Really starting to feel like they're going to lean on the BP to provide more innings than originally thought. Would be interesting to see if they end up being buyers at the break and trade for a starter with a chance to re-sign him later.
I think guys like Yarbrough, Hernandez and Kowar will be pretty important as multi-inning relievers. But I could absolutely see them both buying and selling at the deadline.
I don't see much length at all in that starting rotation, which means that the bullpen guys are going to be overworked and need rest. Expect I-29 to be very busy this summer! And probably I-49 as well.
Sure but that’s sort of why they’ve done what they’ve done with the bullpen. That’s 16 relievers above who are all big league quality. They can make those moves all year and likely keep arms fresh enough.
All of them but Weiss (and Kowar, to be fair) have had success in the big leagues. And even Kowar has had a moment or two. Plus, that doesn't include others shifted to the bullpen as the season progresses. I'm not saying they're elite relievers, but they're big league quality.
I’m all about this bullpen…and I don’t think it is spring talking. That is a major league bullpen…and I don’t think you could say that about the Royals in really any faucet since 16ish. Are they elite…maybe not but they will keep you in the top half of the league. Not everyone will work out….a couple will flounder….a couple might get hurt….but two will probably exceed expectations…when you have the depth they have right now you can just cover in so many ways for whatever situation gets presented. Now, its gets a little stretch if you figure Barlow, Chapman, and maybe Garrett all get moved….but for the first half of the year ALL ABOARD THE BULLPEN TRAIN.
I would also add Clarke into the group to get traded once he gets his feet under him, especially if he can build on what he did last year. But you're right that there are some legitimate arms in there. Even if you lose the three you mentioned and there's another injury, I still think they've got the depth to cover it and the hope is that, by then, three or four more have stepped up who can help. I know I've said this 100 times, but our brains still operate in the world that nobody is helped by Royals coaching. And while we don't know if these guys are good, we do know they're not the previous regime, so we could see some jumps that our brains are trained to not believe can happen.
What has become very obvious to me is that the Royals saw a way to make the bullpen a strength. Nobody has to like Champman, or the lefty for Mondesi, I think they got another reliever for somewhere in there too. But its becoming clear to me that they feel like the best place to trade from on the team is the bullpen…so let’s throw numbers at it to for when we do trade some of these guys. Because if Lynch or Bubic, or whoever really…don’t quite work out. They need to trade from strength to get starting pitching. I’m assuming they are on some sort of clock…and unless you are going to trade Melendez…the bullpen is the only real place to trade from to get back quality. It at least feels like a plan……
Not to be argumentative but I can't resist pointing out that those guys were, in your opinion, big league quality in the past. That doesn't guarantee that they're big league quality now or in the future.
I mean, if that's the viewpoint, that's fine, but there's really no point in ever talking about anything but the past in that case. I'm using data points that we have, which are inherently in the past because that's what is available, to project out what could happen in the future. There's literally no certainty in anything that hasn't happened yet.
Interesting on Coleman. He’s got the highest upside of everyone in the bullpen probably. But you know what, if they have to send him down to a.) work on things, or b.) make a point that you better throw strikes I’m all for it. They have the depth in the beginning to cover. We’ve seen the wake up call work with Singer. I feel like Coleman IS the back inning reliever in waiting…maybe the guy by the end of the year but I’m just so tired of pitchers not throwing strikes that if they have to send him down its fine by me at this point.
Starters better stay healthy to start the year. If they get hit…you almost have to live with it until Bubic is ready to step in. Now that it is on paper that way and how they’ve done this spring. I’m even more fine with Lyles in the fold and Greinke coming back…..and ugh, they almost had to bring back Keller. I mean, you really compete next year…they either need quite a few starters to step up or are we getting to the point of trading Melendez for a young starter? Or really spend on someone who is actually good to bulk up this starting depth.
They need to make sure Coleman gets right, but I 100% agree that he's the guy who is the easiest to envision closing out a future game in the playoffs of this entire group. Development isn't linear, so if it takes a refresher course, so be it. It probably isn't the worst thing in the world from a workload standpoint anyway.
The way I see it, the first two weeks are basically sink or swim for Lynch (and Keller to some extent), but after that, at least Bubic should be ready to go to step in if needed and it could potentially be pretty quickly thereafter for someone like Bowlan. Plus, Yarbrough is there for exactly that situation as well. So they're super thin right now, but they'll just be regular thin soon enough.
What is the best site, or which site do you recommend, we go to, to chat about Royals baseball? I've always wanted to know where most fans go to cuss and discuss KCR baseball. Thanks.
I’d say Twitter (at least that’s where I generally am), but the comments here can be pretty lively! I think I might also open up the chat function Substack has for paid subscribers.
It's unbelievable to me that after all the arms we drafted over last 5/6 years, not one, not even one has distanced himself from the pack and flew through our minor leagues!! How could a team be so unlucky!! Hopefully this staff will get to one or two at least and a light will come on (so to speak).We could definitely use one or two!
When you hear from other scouts that so many of these guys would be good elsewhere, you realize the choices were fine but the development was the issue, so yeah, hopefully that improves.
Yep!! It gets a little more uncertain now that you’ve added the pitchers! Still, I hope the team comes together. Thanks David, for all the thought you’ve put into your Substack!
Even squinting I don't think I see Lynch as being a big league starter. But it is early, so I hope and totally believe my armchair amateur hunch could be wrong.
Is there anywhere I can easily search which player has what options left? (Most people didn't have internet access in my formative years)
Does anyone know if JBJ was the player with opt out clause if they don't make the 40? Others?
I don't think Lynch is a big league starter with his current repertoire, but you can see it at times which means it's in there.
As for options, Fangraphs ---> Roster Resource is where I go. I'm not sure about an opt out for JBJ, though. I imagine he doesn't have one this early given how late he signed, though.
Really starting to feel like they're going to lean on the BP to provide more innings than originally thought. Would be interesting to see if they end up being buyers at the break and trade for a starter with a chance to re-sign him later.
I think guys like Yarbrough, Hernandez and Kowar will be pretty important as multi-inning relievers. But I could absolutely see them both buying and selling at the deadline.
The Trade for Germán Márquez Train don't stop.
The Rockies think they can compete in that division, though. *pause for laughter*
I don't see much length at all in that starting rotation, which means that the bullpen guys are going to be overworked and need rest. Expect I-29 to be very busy this summer! And probably I-49 as well.
Sure but that’s sort of why they’ve done what they’ve done with the bullpen. That’s 16 relievers above who are all big league quality. They can make those moves all year and likely keep arms fresh enough.
Wow David you're much more optimistic than I am! I'll believe that all 16 of them are "Big League quality" when I see it and not a moment before.
No doubt they're all big league capable by one definition or another. That doesn't guarantee that they'll reach or even approach their ceilings.
All of them but Weiss (and Kowar, to be fair) have had success in the big leagues. And even Kowar has had a moment or two. Plus, that doesn't include others shifted to the bullpen as the season progresses. I'm not saying they're elite relievers, but they're big league quality.
I’m all about this bullpen…and I don’t think it is spring talking. That is a major league bullpen…and I don’t think you could say that about the Royals in really any faucet since 16ish. Are they elite…maybe not but they will keep you in the top half of the league. Not everyone will work out….a couple will flounder….a couple might get hurt….but two will probably exceed expectations…when you have the depth they have right now you can just cover in so many ways for whatever situation gets presented. Now, its gets a little stretch if you figure Barlow, Chapman, and maybe Garrett all get moved….but for the first half of the year ALL ABOARD THE BULLPEN TRAIN.
I would also add Clarke into the group to get traded once he gets his feet under him, especially if he can build on what he did last year. But you're right that there are some legitimate arms in there. Even if you lose the three you mentioned and there's another injury, I still think they've got the depth to cover it and the hope is that, by then, three or four more have stepped up who can help. I know I've said this 100 times, but our brains still operate in the world that nobody is helped by Royals coaching. And while we don't know if these guys are good, we do know they're not the previous regime, so we could see some jumps that our brains are trained to not believe can happen.
What has become very obvious to me is that the Royals saw a way to make the bullpen a strength. Nobody has to like Champman, or the lefty for Mondesi, I think they got another reliever for somewhere in there too. But its becoming clear to me that they feel like the best place to trade from on the team is the bullpen…so let’s throw numbers at it to for when we do trade some of these guys. Because if Lynch or Bubic, or whoever really…don’t quite work out. They need to trade from strength to get starting pitching. I’m assuming they are on some sort of clock…and unless you are going to trade Melendez…the bullpen is the only real place to trade from to get back quality. It at least feels like a plan……
Not to be argumentative but I can't resist pointing out that those guys were, in your opinion, big league quality in the past. That doesn't guarantee that they're big league quality now or in the future.
I mean, if that's the viewpoint, that's fine, but there's really no point in ever talking about anything but the past in that case. I'm using data points that we have, which are inherently in the past because that's what is available, to project out what could happen in the future. There's literally no certainty in anything that hasn't happened yet.
Interesting on Coleman. He’s got the highest upside of everyone in the bullpen probably. But you know what, if they have to send him down to a.) work on things, or b.) make a point that you better throw strikes I’m all for it. They have the depth in the beginning to cover. We’ve seen the wake up call work with Singer. I feel like Coleman IS the back inning reliever in waiting…maybe the guy by the end of the year but I’m just so tired of pitchers not throwing strikes that if they have to send him down its fine by me at this point.
Starters better stay healthy to start the year. If they get hit…you almost have to live with it until Bubic is ready to step in. Now that it is on paper that way and how they’ve done this spring. I’m even more fine with Lyles in the fold and Greinke coming back…..and ugh, they almost had to bring back Keller. I mean, you really compete next year…they either need quite a few starters to step up or are we getting to the point of trading Melendez for a young starter? Or really spend on someone who is actually good to bulk up this starting depth.
They need to make sure Coleman gets right, but I 100% agree that he's the guy who is the easiest to envision closing out a future game in the playoffs of this entire group. Development isn't linear, so if it takes a refresher course, so be it. It probably isn't the worst thing in the world from a workload standpoint anyway.
The way I see it, the first two weeks are basically sink or swim for Lynch (and Keller to some extent), but after that, at least Bubic should be ready to go to step in if needed and it could potentially be pretty quickly thereafter for someone like Bowlan. Plus, Yarbrough is there for exactly that situation as well. So they're super thin right now, but they'll just be regular thin soon enough.
What is the best site, or which site do you recommend, we go to, to chat about Royals baseball? I've always wanted to know where most fans go to cuss and discuss KCR baseball. Thanks.
I’d say Twitter (at least that’s where I generally am), but the comments here can be pretty lively! I think I might also open up the chat function Substack has for paid subscribers.
I would enjoy the chat function ( again I am going to need to up my subscription)
It's unbelievable to me that after all the arms we drafted over last 5/6 years, not one, not even one has distanced himself from the pack and flew through our minor leagues!! How could a team be so unlucky!! Hopefully this staff will get to one or two at least and a light will come on (so to speak).We could definitely use one or two!
You don't think Singer has distanced himself?
When you hear from other scouts that so many of these guys would be good elsewhere, you realize the choices were fine but the development was the issue, so yeah, hopefully that improves.
Yep!! It gets a little more uncertain now that you’ve added the pitchers! Still, I hope the team comes together. Thanks David, for all the thought you’ve put into your Substack!
Thank YOU for reading and for the comments!
Even squinting I don't think I see Lynch as being a big league starter. But it is early, so I hope and totally believe my armchair amateur hunch could be wrong.
Is there anywhere I can easily search which player has what options left? (Most people didn't have internet access in my formative years)
Does anyone know if JBJ was the player with opt out clause if they don't make the 40? Others?
I don't think Lynch is a big league starter with his current repertoire, but you can see it at times which means it's in there.
As for options, Fangraphs ---> Roster Resource is where I go. I'm not sure about an opt out for JBJ, though. I imagine he doesn't have one this early given how late he signed, though.
Hey Mr Leski, When do the Spring Training Playoffs Start. I'm also pretty sure we clinched home field advantage throughout.
Hey Mr Leski, When do the Spring Training Playoffs Start. I'm also pretty sure we clinched home field advantage throughout.