It's go time on a new season with new rules and, for the Royals, a new manager. And Brad Keller has a new curveball! It must be Opening Day in the Cactus League!
I haven't been this excited for a baseball season since 2016, probably. Young roster, new coaching staff, and most importantly new rules to improve the fan experience. Should be _lots_ more stealing this year, and that's fun. More action, more scoring, more strategy maybe? I kinda hope the Royals are back to being really aggressive on the base paths, just for entertainment value. Why not? It shouldn't impact evaluation and development of hitters. Let's break baseball again!
Nice work, as always, Craig. A couple of paragraphs there at the end jumped out at me for some reason. You mention leadoff hitters, righty-lefty balance and such. Maybe a column idea -- the last few years there has been some alternative thinking and even experimenting with such things (akin to the idea of an opener). Why worry about putting someone with "leadoff skills" at the lineup's top when he might lead off an inning only once? Why not the very best hitter, to get him the most at-bats? Many teams have also talked about and penciled lineups with a "secondary" leadoff hitter in the 8 or 9 slot. As for righty-lefty, I'd be interested in seeing some expansion on that as to how often/whether that seems to have value. Where does the rule requiring relievers to face three batters figure in to that? I dunno, just ruminating over here....
It's been a long winter & I'm excited to see what the early returns are with the new guys in charge. I share your skepticism on Keller, but the fact that this is even a topic is just a glaring indictment of Eldred and the previous regime. I don't know if the new guys can fix Keller or any of the other pitchers, but I'm at least encouraged by the fact that they seem to actually be trying.
As for your lineup? I make no judgements. I think they have a lot of interesting pieces, but I'm glad it's not my job to put them all together. Of course, if they wanted to bring me on staff and pay me a big league salary, I'd be more than willing to give it a shot. But they're probably better off with him in charge. Let's hope so anyway!
I haven't been this excited for a baseball season since 2016, probably. Young roster, new coaching staff, and most importantly new rules to improve the fan experience. Should be _lots_ more stealing this year, and that's fun. More action, more scoring, more strategy maybe? I kinda hope the Royals are back to being really aggressive on the base paths, just for entertainment value. Why not? It shouldn't impact evaluation and development of hitters. Let's break baseball again!
Nice work, as always, Craig. A couple of paragraphs there at the end jumped out at me for some reason. You mention leadoff hitters, righty-lefty balance and such. Maybe a column idea -- the last few years there has been some alternative thinking and even experimenting with such things (akin to the idea of an opener). Why worry about putting someone with "leadoff skills" at the lineup's top when he might lead off an inning only once? Why not the very best hitter, to get him the most at-bats? Many teams have also talked about and penciled lineups with a "secondary" leadoff hitter in the 8 or 9 slot. As for righty-lefty, I'd be interested in seeing some expansion on that as to how often/whether that seems to have value. Where does the rule requiring relievers to face three batters figure in to that? I dunno, just ruminating over here....
It's been a long winter & I'm excited to see what the early returns are with the new guys in charge. I share your skepticism on Keller, but the fact that this is even a topic is just a glaring indictment of Eldred and the previous regime. I don't know if the new guys can fix Keller or any of the other pitchers, but I'm at least encouraged by the fact that they seem to actually be trying.
As for your lineup? I make no judgements. I think they have a lot of interesting pieces, but I'm glad it's not my job to put them all together. Of course, if they wanted to bring me on staff and pay me a big league salary, I'd be more than willing to give it a shot. But they're probably better off with him in charge. Let's hope so anyway!