I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like Ragans yesterday. Didn’t see it live but it was three pitches in a row to the backstop? Man.
Hernandez, I’m over it. If there was nothing there to trade him with so be it. If there was something there and you held back, learn from it and don’t let it happen again. I don’t know if there was or wasn’t. I think you keep him as a reliever and he has 4 years to really figure it out and you do it again if not in contention. I’m over that one.
I look at the standings and struggle a little bit. Lol. The Royals should be better than the A’s. The run differential confirms that. And does it matter if you are the worst team in baseball? No, not really. I guess should be cheering for it at this point. But it’s the one place I stop at when we talk about 2025. I know it CAN happen quickly…..but two years is a quick turnaround for the worst team in baseball without the farm system. People will come up and help, I don’t doubt that…but we should be better than the A’s. Lol.
The footing was clearly a problem and then it seemed like it got in his head, but I'm just guessing on that. I'll be very curious to see what he looks like his next time out, but I'm also not going to worry about it until something happens again.
If the Royals had any other relievers, I think you say whatever and move on, but 100 MPH with movement doesn't grow on trees (though it's getting closer). He'll either be fine or he won't. Worth a shot to find out.
Also, as for the A's, I don't even care about the record anymore, though I will note that the three worst teams have even odds for the number one pick, so it'd be nice to at least not be worst because they'd be just as likely to get that pick.
I don’t get what is great about Fermin behind the plate, his glove floats and he doesn’t frame pitches well that are borderline strikes and doesn’t get the strikes called that should or could be. Melendez will never be more than a mediocre outfielder, he also continues to bail out his hips when swinging, he looks like he is guessing on every swing, Perez should retire unless they are going to let a pinch runner run for him from the plate to 1st. Bottom line with this team is still inadequate managing and coaching, the entire season was managed like a travel team tryout. They hired a ton of analytical employees and it surely didn’t help with the running of the club or they were ignored. Pitchers still not ready when starting or relieving, batters acting like they don’t know what the pitcher is throwing.
Why do they keep running Greinke and Pratto out there? Let’s see what the prospects can do.
Is Greinke damaging his HOF chances with a 1-15 record? That’s quite a blemish. He’s made $338 million over in his career; did he really need another $8 million?
The difference between the Royals and Orioles, DBacks, Reds and others is the condition of their farms systems when they were bad at the MLB level. The Royals have limited talent at the big league level (we can surely agree on that with a likely 110 loss team) and zero prospects on any top 100 prospect list. I’m not nearly as optimistic as you and Rex Hudler.
I don't know about Greinke, but Pratto is one of the prospects whether he's shown much or not. He has 484 career big league plate appearances. Greinke isn't damaging anything with this season other than the Royals chances to win when he pitches.
I also think it's funny that I'm labeled as optimistic when I basically listed 9 players out of 26 who have shown anywhere near enough to be written in ink for the 2024 roster. This is a bad team with, yes, a bad farm system. But there is a way out and it starts with this offseason, which is why I think it's the most important in franchise history.
Agree with Grienke, he should have never been signed this year and last year, no body else wanted him. Pratto is a keeper, it’s getting consistent AB’s. They forced themselves into this mess, by rushing all of these players up at the same time and not keeping some vets around, when trading vets 95% of the time they are getting nothing in return.
I agree that Hernandez’s problem is partly mental. He’s always been a bit unreliable because he’s young, but after the Barlow trade, when Q began using him as a closer, he completely fell apart. I had hoped the stepped-up role would focus him and bring out the best.
He's certainly got some work to do this offseason. But also, if he's a middle reliever and isn't able to do more, there are worse things than having that kind of stuff to cover the sixth and seventh in close games.
forgot to ask you about Keller. What was that about bringing him back from the DL? Just doing him a solid and letting him try to throw a couple innings to show he still has the stuff after injury before FA? I mean, it’s nothing to get worked up about or anything. I just kind of figure anyone with a remote change of sticking here should get those innings. But maybe they don’t have enough of those to go around and it’s just a someone has to get us to the end of the year kind of thing.
Yeah, I wasn't surprised they did it, but it doesn't really serve much of a purpose unless they see something they like from him as a reliever and are trying to determine if he's worth a cheap flyer to help rebuild a bullpen that needs all the help they can get. I wouldn't expect much and I'm not sure they do either, but sort of just throwing crap against the wall to see what sticks is my guess.
I guess the only thing I’d say is……even if he throws one or two good innings….do you really think they would re-sign him even to a cheap deal? I think that’s one they just need to finally let go…..but who knows.
It's not a fair question because you know who I'm talking about, but let's say for argument's sake that he goes out and gives 8 clean innings the rest of the year. A 28-year old coming off an injury who had been successful earlier in his career is exactly the kind of flyer a team like the Royals needs to be taking. I'm not saying give him $8 million, but if you can sign him for $1.5 million, we'd look at that deal in the offseason and think "huh, interesting risk there."
Pratto stats after 484 ABs: -.9 WAR, .216 BA, 87 OPS+, 37% strikeout rate. Well below replacement level after about 80% of the ABs for a full season. That doesn’t seem like a prospect to me.
If I recall correctly, the main free agent signings last winter were Lyles, Greinke, Chapman and Yarborough. All were third tier or below FAs. Other than a complete overpay, I’m not sure any first or second tier FA would want to sign with a 110 loss team that has a poor farm system.
I know all the stats for Pratto, but he's a young and inexperienced player. Whether he's a good prospect or not, he's a prospect. Who are you playing at first base over him right now? Also, he was back for the Toronto series and played one game and hit ninth.
I can't answer your question right now because nobody has any idea what the team is going to look like next year. If their moves are similar to last offseason, it's an easy over. If they do more than that, who knows?
I would challenge Hernandez to come to camp next spring in shape... if not .... ship him. That would tell me all I need to know about his level of focus.
I do think Ragans will be fine (those Canadians probably sabotaged the mound...they are not as friendly as they say they are!).
But, I will say the same thing about Zack Grienke today as i said about him the last time he had 15 losses in a season..."stop the pain...send him to the bull pen!" Although then I was worried the Royals were ruining him, now I am saying it to protect my mental health!
Hey...any thoughts on that kid Dominguez wrecking his elbow? Is it lack of training and technique or just an accident? Seems odd an outfielder would wreck his elbow if he is throwing properly...crow hop, etc.... just 'wondering aloud.'
I was at the Posnanski book event too!! Yes, about being a baseball nerd & a writing nerd!! It’s because of him that a mild interest in the local baseball team blossomed into a love of baseball that I have now.
Where was the event held? I went to a Rainy Day Books chat with James Comey a few years back ( not sure I would do that now ) at the Uptown Theater ( literally a block & a half from my place ).
Not really Royals related. But the George Kirby outrage this weekend has me perplexed. IDK if you saw or not. I don’t really understand the backlash. Even with Ragans yesterday, at some point it is on the players to tell the truth. There is no reason to say Q is ruining anything. If you ask the player and they say they are fine then what is the problem? Same thing with Kirby, if he told the manager all he had was 92 pitches in him….then he told the truth and its on the manager for sending him out there. I mean, he’s a rookie throwing the most innings he’s ever thrown. I’d believe in a heartbeat his arm is tired and maybe that’s all he had that day. All I want if the players to tell the truth…then they do and get roasted for it. Lol….no wonder they only say the lip service line all the time.
My thoughts are that I think there's a difference between telling your manager you don't have anything left and telling reporters that you thought you'd done your job after six innings. I want players to be open with their manager, but I don't think throwing the manager under the bus after the game is the right call either.
Loved Joe (most of the time).. 4 quadrants for MLB, large spender-good management. Large spender-bad management. Small spender - good management. Small spender- bad management. Hopefully the new regime can move us up a level
The only reason (aside from your charm and witty banter, David) that I subscribe to Inside the Crown is to get insight and some element of realistic optimism about the future for this team we're all nuts enough to love. So I appreciate that angle. I don't need anyone to tell me over and over again that this is a team with a terrible record that has made some very poor personnel/development decisions over the past several years. That part is obvious and easy to see. So keep the "optimism" coming. You ground it in reality and still tell it like it is as it relates to the current team, and I find it entertaining and therapeutic, especially in a year that's been about next year (or the year after that) since mid April! Keep up the good work.
I really enjoyed this newsletter, David. I also attended the JOPO and Michael Show... My kids purchased the book (which I now have to wrap) and tickets as a Christmas gift. Like you said, everyone who enjoys a good story should see him in person. I miss him writing for the Star. Their podcast is pretty good as well.
Thank you for highlighting Joe Pos because I have been greatly admiring his work for many years now, whether he was writing about one of the local teams or about somebody else. He is a virtuoso who deserves to be widely read.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like Ragans yesterday. Didn’t see it live but it was three pitches in a row to the backstop? Man.
Hernandez, I’m over it. If there was nothing there to trade him with so be it. If there was something there and you held back, learn from it and don’t let it happen again. I don’t know if there was or wasn’t. I think you keep him as a reliever and he has 4 years to really figure it out and you do it again if not in contention. I’m over that one.
I look at the standings and struggle a little bit. Lol. The Royals should be better than the A’s. The run differential confirms that. And does it matter if you are the worst team in baseball? No, not really. I guess should be cheering for it at this point. But it’s the one place I stop at when we talk about 2025. I know it CAN happen quickly…..but two years is a quick turnaround for the worst team in baseball without the farm system. People will come up and help, I don’t doubt that…but we should be better than the A’s. Lol.
The footing was clearly a problem and then it seemed like it got in his head, but I'm just guessing on that. I'll be very curious to see what he looks like his next time out, but I'm also not going to worry about it until something happens again.
If the Royals had any other relievers, I think you say whatever and move on, but 100 MPH with movement doesn't grow on trees (though it's getting closer). He'll either be fine or he won't. Worth a shot to find out.
Also, as for the A's, I don't even care about the record anymore, though I will note that the three worst teams have even odds for the number one pick, so it'd be nice to at least not be worst because they'd be just as likely to get that pick.
I don’t get what is great about Fermin behind the plate, his glove floats and he doesn’t frame pitches well that are borderline strikes and doesn’t get the strikes called that should or could be. Melendez will never be more than a mediocre outfielder, he also continues to bail out his hips when swinging, he looks like he is guessing on every swing, Perez should retire unless they are going to let a pinch runner run for him from the plate to 1st. Bottom line with this team is still inadequate managing and coaching, the entire season was managed like a travel team tryout. They hired a ton of analytical employees and it surely didn’t help with the running of the club or they were ignored. Pitchers still not ready when starting or relieving, batters acting like they don’t know what the pitcher is throwing.
Why do they keep running Greinke and Pratto out there? Let’s see what the prospects can do.
Is Greinke damaging his HOF chances with a 1-15 record? That’s quite a blemish. He’s made $338 million over in his career; did he really need another $8 million?
The difference between the Royals and Orioles, DBacks, Reds and others is the condition of their farms systems when they were bad at the MLB level. The Royals have limited talent at the big league level (we can surely agree on that with a likely 110 loss team) and zero prospects on any top 100 prospect list. I’m not nearly as optimistic as you and Rex Hudler.
I don't know about Greinke, but Pratto is one of the prospects whether he's shown much or not. He has 484 career big league plate appearances. Greinke isn't damaging anything with this season other than the Royals chances to win when he pitches.
I also think it's funny that I'm labeled as optimistic when I basically listed 9 players out of 26 who have shown anywhere near enough to be written in ink for the 2024 roster. This is a bad team with, yes, a bad farm system. But there is a way out and it starts with this offseason, which is why I think it's the most important in franchise history.
If I wasn't an optimist....I would stop watching!
I'd also bet that since Greinke has "Could Own A Private Chipotle Chain" dough that his decision to come back this year wasn't based on money.
Agree with Grienke, he should have never been signed this year and last year, no body else wanted him. Pratto is a keeper, it’s getting consistent AB’s. They forced themselves into this mess, by rushing all of these players up at the same time and not keeping some vets around, when trading vets 95% of the time they are getting nothing in return.
I agree that Hernandez’s problem is partly mental. He’s always been a bit unreliable because he’s young, but after the Barlow trade, when Q began using him as a closer, he completely fell apart. I had hoped the stepped-up role would focus him and bring out the best.
He's certainly got some work to do this offseason. But also, if he's a middle reliever and isn't able to do more, there are worse things than having that kind of stuff to cover the sixth and seventh in close games.
Yeah, the stuff is great.
forgot to ask you about Keller. What was that about bringing him back from the DL? Just doing him a solid and letting him try to throw a couple innings to show he still has the stuff after injury before FA? I mean, it’s nothing to get worked up about or anything. I just kind of figure anyone with a remote change of sticking here should get those innings. But maybe they don’t have enough of those to go around and it’s just a someone has to get us to the end of the year kind of thing.
Yeah, I wasn't surprised they did it, but it doesn't really serve much of a purpose unless they see something they like from him as a reliever and are trying to determine if he's worth a cheap flyer to help rebuild a bullpen that needs all the help they can get. I wouldn't expect much and I'm not sure they do either, but sort of just throwing crap against the wall to see what sticks is my guess.
I guess the only thing I’d say is……even if he throws one or two good innings….do you really think they would re-sign him even to a cheap deal? I think that’s one they just need to finally let go…..but who knows.
It's not a fair question because you know who I'm talking about, but let's say for argument's sake that he goes out and gives 8 clean innings the rest of the year. A 28-year old coming off an injury who had been successful earlier in his career is exactly the kind of flyer a team like the Royals needs to be taking. I'm not saying give him $8 million, but if you can sign him for $1.5 million, we'd look at that deal in the offseason and think "huh, interesting risk there."
I don't think it will happen, but you are right....they have to investigate it.
Keller is done like dinner....
Hey, I'm not counting on literally anything from him.
Me either, but management must be professional and remain objective....we are the fans!
They may not be counting on anything either, but I think it's at least worth a brief look. I'd rather see Veneziano up, but whatever I guess.
Pratto stats after 484 ABs: -.9 WAR, .216 BA, 87 OPS+, 37% strikeout rate. Well below replacement level after about 80% of the ABs for a full season. That doesn’t seem like a prospect to me.
If I recall correctly, the main free agent signings last winter were Lyles, Greinke, Chapman and Yarborough. All were third tier or below FAs. Other than a complete overpay, I’m not sure any first or second tier FA would want to sign with a 110 loss team that has a poor farm system.
Question: Over / Under 95 losses next year?
I know all the stats for Pratto, but he's a young and inexperienced player. Whether he's a good prospect or not, he's a prospect. Who are you playing at first base over him right now? Also, he was back for the Toronto series and played one game and hit ninth.
I can't answer your question right now because nobody has any idea what the team is going to look like next year. If their moves are similar to last offseason, it's an easy over. If they do more than that, who knows?
I would challenge Hernandez to come to camp next spring in shape... if not .... ship him. That would tell me all I need to know about his level of focus.
I do think Ragans will be fine (those Canadians probably sabotaged the mound...they are not as friendly as they say they are!).
But, I will say the same thing about Zack Grienke today as i said about him the last time he had 15 losses in a season..."stop the pain...send him to the bull pen!" Although then I was worried the Royals were ruining him, now I am saying it to protect my mental health!
Hey...any thoughts on that kid Dominguez wrecking his elbow? Is it lack of training and technique or just an accident? Seems odd an outfielder would wreck his elbow if he is throwing properly...crow hop, etc.... just 'wondering aloud.'
That is well beyond my area of expertise, but I would guess it's a freak thing that can happen to anyone. Throwing is a difficult motion on the elbow.
I was at the Posnanski book event too!! Yes, about being a baseball nerd & a writing nerd!! It’s because of him that a mild interest in the local baseball team blossomed into a love of baseball that I have now.
It was a great event! I'd probably listen to him speak about sewers haha.
Likewise!
Where was the event held? I went to a Rainy Day Books chat with James Comey a few years back ( not sure I would do that now ) at the Uptown Theater ( literally a block & a half from my place ).
It was at the Unity Temple on the plaza. I guess that’s where they’re doing their big events these days.
Ah - I wondered if it was there. I know they've done stuff there before. Glad you had a nice evening!
Not really Royals related. But the George Kirby outrage this weekend has me perplexed. IDK if you saw or not. I don’t really understand the backlash. Even with Ragans yesterday, at some point it is on the players to tell the truth. There is no reason to say Q is ruining anything. If you ask the player and they say they are fine then what is the problem? Same thing with Kirby, if he told the manager all he had was 92 pitches in him….then he told the truth and its on the manager for sending him out there. I mean, he’s a rookie throwing the most innings he’s ever thrown. I’d believe in a heartbeat his arm is tired and maybe that’s all he had that day. All I want if the players to tell the truth…then they do and get roasted for it. Lol….no wonder they only say the lip service line all the time.
My thoughts are that I think there's a difference between telling your manager you don't have anything left and telling reporters that you thought you'd done your job after six innings. I want players to be open with their manager, but I don't think throwing the manager under the bus after the game is the right call either.
Look, I’ll let him throw Q under the bus for a mid 3 era on a pre arb contract at this stage in the Royals development. LOL.
If it gets the Mariners to trade him, sure. But yeah, generally don’t love that aspect of it.
Loved Joe (most of the time).. 4 quadrants for MLB, large spender-good management. Large spender-bad management. Small spender - good management. Small spender- bad management. Hopefully the new regime can move us up a level
The only reason (aside from your charm and witty banter, David) that I subscribe to Inside the Crown is to get insight and some element of realistic optimism about the future for this team we're all nuts enough to love. So I appreciate that angle. I don't need anyone to tell me over and over again that this is a team with a terrible record that has made some very poor personnel/development decisions over the past several years. That part is obvious and easy to see. So keep the "optimism" coming. You ground it in reality and still tell it like it is as it relates to the current team, and I find it entertaining and therapeutic, especially in a year that's been about next year (or the year after that) since mid April! Keep up the good work.
I appreciate all of that, Scott. Thanks so much for reading!
I really enjoyed this newsletter, David. I also attended the JOPO and Michael Show... My kids purchased the book (which I now have to wrap) and tickets as a Christmas gift. Like you said, everyone who enjoys a good story should see him in person. I miss him writing for the Star. Their podcast is pretty good as well.
Thank you for highlighting Joe Pos
Thank you for highlighting Joe Pos because I have been greatly admiring his work for many years now, whether he was writing about one of the local teams or about somebody else. He is a virtuoso who deserves to be widely read.