I think you nailed it with this: "this ballclub has lost the joy we saw last season." Up until last night, the team seemed tight and lacked the playful fun we saw from this scrappy bunch last year. We all expect big things from Jac, but it may just be the good feelings, confidence, and sense of competition that calling him up gives to the rest of the team that makes the difference this year.
Agree, and I also think the lineup "shake up" had a positive effect. After all, you can't keep doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result; this may have reinforced the message to the team that it's time for something different (even Massey was on the bench).
The additions by subtraction (like Renfroe) aren’t working. This is like getting a bat at the trade deadline where everyone in the clubhouse is realizing this team is serious about winning.
It helps that he seems like a good guy and a great teammate. Easy for the leaders on this team to welcome him. My hope is, when the season is over, we look back at this and ask, “Why didn’t they call him up earlier?”
Do think we'll see a bit more of a plan at the plate from Cags in the coming days. He's obviously not the first guy to get jumpy in his debut, but I don't expect he'll swing at 70% of the pitches he sees long-term. He also put five different pitch types in play (though three were fastball variations, so maybe that's a moot point).
One was the two-strike curveball in the first AB, too, so maybe I'm overthinking the "approach" but would like to see him hunt his pitch a little more. Which I think he will as he settles in!
Yeah, I won’t draw any conclusions from just one game. I didn’t have issues with an aggressive approach in his debut because I think it was important for him to hit (mostly) on his terms. And as I wrote, I was impressed he could make loud contact on that two-strike curve. That was a pitch with serious intent. It was a pitch he wasn’t supposed to make contact on…either swing and miss or stand there, unable to pull the trigger and get rung up. For a first AB, that was impressive.
Yup, a really nice debut for a guy to smash four baseballs and record two of the team’s nine highest exit velos this year. Hitting a ball 390+ feet off the end of the bat is a little different than what we’re accustomed to around here!
Yes, I agree that the vibe was different--clear even on TV. For example, Vinnie hyping Bobby after that fantastic defensive play. Maybe in addition to Jac, it's also Renfroe & Stratton getting released & Massey getting benched--even Salvy getting bumped from clean up. In short, accountability comes. The next step, is sending Lorenzen to the bullpen.
Exactly. These are moves meant to strengthen a team that is in contention. The players feel that and, for one game at least, responded.
I didn’t write about Lorenzen because I wanted to keep the focus on the offense, but that will happen when Ragans is back. They cannot bump Cameron from the rotation.
Did you see the clip of the MLB talking head ripping the front office for calling up Cags and likely giving up a year of arbitration? I wonder if something like that fires up the players? Not only do they know that the GM & owner want to win NOW but that they will take care of players in the long term. I think that's why Wacha resigned so quickly and at a likely discount.
I did see that. Clown show for clicks. The Royals have never played that game. Think back to Hosmer in 2011. I haven’t gone too deep into the math, but I’m thinking it’s more likely that Cags won’t qualify as a super two player and get that extra year or arbitration.
In the fifth inning the Royals scored as many runs as any single inning this year while their superstar rookie made both the first and last out. Can someone please explain baseball to me?
All season this team has refused to give up. But last night we saw attitude matched with actual results. I don't know how much of that was Cags, even if I like to joke his smash groundball woke everyone up in the fifth inning, but it was nice to see them find it.
Hopefully they keep finding it for a while (and hopefully Lorenzen moves to the bullpen and Cameron stays in the rotation because... Woof)
Bobby talked about it after the game…that the call up provided a lift. The guys on the team know they need an impact bat. But now they have to find a way to keep that buzz going and put up some quality plate appearances that actually accomplish something.
I do think Lorenzen will head to the bullpen. To send Cameron down at this point would be kind of the opposite of calling up Caglianone. Cameron has fit right in, so why make a change? Because you’re deferring to a veteran? That’s not what teams do if they have an urgency to win.
I think you nailed it with this: "this ballclub has lost the joy we saw last season." Up until last night, the team seemed tight and lacked the playful fun we saw from this scrappy bunch last year. We all expect big things from Jac, but it may just be the good feelings, confidence, and sense of competition that calling him up gives to the rest of the team that makes the difference this year.
Agree, and I also think the lineup "shake up" had a positive effect. After all, you can't keep doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result; this may have reinforced the message to the team that it's time for something different (even Massey was on the bench).
The additions by subtraction (like Renfroe) aren’t working. This is like getting a bat at the trade deadline where everyone in the clubhouse is realizing this team is serious about winning.
It helps that he seems like a good guy and a great teammate. Easy for the leaders on this team to welcome him. My hope is, when the season is over, we look back at this and ask, “Why didn’t they call him up earlier?”
JJ didn't want to call Cags up until the team was hot. Mission accomplished!
Yes! Perfect timing. :)
Do think we'll see a bit more of a plan at the plate from Cags in the coming days. He's obviously not the first guy to get jumpy in his debut, but I don't expect he'll swing at 70% of the pitches he sees long-term. He also put five different pitch types in play (though three were fastball variations, so maybe that's a moot point).
One was the two-strike curveball in the first AB, too, so maybe I'm overthinking the "approach" but would like to see him hunt his pitch a little more. Which I think he will as he settles in!
Yeah, I won’t draw any conclusions from just one game. I didn’t have issues with an aggressive approach in his debut because I think it was important for him to hit (mostly) on his terms. And as I wrote, I was impressed he could make loud contact on that two-strike curve. That was a pitch with serious intent. It was a pitch he wasn’t supposed to make contact on…either swing and miss or stand there, unable to pull the trigger and get rung up. For a first AB, that was impressive.
Yup, a really nice debut for a guy to smash four baseballs and record two of the team’s nine highest exit velos this year. Hitting a ball 390+ feet off the end of the bat is a little different than what we’re accustomed to around here!
Easy power is so fun to watch.
Isabel’s diving catch in the bottom of the 8th was clutch as well.
And Witt’s play to his right at shortstop earlier in the game. A lot to like last night.
Yes, I agree that the vibe was different--clear even on TV. For example, Vinnie hyping Bobby after that fantastic defensive play. Maybe in addition to Jac, it's also Renfroe & Stratton getting released & Massey getting benched--even Salvy getting bumped from clean up. In short, accountability comes. The next step, is sending Lorenzen to the bullpen.
Exactly. These are moves meant to strengthen a team that is in contention. The players feel that and, for one game at least, responded.
I didn’t write about Lorenzen because I wanted to keep the focus on the offense, but that will happen when Ragans is back. They cannot bump Cameron from the rotation.
Did you see the clip of the MLB talking head ripping the front office for calling up Cags and likely giving up a year of arbitration? I wonder if something like that fires up the players? Not only do they know that the GM & owner want to win NOW but that they will take care of players in the long term. I think that's why Wacha resigned so quickly and at a likely discount.
I did see that. Clown show for clicks. The Royals have never played that game. Think back to Hosmer in 2011. I haven’t gone too deep into the math, but I’m thinking it’s more likely that Cags won’t qualify as a super two player and get that extra year or arbitration.
In the fifth inning the Royals scored as many runs as any single inning this year while their superstar rookie made both the first and last out. Can someone please explain baseball to me?
My only explanation is that it cannot be explained.
All season this team has refused to give up. But last night we saw attitude matched with actual results. I don't know how much of that was Cags, even if I like to joke his smash groundball woke everyone up in the fifth inning, but it was nice to see them find it.
Hopefully they keep finding it for a while (and hopefully Lorenzen moves to the bullpen and Cameron stays in the rotation because... Woof)
Bobby talked about it after the game…that the call up provided a lift. The guys on the team know they need an impact bat. But now they have to find a way to keep that buzz going and put up some quality plate appearances that actually accomplish something.
I do think Lorenzen will head to the bullpen. To send Cameron down at this point would be kind of the opposite of calling up Caglianone. Cameron has fit right in, so why make a change? Because you’re deferring to a veteran? That’s not what teams do if they have an urgency to win.
File this game away as a potential turning point of the season. Watch your back, Detroit.
That coming alive was short lived. Very good possibility they make the A’s Severino look like a Cy Young winner.