Exactly. The score of the game doesn't change anything. Is he supposed to lob 84 mph fastballs down the heart of the plate because we're up?
Volquez has NEVER had very good command and to expect differently this year is wrong.

Something that always irks me is when people say to a pitcher with struggling command, "THROW STRIKES ZOMG." WTF do some people think he's trying to do.. it's not ****ing easy to throw strikes, and Volquez has never been able to with consistency.

The defensive metrics for Escobar just never seem to like him as much as it seems they should. Not sure why.

His range and arm are impressive.

We will never know, Cain is staying at 3. And Morales rakes at 5. Not a bad thing to have

Cain could come closer to doing what Morales has done at the plate than Morales could come to doing what Cain does in the field and on the bases. Cain is our MVP in a landslide.

Oh, FWIW, Minnesota is up 5-1.

That ground ball he fielded is a hit against half the Shortstops in baseball. He turned two like it was nothing. We are spoiled getting to watch him play. Those who just stat-watch will never understand how good he really is.

**** you.

But on a more mannerism notr, I doubt they're looking for OF help with what's his face coming back in a month.

Price would fit well in stl though

I just enjoy poking holes in your terrible arguments.

You could have said, "boy Morales is such a huge upgrade over Butler!" and I would've thought, "gee, that's a decent post!"

Instead you're trying to say our 14th most valuable player is our 1st half MVP

If Cain had three guys in front of him with .350+ OBPs, he'd likely be well over 50 RBIs.

With men on, they both have OPS north of .900. Morales' is higher, but it is separated by OBP (.404 vs. .357), which has nothing to do with RBI totals unless the bases are juiced.

There is a .20 point gap in their SLG percentage. So yeah, Cain would probably have damn near 60 RBI if hitting in the 5 spot, with all other things being equal.

It actually makes an excellent case for the idea of moving Gordon up in the order.

Come on ump.

Talking about biggest improvement over last year. Hes the highest Improved player on our roster. Comparing to Billy Butler and upgrades over last season. Should be counted as MVP worthy since our roster was lacking 1 thing, runs. Moose is a close runner up for biggest improvement too

Rbis and wins for a pitcher.

Same?

I think everyone who was saying a month or two ago that Minny will fall off has to come to grips. This division is now between us and Minny.

and make it 6-1

Morales isn't the MVP, it is Cain of course, but give no ****s about RBIs? That's kind of a ridiculous thing to say. Bringing in runs is kind of important.

RBIs, the most over-rated stat used by someone who doesn't understand simple mathematics and number of opportunities of guys on base in front of a certain hitter in the lineup.

Again, just because our DH this year isn't the worst player in baseball like our DH last year doesn't mean that makes him MVP.

Many of our higher order hitters would have similar RBI numbers if they were hitting in the same spot in the lineup as Morales with guys in front of them getting on base. It's an over-rated statistic.

At this point, we may as well enjoy watching them drive nails into Detroit's coffin. I don't know if Minnesota has the roster depth to cover up injuries down the stretch.

Players have opportunities all the time to put runs on the board for our team bro. We have the highest average in the league, stupid. People are always on base. It means Kendrys has hit with people on base MORE. Meaning hes the guy I want hitting with people on base, always.

Price wold fit everywhere.

Ironically look what just popped up on Twitter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Royals, pirates among teams looking at outfield help</p>&mdash; Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/620311450704326656">July 12, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Nice clean inning.

I have faith in everyone in our lineup to bring in runs sans Omar and Rios

Morales has been worth his contract and some, no doubt. Not bashing the guy. He's just SUPER replaceable.

I feel like old school fans overrate it, but the new school underrated it. At some level, you either come through with men on base or you don't. Morales produces.

Incorrect.

He's also had the most opportunities with guys on base since he hits with the top of the order ahead of him. Cain would have very similar RBIs if in the same spot.

If you still don't follow how the number of RBI opportunities works, you are dumb.

Despite Cain converting over 90% of the time with a runner on third and less than 2 outs and possessing blazing speed to be able to beat out potential double plays ...

Again, I realize logic isn't your thing

Yes. Have some meaning, but not as much as old-school baseball thinkers believe. Team product.

Ws are so ridiculous, Zack Greinke has just 8 despite being far and away the toughest pitcher to score against in MLB this year and playing on a good team.

He has allowed 2 runs or fewer in 15/18 starts this year. And only won 5 of those starts.

Yes. Morales DOES have a .974 OPS with men on, though. Which is excellent. Such a nice change from Billy... who was .750 last year and is .736 this year.

LF is definitely not Colabello's gig. Well-struck ball for Cain though.

Of course he produces. Morales is a beast. He's been awesome.

lulz. Blue jay shitty defense strikes again.

Again putting a guy with a higher average where Morales is hitting doesn't necessarily mean he is going to hit well with RISP.

Sure, but guys like Cain could have the same production in that spot. It's not a useless stat but it doesn't even come close to telling the story. It's all about opportunities with guys on base and most MLB teams have multiple guys that could garner similar RBI numbers if they were hitting at certain spots in the order. Some see more RBI opportunities than others based on order.

I've heard people say similar all season...don't know if they have the pitching, the hot bats, the defense, etc, etc....

they are on a tear right now....they are avoiding the 4-5 game losing streaks which is what is keeping them where they are

Gotta be ruled a hit

I'm always a little suspect of the defensive ratings. They are just hugely subjective. If he makes a great stop and then a ridiculous throw to 2nd to turn a DP, what is that "worth" compared to a less difficult throw? I guess you can measure the range somewhat, but how about someone's body being turned in a way that requires an impossible throw? How is that measured? I don't know the answer.

Yeah, MVP is the wrong way to express it. His upgrade over Billy, though, is one of the biggest reasons we are so improved from last year.

Hos wanting to speed the game up

dumb move by Hos....but oh well in a 7-0 game

A little too greedy there Hos.

LMAO Hos trying to pad his stats.

Umm, what are you doing Hoz?

Jose Reyes part deux.

I like the aggression.

.. but why?

Average? I'm talking .OPS

...and, again, Cain is probably leading baseball in converting that run from third with less than 2

So I'm still not understanding your point

Duncan can maybe chime in on this but it seems defensive ratings seem to penalize guys like Escobar who can get to balls that others cannot but might not make an out of that play?

Pad his stats. He's got the single, getting thrown out is meaningless in the context of this game.

Maybe Hosmer didn't want to stand out there in the heat.

No doubt, he's got plenty of other stats to tell us he is no Billy Butler! He's a good hitter but not an MVP.

Morales has a .954 OPS with men on base, Cain has a .855 OPS overall. Is exactly my point

I think with the new advancements in positioning it is hard (ish) to quantify.

Maybe not, maybe so

The difference between a a runner on first with no outs and second with no outs is huge in terms of scoring without getting a hit. With no outs or two outs, it's a decent gamble.

Any Royals fan that watches the games and would rather have Morales at bat with runners on rather than Cain is not very good at watching baseball

That was a purely selfish play on his part for his stats there, he wasn't thinking about runs in a 7-0 game, he was thinking of a double on his stat sheet.

I mean it's not like that was a consequential out but I mean..

It's why I have him as my MVP even though Cain is the easy choice. I just think he's so underrated by people who don't watch him play.

Oh please. He was out by a step. Nothing wrong with aggression in a lopsided game.

Weird and false thing to say, it appears I have won.

I didn't offer my opinion as to if it was a wrong move, just my thoughts on his motivation.

Not that it mattered anyways if Hos decided to stay at single, as Morales hit a soft comebacker to the pitcher, which would had resulted a 1-6-3 DP anyways.

Hustling his ass of in 95 degree heat is selfish? It's no different than trying to steal second on the next pitch.

Just to clarify, I'm not arguing that Morales is MVP.
But I don't think RBI should be relegated to the relevance of a W for pitchers. RBI is a lot about opportunity. But you still have to deliver.

Dammit....

:facepalm: 2 infield hits...well a hit and an error....don't give them hope

Royals MVP's thus far, in order:

1) Cain
2) Salvy (though he's certainly our most important player)
GIANT GAP
3) Moose
4) Esky
5) Gordon
6) Hos
7) Chris Young (huge boost when we needed it)
8) Wade Davis
9) Volquez
10) Morales
11) Madson
41) Infante
953) Rios

And Cain has a .906 OPS with men on base. Morales' OBP is 50 points higher, and his SLG is 20 points higher.

That OBP doesn't have anything to do with RBI totals, so you're talking about a 20 point difference in SLG, which doesn't mean that much.

Morales has had 30 more PAs with runners on than Cain. Morales has 55 RBI in those plate appearances (178), for a rate of 1:3.23.

Cain has 40 RBI in 146 PAs with men on, a rate of 1:3.65 (which would give him 49 RBI in those situations, a difference of 6).

Those are not big gaps at all.

Cain should bat 5th, what is Ned doing?

Drop Moose below Escobar and Gordon, and move Hoz down behind Morales.

That's why you quantify it by OPS with guys in scoring position. A player could have the most opportunities to knock in runs than any other MLB hitter in a seaon but not deliver a high percentage and still have 90 RBIs. While another guy might be mid-pack on opportunities but generates a high completion percentage of those and only has 85 RBIs. But he's done more with a decreased number of opportunities. Who's better at producing runs? It gives you no insight into his ability to get a hit with runners in scoring position if you're just looks at RBI total.

I was going to say, I don't know if he's really the MVP of the team... but you can't have that discussion without at least including Perez.

Nah. Hos is an .800 OPS guy with excellent defense. He's getting out of his slump. He was an all star until his horrid June

I think the dWAR figures do penalize guys who have great range and attempt more high-difficulty plays like Escobar does. I think part of it may be shift-driven, too, and affecting range based on that. Guys who play for aggressive shifting teams seem to get an out-of-whack range bonus.

That's the only reason I can think of for Asdrubal Cabrera being rated with the second best UZR/150 in baseball, ahead of Jose Iglesias, Escobar and Andrelton Simmons.

Yea if you can't decide who the MVP of your team is it means your team is going well :D

He's kind of our LeBron. He's basically always the MVP regardless of what he's doing with his bat

Hos glove keeps him up higher. He saves a ton of throws and makes alot of plays at first.

Sometimes you have to accept 5 innings of 0-run ball, Ned. It's not a crime to go to the pen in the 6th :facepalm:

I think we have decided who the MVP of the team is..

Ned to get in his face. Unacceptable baseball.

That isn't what we are saying. Because Cain getting on base in front of Morales is important and this DOES help increase Morales RBI total. If you don't understand what we are saying, you're reeruned.

No one is saying that. He actually has morphed nicely into the classic No. 3 hitter (Hits for average and power, runs really well).

All anyone is saying is that Morales' RBI total is a combination of him performing well + the number of opportunities he has. And that Cain would produce similarly if hitting in that spot.

Moose has been great at third this year, too. His defense is super underrated

No I'm still not aware, Is it Cain or Salvy? or Esky? I've heard several different answers, thanks for joining us