Thank you for validating the message I posted here just a few days ago. My only quibble would be a semantic one: referring to these guys as "young" pitchers. It's been long enough now since they've been drafted that perhaps "youngish" would be more appropriate.
21-year-old phenoms are young. BWJ is young. These guys from the 2018 draft aren't that.
Weren't the pitchers drafted in 2018 fairly well regarded by scouts on other teams? In other words, the Royals drafted well--they just didn't develop well? Also, Junis improved significantly almost immediately after the Royals cut him.
Very nice piece, David. Some really eye-opening info in here that a lot of us wondered about, but to hear these things from insiders...
As a glass half-full guy, it gives me optimism that the stuff is there, and with the right people now in place we can start to see what we've suspected all along from these guys. Anyone who has watched the young Royals pitchers the last couple of years has seen the flashes that have tantalized us. All of them have had moments, without the consistency. Hopefully the potential has just been delayed...
Man, I hope it's not too late for this new coaching staff to fix at least some of these pitchers. I don't consider myself a Dayton Moore hater- he's not a moron and he deserves credit for winning a title, but stuff like this really puts into focus what a mess the last few years have been. From stubbornly plowing ahead with an inept coaching staff failing to get any progress out of these pitchers to the head-scratching roster construction- wth was the plan? I know a lot of us were asking this over and over throughout the process, but now that Moore & Co. are gone, it's even more glaring. I don't know if it will pan out with the new guys or not, and it's not like I've agreed with every move they've made this offseason, but it's nice to feel like they're moving with an actual purpose again.
Mr. L, I certainly hope you're right about the new coaching staff's potential impact on pitching development because I for one would like to bury Cal Eldred once and for all and move on down the road.
Thanks for the great piece and analysis. I appreciated your comment on Stetter. At first I was a bit hesitant about making him the bullpen coach after his work with Minors. But, it's not like the Royals didn't make any changes in their Minor League development, as Jason Simontacchi, the pitching coordinator, was let go at end of last year. Makes me wonder if Simontacchi was kind of holding things back at Minor League level like Eldred at Majors.
Also, noticed a couple of changes in pitching coaches, particularly in AA where Carter is now the pitching coach instead of Derrick Lewis. AA pitchers were particularly bad last year especially and I think they kind of outweighed the Royals system as a whole. Do you think the move with Carter to Double-A will have a positive effect on Royals pitchers at that crucial level?
Great insight! I have not been this excited for a season in a few years. I fully believe that the change at the top, along with the AA change, the pitchers will improve. I know, much room to improve, but think about this.... if the pitching can improve 25%, that would be close to an 80 win season. We have the studs on the field, as 10-15%improvement from them. And I, for one, believe those numbers are achievable. In Anne's article, I believe, she stated how the clubhouse was tense. And now the players are EXCITED and LOOSE! I may be a dreamer, but every spring, don't we all dream just a little?
Thanks David. I don’t know that I see it with all of these guys that the scouts quoted. I don’t see it with Bubic. His command is not near good enough. But regardless, I’m ready to be done with these guys. Not in the sense that move on from them, but I’m ready for this year to KNOW….you know? Lol Maybe that’s too much to ask for in one year…but we are 5 years in now. If it doesn’t work with Sweeney this year then I’m willing to say it’s the pitchers. I’m just glad we are finally to the point of finding out one way or the other and not the constant….maybe game the Royals have always been so good at. No improvement this year, let’s move on…I’m glad we are finally here.
Thanks, David. Very informative, interesting and encouraging. Given that horrible pitching development and performance at the big-league level was almost certainly the #1 reason for a turnover of the front office and club management, all of this is good news and clearly the focus for those changes.
However, I'm also interested in what the change in direction may be on the hitting side, given that we retained Zumwalt. What changes might Q help drive on that side of the house? How might they use analytics (now a big focus) to improve club hitting?
Great evaluation. The success the Royals have in the future are going to further indict the DM -CE regime. I believe there are good years just ahead for the Royals. DM could do us one final favor, however, take Hunter Dozier off our hands. He is the one who liked him and over paid him.
A problem that I see with Bubic, Keller, Kowar, etc is that they were brought up to be starting pitchers and now I don't even know if they would make good relief arms. Some of that is psychological on top of the skills stuff.
With the trades JJ has made, it looks like we're focused on preparing anyone coming up to be in the bullpen. Andrew Hoffman spent the offseason with our bullpen coaches.
With our "1st Round Class" it felt like there was a strategy of "we'll draft 5 of you and 1 or 2 might work into the rotation." Now it's starting to feel like "we'll get you in once you get x & y down and you'll get in as relief first... and then we'll work on your skills as you're in relief until you're ready to start"
This might be better for building up a culture for pitchers in this organization. During the Matheny era the pitching staff always came off as isolated.
Great summary. I wonder how quickly we'll see the impact of all this. Not sure if it's reasonable to expect results right away or if it takes time to implement a big overhaul.
You’re not the only one haunted by that article! And I know I’m not alone feeling cheated by the Royals when I read how well Junis was doing with the Giants. I will be cautiously optimistic, though. Baseball is not boring!!
It is interesting the Royals Weekly talked to Alec Marsh and he said that previously that they wouldnt stay in Surprise but retreated to private gyms in what Royals Weekly deemed the Royals cookie cutter approach. However Alec was excited as the new huys are light years ahead of the old regime in their approach to pitching development.
It all goes back to poor coaching of the young arms. Coaches that didn't have a clue on how to develop, nurture and them or their pitch development. Coaches that never had them prepared to start games, were never ready when they came in to relieve, and some very poor pitch selection. Catchers even Perez that didn’t frame pitches properly and floating mitts which decreased some of their close strike calls. Way too many pitches wasted when up on batters
lurking for way too long, and really enjoying your knowledgable insight for a while, but had to subscribe after this article - well done!
I am a new royals fan, but longtime baseball fan. Happy to get on now before the bandwagon leaves. I think they could be a real "team" - which is rare these days. If Singer and greinke stay on track, and just one SP steps up? And the "kids" keep swinging and tcob?... I think the royals will be in contention sooner than later. Baseball is fun!
Thank you for validating the message I posted here just a few days ago. My only quibble would be a semantic one: referring to these guys as "young" pitchers. It's been long enough now since they've been drafted that perhaps "youngish" would be more appropriate.
21-year-old phenoms are young. BWJ is young. These guys from the 2018 draft aren't that.
Weren't the pitchers drafted in 2018 fairly well regarded by scouts on other teams? In other words, the Royals drafted well--they just didn't develop well? Also, Junis improved significantly almost immediately after the Royals cut him.
Very nice piece, David. Some really eye-opening info in here that a lot of us wondered about, but to hear these things from insiders...
As a glass half-full guy, it gives me optimism that the stuff is there, and with the right people now in place we can start to see what we've suspected all along from these guys. Anyone who has watched the young Royals pitchers the last couple of years has seen the flashes that have tantalized us. All of them have had moments, without the consistency. Hopefully the potential has just been delayed...
Man, I hope it's not too late for this new coaching staff to fix at least some of these pitchers. I don't consider myself a Dayton Moore hater- he's not a moron and he deserves credit for winning a title, but stuff like this really puts into focus what a mess the last few years have been. From stubbornly plowing ahead with an inept coaching staff failing to get any progress out of these pitchers to the head-scratching roster construction- wth was the plan? I know a lot of us were asking this over and over throughout the process, but now that Moore & Co. are gone, it's even more glaring. I don't know if it will pan out with the new guys or not, and it's not like I've agreed with every move they've made this offseason, but it's nice to feel like they're moving with an actual purpose again.
Mr. L, I certainly hope you're right about the new coaching staff's potential impact on pitching development because I for one would like to bury Cal Eldred once and for all and move on down the road.
Thanks for the great piece and analysis. I appreciated your comment on Stetter. At first I was a bit hesitant about making him the bullpen coach after his work with Minors. But, it's not like the Royals didn't make any changes in their Minor League development, as Jason Simontacchi, the pitching coordinator, was let go at end of last year. Makes me wonder if Simontacchi was kind of holding things back at Minor League level like Eldred at Majors.
Also, noticed a couple of changes in pitching coaches, particularly in AA where Carter is now the pitching coach instead of Derrick Lewis. AA pitchers were particularly bad last year especially and I think they kind of outweighed the Royals system as a whole. Do you think the move with Carter to Double-A will have a positive effect on Royals pitchers at that crucial level?
Great insight! I have not been this excited for a season in a few years. I fully believe that the change at the top, along with the AA change, the pitchers will improve. I know, much room to improve, but think about this.... if the pitching can improve 25%, that would be close to an 80 win season. We have the studs on the field, as 10-15%improvement from them. And I, for one, believe those numbers are achievable. In Anne's article, I believe, she stated how the clubhouse was tense. And now the players are EXCITED and LOOSE! I may be a dreamer, but every spring, don't we all dream just a little?
Thanks David. I don’t know that I see it with all of these guys that the scouts quoted. I don’t see it with Bubic. His command is not near good enough. But regardless, I’m ready to be done with these guys. Not in the sense that move on from them, but I’m ready for this year to KNOW….you know? Lol Maybe that’s too much to ask for in one year…but we are 5 years in now. If it doesn’t work with Sweeney this year then I’m willing to say it’s the pitchers. I’m just glad we are finally to the point of finding out one way or the other and not the constant….maybe game the Royals have always been so good at. No improvement this year, let’s move on…I’m glad we are finally here.
Thanks, David. Very informative, interesting and encouraging. Given that horrible pitching development and performance at the big-league level was almost certainly the #1 reason for a turnover of the front office and club management, all of this is good news and clearly the focus for those changes.
However, I'm also interested in what the change in direction may be on the hitting side, given that we retained Zumwalt. What changes might Q help drive on that side of the house? How might they use analytics (now a big focus) to improve club hitting?
Great evaluation. The success the Royals have in the future are going to further indict the DM -CE regime. I believe there are good years just ahead for the Royals. DM could do us one final favor, however, take Hunter Dozier off our hands. He is the one who liked him and over paid him.
Excellent article.
A problem that I see with Bubic, Keller, Kowar, etc is that they were brought up to be starting pitchers and now I don't even know if they would make good relief arms. Some of that is psychological on top of the skills stuff.
With the trades JJ has made, it looks like we're focused on preparing anyone coming up to be in the bullpen. Andrew Hoffman spent the offseason with our bullpen coaches.
With our "1st Round Class" it felt like there was a strategy of "we'll draft 5 of you and 1 or 2 might work into the rotation." Now it's starting to feel like "we'll get you in once you get x & y down and you'll get in as relief first... and then we'll work on your skills as you're in relief until you're ready to start"
This might be better for building up a culture for pitchers in this organization. During the Matheny era the pitching staff always came off as isolated.
Great summary. I wonder how quickly we'll see the impact of all this. Not sure if it's reasonable to expect results right away or if it takes time to implement a big overhaul.
You’re not the only one haunted by that article! And I know I’m not alone feeling cheated by the Royals when I read how well Junis was doing with the Giants. I will be cautiously optimistic, though. Baseball is not boring!!
It is interesting the Royals Weekly talked to Alec Marsh and he said that previously that they wouldnt stay in Surprise but retreated to private gyms in what Royals Weekly deemed the Royals cookie cutter approach. However Alec was excited as the new huys are light years ahead of the old regime in their approach to pitching development.
It all goes back to poor coaching of the young arms. Coaches that didn't have a clue on how to develop, nurture and them or their pitch development. Coaches that never had them prepared to start games, were never ready when they came in to relieve, and some very poor pitch selection. Catchers even Perez that didn’t frame pitches properly and floating mitts which decreased some of their close strike calls. Way too many pitches wasted when up on batters
lurking for way too long, and really enjoying your knowledgable insight for a while, but had to subscribe after this article - well done!
I am a new royals fan, but longtime baseball fan. Happy to get on now before the bandwagon leaves. I think they could be a real "team" - which is rare these days. If Singer and greinke stay on track, and just one SP steps up? And the "kids" keep swinging and tcob?... I think the royals will be in contention sooner than later. Baseball is fun!