This is true.

Whit might be the best pure hitter in a Royals uniform since Brett, however.

Without looking, here's an interesting stat. Guess who?

Who hold the Royals hitting record for most career strikeouts and "leads" this category by exactly 500 strikeouts over the #2 hitter on the list?

It's either Brett or Gordon. Maybe Frank White. Has to be lifer.

Without looking it's surely Gordon. Brett only had a handful of seasons above 50-ish strikeouts. Gordon was a 100 K guy every year.

Is it the guy who could not layoff anything off speed that was low and inside?

Tatis down with a no contact injury. The game of baseball is much better with Tatis Jr. playing.

Whit's definitely high up in the convo. I'll get flack for this but my vote would probably be Mike Sweeney. People forget in his prime he put up some great batting averages to go with his power numbers. Also walked about as much as he struck out. He was a truly great hitter when he stayed healthy.

Not what you want to see with your $340 million guy in the first week of the season.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fernando Tatis Jr. had to come out of the game after getting hurt on a swing. Looked pretty bad: <a href="https://t.co/X49N72HSYo">pic.twitter.com/X49N72HSYo</a></p>&mdash; Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) <a href="https://twitter.com/PavlovicNBCS/status/1379270367261298690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Dislocated shoulder, he's had issues with it for years. The more it pops out the easier it gets for it to happen.

It was bothering him a week ago so makes sense. He'll probably need a surgery after the year.

I'm not sure someone asking if Whit Merrifield is the best player to wear a Royals uniform since Brett automatically means they undervalue Lorenzo Cain. It's a relatively subjective question so most answers outside of someone totally silly (Emil Brown or so) are valid.

I'm not a huge analytics guy, but in "debates" like this, WAR is as close to an unbiased overall tool that there is. So, forgetting all players who played before or with Brett, and excluding pitchers the answer to the "best" Royal since Brett question is Alex Gordon. After him it's Carlos Beltran. Then Lo Cain, but Salvy should pass him pretty soon from a Royals WAR perspective.

yep, thats what happened with Bellinger had it pop out the 2 years ago and last year and got surgery on it this last offseason.

Sweeney found some sort of "magic elixir" before the 1999 season and became a machine offensively for about 6-7 years. In 2000, he had 29 HRs, 144 RBIs, 71 BBs, .333 Avg and .930 OPS in 159 games.

He also missed a lot of time in those seasons due to injury and couldn't really play defense.

Healthy, prime Sweeney was as good a pure hitter as you’ll ever see. The problem, as you alluded to, is healthy, prime Sweeney was a rare occurrence. And he was totally worthless in any other category outside of hitting. He was an injury prone wealthy man’s Billy Butler.

John Mayberry.

Why wasn’t Merrifield called up earlier in his career? Imagine if he would have been on the 14-15 a Royals at 2nd instead of Infante....

***Official 2021 Royals Season Repository Thread***
 

Because the disappointment of not getting added to the roster in 15 led to him completely changing his body and becoming a different hitter with more power.

Prior to 2014, Merrifield was nothing special as a hitter. He was a versatile, speedy guy who could make contact.

Honestly, his off-season training regiment from 15 to 16 MIGHT HAVE included something that’s not allowed. It wouldn’t surprise me at all.

The jump in performance he made is pretty consistent with an offseason of PED use (fringe major leaguer turns into starter/star).

So is he continuing to fly under the radar in that respect? Or do you think it was just one offseason of "use" and he's been clean since?

Where are the Cardinals fans to tell us how Matheny sucks?

You really think Whit has used PEDS??? Dude hasn’t grown at all, he’s stayed there same weight. He’s a contact hitter and last I checked PEDs doesn’t make you make contact better at all

Is that overall WAR or WAR/season? I'm not the biggest on how WAR works but seems if someone plays for KC for a decade and a half they are going to have a tiny advantage over someone who was here for half that.

I mean maybe he learned from his first go-round, but I think he's doing a great job so far.

***Official 2021 Royals Season Repository Thread***
 

I’m just speculating. Saying “probably” is too strong. A better way to say it would be that it wouldn’t surprise me IF he had.

Think back to that year where all they talked about was his off-season diet and all the strength he added. Wouldn’t surprise me if he had a little help in building the muscle mass up.

They took him from a weak contact hitter to a hard contact hitter. He likely cycled on to save his career, at that point it's worth the risk. That boost helped him change his body and with elite level nutrition he's kept most of the gain..

He may still cycle on in off-seasons to help make sure he keeps it.

It’s Gordon.

Yeah, I haven't witnessed last year and so far this year the total doofus I was led to believe by the best fans in baseball. Maybe he learned some lessons after his first stint as a manager. It seems to me the players play hard for him.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEW — He’s 6-foot-4. He runs as fast as NFL kick returners. He works out with Travis Kelce’s trainer. <br><br>And in 2020, his barrel percentage ranked above Mike Trout’s.<br><br>The story behind Michael A. Taylor’s scorching start:<a href="https://t.co/pixPYcOHXD">https://t.co/pixPYcOHXD</a></p>&mdash; Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) <a href="https://twitter.com/alec_lewis/status/1379779404004474883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Yeah. So far I've been impressed because he talked about how he really worked to learn new strategies/analytics and his managing in 2020 reflected that (rather than that statement being solely lip service) we'll see if it continues.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">. <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Royals</a> CF Michael Taylor hit 20 mph this week on the SHREDmill. Fastest I’ve ever seen on here since Jacoby Ford and Travis Benjamin hit 20.2 mph in 2013. Both 4.2-4.3 guys. Between Taylor, Mondesi and Whit.. we’re gonna have a track team out there <a href="https://twitter.com/h8rproof82?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@h8rproof82</a> <a href="https://t.co/goLdKwONJw">pic.twitter.com/goLdKwONJw</a></p>&mdash; Andrew Spruill (@AnDREW_XPE) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnDREW_XPE/status/1360658555800604673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Taylor’s wheels impressed long before he arrived in the big leagues. Royals All-Star second baseman Whit Merrifield watched Taylor when they were in High-A ball. From afar, Merrifield believed the Washington Nationals, who had drafted Taylor as a shortstop in the sixth round of the 2009 MLB Draft, had one of the more dynamic players in the game.

As Taylor rose through the minor-league ranks, scouting analysts pinpointed “very good bat speed that generates above-average power.” That, however, did not show in Taylor’s first three seasons in the big leagues. He debuted in 2014 but not until 2017 did he post an OPS above .654.

But, boy, was 2017 a different story. He posted an .803 OPS and hit 19 home runs. None of those long balls, though, was bigger than the bomb he hit in the 2017 National League Division Series. With the decisive Game 5 tied 1-1 in the second inning, Taylor, who was down 0-and-2 in the count to Chicago Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks, hammered a fastball over the left-field wall for a three-run homer.

At the time, Allard Baird paid Sweeney big bucks and then let Damon and Dye go, and traded Beltran for some stiffs (John Buck, Teahen and some pitcher). As soon as Sweeney signed the contract, his health went to shit. I look at the Royals won-loss records in the years after Sweeney signed, and there were multiple 100 loss seasons. That's not all on Sweeney, but he certainly did nothing to help them win.

https://theathletic.com/2501974/2021...orth-watching/

Who are the most entertaining non-contending MLB teams?
by
Brittany Ghiroli

Any idea of why we pushed Keller back to tomorrow and brought Junis up?

https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/jako...-series-finale

Junis brings new cutter into duel with Bieber
by
Anne Rogers

Having Hahn close out the game Tuesday was solely based on analytics. So far Matheny has been much better than advertised by the BFIB.

Didn't realize we were facing Bieber today. Guess we'll see how good our offense is.

Don’t fear - when we go on a 6 game skid they’ll come out in droves.

Unless Matheny starts panicking while managing games when we're in contention he's won me over for a while (and I've heard the same from other Royals fans). I was definitely influenced by the amount of Cardinals fan friends of mine there.

My hope is that any Royals fan paying attention to the games can see we are getting someone managing quite differently than advertised when he was hired.

Salvador Perez, walk machine. He has now walked as many times as he did all of last year in the short season.

Bieber is good. Love how they made him work.

Keep doing that.

Not being able to stream a radio call of the game is just so wonderful

If he would keep his bat on his shoulder, they'd walk him 50% of the time. Pitchers have gotten so used to not throwing him strikes.

One of the small town radio stations will have a stream

Ump has a big strike zone.

Another excellent play by Santana

Santana’s defense has been great.

Junis looking good today.

34 pitches through 3 innings.

Salvy!!

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Salvy!

Salvy Perez!!

Salvy!!!!

Dodged that bullet

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bob Melvin says &quot;surgery&#39;s on the table&quot; for Trevor Rosenthal.</p>&mdash; Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) <a href="https://twitter.com/matthewkawahara/status/1379856698983129089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SalvySmash?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SalvySmash</a> No. 2 has the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a> on the board first!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherRoyal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherRoyal</a> <a href="https://t.co/LHf5tb2JHR">pic.twitter.com/LHf5tb2JHR</a></p>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1379857678588129281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I asked Mike Matheny if Brad Keller was dealing with any arm fatigue that necessitated the extra rest. &quot;No. Nothing. It all comes down to, we set a plan in place early with their best in mind and decided to stay the course (even after the short start on Opening Day).&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a></p>&mdash; Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier610) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshVernier610/status/1379814426015006725?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What is it with Carlos Santana and awesome double plays on hard-hit balls to first? Whatever it is ... oh, yeah. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a><br>TV: Bally Sports Kansas City<br>Stream: <a href="https://t.co/QYOYWTZ3Oi">https://t.co/QYOYWTZ3Oi</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherRoyal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherRoyal</a> <a href="https://t.co/bQrisEX0jk">pic.twitter.com/bQrisEX0jk</a></p>&mdash; Bally Sports Kansas City (@BallySportsKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportsKC/status/1379855771878494213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Junis looking really good right now. One more inning?

Junis, 41 pitches 1 hit thru 4 innings.

42 pitches through 4 innings.

Man, if Perez maintains this plate discipline, I wonder how many longtime AL Central pitchers are going to get ambushed on get-me-over pitches this year.

That HR was a mediocre curve he was trying to throw for a strike, not a swing and miss. And Perez made him pay.

Salvy's plate discipline is pretty bad. He gets himself out a lot. Has a hard time laying off low outside sliders. Beibs is nasty. Hope we have to stretch it out past his pitch count and get into the Tribe's Bullpen.

YAAAASSSS!! Let him get this out Matheny so he can qualify for a win

Terrific outing from Junis

I don't care if it was against the Indians' lineup. Junis was damn impressive today.

Junis is having a lot of success with the cutter.

Excellent outing from Junis and excellent decision there Matheny!!

Another K for Junis, great job

Matheny pushing the right button there. Great effort from Junis.

Man I know it's early, but these guys feel like they can compete

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Junis straight up dealing today. Nice spot-start, should earn him another go.

Bieber always seems to dominate the Royals.

If our pitching staff can compete with the Shane Bieber’s of the world, this team can absolutely stick around and make things interesting.

To be fair, he’s dominated most everyone in recent history

very true - I know it was a short year but he was dominant last year

****ing Hahn

That was not a good pitch.

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Hahn is ****ing useless

Thanks Hahn

Welp, that sucks. Maybe we can take a few more pitches in the top of 7 and get to their bullpen,.

how do you go in again after he smoked the ball on the previous pitch - it looked like almost the same pitch

Got away with a fastball right down the middle to Rosario there. I hope he doesn’t try that again.

Exactly