Well, you’re pretty much spot on with what I was thinking after yesterday. As unimpressed as I am with Clevelands lineup…especially without Jose Ramirez. They just…take….better….at…bats. Even with these same players, there is another level if they can figure how to not chase, and take better approaches. I’m not sure they can which we’ll watch this year. It was actually a fine weekend for the Royals. I guess, at some point I have to give Cleveland credit, they just win. But the Twins and Detroit haven’t started well. All is fine in KC. Now, I’d like to see them put up some runs against a rookie today. The first weekend just confirmed the same issues are still there, but they can easily reel off (and will) 5 games in a row. Just stick around .500.
They do take better at bats, but they didn't last year, which I will admit makes me wonder how much is them and how much is the pitching, as I wrote. And the Royals took much better at bats yesterday, so 1/3 of the sample is good and the other 2/3 not so much. One of those early season things you just don't know yet. They get two series in a row where they're mostly facing backs of rotations. They need to take advantage. We'll know a lot more in a week and a lot more than that in two and so on.
Yeah, I don’t know how much of it is real or not either. I just saw the 16 walks for Cleveland vs the 7 for us. I think pretty highly of our pitching….but if Cleveland does anything, they throw stikes. Way too early. But that difference caught my eye in the first weekend.
And honestly, the only reason I even look at it is team history. You can’t tell anything from 3 games. It just jibes with the team history of low obp. So you notice it.
Random lineup question but how do you see Q keeping the left handed lineup sharp when they probably won’t see a left handed pitcher til maybe mid April. I don’t want to see canah getting rusty with the lack of left handed pitchers upcoming.
It's a good question, though they look like they're going to get a lefty on Sunday at least. Honestly, I don't think it's much of an issue, but I'm surprised with how little they've used Canha. I guess the situations haven't quite been there, but it felt like it was there on Opening Day when Garcia hit for Melendez. One thing I don't worry about with Q is getting guys at bats.
There is definitely a positive way to look at a 1-2 start (which is a whole lot less meaningful than some want you to believe) and it's that they lost on Thursday because the guy with the .350 OBP and the MVP candidate did next to nothing. Their strongest part of the team, the rotation, struggled all weekend. If you believe that both will be better (and India of course was the rest of the weekend), then it's easy to see how this team wins a lot of games.
Looks like India is playing today, which is great considering any sort of head/brain issues (e.g. concussion) would have prevented any sort of plane/travel.
Only two games but pleasantly surprised with Harvey. I think this bullpen might end up nails, once Q separates the wheat from the chaff. Lynch definitely feeling it and like Estevezs passion. Also excited for Bubics potential. Weird to feel so optimistic about the entire pitching staff. Lets Go Royals!
Excellent piece. I’m more heartened by Garcia’s double than his HR. We know he has the ability to pull for some power. But the double made me think this is a new change because he straight attacked those balls like he they just slept with his significant other.
Have we heard anything resembling contract extensions on him and India?
No, they haven't had any conversations with either, as far as I know. Garcia is going to need to show more than 3 days worth before the Royals approach him about anything. As it stands right now, he's got plenty of control that won't cost much.
India is not really in a spot where he's going to rush to sign anything unless he falls in love with the team and the city, which would be kind of crazy to happen so quickly.
Garcia hit 3 bombs last year in the first couple weeks. It’s great that he is seeing the ball well at the moment though.
He is in a GREAT spot. Is he a starting third baseman? No. If he can play center, and well….he’s a great compliment with Isbel. Super utility or utility role is his spot until he shows he can be an everyday hitter. I’m not as high on him as others, which is fine. He’s still young, he can still do it. He just has to get on base a heck of a lot more.
Yeah, I’m super high on him. Has the bloodlines and just seems to want to mean mug the ball. I think we’re a better team with him at 3B. If he can get to 15 bombs. He’s an above average regular there. Annnnnnnd he just hit number 2
I am with Cottman and Brett on Maikel - He has something. Stats dipped a bit last year, but he had the pressure of leadoff on him - too soon. Loving the recent power(and he has some dingers in him) but his value will be obp, baseball smarts and athletic prowess. Hope to heck he gets the bat going, because an infield of him, Massey and Jr will be pure joy to watch
Hey, listening to the Kaufman corner podcast today. Are you guys starting a brand new podcast? Or is that a second Kaufman Corner with multiple people. Little different format?
Man, I’m still seeing MJ swing through 90 mph cutters in this case. Three fastballs in a row basically. Not one contact. It’s a struggle for him at the moment.
A couple of details about the Saturday win that I think were worth highlighting: 1. When India came to bat & had the great 11 pitch AB in the 4th, their starter had 29 PITCHES. Zero plate discipline for the Royals to that point in the game; 2. Point one outlines how much the caught stealing in the first leads to less pitches by the starter. I’m still concerned that Bobby thinks his speed makes him a better base stealer than he really is.
Did I miss some news on Pasquantino not playing much 1B this year? Have been surprised to see so much Biggio and Canha at first so far. I read a lot about Caglione having to learn the OF if he’s going to play this year. Seems like maybe there is a lane for him to play at first.
Speaking of Peralta, you said, his "ERA+ the last three seasons is 113, 112 and 114." That means absolutely nothing to me. Give me an actual ERA and I know what you're talking about. It's pretty much the same thing with almost all the other new metrics. While I'm sure they mean a lot to your smarter readers, I'm still stuck in the Golden Age of Baseball. It comes from my following baseball from the 1960s back when I actually loved the Yankees—the Yogi and Mantle era. Then George came along and that ended that. So, be nice to some of us old-timers (maybe I'm the only one) and humor us with some understandable statistics once in awhile.
It’s always good to keep learning! ERA+ is just ERA relative the league average. 100 is average. Anything higher is above average and anything lower is below. It’s a good way to look because things change yearly, so while his ERA has gone from 3.58 to 3.86 to 3.68, he’s basically been the same relative to the league even though there’s a difference of a quarter of a run between the highest and the lowest.
Well, you’re pretty much spot on with what I was thinking after yesterday. As unimpressed as I am with Clevelands lineup…especially without Jose Ramirez. They just…take….better….at…bats. Even with these same players, there is another level if they can figure how to not chase, and take better approaches. I’m not sure they can which we’ll watch this year. It was actually a fine weekend for the Royals. I guess, at some point I have to give Cleveland credit, they just win. But the Twins and Detroit haven’t started well. All is fine in KC. Now, I’d like to see them put up some runs against a rookie today. The first weekend just confirmed the same issues are still there, but they can easily reel off (and will) 5 games in a row. Just stick around .500.
They do take better at bats, but they didn't last year, which I will admit makes me wonder how much is them and how much is the pitching, as I wrote. And the Royals took much better at bats yesterday, so 1/3 of the sample is good and the other 2/3 not so much. One of those early season things you just don't know yet. They get two series in a row where they're mostly facing backs of rotations. They need to take advantage. We'll know a lot more in a week and a lot more than that in two and so on.
Yeah, I don’t know how much of it is real or not either. I just saw the 16 walks for Cleveland vs the 7 for us. I think pretty highly of our pitching….but if Cleveland does anything, they throw stikes. Way too early. But that difference caught my eye in the first weekend.
And honestly, the only reason I even look at it is team history. You can’t tell anything from 3 games. It just jibes with the team history of low obp. So you notice it.
For sure. I'm super interested to see if yesterday carries over or if it was an aberration.
Random lineup question but how do you see Q keeping the left handed lineup sharp when they probably won’t see a left handed pitcher til maybe mid April. I don’t want to see canah getting rusty with the lack of left handed pitchers upcoming.
It's a good question, though they look like they're going to get a lefty on Sunday at least. Honestly, I don't think it's much of an issue, but I'm surprised with how little they've used Canha. I guess the situations haven't quite been there, but it felt like it was there on Opening Day when Garcia hit for Melendez. One thing I don't worry about with Q is getting guys at bats.
I spent all day yesterday saying India had a .600 OBP on the weekend.
I should have realized that was wrong.
Anyway, great weekend from him and Vinnie! The rotation will figure it out and Bobby will stop whiffing at everything and everything will be fine.
I hope
There is definitely a positive way to look at a 1-2 start (which is a whole lot less meaningful than some want you to believe) and it's that they lost on Thursday because the guy with the .350 OBP and the MVP candidate did next to nothing. Their strongest part of the team, the rotation, struggled all weekend. If you believe that both will be better (and India of course was the rest of the weekend), then it's easy to see how this team wins a lot of games.
Looks like India is playing today, which is great considering any sort of head/brain issues (e.g. concussion) would have prevented any sort of plane/travel.
Yep, very good news for him.
Only two games but pleasantly surprised with Harvey. I think this bullpen might end up nails, once Q separates the wheat from the chaff. Lynch definitely feeling it and like Estevezs passion. Also excited for Bubics potential. Weird to feel so optimistic about the entire pitching staff. Lets Go Royals!
Excellent piece. I’m more heartened by Garcia’s double than his HR. We know he has the ability to pull for some power. But the double made me think this is a new change because he straight attacked those balls like he they just slept with his significant other.
Have we heard anything resembling contract extensions on him and India?
No, they haven't had any conversations with either, as far as I know. Garcia is going to need to show more than 3 days worth before the Royals approach him about anything. As it stands right now, he's got plenty of control that won't cost much.
India is not really in a spot where he's going to rush to sign anything unless he falls in love with the team and the city, which would be kind of crazy to happen so quickly.
Garcia hit 3 bombs last year in the first couple weeks. It’s great that he is seeing the ball well at the moment though.
He is in a GREAT spot. Is he a starting third baseman? No. If he can play center, and well….he’s a great compliment with Isbel. Super utility or utility role is his spot until he shows he can be an everyday hitter. I’m not as high on him as others, which is fine. He’s still young, he can still do it. He just has to get on base a heck of a lot more.
Yeah, I’m super high on him. Has the bloodlines and just seems to want to mean mug the ball. I think we’re a better team with him at 3B. If he can get to 15 bombs. He’s an above average regular there. Annnnnnnd he just hit number 2
Yep, he’s seeing the ball really well at the moment.
I am with Cottman and Brett on Maikel - He has something. Stats dipped a bit last year, but he had the pressure of leadoff on him - too soon. Loving the recent power(and he has some dingers in him) but his value will be obp, baseball smarts and athletic prowess. Hope to heck he gets the bat going, because an infield of him, Massey and Jr will be pure joy to watch
Hey, listening to the Kaufman corner podcast today. Are you guys starting a brand new podcast? Or is that a second Kaufman Corner with multiple people. Little different format?
There'll be a second version of Kauffman Corner that'll include me, Soren and Les Norman. It'll come out on Thursdays starting THIS Thursday!
Great, cool!
Is it for everyone or just for subscribers like most of Soren's podcast?
Soren’s podcasts are available to everyone and this will be too.
Man, I’m still seeing MJ swing through 90 mph cutters in this case. Three fastballs in a row basically. Not one contact. It’s a struggle for him at the moment.
I'm not saying he's looked good, but he took two cutters and then guessed wrong on a fastball. He didn't swing through any cutters.
Went back and looked. Your right. He only swung once. There is no fear here and no nibbling. We’ll see. Hopefully he figures it out.
Pessimistic!
A couple of details about the Saturday win that I think were worth highlighting: 1. When India came to bat & had the great 11 pitch AB in the 4th, their starter had 29 PITCHES. Zero plate discipline for the Royals to that point in the game; 2. Point one outlines how much the caught stealing in the first leads to less pitches by the starter. I’m still concerned that Bobby thinks his speed makes him a better base stealer than he really is.
Did I miss some news on Pasquantino not playing much 1B this year? Have been surprised to see so much Biggio and Canha at first so far. I read a lot about Caglione having to learn the OF if he’s going to play this year. Seems like maybe there is a lane for him to play at first.
He hurt his hamstring in the last spring game and is DHing to stay in the lineup while it’s healing.
Speaking of Peralta, you said, his "ERA+ the last three seasons is 113, 112 and 114." That means absolutely nothing to me. Give me an actual ERA and I know what you're talking about. It's pretty much the same thing with almost all the other new metrics. While I'm sure they mean a lot to your smarter readers, I'm still stuck in the Golden Age of Baseball. It comes from my following baseball from the 1960s back when I actually loved the Yankees—the Yogi and Mantle era. Then George came along and that ended that. So, be nice to some of us old-timers (maybe I'm the only one) and humor us with some understandable statistics once in awhile.
It’s always good to keep learning! ERA+ is just ERA relative the league average. 100 is average. Anything higher is above average and anything lower is below. It’s a good way to look because things change yearly, so while his ERA has gone from 3.58 to 3.86 to 3.68, he’s basically been the same relative to the league even though there’s a difference of a quarter of a run between the highest and the lowest.