The Royals needed a statement start from their ace. They needed a big swing from their MVP. They got both and they got out of Minnesota with an important victory.
Prior to this series I had been thinking that Lugo and Ragans were co-aces. Not anymore. That was one of the most impressive clutch pitching performances I can recall. And I'm not just talking Royals.
I guess I am as stupid as I look because I don't understand how a pitch shoulder-high to 6-feet tall Witt can only be 4.07 feet off the ground.
I can't decide what the most interesting part of that WAR chart is. Brett's 4.3 K% in 1980? Or what he would have ended up with that year with better health? Or Wilson's excellent, but totally overshadowed, 1980? Or Porter and Mayberry's very un-Royal walk rates?
Anyway, since I'm not quite old enough to remember Brett's 1980, Witt's 2024 season is going to be the best offensive season I've ever seen a Royal put together. That's wild.
If he can keep going, I think Witt’s 2024 may be the best offensive season by a Royal any of us have seen!
Porter and Brett back to back on that table for their 1979 seasons always surprises me. I don’t look back on that season because they fell short in the division. But they had three of the top five offensive performances in the AL! How did they not win more games?
I like that WAR chart simply because it reminds me of my high school and college years, when my summers revolved around the Royals and how exciting they were to watch. Foolishly, I assumed the Royals would always be fun and competitive. And I still hate the A's and the Yankees more than any other team.
I’d have to check, but I think the Royals won more regular season games from 1976-1985 than any other team. Six division titles, two pennants, one championship. And yes, it seemed like the excellence was hard wired & enduring. Same with the Chiefs now, probably. The excellence will end when Mahomes retires unless he's replaced with another Hall of Fame player!
Thanks for checking. This edition has its cornerstone (Witt), just as that edition had its cornerstone (Brett). Let's see if the front office can build around Witt as it built around Brett for sustained success.
I just went down a rabbit hole on Fangraphs, looking at where Bobby stands in comparison to the other elite players this year. It's so much fun to have the best baseball player in the world on your team!
Remember before the All-Star Game when many of us, begrudgingly, conceded that Gunnar was the right choice to start at SS? Now he's 2 wins below Bobby (and not because Gunnar has slumped). Amazing.
This is shown on your table but I think it's worth noting again: Brett racked up his 9.1 fWAR total in 1980 in just 117 games. Pro rated, he was on pace for a 12.6 win season. (Shoutout to Fangraphs commenter "Francoeurstein" for doing the math.)
Remember there were some who were concerned that being in the HR Derby could mess up his swing? He’s simply an unstoppable force at the moment. So much fun.
That’s a great point on Brett. I mentioned here recently that there was some concern that he wouldn’t have enough PA’s to qualify for the batting title. He lost almost too much time to injury that summer. Probably do need to recalibrate if we’re talking “Best Ever Season.” At any rate, a crazy fun exercise.
Prior to this series I had been thinking that Lugo and Ragans were co-aces. Not anymore. That was one of the most impressive clutch pitching performances I can recall. And I'm not just talking Royals.
I guess I am as stupid as I look because I don't understand how a pitch shoulder-high to 6-feet tall Witt can only be 4.07 feet off the ground.
1977 Royals = the Big Blue Machine.
Yeah. Ragans was amazing for sure.
That ‘77 Royals team was just outrageous. The best Royals team in franchise history? I think so.
I can't decide what the most interesting part of that WAR chart is. Brett's 4.3 K% in 1980? Or what he would have ended up with that year with better health? Or Wilson's excellent, but totally overshadowed, 1980? Or Porter and Mayberry's very un-Royal walk rates?
Anyway, since I'm not quite old enough to remember Brett's 1980, Witt's 2024 season is going to be the best offensive season I've ever seen a Royal put together. That's wild.
If he can keep going, I think Witt’s 2024 may be the best offensive season by a Royal any of us have seen!
Porter and Brett back to back on that table for their 1979 seasons always surprises me. I don’t look back on that season because they fell short in the division. But they had three of the top five offensive performances in the AL! How did they not win more games?
The pitching really took a step back that year. :(
I had high hopes for Rich Gale.
I like that WAR chart simply because it reminds me of my high school and college years, when my summers revolved around the Royals and how exciting they were to watch. Foolishly, I assumed the Royals would always be fun and competitive. And I still hate the A's and the Yankees more than any other team.
I think it’s acceptable and probably good for you to hate the A’s and the Yankees.
A fantastic 10+ year stretch. At the time it most definitely felt like it would go on forever.
I’d have to check, but I think the Royals won more regular season games from 1976-1985 than any other team. Six division titles, two pennants, one championship. And yes, it seemed like the excellence was hard wired & enduring. Same with the Chiefs now, probably. The excellence will end when Mahomes retires unless he's replaced with another Hall of Fame player!
I visited Stathead:
1) Yankees - 902
2) Orioles - 896
3) Dodgers - 872
4) Phillies - 861
5) Royals - 860
The Phillies/Dodgers rivalry was not unlike the Royals/Yankees. What a time.
Thanks for checking. This edition has its cornerstone (Witt), just as that edition had its cornerstone (Brett). Let's see if the front office can build around Witt as it built around Brett for sustained success.
I just went down a rabbit hole on Fangraphs, looking at where Bobby stands in comparison to the other elite players this year. It's so much fun to have the best baseball player in the world on your team!
Remember before the All-Star Game when many of us, begrudgingly, conceded that Gunnar was the right choice to start at SS? Now he's 2 wins below Bobby (and not because Gunnar has slumped). Amazing.
This is shown on your table but I think it's worth noting again: Brett racked up his 9.1 fWAR total in 1980 in just 117 games. Pro rated, he was on pace for a 12.6 win season. (Shoutout to Fangraphs commenter "Francoeurstein" for doing the math.)
Remember there were some who were concerned that being in the HR Derby could mess up his swing? He’s simply an unstoppable force at the moment. So much fun.
That’s a great point on Brett. I mentioned here recently that there was some concern that he wouldn’t have enough PA’s to qualify for the batting title. He lost almost too much time to injury that summer. Probably do need to recalibrate if we’re talking “Best Ever Season.” At any rate, a crazy fun exercise.