If you look at Sal's HR per AB over the length of his career, he's demonstrated linear and steady increases in power. A couple of years ago, when people talked of moving Sal out of the Catcher spot, it was kinda pointless.... with his ridiculously low BB rates and OK power, he was pretty much a league average hitter. So, its good to see him become a legitimate power hitter worth playing at DH or potentially 1B going forward.
I still think the Royals are better off with him not at DH or 1B, even on days off. For a catcher, you live with the .300 OBP, which is about his ceiling unless he's going to hit .290+. Right now, they absolutely have to keep him in the lineup because he's one of two home run threats in the lineup, but if they're going to win, I think it's because they've got better options for both those spots when he needs a day off behind the plate.
For now yes, but what about in two years. At some point, he needs to catch less. It used to be his value was all because he was a catcher who could hit a bit. Now he's a legitimate power hitter.
That's what I'm saying. If they have to DH him regularly because they can't afford to miss his bat for two days a week, they're probably in some trouble. His OBP is still a hindrance.
My son is a D2 assistant coach and I have listened to him rant about organizational mindsets that hold the program he is in improve, and it always evolves out of culture and who the AD and head coach are, with some input from certain assistants. For his program it is flaws in how and who they recruit. In reading your articles about coaching and GM structure I am dumbfounded by the Royals seeming being buried in old thinking patterns and not seeing outside the box. Granted every player is a risk, but please, can the Royals never change to modern thinking???
The Royals have done quite a bit of a shift over the last few seasons. JJ Picollo, for example, is someone now working throughout the minor leagues in person to help translate and present the analytical data. They completely re-worked their organizational hitting philosophy and while the sample is still small, the results are obviously there. I think there are a lot of issues they still have, but they're a lot more modern than most people believe.
They've also reworked their pitching development personnel. It seemed to be working until recently. With all these high school arms, we shall see. If not, GM DM's head needs to roll.
Its not that they refuse to change, its that they haven't shown much in the way of positive results at the ML level. There are a lot of kids that have shown improvement or success at the MiLB level. Doesn't matter much tho does it.
This is one of those times that I wish Dayton and Lonnie could publicly be honest about what's really going on.
They knew where the players were ranked by outsiders, and I have a hard time believing they actually thought Frank Mozzicato was the best player available. Every single year outside of 2013, they've used their first-round pick on a player that was an obvious choice for the slot. What was it about Rocker, Watson, House, et al. that caused the switch?
The Royals front office is strong in its convictions, and I applaud them for that. I think it's the best way to approach such a lottery like the MLB Draft. But like you, I'm confused. They got several talented players, and you can definitely dream on Mozzicato. I'd just love to know their real reasons for taking this approach.
I sort of wonder if their plan backfired. Did they want Madden at 43, but he was gone? Or was it Jay Allen? Or Solometo? Or did they plan to take Will Taylor and he told them between Sunday and Monday that he wasn't going to sign for what they'd have available so they were sort of stuck? Probably won't ever know the answers unless someone writes a tell-all book that I would 100% buy.
If you look at Sal's HR per AB over the length of his career, he's demonstrated linear and steady increases in power. A couple of years ago, when people talked of moving Sal out of the Catcher spot, it was kinda pointless.... with his ridiculously low BB rates and OK power, he was pretty much a league average hitter. So, its good to see him become a legitimate power hitter worth playing at DH or potentially 1B going forward.
I still think the Royals are better off with him not at DH or 1B, even on days off. For a catcher, you live with the .300 OBP, which is about his ceiling unless he's going to hit .290+. Right now, they absolutely have to keep him in the lineup because he's one of two home run threats in the lineup, but if they're going to win, I think it's because they've got better options for both those spots when he needs a day off behind the plate.
For now yes, but what about in two years. At some point, he needs to catch less. It used to be his value was all because he was a catcher who could hit a bit. Now he's a legitimate power hitter.
That's what I'm saying. If they have to DH him regularly because they can't afford to miss his bat for two days a week, they're probably in some trouble. His OBP is still a hindrance.
MJ Melendez continued development presents some interesting wrinkles to that situation as well.
This is true. And while Rivero hasn't been terribly impressive in his few big league opportunities, he's been really good in AAA this season.
My son is a D2 assistant coach and I have listened to him rant about organizational mindsets that hold the program he is in improve, and it always evolves out of culture and who the AD and head coach are, with some input from certain assistants. For his program it is flaws in how and who they recruit. In reading your articles about coaching and GM structure I am dumbfounded by the Royals seeming being buried in old thinking patterns and not seeing outside the box. Granted every player is a risk, but please, can the Royals never change to modern thinking???
The Royals have done quite a bit of a shift over the last few seasons. JJ Picollo, for example, is someone now working throughout the minor leagues in person to help translate and present the analytical data. They completely re-worked their organizational hitting philosophy and while the sample is still small, the results are obviously there. I think there are a lot of issues they still have, but they're a lot more modern than most people believe.
They've also reworked their pitching development personnel. It seemed to be working until recently. With all these high school arms, we shall see. If not, GM DM's head needs to roll.
Its not that they refuse to change, its that they haven't shown much in the way of positive results at the ML level. There are a lot of kids that have shown improvement or success at the MiLB level. Doesn't matter much tho does it.
This is one of those times that I wish Dayton and Lonnie could publicly be honest about what's really going on.
They knew where the players were ranked by outsiders, and I have a hard time believing they actually thought Frank Mozzicato was the best player available. Every single year outside of 2013, they've used their first-round pick on a player that was an obvious choice for the slot. What was it about Rocker, Watson, House, et al. that caused the switch?
The Royals front office is strong in its convictions, and I applaud them for that. I think it's the best way to approach such a lottery like the MLB Draft. But like you, I'm confused. They got several talented players, and you can definitely dream on Mozzicato. I'd just love to know their real reasons for taking this approach.
I sort of wonder if their plan backfired. Did they want Madden at 43, but he was gone? Or was it Jay Allen? Or Solometo? Or did they plan to take Will Taylor and he told them between Sunday and Monday that he wasn't going to sign for what they'd have available so they were sort of stuck? Probably won't ever know the answers unless someone writes a tell-all book that I would 100% buy.
To your point about a plan backfiring…any plan that relies on 30-ish picks later to hit your man seems fraught with risk.
Yep, which is why I didn't like the plan. Like I mentioned in the article, if their second pick was 10 picks sooner, I could get behind it a lot more.