Maybe? But then you go right/right/right at the top 3 spots which is something they want to avoid. Not a lot of great options. I mean, you're not moving Melendez up that high. At least if you want to stay employed.
When Vinnie isn't in the lineup, Massey is probably the best option.
Do you think that could be something that the Royals could/should trade for this season? Maybe a lefty outfielder who can hit if MJ keeps struggling as badly as he is? Or do we just hope that Vinnie stays heathy and wait until Jac is ready?
I was second-guessing Q on leaving Lorenzen out there, but more egregious to my mind was his decision to let Michael Massey hit against the lefty reliever in the fifth inning, with two runners on and down by two. Instead, he pinch-hit Canha for Biggio with one out and no one in the following inning.
I guess I get the logic, Massey is a guy who they are counting on this year and it doesn't hurt to try and build his confidence early on, but I also kinda feel like Q is generally not using Canha as much as I would be given the choices he has. I don't know. If the Royals won the game I probably wouldn't care.
Lorenzen was looking pretty good, and on his first outing I want to see what hes got.
I definitely leave Massey in at that spot, but I can see your point with Salvy coming up. Small sample but last year Massey was .400/.471/.800 with runners at 1st and 2nd. I feel like Massey is kind of made for those situations, while Canha is made to get hbp
I think situation trumps that. Canha was .275 /.380 /.394 v lefties last year. Massey pretty even at .262/.281/.459. And taking out Masseys defense at 2nd in a tight game. Fair point and reasoning, but I would have groaned if Q put Canha in there.
ah i am bad at typing my point, I was referring to Massey's lefty-righty splits being pretty even. He was actually slightly beetter against lefties last year. I think your call is sound in process, but I personally leave Massey in here
Yeah, like I said, I think it's defensible to leave him in there. I just think I might have done things differently. But Q has a lot more data than I do.
I think the plan was always to use Canha for Biggio later in the game. The Brewers bullpen had a couple of rested lefties, so they were going to get in at some point. The Royals like Massey enough that he's going to get those chances.
As I said above, I'm not a huge fan of Massey hitting 3rd, but I think he's a solid enough regular at this point that I'm ok with Q letting it ride.
I thought Lorenzen looked really good, even with the 4 runs. That 6th was rough, but I’m excited to see more of him as the 5th starter!
The lineup just can’t seem to hit once Vinnie is out of it.
Completely agree. Exceptional start for the fifth man in the rotation.
I like Massey. I like him a lot. I don't think I like him hitting third.
I love Massey as 5th-6th in the lineup, but I’m with you on not liking him hitting third.
If not Massey hitting third though, who? Salvy?
Maybe? But then you go right/right/right at the top 3 spots which is something they want to avoid. Not a lot of great options. I mean, you're not moving Melendez up that high. At least if you want to stay employed.
When Vinnie isn't in the lineup, Massey is probably the best option.
Do you think that could be something that the Royals could/should trade for this season? Maybe a lefty outfielder who can hit if MJ keeps struggling as badly as he is? Or do we just hope that Vinnie stays heathy and wait until Jac is ready?
I was second-guessing Q on leaving Lorenzen out there, but more egregious to my mind was his decision to let Michael Massey hit against the lefty reliever in the fifth inning, with two runners on and down by two. Instead, he pinch-hit Canha for Biggio with one out and no one in the following inning.
I guess I get the logic, Massey is a guy who they are counting on this year and it doesn't hurt to try and build his confidence early on, but I also kinda feel like Q is generally not using Canha as much as I would be given the choices he has. I don't know. If the Royals won the game I probably wouldn't care.
I am ok with both decisions.
Lorenzen was looking pretty good, and on his first outing I want to see what hes got.
I definitely leave Massey in at that spot, but I can see your point with Salvy coming up. Small sample but last year Massey was .400/.471/.800 with runners at 1st and 2nd. I feel like Massey is kind of made for those situations, while Canha is made to get hbp
Canha is here to hit lefties, and the Brewers had just decided they wanted a left-on-left matchup. I don't want to give them that.
I think situation trumps that. Canha was .275 /.380 /.394 v lefties last year. Massey pretty even at .262/.281/.459. And taking out Masseys defense at 2nd in a tight game. Fair point and reasoning, but I would have groaned if Q put Canha in there.
100 wRC+ vs lefties for Massey last year, 124 wRC+ for Canha. Doesn't seem all that even
ah i am bad at typing my point, I was referring to Massey's lefty-righty splits being pretty even. He was actually slightly beetter against lefties last year. I think your call is sound in process, but I personally leave Massey in here
Yeah, like I said, I think it's defensible to leave him in there. I just think I might have done things differently. But Q has a lot more data than I do.
I think the plan was always to use Canha for Biggio later in the game. The Brewers bullpen had a couple of rested lefties, so they were going to get in at some point. The Royals like Massey enough that he's going to get those chances.
As I said above, I'm not a huge fan of Massey hitting 3rd, but I think he's a solid enough regular at this point that I'm ok with Q letting it ride.