The math in this one is a little bit of a reality check for me actually. As we’ve mentioned numerous times, on offense someone will disappoint, but overall I see more ways for improvement than regression. After reading this article….I might be more worried about the starting pitching than before. LOL. The bullpen this year is going to save this team a bunch of runs. I’m 90% sure of that. I’m just not sure that the starters can be much better than last year. But even if that is the most likely scenario…I think that still gets them around your win total.
David, I couldn't help but chuckle a little! If you really think those are the only things that can go wrong then you're the world's most incurable optimist. No, Murphy's law doesn't apply to all baseball teams and all ballplayers but it certainly applies to some of them, especially those with a firmly established tradition of submediocrity.
What else could go wrong? Well, let's see...
Last season could be their best season for the next 5 years. Hell, they could even rehire Matheny and the old pitching coach whose name I won't mention! (Yeah, I know. That's never gonna happen. Right?) The list could go on forever....
75 + wins = a successful season, and by that I mean sufficient success for ownership to go out and spend some $ to plug some holes. < 65 wins is a disaster. Low 70s seems about right.
I look at the talent on this team and just don't see much. Pasquintino will hit but I really don't see anyone else hitting. I'm not that high on Witt because of his strikeouts and lack of walks and his defense. Sure. He'll probably hit a few more home runs and maybe steal a few more bases but because of his strikeout to walk ratio I just don't care for him that much. I hope I'm wrong. I'm not high on Melendez either. No defense and until he changes that batting stance I just don't see him hitting. I think the rotation is bottom ten in the league and I haven't seen enough from the bullpen to think they'll be any better. Until they stop using 5 or 6 pitchers a game and cut that down to one starter and maybe two relievers they will not improve. Use too many pitchers one will probably get lit up. I think they're looking at 90+ losses. This team still looks like a Dayton Moore team
Great article. I kind of believe in the old 'the harder I work, the luckier I get' mantra. I think most on here would agree that our Royal's bad luck has often been the result of lack of work, inefficient work (never mistake action alone for progress) or just bad work in general that is attributable to ownership, management or combinations of the two.
I feel we've crossed a bridge on that front; I'm 95% optimistic that even if we've haven't hit ringers with new ownership and management, we are better than we were. So I'm gonna presume that we will have better 'luck' than in the past and that we'll have some good stuff and some bad but mostly good. With that has my foundational belief, it sure seems like we are one legitimate starter away from .500 ball.
We've a boon of NRI's who balled out, just sent a couple of great pitchers down and we're still a man over on the roster... is there a deal in the works Lesky???
David - last year BWJ's OB% was a paltry .294, which was a big part of the reason his WAR was only 0.9. Do you genuinely see either of those numbers improving this year, and if so why?
David—not sure if you covered this and perhaps there’s a reason if not but…
Seems like most of the spring training buzz was about positional players. Haven’t heard a ton of updates (from maybe anyone?) on our once-highly-rated pitching prospects like Marsh, Bowlan, Lacy, Veneziano, the guys we got back from the Benny trade, etc.
Did any of them participate in Spring Training and generate any buzz to the point that any of those guys could impact the upcoming season?
Just became a paid subscriber. I got a raise this morning ( not bragging - it was very much the standard corporate "we're giving you as little extra as possible" type of deal ), & you benefit! Wheeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!
The math in this one is a little bit of a reality check for me actually. As we’ve mentioned numerous times, on offense someone will disappoint, but overall I see more ways for improvement than regression. After reading this article….I might be more worried about the starting pitching than before. LOL. The bullpen this year is going to save this team a bunch of runs. I’m 90% sure of that. I’m just not sure that the starters can be much better than last year. But even if that is the most likely scenario…I think that still gets them around your win total.
David, I couldn't help but chuckle a little! If you really think those are the only things that can go wrong then you're the world's most incurable optimist. No, Murphy's law doesn't apply to all baseball teams and all ballplayers but it certainly applies to some of them, especially those with a firmly established tradition of submediocrity.
What else could go wrong? Well, let's see...
Last season could be their best season for the next 5 years. Hell, they could even rehire Matheny and the old pitching coach whose name I won't mention! (Yeah, I know. That's never gonna happen. Right?) The list could go on forever....
75 + wins = a successful season, and by that I mean sufficient success for ownership to go out and spend some $ to plug some holes. < 65 wins is a disaster. Low 70s seems about right.
David, this was a fun article to read. Thanks, Buddy.
I look at the talent on this team and just don't see much. Pasquintino will hit but I really don't see anyone else hitting. I'm not that high on Witt because of his strikeouts and lack of walks and his defense. Sure. He'll probably hit a few more home runs and maybe steal a few more bases but because of his strikeout to walk ratio I just don't care for him that much. I hope I'm wrong. I'm not high on Melendez either. No defense and until he changes that batting stance I just don't see him hitting. I think the rotation is bottom ten in the league and I haven't seen enough from the bullpen to think they'll be any better. Until they stop using 5 or 6 pitchers a game and cut that down to one starter and maybe two relievers they will not improve. Use too many pitchers one will probably get lit up. I think they're looking at 90+ losses. This team still looks like a Dayton Moore team
Great article. I kind of believe in the old 'the harder I work, the luckier I get' mantra. I think most on here would agree that our Royal's bad luck has often been the result of lack of work, inefficient work (never mistake action alone for progress) or just bad work in general that is attributable to ownership, management or combinations of the two.
I feel we've crossed a bridge on that front; I'm 95% optimistic that even if we've haven't hit ringers with new ownership and management, we are better than we were. So I'm gonna presume that we will have better 'luck' than in the past and that we'll have some good stuff and some bad but mostly good. With that has my foundational belief, it sure seems like we are one legitimate starter away from .500 ball.
We've a boon of NRI's who balled out, just sent a couple of great pitchers down and we're still a man over on the roster... is there a deal in the works Lesky???
This season will be the trailer. And 2024 will be the MOVIE
Say it with me Royals Fans
Brady Singer Was Not A One Hit Wonder
Brady Singer Was Not A One Hit Wonder
Brady Singer Was Not A One Hit Wonder
Brady Singer Was Not A One Hit Wonder
Brady Singer Was Not A One Hit Wonder
Brady Singer Was Not A One Hit Wonder
Brady Singer Was Not A One Hit Wonder
Brady Singer Was Not A One Hit Wonder
Brady Singer Was Not A One Hit Wonder
Brady Singer Was Not A One Hit Wonder
Brady Singer Was Not A One Hit Wonder
Brady Singer Was Not A One Hit Wonder
Brady Singer Was Not A One Hit Wonder
Brady Singer Was Not A One Hit Wonder
David - last year BWJ's OB% was a paltry .294, which was a big part of the reason his WAR was only 0.9. Do you genuinely see either of those numbers improving this year, and if so why?
David—not sure if you covered this and perhaps there’s a reason if not but…
Seems like most of the spring training buzz was about positional players. Haven’t heard a ton of updates (from maybe anyone?) on our once-highly-rated pitching prospects like Marsh, Bowlan, Lacy, Veneziano, the guys we got back from the Benny trade, etc.
Did any of them participate in Spring Training and generate any buzz to the point that any of those guys could impact the upcoming season?
Just became a paid subscriber. I got a raise this morning ( not bragging - it was very much the standard corporate "we're giving you as little extra as possible" type of deal ), & you benefit! Wheeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!