So this is just one man's take. But I think the fact that Benentendi won a gold glove in left field shows how much other teams don't really care about defense in the corner outfield slots. They want someone who will mash and create more runs than someone who will catch the ball. Benentendi was fine in left field......but he was no Alex Gordon defensively. I, like you, found myself unimpressed during the year. He's a perfectly capable left fielder and a fine baseball player but I worry the royals will overvalue him because he can win a gold glove in left. I'm glad they got the accolades.....and the recognition. But this team won 22% of the gold gloves in the AL and had three other finalist......and only won 74 games. I'm too pessimistic this morning. lol
I think you're probably right in some ways that left field defense isn't really that valued by other teams, but by the stats, Benintendi was legitimately good. It just kind of surprised me there.
Maybe you've already mentioned it before. But one idea for this offseason is when are the big changes coming to baseball and your thoughts. Is it probably part of this new CBA...or still farther out. The big one is the automated umpire at home plate. I'd love to see that yesterday...but I get its people jobs so there will always be pushback. But to me...and big picture....that's the start of doing away with umpires all together right? All video review would be doable it seems. A little out there....but the ball is rolling that direction. Both leagues, no DH going forward I hear (I think). And maybe some of this we don't know until the new CBA comes out but be interested to hear if any new changes are in the works other than the two above that I mentioned.
I don't know if they'll ever completely do away with umpires because there will always likely be judgment calls to be made. But yeah, replay does mean that they can be looked at easily. Still, the automated zone is close, but not tomorrow close, so that won't change for at least a couple years. And yeah, I'd assume DH everywhere. But there are definitely questions of what the game will look like even next year with the CBA not put to bed yet.
Saw your free agent list predictions on royals review. For some reason I can't sign in there this morning. Regardless......I'm not super thrilled if they go after Cobb. But who knows. I'd like to see Kluber, Yates, on one years deals and then Graveman for two or three. Yes, Kluber and Yates aren't the pitchers of old but on one year deals....provide some legit (Cy Young winner, listen to me kid) guidance to the young staff would be worth just as much as the 100 innings Kluber might throw for you next year. Hey Singer, check out this cutter and let me show you.....that kind of thing. Heck, I don't care. Sign Cobb and Kluber at that point knowing neither have thrown 200 innings in a number of years now (which isn't as important). But at some point.....if starters aren't going to throw 200 innings....the price for them has to come down no? Is this the offseason that starts?
The problem with Kluber is that I think there's a negative chance he signs with the Royals. He doesn't want to be a teacher, he wants to win and a one-year deal with the 2022 Royals doesn't get him there. He was good enough in 16 starts to get a deal with a team much more likely to win in 2022.
I do think starting pitcher salaries have already started dropping, but only for the guys in that middle to lower tier. You're always going to see massive salaries for the best.
That's true on Kluber I'm sure. I'd love for the royals to go get Castillo. Sounds like most people have been in the wait and see thinking with the Royals on big acquisitions this year. But honestly, I don't trust the royals to develop pitching yet. Until they do, its hard for me to grasp. I don't trust the pitching coach either. So if it takes Melendez to get Castillo to show Hernandez and and Lynch what it takes so be it. Its different than the Shields deal.....they NEED this pitching to develop more than back then. I think you've got to throw all the resources you have at making sure that works. If pitching is the currency of baseball, you always try to get more IMO. Yes, they have a lot of arms they need to sort through.....but that's not a real problem. That is a luxury. Listening the the latest RR podcast from the other day. So next time you talk with Alex Duvall....let him know that they need more pitching.....and tell him to get your site right already. sheesh. lol
If we are smart enough to do the best reading of the combination of all stats (I am not, but hope that you are and, just as importantly, that the Royals are), and to take the clear eyed (no favorites or massaging ego view, but the best performer) view, no, then any defensive strike or out saved would, if measured correctly, seem to be as good as a walk or hit offensively - but I also understand that, like ERA and unearned runs, that those sometimes lead to runs, or saved runs, and sometimes they do not. You may tell me that precise measurements are impossible, or a matter of opinion, and that current measurements like WAR and others are an attempt to do just that, I am by no means an expert. But, for example, if MJ can save more strikes than Salvy by better framing, then, in comparing each of them defensively, and wanting to favor the better defender, including throwing out runners, calling the game, blocking pitches - then I am all for doing an overall assessment and hoping that the Royals do the same - and dealing with Salvy's ego as necessary to put him more on the DH side of the C/DH equation with MJ.
If we consider that we have two above/average elite outfield defenders, and, it would seem with Whit or Isbel, a somewhat above average RF, then I am getting excited. In recent articles, it sounds like JJ and Dayton are actively focusing on getting and keeping Mondi healthy, like they did with Cain, to perhaps take him off the "not an everyday player" list. Plus, they have said that their "everyday players let them stay there and play almost every day and really get used to each other" is for "up the middle," so SS/2B, more than 3B. It would seem to me that we could have an elite infield defense and using stats, to figure out how to make it the most elite - Mondi would seem to have the best range, so Witt 3B, Mondi SS, Nicky 2B, Pratto 1B. If we have groundball pitchers to go with that, watch out! And Dayton, please remember that you do not allow vets to block prospects when they are ready, so, depending on how Spring Training goes (JJ said that Witt would have to have another blow out spring to start on Opening Day), then get ready to have Carlos and Dozier as your expensive bench players (and don't be too embarrassed that in retrospect that they were bad contracts, they did seem reasonable at the time, and only look bad now because of the kinds of problems you like to have - Witt and Pratto and MJ blowing up), and Whit in RF, with Isbel as your outfield backup and Whit as your infield backup. Then have as many pitchers as they allow you to have on your roster. 2022 is for getting this next championship core of position players settled in and bonded, and for continuing the pitching auditions of the many young starters and relievers we have and get the settled, including possible use of 6 man rotation, bulk relievers, other creative ways to make the best use of having such young pitching depth. And remember the admonition, "a fool and his money are soon parted" - do not make the mistake of trading away what you have - you have all that you need. Just keep those development programs growing, and get better at keeping them going from AAA to major league, so that the guys dominating at Omaha are truly being prepared to succeed at KC, knowing that growing pains will occur, but that disasters should not occur.
So this is just one man's take. But I think the fact that Benentendi won a gold glove in left field shows how much other teams don't really care about defense in the corner outfield slots. They want someone who will mash and create more runs than someone who will catch the ball. Benentendi was fine in left field......but he was no Alex Gordon defensively. I, like you, found myself unimpressed during the year. He's a perfectly capable left fielder and a fine baseball player but I worry the royals will overvalue him because he can win a gold glove in left. I'm glad they got the accolades.....and the recognition. But this team won 22% of the gold gloves in the AL and had three other finalist......and only won 74 games. I'm too pessimistic this morning. lol
I think you're probably right in some ways that left field defense isn't really that valued by other teams, but by the stats, Benintendi was legitimately good. It just kind of surprised me there.
Maybe you've already mentioned it before. But one idea for this offseason is when are the big changes coming to baseball and your thoughts. Is it probably part of this new CBA...or still farther out. The big one is the automated umpire at home plate. I'd love to see that yesterday...but I get its people jobs so there will always be pushback. But to me...and big picture....that's the start of doing away with umpires all together right? All video review would be doable it seems. A little out there....but the ball is rolling that direction. Both leagues, no DH going forward I hear (I think). And maybe some of this we don't know until the new CBA comes out but be interested to hear if any new changes are in the works other than the two above that I mentioned.
I don't know if they'll ever completely do away with umpires because there will always likely be judgment calls to be made. But yeah, replay does mean that they can be looked at easily. Still, the automated zone is close, but not tomorrow close, so that won't change for at least a couple years. And yeah, I'd assume DH everywhere. But there are definitely questions of what the game will look like even next year with the CBA not put to bed yet.
Saw your free agent list predictions on royals review. For some reason I can't sign in there this morning. Regardless......I'm not super thrilled if they go after Cobb. But who knows. I'd like to see Kluber, Yates, on one years deals and then Graveman for two or three. Yes, Kluber and Yates aren't the pitchers of old but on one year deals....provide some legit (Cy Young winner, listen to me kid) guidance to the young staff would be worth just as much as the 100 innings Kluber might throw for you next year. Hey Singer, check out this cutter and let me show you.....that kind of thing. Heck, I don't care. Sign Cobb and Kluber at that point knowing neither have thrown 200 innings in a number of years now (which isn't as important). But at some point.....if starters aren't going to throw 200 innings....the price for them has to come down no? Is this the offseason that starts?
The problem with Kluber is that I think there's a negative chance he signs with the Royals. He doesn't want to be a teacher, he wants to win and a one-year deal with the 2022 Royals doesn't get him there. He was good enough in 16 starts to get a deal with a team much more likely to win in 2022.
I do think starting pitcher salaries have already started dropping, but only for the guys in that middle to lower tier. You're always going to see massive salaries for the best.
That's true on Kluber I'm sure. I'd love for the royals to go get Castillo. Sounds like most people have been in the wait and see thinking with the Royals on big acquisitions this year. But honestly, I don't trust the royals to develop pitching yet. Until they do, its hard for me to grasp. I don't trust the pitching coach either. So if it takes Melendez to get Castillo to show Hernandez and and Lynch what it takes so be it. Its different than the Shields deal.....they NEED this pitching to develop more than back then. I think you've got to throw all the resources you have at making sure that works. If pitching is the currency of baseball, you always try to get more IMO. Yes, they have a lot of arms they need to sort through.....but that's not a real problem. That is a luxury. Listening the the latest RR podcast from the other day. So next time you talk with Alex Duvall....let him know that they need more pitching.....and tell him to get your site right already. sheesh. lol
If we are smart enough to do the best reading of the combination of all stats (I am not, but hope that you are and, just as importantly, that the Royals are), and to take the clear eyed (no favorites or massaging ego view, but the best performer) view, no, then any defensive strike or out saved would, if measured correctly, seem to be as good as a walk or hit offensively - but I also understand that, like ERA and unearned runs, that those sometimes lead to runs, or saved runs, and sometimes they do not. You may tell me that precise measurements are impossible, or a matter of opinion, and that current measurements like WAR and others are an attempt to do just that, I am by no means an expert. But, for example, if MJ can save more strikes than Salvy by better framing, then, in comparing each of them defensively, and wanting to favor the better defender, including throwing out runners, calling the game, blocking pitches - then I am all for doing an overall assessment and hoping that the Royals do the same - and dealing with Salvy's ego as necessary to put him more on the DH side of the C/DH equation with MJ.
If we consider that we have two above/average elite outfield defenders, and, it would seem with Whit or Isbel, a somewhat above average RF, then I am getting excited. In recent articles, it sounds like JJ and Dayton are actively focusing on getting and keeping Mondi healthy, like they did with Cain, to perhaps take him off the "not an everyday player" list. Plus, they have said that their "everyday players let them stay there and play almost every day and really get used to each other" is for "up the middle," so SS/2B, more than 3B. It would seem to me that we could have an elite infield defense and using stats, to figure out how to make it the most elite - Mondi would seem to have the best range, so Witt 3B, Mondi SS, Nicky 2B, Pratto 1B. If we have groundball pitchers to go with that, watch out! And Dayton, please remember that you do not allow vets to block prospects when they are ready, so, depending on how Spring Training goes (JJ said that Witt would have to have another blow out spring to start on Opening Day), then get ready to have Carlos and Dozier as your expensive bench players (and don't be too embarrassed that in retrospect that they were bad contracts, they did seem reasonable at the time, and only look bad now because of the kinds of problems you like to have - Witt and Pratto and MJ blowing up), and Whit in RF, with Isbel as your outfield backup and Whit as your infield backup. Then have as many pitchers as they allow you to have on your roster. 2022 is for getting this next championship core of position players settled in and bonded, and for continuing the pitching auditions of the many young starters and relievers we have and get the settled, including possible use of 6 man rotation, bulk relievers, other creative ways to make the best use of having such young pitching depth. And remember the admonition, "a fool and his money are soon parted" - do not make the mistake of trading away what you have - you have all that you need. Just keep those development programs growing, and get better at keeping them going from AAA to major league, so that the guys dominating at Omaha are truly being prepared to succeed at KC, knowing that growing pains will occur, but that disasters should not occur.