depth. However, anything can happen in baseball, so I'll just keep my fingers crossed that he can find something.
I remember several times last year when it seemed they just wanted "one more inning" from Lyles...and it invariably ended in disaster. Having said that, I was hoping Lynch would step up as well...but he has been less than impressive. Marsh could be a good in a hybrid long relief/spot starter role.
I can still see a situation where they are down two starters in July and still in a spot of needing some innings from him. I’m not meaning it’s a great option, and hopefully there are better options. But you are still gonna need 8-10 starters through the year even without openers probably. I think someone takes a step in the minors….but when they talk about the Royals system…a lot of teams are counting on x, y, or z to come up and be able to help out during the year knowing they are major league talent. I think they have some of those in the bullpen that can come up and help. Not sure they have any starters that they feel confident are major league guys to come up and help right now.
They need bodies for sure. I just don't think it's accurate to say they're in a spot where they *need* him. But that goes back to me hating the second year for him when they signed the deal.
On another note. Do you get the feeling the Royals see Anthony Veniziano as a major league guy? He’s 26 now, and I know he’s always been part of the “discussion” around depth but never really been an option they seem to go to. Kinda feel like the decision has been made there….but he’s good organizational depth.
I think they see him as depth, but there's potential for more with him in their eyes. I'm not really sure why he didn't pitch for two weeks between outings though.
David, The old adage of never having enough pitching is for the Royals and every other team in baseball. Hopefully, some of the young pitchers like Sauer step up!
I was fortunate enough to be at the game yesterday and was wondering around the back fields. Did see Lyles throw what seemed to be a 2 inning simulated game. He looked ok against Nate Eaton and wasn’t sure on the other batter.
Maybe the best thing we can say about the bullpen is that there are a lot of options to find guys who can get outs. Of course, that also means there are a lot of chances to throw guys out there and find out that they stink.
I think there’s a considerably higher floor now, and they did a really nice job on that, but yeah, they still might need to cycle through some guys to figure out the formula.
Thanks for all the great insight. You’re easily my #1 source for the Royals and you’ve made me a lot smarter about baseball. Excited for the upcoming year and renewing my annual subscription is an automatic yes.
Hey David! Just a heads up, you've got the infielders chart from yesterday listed for the Bullpen. Thanks for your work!
Shoot, fixing now! Thank you!
Do you know the background on the McMillon injury? I remember it being an elbow injury…but he didn’t get surgery. I guess, the question is are they just trying to have it heal on its own…knowing he is going to need TJ? Or it’s not bad enough now but he will. Just weird to me they would shut him down…and I totally get being cautious with him to start the year. But I would think if they knew it would need TJ they would have just done it already and get it over with. So curious if you know what the problem is or could be if not TJ related.
It was an elbow injury, but they said he didn't need Tommy John, which actually does happen. We'll see how it goes over time.
yeah, we’ll see. Kinda feels like a player knows he is on the cusp and doing everything he can to push it off. Hopefully not the case and they play this right. Time will tell.
It's not like he didn't run through every test in the book. I don't think those could lie to them about it.
So it’s still kinda weird to say. But they are still going to need Lyles. I was hoping for Lynch…and rooting for Lynch but if he looks like same I’m ready to move on to Marsh. But even Marsh, no way you can expect him to throw 25 starts this year. I think Lyles can be used better and put up some better results. But they are still going to need him to make starts I think. Maybe a blah Lynch is just as good who knows I guess.
If he's the pitcher he was last year, they don't need him. Innings are good, bad innings are kind of useless when you've got 20 pitchers you can move up and down.
This is why I despise the concept of the innings eater having value. If he's "eating innings" while giving up 6.6 runs/9 innings, he's not eating innings, he's a (virtually) guaranteed loss.
He's kind of the reverse/human version of the old joke "the food was terrible...and such small portions!"
That's hilarious.
I agree. It makes me pretty nervous that he's still our #5, even though he's injured and has barely thrown this spring. I guess I was hoping for better depth. However, anything can happen in baseball, so I'll just keep my fingers crossed that he can find something.
I remember several times last year when it seemed they just wanted "one more inning" from Lyles...and it invariably ended in disaster. Having said that, I was hoping Lynch would step up as well...but he has been less than impressive. Marsh could be a good in a hybrid long relief/spot starter role.
Yeah, it often did, but he wasn't especially good early either, so it's not like it was that he was pitching too long. He was just bad all year.
I can still see a situation where they are down two starters in July and still in a spot of needing some innings from him. I’m not meaning it’s a great option, and hopefully there are better options. But you are still gonna need 8-10 starters through the year even without openers probably. I think someone takes a step in the minors….but when they talk about the Royals system…a lot of teams are counting on x, y, or z to come up and be able to help out during the year knowing they are major league talent. I think they have some of those in the bullpen that can come up and help. Not sure they have any starters that they feel confident are major league guys to come up and help right now.
They need bodies for sure. I just don't think it's accurate to say they're in a spot where they *need* him. But that goes back to me hating the second year for him when they signed the deal.
On another note. Do you get the feeling the Royals see Anthony Veniziano as a major league guy? He’s 26 now, and I know he’s always been part of the “discussion” around depth but never really been an option they seem to go to. Kinda feel like the decision has been made there….but he’s good organizational depth.
I think they see him as depth, but there's potential for more with him in their eyes. I'm not really sure why he didn't pitch for two weeks between outings though.
Interesting set of plyers in your bullpen box... You trickster, you.
Whoopsadoodle!
David, The old adage of never having enough pitching is for the Royals and every other team in baseball. Hopefully, some of the young pitchers like Sauer step up!
It's very true. The days of 10-12 guys making it through a season are long past us.
I was fortunate enough to be at the game yesterday and was wondering around the back fields. Did see Lyles throw what seemed to be a 2 inning simulated game. He looked ok against Nate Eaton and wasn’t sure on the other batter.
Good info to know!
Maybe the best thing we can say about the bullpen is that there are a lot of options to find guys who can get outs. Of course, that also means there are a lot of chances to throw guys out there and find out that they stink.
I think there’s a considerably higher floor now, and they did a really nice job on that, but yeah, they still might need to cycle through some guys to figure out the formula.
Thanks for all the great insight. You’re easily my #1 source for the Royals and you’ve made me a lot smarter about baseball. Excited for the upcoming year and renewing my annual subscription is an automatic yes.
Thanks so much for all of that, Drew!