The Royals have lacked a #1 starter for a very long time! Ragans was an absolute steal from the Rangers! It is the other starters for 2024 that worries me! Brady Singer should be shut down for the rest of the year because something is not right with him now!!! Surely, there is a pitcher at Omaha that could be looked at over the remaining few games!!!
I’m excited by James McArthur, too. Wasn’t really sure why they brought in Snider first in relief of Ragans, other than the fact that it doesn’t really matter, he needs innings, and maybe matchups, but it was good to see McArthur halt the bleeding again.
Here’s hoping we don’t get swept by the Guardians. I’ll take that.
How can you say Melendez is hitting, .136 in lat 7 games and .239 in last 16, yea he was on a mediocre streak, but has gone back to his old swing, guessing and pulling/ pulling his lower back/ but away from the plate exposing the entire middle to outside of the plate. He will never be an outfielder, he has his chance and has failed, looks questionable on almost every ball hit to him. Porter looks better defensively than Fermin, frames pitches better. How long does it take this staff to learn, Grienke and others can’t face a line up a 2nd time, can’t wait to see Grienke retired or in a different team, he hasn’t added any value in 2 years. They can move Olivares, Isbel, Melendez, Duffy, Keller, Clarke and Hernandez and it would not hurt this team
I know that this wasn't the theme of this (again wonderful) post, but I want to play a little "Did you know?"
Did you know that in 29 starts this season, the number of starts in which Jordan Lyles has allowed fewer than FOUR earned runs can be counted on your hands, even if you've lost a thumb in a freak Fourth of July accident? Yes...NINE times all year he's started a game and allowed three or fewer ER.
It's actually impressive and speaks to his durability. But it also underlines just how pitching-starved this major-league team is. I'm almost giddy about Zerpa, and I have high hopes that he is going to find his way into the rotation next season...
On a somber note: we are probably witnessing the end of Brad Keller, and not just as a Royal, but possibly as a major-league pitcher. I don't know what happened--I know that the "official" answer is a shoulder impingement, but I've a feeling that the impingement is slightly higher on his body--but it's really sad. I hope that he can get is straight and go on to have a decent career elsewhere.
There are only a few guys on the entire staff whose stuff imo is above average. All have question marks. Ragans- atm top of rotation stuff, no doubt. Minor worries about command, mostly worry about arm health. McMillon- when I hear forearm tightness, I think TJ. Elite closer stuff. Is he healthy? Is the control good enough?Steven Cruz- above average power arm, I question is repeatability and he needs to be more consistent with his slider. Big dude with a big complicated motion and a snappy slingshot delivery. Seems prone to control problems, as with McMillon. The only other guy with better than MLB avg stuff is Alex Marsh. As always it seems with the Royals, there isn't enough depth or quality, and you're just hoping everything comes together. It rarely does.
What bothers me about McArthur is that he basically has had zero long term success at any level of professional baseball. Until someone explains what they've done to fix him, I'm going to consider this to be similar to Austin Cox starting off his career with what was the equivalent of a no hitter.
I enjoy reading David's "columns" and enjoy reading and interacting with the comments here. It's not the typical: you, know, "Royals suck! Fire Quatraro! Execute Sluggerrr!" overreactive blathering BS that's on the social media sites. We actually dive into WHY the Royals suck, why Q won't be fired for at least a couple years, and why Sluggerrr is probably not the problem.
Referring to your previous article, has Loftin played any OF? I still think they need some one who can play D and hit. I’d like to see if he fits that need. I know he’s valuable as a utility INF, but having him locked in one position would be nice too
Weekend in Review: Some Impressive Relievers, A Series win and the Week Ahead
The Royals have lacked a #1 starter for a very long time! Ragans was an absolute steal from the Rangers! It is the other starters for 2024 that worries me! Brady Singer should be shut down for the rest of the year because something is not right with him now!!! Surely, there is a pitcher at Omaha that could be looked at over the remaining few games!!!
I’m excited by James McArthur, too. Wasn’t really sure why they brought in Snider first in relief of Ragans, other than the fact that it doesn’t really matter, he needs innings, and maybe matchups, but it was good to see McArthur halt the bleeding again.
Here’s hoping we don’t get swept by the Guardians. I’ll take that.
How can you say Melendez is hitting, .136 in lat 7 games and .239 in last 16, yea he was on a mediocre streak, but has gone back to his old swing, guessing and pulling/ pulling his lower back/ but away from the plate exposing the entire middle to outside of the plate. He will never be an outfielder, he has his chance and has failed, looks questionable on almost every ball hit to him. Porter looks better defensively than Fermin, frames pitches better. How long does it take this staff to learn, Grienke and others can’t face a line up a 2nd time, can’t wait to see Grienke retired or in a different team, he hasn’t added any value in 2 years. They can move Olivares, Isbel, Melendez, Duffy, Keller, Clarke and Hernandez and it would not hurt this team
I know that this wasn't the theme of this (again wonderful) post, but I want to play a little "Did you know?"
Did you know that in 29 starts this season, the number of starts in which Jordan Lyles has allowed fewer than FOUR earned runs can be counted on your hands, even if you've lost a thumb in a freak Fourth of July accident? Yes...NINE times all year he's started a game and allowed three or fewer ER.
It's actually impressive and speaks to his durability. But it also underlines just how pitching-starved this major-league team is. I'm almost giddy about Zerpa, and I have high hopes that he is going to find his way into the rotation next season...
On a somber note: we are probably witnessing the end of Brad Keller, and not just as a Royal, but possibly as a major-league pitcher. I don't know what happened--I know that the "official" answer is a shoulder impingement, but I've a feeling that the impingement is slightly higher on his body--but it's really sad. I hope that he can get is straight and go on to have a decent career elsewhere.
There are only a few guys on the entire staff whose stuff imo is above average. All have question marks. Ragans- atm top of rotation stuff, no doubt. Minor worries about command, mostly worry about arm health. McMillon- when I hear forearm tightness, I think TJ. Elite closer stuff. Is he healthy? Is the control good enough?Steven Cruz- above average power arm, I question is repeatability and he needs to be more consistent with his slider. Big dude with a big complicated motion and a snappy slingshot delivery. Seems prone to control problems, as with McMillon. The only other guy with better than MLB avg stuff is Alex Marsh. As always it seems with the Royals, there isn't enough depth or quality, and you're just hoping everything comes together. It rarely does.
What bothers me about McArthur is that he basically has had zero long term success at any level of professional baseball. Until someone explains what they've done to fix him, I'm going to consider this to be similar to Austin Cox starting off his career with what was the equivalent of a no hitter.
Just as an aside:
I enjoy reading David's "columns" and enjoy reading and interacting with the comments here. It's not the typical: you, know, "Royals suck! Fire Quatraro! Execute Sluggerrr!" overreactive blathering BS that's on the social media sites. We actually dive into WHY the Royals suck, why Q won't be fired for at least a couple years, and why Sluggerrr is probably not the problem.
Referring to your previous article, has Loftin played any OF? I still think they need some one who can play D and hit. I’d like to see if he fits that need. I know he’s valuable as a utility INF, but having him locked in one position would be nice too