Forgot playing with Savant Illustrator reminds you how nuts some stadiums are. Obviously, you don't get the same pitches and locations when you move parks but Beni would have 16 home runs in Fenway this season...also is Boston sure they just don't want ALL of our older hitters? Because Taylor would have 10 dingers there also! Oh...Santana would have 8. Ok maybe I'm learning it's not as easy as just overlaying spray charts lol. Glad I subscribed, I love the newsletter!
Maybe its just me and some wishful thinking. But it almost feels like the front office is getting pushed into a corner when they HAVE to do a bigger type move. I don’t mean cutting Santana. I mean doing a shields type move this offseason. You can’t run it back two years in a row. And yes, maybe having all the younger kids up isn’t really running it back. But you would be running it back with the pitching staff and I don’t think you can do that again next year. But like I said, I’m sure its just wishful thinking…..but when jobs start being on the line, things hopefully start getting more creative.
Oh I think there's a huge move coming, which would continue the parallels to a decade ago when they thought they'd be competitive, weren't and then went out and made the big move. I think it'll probably be in the offseason, but if the right move is there midseason, just make it.
I read a quote that I think applies quite well to this front office. Sorry if this is a tad off-topic, but I only read it this morning. Sorry it's a little long.
"As with many of the dichotomies of leadership, a person's biggest strength can be his greatest weakness when he doesn't know how to balance it. In this case, Andy was a very loyal leader. He knew his people well and took care of this leaders and employees. But here, his loyalty to Mike was jeopardizing the financial stability to the entire company. His loyalty was out of equilibrium. But beyond the company's balance sheet, Andy's other leaders throughout the company saw what was happening, and it slowly undermined Andy's leadership as their CEO. As a leader, you have to be close to your people, the balance is that you can't be so close that one person becomes more important than the mission or the good of the team."
Also my current baseball conspiracy is that Greinke came to KC to retire and agreed to be the pitching coach after this season.
I've seen a similar sentiment to that quote before, and it's absolutely right. A leader's job is not to be friends. A leader's job is to get the best out of his or her people. Friendships do arise from the relationships, but they can't be put in front of the organization if they're impacting the results.
I think that conspiracy is an interesting one and I think I agree with a lot of it, but I don't think it's pitching coach, but rather a roving instructor because I just don't think Greinke's style works with everyone, so it'd be tough to have him as a pitching coach. But yeah, I think if he wants to be in the game, he's in the game with the Royals as long as he wants.
What about Merrifield to the Phillies? They just lost Segura so he could fill in at 2B for a couple of months before being the type of player he is in KC... a play-every-day utility guy.
Yeah, was actually thinking about that this morning. It does make a lot of sense. Honestly, Taylor and Merrifield to the Phillies, with maybe Barlow as well could get the Royals a nice return and help them out quite a bit.
We can all hope! But I ws thinking even moving a single guy, i.e., Merrifield, allows you to play Lopez at 2B and frees up some room in the OF. Moving MAT to have Isbel in CF and the other guys at the corners is icing on the cake!
There's honestly probably a newsletter to be written about the value of trading guys individually or packaging them. I think outside of stars, you do better in your return to package players and that seems like a perfect place to do it.
I think too many teams are obsessed with trading players. To me, it makes no sense to trade your best hitter and very good outfielder just because other teams might want him. I'd keep Benintendi. I can better understand trading Whit Merrifield and Carlos Santana and Hunter Dozier because it seems like the Royals need to make room for new players who are showing a lot of promise and all three of them seem to be fading as they get older. It might be tough to find a team interested in Santana, and I'm wondering if he wouldn't make a great addition to the coaching staff. He certainly knows how to hit the ball and draw walks. And, I admit I know very little about player trades and what players want or expect in situations like this.
Here's the problem with keeping Benintendi. He's a free agent after the season. If you don't get him signed before he hits free agency, you lose him and get NOTHING in return. There isn't even compensation for free agents anymore in the new CBA. That's why you trade Benintendi. Because right now, the odds of him signing an extension are quite low.
Most players don't sign extensions with bad teams four months before they're about to hit free agency for the first time. And this is a bad outfield class coming up too. I'd be very surprised if he'd sign an extension at a value the Royals would be comfortable paying him.
I'm all in favor of moving Benny, Keller, and one or two relievers. I think you find a team where multiple players fit and get the best prospect you can.
I am a Dozier fan but he is blocking the ability to play Isbel/Melendez/Pratto/Pasquantino. I think if you can find a trade partner for him you have to do this just to free up playing time.
All 3 players I mentioned would be selling high. I would love for the Royals to do that for once. I'm hoping this is the year.
I was curious if there was any validity to the idea that part of the challenges from the pitchers could be placed on the difference between Melendez calling games verses Perez? How much do they call verses the dugout? Have we seen any change in usage between the two?
I haven’t looked specifically, but catchers generally don’t have that much of an impact in the long run. I suppose there could be something there, but Melendez is a competent game caller and likely getting signals from the dugout anyway.
Forgot playing with Savant Illustrator reminds you how nuts some stadiums are. Obviously, you don't get the same pitches and locations when you move parks but Beni would have 16 home runs in Fenway this season...also is Boston sure they just don't want ALL of our older hitters? Because Taylor would have 10 dingers there also! Oh...Santana would have 8. Ok maybe I'm learning it's not as easy as just overlaying spray charts lol. Glad I subscribed, I love the newsletter!
Just a big ol’ tour bus of Royals heading to Boston!
Maybe its just me and some wishful thinking. But it almost feels like the front office is getting pushed into a corner when they HAVE to do a bigger type move. I don’t mean cutting Santana. I mean doing a shields type move this offseason. You can’t run it back two years in a row. And yes, maybe having all the younger kids up isn’t really running it back. But you would be running it back with the pitching staff and I don’t think you can do that again next year. But like I said, I’m sure its just wishful thinking…..but when jobs start being on the line, things hopefully start getting more creative.
Oh I think there's a huge move coming, which would continue the parallels to a decade ago when they thought they'd be competitive, weren't and then went out and made the big move. I think it'll probably be in the offseason, but if the right move is there midseason, just make it.
I read a quote that I think applies quite well to this front office. Sorry if this is a tad off-topic, but I only read it this morning. Sorry it's a little long.
"As with many of the dichotomies of leadership, a person's biggest strength can be his greatest weakness when he doesn't know how to balance it. In this case, Andy was a very loyal leader. He knew his people well and took care of this leaders and employees. But here, his loyalty to Mike was jeopardizing the financial stability to the entire company. His loyalty was out of equilibrium. But beyond the company's balance sheet, Andy's other leaders throughout the company saw what was happening, and it slowly undermined Andy's leadership as their CEO. As a leader, you have to be close to your people, the balance is that you can't be so close that one person becomes more important than the mission or the good of the team."
Also my current baseball conspiracy is that Greinke came to KC to retire and agreed to be the pitching coach after this season.
I've seen a similar sentiment to that quote before, and it's absolutely right. A leader's job is not to be friends. A leader's job is to get the best out of his or her people. Friendships do arise from the relationships, but they can't be put in front of the organization if they're impacting the results.
I think that conspiracy is an interesting one and I think I agree with a lot of it, but I don't think it's pitching coach, but rather a roving instructor because I just don't think Greinke's style works with everyone, so it'd be tough to have him as a pitching coach. But yeah, I think if he wants to be in the game, he's in the game with the Royals as long as he wants.
Zack's going to want to be in the draft room when he decides to retire. Hell, he probably will want to be in the draft room next month.
"Uh, I mean I'm on the IL, so I have a lot of time on my hands."
Newest conspiracy: Zack isn't hurt, he just wanted time to scout.
Screw it. If the season keeps swirling down the toilet, let him be player-manager, play shortstop, and lead off on the last day.
I'm willing to let him to do it every Sunday the rest of the season. Maybe third, though. Let Bobby play shortstop.
What about Merrifield to the Phillies? They just lost Segura so he could fill in at 2B for a couple of months before being the type of player he is in KC... a play-every-day utility guy.
Yeah, was actually thinking about that this morning. It does make a lot of sense. Honestly, Taylor and Merrifield to the Phillies, with maybe Barlow as well could get the Royals a nice return and help them out quite a bit.
We can all hope! But I ws thinking even moving a single guy, i.e., Merrifield, allows you to play Lopez at 2B and frees up some room in the OF. Moving MAT to have Isbel in CF and the other guys at the corners is icing on the cake!
There's honestly probably a newsletter to be written about the value of trading guys individually or packaging them. I think outside of stars, you do better in your return to package players and that seems like a perfect place to do it.
Oh, no doubt. Too bad they didn’t swap Whit for Girardi this morning! :)
Ha, man, I don't think I'd want to deal with Girardi. Bring me some new blood.
I think too many teams are obsessed with trading players. To me, it makes no sense to trade your best hitter and very good outfielder just because other teams might want him. I'd keep Benintendi. I can better understand trading Whit Merrifield and Carlos Santana and Hunter Dozier because it seems like the Royals need to make room for new players who are showing a lot of promise and all three of them seem to be fading as they get older. It might be tough to find a team interested in Santana, and I'm wondering if he wouldn't make a great addition to the coaching staff. He certainly knows how to hit the ball and draw walks. And, I admit I know very little about player trades and what players want or expect in situations like this.
Here's the problem with keeping Benintendi. He's a free agent after the season. If you don't get him signed before he hits free agency, you lose him and get NOTHING in return. There isn't even compensation for free agents anymore in the new CBA. That's why you trade Benintendi. Because right now, the odds of him signing an extension are quite low.
OK--thanks for the information. So, you think he wants to move on?
Most players don't sign extensions with bad teams four months before they're about to hit free agency for the first time. And this is a bad outfield class coming up too. I'd be very surprised if he'd sign an extension at a value the Royals would be comfortable paying him.
I'm all in favor of moving Benny, Keller, and one or two relievers. I think you find a team where multiple players fit and get the best prospect you can.
I am a Dozier fan but he is blocking the ability to play Isbel/Melendez/Pratto/Pasquantino. I think if you can find a trade partner for him you have to do this just to free up playing time.
All 3 players I mentioned would be selling high. I would love for the Royals to do that for once. I'm hoping this is the year.
They'd all make sense. But my guess is Benny is the only one who goes.
David,
I was curious if there was any validity to the idea that part of the challenges from the pitchers could be placed on the difference between Melendez calling games verses Perez? How much do they call verses the dugout? Have we seen any change in usage between the two?
I haven’t looked specifically, but catchers generally don’t have that much of an impact in the long run. I suppose there could be something there, but Melendez is a competent game caller and likely getting signals from the dugout anyway.
What about Cam? Seems like we have a logjam at catcher soon and a veteran backstop might get something in return.
Yeah, he could go too. I’ve been predicting he’ll get traded for so long that I don’t even think about him in these anymore.