I was traveling Saturday and didn't get to watch Saturday's game. It was good to see a baseball game yesterday. I was impressed with Mickael Garcia. He looked like a polished hitter yesterday. I also thought Isbel had 3 good at bats yesterday. Great writing as usual David.
Thanks Paul! Yeah, Garcia looks a little…sturdier? I think he’s going to really push for the OD roster though I’m not sure he’ll make it. And Isbel looked great. He’s someone I’m very interested in this spring.
Gosh, I love talking about young players competing for and WINNING starting spots. I'm still haunted by a year in the past the Royals right field spot was basically "won" by default by Emil Brown (I think?). They just had no one else...
But seriously, Emil hit .286/.353/.456 in 2005/2006 after being out of the big leagues for four years. That's 11% better than league average. He was a DH in the outfield, but he could hit!
Emil Brown could hit. I’m not sure these young player are exactly WINNING starting spots. The only one that is even in a battle right now is Massey. I’m excited about the pitching because they have enough depth now you better go win a spot. You aren’t just given anything. Hitting….a lot is still being “given”. It’s not bad or a knock…but Isbel hasn’t won anything, Melendez hasn’t won anything. They almost don’t have enough guys to fill spots. Quite frankly, the Royals are pretty short on hitting depth. They have a great start with some pillars….but injuries will play a part. Hopefully the Reyes signing (shoot it has already come in handy) pays dividends for them.
I feel like that came off a little wrong. I’d much rather see the young guys play. And I hope we get to the point where they are on the pitching side that you go win a spot. Not just no other option but Isbel. I want to see what he can do so glad he is getting the opportunity now. But I don’t see real competition on the hitting side like you are going to see on the pitching side. Some mlb average relievers are going to be sent to Omaha….that’s a long way from a year ago. I’m not saying great…..but some replacement level players will be. That’s a start.
I don’t know that I’d say they’re short on depth. They’re short on proven depth for sure, but beyond the big league guys they have Gentry, Loftin, Garcia, Tresh, Pratto and Cross off the top of my head who are AA or higher. I know the response to that is what have they done to show they can hit? And the answer is nothing yet, but a 65-win team isn’t going 15-20 deep with proven hitters. Heck, look at the Dodgers. Lux goes down and they’re feeling light already.
That’s fair. I’m hopeful on the guys they have will provide the depth. Personally, I’m not sold on Isbel hitting after the last two years. It’s a prove it year to me with him. Pratto…hopeful…but have some doubts. And you’re totally right, a 65 team win isn’t going to be deep or they would have won more than 65 games. And honestly, it doesn’t matter. The Royals have been upfront with where they are at and I’m sure they know if injuries are a problem they will at least find out something on some guys. I get to drinking the spring koolaid. If they do nothing more than put Melendez in a spot and keep him there and just let him do his thing I’ll be happy. The position flexibility is a bit overrated. You can move him around after you find out what he is. If he can be an above average major leaguer, why are we messing with him. But that’s for another day.
For what it’s worth, I think he likes moving around, but I do agree that it isn’t doing him any favors. And where I’m hopeful on Isbel is that he made a ton of adjustments during 2021 and the results proved it. Then I honestly don’t know what happened last year but the fact that he took the initiative to go work on things is encouraging. I’ll always side with a guy willing to try things because we’ve seen far too many who won’t.
I don't know that Lopez provides them anything Rojas doesn't and they already traded for Rojas and extended him. If the Dodgers are going the trade route, I assume they'd look to pick up something different than a defense first guy.
Eaton is also the emergency catcher. If the Royals go with two catchers and not Fermin, its partly because Nate can actually play the position well enough for an emergency. Between that and the threat of Olivares, Reyes, and Dozier playing in the field, Eaton makes the squad. Nate's OF defense will be valuable, even if he doesn't hit.
He is, but that’s for the rest of a game and that’s about it. I don’t know when he last caught but it wasn’t in college and it hasn’t been professionally.
Personally I don't like any of our guys playing in wbc. We have a completely new coaching staff and these guys need to be here playing for KC learning what these coaches have to teach. Also they could get hurt. I know that they can get hurt playing spring training games but getting hurt playing for something that basically meaningless is different. Both Lopez and singer need to stay and work with the new coaches. Pasquintino can hit in his sleep but he could still get hurt.
I really wish that they had signed an outfielder in the off-season. Non of these young guys look like they can hit. Olivares can hit but he's another mondesi. If they could have signed even one decent hitting outfielder they could've protected some of the young guys in the lineup. Now there's more pressure on each hitter to perform. That's a big thing to ask of a bunch of young players right out of the minors
I was traveling Saturday and didn't get to watch Saturday's game. It was good to see a baseball game yesterday. I was impressed with Mickael Garcia. He looked like a polished hitter yesterday. I also thought Isbel had 3 good at bats yesterday. Great writing as usual David.
Thanks Paul! Yeah, Garcia looks a little…sturdier? I think he’s going to really push for the OD roster though I’m not sure he’ll make it. And Isbel looked great. He’s someone I’m very interested in this spring.
Gosh, I love talking about young players competing for and WINNING starting spots. I'm still haunted by a year in the past the Royals right field spot was basically "won" by default by Emil Brown (I think?). They just had no one else...
Hey, it's not a snack...
But seriously, Emil hit .286/.353/.456 in 2005/2006 after being out of the big leagues for four years. That's 11% better than league average. He was a DH in the outfield, but he could hit!
Emil Brown could hit. I’m not sure these young player are exactly WINNING starting spots. The only one that is even in a battle right now is Massey. I’m excited about the pitching because they have enough depth now you better go win a spot. You aren’t just given anything. Hitting….a lot is still being “given”. It’s not bad or a knock…but Isbel hasn’t won anything, Melendez hasn’t won anything. They almost don’t have enough guys to fill spots. Quite frankly, the Royals are pretty short on hitting depth. They have a great start with some pillars….but injuries will play a part. Hopefully the Reyes signing (shoot it has already come in handy) pays dividends for them.
I feel like that came off a little wrong. I’d much rather see the young guys play. And I hope we get to the point where they are on the pitching side that you go win a spot. Not just no other option but Isbel. I want to see what he can do so glad he is getting the opportunity now. But I don’t see real competition on the hitting side like you are going to see on the pitching side. Some mlb average relievers are going to be sent to Omaha….that’s a long way from a year ago. I’m not saying great…..but some replacement level players will be. That’s a start.
I agree. None have shown they can hit major league pitchers
I don’t know that I’d say they’re short on depth. They’re short on proven depth for sure, but beyond the big league guys they have Gentry, Loftin, Garcia, Tresh, Pratto and Cross off the top of my head who are AA or higher. I know the response to that is what have they done to show they can hit? And the answer is nothing yet, but a 65-win team isn’t going 15-20 deep with proven hitters. Heck, look at the Dodgers. Lux goes down and they’re feeling light already.
That’s fair. I’m hopeful on the guys they have will provide the depth. Personally, I’m not sold on Isbel hitting after the last two years. It’s a prove it year to me with him. Pratto…hopeful…but have some doubts. And you’re totally right, a 65 team win isn’t going to be deep or they would have won more than 65 games. And honestly, it doesn’t matter. The Royals have been upfront with where they are at and I’m sure they know if injuries are a problem they will at least find out something on some guys. I get to drinking the spring koolaid. If they do nothing more than put Melendez in a spot and keep him there and just let him do his thing I’ll be happy. The position flexibility is a bit overrated. You can move him around after you find out what he is. If he can be an above average major leaguer, why are we messing with him. But that’s for another day.
For what it’s worth, I think he likes moving around, but I do agree that it isn’t doing him any favors. And where I’m hopeful on Isbel is that he made a ton of adjustments during 2021 and the results proved it. Then I honestly don’t know what happened last year but the fact that he took the initiative to go work on things is encouraging. I’ll always side with a guy willing to try things because we’ve seen far too many who won’t.
I can’t say I love the Jackie Bradley Jr news….
I think the Royals should contact the Dodgers about his availability
About Lopez
I don't know that Lopez provides them anything Rojas doesn't and they already traded for Rojas and extended him. If the Dodgers are going the trade route, I assume they'd look to pick up something different than a defense first guy.
Very informative article, David. Thank you.
Thanks for reading, Mark!
Eaton is also the emergency catcher. If the Royals go with two catchers and not Fermin, its partly because Nate can actually play the position well enough for an emergency. Between that and the threat of Olivares, Reyes, and Dozier playing in the field, Eaton makes the squad. Nate's OF defense will be valuable, even if he doesn't hit.
He is, but that’s for the rest of a game and that’s about it. I don’t know when he last caught but it wasn’t in college and it hasn’t been professionally.
Personally I don't like any of our guys playing in wbc. We have a completely new coaching staff and these guys need to be here playing for KC learning what these coaches have to teach. Also they could get hurt. I know that they can get hurt playing spring training games but getting hurt playing for something that basically meaningless is different. Both Lopez and singer need to stay and work with the new coaches. Pasquintino can hit in his sleep but he could still get hurt.
Maikel Garcia needs to make the team a left side of the infield of him and Witt Jr is scary
I really wish that they had signed an outfielder in the off-season. Non of these young guys look like they can hit. Olivares can hit but he's another mondesi. If they could have signed even one decent hitting outfielder they could've protected some of the young guys in the lineup. Now there's more pressure on each hitter to perform. That's a big thing to ask of a bunch of young players right out of the minors