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Terrry Payne's avatar

Am trying really hard to be positive. Am trying really hard to believe, "We'll snap out of it."

Am really glad everyone is believing, but am starting to feel a negative vibe about this team's season. Sorry.

Please at least bump Jac C to AAA. If he struggles there, that's your answer. If he rakes . . .

As Ned said, the one thing you must never do it shake their confidence.

Please at least audition some of the Omaha outfielders. There is nothing to lose, right?

How unfortunate MJ walked into one. That will keep him up here until at least June, right?

Should be a crime to be wasting such solid pitching. Would it help if I write my congressman, whoever he/she is?

Please do SOMEthing, so we can try to keep believing.

If they get swept by the Tigers, look the eff out

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Murray Sacks's avatar

It’s still early, but the something may have to be trading pitching for hitting.

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Craig Brown's avatar

We do know this front office will be aggressive. That should make for an interesting couple of months leading up to the trade deadline.

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Craig Brown's avatar

The wild thing about all of this is that the AL Central remains tight. A bad week or a horrific road trip doesn't spell the end. It makes the job more difficult.

I'm with you on wasting the starting pitching. The Royals have built one of the best rotations, one through five, in the game. If they can't ride that to the postseason, this year goes down as a failure any way you look at it.

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Murray Sacks's avatar

A “wretched hive of offensive ineptitude”. That’s brilliant. From now on, whenever the Royals have a bad offensive game, we can use the acronym WHOI. As in, “Ragans pitched great, but it was another WHOI night.”

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Craig Brown's avatar

It's like the only Star Wars quote I have in my writing toolbox.

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Jim McWilliams's avatar

I've often wondered how things are in the clubhouse when some guys aren't pulling their weight. Do pitchers get pissed when offensive & defensive ineptitude costs them? Do hitters get pissed when a bullpen consistently blows a two-run lead in the 9th? If so, I wonder at what point it hits this clubhouse?

It may be still early in the season, but the offense looks hopeless. Even dumping Melendez & Renfroe is pointless if Vinnie, Massey, India, and Perez can't hit. At some point, I guess, it's time to trade Lugo.

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Craig Brown's avatar

I don't think there is much tension, if any at all. The pitchers know they're going to have rough nights, too. Smart people say this is a game of failure.

I do think there is a little added pressure on the pitchers, knowing the margins are thin. Give up three runs and your chances of victory are greatly reduced.

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Ken France's avatar

How ironic these Royals are. Everyone in lineup is below .250 most below .200. We have Melendez in as the final out in the game? I believe that might have also been the case Tuesday game too. You cannot ask our starters to do any better. When I saw Cle NY Det I thought 2-8 road trip. We don’t have the offense to do better right now. I still say to hold something accountable Zumwalt has to go. This is a bleed over from last Sept. it’s almost cringeworthy to see some of these guys at the plate. One of my favorite Royals is Garcia. Yet he’s going about business as he was last year. We should have gotten our outfield bat last year. Melendez and Renfroe not going to make it. What if Waters and Melendez traded teams and succeeded? And Esbel I like him and he tries to bunt on base twice in series? Against one-swing NYY?? Our offensive system is out of wack.

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Ken France's avatar

I give Witt and Garcia credit. They are above .250. My bad.

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Craig Brown's avatar

But Garcia's .250 is the product of an insanely hot week. He's hit into some bad luck of late, but it's been rough going the last 10 games or so.

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Paul M. Wade's avatar

Isbel is actually above 250 also, I know that is hard to believe, but he is. Not to be critical, though.

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Craig Brown's avatar

Isbel's wRC+ is 102. That will work.

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Craig Brown's avatar

I know the rumblings are building around Zumwalt and I completely get it. I just don't know what good changing a hitting coach can do. But at some point a team has to do something to try to reverse course.

I really, really want Garcia to succeed. But damn he has to get back on track.

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Hokius's avatar

I just keep telling myself the offense can't be THIS bad all season and even with it being this bad, they're hanging tough not just in the AL Central, but in the AL as a whole.

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Craig Brown's avatar

I think India will find a groove. I think Salvy will get some hits to drop. Outside of that...

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Darin Watson's avatar

I enjoyed that headline. Well, maybe not "enjoyed," but I did laugh.

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Craig Brown's avatar

Yes! Any time I can channel a 1970s New York tabloid, I have to do it.

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Larry Rizzo's avatar

Craig — I can absolutely guarantee a way to defeat your squirrels

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