After opening with 16 wins in their first 25 games and after finding themselves in first place in the AL Central as late as May 5, the 2021 season for the Royals went completely off the rails. Since peaking with a .640 winning percentage in the season’s first month, the Royals have tumbled to 44 losses over their last 64 games. That span where they’ve gone 20-44 is
Whit got his first SB and his first CS on April 11 against the ChiSox. Not sure which came first from the box score, but that means he's stolen 23 or 24 in a row without being caught. Quite remarkable given his good but not great speed.
But yeah, the team sux. I'm ready for an active trade deadline season and focusing on the progress of Witt, Pratto, Pasquantino, Olivares, Dungan, Heasley, Coleman and some others at High A that are performing well. As bad as they've been, with Witt at 3B, Pratto at 1B, Mondi healthy (we can dream right?), Whit at 2B, Santana at DH, and perhaps a FA CF, there is some hope for improvement in 2022. The biggest problem with contention in 2022 is the regression of the young SP.
I checked the game log on that April 11 game. Merrifield was caught in the 4th inning. He swiped 3rd base in the top of the 10th. So yeah…caught on his first attempt of the year and now that’s 24 in a row.
I’m ready for an active trade deadline as well. (And as usual.) But I’m not sure we’re going to see much movement on that front. Although I have to think a bump for Witt and/or Pratto to Triple-A is coming relatively soon.
I think Duffy has some value as a rental. I'd like to re-sign him as a leverage reliever going forward after the season tho. Duffy himself knows he'd be better out of the pen. He just can't take a full season of starting. Never more than 28 starts or 180 IP.
Agree completely on Duffy. I could totally see a reunion if the Royals dealt him as a rental to a contender. He would be a fantastic left-handed option for some extended high leverage out of the bullpen.
I'd love to see Pratto at AAA both for his sake and to see what Pasquantino can do at AA. I think there are some interesting parallels with Vinnie and Jim Thome. Both are about the same size, lightly regarded out of HS, went to small colleges, low round draft picks, and are left handed with very similar swings. Thome was a "three true outcomes" kind of guy. Vinnie has some interesting contact skills with lower walk rates than Thome. Obviously a loooooooong shot that Vinnie ever hits as many taters as Thome but he does have some significant power and has yet to fail at the MiLB level.
You see it too? 11th round vs 13th round, 6'4 250 vs 6'4 245, both are very engaging personalities.... Vinnie has his own podcast in the offseason. He has a much better chance of being a broadcaster than of having a career that comes close to matching Thome.
Whit got his first SB and his first CS on April 11 against the ChiSox. Not sure which came first from the box score, but that means he's stolen 23 or 24 in a row without being caught. Quite remarkable given his good but not great speed.
But yeah, the team sux. I'm ready for an active trade deadline season and focusing on the progress of Witt, Pratto, Pasquantino, Olivares, Dungan, Heasley, Coleman and some others at High A that are performing well. As bad as they've been, with Witt at 3B, Pratto at 1B, Mondi healthy (we can dream right?), Whit at 2B, Santana at DH, and perhaps a FA CF, there is some hope for improvement in 2022. The biggest problem with contention in 2022 is the regression of the young SP.
Royals seem intent on Witt playing 2B so I guess that means Dozier at 3B and Whit to RF, but I wouldn't. I think Dozier hurts more at 3B than RF.
I checked the game log on that April 11 game. Merrifield was caught in the 4th inning. He swiped 3rd base in the top of the 10th. So yeah…caught on his first attempt of the year and now that’s 24 in a row.
I’m ready for an active trade deadline as well. (And as usual.) But I’m not sure we’re going to see much movement on that front. Although I have to think a bump for Witt and/or Pratto to Triple-A is coming relatively soon.
I think Duffy has some value as a rental. I'd like to re-sign him as a leverage reliever going forward after the season tho. Duffy himself knows he'd be better out of the pen. He just can't take a full season of starting. Never more than 28 starts or 180 IP.
Agree completely on Duffy. I could totally see a reunion if the Royals dealt him as a rental to a contender. He would be a fantastic left-handed option for some extended high leverage out of the bullpen.
I'd love to see Pratto at AAA both for his sake and to see what Pasquantino can do at AA. I think there are some interesting parallels with Vinnie and Jim Thome. Both are about the same size, lightly regarded out of HS, went to small colleges, low round draft picks, and are left handed with very similar swings. Thome was a "three true outcomes" kind of guy. Vinnie has some interesting contact skills with lower walk rates than Thome. Obviously a loooooooong shot that Vinnie ever hits as many taters as Thome but he does have some significant power and has yet to fail at the MiLB level.
https://youtu.be/LNt2gEX8ZW4
https://youtu.be/EcPR979Qnpw
I see what you did there. 👀
You see it too? 11th round vs 13th round, 6'4 250 vs 6'4 245, both are very engaging personalities.... Vinnie has his own podcast in the offseason. He has a much better chance of being a broadcaster than of having a career that comes close to matching Thome.