Thanks for the update. I have been down on Lacy after reading about his control issues. Too many times your hear a guy has all the talent in the world if he can just start to control it better. Hoping Lacy takes a page from Staumont and actually gets his pitches under control.
I'm really hoping Pasquantino starts the season in AAA with Pratto and/or Melendez. It feels like he has been the star hitter at A and AA this year. I would like to see how he hits with more protection in the lineup.
I really hope Melendez makes the roster out of spring training. That said, I do not want to see Gallagher non tendered or DFA'd. I think he is an excellent back up catcher and in the right spot could be a valuable starter. I would hate to see the Royals get zero compensation for him. I think Greg Zaun is a good comp for Gallagher. Starter on a bad team, back up on a good one.
My concern about Pasquantino at AAA is that I'd really prefer Pratto plays first and I worry that if they're both on the same team that we'll see Pratto in RF more. Maybe that's actually the best way to configure the roster, I don't know, but I'd like to see the elite defender stay where he's an elite defender, and if they intend for Pratto to be in AAA for only 4-6 weeks, I could wait on Pasquantino. But I also agree that for development purposes, he should be in AAA.
I like Gallagher a lot too, but with Sebastian Rivero, I wonder if maybe they see something superfluous and get a live arm for him in a deal. But I don't know what they'll do there.
I agree on leaving the elite defender at 1B. I saw Vinnie as the DH until Pratto is promoted.
Riverio has not been that impressive to me in limited action. I honestly liked Villoria quite a bit when we saw him. Either way we have depth at catching and I hope we make a deal. Carrying 3 catchers on the MLB rosters doesn't seem to be the best option. Miami seems to be a logical trade partner.
I think you can carry three if one of them (Melendez) is also playing elsewhere. I think what Rivero showed in the big leagues wasn't that impressive, but I really like him as a backup catcher for awhile.
1. Does the front office not believe in Isbel’s ability to handle CF in Kauffman? He’s getting a little old for a prospect and hit well in the 2nd half so it seems to me his time is now or never.
2. Any chance Wilson or Loftin could be be in their future plans to play CF or are neither athletic enough for it either?
It does seem that they don't believe in Isbel to do it every day. I'm not sure I agree with that, but they place a huge emphasis on CF in Kauffman. I think they probably are a little too heavy handed with that, but I also think a lot of fans don't take it quite seriously enough, so there's middle ground. Personally, I think Isbel would be just fine there most days, but it doesn't seem like he'll get that chance.
I do think Wilson will get time in the outfield, but he really hasn't to this point. He's athletic enough. As for Loftin, I would guess the front office would see him similar to Isbel, but you never know. The guy might really take to it if given the chance. He's athletic.
I am so glad that you are holding on to MJ and hope that JJ will also. And I hope that Dayton resurfaces his "we will never allow a prospect that is ready to be blocked" to help him and JJ get Santana out of the way at 1B for Pratto. Part of me would like to see the Big 3 all debut on Opening Day, as I am guessing, like Hoz and Moose, that there is some real comraderie there. Now, finding room for them all, I think we can. Depending on what we do with Mondi (SS,2B,3B,or RF?), the rest of the pieces fit in nicely (Witt3B or SS, Nicky SS or 2B, Whit 2B or RF). And Salvy/MJ are C and DH, in rotation. Santana on the bench if we could not trade him, Dozier on the bench because of his contract and we won't let him block a prospect who is ready.
"After the 2019 season, the Royals decided something had to change. They overhauled their offensive development and made changes to their pitching development."
I feel like I just missed this story when it happened. Did you write about it? Has anyone?
What exactly changed? Personnel, philosophy, actual training techniques? Maybe some of that is trade secret still.
How much of this was driven by the taxi squad and their proximity to the big league club?
Did this happen before or after the change in ownership?
I have so many questions! If you haven't already, may I humbly ask for a post about it?
Subscribed and read. So this happened in the fall of 2019. That's contemporaneous with Sherman purchasing the team, agreed to buy in August, closed in November 2019. Is there any word that he drove this restructuring and expanded investment? Lots of new hires, and lots of expanded teams, working together better.
It seems more than coincidental. If so, did he bring this from Cleveland, or is this a new development the Royals have pioneered?
The article was great, but I have so many more questions.
I don't know that it's ever been answered (and I'm not sure it would be), but my assumption is this has to do with the ownership change. Generally, the organization has been more analytical than before since Sherman took over, though they were trending that way for years before as well, but I think it went into hyperdrive a bit after the purchase. The group they're utilizing is a combination of people who were already part of the organization, some outside folks and then a guy like Mike Tosar, who had worked with some Royals hitters with great success already. He was who worked with Soler and Salvy and Maikel Franco before Franco's solid 2020 season in KC.
You don't trade a kid like Melendez. As good as Perez was last year. He will decline starting next year. He's just not the player he was last year. What I would do since Perez is getting older but still should be the number 1 catcher is I would flip flop Perez and Melendez between catcher and dh with Perez getting the most time behind the plate for now. That way Perez gets a little rest but you keep his bat in the lineup. Melendez gets fewer reps behind the plate for now but get to learn from Perez. You get to keep both bats in the game. I dont know why no one has thought about this sooner. You can have 2 number 1 catchers in the lineup at the same time and you can help extend the life of their knees and still have the benefit of have both their bats int the lineup at the same time
Thanks for the update. I have been down on Lacy after reading about his control issues. Too many times your hear a guy has all the talent in the world if he can just start to control it better. Hoping Lacy takes a page from Staumont and actually gets his pitches under control.
I'm really hoping Pasquantino starts the season in AAA with Pratto and/or Melendez. It feels like he has been the star hitter at A and AA this year. I would like to see how he hits with more protection in the lineup.
I really hope Melendez makes the roster out of spring training. That said, I do not want to see Gallagher non tendered or DFA'd. I think he is an excellent back up catcher and in the right spot could be a valuable starter. I would hate to see the Royals get zero compensation for him. I think Greg Zaun is a good comp for Gallagher. Starter on a bad team, back up on a good one.
My concern about Pasquantino at AAA is that I'd really prefer Pratto plays first and I worry that if they're both on the same team that we'll see Pratto in RF more. Maybe that's actually the best way to configure the roster, I don't know, but I'd like to see the elite defender stay where he's an elite defender, and if they intend for Pratto to be in AAA for only 4-6 weeks, I could wait on Pasquantino. But I also agree that for development purposes, he should be in AAA.
I like Gallagher a lot too, but with Sebastian Rivero, I wonder if maybe they see something superfluous and get a live arm for him in a deal. But I don't know what they'll do there.
I agree on leaving the elite defender at 1B. I saw Vinnie as the DH until Pratto is promoted.
Riverio has not been that impressive to me in limited action. I honestly liked Villoria quite a bit when we saw him. Either way we have depth at catching and I hope we make a deal. Carrying 3 catchers on the MLB rosters doesn't seem to be the best option. Miami seems to be a logical trade partner.
I think you can carry three if one of them (Melendez) is also playing elsewhere. I think what Rivero showed in the big leagues wasn't that impressive, but I really like him as a backup catcher for awhile.
Two thoughts/questions about the future of CF:
1. Does the front office not believe in Isbel’s ability to handle CF in Kauffman? He’s getting a little old for a prospect and hit well in the 2nd half so it seems to me his time is now or never.
2. Any chance Wilson or Loftin could be be in their future plans to play CF or are neither athletic enough for it either?
It does seem that they don't believe in Isbel to do it every day. I'm not sure I agree with that, but they place a huge emphasis on CF in Kauffman. I think they probably are a little too heavy handed with that, but I also think a lot of fans don't take it quite seriously enough, so there's middle ground. Personally, I think Isbel would be just fine there most days, but it doesn't seem like he'll get that chance.
I do think Wilson will get time in the outfield, but he really hasn't to this point. He's athletic enough. As for Loftin, I would guess the front office would see him similar to Isbel, but you never know. The guy might really take to it if given the chance. He's athletic.
I am so glad that you are holding on to MJ and hope that JJ will also. And I hope that Dayton resurfaces his "we will never allow a prospect that is ready to be blocked" to help him and JJ get Santana out of the way at 1B for Pratto. Part of me would like to see the Big 3 all debut on Opening Day, as I am guessing, like Hoz and Moose, that there is some real comraderie there. Now, finding room for them all, I think we can. Depending on what we do with Mondi (SS,2B,3B,or RF?), the rest of the pieces fit in nicely (Witt3B or SS, Nicky SS or 2B, Whit 2B or RF). And Salvy/MJ are C and DH, in rotation. Santana on the bench if we could not trade him, Dozier on the bench because of his contract and we won't let him block a prospect who is ready.
"After the 2019 season, the Royals decided something had to change. They overhauled their offensive development and made changes to their pitching development."
I feel like I just missed this story when it happened. Did you write about it? Has anyone?
What exactly changed? Personnel, philosophy, actual training techniques? Maybe some of that is trade secret still.
How much of this was driven by the taxi squad and their proximity to the big league club?
Did this happen before or after the change in ownership?
I have so many questions! If you haven't already, may I humbly ask for a post about it?
Alec Lewis wrote a big piece on it in August. https://theathletic.com/2749939/2021/08/04/inside-the-royals-hitting-development-transformation-and-a-stunning-system-wide-jump-in-ops/?source=user_shared_article
Just a huge change across the board with big results.
Subscribed and read. So this happened in the fall of 2019. That's contemporaneous with Sherman purchasing the team, agreed to buy in August, closed in November 2019. Is there any word that he drove this restructuring and expanded investment? Lots of new hires, and lots of expanded teams, working together better.
It seems more than coincidental. If so, did he bring this from Cleveland, or is this a new development the Royals have pioneered?
The article was great, but I have so many more questions.
I don't know that it's ever been answered (and I'm not sure it would be), but my assumption is this has to do with the ownership change. Generally, the organization has been more analytical than before since Sherman took over, though they were trending that way for years before as well, but I think it went into hyperdrive a bit after the purchase. The group they're utilizing is a combination of people who were already part of the organization, some outside folks and then a guy like Mike Tosar, who had worked with some Royals hitters with great success already. He was who worked with Soler and Salvy and Maikel Franco before Franco's solid 2020 season in KC.
You don't trade a kid like Melendez. As good as Perez was last year. He will decline starting next year. He's just not the player he was last year. What I would do since Perez is getting older but still should be the number 1 catcher is I would flip flop Perez and Melendez between catcher and dh with Perez getting the most time behind the plate for now. That way Perez gets a little rest but you keep his bat in the lineup. Melendez gets fewer reps behind the plate for now but get to learn from Perez. You get to keep both bats in the game. I dont know why no one has thought about this sooner. You can have 2 number 1 catchers in the lineup at the same time and you can help extend the life of their knees and still have the benefit of have both their bats int the lineup at the same time