Was listening to Petro and Rany's podcast tonight, and while they can be pessimistic sometimes, they did make a good point and concede there might not have been a great answer to these offensive problems.

The Royals wanted Santander and he's barely hitting over .200 and is on pace for 15 HR. Bellinger had a .500 OPS coming into today hitting between Judge and Goldschmidt. Joc Pederson is 3-55 and hitting worse than Melendez. Maybe some of them will turn it around but if they don't you have an extra $20-30 million hole in your lineup.

I think Peyton Wilson is due for a promotion. The kids in his 3rd season at AA and seems to have figured it out there.

.444 BA and 1.360 OPS in 14 games.

There wasn't a realistic upgrade out there really. They did finally get a guy for the lead off spot so that Bobby should have someone on when he's up, but India's been in a slump.

Hell it seems like everyone is trying to have career worst years besides Bobby and Maikel. If Salvy, Vinnie, Massey, and India all didn't look like absolute ass, then with Maikel's emergence and India playing like he had previously this offense wouldn't be the worst in the league and would be more than good enough.

JJ couldn't have expected the offense would be this bad.

Even Renfroe, he's always been a slow starter and including his best years his April numbers have been terrible, but he's been exceptionally bad this year.

Tyler O'Neil, who I have been banging the table for the last couple of seasons, would have been a semi upgrade. But he is also injury prone.

On the rumored trade possibilities from the offseason, Alec Bohm has been complete ass as well. Angels wouldn't budge on Taylor Ward, whose bat has been okay but is ass on defense.

I'm surprised they didn't kick the tires more on Harrison Bader. His defense would play at Kauffman. But pretty weak bat traditionally.

Yeah, it was a tough market.

Luis Rengifo is someone they were also heavily connected to, and he has struggled early as well.

If they can get Marsh healthy, that's probably where I would go as far as a trade. Would hurt their SP depth, which sucks, but if they could flip Marsh for a decent bat that can play a corner, it probably is worth it - especially if that bat comes with some control.

Marsh would seem like an overpay for Rengifo, but Rengifo might also make some sense.

Seems like we have no "contact" hitters, players willing and capable of just putting the ball in play. Looks like a majority of the lineup is swinging for the fences, and we only have a few, that rightly have those kind of expectations? Last year, if I remember was the same problem early, then they finally started making better swings when the Royals made their runs.
Maybe a new hitting coach is in order?

Man, looks like Bubic is finally rounding into form. He might just end up being a really good #2 starter. If he had a bit more power, then he ends up being an ace and probably has a chance to be better than Ragans.

The Royals really need to extend him this off season. I think last year is his last year he is under control and I'd hate for him to get away.

Bubic has one more year of team control after this season (entered the year with 4+ years of service time). If he can stay healthy the whole year and holds his velocity at a full starter’s workload, I’m on board with an extension of some sort.

The sweeper he added has given him the second pitch against lefties he had at times struggled with, and the change is still fantastic.

Maybe I missed this, but why was Estevez immediately given the closer role over Erceg? I thought Erceg handled it well in 2024. There is nothing comfortable about Estevez, almost every save opportunity is a roller coaster since he tries to nibble the zone so much.

They haven't said this, but it allows them to use Erceg wherever they want to put out fires and face the best guys on the other teams.

If Aaron Judge or Jose Ramirez is due up in the 7th inning they can use Erceg there instead of having to hold him back for the 9th inning to face the bottom of the order. Estevez probably isn't going to be as dominant as Erceg but he was a veteran closer. It gives them a ton of flexibility to play matchups in how they use Erceg and hopefully Harvey.

Because the math shows that your best bullpen grouping, if you have multiple above-average options, is:

1. Reserve your BEST guy for true fireman situations. He shows up in 6th or 7th or 8th or 9th to get the team out of a jam, or to face the top of the lineup.
2. Slot your second-best guy as your standard closer (but don't be afraid to use your relief ace instead of him in the 9th if he's on short rest or the matchup is better for your 1 reliever)
3. Have a handful of other above-average guys you use based on matchups
4. Have one dude that can go long and just eat innings so you can reserve 1-3 for games where they are actually valuable.

We didn’t stick to rule #2 last night. Erceg pitched against 7, 8, 9 in the 8th.

Yeah, I would have done that. I don't think the Royals are being as aggressive with that as the math suggests you should.

The Rockies' top of the lineup is also... not that special.

Appreciate the insight. And I understand the usage of Erceg as a fireman. But man, watching Estevez pitch is hard to watch.

3 straight walks in the 9th with a lead is inexcusable to me.

It was horrible but he had a 0.90 ERA coming into last night and was a huge reason we won on Sunday. You don't ditch a reliever after one bad performance. It's how he bounces back that you worry about.

Maybe, just maybe hearing the boo birds after the blown save in the 9th will spark something with the hitters?

I mentioned it in the game thread last night, but it’s been a weird year so far, not just with our lineup, but look around the league…. The run differentials are a little wacky, even if it is early…

If our offense was just around average, we’d be above .500. A little power would be nice too. Is it too much to ask?

They had to have been booing Estevez...too many walks for a closer

Jac Caglianone is likely to face Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw tonight. ��
Get some, Yung Jac

He faced him last night.

Had 2 hits off him. Solid single and ripped a double that bounced off the wall.


He's gonna be up before the ASB if he keeps this up.

I would expect a move to AAA sometime in May.

Oh absolutely, but the whole team hears it, and they know the fans are getting restless. Might not be anything, but maybe...

I'm excited about Jac too, but this isn't Kershaw from 15 years ago, or even five years ago. Jac hit that oppo double off a chest high 88 mph "fastball". Not trying to be the party pooper, but...

He'd throw a 3 hit (Bobby) complete game shutout against our current big league squad

yeah, Kershaw is def working thru some things but, man that had to give Jac a jolt of confidence... if he needs it or not

<div class="tenor-gif-embed" data-postid="12107264" data-share-method="host" data-aspect-ratio="1.89764" data-width="100%"><a href="https://tenor.com/view/whomp-whomp-gif-12107264">Whomp Whomp GIF</a>from <a href="https://tenor.com/search/whomp+whomp-gifs">Whomp Whomp GIFs</a></div> <script type="text/javascript" async src="https://tenor.com/embed.js"></script>

OH NOES!!!! IT'S DEBBIE DOWNER!!!! LMAO ROFL

Hahaha... Rachel Dratch was born for that sketch... Almost always very funny.

Ummmmmmmm?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ready to represent.<br><br>Seth Lugo has announced that he will pitch for Team Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic! <a href="https://t.co/YVWF2WnJOU">pic.twitter.com/YVWF2WnJOU</a></p>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1915405449714663630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Here's what I found on Lugo...

Lugo chose to honor his paternal grandfather, who was Puerto Rican, by playing for the Puerto Rican national baseball team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Down in Double-A, Jac Caglianone is starting in right field for the first time tonight.</p>&mdash; Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) <a href="https://twitter.com/anne__rogers/status/1915546571992633425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Torpedoes bat not helping the bad hitters so far.

Salvy, speaking to lots of dudes on CP

“Rumors of my demise were greatly exaggerated”

i don't care what it takes, but the R's might do everything to get this Jordan Beck guy!!

2 homeruns in this game, and in our ball park?

get it done, Veatch!!!

Hells yea! Get this kid up here soon


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jac Caglianone, in fact, can track a ball hit over his head. <a href="https://t.co/WV7hqAhuCH">https://t.co/WV7hqAhuCH</a> <a href="https://t.co/OcbMKxEh8w">pic.twitter.com/OcbMKxEh8w</a></p>&mdash; The Royals Rundown Podcast (@RoyalRundownPod) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalRundownPod/status/1915568586422456520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

You know his nickname is "QuarterRican", right?

So far, Reds winning the trade


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">miss you dawg <a href="https://t.co/XIEBxqcLe0">pic.twitter.com/XIEBxqcLe0</a></p>&mdash; mya�� (@BobbyHittJr) <a href="https://twitter.com/BobbyHittJr/status/1915427385555537965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

i've seen enough......already better than Renfroe!

Jac Cousteau would be better than Renfroe.

:clap:

Did he invent a time machine?

6 game win streak after so many dumbasses here said they were already done.

Seth Lugo always looks 53 years old to me.

You love to see it.

But the Reds are winning the trade so far!!

And we let Carlos Hernandez go! When will the madness end?!?

I just need something to do after the NBA Finals. So need to be relevant in July and August. Please.

If you’re taking suggestions, feel free to reenact the Bud Dwyer press conference.

Whoa. Wow.

BWillie

Baseball is more popular in America than your shitty NBA, so go **** yourself. Nobody cares if you watch baseball.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If the NFL Draft were a League, the Draft would rank 5th in America<br><br>We all knew the <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLDraft?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFLDraft</a> is a big deal but we were not expecting the <a href="https://twitter.com/SetonHall?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SetonHall</a> University <a href="https://twitter.com/HallSportsPoll?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HallSportsPoll</a> numbers to come back this strong: <br><br>-If the NFL Draft were a League, only the NFL, MLB, NBA… <a href="https://t.co/9dEUYmnmBD">pic.twitter.com/9dEUYmnmBD</a></p>&mdash; SetonHall SportsPoll (@HallSportsPoll) <a href="https://twitter.com/HallSportsPoll/status/1915403674399973569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Lol. A little baseball history tonight. The Dbacks become the 2nd team ever to lose a game in which one of their players hits 4 homers in the 8-7 defeat to the Braves, who ironically where the first team to pull off that “feat” in 1986.

Salvy and Vinny at the UFC fight tonight

Bob Horner!

As a suggestion, It’s a bit extreme, yes.

The pride of Junction City, Kansas! Along with my former professor, Kevin Willmott, of course...