Great article! You have more fortitude that I do. I find myself switching off the game for purposes of my emotional health when they start playing really badly (which sadly seems so to be so often this year after a good start). Here is my question - why do you think that MJ Melendez is being left behind? It seems he is doing as good as Witt and Pratto at AA, but he did not make the Futures Game or the Omaha promotion.
I think part of it is just roster math with Rivero in AAA and McBroom handling DH right now. I think part of it is that Melendez has been red hot lately, but did hit a cold spell, so they might want to give him just a little more time. And I think part of it is that they don't want to take away all the fire power in the NWA lineup at once. I don't know if he'll get to AAA this year or not, but I wouldn't be too surprised if the first part is the biggest issue and they might do something to clear up that logjam at the deadline by maybe moving Gallagher. I don't know that for a fact, just something that makes some sense with teams always needing good backup catchers.
Obviously I don't know Singer personally, but boy does he come across as kid that was never told no. Just no accountability in this organization whatsoever. If he doesn't want to throw his change up, either tell him you're not going to shake off the sign or you can go to Omaha and figure it out. I just don't understand the entitlement from him. He hasn't done enough in his short career to be able to dictate what pitches he throws or doesn't throw. Can it get any worse than losing to Matt Harvey?
To be fair, he lost to Jorge Lopez, which, yeah, might be worse than Harvey. I'm honestly not sure. But yes, he definitely has an heir of arrogance when listening to him. Maybe that's just the way he comes off on camera, so it's not entirely fair, but it's all we have to base things on right now. I just don't understand the unwillingness.
It may be that arrogant determination is what got him this far, that air of "don't back down from any hitter or anyone else" kind of attitude, that "great competitive makeup" - but it has a flaw - he will need to suffer enough failure - and perhaps AAA "get your attention" - to be willing to make an exception, to grow, to mature into allowing an exception to his "too tough for everyone" attitude - to be willing to listen to someone and make the adjustments he needs to be successful consistently. It may not be doing him any good to "let him get away with it" by just continuing to send him out there without being willing to make the adjudgment - like Bubic is. Reward those who do it right - and punish those who do not. The rod and the staff. Performance based - not arrogant entitlement based. This may be a lesson that even his parents failed to teach him - but he is going to need to learn it - for our sake as well as his.
Yeah, I mean I think there's something to that determination and competitiveness, but at some point, you have to make changes if what you're doing isn't working. Hopefully something gets through to him.
I like that you actually, out-loud, said that you like Gallgher because I don't feel like he gets much credit sometimes. I like him as a person (as much as I can say only having talked to him twice for a few minutes at a time) and as a player. Is he an All-Star? No, but you don't get to see a whole lot of play time when you're backing up a dude like Perez. Now, I wouldn't mind seeing Gallagher behind the dish and Perez at DH a little more often when you consider our... other choices.
I think Gallagher is just an outstanding receiver, better than Salvy. His bat isn't as bad as the numbers show this season and it's not as good as it was last year, but I think a team can win giving Gallagher 200-250 at bats in a season. Unfortunately, I have something coming tomorrow that may be us saying goodbye to Cam soon.
Dayton said before the season that Cam’s turned himself into an everyday catcher, and I totally agree. He’s going to be a really good player on a team that has AB’s available.
What are the chances that Witt, Pratto and MJ are hot disasters when they get to KC, like Lynch and Kowar and, if so, what is the problem? Is something rotten in Denmark with the process and, if so, what?
Great article! You have more fortitude that I do. I find myself switching off the game for purposes of my emotional health when they start playing really badly (which sadly seems so to be so often this year after a good start). Here is my question - why do you think that MJ Melendez is being left behind? It seems he is doing as good as Witt and Pratto at AA, but he did not make the Futures Game or the Omaha promotion.
I think part of it is just roster math with Rivero in AAA and McBroom handling DH right now. I think part of it is that Melendez has been red hot lately, but did hit a cold spell, so they might want to give him just a little more time. And I think part of it is that they don't want to take away all the fire power in the NWA lineup at once. I don't know if he'll get to AAA this year or not, but I wouldn't be too surprised if the first part is the biggest issue and they might do something to clear up that logjam at the deadline by maybe moving Gallagher. I don't know that for a fact, just something that makes some sense with teams always needing good backup catchers.
Obviously I don't know Singer personally, but boy does he come across as kid that was never told no. Just no accountability in this organization whatsoever. If he doesn't want to throw his change up, either tell him you're not going to shake off the sign or you can go to Omaha and figure it out. I just don't understand the entitlement from him. He hasn't done enough in his short career to be able to dictate what pitches he throws or doesn't throw. Can it get any worse than losing to Matt Harvey?
To be fair, he lost to Jorge Lopez, which, yeah, might be worse than Harvey. I'm honestly not sure. But yes, he definitely has an heir of arrogance when listening to him. Maybe that's just the way he comes off on camera, so it's not entirely fair, but it's all we have to base things on right now. I just don't understand the unwillingness.
It may be that arrogant determination is what got him this far, that air of "don't back down from any hitter or anyone else" kind of attitude, that "great competitive makeup" - but it has a flaw - he will need to suffer enough failure - and perhaps AAA "get your attention" - to be willing to make an exception, to grow, to mature into allowing an exception to his "too tough for everyone" attitude - to be willing to listen to someone and make the adjustments he needs to be successful consistently. It may not be doing him any good to "let him get away with it" by just continuing to send him out there without being willing to make the adjudgment - like Bubic is. Reward those who do it right - and punish those who do not. The rod and the staff. Performance based - not arrogant entitlement based. This may be a lesson that even his parents failed to teach him - but he is going to need to learn it - for our sake as well as his.
Yeah, I mean I think there's something to that determination and competitiveness, but at some point, you have to make changes if what you're doing isn't working. Hopefully something gets through to him.
I like that you actually, out-loud, said that you like Gallgher because I don't feel like he gets much credit sometimes. I like him as a person (as much as I can say only having talked to him twice for a few minutes at a time) and as a player. Is he an All-Star? No, but you don't get to see a whole lot of play time when you're backing up a dude like Perez. Now, I wouldn't mind seeing Gallagher behind the dish and Perez at DH a little more often when you consider our... other choices.
I think Gallagher is just an outstanding receiver, better than Salvy. His bat isn't as bad as the numbers show this season and it's not as good as it was last year, but I think a team can win giving Gallagher 200-250 at bats in a season. Unfortunately, I have something coming tomorrow that may be us saying goodbye to Cam soon.
Dayton said before the season that Cam’s turned himself into an everyday catcher, and I totally agree. He’s going to be a really good player on a team that has AB’s available.
Doesn't hurt they already have his replacement and likely have a desire to clear a spot for MJ soon enough.
What are the chances that Witt, Pratto and MJ are hot disasters when they get to KC, like Lynch and Kowar and, if so, what is the problem? Is something rotten in Denmark with the process and, if so, what?
I don't know. I'd think it's pretty unlikely that they're all so bad they have to go back down within a couple weeks.