I can't even bring myself to go watch Ohtani pitch. I've seen him in person twice, both DHing, including the game in LA last year where he hit two home runs against us. That was the one where a relief pitcher no one had or ever had heard of injured Mookie Betts.
Completely agree with the rearranging the deck chairs analogy; also completely agree that SOMEthing has to happen or the fan base will rebel. Wait, no, the fan base will not rebel because it has fallen into a coma from the lack of offensive action.
Boy, I thought the offensive collapse last September was bad, but then at least it could largely be blamed on Vinnie's absence from the lineup. Also, BWJ became fatigued and faded.
More and more, we have to appreciate just how magical a season 2024 was.
I thought Freddy's brilliant play would provide momentum, but no. At least the fans appreciated it.
It has become so predictable that a currently struggling opposing pitcher, or at least one with a porky ERA, will dominate this pathetic lineup that bettors should be lining up to wager.
Thanks, Terry. The 2024 team had its rough offensive spots, and the September collapse was indeed bad. The mistake was thinking that bringing back largely the same roster would see improvement. It's like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer twice just to make sure you understood how much pain the first hit would cause.
We can’t win a game at home. We can’t reveal where we’re building our new stadium. This has become the biggest dumpster fire in the Royals history of PR. I’m spending my summer shaking my head in frustrated disbelief. I don’t think we’ve hit bottom quite yet. Enjoy the ride!
I haven’t read this yet, but are you a fan of The Bear, @Craig Brown? I just watched S4E1 last night. Maybe a sign the club needs to bring in some new voices?
Man, this is rough. I'm known around some parts as an optimist about this team - I never stopped believing they'd make the playoffs last year after their good start! But even I am struggling to sew any positives right now.
So I guess the first two-thirds of last season were a mirage (luck in hitting with RISP), and we were wrong when we blamed the offensive tailspin at the end on Vinnie's injury. The players know they're getting wiped out by pitchers that get pounded by other teams, right? Bradley & Baz are decent, but those Athletics pitchers, who looked like Cy Young contenders against the Royals--
I remember writing at one moment last season that the team had a very "smoke and mirrors" vibe. But sometimes it is just your season. That was last year when they ran hot enough for long enough to see things out and get to October. The mistake was thinking that that specific formula could work again.
I know we've been talking about rock bottom a lot around these parts of late, but I'm thinking that A's series was it.
I can't get over that they're literally the WORST offense in MLB. That's hard to do! Anyway, it's clearly not fixable in season, so I assume the front office is thinking about next season, and that has to start with the assumption that only two of these hitters (Witt & Cags) are on the team, right? Maybe Vinnie & Garcia, too. I hope India is expendable. Whatever he provides with the bat he subtracts with the glove.
I think the only untouchables are Witt and Cags. You expect Cags to improve and Witt to continue to excel. After that, you look for improvements. Can Pasquantino or Garcia bring back much of anything in a trade? They would be part of a larger package. Same for India on a smaller scale.
So yes, beyond Witt and Cags, wholesale changes are needed. Not the kind you can do at the trade deadline. The foundation can be laid there for sure, but the hard work will come this winter.
What will they do with Perez, who has a team option for $13.5 million? There's a difficult conversation on the horizon.
I'm sure that having sluggers like Canha, Loftin, Fermin, or Rave batting behind him is helping Cags get pitches in the zone so the Royals can see what they have in him. (What's left but sarcasm when talking about this team?)
Is it time for Cags to be sent down to AAA and try to get his stroke back? After all waiting in Omaha is such surefire winners as Melendez, Weimer, Biggio and the like. There is no one to bring up anywhere. The Royals are what they are, "hitless wonders". It is all about next year. this year is already lost. Last year was indeed a mirage that fooled so many of us into believing they could win. Time for changes again, seems like an old story being retold. Wow!!
Loved the Groundhog Day reference. Hated that you had to use it.
Yeah, it's never good when I have to break that one out.
I can't even bring myself to go watch Ohtani pitch. I've seen him in person twice, both DHing, including the game in LA last year where he hit two home runs against us. That was the one where a relief pitcher no one had or ever had heard of injured Mookie Betts.
I get it. Nobody wants to see their team dominated. Although an Ohtani/Witt matchup would grab my attention.
Completely agree with the rearranging the deck chairs analogy; also completely agree that SOMEthing has to happen or the fan base will rebel. Wait, no, the fan base will not rebel because it has fallen into a coma from the lack of offensive action.
Boy, I thought the offensive collapse last September was bad, but then at least it could largely be blamed on Vinnie's absence from the lineup. Also, BWJ became fatigued and faded.
More and more, we have to appreciate just how magical a season 2024 was.
I thought Freddy's brilliant play would provide momentum, but no. At least the fans appreciated it.
It has become so predictable that a currently struggling opposing pitcher, or at least one with a porky ERA, will dominate this pathetic lineup that bettors should be lining up to wager.
PS, always dig "Full Stop" when making a point.
Thanks, Terry. The 2024 team had its rough offensive spots, and the September collapse was indeed bad. The mistake was thinking that bringing back largely the same roster would see improvement. It's like hitting yourself in the head with a hammer twice just to make sure you understood how much pain the first hit would cause.
We can’t win a game at home. We can’t reveal where we’re building our new stadium. This has become the biggest dumpster fire in the Royals history of PR. I’m spending my summer shaking my head in frustrated disbelief. I don’t think we’ve hit bottom quite yet. Enjoy the ride!
George! We never say it can't get worse.
And Sherman wants a new stadium...
I haven’t read this yet, but are you a fan of The Bear, @Craig Brown? I just watched S4E1 last night. Maybe a sign the club needs to bring in some new voices?
Huge fan of The Bear. Season two was some of my favorite television ever. I cannot wait to dive into season four. So NO SPOILERS! :)
Okay, I mention because Groundhog Day is the theme in S4E1 and I will leave it at that.
Man, this is rough. I'm known around some parts as an optimist about this team - I never stopped believing they'd make the playoffs last year after their good start! But even I am struggling to sew any positives right now.
There's not much for an optimist to hang his hat on at the moment.
So I guess the first two-thirds of last season were a mirage (luck in hitting with RISP), and we were wrong when we blamed the offensive tailspin at the end on Vinnie's injury. The players know they're getting wiped out by pitchers that get pounded by other teams, right? Bradley & Baz are decent, but those Athletics pitchers, who looked like Cy Young contenders against the Royals--
I remember writing at one moment last season that the team had a very "smoke and mirrors" vibe. But sometimes it is just your season. That was last year when they ran hot enough for long enough to see things out and get to October. The mistake was thinking that that specific formula could work again.
I know we've been talking about rock bottom a lot around these parts of late, but I'm thinking that A's series was it.
I can't get over that they're literally the WORST offense in MLB. That's hard to do! Anyway, it's clearly not fixable in season, so I assume the front office is thinking about next season, and that has to start with the assumption that only two of these hitters (Witt & Cags) are on the team, right? Maybe Vinnie & Garcia, too. I hope India is expendable. Whatever he provides with the bat he subtracts with the glove.
I think the only untouchables are Witt and Cags. You expect Cags to improve and Witt to continue to excel. After that, you look for improvements. Can Pasquantino or Garcia bring back much of anything in a trade? They would be part of a larger package. Same for India on a smaller scale.
So yes, beyond Witt and Cags, wholesale changes are needed. Not the kind you can do at the trade deadline. The foundation can be laid there for sure, but the hard work will come this winter.
What will they do with Perez, who has a team option for $13.5 million? There's a difficult conversation on the horizon.
I'm sure that having sluggers like Canha, Loftin, Fermin, or Rave batting behind him is helping Cags get pitches in the zone so the Royals can see what they have in him. (What's left but sarcasm when talking about this team?)
Is it time for Cags to be sent down to AAA and try to get his stroke back? After all waiting in Omaha is such surefire winners as Melendez, Weimer, Biggio and the like. There is no one to bring up anywhere. The Royals are what they are, "hitless wonders". It is all about next year. this year is already lost. Last year was indeed a mirage that fooled so many of us into believing they could win. Time for changes again, seems like an old story being retold. Wow!!