Hahahaha... shades of Harry Doyle.

You can't say "shitting me" on the air!

Don't worry, nobody's listening anyway...

I hope the outfield starts hitting soon. Why not call up Waters?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Royals</a> are the 10th team in the WC Era (since 1995) to allow fewer than 100 R through 33 G. <br><br>22 HOU 106 W, won WS<br>22 NYY 99 W, lost CS<br>20 CLE 35 W, lost WC<br>18 HOU 103 W, lost CS<br>16 CHC 103 W, won WS<br>16 NYM 87 W, lost WC<br>12 WAS 98 W, lost DS<br>05 FLA 83 W<br>97 ATL 101 W, lost CS</p>&mdash; Nick Kappel (@NickKappel) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickKappel/status/1786746328296382565?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Man. Having so much fun with this team.

It's funny how, once Salvador Perez is giving more physical rest from catching, his offensive profile really evens out and maximizes.

We're seeing far fewer of those "tired" swings at bad pitches that end up with a whiff or him rolling over on it to shortstop.

Do you think his massive increase in BB rate and massive drop in K rate is just sample size or some kind of permanent adjustment?

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savan...r-perez-521692

His chase rate is still god awful per baseball savant yet if you extrapolated his BB and Ks it would be so far off his seasonal avgs it is insane.

Royals outfielders are hitting .190/.254/.323. Nelson's regression is a real shame.

Waters is worth a shot. Cross seems to have recovered and at 23...should get a shot this season.

MJ finally broke a zip for 23 last night that ignited the six run seventh. Garcia had a slump a few weeks ago but seems to have broken out of that. Bobby and Salvy have been on fire.

I think some of that is adjustment, and some of it is him being more fresh.

When you're tired, it's harder to be patient and disciplined.

I would make an argument that Salvy's chase stat is an exception to the rule given how hard he hits stuff out of the zone. I haven't looked at any stats to back it up, but I think of that homerun he hit on a ball six inches below the zone as an example. Also, despite the chase rate, his wjiff rate is insane especially given how much he chases. He makes good contact on stuff outside the zone. So maybe he's selective with respect to his contact radius rather than the strike zone.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RHP Alec Marsh will make a rehab start tomorrow with Omaha (AAA).</p>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1786843817380827252?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Arraez in the leadoff spot with Bobby behind him. His defense isn't that great. Would have put Garcia down in the sixth spot or so. Probably his natural spot.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Royals Showed Interest In Luis Arraez Prior To Trade To Padres <a href="https://t.co/IzDpU6dUrh">https://t.co/IzDpU6dUrh</a> <a href="https://t.co/sVhcE37MeS">pic.twitter.com/sVhcE37MeS</a></p>&mdash; MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) <a href="https://twitter.com/mlbtraderumors/status/1787508825458717127?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I couldn't stand Arraez with the Twins, he just absolutely killed us every game.

Did the game time get moved up?

6:10 is what I see.

Boy that's an understatement.

Dude's a modern day Tony Gwynn and he's such a butcher out there that teams can't figure out where to play him so they trade him.

I'm only half joking when I say I'd try to convert him to C. With the probability of robo-umps in the future and the rise of pitch-com, any swinging dick with a glove on his wrist can manage to play C these days.

Give him 4 months to learn the footwork and he's gotta be at least playable back there. He can't be any worse than Tony Cruz was defensively - he was a 3b conversion project who didn't do anything correctly behind the dish. he still managed several years in MLB despite also not being able to hit worth a damn.

Arraez would have been so ****ing sweet to get. BWJ would probably lead the league in RBIs if he were out lead off guy.

Boy, with his contact rates and the fact that you'd definitely get to BWJ in the first inning either way, I think I'd put him in the 2 hole with Garcia in the 1 spot still. Because he has such good bat/ball skills you could have him take a couple pitches if you wanted to give Garcia a chance to run. You'd have BWJ in a better RBI spot most of the time. You could use hit and run really well with Arraez ahead of Witt as well whenever you had Garcia on base.

I think it opens up the run production potential of Witt a little more if you did that. Would cost him a handful of ABs over the course of the season; probably about 15-20 PAs based on most models. But I think you'd make it up with a slightly more dangerous top of the order.

But...moot.

Or just DH him most days. Royals kind of have a hole there unless its days that Salvy takes off behind the plate. But its moot

My God Bally can't do a single ****ing thing right. Pay $20/month so I can stream the Royals and the app is constantly buffering or I have to get all the way out and get back in for it to work. I have no problems streaming anything at my house...

...besides Bally ****ing sports. God I hate this company with a passion.

I have the same problem. Fiber internet no problems streaming anything but I’m constantly having to close out the Bally app and get back in. So frustrating

Someone tell me why I should like Vinnie Pasquantino

He's been playing fine. Generally hitting the ball hard. Bad bapip. Just unlucky. Sure its annoying when he grounds in double plays because he's slow but he has a professional approach at the plate and I have little concern he wont ops over .750...probably just a tad over .800

They finally fixed it so I don't have to log in every single day so I do appreciate that!

It is embarrassing for then they have that ballys placeholder commercial on repeat because they cant get anyone to advertise there.

He might become Mike Sweeney someday?

He has to learn to hit the ball to the left side. He pulls/rolls over every pitch.

Eh - nothing wrong with a guy with solid but unspectacular raw power trying to pull the ball, but he's gotta keep his lower half in if he's gonna do that.

That bottom half comes open too early and that's when you start coming over top of the ball and rolling it to 2b.

I wouldn't want him 'playing the slice' just yet. Because his hit tool is good enough to make him a 25-30 HR player and a real nice run producer in the 5 spot.

I think the kind of target you'd like to see for him would be someone like Adrian Gonzalez? Or if you'd prefer a direct Royals comp, what about Raul Ibanez (offensively)? I think he could be that sort of player.

If the Royals win tonight, and the Twins lose, one or the other Guardians or Tigers lose and that would be a good nice for baseball.

I get it, but I'm just more old school in my hitting approach. If a ball is pitched on the outside corner, take it that way and don't try to pull it. But I can say the same thing for Isbel and Frazier, and probably have a stronger point with those guys as they don't have the same pull-pop that Vinny has, not even close.

Sure, but if you keep your front in and maintain a standard (not sell-out) pull approach, you'll drive that pitch on the outside up the middle. And if you pick it up early enough, you can still catch it out front and drive it out to RC as a lefty.

I just think he's someone you want to treat differently than, as you said, Isbel. The Cardinals broadcasters used to get way up their own asses with guys like Allen Craig and say "Yeah, you can really tell when he's hitting it well when he's going opposite field..."

Well...not really. A lot of the times that's just him getting jammed. Guys with good bat to ball skills and good but not great raw power, can REALLY benefit from a more concerted pull approach because it allows them to unlock their ability to drive the ball. When they start to try to spray oppo, pitchers will notice that and attack them inside. Now they're getting fisted and hitting slow rollers on the infield that they'd have sent 415 had they not been tinkering.

Most dude just aren't gonna be Albert Pujols. Very few guys can truly be an all-fields hitter and maintain solid power and run production. With Vinnie, I think he's better served focusing on a strength than trying to cover any weaknesses.

I would like to see Vinnie choke up with
runners on base and down in the count :thumb:

Maybe Vinnie should be a "bunt first" type of guy, yeah, that's the ticket!

That ****ing sports noise commercial is the god damn worst.

It's on right now and I hate it.

Here's a basketball dribbling and some shoe squeaks. That'll be $20/month please

It merits mention that Vinnie is attempting to come back from surgery on a torn labrum. There are many players that couldn't come back from shoulder surgery at anywhere near their past production. It ends careers. The list of players that went on to stardom after it is very short if there is one at all. I root for the cat but his career is dichotomous at this point and we're new in the 'post' era now. Keep expectations low, is what I'm getting at here.

Fair point

Saw someone on Twitter talking about trading Salvy before the deadline.

Thoughts?

May be one of the dumbest tweets of all time. Maybe we should trade Mahomes while we’re at it too??

You should delete Twitter.

murder.
death.
kill.

Only if we are completely out of it, he is ok with it, and we get something very valuable in return.

By out of it I mean by the trade deadline we are at 110 games. If we are 5-10 games under .500, then by all means get as close to a haul as you can.

WHY ISNT SALVY IN TODAYS LINEUP?!? AAAAAARGH!!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RHP Alec Marsh remains on track to come off the IL and start Friday for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a>, manager Matt Quatraro said.</p>&mdash; Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) <a href="https://twitter.com/anne__rogers/status/1788249384481947869?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

taking wacha's spot?

Considering Wacha is scheduled to pitch tomorrow, I highly doubt it.

Using your own words, (obviously), describe this team for me.

I can't make heads or tails if they're good, overachieving, mediocre, etc.

Pasquantino has a good swing if you ask me. It lends itself to great contact. He stays in the zone a while and his head doesn't move a ton. Not a very talented guy but his approach and swing is top notch in my book. Melendez is a guy that has an incredibly flawed swing. I don't know how he even makes contact.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bobby Witt Jr. has four more runs scored than anyone in baseball. He’s on pace for 153 runs this season. <br><br>Only nine players in the modern era have scored 153 runs or more in a season. The last one to do it was Lou Gehrig in 1936. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a></p>&mdash; David Lesky (@DBLesky) <a href="https://twitter.com/DBLesky/status/1788381779021251067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Hahahaha, gotta love it when the "modern" era includes the last man to do something and it's 88 ****ing years ago...

Honestly some of all of it, I think. They are much better than I thought they would be. BWJ and Salvy are legit MVP candidates if the season ended today and using that same qualifier, Lugo is probably the CY Young. Singer looks really good and Ragans seems to have blown past the "flash in the pan" point. If Massey can keep it up, that could be a missing piece that has alluded for ever, save Zobrist.

That being said, I don't really trust the bullpen and there are a good amount of damn near automatic outs in the lineup. The OF is basically worthless at the plate. I mean Kyle Isbel is our best hitting OF and it's not particularly close. I figure Renfroe would be kinda mediocre until his power could come up in the summer but he's practically Tony Pena Jr at this point. Sorry guys, MJ Melendez is not good and I don't think he ever will be.

I'm on record as saying I think this is a team that lands around the mid to high 70s in wins. I'm not ready to come off of that (to be clear, I hope like hell I am wrong and this team does win 90 or 100 games like some think they can/will). To me, June will be the clarifier. The June schedule is brutal. If the Royals come out of June at over .500, it will be time to fully get on the hype train. Until then, I will take a cautiously kinda optimistic-ish perspective. But I will be rooting for all the unabashed, all in optimists to be right and for me to be eating my crow (which I will do gladly) come July 1.

Yay late night baseball

Yeah, this is my only hesitation in getting too excited about the seasons outlook moving forward. At this point, I've already enjoyed this team and they've exceeded my expectation no matter what happens rest of the year. This month and a half has been more enjoyable than the last few years combined.

But when you look at the nitty gritty, we are outperforming majorly. We have 3 starters with an OPS above .700 and the only reason our offense has been league average is because for the first time I can remember we're just crushing with RISP. No idea how long that can last, but Isbel and Renfroe are below replacement level and MJ isn't a lot better (although I can't give up on him yet). Hopefully 2nd base is going to improve permanently with Massey bc if I have to see Frazier and Garrett Hampson play there regularly anymore I might vomit.

So yes...tons of holes in the offense but we're scrappy thus far and tons of fun to watch. I desperately wish we had someone to look fwd to bringing up from AAA to help the OF situation but can't pretend like Waters is gonna turn into some world beater and I thinks thats about all we have on reserve right now. And we don't have a ton of ammo to trade on the farm either, as far as I can tell but I've followed prospects a lot less since Covid.

This formula is actually pretty similar to the one the Indians have been winning consistently with. They have a few legit stars in the lineup (like, 2) and really good SP and defense and base-running.

I think Ragans is sustainable. Singer and Lugo and Wacha and Marsh will really determine how interesting the rest of the season becomes?

Will be at the game tonight, looking forward to it!

the Dodgers are now kicking our ass in run differential, but we're still holding onto to that last wild card spot for the wild card game matchup#!

Well well well, look at this! The Pasquatch is tied for 21st in RBIs in the majors.

https://64.media.tumblr.com/472ea001...805a9e7637.pnj

He's just under an .800 OPS and has 19 BBs and only 16 Ks. He's also still at a super unlucky BABIP of .248. Also over his last 7 games he has 11 RBIs, .400 BA, and a 1.080 OPS. My boy has broke out, baby!

PS, this is probably the start of his slump, because I'm bad luck. Sorry about that.

I like what I'm seeing from Bobby Witt Jr too! 8 BBs and only 2 SOs in his last 7 games! .304 AVG, .484 OBP, .609 SLG. If he can keep up the high walk numbers than holy shit there is no limit on what he could do.

Bobby is on pace for a 199 hit/46 2B/21 3B/21 HR/83 RBI/54 SB/66 BB/12 WAR

A 12 WAR season would put him at the 6th highest WAR season ever and only the 2nd player in the top 10 under the age of 25. He'd have the highest WAR season of the modern era and it'd be the highest WAR in a season since 1967.

new idea:

Michael Conforto.

He's a FA after this year, the Giants look to be far out of things, and he's having a nice bounceback season, on pace for his usual 25-30 HR and 80-90 RBI with good OBP numbers.

I'd love to add Conforto and he shouldn't be TOO expensive as a 1/2 season rental. Slot him at #3 in the lineup, and drop Pasquantino to 5, and I think you're in business.

Garcia-Witt-Conforto-Perez-Pasquantino would be a pretty good 1-5. Then you could go:

Massey (2B)
Renfroe (RF)
Isbel (CF)

You could slide Waters in there pretty easily, or Melendez, too.

Trading with the Giants would make me super nervouse because of how good that front office is.

Do you think the Angels would be willing to collect whatever they can get for Jo Adell? I mean, the Royals are already in LA.

No, I think they're going to hold him since he's finally producing.

Mj, Isbel and Blanco tonight with frazier dh

Woof!

If we only give up 2 runs, we only need 3

Using the Mother's Day free weekend of MLB.TV to watch Paul Skenes in his MLB debut for Pittsburgh. Kid's got good stuff. However... I'm no expert on pitching mechanics, but he sure looks like a prime candidate to blow out his elbow. Almost every pitch it looks like he puts a lot of torque on his elbow.

Twins need to stop winning

They're tied at 8 apiece, come on BJs

Blue Jays with the lead. Bases still loaded. 7th inning. One out.

And the new Twins hats still look god-awful.

Playing around with the Mother's Day free weekend of MLB.tv... the games are all free, but the other content is not, unfortunately. However, you can sign up for a 7 day free trial, and it gives you access to all original content, including the George Brett documentary that was release a few months back. Gonna kick back and watch this before gearing up for the Angels game tonight.

Also, the Blue Jays did knock off the Twins, so with a win tonight, we'll either be in 2nd place or first place, depending on what happens with Cleveland. LFG.

Who are currently down 2-0 to the white sux :thumb:

I don't know if anyone else is excited by this news, but I am. Kris Bubic is going to begin his rehab stint Tuesday in Arizona and will make a couple of starts there. Had a promising start to last season until his arm gave out.

He was damn good last year pre injury. I wonder if he’ll be put in the bullpen when he’s ready and be used as insurance for an injury? I can’t see him replacing marsh right now but who knows as the season goes on.

3 out of 4 against the Angels. Will take. Onwards to Seattle.

Imagine the Royals in the playoffs during another sb run.

That would be awesome

Dairon Blanco is good

I’ll just be happy if they can keep us interested to the Chiefs preseason

I missed this stupid shit the other day, but it's so ****ing dumb I had to comment on it. This comparison is ****ing reeruned. I love Salvy, but to act like he's as important to the Royals as Mahomes is to the Chiefs is butt sucking stupid.

I'm ready to get off the West Coast. Late night games suck.

My goal for them every year is to be competitive until at least training camp.

But this team... I'm still not sure.

How long has it been since we ended a long early season west coast swing trip still in contention?

Any questions about “last time we were in contention” and the like have a hard stop at 2016 at the earliest. More likely 2015.