Snagging one of three from the Dodgers beat the odds and the math. They had one ugly final three innings, one ugly full game and then a beautiful series finale.
Sounds like your tune is changing on Keller a little bit. Mine is as well to be honest. I think re-signing him is pretty much out of the question now…and he is probably waiting until free agency at this point anyway…man non tendering him may be the best play. I don’t think they will because as you said….the royals are still in the “someone has to throw the innings” phase of this thing. I almost thing they are forced to keep him around next year just for insurance. IDK, its amazing how better we feel about the team as the year has gone on…and IDK if its because of how it started or what. I just don’t think you can it back with Singer, Lynch, Bubic, Keller, and Grienke again next year and call it good. Long ways to go…we’ll see what they do. But I’m all in on Gallen and Clevinger if they decide to throw some resources at the problem. And who knows if Gallen is even available. But man, as terrible as I think Arizona is you look at there record (better than the Royals), look at the rotation (better than the royals)….and I think “come on royals.” Lol
Hey David, enjoy the reads and also listen to you on Sorens show. My question is , How come nobody ever talks about Eaton yet? Dude has been outstanding in the field! Making tough plays look very easy. Hope he's here to stay. He's my favorite of the kids so far. Hard nosed, blue collar player! Enjoy the vacation
"The point here is that it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that Keller is wanting $8-$10 million. Can you bring him back at that cost?" My answer, and it seems obvious to me, is no. He simply isn't a dependable starter. Maybe they try him in the bullpen next season and he can contribute that way. Otherwise, it's time for him to move on. I don't know if, as a Rule 5 pick, you can expect more from him. There's always a chance some other team can make him better, but clearly it's not happening in KC. On another note, I liked Taylor leading off Sunday. I think our offense will become more consistent if we get the lineup settled. Perez and Melendez should be #4 or #5 hitters at best, not #1 and #3 as they currently are.
Good analysis of the rotation. I pretty much agree...can't pay Keller what he will probably command, though I like him overall. Singer (wow again!), Bubic and Lynch are a good start. I keep hoping that some of the other highly-touted young pitchers step forward, but we may need to trade or go free agent to fill the rotation. Unless Heasley or Kowar get it together, or one of the AA guys make a big jump. I was so high on Hernandez, but he has disappointed this year.
Also wanted to say I agree on Massey...seems like he is justifying what we were hearing earlier this year. And need to find a place for Eaton...even if it is 4th OF/utility. The guy is a PLAYER (nod to Rusty Kuntz).
Doggone it, Daniel Lynch! I know the Dodgers have a monster lineup. I get it. But were all those 2-out walks, especially the ones to lefties, really necessary? No wonder it took you 76 pitches to get through four innings even though you only gave up one hit. C'mon, man, I know you can do better!
To your eternal, everlasting credit you found a way to give up zero runs in 5 IP despite throwing 105 pitches. But brother, that's definitely doin' things the hard way! It's also leaving behind a whole lot of work for your bullpen to do, which is rarely a good idea - as we were quickly reminded. Again.
At least Isbel ruined Gonsolin's perfecto and Vinnie broke up his no-no. I suppose that's something….
Vinnie and MJ continue to see their OPS's balloon, while Dozier's continues to plummet. As David put it recently, "I don't really mind seeing Dozier on this team…" which at the time struck me as rather a lukewarm endorsement but I'm right there with him.
Problem is they really should have traded him at the deadline. I hope I'm wrong but I have serious trouble believing his trade value will ever be higher than it was two or three weeks ago.
That would have cleared the way for putting BWJ at 3B and Nicky at SS, where they belong. I have to wonder if Matheny truly can't see that. Maybe he's following orders from above. We should remember that for six long years Dayton held on to his fantasy of "Mondesi is our SS for the next 10 years." Maybe he has a new fantasy now….
David: here is the average OPS in MLB over the past three seasons plus this one:
2019: .758
2020: .740
2021: .738
2022: .709
I know this has been cussed and discussed to hell and back a thousand times. But I'd really like to get your thoughts/theories/speculations as to why this is happening.
Maybe it's just the normal yin and yang of baseball, but it feels like a fairly strong trend. Maybe there's more to it than that?
So if they truly nontender Keller this off season, why the hell didn’t they try to deal him at the deadline. These games mean nothing,, getting something for Keller might mean something.
For the last two years, people have complained incessantly about how Singer needed a third pitch. Now that he's having success, its easy to say its because he finally started throwing a change-up. But... imo very little of his success is because of the change. He doesn't throw it often enough especially in "high leverage" counts for a hitter to worry about. Its basically a show pitch, and deservedly so because its not a quality pitch like his other two. When he needs an out or a put away pitch, its back to the sinker or slider. The latest article from Ann Rogers attributes his success to a changed grip on his sinker which gives him better control over location. Mebbe so. Few have that kind of movement on a fastball. All this team lacks to become a contender is starting pitching. Move Hernandez and Heasley to the pen. Maybe bring in a few others to bolster the pen, but with Barlow and Coleman, the back of the pen is good. We need 2 quality MLB starters added and we are ready to be competitive. The offense is real. The kids can hit. I think people are underestimating Massey. I love his swing. The only reason I'm not screaming about how good he can be is that Pasquantino, Melendez and Jr are soooo damn good.
I mentioned just a few days ago that Amir Garrett strikes me as a guy whose emotions control him rather than the other way around. It seems as if he's constantly trying to right some imagined wrong or prove his manhood. Or establish his macho-ness bona fides. Or something equally irrelevant to pitching effectively and consistently.
So I'm not the least bit surprised that he's been suspended for three games for throwing something at a fan in Chicago a couple of weeks ago. Nobody else should be, either. I really don't think they need a so-called "veteran" like this on the team. Absolutely the wrong guy for the youngish pitchers to emulate. Especially with his 25 BB in 31 innings.
Garrett appealed his suspension, so he was able to pitch Monday night, even though the suspension was supposed to start that day.
They were talking about Tony Oliva on the telecast tonight, and I couldn't help but reminisce about how fun it was to watch him hit (unless he was playing against my team!) In the batter's box he just looked like a human being who had been created for the sole purpose of hitting baseballs really hard ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME.
When the Twins had him and Killebrew and Bob Allison hitting back-to-back-to-back, my guess is that there were a lot of starting pitchers who had nightmares the night before facing them. And I can't say that I really would have blamed them....
Kris Bubic Monday vs the Twins' first 18 batters: five hits, 1 ER.
After the first 18 batters:
10 PA
5 hits
1BB
3 ER
1 blown lead
5 outs, 4 of which Bubic was responsible for. (The other one happened when Eaton threw a guy out at 2nd base.) As I understand it, 4 outs in 10 PA's isn't good.
Good work David!
Sounds like your tune is changing on Keller a little bit. Mine is as well to be honest. I think re-signing him is pretty much out of the question now…and he is probably waiting until free agency at this point anyway…man non tendering him may be the best play. I don’t think they will because as you said….the royals are still in the “someone has to throw the innings” phase of this thing. I almost thing they are forced to keep him around next year just for insurance. IDK, its amazing how better we feel about the team as the year has gone on…and IDK if its because of how it started or what. I just don’t think you can it back with Singer, Lynch, Bubic, Keller, and Grienke again next year and call it good. Long ways to go…we’ll see what they do. But I’m all in on Gallen and Clevinger if they decide to throw some resources at the problem. And who knows if Gallen is even available. But man, as terrible as I think Arizona is you look at there record (better than the Royals), look at the rotation (better than the royals)….and I think “come on royals.” Lol
Enjoy your vacation!
Hey David, enjoy the reads and also listen to you on Sorens show. My question is , How come nobody ever talks about Eaton yet? Dude has been outstanding in the field! Making tough plays look very easy. Hope he's here to stay. He's my favorite of the kids so far. Hard nosed, blue collar player! Enjoy the vacation
"The point here is that it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that Keller is wanting $8-$10 million. Can you bring him back at that cost?" My answer, and it seems obvious to me, is no. He simply isn't a dependable starter. Maybe they try him in the bullpen next season and he can contribute that way. Otherwise, it's time for him to move on. I don't know if, as a Rule 5 pick, you can expect more from him. There's always a chance some other team can make him better, but clearly it's not happening in KC. On another note, I liked Taylor leading off Sunday. I think our offense will become more consistent if we get the lineup settled. Perez and Melendez should be #4 or #5 hitters at best, not #1 and #3 as they currently are.
Enjoy the time off, David!
Good analysis of the rotation. I pretty much agree...can't pay Keller what he will probably command, though I like him overall. Singer (wow again!), Bubic and Lynch are a good start. I keep hoping that some of the other highly-touted young pitchers step forward, but we may need to trade or go free agent to fill the rotation. Unless Heasley or Kowar get it together, or one of the AA guys make a big jump. I was so high on Hernandez, but he has disappointed this year.
Also wanted to say I agree on Massey...seems like he is justifying what we were hearing earlier this year. And need to find a place for Eaton...even if it is 4th OF/utility. The guy is a PLAYER (nod to Rusty Kuntz).
Doggone it, Daniel Lynch! I know the Dodgers have a monster lineup. I get it. But were all those 2-out walks, especially the ones to lefties, really necessary? No wonder it took you 76 pitches to get through four innings even though you only gave up one hit. C'mon, man, I know you can do better!
To your eternal, everlasting credit you found a way to give up zero runs in 5 IP despite throwing 105 pitches. But brother, that's definitely doin' things the hard way! It's also leaving behind a whole lot of work for your bullpen to do, which is rarely a good idea - as we were quickly reminded. Again.
At least Isbel ruined Gonsolin's perfecto and Vinnie broke up his no-no. I suppose that's something….
Vinnie and MJ continue to see their OPS's balloon, while Dozier's continues to plummet. As David put it recently, "I don't really mind seeing Dozier on this team…" which at the time struck me as rather a lukewarm endorsement but I'm right there with him.
Problem is they really should have traded him at the deadline. I hope I'm wrong but I have serious trouble believing his trade value will ever be higher than it was two or three weeks ago.
That would have cleared the way for putting BWJ at 3B and Nicky at SS, where they belong. I have to wonder if Matheny truly can't see that. Maybe he's following orders from above. We should remember that for six long years Dayton held on to his fantasy of "Mondesi is our SS for the next 10 years." Maybe he has a new fantasy now….
David: here is the average OPS in MLB over the past three seasons plus this one:
2019: .758
2020: .740
2021: .738
2022: .709
I know this has been cussed and discussed to hell and back a thousand times. But I'd really like to get your thoughts/theories/speculations as to why this is happening.
Maybe it's just the normal yin and yang of baseball, but it feels like a fairly strong trend. Maybe there's more to it than that?
Thanks for your great recaps! Have an excellent vacation!
So if they truly nontender Keller this off season, why the hell didn’t they try to deal him at the deadline. These games mean nothing,, getting something for Keller might mean something.
For the last two years, people have complained incessantly about how Singer needed a third pitch. Now that he's having success, its easy to say its because he finally started throwing a change-up. But... imo very little of his success is because of the change. He doesn't throw it often enough especially in "high leverage" counts for a hitter to worry about. Its basically a show pitch, and deservedly so because its not a quality pitch like his other two. When he needs an out or a put away pitch, its back to the sinker or slider. The latest article from Ann Rogers attributes his success to a changed grip on his sinker which gives him better control over location. Mebbe so. Few have that kind of movement on a fastball. All this team lacks to become a contender is starting pitching. Move Hernandez and Heasley to the pen. Maybe bring in a few others to bolster the pen, but with Barlow and Coleman, the back of the pen is good. We need 2 quality MLB starters added and we are ready to be competitive. The offense is real. The kids can hit. I think people are underestimating Massey. I love his swing. The only reason I'm not screaming about how good he can be is that Pasquantino, Melendez and Jr are soooo damn good.
I mentioned just a few days ago that Amir Garrett strikes me as a guy whose emotions control him rather than the other way around. It seems as if he's constantly trying to right some imagined wrong or prove his manhood. Or establish his macho-ness bona fides. Or something equally irrelevant to pitching effectively and consistently.
So I'm not the least bit surprised that he's been suspended for three games for throwing something at a fan in Chicago a couple of weeks ago. Nobody else should be, either. I really don't think they need a so-called "veteran" like this on the team. Absolutely the wrong guy for the youngish pitchers to emulate. Especially with his 25 BB in 31 innings.
Garrett appealed his suspension, so he was able to pitch Monday night, even though the suspension was supposed to start that day.
They were talking about Tony Oliva on the telecast tonight, and I couldn't help but reminisce about how fun it was to watch him hit (unless he was playing against my team!) In the batter's box he just looked like a human being who had been created for the sole purpose of hitting baseballs really hard ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME.
When the Twins had him and Killebrew and Bob Allison hitting back-to-back-to-back, my guess is that there were a lot of starting pitchers who had nightmares the night before facing them. And I can't say that I really would have blamed them....
Kris Bubic Monday vs the Twins' first 18 batters: five hits, 1 ER.
After the first 18 batters:
10 PA
5 hits
1BB
3 ER
1 blown lead
5 outs, 4 of which Bubic was responsible for. (The other one happened when Eaton threw a guy out at 2nd base.) As I understand it, 4 outs in 10 PA's isn't good.
Just sayin'....
Hmmm... now comes word: Keller to the bullpen. Maybe the quest for that "bulk guy" has semi-officially begun...???