I bet you couldn't wait to write this column! That was the most fun weekend of Royals baseball in a long, long time. In all my years, I haven't seen a HR like the one MJ hit that got "pushed" over the fence.
It was a fun weekend. Bad team, sure, but you have to beat the bad teams. The A's just won two in a row against the Tigers, so I'll certainly take the wins.
So good news. I can take them seriously as a competent major league club right now. That’s a big win.
I’m overly positive right now. But also feel like I need to pump the breaks on the pitching staff a bit. They are an above average major league rotation. They are going to keep them in games. But THIS is a bit crazy and they are not this good. That’s ok, ride it while you can. But playing the pitiful white Sox was a gift. At least they took advantage. On the bullpen. Smith isn’t it. He can have a role within the bullpen…but it’s not the 8th or the 9th unless it’s a couple of lefty situation. MacArthur….I think he can be…but it’s still something we need to see him do more of. The bullpen is a legit concern right now. That’s ok too.
I’m actually encouraged but he offensive numbers you looked up. I hard on the OBP mainly because I just think it is that important and the Royals are 10 years behind the good teams in that yet. But knowing BWJ and Vinny are part of the problem with runners in scoring position is actually great news. That won’t continue. I’d argue get people on base so that you have MORE opportunities for the numbers to level out quicker. But we aren’t there yet. Lol. Vinnie will get hot…and someone else will go in a slump. It’s how it happens in baseball which is why you want as long a lineup as possible. I think the talent level is there for 1-6. I’m not sold it is really there for the other three spots yet to make it above average. Time will tell….and they can still be in this with average.
The rotation obviously isn't this good because no rotation ever has been. But I think it's a realistic expectation most nights that the opponent has three or fewer after five or six innings. There will be some exceptions, but most nights the offense will have a chance to come back if they don't already have the lead. They need to take advantage of that, as they did in this series, and the bullpen needs to keep the opponent down, as they did in this series.
I'd wager if you get to the seventh inning having allowed three runs or fewer, you win way more than half of those games.
Oh totally agree. 3 or so each night is pretty much the expectation if they are healthy. Ragans could give up 1-2 each night and it wouldn’t surprise me at all. He has THAT stuff. Lugo and Wacha just don’t have the elite stuff. They are veterans that know how to pitch but they will get hit around more. Singer….he’s the wildcard. I just don’t know on a night to night. And Marsh….we’ll he wasn’t very good yesterday and a better team would have been an issue. But that’s fine….he’s got the potential to shove any given night. It’s just TBD how often we will get that part of it. It’s not a surprise they haven’t been on the wrong side of any blowouts yet. It will come as its baseball….but the less of those you are in…you’ll win plenty of games.
There are 152 games left. If they get to the seventh with three or fewer runs allowed in 98 of them, they'll be competing in September. I've been keeping the 54-54-54 updated at the top of the page and there's not a single game that was just a loss already. That's how I got to the 98. It'll happen for sure. Just have to take advantage when it doesn't.
Got to go down and watch the Naturals yesterday after watching the Arkansas Razorback baseball game the day before.
First time visiting and was beautiful stadium, they did some rebranding and colors are yellow and navy instead of maroon and navy now. Wind was blowing out and it was a slugfest. Cayden Wallace looked very impressive. Chandler Champlain didn't. LOL
I was actually wondering what the weather was like because that was a very un-Champlain line. Not a great start to the year, but I guess the only way to go is up?
Strong wind blowing out but he was still hit pretty hard. So Wallace bat three times before decided to call it a day in a marathon game. He swung three times in three at bats. First swing was a no doubt HR, second swing was a line drive right at the LF, third swing was a line drive to warning in RF that was caught. He was seeing the ball well. Vaz looked alright but Cross looked pretty average.
Miami is a disaster. They are gonna shop people. How do we still get Luzardo without giving up Vinnie? There has to be a way now JJ. Miami is gonna throw in the towel a month in you can tell. Lol.
I would obviously love to add Luzardo, but I'd bet the Royals would look more to Tanner Scott or George Soriano for a quick bullpen upgrade. That would be interesting.
Unfortunately, my money would go on the bullpen help as well. Don’t love Tanner Scott…..as you never know when he’s going to completely lose the zone. But both those would be much improved pieces.
There really isn't much on the Marlins, sadly. I mean if you're willing to take a hit defensively, maybe you can get Luis Arraez for a run, but it's slim over there.
Personally, I’d like Arraez and the .375 OBP. But even I understand the thinking of even if Frazier isn’t hitting…they have a potential solution or upgrade there with Massey getting back. I just don’t know that they are going to do much on the offensive side. I hope I’m wrong but I kinda think they role with what they have. I can totally see relief arms coming in the longer we stay in it though. I’d love another starter just for depth. But you wonder how many pieces they have to dangle as well. But I like the lefty they just got the other night that went to AAA. Keep turning those over.
Are you talking about Selby? He’s a righty, fwiw. But I love moves like that. I don’t think Frazier is the starting second baseman when Massey comes back so maybe that solves the issue, but Massey is no sure thing himself.
Ah, for some reason I thought he was a lefty. Maybe we traded the lefty then. I could be wrong. Thought I saw lefty somewhere.
Anyway, yes with Massey not a sure thing. I’m not sold on Renfoe or Isbel. Plenty of ifs yet. But seems like they are on the right track at least with 2/3 of the lineup. We’ll see how it goes.
It's been awhile now that he's doing this. I've long been an MJ fan, so I was going to be a little quicker to believe, but it's hard to argue with what he's done.
I was a little wary to fully buy in since it seemed like the league had sort of figured him out around the end of 2022, then he was just bad to start 2023. But it's hard to completely give up on a guy that has tools like that, and the more he does it the more I believe that the adjustments he's made are for real.
One possible reason for Witt’s struggles with runners on is that ice cold Vinnie is hitting behind him. That may have to change until Vinnie gets going. But when the starters are pitching lights out and MJ, Maikel, and Nelly are joining the offensive party this season, it’s a very good start.
I do think they should flip MJ and Vinnie, for at least a bit. I'm not entirely sold that Witt's struggles are related to Vinnie's, though. They absolutely could be, but I really think it's more noise than anything.
BWJ is hitting .350. He’s joining the offensive party….just not in that particular situation. Really, it just Vinnie and 7-9 not hitting. But I would say….I think that might be more of the norm. If everyone was hot at once….they would score a ton of runs. But that’s not usually how these things work. If they can get some production 7-9 that would go along way.
Oddly Fridays game gave me more hope for this team than any of the others so far. You couldn't have asked for a more perfect setup to pull Smith. I think Q did have to put him in there for morale purposes - I am sure Smith got the hard sell "rahrah closer" to get him to sign. But that sequence let Q do the right thing and Smith save face. Singer still slinging well. Blanco coming in and doing what you hope he does. Also, Salvy walked!?! I was feeling a little sorry for Grifol and Nicky, but by last night I was thirsty for a bloodbath sweep.
MacArthur won me over last season, but doubt he is the future closer. I think Smith will get his stuff back together and challenge for that spot again. I really like Klein - watched a couple interviews with him and the big man isn't scared to drop some f bombs. Only 4 games, but still rocking the 0 ERA in Omaha
McArthur is probably the best arm they have so I’d honestly prefer he isn’t the closer. But for now, he’s going to get the bulk of the opportunities, it seems. Like I wrote a few weeks ago, the veterans theoretically give the bullpen some stability but the upside is in the younger arms. If Klein and McMillon can earn their way up (and Hernandez comes back healthy), they get a lot nastier.
What was fun for me about Sunday was that I had mentally filed it under "54 games they were always going to lose," and then they didn't. That, to me, is the biggest difference when your team has legit power throughout the lineup: an uninspired, anemic offensive performance can turn into a win really quickly.
Oh for sure. It was about to be the first one. But nope. After the rotation spent the first nine games picking up the pitching staff, the bullpen took their turn. That was nice to see. And the offense did enough.
I bet you couldn't wait to write this column! That was the most fun weekend of Royals baseball in a long, long time. In all my years, I haven't seen a HR like the one MJ hit that got "pushed" over the fence.
It was a fun weekend. Bad team, sure, but you have to beat the bad teams. The A's just won two in a row against the Tigers, so I'll certainly take the wins.
So good news. I can take them seriously as a competent major league club right now. That’s a big win.
I’m overly positive right now. But also feel like I need to pump the breaks on the pitching staff a bit. They are an above average major league rotation. They are going to keep them in games. But THIS is a bit crazy and they are not this good. That’s ok, ride it while you can. But playing the pitiful white Sox was a gift. At least they took advantage. On the bullpen. Smith isn’t it. He can have a role within the bullpen…but it’s not the 8th or the 9th unless it’s a couple of lefty situation. MacArthur….I think he can be…but it’s still something we need to see him do more of. The bullpen is a legit concern right now. That’s ok too.
I’m actually encouraged but he offensive numbers you looked up. I hard on the OBP mainly because I just think it is that important and the Royals are 10 years behind the good teams in that yet. But knowing BWJ and Vinny are part of the problem with runners in scoring position is actually great news. That won’t continue. I’d argue get people on base so that you have MORE opportunities for the numbers to level out quicker. But we aren’t there yet. Lol. Vinnie will get hot…and someone else will go in a slump. It’s how it happens in baseball which is why you want as long a lineup as possible. I think the talent level is there for 1-6. I’m not sold it is really there for the other three spots yet to make it above average. Time will tell….and they can still be in this with average.
The rotation obviously isn't this good because no rotation ever has been. But I think it's a realistic expectation most nights that the opponent has three or fewer after five or six innings. There will be some exceptions, but most nights the offense will have a chance to come back if they don't already have the lead. They need to take advantage of that, as they did in this series, and the bullpen needs to keep the opponent down, as they did in this series.
I'd wager if you get to the seventh inning having allowed three runs or fewer, you win way more than half of those games.
Oh totally agree. 3 or so each night is pretty much the expectation if they are healthy. Ragans could give up 1-2 each night and it wouldn’t surprise me at all. He has THAT stuff. Lugo and Wacha just don’t have the elite stuff. They are veterans that know how to pitch but they will get hit around more. Singer….he’s the wildcard. I just don’t know on a night to night. And Marsh….we’ll he wasn’t very good yesterday and a better team would have been an issue. But that’s fine….he’s got the potential to shove any given night. It’s just TBD how often we will get that part of it. It’s not a surprise they haven’t been on the wrong side of any blowouts yet. It will come as its baseball….but the less of those you are in…you’ll win plenty of games.
There are 152 games left. If they get to the seventh with three or fewer runs allowed in 98 of them, they'll be competing in September. I've been keeping the 54-54-54 updated at the top of the page and there's not a single game that was just a loss already. That's how I got to the 98. It'll happen for sure. Just have to take advantage when it doesn't.
Got to go down and watch the Naturals yesterday after watching the Arkansas Razorback baseball game the day before.
First time visiting and was beautiful stadium, they did some rebranding and colors are yellow and navy instead of maroon and navy now. Wind was blowing out and it was a slugfest. Cayden Wallace looked very impressive. Chandler Champlain didn't. LOL
I was actually wondering what the weather was like because that was a very un-Champlain line. Not a great start to the year, but I guess the only way to go is up?
Strong wind blowing out but he was still hit pretty hard. So Wallace bat three times before decided to call it a day in a marathon game. He swung three times in three at bats. First swing was a no doubt HR, second swing was a line drive right at the LF, third swing was a line drive to warning in RF that was caught. He was seeing the ball well. Vaz looked alright but Cross looked pretty average.
Thanks for the report!
Miami is a disaster. They are gonna shop people. How do we still get Luzardo without giving up Vinnie? There has to be a way now JJ. Miami is gonna throw in the towel a month in you can tell. Lol.
I would obviously love to add Luzardo, but I'd bet the Royals would look more to Tanner Scott or George Soriano for a quick bullpen upgrade. That would be interesting.
Unfortunately, my money would go on the bullpen help as well. Don’t love Tanner Scott…..as you never know when he’s going to completely lose the zone. But both those would be much improved pieces.
There really isn't much on the Marlins, sadly. I mean if you're willing to take a hit defensively, maybe you can get Luis Arraez for a run, but it's slim over there.
Personally, I’d like Arraez and the .375 OBP. But even I understand the thinking of even if Frazier isn’t hitting…they have a potential solution or upgrade there with Massey getting back. I just don’t know that they are going to do much on the offensive side. I hope I’m wrong but I kinda think they role with what they have. I can totally see relief arms coming in the longer we stay in it though. I’d love another starter just for depth. But you wonder how many pieces they have to dangle as well. But I like the lefty they just got the other night that went to AAA. Keep turning those over.
Are you talking about Selby? He’s a righty, fwiw. But I love moves like that. I don’t think Frazier is the starting second baseman when Massey comes back so maybe that solves the issue, but Massey is no sure thing himself.
Ah, for some reason I thought he was a lefty. Maybe we traded the lefty then. I could be wrong. Thought I saw lefty somewhere.
Anyway, yes with Massey not a sure thing. I’m not sold on Renfoe or Isbel. Plenty of ifs yet. But seems like they are on the right track at least with 2/3 of the lineup. We’ll see how it goes.
MJ doing everything he can to prove my skepticism wrong. And I think I might believe him.
It's been awhile now that he's doing this. I've long been an MJ fan, so I was going to be a little quicker to believe, but it's hard to argue with what he's done.
I was a little wary to fully buy in since it seemed like the league had sort of figured him out around the end of 2022, then he was just bad to start 2023. But it's hard to completely give up on a guy that has tools like that, and the more he does it the more I believe that the adjustments he's made are for real.
That's totally fair to not be sold. He had a lot of issues.
One possible reason for Witt’s struggles with runners on is that ice cold Vinnie is hitting behind him. That may have to change until Vinnie gets going. But when the starters are pitching lights out and MJ, Maikel, and Nelly are joining the offensive party this season, it’s a very good start.
I do think they should flip MJ and Vinnie, for at least a bit. I'm not entirely sold that Witt's struggles are related to Vinnie's, though. They absolutely could be, but I really think it's more noise than anything.
BWJ is hitting .350. He’s joining the offensive party….just not in that particular situation. Really, it just Vinnie and 7-9 not hitting. But I would say….I think that might be more of the norm. If everyone was hot at once….they would score a ton of runs. But that’s not usually how these things work. If they can get some production 7-9 that would go along way.
Oddly Fridays game gave me more hope for this team than any of the others so far. You couldn't have asked for a more perfect setup to pull Smith. I think Q did have to put him in there for morale purposes - I am sure Smith got the hard sell "rahrah closer" to get him to sign. But that sequence let Q do the right thing and Smith save face. Singer still slinging well. Blanco coming in and doing what you hope he does. Also, Salvy walked!?! I was feeling a little sorry for Grifol and Nicky, but by last night I was thirsty for a bloodbath sweep.
MacArthur won me over last season, but doubt he is the future closer. I think Smith will get his stuff back together and challenge for that spot again. I really like Klein - watched a couple interviews with him and the big man isn't scared to drop some f bombs. Only 4 games, but still rocking the 0 ERA in Omaha
McArthur is probably the best arm they have so I’d honestly prefer he isn’t the closer. But for now, he’s going to get the bulk of the opportunities, it seems. Like I wrote a few weeks ago, the veterans theoretically give the bullpen some stability but the upside is in the younger arms. If Klein and McMillon can earn their way up (and Hernandez comes back healthy), they get a lot nastier.
WOW! A four-game sweep! Incredible and I don't give a flip who it could have been against. 4 - WOW!
What was fun for me about Sunday was that I had mentally filed it under "54 games they were always going to lose," and then they didn't. That, to me, is the biggest difference when your team has legit power throughout the lineup: an uninspired, anemic offensive performance can turn into a win really quickly.
Oh for sure. It was about to be the first one. But nope. After the rotation spent the first nine games picking up the pitching staff, the bullpen took their turn. That was nice to see. And the offense did enough.
Why wasn’t MJ’s HR on Saturday a HR? Did it hit the wall first then bounce over the wall off the CF’s glove?
It was called a HR but it shouldn’t have been because, yeah, it hit the wall before Fletcher’s glove knocked it over the wall.