I know it doesn't matter, but that first base umpire decided this game. What a crock of shit.

That was bull****. How tf was that a no swing?

That ump should be suspended....but, ya know.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ht" dir="ltr">Lol ok <a href="https://t.co/ptbiXbKScC">pic.twitter.com/ptbiXbKScC</a></p>&mdash; Royals Review (@royalsreview) <a href="https://twitter.com/royalsreview/status/1688730642777804801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Royals don't deserve those calls....

As I've taught my girlfriend about sports over the years, when she's confused over what happened or what is happening, I tell her don't watch the ball, watch the player. If you can't tell if a ball is going to be a homerun, watch the outfielders, they'll tell you. If you can't tell if a player swung at strike 3, watch the batter's reaction, he'll tell you. That hitter knew he swung.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That check swing is a strike in every ballpark in the world except for Fenway Park</p>&mdash; Sluggerrr (@Sluggerrr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sluggerrr/status/1688732176253128704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cole Ragans has been absolutely amazing so far though lol. Be nice if we noticed something he was doing wrong and fixed it, but we're the Royals, so he's gonna flame out.

I mean there is literally an article about Ragans from like a week ago addressing this very topic?
https://www.mlb.com/news/cole-ragans...oyals-rotation

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Average spin rates tonight for Cole Ragans:<br><br>2,556 on 4-seamer - would be 2nd-highest among all MLB starters (Corbin Burnes)<br><br>2,178 on changeup - would be 3rd-highest<br><br>😮 <a href="https://t.co/qFwMWz5Dbw">https://t.co/qFwMWz5Dbw</a></p>&mdash; Dave Holtzman (@DHoltzy) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHoltzy/status/1688721538579607553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Oh and Ragans is youngest <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a> lefty to strike out 11 since Danny Jackson whiffed 12 in 1987, 36 years ago.</p>&mdash; Dave Holtzman (@DHoltzy) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHoltzy/status/1688722410382536704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I would take another Danny Jackson type. Just need to find the Sabes and Gubes to go with him.

Pretty exciting data

Neat article, seems like the difference is him now throwing a slider. Cool as shit if this works out for us.

If you want proof of regime and approach change, Ragans is a good example.

For the Royals to acquire a pitcher and seemingly fix him by getting him to ditch a bad pitch according to pitch data (his cutter) and replace it with a SLIDER?

I mean, this is an organization that has been weirdly anti-slider in pitching development ranks, forcing guys to throw curves instead of sliders in the low minors even if they had developed a good slider already.

“Master the curveball first, then you can work on the slider” has been the org’s mantra in the past.

Yeah I remember that shit. Also how they gave guys very little choice in what they can do. It's nice to see that the slider was a suggestion from the player and not something forced on him. Those ****ing idiots couldn't develop a pitcher to save their lives, so you'd think they'd change that approach.