I have a hunch that Michael A. Taylor goes to the Braves right before the trade deadline clock strikes midnight. As for Whit Merrifield he would fit right in with the Cardinals or the team that I refer to as the mid-west Yankees since I despise them almost as much as the Bronx Bombers. As for the rest who might be moved, I have no clue. Hopefully it's an eventful next two days that further strengthens the Royals next window of contention.
The Braves feel right for Taylor, but I have a weird feeling that some other team is going to kick it in and give them a run for their money. Whit would definitely fit on the Cards, but there are so many teams who work for him. I'll be interested to see if he's in today's lineup.
I don’t care who they go to….I just want them to go somewhere. Both Merrifield and Taylor. You’ve been a nice voice of reasoning David….and very steadfast in saying they are going to get moved. It’s just one of my bigger fears with this team that they don’t do anything else. I’m cautiously optimistic tho.
I really hope they get traded as well as Dozier. These guys are not ever going to make the playoffs in Kansas City. Make room for the next era of players. I appreciate what they have done and wish them well, let's move on.
I hate to be an umpire whiner, but. I thought this whole crew had a terrible ball strike weekend. I actually started Saturday to keep track of borderline strike ball calls that went for or against each team At the end of the second inning the count was 5 against the Royals and 1 against the Yanks. I quit after 2 because the game was so uninteresting. But it seemed like it was like that all weekend. They also missed several on the bases that had to be corrected. Thanks, as always David.
It was a brutal crew all weekend for sure. Started on Thursday with the terrible game and then just kept up all weekend. It's been all season really. I wrote about it right after the break when they were at -17.28 runs on umpscorecards.com and they're now at -20.27 after just 10 games. It doesn't change a ton in the grand scheme, but that's the worst in baseball by nearly four runs! I'd contend that an automated strike zone will help the Royals more than any other team.
None of the three trades made in season feel like Dayton is in charge. So, I have renewed optimisim that JJ Piccolo is the trigger man. Anyhow, the next two days will reveal a lot to how much power Dayton Moore still has. Hopefully, he's virtually powerless.
I completely agree that the trades do appear to be under JJ as Dayton said a few weeks ago, but yeah, we'll see how it goes over the next 30 hours or so.
You mentioned the importance of conversations between JJ and other GM's. I would add to that: the importance of conversations between JJ and Dayton.
Admittedly this is just speculation, but looking in from the outside it appears to me that both of them got new job titles but the relative decision-making authority between them did not change. My guess, and I know you probably disagree with this, is that JJ can't take a leak without Dayton's okay. And he certainly can't execute a trade without it.
If they really are going to be "more transactional" (I'm beginning to hate that term more and more) then JJ is going to have to fight Dayton tooth and nail for every move he wants to make. Nobody loves or overvalues his "our guys" more than Dayton Moore does.
That's how it looks to this old baseball fan, anyway.
I don’t know who holds the bathroom key, but I don’t think any of the moves made so far are Dayton moves. That’s about all I can say because that’s about all I know for certain.
I know what you're saying. What I was getting at was that even if they were "JJ moves" rather than "Dayton moves" my guess is that they still required Dayton's okay. I'm probably a little jaded by my own experiences in the corporate world, but I just have trouble believing that Dayton's power vis-a-vis JJ is any less now than it was a year ago. New job titles, same relationship.
Well yeah, he’s the president of baseball operations. He’s JJ’s boss. Of course it requires his sign-off. But he has signed off on moves that I don’t believe he’d have made.
I think we can at least agree on this: I'd like to see what JJ would be willing and able to do if he were completely out from under Dayton's thumb. I understand the whole "be careful what you wish for" thing, but still...
Sure but if he’s coming to Dayton with trades and Dayton is signing off, we’re seeing that. I don’t know if that’s the case or not, but like I said, it seems like these aren’t Dayton trades.
If the Royals find a valuable offer for anyone else, I guess they'll take it. I'm not sure they feel they really need to.
They've already opened up everyday at-bats for Melendez, Pratto and Pasquantino. They've done enough to start transitioning their guys to the big-league club. I don't see a pressing need to get Massey and Waters to Kansas City *right now.*
I guess what I'm saying is, I feel really good about what they've done to add pitching depth to their system. I think it's likely they won't make any more moves. And that isn't a bad thing.
I think they need to move Whit. It's not about getting Massey up, though I'd love that, but I don't think there's much nearly as much value in the offseason for him. I suppose there are worse things than being stuck with him next year, but I think there's a return to be had now that likely isn't there moving forward and there isn't much of a need for him on the team.
The rest isn't urgent, but the reliever market going nuts makes a Barlow move seem like something that might be pretty smart right now too.
They're yet to trade one of Dayton's "our guys," meaning someone that Dayton drafted and thus has that emotional attachment to. I remain skeptical that he's going to permit that to happen, but I absolutely hope that I'm wrong!
If it does, I see Whit as the best candidate. Not only for the reasons you've explained so well, but because he was so rude as to prove Dayton and Ned completely wrong in their evaluation/projection of him. I've never gotten the impression that Dayton has been all that thrilled with his successes.
Oh I don't know about that. It just takes one team to jump on him. I think the value listed is pretty close based on some conversations I've had in the last couple of days with scouts.
Luke Weaver....how in the world does a guy with a patriotic 1.776 WHIP end up with a FIP of 2.69???
That ERA+ of 54 isn't exactly awe-inspiring. Of course, it's not as if they gave up much to get him. It's just hard to imagine a universe in which he gets any better with Eldred as his pitching coach. Weaver will turn 29 in 3 weeks so he probably is what he is, anyway. I imagine that the best we can hope for is that he doesn't regress too much under Cal's tutelage.
Gotta give Dayton a little credit here: he finally brought himself to pull the trigger on trading a player that he drafted. Although it's not clear if Rivera was one of his "our guys" or not.
Anthony Misiewicz, purchased from Seattle, seems a little more promising. (Just based on his stats.) With 88 MLB IP he has 86 K's and 27 BB's with a 1.38 WHIP. His 9.7 hits/9IP could be better. He'll turn 28 in November. I don't recall ever having seen him pitch, but a guy with a 3.2:1 K:BB ratio sounds encouraging to me. I have no idea about his repertoire but I'm sure David will provide us with all the scoop....
I have a hunch that Michael A. Taylor goes to the Braves right before the trade deadline clock strikes midnight. As for Whit Merrifield he would fit right in with the Cardinals or the team that I refer to as the mid-west Yankees since I despise them almost as much as the Bronx Bombers. As for the rest who might be moved, I have no clue. Hopefully it's an eventful next two days that further strengthens the Royals next window of contention.
The Braves feel right for Taylor, but I have a weird feeling that some other team is going to kick it in and give them a run for their money. Whit would definitely fit on the Cards, but there are so many teams who work for him. I'll be interested to see if he's in today's lineup.
I don’t care who they go to….I just want them to go somewhere. Both Merrifield and Taylor. You’ve been a nice voice of reasoning David….and very steadfast in saying they are going to get moved. It’s just one of my bigger fears with this team that they don’t do anything else. I’m cautiously optimistic tho.
Oh I'm not convinced Taylor goes anywhere, but I'll be surprised if yesterday or tonight doesn't end up as Whit's last game with the Royals.
I really hope they get traded as well as Dozier. These guys are not ever going to make the playoffs in Kansas City. Make room for the next era of players. I appreciate what they have done and wish them well, let's move on.
I hate to be an umpire whiner, but. I thought this whole crew had a terrible ball strike weekend. I actually started Saturday to keep track of borderline strike ball calls that went for or against each team At the end of the second inning the count was 5 against the Royals and 1 against the Yanks. I quit after 2 because the game was so uninteresting. But it seemed like it was like that all weekend. They also missed several on the bases that had to be corrected. Thanks, as always David.
It was a brutal crew all weekend for sure. Started on Thursday with the terrible game and then just kept up all weekend. It's been all season really. I wrote about it right after the break when they were at -17.28 runs on umpscorecards.com and they're now at -20.27 after just 10 games. It doesn't change a ton in the grand scheme, but that's the worst in baseball by nearly four runs! I'd contend that an automated strike zone will help the Royals more than any other team.
I was screaming at the TV for Matheny to get run during the DeJesus game behind the plate - his zone was a nightmare.
Sort of seemed like he was vaguely trying on the Garcia strikeout.
None of the three trades made in season feel like Dayton is in charge. So, I have renewed optimisim that JJ Piccolo is the trigger man. Anyhow, the next two days will reveal a lot to how much power Dayton Moore still has. Hopefully, he's virtually powerless.
I completely agree that the trades do appear to be under JJ as Dayton said a few weeks ago, but yeah, we'll see how it goes over the next 30 hours or so.
You mentioned the importance of conversations between JJ and other GM's. I would add to that: the importance of conversations between JJ and Dayton.
Admittedly this is just speculation, but looking in from the outside it appears to me that both of them got new job titles but the relative decision-making authority between them did not change. My guess, and I know you probably disagree with this, is that JJ can't take a leak without Dayton's okay. And he certainly can't execute a trade without it.
If they really are going to be "more transactional" (I'm beginning to hate that term more and more) then JJ is going to have to fight Dayton tooth and nail for every move he wants to make. Nobody loves or overvalues his "our guys" more than Dayton Moore does.
That's how it looks to this old baseball fan, anyway.
I don’t know who holds the bathroom key, but I don’t think any of the moves made so far are Dayton moves. That’s about all I can say because that’s about all I know for certain.
I know what you're saying. What I was getting at was that even if they were "JJ moves" rather than "Dayton moves" my guess is that they still required Dayton's okay. I'm probably a little jaded by my own experiences in the corporate world, but I just have trouble believing that Dayton's power vis-a-vis JJ is any less now than it was a year ago. New job titles, same relationship.
Well yeah, he’s the president of baseball operations. He’s JJ’s boss. Of course it requires his sign-off. But he has signed off on moves that I don’t believe he’d have made.
I think we can at least agree on this: I'd like to see what JJ would be willing and able to do if he were completely out from under Dayton's thumb. I understand the whole "be careful what you wish for" thing, but still...
Sure but if he’s coming to Dayton with trades and Dayton is signing off, we’re seeing that. I don’t know if that’s the case or not, but like I said, it seems like these aren’t Dayton trades.
Dayton has many flaws as a baseball executive, but "ruling with an iron fist" isn't one of them. He isn't going to micromanage anybody.
If the Royals find a valuable offer for anyone else, I guess they'll take it. I'm not sure they feel they really need to.
They've already opened up everyday at-bats for Melendez, Pratto and Pasquantino. They've done enough to start transitioning their guys to the big-league club. I don't see a pressing need to get Massey and Waters to Kansas City *right now.*
I guess what I'm saying is, I feel really good about what they've done to add pitching depth to their system. I think it's likely they won't make any more moves. And that isn't a bad thing.
I think they need to move Whit. It's not about getting Massey up, though I'd love that, but I don't think there's much nearly as much value in the offseason for him. I suppose there are worse things than being stuck with him next year, but I think there's a return to be had now that likely isn't there moving forward and there isn't much of a need for him on the team.
The rest isn't urgent, but the reliever market going nuts makes a Barlow move seem like something that might be pretty smart right now too.
They're yet to trade one of Dayton's "our guys," meaning someone that Dayton drafted and thus has that emotional attachment to. I remain skeptical that he's going to permit that to happen, but I absolutely hope that I'm wrong!
If it does, I see Whit as the best candidate. Not only for the reasons you've explained so well, but because he was so rude as to prove Dayton and Ned completely wrong in their evaluation/projection of him. I've never gotten the impression that Dayton has been all that thrilled with his successes.
I really get the feeling that Barlow isn't as valuable as we think he is, just like Benintendi. Probably need to be prepared to feel underwhelmed.
Oh I don't know about that. It just takes one team to jump on him. I think the value listed is pretty close based on some conversations I've had in the last couple of days with scouts.
Luke Weaver....how in the world does a guy with a patriotic 1.776 WHIP end up with a FIP of 2.69???
That ERA+ of 54 isn't exactly awe-inspiring. Of course, it's not as if they gave up much to get him. It's just hard to imagine a universe in which he gets any better with Eldred as his pitching coach. Weaver will turn 29 in 3 weeks so he probably is what he is, anyway. I imagine that the best we can hope for is that he doesn't regress too much under Cal's tutelage.
Gotta give Dayton a little credit here: he finally brought himself to pull the trigger on trading a player that he drafted. Although it's not clear if Rivera was one of his "our guys" or not.
Anthony Misiewicz, purchased from Seattle, seems a little more promising. (Just based on his stats.) With 88 MLB IP he has 86 K's and 27 BB's with a 1.38 WHIP. His 9.7 hits/9IP could be better. He'll turn 28 in November. I don't recall ever having seen him pitch, but a guy with a 3.2:1 K:BB ratio sounds encouraging to me. I have no idea about his repertoire but I'm sure David will provide us with all the scoop....