What is this approach. First pitch swinging

How did they do against the Astros and other terrible teams? Maybe I'm not remembering correctly, but I seem to remember being frustrated with them losing to bad teams last year also.

That's interference

Not sure.

unmitigated disaster

What are the odds on KC being above .500 by May 31st?

With this offense? Zero.

Do bears poop in the Vatican?

Cubs do.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/91wwMVyzqSA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If we think that this team is truly a 0.555 team, then its very high.

But thats the question, isn't it. Is this really the team we thought it was?

If some select few get their heads out of their ass... Then yes.

Prior to the season, everyone thought getting rid of Frenchy and Getz and filling those voids with solid commodities would be the lift the offense needed. While and Infanti and Aoki haven't been bad, the rest of the lineup has been dreadful, especially Butler.

Will the offense go at this pace for the duration of the season? If they did, they'd be the worst offense in the history of baseball.

How is this offense so damn terrible, even shit royals teams weren't this consistenly inept offensively. Bad at bats all around...heads will roll if this team gets 10 games under

Infante and Aoki have actually been playing fairly well this year... Mouse and co have blew.

Makes me long for the glory years of Angel Berroa, Raul Ibanez, Michael Tucker and Ken Harvey

They were knocking the cover off of it in Arizona!

I actually mention that they haven't been bad in my post. ;)

This team is a magnified version of Mouse.

Atleast those untalented assholes probably have more than 1 HR through 11 games

its a line up of 9 Matt Cassels...they have the physical ability to play, but under pressure, they just wee wee down their well-rested legs.

it looks like that they are just trying,



aww shit, i'm sorry, i can't even finish that stupid sentence.

#be(ing)royal.

#Winning

if there's any justice in the world, Fesco, Petro and Kietzman will call for the heads of Glass/Moore and cuss at least once tomorrow

#SaveOurRoyals

Call for glass head? Yeah I'm sure they'll get right on that

We need a banner.

#ChiSoxWalkOffWinner!

They have been doing this shit a lot.

The game where esky had his triple that was almost a homer. The first four innings were great, they were not swing at shit, taking pitches and getting teh starters pitch count up. Been shit ever since it seems.

No confidence in themselves. Which will eventually effect the starting pitching.

If you're watching the Yankees/Red Sox game... the Yankees 1B got hurt, and Beltran is now playing first base. He's apparently never played it before, ever.

And Farell got tossed for arguing a replay call

With the 25% price hike, the Royals are going to have a tough time selling tickets to see this team play. They are BOOOOOORing. 1 home run in 11 games? That's really despicable and I am almost positive if you'd put the Omaha Stormchasers lineup here the past 11 games they'd have hit more home runs. I would almost bet (by sheer luck) that Northwest Arkansas' lineup might hit a couple. You can't even try to be this punch-less.

I'm glad I'm leaving for a while. CP Royals threads are going to go full reerun if this team loses again this week.

If we are 5 games under .500 by May 1st, I'll start worrying. I just might get my chance.

I think we should start a new official thread and see if that changes things

We were outscored 21-5 against the ****ing Twins. LMAO

The issue with KC is they literally have no power. Your main power hitter, if swinging for shit he wouldn't get a whiff. Your pitching will be fine but your offense is a joke. Sucks because I want to see KC do well. Hope it turns around for ya guys!

If not send me James shields and holland! Lol

That's a fireable offense

That was the Most Royals last inning and a half I've seen in a few years to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. At least we're only two years from our ESPN 30 for 30 on our playoff drought.

Was out most of the weekend... not much to say about that sweep other than: "It was ugly."

Random thoughts:

1) It's funny that Yost spends so much time worrying about "getting in his guys' dome" ... because it's pretty goddamn clear they spend plenty of time getting in their own domes.

2) The complete collapse of the 3-5 hitters is really dooming this team right now. Alex Gordon is not the player, right now, that he was two years ago. Neither is Billy Butler. Eric Hosmer hasn't hit the ball with the authority this season he displayed late last year, 8th inning 2B against Minnesota aside. (MOAR OF THAT, PLEASE)

3) The time for being uber-patient with this squad is past. Guys need to be rewarded/punished accordingly. Mike Moustakas has a .386 OPS right now. If he doesn't turn things around in the next 10 days, it's time to demote him, his "dome" be damned. Salvador Perez is producing. Butler gets another week or so. If he still isn't hitting, he and Perez flip.

4) The entire announcing team is just awful. Hudler and Lefevre are bad enough when the Royals are winning. It's made worse when they and Physioc and Stewart start trying to shift blame, make excuses and cover for the team.

Physioc's gaffe of blaming the players' problems/struggles on the impact of social media is a moronic statement bordering on Jack Maloof "we can't try to hit home runs" territory. That's instant-fire bad.

And if the Royals players truly are weak enough mentally to be bothered by what they see on social media... well, Jesus titty-effing Christ, how do they respond when they're in an opposing ballpark and get heckled?

Actually, considering the complete inability to hit the ball on the road so far this season, maybe I have my answer?

5) It makes me wonder if they're missing something in the minor league development program. When you've got an entire roster full of home grown guys, and an entire roster full of guys who can't handle pressure at all, there almost has to be some sort of connection there.

It's got to be something behind the scenes, if true, because many teams in baseball try to build waves and play their best players together on the same team, to create an atmosphere of winning.

6) The season is long, and there's time to save it. Heck, there's time to save this stretch (sweep a different team and win 2/3 of the other series, and you avoid a complete disaster).

That's what the Royals have been unable to avoid under Yost in the past, though. So this will be a real test. Everything that's happening right now has the feel of the disastrous, impossible-to-recover-from losing streak.

7) I think I've made no secret of the fact that I think two things about Ned Yost:
a - He's the best manager the Royals have had in a long time
b - He's not good enough tactically to skipper a team to a pennant. It would have to win in spite of the 2-3 games a year his poor tactical managing costs them.

Yost is a pretty solid developmental manager because of how loyal he is to guys and the atmosphere he creates in the clubhouse. It's good for young guys. He's not good at holding those guys accountable when it's time to do so, though.

Yesterday's game provides just another example. His team rallies for a critical 3-2 lead in a game it needs to salvage, desperately. And instead of going to the guy he's deemed his 8th inning guy (who actually has been OK when on normal rest and starting a clean inning, the situation he faced yesterday), he decides to use Aaron Crow because "he was already warmed up."

Why? Why?

There is just no rational baseball explanation for that, especially from a guy who is SO reliant on using guys in the roles he sets up for them. Yost is all about setting things up for his 8th and 9th inning guys. He had that in the bag yesterday. And then inexplicably doesn't go to it.

This is what is most frustrating about Yost. He zigs when he should zag. He sticks to his guns when he should explore another option (i.e. Continually trying to use Tim Collins as a LH specialist). He deviates when he should use the standard approach.

He's the baseball equivalent of a blackjack player who can't decide if he hits on 16, and changes his strategy hand-to-hand based on "His gut..."

8) Like I said, the season is long. There's more than enough time to turn things around. But the hopeful optimism that they will... it's pretty tough to summon right now, and getting harder by the day/game.

And you didn't even bring up letting Moose face Perkins down 1 in the 9th. Why is Valencia on this team if not to hit in that situation? Why is the roster crunched if not to accommodate Maxwell and/or Valencia, yet they almost never play?

Yes, that decision was the best. Loved his polite conversation with Laz Diaz and completely calm demeanor after the play. Good fire, coach.

Items 1, 3 and 7 all speak to what's happening there.

He didn't want to get in Moustakas's dome. He's loyal to his guys. And he's a tactical moron.

Moose is terrible but its on Butler and Gordon. Those worthless pos are making 8m each. They are paid to produce, Moose is still min wage. I'd have a sit down with those two and ask what's going on and how we can change things. Then if that didn't work I'd tell them I'd be working on solutions kncluding putting both on the trade block

Agree 100%. These two guys are supposed to be the backbone of the team. Veterans in the "alledged" primes of their careers.

Im with Duncan. There has to be something systematically wrong in the organization for so many talented players to all fail at once.

Really, looking at the numbers, Butler is the far bigger issue at this point.

Gordon has not been awesome, but you could live with .275/.320/.450 out of your No. 5 hitter. He's on pace for 15 HR, 60 2B (obviously not sustainable) and 135 RBI (also obviously not sustainable). Pair that with an excellent defensive profile, and you've got a very good player. Not a super star, but a good player who helps you win (KC's slightly more powerful version of Nick Markakis).

Gordon is maybe the one guy in the middle who's doing his job. It probably was not fair of me to lump him in with Hosmer and Butler.

But Butler? I've defended the guy. I'll continue to be patient with him a while longer because his track record says he's much better than this. He doesn't have an endless leash, though. And if he's still struggling at the end of April, you have to look at alternatives in the lineup. If Butler continues to not hit as you get into May, then you might even go to the point of DHing Perez on days he isn't catching.

Does Butler realize he's killing his career? Does he know he's in a contract year? If he sucks in 2014, he's going to cost himself probably 20m bucks. If not more. A .290-25-90 season would've (1) had his 12m option picked up and (2) likely have gotten him extended a few more years at that rate. Now? What's he going to get?


If he ends up .265-12-75 he is not going to return. He'll pocked the 1m buyout then what? Go sign with Seattle, for like $3m?

I don't know why we couldn't legitimately try and trade him for whatever we can get and just platoon Maxwell and whoever there, Dyson even. I'm not kidding. That duo would outproduce Butler when you factor in the speed they bring to the basepaths. Butler doesn't hit for power any longer anyway, so you're not losing anything when he's out.

But, we don't want to go getting in his dome or anything.

Welcome to the 2014 Royals. Same as the old Royals.

I don't know that the potential benefit of trading Butler outweighs the risk. Nothing they get for him is going to be as valuable to the Royals as he potentially is, so they probably don't trade him. If he doesn't start hitting as he has in the past, his season and career in KC likely go out with a whimper, with a $1 million buyout at the end of the year.

DHing Dyson is pointless, but putting Dyson in CF and using the DH to spell either Gordon or Aoki (with Aoki sliding to LF on days Gordon DH, with Cain to RF) would make sense. Also, obviousy, Maxwell would get the nod vs. LHP.

True on Gordon, seems like he takes a pounding out in Left. I'd def give him 15-20 games at DH every year esp on those 95 degree Sundays. And we need his bat in there. Just doesn't seem to make sense giving Butler 8M if he can't do the 1 thing he's asked to do.


Imagine if Shields was 0-3 with a 9.55 ERA right now. People would be pissed. That's where Billy is at.

Thats not how it works in the MLB. A team will give him $8 mill a year gambling that he figures it out with the help of their instruction and coaching.

Butler hopefully will come around. Still the 2nd best DH last season.

That's what is best for the team. Almost impossible to get where they want to go unless Butler is at least hitting to career average level.

Also:

Nice updates from Baseball pro today on prospects at Wilmington (ALmonte, Manaea, Dozier, Starling). Nothing on Mondesi...

Starling report is not flattering... puts a 30 grade (20-80 scale) on Bubba's hit tool. 40 would be MLB replacement level/average (.255ish).

Early reports are that's still a problem...

link duncan?

Must have Baseball Prospectus sub.

Good stuff on Twitter about a few Royals prospects:

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 14m
Nina rippin 98 with 89 CH with sink. CB is plus plus when he stays on it. #royals

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 30m
Nina toned it down to 93-95 with more control; arm-side life and plane; CB 78-80; hard snap and bite; 2 plane break. Potential to be ++

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 33m
#royals RHP Aroni Nina rippin 95-98 in his 2nd inning. Not much control/command.

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 39m
Nina throws front side through and has wicked fast arm. Creates downhill plane and arm-side life. Was only 90-92 first outing. #royals

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 41m
#royals RHP Aroni Nina 94-96 T98; arm-side life; CB 78-80; hard bite; 2 plane break. Potential plus pitch. Way different guy than I saw be4

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 45m
Still has tight spin and good bite at any velo. Effective pitch. #royals

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 46m
Like how Manaea will add and subtract to vary bite and depth of his SL. Will show a hard one at 84; big breaker at 80. Velo on SL up

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 49m
#royals Manaea sitting comfortably 90-92 range; hitting spots now. Getting swings and misses on FB, SL, CH. Going to CH for K pitch.

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 1h
#royals Mondesi stung one on a hop to Anderson; Anderson showed great hands to caress the ball and correctly field it. Threwout Mondesi 3.97

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 1h
I can't count how many times I've seen Dozier sting the ball just right at someone. Those will be hits eventually. Don't stat line scout.

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 1h
#royals Manaea sitting 90-93; can reach back for more. Showing CT 89-91; SL 84; hard bite and tilt; sick move to 1B for pickoff.

I tell you what, you guys must really do value managers more than I do. Always bitching about Ned this, Ned that, and that it's Ned's fault they are 4-7. I get it, Ned isn't very good. It's not even really a big deal, and he's certainly not the cause for the lack of production of guys that HAVE produced in previous seasons.

Baseball managers are the least important leadership position in all of sports. Baseball is the most individual game out of the major 5 sports (soccer, basketball, hockey, football, baseball). While team chemistry can account for a few wins here and there, it really isn't very important, just like the manager has very little effect on the grand scheme of things. You could make Duncan Idaho or even a reerun like PB the Detroit Tigers manager and they would barely skip a beat, would still win the Central.

I hate Ned and blame him like no other but these players are not producing and they are not getting much blame. Oh except the fat guy that is supposed to just hit and hit. This offense was constructed by GMDM...and Gordon, Butler, Hosmer are under producing so far and Moose is a complete bust at this point. Not a good sign of what is to come so far. Last years problems weren't the hitting coach, it's the ****ing hitters

My only problem is refusing to get rid of Moose. Moose ****ing blows. Go back 3 years ago. I said he sucked then, I'm saying he sucks now. He's a prime example of a guy that should be able to mash minor league pitching, but get totally exposed in the big leagues. I think the only reason he was such a high draft pick was because he was a shortstop in HS that had power. Because I don't get it. His swing and approach at the plate easily gets taken advantage of by big league pitching. Gio gets little at bats, but Moose gets 3-4 times as many and they still think he's going to be a staple to this team. I'm not saying Gio was the answer at 2b, but just the backwards ass thinking. Moose is a sunk cost, you need to get rid of him and put somebody of quality at 3b. Moose doesn't even look the part when he gets out, he just hits lazy fly balls. I've seen him hit like 4 line drives in my entire life I think.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/Pirates">@Pirates</a> have hit back-to-back HRs 3 times tonight. <a href="https://twitter.com/NeilWalker18">@NeilWalker18</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/GabySanchez15">@GabySanchez15</a> have done it twice: <a href="http://t.co/shwlw8mqBU">pic.twitter.com/shwlw8mqBU</a></p>&mdash; MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/statuses/455876142411431936">April 15, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Moose is the Royals hottest hitter right now.

I'm not reading all of this but if Butler doesn't get shit going by the first week of May, I'll stop defending him. If others start to figure it out and start hitting, and he doesn't, then clearly we might have to see what we could get for him (I'm not sure it's much). I think his track record of being a good contact hitter for average will come around. It's likely that his great 2012 season for power is definitely an outlier for what he is as a "slugger." He simply cannot drive the ball to that level.

Sigh...

HR's are for Big Market teams only..............

Small Markets bunt their way to the World Series..............

The Braves just hit three homers back-to-back-to-back.

I guess to be fair at least Pittsburgh's playing in Cincy. The ball flies out of that place.

First in with the "playing in the K" excuse.....

Well it does make a difference compared to Cincy. Remember Joe Randa was a 10-15 HR guy in KC, went to Cincy and was on pace to be a 25 HR guy before he got traded midseason. I've been to a few games there... it feels like a tiny stadium, and the ball flies.

I'm cool with putting up a snow fence in the outfield at the K.

Of course, I heard the breakdown by Rany this morning, and Butler has hit, literally, only three balls in the air all year. Two of these were pop-ups in the infield.

Thus, he's found the outfield grass only once. That is almost unbelievable.

This dude is way too good of a hitter to have that type of performance at any time. This isn't anywhere close to "regular slump."

Maybe they need to move in the fences again?

I don't think I've seen the Royals even hit one at Kauffman that would have went out in another stadium this year

That's pretty sad.

I wouldnt mind seeing maxwell/dyson dh for a few games and see if it cant spark something

Matt moore torn ucl. Out for season

I've been a big Billy defender here but it's true. He's played just awful. Seems more so than just a slump. He's WAY off.

Sigh.....

Maybe we can trade the Rays James Shields and get a PTBNL.

but only when the Royals are up to bat

heh, well the fences were in from 1995-2004. We did have some decent HR years during that time frame.

Gary Gaetti
Dean Palmer
Sweeney
Beltran
Jeff King
Chili Davis


and offense wasnt too a big a problem during that era. It was mostly horrific pitching.