I’m still trying to wrap my head around if it is good or bad when your starting pitcher throws up behind the mound more times than he strikes people out. That’s interesting.
I have a hard time getting worked up about the bullpen uses late last night. I completely understand what you are saying. I think when he went back out there it was 3-1 (I could be wrong) and you know Matheny’s MO is win every game possible. I remember when we thought this bullpen was going to be a strength of this team. Its just that bullpens or so volatile…..it can still be 100% a strength next year with a good addition here or there…..and some better performance. Just like…while you think it may be a strength…it can very well turn into a weakness. Its just so volatile year to year. Maybe its not on good teams and good organizations…but that’s a different discussion.
As the year has gone on and (honestly, I’ve seen more of the braves and cardinals this year in the Nashville area and how good organizations do it) I just keep coming back to how DM has to fall on the sword this offseason. We can blame Matheny, we can blame Eldred, we can blame the minor league development. But let me ask this question. If you are going to replace your manager, pitching coach, pitching development team, third base coach (hopefully), and ONLY keep your hitting coach (THAT YOU REPLACED THIS YEAR) and hitting development team. If you replace everything but the hitting side….how do you not replace you FO? Or at least someone in the FO has to fall on the sword for JJ. You don’t have to get into that…just my two sense that means nothing. Lol
I still think changes are coming. And this recent stretch is exactly why I was saying to just enjoy the wins earlier. It was a lot more fun for a couple of months and what's changed? Not much.
As to your point, I don't blame Matheny for using Staumont. I blame him for running him into the ground for a second inning when he clearly didn't have it in the first inning. He may have been chasing wins, but if that's the case, get him out after the first walk in the eighth. Does it change much? I don't know, but I'm less worried about the result than I am in him putting unnecessary extra stress on an arm that could be reasonably important moving forward.
And yes, I agree with the front office. The reality is that even if you don't think Dayton is to blame, 16 years is a long time. They need a new voice. Being 25 games under in year five of a rebuild deserves a change. And I think there's a good chance it's coming.
After he came out it looked like Staumont was rubbing his shoulder somewhat intensely. I know throwing 42 pitches would do that for most any reliever, but do you think we could see an IL move here soon?
It's possible given his injury issues he's had. It also could have just been that his arm was tired after that. I don't think it would surprise me too much either way.
I noticed the same thing (see my comment below.) Josh and Greinke both to the injured list today.
Why you would have Staumont throw 42 pitches when you KNEW, coming into the game, that he was having shoulder issues is beyond inexplicable. The phrase "managerial malpractice" comes pretty easily to mind....
I guess I’m maybe a little confused on why Keller wasn’t available as well. He threw 25 pitches on Sunday, had Monday off. At least that’s what I thought I saw. If he is going to be a reliever….why is he not available the day after a rest day? If you aren’t going to pitch him until after two rest days….aren’t we running out of time with only 4-5 weeks or so left to find out if he’s going to cut it as a 6M reliever?
I don't know if he was or wasn't available. I was trying to be kind and give benefit of the doubt where it is certainly not deserved in saying they don't want to pitch him on just one day of rest yet either. But this is why the move to the bullpen at this time didn't make sense to me either. If you do feel like he has to condition himself to be able to even pitch twice in three days, you have to make the move sooner to have any time to be able to evaluate him.
I see that the Rays DFA both Tommy Romero and Kevin Herget yesterday. Both of these guys seem like relievers that the Royals could use, and yet the Royals don’t seem to be terribly active in bringing in players like this. I’m sure that I don’t understand the DFA process as well as I should, but I’m hoping that someone like you (David) might shed some light on how it works and why we should (or shouldn’t) pursue player acquisition through that means...
I don't know about Romero, but Herget looks like a nice option. The way the DFA process works is they're sort of stuck in limbo for (I think) three days. Teams can claim them in reverse standings order, by league. So in this case, since Herget is an AL player, it starts with the A's, then the Tigers and then the Royals. It'll go all the way through to the Astros before Washington would get a crack at someone. So they might be working that wire but we won't know for a day or two if they did have a chance.
Thank you! Herget is a more attractive option, to be sure. While I’m terrified at what Eldred might do to him, I’d love to give him some time with Zach Greinke and see what he learns. VERY early plug for signing Zach for another year, and considering the idea of turning him into a pitching coach. He’s a guy who has had great stuff and then who had to learn to pitch when he discovered that great stuff sometimes fails, Seems like an ideal kind of guy to teach younger guys not to just ride their best pitch alone.
I would have zero issue with giving him a modern-day Wakefield contract that's just a certain amount until he decides to retire. But yeah, even Phoenix Sanders, who the Rays just DFA'd would be interesting. He throws strikes. They need strike throwers.
After Staumont's 40+ pitch outing they showed him on the bench and his right shoulder was clearly hurting. A lot. What a horrible idea to stretch him out like that, even if Luke Weaver really was the only available alternative. They'd be far better off sacrificing a meaningless game in August than putting his career at risk.
His fastball velo has been up and down all year. Seems likely he's fighting some sort of ongoing injury. Time to shut that guy down and let him get healthy.
Ah, didn't realize that. So you were one of the fortunate few who had the privilege of watching Heasley hurl in person.... What a gift from the baseball gods!
Extraordinarily small sample size but...after Massey's first PA Wednesday, he was 1 for 15 on MLB breaking balls. Considering what David told me about how quickly teams establish a "book" on new players, I suspect there are plenty of scouting departments and pitching coaches who are already aware of that. Just a little thing to keep an eye on, that's all....
I’m still trying to wrap my head around if it is good or bad when your starting pitcher throws up behind the mound more times than he strikes people out. That’s interesting.
I have a hard time getting worked up about the bullpen uses late last night. I completely understand what you are saying. I think when he went back out there it was 3-1 (I could be wrong) and you know Matheny’s MO is win every game possible. I remember when we thought this bullpen was going to be a strength of this team. Its just that bullpens or so volatile…..it can still be 100% a strength next year with a good addition here or there…..and some better performance. Just like…while you think it may be a strength…it can very well turn into a weakness. Its just so volatile year to year. Maybe its not on good teams and good organizations…but that’s a different discussion.
As the year has gone on and (honestly, I’ve seen more of the braves and cardinals this year in the Nashville area and how good organizations do it) I just keep coming back to how DM has to fall on the sword this offseason. We can blame Matheny, we can blame Eldred, we can blame the minor league development. But let me ask this question. If you are going to replace your manager, pitching coach, pitching development team, third base coach (hopefully), and ONLY keep your hitting coach (THAT YOU REPLACED THIS YEAR) and hitting development team. If you replace everything but the hitting side….how do you not replace you FO? Or at least someone in the FO has to fall on the sword for JJ. You don’t have to get into that…just my two sense that means nothing. Lol
This is the time again where you tell me changes are coming……just FYI.
I still think changes are coming. And this recent stretch is exactly why I was saying to just enjoy the wins earlier. It was a lot more fun for a couple of months and what's changed? Not much.
As to your point, I don't blame Matheny for using Staumont. I blame him for running him into the ground for a second inning when he clearly didn't have it in the first inning. He may have been chasing wins, but if that's the case, get him out after the first walk in the eighth. Does it change much? I don't know, but I'm less worried about the result than I am in him putting unnecessary extra stress on an arm that could be reasonably important moving forward.
And yes, I agree with the front office. The reality is that even if you don't think Dayton is to blame, 16 years is a long time. They need a new voice. Being 25 games under in year five of a rebuild deserves a change. And I think there's a good chance it's coming.
After he came out it looked like Staumont was rubbing his shoulder somewhat intensely. I know throwing 42 pitches would do that for most any reliever, but do you think we could see an IL move here soon?
It's possible given his injury issues he's had. It also could have just been that his arm was tired after that. I don't think it would surprise me too much either way.
I noticed the same thing (see my comment below.) Josh and Greinke both to the injured list today.
Why you would have Staumont throw 42 pitches when you KNEW, coming into the game, that he was having shoulder issues is beyond inexplicable. The phrase "managerial malpractice" comes pretty easily to mind....
I guess I’m maybe a little confused on why Keller wasn’t available as well. He threw 25 pitches on Sunday, had Monday off. At least that’s what I thought I saw. If he is going to be a reliever….why is he not available the day after a rest day? If you aren’t going to pitch him until after two rest days….aren’t we running out of time with only 4-5 weeks or so left to find out if he’s going to cut it as a 6M reliever?
I don't know if he was or wasn't available. I was trying to be kind and give benefit of the doubt where it is certainly not deserved in saying they don't want to pitch him on just one day of rest yet either. But this is why the move to the bullpen at this time didn't make sense to me either. If you do feel like he has to condition himself to be able to even pitch twice in three days, you have to make the move sooner to have any time to be able to evaluate him.
I see that the Rays DFA both Tommy Romero and Kevin Herget yesterday. Both of these guys seem like relievers that the Royals could use, and yet the Royals don’t seem to be terribly active in bringing in players like this. I’m sure that I don’t understand the DFA process as well as I should, but I’m hoping that someone like you (David) might shed some light on how it works and why we should (or shouldn’t) pursue player acquisition through that means...
I don't know about Romero, but Herget looks like a nice option. The way the DFA process works is they're sort of stuck in limbo for (I think) three days. Teams can claim them in reverse standings order, by league. So in this case, since Herget is an AL player, it starts with the A's, then the Tigers and then the Royals. It'll go all the way through to the Astros before Washington would get a crack at someone. So they might be working that wire but we won't know for a day or two if they did have a chance.
Thank you! Herget is a more attractive option, to be sure. While I’m terrified at what Eldred might do to him, I’d love to give him some time with Zach Greinke and see what he learns. VERY early plug for signing Zach for another year, and considering the idea of turning him into a pitching coach. He’s a guy who has had great stuff and then who had to learn to pitch when he discovered that great stuff sometimes fails, Seems like an ideal kind of guy to teach younger guys not to just ride their best pitch alone.
I would have zero issue with giving him a modern-day Wakefield contract that's just a certain amount until he decides to retire. But yeah, even Phoenix Sanders, who the Rays just DFA'd would be interesting. He throws strikes. They need strike throwers.
"Puke? Now that's a funny word. Puke." - George Costanza
I have nothing else to add today.
If only Heasley had puked four more times.
"Banya's the voice of a generation...MY GENERATION, JERRY!!!!!!!!!"
"Ovaltine. Have you seen ... this stuff?"
"....and Jonathan Heasley will be hurling on the mound for the Royals tonight..."
After Staumont's 40+ pitch outing they showed him on the bench and his right shoulder was clearly hurting. A lot. What a horrible idea to stretch him out like that, even if Luke Weaver really was the only available alternative. They'd be far better off sacrificing a meaningless game in August than putting his career at risk.
His fastball velo has been up and down all year. Seems likely he's fighting some sort of ongoing injury. Time to shut that guy down and let him get healthy.
Could be an injury. Could just be that his arm was tired. He hasn't been right all year, though.
I don't know if you happened to see the same camera shot I did. It didn't look at all like "my arm is tired."
To my eyes it definitely looked like "Damn, this bleepin' shoulder is killing me!"
I was at the game, so I didn't see it. But it wouldn't surprise me if that was the case either.
Ah, didn't realize that. So you were one of the fortunate few who had the privilege of watching Heasley hurl in person.... What a gift from the baseball gods!
It was...something.
Staumont needs Spider Tack
He was better last year after they banned it than before, so I'd say that's not the issue at hand.
Bicep tendinitis explains a lot about Staumonts trouble
Yes it does. And another reason Matheny needs to go.
I agree
👍
Lineup construction....???? I'm not sure that anyone other than Matheny sees Michael Massey as a legit MLB cleanup hitter.
I suppose I shouldn't complain. It could have been O'Hearn. At least Massey will get some PA's this way.
Extraordinarily small sample size but...after Massey's first PA Wednesday, he was 1 for 15 on MLB breaking balls. Considering what David told me about how quickly teams establish a "book" on new players, I suspect there are plenty of scouting departments and pitching coaches who are already aware of that. Just a little thing to keep an eye on, that's all....