It was good to see Pratto have a good weekend, after I suggested Friday a trip to Omaha would probably help him. He looked more confident at the plate and ended up with 7 rbi's. But boy does his defense amaze. That one play he made on that throw from Lynch was simply amazing.
He is everything defensively people said Eric Hosmer was. Just so smooth over there. Reminds me a lot of Wally Joyner.
I agreed with you that he should probably have been sent down. I think he maybe would have been if Pasquantino wasn't on the IL. My reasoning wasn't so much the results but it just looked like he was in his own head so much, guessing wrong on just about everything. But I will say that, all things equal, I love guys getting a chance to figure it out in the big leagues if it hasn't reached a point where their psyche is impacted. And it's hard to argue with a 4 for 12 weekend with four extra base hits.
Not related to the weekend but man, I do look at the Angels organization in fear sometimes. They have Trout (HOF), Ohtani, Rendon, and then Ohtani on the mound as an ace. Then I look at the Royals and we can say Salvy, Witt Jr, and Vinny, with Singer on the mound. Great, until you realize the Angles have done nothing with that group and its not guaranteed to work. Just have to focus on Cleveland, and Tampa Bay I guess. Lol.
There is no team like the Angels. Also, you put Rendon in that list, but in three seasons, he's played 155 games and hit .252/.359/.421. Some of the lack of games are not his fault because he played 52 in 2020, but signings like that are a big reason why they're where they are.
Everyone jokes on Artie Moreno. But I will say this for him. He at least tried. I mean, he gave out massive contracts to get Rendon, Pujols, kept Trout, and found Ohtani. He at least tried. Which is sometimes more than I feel like the Royals do.
Now that you saw Rodriguez deal, you know Witt Jr would only accept more. Do we fear the Royals have missed the boat on not jumping on resigning Witt Jr after the Harris deal? I think if we don’t see a Witt Jr extension this offseason its not the Royals fault, its just that he is going to FA and everyone will know it at that point.
He spent money, but he also got too involved and I think that hampered the organization in a lot of ways.
Witt and Julio are with the same agency. That’s a deal that has to have been in the works for quite some time, so it’s not like it would be a surprise to either Witt or the Royals. I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion he plays out his team control years and leaves just because he doesn’t sign an extension in the next few months. Every day they wait seems to make it more expensive, but it doesn’t make it less possible to get a deal done.
He probably will. I just don’t think him not signing before his 500th PA is a sign that he won’t though. This is not the same Royals organization it has been and it will continue to change in the next few months. It’s hard to predict one way or another with that kind of uncertainty.
Oh, absolutely. I agree. Bobby's young enough to where maybe his deal is 7/175 (completely making this up) to buy out a couple of free agency years but still allow him to enter free agency at age 30. That seems like a good compromise. Hard to see either the Royals or Bobby going 10+ years.
You think Isbel has figured something out? Still striking out at an almost 30% clip but has a 102 wRC+ in August while walking more with his still excellent defense.
I don’t know about that. He’s walking more, but two of his four walks in August were yesterday. They still happened, so they’re there, but I think he’s struggling some still. I still think he can be a good third outfielder or a very good fourth outfielder, but I’ll need to see some more. I will say the contact does seem better. I just haven’t dove into the numbers on it.
True it is only 55 PA, I'm still holding out hope that he can be an average offensive contributor. I still don't know why he seemingly abandoned his change in batting stance that made him successful at the end of last year.
"It was the 16th time they allowed 10 or more runs in a game, which was the most in the majors at the time. It still is, but it was then too." Thank you, Mitch Lesky.
When you see Whit and Benintendi and how they are performing, you can see a change in the dugout and on the field with the new kids. More energy, definitely happy for each other. But I do wonder sometimes about MJ and Bobby. Sometimes they seem somewhat aloof, but all smiles when it comes to the Salvy splash. Just can't put my finger on it, but am so looking forward to the future. Especially when they get a staff that can teach and coach up young pitchers.
I know you like Melendez leading off, but I don't. Not with a .220 average. If he becomes a Kyle Schwarber and hits three times as many homers, then great. But he's not there yet. I kind of like Taylor in that spot. Better average, with some speed, I think is what we need there. Dozier and O'Hearn batting cleanup? No. Trade for MadBum? Have you seen how hard he's getting hit this year? So is Frankie Montas. Sometimes the best trades are the ones you don't make.
Melendez could hit .150 if he continued to carry one of the best OBPs on the team.
And the MadBum idea wasn’t trading for MadBum. It was taking on his contract in order to get something better without having to give up as much in prospects. They could just immediately release him. My point is they have money to spend and that’s one way to spend money in order to get better players in a trade.
In other news:
Since trading for Merrifield, the Blue Jays are 10-15. His batting average is .216.
Since trading for Benintendi, the Yankees are 12-17. His batting average is .240.
Neither have exactly helped their new teams like they thought they would. I won't be shedding a tear for either organization.
Wouldn't it be hilarious if the Orioles edge the Jays for the last wild card, so Merrifield got vaccinated but still didn't make the postseason?
That would be really amazing. I'd love it, but I also can't stand the Blue Jays in general.
It was good to see Pratto have a good weekend, after I suggested Friday a trip to Omaha would probably help him. He looked more confident at the plate and ended up with 7 rbi's. But boy does his defense amaze. That one play he made on that throw from Lynch was simply amazing.
He is everything defensively people said Eric Hosmer was. Just so smooth over there. Reminds me a lot of Wally Joyner.
I agreed with you that he should probably have been sent down. I think he maybe would have been if Pasquantino wasn't on the IL. My reasoning wasn't so much the results but it just looked like he was in his own head so much, guessing wrong on just about everything. But I will say that, all things equal, I love guys getting a chance to figure it out in the big leagues if it hasn't reached a point where their psyche is impacted. And it's hard to argue with a 4 for 12 weekend with four extra base hits.
Not related to the weekend but man, I do look at the Angels organization in fear sometimes. They have Trout (HOF), Ohtani, Rendon, and then Ohtani on the mound as an ace. Then I look at the Royals and we can say Salvy, Witt Jr, and Vinny, with Singer on the mound. Great, until you realize the Angles have done nothing with that group and its not guaranteed to work. Just have to focus on Cleveland, and Tampa Bay I guess. Lol.
There is no team like the Angels. Also, you put Rendon in that list, but in three seasons, he's played 155 games and hit .252/.359/.421. Some of the lack of games are not his fault because he played 52 in 2020, but signings like that are a big reason why they're where they are.
Everyone jokes on Artie Moreno. But I will say this for him. He at least tried. I mean, he gave out massive contracts to get Rendon, Pujols, kept Trout, and found Ohtani. He at least tried. Which is sometimes more than I feel like the Royals do.
Now that you saw Rodriguez deal, you know Witt Jr would only accept more. Do we fear the Royals have missed the boat on not jumping on resigning Witt Jr after the Harris deal? I think if we don’t see a Witt Jr extension this offseason its not the Royals fault, its just that he is going to FA and everyone will know it at that point.
He spent money, but he also got too involved and I think that hampered the organization in a lot of ways.
Witt and Julio are with the same agency. That’s a deal that has to have been in the works for quite some time, so it’s not like it would be a surprise to either Witt or the Royals. I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion he plays out his team control years and leaves just because he doesn’t sign an extension in the next few months. Every day they wait seems to make it more expensive, but it doesn’t make it less possible to get a deal done.
I think we all need to accept that Bobby Witt Jr. will probably play for another team at some point in time. It's OK.
He probably will. I just don’t think him not signing before his 500th PA is a sign that he won’t though. This is not the same Royals organization it has been and it will continue to change in the next few months. It’s hard to predict one way or another with that kind of uncertainty.
Oh, absolutely. I agree. Bobby's young enough to where maybe his deal is 7/175 (completely making this up) to buy out a couple of free agency years but still allow him to enter free agency at age 30. That seems like a good compromise. Hard to see either the Royals or Bobby going 10+ years.
You think Isbel has figured something out? Still striking out at an almost 30% clip but has a 102 wRC+ in August while walking more with his still excellent defense.
I don’t know about that. He’s walking more, but two of his four walks in August were yesterday. They still happened, so they’re there, but I think he’s struggling some still. I still think he can be a good third outfielder or a very good fourth outfielder, but I’ll need to see some more. I will say the contact does seem better. I just haven’t dove into the numbers on it.
True it is only 55 PA, I'm still holding out hope that he can be an average offensive contributor. I still don't know why he seemingly abandoned his change in batting stance that made him successful at the end of last year.
Yeah, I’m not sure either. I might dig in sometime soon.
"Or maybe they can use that flexibility to take on a big contract in a trade like someone such as Madison Bumgarner to get a better return?"
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I know. I cringed when I wrote it.
"It was the 16th time they allowed 10 or more runs in a game, which was the most in the majors at the time. It still is, but it was then too." Thank you, Mitch Lesky.
When you see Whit and Benintendi and how they are performing, you can see a change in the dugout and on the field with the new kids. More energy, definitely happy for each other. But I do wonder sometimes about MJ and Bobby. Sometimes they seem somewhat aloof, but all smiles when it comes to the Salvy splash. Just can't put my finger on it, but am so looking forward to the future. Especially when they get a staff that can teach and coach up young pitchers.
I know you like Melendez leading off, but I don't. Not with a .220 average. If he becomes a Kyle Schwarber and hits three times as many homers, then great. But he's not there yet. I kind of like Taylor in that spot. Better average, with some speed, I think is what we need there. Dozier and O'Hearn batting cleanup? No. Trade for MadBum? Have you seen how hard he's getting hit this year? So is Frankie Montas. Sometimes the best trades are the ones you don't make.
Melendez could hit .150 if he continued to carry one of the best OBPs on the team.
And the MadBum idea wasn’t trading for MadBum. It was taking on his contract in order to get something better without having to give up as much in prospects. They could just immediately release him. My point is they have money to spend and that’s one way to spend money in order to get better players in a trade.