MLB is still my favorite team sport in the universe, but I hate this team because they've taken all the enjoyment out of watching it. I get WAY more frustration than enjoyment out of it and enough is enough. I'll have my TV on tonight but it probably won't be tuned to Bally sports.
Thought your comment about not being able to cover a May 12th (or whatever it was) game was spot on by the organization. Really, the only way through at this point is just working through it till the AA guys get up or we get to the trade deadline. Any chance that 26 year old reliever they traded for can start at all?
Can he? Sure. He can throw 80-100 pitches. But I think they see him as a reliever. Lynch back will help. I think Veneziano and Marsh will be in AAA soon and hopefully Bowlan gets back soon enough. That can get Cameron to AA and I don’t know who else but someone. I still maintain the depth doesn’t appear to be a long-term issue but it’s been rough to start the year.
I know that this is completely moving away from the "big picture," so to speak, but let me just say how utterly delighted I am that the Royals signed Jordan Lyles for the next two seasons. His ability to eat innings while the younger pitchers develop (although they're probably four years away, but that's another story) will help to fill in the schedule, since they can't forfeit the games--oh, wait. He only got SEVEN outs yesterday? And he started the third inning by walking the 8 and 9 hitters? Well, crap.
The question is…are they signaling they know they don’t have the pitching depth to even be good next year and they just need innings yet? He’s not good…but a one year deal overpriced is fine. The second year makes you wonder what’s going on.
I don’t know the answer. I think the thought process was more flawed than damning to the future, though we hadn’t seen results in the minors yet. Sort of like signing Santana when they didn’t know what Pratto or Pasquantino would become. I think they wanted to lock in 350 innings for two years that they didn’t have to worry about.
It’s not a good initial sign, but I agree it isn’t necessarily damning to the future. I am however, more convinced than ever that JJ needs to trade either a Melendez or a Pratto trade needs to happen this year. If that is for pitching so be it. I don’t really care. Make a decision on people. You have Salvy and now Vinny. They should not be utility players (in MJ case I guess he isn’t now which i support). Make this roster work better. That is two spots you KNOW what you have. If it doesn’t happen this year that is a red flag. Get Pratto hitting well and move on.
I think they'll need to make a trade, but you also want to make sure you're at least in the right value window. It's not as simple as just Player X is good and doesn't fit, so he has to go. I don't know if either will get traded this winter and I'm not sure that means they made a wrong decision either. It's just never black and white like that.
I think the two year deal is because that's what the royals have to offer to even an "innings eater" to get to come to KC right now. As our pitching and team get a bit better, we get a bit better pitcher for a ridiculous contract. Incremental, not exponential improvements over a good deal of time
And another thing: if the Royals are going to make giving up seven runs in the third inning on Sunday road games a tradition, let me voice my opposition right now, because that's a really sucky tradition!
We all knew before the season started that all the pitchers would need to play to their assumed abilities, one or two to step up, and luck with everyone staying healthy. 0 for 3.
My question is not only who is on our roster (good point of organizational failing); but who was attainable in FA that could fill a pitching need now? Granted there were a few names out there that some teams could have gotten at a decent price, but I still say we underestimate the black hole the royals are in right now. I just don't know what pitcher would want to come here without a ridiculous overpayment. (I think this has been Leskys point in the past, and not my idea, but I certainly embrace it now). Maybe we missed on a couple FA signings, but as Lesky has pointed out FA pitching is a gamble.
I think our only chance is to grab some guys the good teams, overflowing with talent, don't have a spot for and turn a few. Seems like maybe? they are taking that approach now?
As for reasonable targets, I'd say Wade Miley and Vince Velasquez are about the only two who could have been signed and not required a second year. The options were thin. But I also think at some point, they're going to either need to show improvement enough to sign a guy for a contract that isn't insane or give a Meche contract. I hope it's the former. But they are absolutely trying to find scraps and turn them into something good right now.
Tuned in late Sunday so missed Salvy dinger but turned off after Yelich creamed pitch #2 from the Royals signing mistake. I looked so forward to Royals BB this year but........
The 1962 Mets are widely regarded (and with good reason) as being the worst team in the history of baseball, at least in the live-ball era. Their record of 40-120 speaks for itself. Over the course of the entire year they only had one pitcher with an ERA+ above 100, and he threw just 19 innings.
After Sunday's loss, the Royals were on pace to lose four fewer games than that truly horrific bunch (hooray for our boys.) But they still have plenty of opportunity to supplant that team as the worst ever.
Those Mets had one advantage over the Royals: they had Marv "Ironhands" Throenberry at 1B. By all accounts, watching him try to catch a baseball cleanly was an endless source of amusement for all concerned. But there is nothing amusing about this Royals crew. And now that we're 25% of the way through the season, the early returns on the new posse of pitching coaches are very far from amusing, no matter how many outsiders say nice things about them.
MLB is still my favorite team sport in the universe, but I hate this team because they've taken all the enjoyment out of watching it. I get WAY more frustration than enjoyment out of it and enough is enough. I'll have my TV on tonight but it probably won't be tuned to Bally sports.
Thought your comment about not being able to cover a May 12th (or whatever it was) game was spot on by the organization. Really, the only way through at this point is just working through it till the AA guys get up or we get to the trade deadline. Any chance that 26 year old reliever they traded for can start at all?
Can he? Sure. He can throw 80-100 pitches. But I think they see him as a reliever. Lynch back will help. I think Veneziano and Marsh will be in AAA soon and hopefully Bowlan gets back soon enough. That can get Cameron to AA and I don’t know who else but someone. I still maintain the depth doesn’t appear to be a long-term issue but it’s been rough to start the year.
I know that this is completely moving away from the "big picture," so to speak, but let me just say how utterly delighted I am that the Royals signed Jordan Lyles for the next two seasons. His ability to eat innings while the younger pitchers develop (although they're probably four years away, but that's another story) will help to fill in the schedule, since they can't forfeit the games--oh, wait. He only got SEVEN outs yesterday? And he started the third inning by walking the 8 and 9 hitters? Well, crap.
I was 100% fine with one year for him. I don’t think he’s good, but whatever. Someone has to pitch. Even that’s turning out to be a bad opinion.
The question is…are they signaling they know they don’t have the pitching depth to even be good next year and they just need innings yet? He’s not good…but a one year deal overpriced is fine. The second year makes you wonder what’s going on.
My thoughts--and uninformed thoughts is all they are--are these:
1) They didn't anticipate Singer starting so badly
2) They thought that Keller was or could be "fixed" (or maybe they confused Brad with Mitch, who is an early CY candidate in Pittsburgh)
3) They're leaning on Lynch coming in and pitching well--great thought, but why?
4) They're hoping that Greinke finds the "Fountain of Middle Age" (thank you, Thornton Melon from "Back to School")
5) ???
I don’t know the answer. I think the thought process was more flawed than damning to the future, though we hadn’t seen results in the minors yet. Sort of like signing Santana when they didn’t know what Pratto or Pasquantino would become. I think they wanted to lock in 350 innings for two years that they didn’t have to worry about.
It’s not a good initial sign, but I agree it isn’t necessarily damning to the future. I am however, more convinced than ever that JJ needs to trade either a Melendez or a Pratto trade needs to happen this year. If that is for pitching so be it. I don’t really care. Make a decision on people. You have Salvy and now Vinny. They should not be utility players (in MJ case I guess he isn’t now which i support). Make this roster work better. That is two spots you KNOW what you have. If it doesn’t happen this year that is a red flag. Get Pratto hitting well and move on.
I think they'll need to make a trade, but you also want to make sure you're at least in the right value window. It's not as simple as just Player X is good and doesn't fit, so he has to go. I don't know if either will get traded this winter and I'm not sure that means they made a wrong decision either. It's just never black and white like that.
Sure, agree. It’s just the longer this roster continues on…the longer I question if JJ see’s that. But yes, they need to get the right guys back.
I think the two year deal is because that's what the royals have to offer to even an "innings eater" to get to come to KC right now. As our pitching and team get a bit better, we get a bit better pitcher for a ridiculous contract. Incremental, not exponential improvements over a good deal of time
Sure. They have to pay the bad team tax. My contention since the second they signed him was if it took two years, just don't do it.
And another thing: if the Royals are going to make giving up seven runs in the third inning on Sunday road games a tradition, let me voice my opposition right now, because that's a really sucky tradition!
Hey they’ve only done it twice. It won’t become a tradition until next week.
MARK YER CALENDARS
We all knew before the season started that all the pitchers would need to play to their assumed abilities, one or two to step up, and luck with everyone staying healthy. 0 for 3.
My question is not only who is on our roster (good point of organizational failing); but who was attainable in FA that could fill a pitching need now? Granted there were a few names out there that some teams could have gotten at a decent price, but I still say we underestimate the black hole the royals are in right now. I just don't know what pitcher would want to come here without a ridiculous overpayment. (I think this has been Leskys point in the past, and not my idea, but I certainly embrace it now). Maybe we missed on a couple FA signings, but as Lesky has pointed out FA pitching is a gamble.
I think our only chance is to grab some guys the good teams, overflowing with talent, don't have a spot for and turn a few. Seems like maybe? they are taking that approach now?
And happy first mom's day to your baby momma!
Thank you!
As for reasonable targets, I'd say Wade Miley and Vince Velasquez are about the only two who could have been signed and not required a second year. The options were thin. But I also think at some point, they're going to either need to show improvement enough to sign a guy for a contract that isn't insane or give a Meche contract. I hope it's the former. But they are absolutely trying to find scraps and turn them into something good right now.
Tuned in late Sunday so missed Salvy dinger but turned off after Yelich creamed pitch #2 from the Royals signing mistake. I looked so forward to Royals BB this year but........
The 1962 Mets are widely regarded (and with good reason) as being the worst team in the history of baseball, at least in the live-ball era. Their record of 40-120 speaks for itself. Over the course of the entire year they only had one pitcher with an ERA+ above 100, and he threw just 19 innings.
After Sunday's loss, the Royals were on pace to lose four fewer games than that truly horrific bunch (hooray for our boys.) But they still have plenty of opportunity to supplant that team as the worst ever.
Those Mets had one advantage over the Royals: they had Marv "Ironhands" Throenberry at 1B. By all accounts, watching him try to catch a baseball cleanly was an endless source of amusement for all concerned. But there is nothing amusing about this Royals crew. And now that we're 25% of the way through the season, the early returns on the new posse of pitching coaches are very far from amusing, no matter how many outsiders say nice things about them.
I sense the collective effort to make Christian Yelich seem like the 2019 version was annoying to you, too.
Oh yes. Annoying to the millionth power.