My worst fear is coming true here…..They are going to go on a decent run here…Not trade anyone other than Benny because they will convince themselves they are closer than they are and no significant changes happen this offseason. I’m so scared of that. Lol
I know you think the royals are pretty close actually. I agree the offense is close. It’s not all going to go perfect next year so I’m sure we’ll see a couple struggle we didn’t see coming. But the pitching….that’s the part that makes me hesitant on being that close. But a team that scores is a whole lot more fun to watch so they got that going for them.
Can I ask why the heck the Royals are rushing Salvy? I mean…..why? What exactly is the point here other than if he gets hurt again they have the offseason to heal. I just don’t get it. I’d rather Melendez play everyday behind the plate.
I don't know that I think the Royals are close, but I think they're fine offensively and will likely get better next year. I think that they have at least one legitimate member of a starting five and if they don't trade Keller, I think they have two. I wouldn't say that's close, but you can see where the gaps could potentially fill in. Still, I don't really see a whole lot to gain from being worried about them winning games. They play a very difficult schedule after this Angels series. This is their next 25 games:
4 @NYY
3 @CWS
4 vs. BOS
4 vs. CWS
3 vs. LAD
3 @ MIN
4 @TB
1 vs. CWS
They beat a decimated Rays team and looked like, by far, the better team against an Angels team that is now 13-39 since their 27-17 start. If they can handle the 25 after this series well enough to change their thoughts, then maybe they have actually turned a corner.
As for Salvy, no clue. I suppose if he's totally cleared medically they're going to do it, but my thought is if he feels better today, wait until tomorrow.
Tell you what. After the lineup TB threw out there for that series. They ARE NOT making the playoffs. I know it is mainly injuries and they can still pitch. But that lineup was not good at all. They stayed in all three games…but still.
Last night was my first in-person game of the year (having a toddler and a job that runs on LA time makes getting to games tough), and I agree, it was a lot of fun. Really enjoyed seeing Greinke doing Greinke things.
Ohtani's double shouldn't have been a double, right? From my vantage point, it looked like Dozier dogged it getting to the ball and Shohei recognized it and took advantage. Between that and Whit's error, the vets are really outstaying their welcome.
I just watched the play. I don't think Dozier dogged it at all. He's faster than people think, but he takes awhile to get to full speed and isn't a good outfielder at all. I think Ohtani thought double out of the box and when Dozier had to get to the ball AND turn to throw, he knew he could get a double.
Fair, I haven't watched it since seeing the play live. Either way, it seems like there's not really a place for him on the team with Pratto and Vinnie up, because he can't play outfield and the kids should have 1B and DH locked up. When Salvy is back, it gets even harder to get everyone at bats - hopefully their solution isn't to send Vinnie back down.
Dozier's a bit of an enigma. He can benefit your team no matter where it is developmentally. If you're totally stacked and ready to title, he's there to back up, literally, 7 different positions on the field and he can hit (obviously, you prefer a different guy for shortstop and/or CF). If you're weak (we are all familiar with that) he is a good regular to fill a wanting hole. He probably has good trade value, and the Royals can afford to let him go for a decent get.
I'd be pretty surprised if they send Vinnie down. I think the first domino to fall is Ryan O'Hearn, though I don't know why I wouldn't expect to see him on the 2029 Royals at this point.
I have really been impressed with Pratto. We had heard his defense was good, but it's a bunch better than good. The way he can stretch to receive throws is amazing.
Yeah, that's the thing for me that I've noticed. He probably cuts off a good foot and a half on some throws from what previous first basemen have done. That pays off big in the long run.
Even my mom commented, "The Angels look just like the Royals did earlier this year." What's significant about that is that she's 95 years old and has trouble remembering their names these days. (Zack has always been "the cute one" to her.) Even she could see it.
On defense the Angels keep finding new and creative ways to give up free bases and free runs. On offense they keep finding new and creative ways to waste baserunners and give away free outs. That's pretty much the Royals when they're at their worst, like in April and May.
Based on Pratto's minor-league K numbers, I absolutely did not see this coming! His pitch selection and plate discipline look, so far at least, to be every bit as good as Vinnie's. I certainly didn't expect an OB% near .390 from him.
I hope he isn't just experiencing one of those periods where a batter happens to be seeing the ball unusually well. That concern will be in the back of my mind for a while longer, but I'm really hoping that what we've seen so far turns out to be "the real Pratto."
Pratto has always had incredible plate discipline. I wrote about it a few times and I know Royals Farm Report did that his issue with strikeouts wasn't from swing and miss. It was from being unwilling to swing the bat early in counts on pitches he couldn't do damage on. Sometimes that would work to his detriment. I've long believed that better umpires (yes, these are still better than in the minors) would help him quite a bit, but he's been even better than expected early on.
Having read your reply, I couldn't help but notice that Pratto took the first pitch thrown to him Tuesday night, an eminently hittable 90mph middle-middle fastball. Two pitches later he had struck out, and that first pitch was the only hittable one he saw.
I guess it really is possible for a hitter to be too patient, although given his overall performance that's probably overly nitpicky of me.
Gawd I loved the way Zerpa went after Ohtani leading off the first inning Tuesday night. Three pitches, three strikes.... Have a seat, big fella!
I know it's only one AB and means nothing. But that word "fearless" keeps running through my mind every time I see him pitch. Will he still be that way after somebody inevitably lights him up? No way to know for sure but my hunch is "Yes he will."
I may be wrong but I don't think we're ever going to see that guy nibble. He'll lose the strike zone every now and then, as every pitcher does, but it won't be because he's afraid to throw it over the plate. He's the anti-Hochevar. (Until Luke went to the bullpen.)
Ohtani got his 415-foot payback his next time up, though. (Rumor has it that guy might be fairly good.) That's okay. It might not make much sense but I'd rather see that than an endless parade of walks. And I was pleased to see Zerpa stayed just as aggressive right after that.
My worst fear is coming true here…..They are going to go on a decent run here…Not trade anyone other than Benny because they will convince themselves they are closer than they are and no significant changes happen this offseason. I’m so scared of that. Lol
I know you think the royals are pretty close actually. I agree the offense is close. It’s not all going to go perfect next year so I’m sure we’ll see a couple struggle we didn’t see coming. But the pitching….that’s the part that makes me hesitant on being that close. But a team that scores is a whole lot more fun to watch so they got that going for them.
Can I ask why the heck the Royals are rushing Salvy? I mean…..why? What exactly is the point here other than if he gets hurt again they have the offseason to heal. I just don’t get it. I’d rather Melendez play everyday behind the plate.
I don't know that I think the Royals are close, but I think they're fine offensively and will likely get better next year. I think that they have at least one legitimate member of a starting five and if they don't trade Keller, I think they have two. I wouldn't say that's close, but you can see where the gaps could potentially fill in. Still, I don't really see a whole lot to gain from being worried about them winning games. They play a very difficult schedule after this Angels series. This is their next 25 games:
4 @NYY
3 @CWS
4 vs. BOS
4 vs. CWS
3 vs. LAD
3 @ MIN
4 @TB
1 vs. CWS
They beat a decimated Rays team and looked like, by far, the better team against an Angels team that is now 13-39 since their 27-17 start. If they can handle the 25 after this series well enough to change their thoughts, then maybe they have actually turned a corner.
As for Salvy, no clue. I suppose if he's totally cleared medically they're going to do it, but my thought is if he feels better today, wait until tomorrow.
Tell you what. After the lineup TB threw out there for that series. They ARE NOT making the playoffs. I know it is mainly injuries and they can still pitch. But that lineup was not good at all. They stayed in all three games…but still.
Also really hoping Ian Happ doesn’t eat into Benny’s trade value too much. Seeing a few reports that the Cubs are going to move him.
I'm not about to count out the Rays. They'll probably figure out a way to get Soto and Josh Bell or something. But yeah, they looked rough.
As for Happ, it does impact the market some, but there are just so many teams on Benny that it won't ultimately make much of a difference.
Last night was my first in-person game of the year (having a toddler and a job that runs on LA time makes getting to games tough), and I agree, it was a lot of fun. Really enjoyed seeing Greinke doing Greinke things.
Ohtani's double shouldn't have been a double, right? From my vantage point, it looked like Dozier dogged it getting to the ball and Shohei recognized it and took advantage. Between that and Whit's error, the vets are really outstaying their welcome.
I just watched the play. I don't think Dozier dogged it at all. He's faster than people think, but he takes awhile to get to full speed and isn't a good outfielder at all. I think Ohtani thought double out of the box and when Dozier had to get to the ball AND turn to throw, he knew he could get a double.
Fair, I haven't watched it since seeing the play live. Either way, it seems like there's not really a place for him on the team with Pratto and Vinnie up, because he can't play outfield and the kids should have 1B and DH locked up. When Salvy is back, it gets even harder to get everyone at bats - hopefully their solution isn't to send Vinnie back down.
Dozier's a bit of an enigma. He can benefit your team no matter where it is developmentally. If you're totally stacked and ready to title, he's there to back up, literally, 7 different positions on the field and he can hit (obviously, you prefer a different guy for shortstop and/or CF). If you're weak (we are all familiar with that) he is a good regular to fill a wanting hole. He probably has good trade value, and the Royals can afford to let him go for a decent get.
I'd be pretty surprised if they send Vinnie down. I think the first domino to fall is Ryan O'Hearn, though I don't know why I wouldn't expect to see him on the 2029 Royals at this point.
I have really been impressed with Pratto. We had heard his defense was good, but it's a bunch better than good. The way he can stretch to receive throws is amazing.
Yeah, that's the thing for me that I've noticed. He probably cuts off a good foot and a half on some throws from what previous first basemen have done. That pays off big in the long run.
The front office must reach deep down inside and find some transactional. A lot. Right about now.
David, I think the grammatically correct way to put that is to say that the Royals are "less more worser" than the Angels.
There's an outside chance I could be wrong.
Even my mom commented, "The Angels look just like the Royals did earlier this year." What's significant about that is that she's 95 years old and has trouble remembering their names these days. (Zack has always been "the cute one" to her.) Even she could see it.
On defense the Angels keep finding new and creative ways to give up free bases and free runs. On offense they keep finding new and creative ways to waste baserunners and give away free outs. That's pretty much the Royals when they're at their worst, like in April and May.
(Zack has always been "the cute one" to her.)
That's because he's in her age group. (Sorry Zack, had to be said)
😸 ZAP! Good one!
Shoulda seen that coming.....
Based on Pratto's minor-league K numbers, I absolutely did not see this coming! His pitch selection and plate discipline look, so far at least, to be every bit as good as Vinnie's. I certainly didn't expect an OB% near .390 from him.
I hope he isn't just experiencing one of those periods where a batter happens to be seeing the ball unusually well. That concern will be in the back of my mind for a while longer, but I'm really hoping that what we've seen so far turns out to be "the real Pratto."
Pratto has always had incredible plate discipline. I wrote about it a few times and I know Royals Farm Report did that his issue with strikeouts wasn't from swing and miss. It was from being unwilling to swing the bat early in counts on pitches he couldn't do damage on. Sometimes that would work to his detriment. I've long believed that better umpires (yes, these are still better than in the minors) would help him quite a bit, but he's been even better than expected early on.
Having read your reply, I couldn't help but notice that Pratto took the first pitch thrown to him Tuesday night, an eminently hittable 90mph middle-middle fastball. Two pitches later he had struck out, and that first pitch was the only hittable one he saw.
I guess it really is possible for a hitter to be too patient, although given his overall performance that's probably overly nitpicky of me.
Wow, that's interesting! It's certainly not what I inferred from viewing his K numbers out of context.
Gawd I loved the way Zerpa went after Ohtani leading off the first inning Tuesday night. Three pitches, three strikes.... Have a seat, big fella!
I know it's only one AB and means nothing. But that word "fearless" keeps running through my mind every time I see him pitch. Will he still be that way after somebody inevitably lights him up? No way to know for sure but my hunch is "Yes he will."
I may be wrong but I don't think we're ever going to see that guy nibble. He'll lose the strike zone every now and then, as every pitcher does, but it won't be because he's afraid to throw it over the plate. He's the anti-Hochevar. (Until Luke went to the bullpen.)
Ohtani got his 415-foot payback his next time up, though. (Rumor has it that guy might be fairly good.) That's okay. It might not make much sense but I'd rather see that than an endless parade of walks. And I was pleased to see Zerpa stayed just as aggressive right after that.
Wednesday's game: no Vinnie, no Pratto, no BWJ. Our best hitter about to be traded. O'Hearn starting at 1B. Rivero batting cleanup. (!!!!!)
*yawn* I guess I must be a bad baseball fan because I found it absolutely impossible to stay interested.