David, I keep coming back to the Guardians. I thought they’d fall back and they never really did. Credit to them. I just find it so fascinating that the team Sherman came from and was trying to copy the structure is the team that everyone thought was playing over their heads but never really faltered. Sounds so much like the Royals. I know you’ve already gone into the how with both teams and they did it different ways. I just find it a little more than a coincidence that both those teams beat expectations. IDK exactly why I feel that way, just do for whatever reason.
I think good organizations stay afloat. The Royals weren't a good organization for a long time. They operated smartly for a few years to build up that 2013-2016 roster and there are more than a few things that I think changed from 2017 to 2022 when Dayton Moore was let go. Doing things the right way can mask deficiencies, so I think there's a comparison in that regard for sure.
You took the words out of my mouth on Isbel: "Personally, I’d also live with the drop in numbers against lefties in the playoffs for his defense."
This would also have "down roster" ramifications; you no longer need either Frazier or Hampson, which means you can keep Grossman and Gurriel (Pham and Blanco are shoe-ins), and--more importantly--you could carry another pitcher. I don't know how confident you are about Lorenzen's health, but I'm concerned it could be "wait and see" thing where you need both him and Marsh (not that there's anything wrong with that)...not to mention they are running out of calendar days on Harvey.
I still think they keep Hampson because I don't have an issue playing Isbel against everyone in the playoffs, but I also think you pinch hit for him against Gregory Soto (or whoever) in the late innings and then you need someone in center. Blanco is a mess defensively. As much as people hate Hampson and he's had some terrible plays, he's been a plus defender in center this season.
I'm far less confident on Lorenzen now than I was about two hours ago, to be honest. I read about him being a little more sore than he expected and asked someone who said it was no big deal. That person just texted me, probably after reading this, and said it might be a little bigger than no big deal, but still not a huge issue. Still, when guys struggle to come back from an injury, it's always a concern. As for Harvey, at this point, I'm not sure how you'd expect to see him on the playoff roster.
I was talking to my dad about this yesterday and I was thinking about how frustrating it's been to miss sweeps a couple times in the past few weeks. But then I remembered, you don't gotta sweep in the playoffs. Once you've won the requisite number of games, you get to move on.
The regular season is about a 26-man roster and using it in order to navigate a long season. Most teams don't have four starters who have been as strong as the Royals four, but generally teams are thrilled with their one, very happy with their two, good with their three and then somewhere between ambivalent to horrified when the rest of their starters go. With that in mind, they're 20-12 when Ragans, Lugo or Wacha pitch and 11-11 when Singer, Marsh or Lorenzen pitch. Of course not all of those games are because of the starting pitcher, but I find that fascinating. The Royals might be the rare team that has the full roster to get through the regular season but the top of the roster that plays well in the playoffs. I say all of that as a companion to your great point. You don't need to win four in a row. You need to win four of seven. I really feel like this team is built well to win four of seven.
Man that was a random strike zone this weekend, but guess both teams got burned.
Tuned into Rays/Guardians Saturday hoping Tampa Bay could grab the series. In the 5th Rays scored first with no outs and a runner on second. But wait, call of the run at the plate was overturned which left the Rays announcers stunned silent. Ok, Cleve then put up quite a few runs, but have to wonder how things would have changed if it wasn't for the all knowing? NY.
Ive heard several announcers (including Guthrie I think) say that New York has access to views that we can't see. But when they take away a run shouldn't they be a little more forthcoming with that info? Remember seeing Q essentially call BS on a HR call earlier this season, and Q doesn't exactly model himself after Aaron Boone. It is a shame teams have effectively no recourse now as they can no longer play games in protest.
I know I am chewing on sour grapes when I should be tossing rose petals, but I really hope MLB addresses the strike zone and overturned calls this offseason
I can tell you that nothing is going to change with the zone next year. The automated zone is coming, probably in 2026, but it won't be next year. You'll see them test it in spring training at least. As for replays, I don't think they believe there's a problem. The fact that they have views the broadcast doesn't is fine, but it's also 2024. Those views can be provided to the viewing audience in no time and if they aren't, it just leads people to believe something nefarious. I agree its a big problem. I'm just not sure we'll see a solution.
Do we know why the strike zone stuff is so slow to change? Just the umpire union? Or the players union? I gotta think the players have issues with it and it would be such an easy fix/adjustment. Gotta be from the umpires side right? Cause the strike zone to me is just the one that is so outrageous over the replays generally.
The claim is that the technology isn't ready. It misses calls entirely. Not that it gets them wrong, but doesn't register every pitch. I haven't seen a pitch missed in AAA, but I also haven't watched every game, so I have no idea if that's true or an excuse.
He has a .791 OPS the last three months. I appreciate all the engagement on the site, but that's what they see, no matter how many times you bring him up angrily. He's been well above average offensively for more than half the season, and as he's hit another cold spell, he's barely playing lately, including sitting three of the last four games against a righty.
Two out of three into the playoffs would be unthinkably awesome! Thank you, David, as always, for your wonderful commentary.
Thanks, Mark! Appreciate you reading and commenting!
David, I keep coming back to the Guardians. I thought they’d fall back and they never really did. Credit to them. I just find it so fascinating that the team Sherman came from and was trying to copy the structure is the team that everyone thought was playing over their heads but never really faltered. Sounds so much like the Royals. I know you’ve already gone into the how with both teams and they did it different ways. I just find it a little more than a coincidence that both those teams beat expectations. IDK exactly why I feel that way, just do for whatever reason.
I think good organizations stay afloat. The Royals weren't a good organization for a long time. They operated smartly for a few years to build up that 2013-2016 roster and there are more than a few things that I think changed from 2017 to 2022 when Dayton Moore was let go. Doing things the right way can mask deficiencies, so I think there's a comparison in that regard for sure.
You took the words out of my mouth on Isbel: "Personally, I’d also live with the drop in numbers against lefties in the playoffs for his defense."
This would also have "down roster" ramifications; you no longer need either Frazier or Hampson, which means you can keep Grossman and Gurriel (Pham and Blanco are shoe-ins), and--more importantly--you could carry another pitcher. I don't know how confident you are about Lorenzen's health, but I'm concerned it could be "wait and see" thing where you need both him and Marsh (not that there's anything wrong with that)...not to mention they are running out of calendar days on Harvey.
I still think they keep Hampson because I don't have an issue playing Isbel against everyone in the playoffs, but I also think you pinch hit for him against Gregory Soto (or whoever) in the late innings and then you need someone in center. Blanco is a mess defensively. As much as people hate Hampson and he's had some terrible plays, he's been a plus defender in center this season.
I'm far less confident on Lorenzen now than I was about two hours ago, to be honest. I read about him being a little more sore than he expected and asked someone who said it was no big deal. That person just texted me, probably after reading this, and said it might be a little bigger than no big deal, but still not a huge issue. Still, when guys struggle to come back from an injury, it's always a concern. As for Harvey, at this point, I'm not sure how you'd expect to see him on the playoff roster.
I was talking to my dad about this yesterday and I was thinking about how frustrating it's been to miss sweeps a couple times in the past few weeks. But then I remembered, you don't gotta sweep in the playoffs. Once you've won the requisite number of games, you get to move on.
The regular season is about a 26-man roster and using it in order to navigate a long season. Most teams don't have four starters who have been as strong as the Royals four, but generally teams are thrilled with their one, very happy with their two, good with their three and then somewhere between ambivalent to horrified when the rest of their starters go. With that in mind, they're 20-12 when Ragans, Lugo or Wacha pitch and 11-11 when Singer, Marsh or Lorenzen pitch. Of course not all of those games are because of the starting pitcher, but I find that fascinating. The Royals might be the rare team that has the full roster to get through the regular season but the top of the roster that plays well in the playoffs. I say all of that as a companion to your great point. You don't need to win four in a row. You need to win four of seven. I really feel like this team is built well to win four of seven.
Umpiring.
Man that was a random strike zone this weekend, but guess both teams got burned.
Tuned into Rays/Guardians Saturday hoping Tampa Bay could grab the series. In the 5th Rays scored first with no outs and a runner on second. But wait, call of the run at the plate was overturned which left the Rays announcers stunned silent. Ok, Cleve then put up quite a few runs, but have to wonder how things would have changed if it wasn't for the all knowing? NY.
Ive heard several announcers (including Guthrie I think) say that New York has access to views that we can't see. But when they take away a run shouldn't they be a little more forthcoming with that info? Remember seeing Q essentially call BS on a HR call earlier this season, and Q doesn't exactly model himself after Aaron Boone. It is a shame teams have effectively no recourse now as they can no longer play games in protest.
I know I am chewing on sour grapes when I should be tossing rose petals, but I really hope MLB addresses the strike zone and overturned calls this offseason
I can tell you that nothing is going to change with the zone next year. The automated zone is coming, probably in 2026, but it won't be next year. You'll see them test it in spring training at least. As for replays, I don't think they believe there's a problem. The fact that they have views the broadcast doesn't is fine, but it's also 2024. Those views can be provided to the viewing audience in no time and if they aren't, it just leads people to believe something nefarious. I agree its a big problem. I'm just not sure we'll see a solution.
Do we know why the strike zone stuff is so slow to change? Just the umpire union? Or the players union? I gotta think the players have issues with it and it would be such an easy fix/adjustment. Gotta be from the umpires side right? Cause the strike zone to me is just the one that is so outrageous over the replays generally.
The claim is that the technology isn't ready. It misses calls entirely. Not that it gets them wrong, but doesn't register every pitch. I haven't seen a pitch missed in AAA, but I also haven't watched every game, so I have no idea if that's true or an excuse.
Please, just tell what this organization sees in Melendez.
He has a .791 OPS the last three months. I appreciate all the engagement on the site, but that's what they see, no matter how many times you bring him up angrily. He's been well above average offensively for more than half the season, and as he's hit another cold spell, he's barely playing lately, including sitting three of the last four games against a righty.