Please keep thinking about Massey, Mr. B, his glove is golden. He reminds me of Alex Gordon in that his outstanding leather work makes up for a very sad bat (Gordon '17 thru '20).
Had a feeling at the time that unbelievable DP would be crucial. Who knows how devastating losing that game might have been.
You are mos def correct about the Tigers becoming a juggernaut: during their incredible 16-2 run, the Royals gained exactly TWO games on them. BTW, they only picked up four on the Guards.
Given that this team is generally offensively challenged, a loss after leading 7-0 would've been among the most brutal we've seen. And we've seen a few.
I thought the Tigers would be good. I had no idea they'd be this good. I did not see a resurgent Javy Baéz coming.
In Estevez's 18 appearances, he has allowed either a hit or walk in 13 of them. He has been pretty solid but scary at times as well. Angel Zerpa has been in 15 games and he has allowed a hit or a walk in 14 of them. Zerpa has inherited 9 runners on base and has allowed 5 of them to score. With the 5 runners he has allowed to score, he has given up 12 runs of his own runners, so in 15 innings he has given up 25 hits and allowed a total of 17 runs. Something is not quite right with him.
Agree on Zerpa. I've never thought him for a late inning guy, but figured he could be a better than average bridge to the back of the pen. Maybe a brief return trip to Omaha to rediscover his September mojo is in order.
I'll admit I thought the Tigers would be good, but not THIS good.
I also had my doubts about the Guardians and Twins, and I still wonder how long they can keep it up.
Still, if the Royals can keep pitching their way to victories with occasional offensive explosions, I think they'll be just fine come October. Especially if they add a bat or two.
I think expecting the pitching to keep doing what they've been doing is a dangerous game. Same for waiting for certain players to get going offensively. They have to add a couple of bats. Have to.
I appreciate the beauty in the steady change of baseball, but I really want to bottle up this rotation and release it as needed in the coming years when I am grisled and gray like the creepy guy in lord of the rings
At some point, the Royals are going to have make moves to improve the offense. I just hope it's sooner rather than later.
Relatedly, I thought Salvy would get to 300 career HR this season, which might solidify his Hall of Fame candidacy, but now I'm wondering if he'll even get to 300 if he plays another season after this one. He's hitting doubles, but if he's not hitting it over the wall, his value really declines, right?
The metrics like hard hit rate and average exit velocity all point to a solid power process but it’s just not happening. His power has declined a bit I think but this is falling off a cliff.
He needs to find that power of possible otherwise his value goes way down. And leaves a void in the lineup.
You think bad things about Massey and then he has a good game, but then you think it’s a good idea to write about how good he is? C’mon Craig, don’t do this to the baseball gods!
Thought I had finally made it through one of your pieces without laughing out loud to myself like a lunatic, and then I got to the last paragraph. Thanks for the good stuff as always!
Holy moly that turn by Garcia. I didn't get to see the game. What a highlight!
Really it was holy moly that Massey even got to the ball, let alone got it out of his glove.
It was good baseball-ball.
RIGHT?!?! Watching that, you would never believe he's barely played short since Bobby took over. Dude is unreal.
Please keep thinking about Massey, Mr. B, his glove is golden. He reminds me of Alex Gordon in that his outstanding leather work makes up for a very sad bat (Gordon '17 thru '20).
Had a feeling at the time that unbelievable DP would be crucial. Who knows how devastating losing that game might have been.
You are mos def correct about the Tigers becoming a juggernaut: during their incredible 16-2 run, the Royals gained exactly TWO games on them. BTW, they only picked up four on the Guards.
Given that this team is generally offensively challenged, a loss after leading 7-0 would've been among the most brutal we've seen. And we've seen a few.
I thought the Tigers would be good. I had no idea they'd be this good. I did not see a resurgent Javy Baéz coming.
In Estevez's 18 appearances, he has allowed either a hit or walk in 13 of them. He has been pretty solid but scary at times as well. Angel Zerpa has been in 15 games and he has allowed a hit or a walk in 14 of them. Zerpa has inherited 9 runners on base and has allowed 5 of them to score. With the 5 runners he has allowed to score, he has given up 12 runs of his own runners, so in 15 innings he has given up 25 hits and allowed a total of 17 runs. Something is not quite right with him.
Agree on Zerpa. I've never thought him for a late inning guy, but figured he could be a better than average bridge to the back of the pen. Maybe a brief return trip to Omaha to rediscover his September mojo is in order.
I'll admit I thought the Tigers would be good, but not THIS good.
I also had my doubts about the Guardians and Twins, and I still wonder how long they can keep it up.
Still, if the Royals can keep pitching their way to victories with occasional offensive explosions, I think they'll be just fine come October. Especially if they add a bat or two.
I think expecting the pitching to keep doing what they've been doing is a dangerous game. Same for waiting for certain players to get going offensively. They have to add a couple of bats. Have to.
I appreciate the beauty in the steady change of baseball, but I really want to bottle up this rotation and release it as needed in the coming years when I am grisled and gray like the creepy guy in lord of the rings
It's a helluva thing. Especially after last year...they're even better! That's not supposed to happen. Believe in Sweeney and Bove.
At some point, the Royals are going to have make moves to improve the offense. I just hope it's sooner rather than later.
Relatedly, I thought Salvy would get to 300 career HR this season, which might solidify his Hall of Fame candidacy, but now I'm wondering if he'll even get to 300 if he plays another season after this one. He's hitting doubles, but if he's not hitting it over the wall, his value really declines, right?
The metrics like hard hit rate and average exit velocity all point to a solid power process but it’s just not happening. His power has declined a bit I think but this is falling off a cliff.
He needs to find that power of possible otherwise his value goes way down. And leaves a void in the lineup.
I guess you've noticed that the Tigers have pounded the Red Sox pitching that thoroughly shut down the Royals?
You think bad things about Massey and then he has a good game, but then you think it’s a good idea to write about how good he is? C’mon Craig, don’t do this to the baseball gods!
What can I say? I live on the edge!
Thought I had finally made it through one of your pieces without laughing out loud to myself like a lunatic, and then I got to the last paragraph. Thanks for the good stuff as always!
Thanks, Herbie! Sorry I kept you waiting! :)