All is right again, they are pretty much where I expected. I can’t get too excited, because the offense is still a problem with 2, 2, and 3. It’s been a long time now, and I’m hoping for an early move but we’ll see. Pitching was nails again. Against Tampa, just don’t get swept, and I’d like to see a good Ragans just for peace of mind. Anything else is fine.
I understand why they kept Stratton and I get it. But it’s time. It’s not worth really going into because he will be gone and its mop up time, but it’s time. Unfortunately, I felt like the game was over at just 3-0 yesterday. We’ve done it with Melendez and Long, its time to move on from this Stratton issue and this isn’t even really a discussion.
Even if the Royals were hitting, I'm not sure they were getting a ton of runs this series. The Astros pitching is really good and it was, once again, not a great hitting environment this weekend. Yesterday was the best day to hit and they had to face a guy who hadn't given up a run in three weeks. Doesn't mean they're fine or anything, but I'll be curious to see how they do against a Rays team that pitches well, but not on the level of the Astros. Of course, they also get the two best starters they have going right now, so that's a bummer.
With Stratton, I would have preferred keeping Hernandez over him out of spring training. Neither is good, but give me the guy who throws 99. At this point, though, the issue they're running into is a lack of options for the moment. Sisk can't come back up without an injury. Cerantola is decidedly not ready. Avila could be an option, but I don't think he's there either yet. A guy like Andrew Hoffmann makes a lot of sense because you'd open the 40-man spot with a DFA, but I could see this riding into Harvey's return.
They don’t get a lot of sympathy from me on the Stratton issue with the other guys though. The answer was keeping Sisk and just moving on from Stratton. Yes, the WHIP on Sisk is way too high in a super small sample, but 5k’s in 2 innings. Come on now fellas, that was the answer.
For Stratton's role on the team as the mop up/white flag guy, I'd much rather see Bowlan carry that role. No team wants to eat this contract but KC wants to contend. Stratton doesn't contribute to their present or future success. Hoffman has been really strong in Omaha's bullpen - pleasantly surprised at his success. Harvey will need a place soon. Sisk can contribute too. Don't know the time line on Marsh or Wright.
I think they'll eat the contract at some point. I thought they would this spring.
As for Marsh and Wright, it sounds like Marsh may go on a rehab assignment soon, but I think he'll end up at AAA as starting depth. Wright has an option too, so he could stay stretched out in AAA after/if he's back.
He's been horrible down there. If you're looking for a glimmer of hope there, I think that making huge adjustments would likely lead to being horrible. Kind of hard to assume that's what's happening when the numbers mirror his big league numbers, but I think they sent him down for a real chunk of time and are actually trying to fix him rather than just get him some numbers, so I think it's fair to at least wait and see. I don't have high hopes, but I also don't think this means they should just cut him or anything.
I do not know how Melendez can be hitting so poorly? Like everything else in life, baseball is as much mental as physical. Melendez has the physical part but what about the mental???
Stratton has to go and I don’t understand not giving Sisk more chances? Waters has gained confidence and should be playing LF every day. He also gives the Royals another player that has speed. Renfroe besides not hitting cannot run and at the K with its huge dimensions we need three OF who can run! Vinnie still looks lost and at the least should not be batting third! Finally, I would still like to see Jac in KC by the end of May because playing Biggio with his sub-0.200 batting average is just hurting the offense. Massey needs to start hitting as well. Jac hitting 3rd or 4th helps give Witt better pitches to hit!!!
Sisk got sent down to get another righty arm for a series against a team that had one lefty. I don't get making that move for one series when the player has to be down for 15 days, but they also might have a sense that they'll be using the IL before then, which negates the 15 days. I guess we'll see on that. I would love to see Sisk get more chances. I also don't think it's egregious that he's going to ride the I-29 Express.
As for Waters, he's playing every day. He's started every one of their last 11 games and he'll continue to do that until he proves he shouldn't. I still don't see it with him, but as long as he produces, great.
Edit: And to add on for Witt, he's seeing 2% MORE pitches in the heart of the plate this year than last.
Come on David, Vinnie is hitting under 0.200 with 3 homers! BWJ needs some real protection and 2% more pitches in the strike zone is statistically irrelevant. BWJ is not hitting homers much right now either with all of 2 homers! I remember the greatest Royals comment about guys hitting under 0.200 as the Mendoza line. Thanks George Brett!!!
The point is he had "protection" last year and is seeing more hittable pitches this year. To assume he'd see even more than he did last year when Vinnie and Salvy were both hitting much better behind him is just blind hope. Among hitters who have seen 400+ pitches, Witt sees pitches in the heart of the plate the 37th most by percentage. You can say it's irrelevant, but your point that he'd see more with a rookie who is still chasing too much and striking out too much in AA is one that I think is one that I would heartily disagree with.
David, we have a fundamental difference on the potential of Cags . I am tired of the Royals playing guys with ZERO potential like Biggio and Renfroe to make the offense better. If you cannot hit over 0.200 you do not belong in the majors. Cags got two solid base hits against a future HOF pitcher and he hits tape measure homers. He can learn on the major league level and still contribute more than either Biggio or Renfroe. The season is about 20% gone and it is way past time for the Royals to make the moves to make the offense better. Everyone raved about Cags maturity during spring training and he has mentors in Salvy and BWJ to help adjust to the majors!!!
I don't think we do have a fundamental difference on his potential. We have a fundamental difference on what he can do RIGHT NOW. And the reality is that he's whiffing on 31 percent of swings in AA. I think he's going to be a freaking monster, a true star. I think bringing him up right now is setting him up for failure both now and in the future.
Let me give you five AA batting lines:
- .285/.372/.628, 12.4% BB, 21.9% K, 26.4% Whiff, 22 years old
- .272/.404/.570, 16.7% BB, 29.1% K, 34.3% Whiff, 22 years old
- .310/.405/.560, 13.1% BB, 11.0% K, 15.8% Whiff, 23 years old
- .295/.369/.570, 9.0% BB, 24.0% K, 30.4% Whiff, 21 years old
- .282/.360/.494, 11.0% BB, 24.0% K, 31% Whiff, 22 years old
You've maybe figured out that the first four are MJ Melendez, Nick Pratto, Vinnie Pasquantino and Bobby Witt Jr. from 2021. You've got a guy who might be seeing his big league career end, one who never saw his started, one who has struggled so much that people want him replaced soon and a legitimate superstar who took a year and a half in the big leagues to figure it out.
The final one is Cags. He's having a really nice season in AA. The only one of the five who whiffed more was Pratto. The only one who walked less is Witt. The only one who struck out more is Pratto. Cags has the second-worst average, worst OBP and worst SLG of the five.
I still think he becomes the second-best player of the bunch and that's likely only because Witt is otherworldly. But this is why I think it's laughable to assume he's ready for the big leagues right now. Would he be better than what they're running out there? I would hope so, but I also don't think it's even remotely a guarantee. I love how hard he hits the ball. I love that he got two hits off Clayton Kershaw. I love that he came out of a slump quickly. He will be up at some point. He will hit a ton of homers at some point. I don't believe he's shown he's ready for the big leagues. And quite frankly, nothing anecdotal is going to sway me on that.
Well, we can agree to disagree but the Astros played against the Royals this past weekend that the announcers stated was playing at Florida State last season???
The second the front office makes decisions based on putting fans in the seats when they’re trying to actually compete is the second I will scream for everyone to be fired.
Cags will hit more than 0.200 and I don’t believe Biggio has even one extra basehit??? Cags will also supply some power to a team that is at the bottom of the MLB baseball in homers!
I have seen some people writing off the Rays as not very good and saying the Royals need to kick their butts or else. But I look at those three starters and that's not gonna be easy. And sure, their record says they aren't good, but their batting numbers show a bunch of guys hitting really well who haven't played in many games. If they've promoted a bunch of guys recently who are ready to tear the cover off the ball, it seems to me like this could be a rough one.
Fortunately, the Royals get Baltimore and then the White Sox for the seven games after that, so those should be fun, at least.
I think a lot of it is that when the Royals finished with the Tigers, a lot was made of their schedule lightening up. At that moment, the Rays were 9-13. They'd lose another to drop to 9-14, which is exactly where the Royals were after 23 games. Similarly, they're now back to .500. A lot of that aligns with calling Chandler Simpson up, but some of that is just that I think most teams are kind of around average, so they're going to go back and forth a lot. The Royals are catching the Rays at a bad time, but the Rays probably think the same thing about the Royals, so I guess we'll see how it goes.
This is going to sound like a criticism of Bobby, but this hitting streak he is on feels quite underwhelming. We were so spoiled by him last year that a streak like this would have been highlight reel worthy. Yet on this team, he's still hitting far and away better than anyone else.
My guess is that a lot of that is the lack of driving the ball. He's had a bunch of doubles, which is great, but a lot are like yesterday's that his speed creates. Which is fine! He's hitting .357/.420/.529 in the 19 games, but I feel like last year, he'd have been slugging .600+ in this stretch. Maybe the power will come soon.
Do you think any of the relief decisions are being made to see exactly what they have and who can slot where? I hated seeing Stratton come in yesterday, (really thought they had a chance as they seem about to break out with the bats) but now noone can say he wasn't given a chance when they cut bait. Idk, maybe too late in the season to be figuring things out, but they are still finding some things out about the relievers that they will need to be confident about come playoff time.
I am really liking India. Brown pitched 4 up and in that you think could rattle a guy who got pegged in the head. Jonny (yup, already have a pet name for him) rubbed his cheek a few times, took the walk, and seemed to put that rage somewhere inside to use later.
No, I don't think so. They know what they have and where guys slot. Erceg and Estevez are at the end of the game (and Harvey when he's healthy). Lynch and Schreiber are middle inning guys who can slot late innings too because they're good enough. Cruz is getting in there too. And right now, Zerpa and Stratton are on the outs. Bowlan is still TBD, so there is some level of figuring things out, but that's always true with a changing unit.
How much of whether or not a prospect becomes a big league regular is based on skill, and how much is based on an organization’s development abilities?
That's a really good question. I may include it, but I may not because I need to think a bit on that one. If it's not in there tomorrow, keep it in your back pocket and remind me for next time.
David, Nars Lootbar is quickly becoming a guy I’d love for them to make a run at with the Cardinals. I know you had him on your list a couple weeks ago. Let’s just assume the Cardinals fall out of it. At 27, he’s not super young anymore, not outwordly where the Cardinals could ask the moon, and he’s a FA in 27. It kinda lines up. 50/50 chance?
I’m still thoroughly encouraged by the fact that despite the very slow start, a gauntlet of tough teams, and at their *worst* they’re still hanging around .500. How long can they keep that up w/o losing significant ground - well this road trip is probably the line.
Your comment is an interesting one because the question I keep asking myself is if this is them at their worst or if this is them at their best. If it's their best, uh oh. If it's their worst, the rest of the league should be saying uh oh. I think it's probably more toward their worst, particularly offensively, but I think we'll know the answer to that soon enough.
I do think last year they punched above their weight on offense a bit. But that was countered by a rough bullpen, as far as wins and losses go. That being said, I believe we’ve seen what the offense can be for an entire season and I think they’ll get back to the league average at minimum. I do think they’re still missing a bat
All is right again, they are pretty much where I expected. I can’t get too excited, because the offense is still a problem with 2, 2, and 3. It’s been a long time now, and I’m hoping for an early move but we’ll see. Pitching was nails again. Against Tampa, just don’t get swept, and I’d like to see a good Ragans just for peace of mind. Anything else is fine.
I understand why they kept Stratton and I get it. But it’s time. It’s not worth really going into because he will be gone and its mop up time, but it’s time. Unfortunately, I felt like the game was over at just 3-0 yesterday. We’ve done it with Melendez and Long, its time to move on from this Stratton issue and this isn’t even really a discussion.
Even if the Royals were hitting, I'm not sure they were getting a ton of runs this series. The Astros pitching is really good and it was, once again, not a great hitting environment this weekend. Yesterday was the best day to hit and they had to face a guy who hadn't given up a run in three weeks. Doesn't mean they're fine or anything, but I'll be curious to see how they do against a Rays team that pitches well, but not on the level of the Astros. Of course, they also get the two best starters they have going right now, so that's a bummer.
With Stratton, I would have preferred keeping Hernandez over him out of spring training. Neither is good, but give me the guy who throws 99. At this point, though, the issue they're running into is a lack of options for the moment. Sisk can't come back up without an injury. Cerantola is decidedly not ready. Avila could be an option, but I don't think he's there either yet. A guy like Andrew Hoffmann makes a lot of sense because you'd open the 40-man spot with a DFA, but I could see this riding into Harvey's return.
They don’t get a lot of sympathy from me on the Stratton issue with the other guys though. The answer was keeping Sisk and just moving on from Stratton. Yes, the WHIP on Sisk is way too high in a super small sample, but 5k’s in 2 innings. Come on now fellas, that was the answer.
I know it’s too much energy on the last guy on the roster situation, but I’d like Sisk up. Lol.
I like Sisk too. I don't think it's *that* big of a deal, but their best bullpen does not include Stratton.
For Stratton's role on the team as the mop up/white flag guy, I'd much rather see Bowlan carry that role. No team wants to eat this contract but KC wants to contend. Stratton doesn't contribute to their present or future success. Hoffman has been really strong in Omaha's bullpen - pleasantly surprised at his success. Harvey will need a place soon. Sisk can contribute too. Don't know the time line on Marsh or Wright.
I think they'll eat the contract at some point. I thought they would this spring.
As for Marsh and Wright, it sounds like Marsh may go on a rehab assignment soon, but I think he'll end up at AAA as starting depth. Wright has an option too, so he could stay stretched out in AAA after/if he's back.
Since you mentioned Melendez's name, I might add Melendez is 2 for 24 with 10 strikeouts since being sent to Omaha.
He's been horrible down there. If you're looking for a glimmer of hope there, I think that making huge adjustments would likely lead to being horrible. Kind of hard to assume that's what's happening when the numbers mirror his big league numbers, but I think they sent him down for a real chunk of time and are actually trying to fix him rather than just get him some numbers, so I think it's fair to at least wait and see. I don't have high hopes, but I also don't think this means they should just cut him or anything.
No point even looking at the MJ stats. It’s time to move on and hope he figures it out. Even if it isn’t with this organization.
Maybe he will force there hand, that’s the goal. But he’s not hurting the team anymore, just root for the guy. Lol.
I do not know how Melendez can be hitting so poorly? Like everything else in life, baseball is as much mental as physical. Melendez has the physical part but what about the mental???
Stratton has to go and I don’t understand not giving Sisk more chances? Waters has gained confidence and should be playing LF every day. He also gives the Royals another player that has speed. Renfroe besides not hitting cannot run and at the K with its huge dimensions we need three OF who can run! Vinnie still looks lost and at the least should not be batting third! Finally, I would still like to see Jac in KC by the end of May because playing Biggio with his sub-0.200 batting average is just hurting the offense. Massey needs to start hitting as well. Jac hitting 3rd or 4th helps give Witt better pitches to hit!!!
Sisk got sent down to get another righty arm for a series against a team that had one lefty. I don't get making that move for one series when the player has to be down for 15 days, but they also might have a sense that they'll be using the IL before then, which negates the 15 days. I guess we'll see on that. I would love to see Sisk get more chances. I also don't think it's egregious that he's going to ride the I-29 Express.
As for Waters, he's playing every day. He's started every one of their last 11 games and he'll continue to do that until he proves he shouldn't. I still don't see it with him, but as long as he produces, great.
Edit: And to add on for Witt, he's seeing 2% MORE pitches in the heart of the plate this year than last.
Come on David, Vinnie is hitting under 0.200 with 3 homers! BWJ needs some real protection and 2% more pitches in the strike zone is statistically irrelevant. BWJ is not hitting homers much right now either with all of 2 homers! I remember the greatest Royals comment about guys hitting under 0.200 as the Mendoza line. Thanks George Brett!!!
The point is he had "protection" last year and is seeing more hittable pitches this year. To assume he'd see even more than he did last year when Vinnie and Salvy were both hitting much better behind him is just blind hope. Among hitters who have seen 400+ pitches, Witt sees pitches in the heart of the plate the 37th most by percentage. You can say it's irrelevant, but your point that he'd see more with a rookie who is still chasing too much and striking out too much in AA is one that I think is one that I would heartily disagree with.
David, we have a fundamental difference on the potential of Cags . I am tired of the Royals playing guys with ZERO potential like Biggio and Renfroe to make the offense better. If you cannot hit over 0.200 you do not belong in the majors. Cags got two solid base hits against a future HOF pitcher and he hits tape measure homers. He can learn on the major league level and still contribute more than either Biggio or Renfroe. The season is about 20% gone and it is way past time for the Royals to make the moves to make the offense better. Everyone raved about Cags maturity during spring training and he has mentors in Salvy and BWJ to help adjust to the majors!!!
I don't think we do have a fundamental difference on his potential. We have a fundamental difference on what he can do RIGHT NOW. And the reality is that he's whiffing on 31 percent of swings in AA. I think he's going to be a freaking monster, a true star. I think bringing him up right now is setting him up for failure both now and in the future.
Let me give you five AA batting lines:
- .285/.372/.628, 12.4% BB, 21.9% K, 26.4% Whiff, 22 years old
- .272/.404/.570, 16.7% BB, 29.1% K, 34.3% Whiff, 22 years old
- .310/.405/.560, 13.1% BB, 11.0% K, 15.8% Whiff, 23 years old
- .295/.369/.570, 9.0% BB, 24.0% K, 30.4% Whiff, 21 years old
- .282/.360/.494, 11.0% BB, 24.0% K, 31% Whiff, 22 years old
You've maybe figured out that the first four are MJ Melendez, Nick Pratto, Vinnie Pasquantino and Bobby Witt Jr. from 2021. You've got a guy who might be seeing his big league career end, one who never saw his started, one who has struggled so much that people want him replaced soon and a legitimate superstar who took a year and a half in the big leagues to figure it out.
The final one is Cags. He's having a really nice season in AA. The only one of the five who whiffed more was Pratto. The only one who walked less is Witt. The only one who struck out more is Pratto. Cags has the second-worst average, worst OBP and worst SLG of the five.
I still think he becomes the second-best player of the bunch and that's likely only because Witt is otherworldly. But this is why I think it's laughable to assume he's ready for the big leagues right now. Would he be better than what they're running out there? I would hope so, but I also don't think it's even remotely a guarantee. I love how hard he hits the ball. I love that he got two hits off Clayton Kershaw. I love that he came out of a slump quickly. He will be up at some point. He will hit a ton of homers at some point. I don't believe he's shown he's ready for the big leagues. And quite frankly, nothing anecdotal is going to sway me on that.
Well, we can agree to disagree but the Astros played against the Royals this past weekend that the announcers stated was playing at Florida State last season???
Nothing against Biggio, but calling up Cags would sure put a lot more fans in the seats.
The second the front office makes decisions based on putting fans in the seats when they’re trying to actually compete is the second I will scream for everyone to be fired.
Cags will hit more than 0.200 and I don’t believe Biggio has even one extra basehit??? Cags will also supply some power to a team that is at the bottom of the MLB baseball in homers!
I have seen some people writing off the Rays as not very good and saying the Royals need to kick their butts or else. But I look at those three starters and that's not gonna be easy. And sure, their record says they aren't good, but their batting numbers show a bunch of guys hitting really well who haven't played in many games. If they've promoted a bunch of guys recently who are ready to tear the cover off the ball, it seems to me like this could be a rough one.
Fortunately, the Royals get Baltimore and then the White Sox for the seven games after that, so those should be fun, at least.
I think a lot of it is that when the Royals finished with the Tigers, a lot was made of their schedule lightening up. At that moment, the Rays were 9-13. They'd lose another to drop to 9-14, which is exactly where the Royals were after 23 games. Similarly, they're now back to .500. A lot of that aligns with calling Chandler Simpson up, but some of that is just that I think most teams are kind of around average, so they're going to go back and forth a lot. The Royals are catching the Rays at a bad time, but the Rays probably think the same thing about the Royals, so I guess we'll see how it goes.
This is going to sound like a criticism of Bobby, but this hitting streak he is on feels quite underwhelming. We were so spoiled by him last year that a streak like this would have been highlight reel worthy. Yet on this team, he's still hitting far and away better than anyone else.
My guess is that a lot of that is the lack of driving the ball. He's had a bunch of doubles, which is great, but a lot are like yesterday's that his speed creates. Which is fine! He's hitting .357/.420/.529 in the 19 games, but I feel like last year, he'd have been slugging .600+ in this stretch. Maybe the power will come soon.
Do you think any of the relief decisions are being made to see exactly what they have and who can slot where? I hated seeing Stratton come in yesterday, (really thought they had a chance as they seem about to break out with the bats) but now noone can say he wasn't given a chance when they cut bait. Idk, maybe too late in the season to be figuring things out, but they are still finding some things out about the relievers that they will need to be confident about come playoff time.
I am really liking India. Brown pitched 4 up and in that you think could rattle a guy who got pegged in the head. Jonny (yup, already have a pet name for him) rubbed his cheek a few times, took the walk, and seemed to put that rage somewhere inside to use later.
No, I don't think so. They know what they have and where guys slot. Erceg and Estevez are at the end of the game (and Harvey when he's healthy). Lynch and Schreiber are middle inning guys who can slot late innings too because they're good enough. Cruz is getting in there too. And right now, Zerpa and Stratton are on the outs. Bowlan is still TBD, so there is some level of figuring things out, but that's always true with a changing unit.
If not too late for mailbag.
How much of whether or not a prospect becomes a big league regular is based on skill, and how much is based on an organization’s development abilities?
That's a really good question. I may include it, but I may not because I need to think a bit on that one. If it's not in there tomorrow, keep it in your back pocket and remind me for next time.
David, Nars Lootbar is quickly becoming a guy I’d love for them to make a run at with the Cardinals. I know you had him on your list a couple weeks ago. Let’s just assume the Cardinals fall out of it. At 27, he’s not super young anymore, not outwordly where the Cardinals could ask the moon, and he’s a FA in 27. It kinda lines up. 50/50 chance?
Yeah, I would love that. The Cardinals are bizarre, though, so who knows?
I’m still thoroughly encouraged by the fact that despite the very slow start, a gauntlet of tough teams, and at their *worst* they’re still hanging around .500. How long can they keep that up w/o losing significant ground - well this road trip is probably the line.
Your comment is an interesting one because the question I keep asking myself is if this is them at their worst or if this is them at their best. If it's their best, uh oh. If it's their worst, the rest of the league should be saying uh oh. I think it's probably more toward their worst, particularly offensively, but I think we'll know the answer to that soon enough.
I do think last year they punched above their weight on offense a bit. But that was countered by a rough bullpen, as far as wins and losses go. That being said, I believe we’ve seen what the offense can be for an entire season and I think they’ll get back to the league average at minimum. I do think they’re still missing a bat
Probably so, but I think they’re a better overall team this year, as you said. They don’t need to be a good offense. They need to be a fine offense.