Under a deluge of runs, Seth Lugo struggles, Bobby Witt Jr. hits a milestone and comes close to another and the bullpen can't hold the lead against the surging Tigers.
Looks like we'd better hope the Twins keep struggling. I fear Detroit will catch both Minnesota and the Royals. Of course, I would laugh my ample posterior off if the Tigers did pass the Twins for the last wild-card spot.
In other observations, I was just about to tweet that Lugo was still interesting to watch when he was off but finding ways to get out of trouble. Then he gave up the home run.
I still feel like the Royals have enough distance, but yeah...the way the Tigers are going it's a definite possibility. I can't lie though...totally rooting for them to ease past the Twins. That would be insanely enjoyable.
Lugo just battled and battled and damnit, that ball barely left the yard. So he was close to getting out of trouble. Close.
This game highlighted my biggest concern about the Royals in the playoffs: their pitching staff does not work well with modern playoff bullpen usage.
Modern conventional wisdom in the playoffs is that you hope to get 4 or 5 innings from your starter before throwing fresh arm after fresh arm at your opponent.
They Royals have about 2.5 relievers you trust to use in an important situation. After adding Lorenzen and Marsh to the mix, maybe make that 3.75? (Yeah, fractional pitchers are not a thing but that's how I'm expressing my lack of confidence in anyone not named Erceg or Bubic.)
I'm curious whether Q will manage following the modern conventional wisdom or if he'll keep trying to get 6 or 7 innings out of his starters. I don't know what the right answer is with this team.
When you get into a short series, everything becomes situational. Mediocre pitcher may have the profile that gives the opponent fits. Also, there's less incentive to save your players. While I advocate a three man rotation (Ragans. Lugo and Wacha), 4 May also be a good number. The extra arm in the bullpen allows you to go 5 or 6 innings with the starter and turn it over to another quality arm with a different Arsenal and look. Objective is to keep the batter off balance.
IF the Royals can keep it low scoring they improve their chances of winning.
Although the postseason schedule makes it easier to keep the same key arms fresh. In the ALDS this year, there are off days after game one, game two and game four. I know they'll try to keep from overworking Bubic, but I think Q will generally have all options available for the first two series at least, should the Royals get that far. And I think he will let a quality starter go six depending on the matchups and the number of times the lineup has flipped.
My guess is that Lugo is "hitying the wall". The inability to,keep the ball down has to do with physical wear that impedes the pitcher from following through on the pitch and results in difficulty "keeping it down". Sitting Lugo for a turn, or maybe bringing him in relief for an inning or two, to maintain his rhythm, may be enough for him to finish the season... Because we will need him as we progress into the post season.
The Totals are not a "Great Team". They are good enough to win, but they need things to fall into place.
In the post season, they should consider a 3-man rotation and try not to keep them out there too long. Maybe 80 pitches. The intent being to have quality arms available as the offenses we should see will not be easy to subdue. Lugo must be healthy and rested.
Fatigue was always going to be an issue with this rotation. Lugo has thrown 50 more innings than last year, which was a career-high as a major leaguer. Ragans has topped his high for a season by about 75 innings. Even Singer has thrown more innings that he ever has—around 10 innings more than his previous career-high. It's going to be something to monitor going forward and probably even beyond this season.
I think pitch count is less of a factor (as long as it's somewhat manageable) than times through the order in the postseason.
Man, I can’t get over how nuts Brett’s 1980 was. If you don’t think about it often and didn’t live through it, you just think about the .400 chase, but that he was essentially a 9 WAR player in 117 games is positively bonkers.
You watch...The Bear...to unwind?
It's a good show with some great elements, but relaxing is not a way I would describe it.
Compared to that game, the Bear is easy. It's a comedy, dontchaknow.
Could you imagine trying to watch a baseball game with Richie and Carmy's Mom? Talk about tension.
You don’t? Super relaxing show. Takes me back to a simpler time, screaming at my coworkers BOH.
Looks like we'd better hope the Twins keep struggling. I fear Detroit will catch both Minnesota and the Royals. Of course, I would laugh my ample posterior off if the Tigers did pass the Twins for the last wild-card spot.
In other observations, I was just about to tweet that Lugo was still interesting to watch when he was off but finding ways to get out of trouble. Then he gave up the home run.
I still feel like the Royals have enough distance, but yeah...the way the Tigers are going it's a definite possibility. I can't lie though...totally rooting for them to ease past the Twins. That would be insanely enjoyable.
Lugo just battled and battled and damnit, that ball barely left the yard. So he was close to getting out of trouble. Close.
The ballgame was in the hands of the bullpens.
Edgar Allan Poe couldn’t come up with a more frightening line.
Agree 💯 % with this statement!
Hahaha...That was actually the last line I wrote before I hit the "send" button. Felt appropriate.
Good lord, George's OPS+ in 1980.
This game highlighted my biggest concern about the Royals in the playoffs: their pitching staff does not work well with modern playoff bullpen usage.
Modern conventional wisdom in the playoffs is that you hope to get 4 or 5 innings from your starter before throwing fresh arm after fresh arm at your opponent.
They Royals have about 2.5 relievers you trust to use in an important situation. After adding Lorenzen and Marsh to the mix, maybe make that 3.75? (Yeah, fractional pitchers are not a thing but that's how I'm expressing my lack of confidence in anyone not named Erceg or Bubic.)
I'm curious whether Q will manage following the modern conventional wisdom or if he'll keep trying to get 6 or 7 innings out of his starters. I don't know what the right answer is with this team.
When you get into a short series, everything becomes situational. Mediocre pitcher may have the profile that gives the opponent fits. Also, there's less incentive to save your players. While I advocate a three man rotation (Ragans. Lugo and Wacha), 4 May also be a good number. The extra arm in the bullpen allows you to go 5 or 6 innings with the starter and turn it over to another quality arm with a different Arsenal and look. Objective is to keep the batter off balance.
IF the Royals can keep it low scoring they improve their chances of winning.
Yeah, you kinda just made my point. You need a quality arm to go to. Those are in short supply.
Although the postseason schedule makes it easier to keep the same key arms fresh. In the ALDS this year, there are off days after game one, game two and game four. I know they'll try to keep from overworking Bubic, but I think Q will generally have all options available for the first two series at least, should the Royals get that far. And I think he will let a quality starter go six depending on the matchups and the number of times the lineup has flipped.
My guess is that Lugo is "hitying the wall". The inability to,keep the ball down has to do with physical wear that impedes the pitcher from following through on the pitch and results in difficulty "keeping it down". Sitting Lugo for a turn, or maybe bringing him in relief for an inning or two, to maintain his rhythm, may be enough for him to finish the season... Because we will need him as we progress into the post season.
The Totals are not a "Great Team". They are good enough to win, but they need things to fall into place.
In the post season, they should consider a 3-man rotation and try not to keep them out there too long. Maybe 80 pitches. The intent being to have quality arms available as the offenses we should see will not be easy to subdue. Lugo must be healthy and rested.
Fatigue was always going to be an issue with this rotation. Lugo has thrown 50 more innings than last year, which was a career-high as a major leaguer. Ragans has topped his high for a season by about 75 innings. Even Singer has thrown more innings that he ever has—around 10 innings more than his previous career-high. It's going to be something to monitor going forward and probably even beyond this season.
I think pitch count is less of a factor (as long as it's somewhat manageable) than times through the order in the postseason.
Man, I can’t get over how nuts Brett’s 1980 was. If you don’t think about it often and didn’t live through it, you just think about the .400 chase, but that he was essentially a 9 WAR player in 117 games is positively bonkers.
The absolute pinnacle. God mode.