Missing: The Royals' offense
One cannot survive on pitching and defense alone.
Zack Greinke was not particularly sharp, but he somehow battled through five innings on Thursday. He allowed just one run before yielding to the bullpen. The usual flamethrowers, most of whom had been used in back-to-back games were unavailable so Mike Matheny turned to his B-team squad. Those who are not fully in his Bullpen Circle of Trust. It doesn’t matter. A lockdown bullpen is going to lockdown. Four innings of two-hit ball with four whiffs.
Then there was the defense. Another day, another set of quality glovework, culminating in three double plays. The Royals have turned 15 twin-killings this year, the most in the AL.
With the pitching and defense sorted, that left the hitting.
About that.
Yuck.
The Royals managed three hits and five baserunners total on the afternoon. They went 0-3 with runners in scoring position. They were shutout, somehow for the first time all year. They’ve now scored 31 runs in their first 11 games. That’s 2.8 runs per game in the season’s first two weeks. Only the Orioles at 2.2 runs per game (what? how?) have scored less than the Royals.
Seriously, give all the credit in the world to the Royals’ pitching and defense. It kept the game close all day and allowed the offense to set up a pair of pivotal moments.
To send or not to send…that is the question
The key play in the game seems to be Andrew Benintendi tagging up on the Perez shallow fly ball to center. Benny, as you saw, was out on a play that wasn’t particularly close.
The outcome, while hardly preordained, was not surprising. Allow me to explain. The way the play was set up in that moment, it was never going to be close. That means that it was either going to be a good send from third base coach Vance Wilson, or a very poor one. If Twins’ center fielder Nick Gordon didn’t have a proper grip on the throw, or if the throw was pushed up the first base line, or if the catcher didn’t handle it cleanly, it was going to be a good send. In other words, the Royals put pressure on the Twins’ defense to make the play. And isn’t that the correct call? The Royals’ offense can’t even be described as anemic at this point. It’s practically non-existent. At least it was for Thursday afternoon.
The Royals had one base runner reach third base all day. That was Benintendi on his triple. Granted, it was early in the game (being the fourth inning) but still…we’ve seen this Royals offense before. A lot. We knew how the rest of the afternoon was probably going to go. So did Matheny. So did Wilson.
It didn’t work, but it was a risk worth taking.
Coming up behind Perez was Carlos Santana, who sat the last couple of games. If Perez couldn’t drive the run home from third with less than two outs, would you put your money behind Santana? Yeah, I wouldn’t either.
The Royals have now made an out at home three different times in this young season. Surprisingly, that’s not the most. The Braves, White Sox and Angels have each made four outs at home. Although that does put the Royals on pace to make 44 outs at home, which would double the number they had last year when they tied with the Yankees for most in the majors. (They’re not going to make 44 outs at home this year. I brought that up as a device to work in the fact they tied for the most in the majors last summer.)
To bunt or not to bunt…that is also a question
A different strategic moment…with the same frustrating result.
As much as I abhor the bunt, and I know you are well aware about how much I abhor the bunt, I’m generally going to be ok with the leadoff hitter doing it in the bottom of the ninth inning with the home team down one. Still, I dislike giving away the out when you only have three left, but if you want to go all riverboat, bunting gambler, it’s a risk I begrudgingly understand.
What I don’t like is the eagerness that comes with the bunt. Could we perhaps be a little patient? Especially given that the Twins reliever Emilio Pagán walked Taylor on five pitches. And he wasn’t especially close.
If you’re the next batter, why not take a pitch? Even if you think the bunt is the correct play? If it’s a strike, you still have a chance to get the bunt down. Besides, by taking that first pitch you’ve planted the seed that, despite all the scouting reports to the contrary, you may be playing for more than one run. It creates a little doubt among the defense. That can’t hurt. The absolute best-case scenario is the pitcher doesn’t have control and, instead of your guy giving away an out, their guy gives you another free runner.
Lopez is probably the best bunter on the team. But at this point, he’s also the most capable of giving you the best plate appearance. Sure, maybe he puts the ball on the ground and rolls into a double play. But he stands the best chance of all the hitters in the lineup to get a hit or reach base.
How about with Taylor on first, give him a chance to distract Pagán a bit. He’s got some wheels, he can swipe a bag. If Pagán is preoccupied with the baserunner, doesn’t that tilt the plate appearance in Lopez’s favor?
I just strongly dislike sacrificing immediately in that situation. Make the Twins and their reliever sweat just a little bit. Apply some pressure. See where the weakness is. If it turns out the bunt is the correct play, fine. But if small ball is truly the play, why not explore all avenues like the stolen base, or with Lopez at the plate a hit and run in a favorable count?
Postgame, Matheny intimated that the decision to attempt to bunt was made by Lopez. Given the late inning and the situation, this blows my mind. Why wouldn’t a manager and his staff want to give instruction here as to what to do? Or maybe more importantly, what not to do? We used to hear similar from Ned Yost. I’m surprised we’re hearing it again, this time from Matheny.
Frustrating.
Mea culpa
In the last few editions of this newsletter, I’ve been dispensing free lineup advice to the Royals. Mainly, it’s all about advocating for Nicky Lopez to be moved higher in the order, Whit Merrifield to be bumped from the leadoff spot and Bobby Witt, Jr. to be dropped toward the bottom.
On paper (and digital wires and such), this makes perfect sense. The Royals and Mike Matheny actually did something along those lines. It’s not a change they undertook lightly. Thursday was just the second time since 2020 that Merrifield didn’t occupy the leadoff spot. Witt reached base twice (a walk and a double) but was picked off/caught stealing to end the fifth.
And then the Royals were shut out for the first time all year.
Yeah…had they scored more than four runs I probably would’ve been obnoxious about it. So I’m duty-bound to wear this one.
I’m sorry.
Central issues
White Sox 3, Guardians 6
A four-game set turned into three due to back-to-back rainouts earlier in the week, but the Guardians didn’t care—they swept the Sox in the three they did play. Franmil Reyes hit a two-run home run in the third and Josh Naylor drove in two on a single and a double. Zach Plesac went 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on three strikeouts.
Yankees 0, Tigers 3
One hit shy of 3,000 in his career, Miguel Cabrera was intentionally walked with runners on second and third and two outs in the eighth inning with Detroit leading 1-0. It was the first time Cabrera was intentionally walked since September of 2020.
I mean, come on.
I don’t want to be out here yelling at clouds, but this is part of baseball’s problem. Here you have a guy, set to reach a monumental milestone in front of his home fans, and you take the bat out of his hands in a key situation in the game? Man up, as they say in the game. Let your guy go against theirs. Give the fans the battle they want to see. Perhaps I understand if there was less than two out and you were looking to set up a double play. However in this situation, the intentional walk is the coward’s way out.
Sometimes, baseball can be fun. Like this…
After Cabrera walked, Austin Meadows doubled, scoring two. Aaron Boone can take credit for that.
Up next
It’s the first West Coast road trip of the year! At least it’s on a weekend. Here are the scheduled pitching matchups:
Friday - Brad Keller vs Chris Flexen at 8:40 CDT
Saturday - Kris Bubic vs Matt Brash at 8:10 CDT
Sunday - Carlos Hernández vs Robbie Ray at 3:10 CDT
Remember last year’s series in Seattle. Salvador Perez went on a home run hitting binge. Ahhh, yes. Offense. That would be nice to replicate in 2022.