Don't know why, but I just don't get fired up for the All-Star game anymore (and I even went to the 2012 game in KC).
I'm still worried about Cags. I think the Royals "broke" him; lots of (weak) ground balls...no line drives...and nothing to the warning track since his 2 HR game.
I don't think it's possible to "break" someone that quickly. The issue, as I keep harping, is not that the players get into these slumps. It's that this coaching staff doesn't seem to be able to get them out of them.
Enjoyed the podcast with Soren - listened to it this morning. Totally agree that Lugo will be dealt because KC won't be in contention. Inconsistency will plague them since that the type of team they have. We know Witt is a AS when it feels like he is having a down year and his stats rank right up there in many categories. I do wonder why he is striking out so much more than 2024 - approach? trying to do too much?
Really pleased for any player who comes off major injury and is successful. Good for Bubic and his AS selection. I think KC will get one other player when players are hurt or beg off playing. Can't imagine Bregman will be playing in AS game.
He is striking out more, but it feels much more in line with a standard deviation than anything. He was at 16.3% through 91 games last year and is at 19.2% so far this year. The chase rate is a bit higher. I think he's also being pitched differently. He became a really good hitter in 2023, but a superstar hitter in 2024. That leads to pitchers viewing him differently. But, I do think he's as impacted by the rest of the lineup not hitting as anyone. I'm sure he feels a responsibility to produce when others aren't, so that probably plays a role too. It's probably all of that.
I see a lot of similarity with the 85 Royals: good pitching, weak hitting outfield (with the exception of Willie Wilson in 85). and star players, Brett and Witt. At the All-Star break the 85 Royals were only two games over 500 and 7 1/2 behind out of first. Need to sweep the Pirates and win the Mets series and then see what happens in the second half.
So the best they can be is one game over .500. The worst is obviously 11 games under. If they can go 4-2 and be three games under at the break, they'll probably feel relatively good.
Between Pena, Bregman, and Chisholm I will be stunned if Maikel doesn't end up an All-star.
Also, I remember when Sweeney and Dye both made the All-star team. It was the first (and only for a long, long time) ASG where more than one Royal made it. And Dye got voted in! I'll always be super happy when my guys get more than one rep.
That said, I likely won't watch much if any of the game. All I really care about is if the Royals can get someone in the Home Run derby. I think Witt should be there. It would be hilarious if Cags somehow got selected for it. But they're taking FOREVER to announce the participants.
I wouldn't say I'd be stunned, but I think he has a very good shot. There aren't really any second basemen who didn't make the team who really deserve it. Willi Castro is having a good year offensively, so maybe him. Altuve is having an okay year and he's got the name, but Garcia is more deserving. At shortstop, JP Crawford actually has a higher wRC+ than Bobby (but lower than Garcia). Corey Seager is having a decent year and is a name. Garcia's having a better year than him too. And at third, Isaac Paredes has a case as well. So does Junior Caminero. Zack McKinstry is looming also. I think Garcia has a pretty good shot, but there are others who do too.
Is he better than Rave/Loftin? Probably. But he's not good. I mean if they want to take a flyer and give him 100 plate appearances, whatever, but I could never think about him again and be fine too.
Just jumping in to say thank you for the best Royals analysis and coverage in the country. I know we were all ready to check out last month but I know it's even harder with the amount of time and energy you put into this. Also really enjoy your analysis on the podcast each week with your level-headed optimism and you make me a smarter baseball fan. David, you're the best and you're a big part of why I enjoy baseball season!
Great to see Cameron finally get some run support tonight. I turned my TV over to MLB and am watching Dbacks and Padres. I sure am glad Arizona pushed Gallen back one game to tonight. He gave up 1 run in 6 innings.
Ah, so this is what happens with good pitching and key hits. Interesting... Thank you, David. Good stuff as always.
Thanks for reading Mark!
Don't know why, but I just don't get fired up for the All-Star game anymore (and I even went to the 2012 game in KC).
I'm still worried about Cags. I think the Royals "broke" him; lots of (weak) ground balls...no line drives...and nothing to the warning track since his 2 HR game.
I don't think it's possible to "break" someone that quickly. The issue, as I keep harping, is not that the players get into these slumps. It's that this coaching staff doesn't seem to be able to get them out of them.
Enjoyed the podcast with Soren - listened to it this morning. Totally agree that Lugo will be dealt because KC won't be in contention. Inconsistency will plague them since that the type of team they have. We know Witt is a AS when it feels like he is having a down year and his stats rank right up there in many categories. I do wonder why he is striking out so much more than 2024 - approach? trying to do too much?
Really pleased for any player who comes off major injury and is successful. Good for Bubic and his AS selection. I think KC will get one other player when players are hurt or beg off playing. Can't imagine Bregman will be playing in AS game.
He is striking out more, but it feels much more in line with a standard deviation than anything. He was at 16.3% through 91 games last year and is at 19.2% so far this year. The chase rate is a bit higher. I think he's also being pitched differently. He became a really good hitter in 2023, but a superstar hitter in 2024. That leads to pitchers viewing him differently. But, I do think he's as impacted by the rest of the lineup not hitting as anyone. I'm sure he feels a responsibility to produce when others aren't, so that probably plays a role too. It's probably all of that.
I see a lot of similarity with the 85 Royals: good pitching, weak hitting outfield (with the exception of Willie Wilson in 85). and star players, Brett and Witt. At the All-Star break the 85 Royals were only two games over 500 and 7 1/2 behind out of first. Need to sweep the Pirates and win the Mets series and then see what happens in the second half.
So the best they can be is one game over .500. The worst is obviously 11 games under. If they can go 4-2 and be three games under at the break, they'll probably feel relatively good.
Between Pena, Bregman, and Chisholm I will be stunned if Maikel doesn't end up an All-star.
Also, I remember when Sweeney and Dye both made the All-star team. It was the first (and only for a long, long time) ASG where more than one Royal made it. And Dye got voted in! I'll always be super happy when my guys get more than one rep.
That said, I likely won't watch much if any of the game. All I really care about is if the Royals can get someone in the Home Run derby. I think Witt should be there. It would be hilarious if Cags somehow got selected for it. But they're taking FOREVER to announce the participants.
I wouldn't say I'd be stunned, but I think he has a very good shot. There aren't really any second basemen who didn't make the team who really deserve it. Willi Castro is having a good year offensively, so maybe him. Altuve is having an okay year and he's got the name, but Garcia is more deserving. At shortstop, JP Crawford actually has a higher wRC+ than Bobby (but lower than Garcia). Corey Seager is having a decent year and is a name. Garcia's having a better year than him too. And at third, Isaac Paredes has a case as well. So does Junior Caminero. Zack McKinstry is looming also. I think Garcia has a pretty good shot, but there are others who do too.
I see the Braves released Alex Verdugo over the weekend. Do you think he would be a viable addition to the corner outfielders?
Is he better than Rave/Loftin? Probably. But he's not good. I mean if they want to take a flyer and give him 100 plate appearances, whatever, but I could never think about him again and be fine too.
Just jumping in to say thank you for the best Royals analysis and coverage in the country. I know we were all ready to check out last month but I know it's even harder with the amount of time and energy you put into this. Also really enjoy your analysis on the podcast each week with your level-headed optimism and you make me a smarter baseball fan. David, you're the best and you're a big part of why I enjoy baseball season!
You have no idea how much I appreciate that. Thank you and thank you for reading and commenting!
Great to see Cameron finally get some run support tonight. I turned my TV over to MLB and am watching Dbacks and Padres. I sure am glad Arizona pushed Gallen back one game to tonight. He gave up 1 run in 6 innings.