I’d agree with you if 3 of our bullpen arms weren’t all in the Top 5 in appearances in the majors when Flanny made those tweets (July 5th). That was a clear message from the locker room and there was no reason why Matheny should have been leaning so hard on Barlow, Brentz and Holland in a season that was already well lost by that time.

Bullpen abuse isn’t just about raw appearances (though that’s a big factor). It’s also about getting guys “up” and ready multiple times a game.

That was an area where Yost shined. He leaned on his key guys, but he also used them predictably and NEVER would get a guy hot multiple times a game.

Matheny has done that/will do that. No way to track it, but if you watch each game or even most games and pay attention, you’ll see how often Zimmer or Brentz or Staumont or Barlow is “up.”

Fans generally are too hard on how managers handle the bullpen, but Matheny has a history of doing this so people are going to keep an eye out on it. Particularly when two of our best relievers are in the top 8 in games pitched, one just went on the DL with a shoulder issue and the other led the league in appearances last year and threw 70 IP the year before that. And with Brentz out they might lean on Barlow more. It's a legit concern.

Royals were 5th in bullpen IP in 2015

And not a single Royal was inside the Top 20 for individual appearances. In 2021 we had 3 in the Top 20 before Holland went down for injury and still have two in the Top 10, as TK13 pointed out.

Zero reason this should be the case in a lost season like this.

Why is Petro literally harping this idea that the Royals need to trade MJ Melendez and pitching prospects for a CF, I've caught him doing this 3 times now.

Constantly trading Melendez is on his mind.

Herrera was 6th
Davis was 15th
Madson was 19th
Morales was 23rd

And keep in mind that more appearances doesn't necessarily mean more innings, and only a few appearances makes a big difference in the rankings.
Basically, if you're reasonably effective for an inning at a time and not injured, you're going to end up in or near the top 20.

I’m getting tired of his narratives that he constantly drives into the ground. I know, I know, sports talk radio …

Where are you seeing those ranks?

This one shows Herrera 22nd and he’s the highest on the list.

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.as...=6,d&page=1_50


Petro is weird about baseball. In football, he’s all about hoarding picks and freaks out about it. In baseball, he’s all about trading prospects for marginal returns.

Trading from the Royals’ system depth for an established CF is not a bad idea. Trading MJ Melendez js very much a bad idea unless the return is ridiculous.

This IS the man who was pounding the table to trade Wil Myers for Jair Jurrjens in 2012, after all.

Santana impressed with how he ran the bases this year for an older player who broke in as a catcher. I thought it showed that he worked on his conditioning.

If he had not tried to score on that play earlier in the game, he might not have pulled up lame the next time.

This is incorrect?

Mathney isn't the greatest at handing a bullpen, but how dogshit our starters were for most of the year is a bigger reason for the bullpen being overused.

I was just looking at American League.

Still, you're making a big deal about a few appearances (which is a few innings) spread out over the last almost 5 months, compared to the rest of the league.

This is Petro trying the shock jock radio approach or his normal dumb self when it comes to trading prospects. He kept trying to trade off Wil Myers for average starting pitchers all the time. CF is something we need but Melendez isn't the trade bait unless its a major haul.

I’m making a big deal about his entire history of handling his bullpen.

Matheny generally has two relievers in the top 10 in appearances.

But it’s not just about appearances.

He generally will warm guys up multiple times a game and not pay attention to how many days in a row they got warm before warming them up again.

And he generally has a few guys he wears down to the nub over a few years.

The two Cardinals who appear in the top 10 for him in that 2015 list are great examples.

There’s a consistent pattern that he appears to be repeating here in Kansas City. Scott Barlow looks to be his newest Kevin Siegrist/Jason Motte/Seth Maness.

Singer is such a worthless turd

To be fair, if O'Hearn was capable of digging an easy ball out of the dirt, he only gives up 1 run that inning.

But yes, it would have better to not put the runners on in the first place.

This teams insistence on playing O'Hearn makes no sense.

WTF? Why is Taylor trying to steal home?

The Stinger showed up tonight....

What happened with the ump?

They don't know...their best guess is that he got his bell rung earlier in the game when Dozier fouled one off his face.

Why is Olivares still rotting in the minors?

Since July 1st Ryan O' Hearn is OPSing .616, but he gets chance after chance. I really hate this organization.

Baltimore is accepting applications into their fan base!

Its not crazy. But I wouldn't do it. They have a TON of great pitching prospects albeit not as talented as Melendez. If you get the RIGHT outfielder I may even think about it. But Salvy isn't getting any younger so MJ appears to be the next on the throne.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The O&#39;s are the first team to lose 19-straight games in MLB since the Royals in 2005. <a href="https://t.co/8XTVyLzqqe">pic.twitter.com/8XTVyLzqqe</a></p>&mdash; FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/1430365078545526790?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

My main memory of that 2005 streak was towards the middle of it, the Royals being up 4 or 5 runs after the 8th and Cleveland scoring 11 runs in the 9th.

Ahhh, the memories. What a wonderful time it was to be a Royals fan.

Such an awesome time to be a Royals fan in a Missouri college town. Cardinal fans were a delight.

I went to Columbia in 2008 for college and had a STL fan roommate. Fun times lol

You whippersnappers should've seen what it was like being at Mizzou during the 1985 World Series.

Today's game (just started) is live on YouTube.

Salvy with #34. Moves into a tie for 5th all-time in a season. Only Soler, Moose, Balboni and Gaetti are ahead of him now.

Is the game on regular TV too or just YouTube? I'm watching on YouTube but don't live in KC so didn't know about TV there.

Just YouTube. I think all of their games are exclusive just like when ESPN or FOX nationally airs something.

Too bad another solo shot. He'll probably get to 100 RBI, but it would be cool to see him really get some monster numbers.

Too bad he won't catch Soler...I really hate him having the record.


Salvy needs 4 more walks to break his personal season record of 22. exciting

I know we're biased. But tell me why Salvy shouldn't finish second in MVP voting.

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Why is Whit Merrifield not hitting any home runs. That is like 200 ABs with no homer.

Most likely because he is not hitting the ball far enough.

lolz :LOL:

Off the juice most likely

And back on it, it seems.

Really? Looks like he has to me!

Haha - there’s your home run

There's your jack!

Bwillie is the new como.

Michael Taylor is so good in CF. It's such a little thing but look at how he got his feet set to get the throw in on that deep fly ball. Correa had to stay at first. Kept the tying run out of scoring position.

That was a low pitch to Cam.

ROFL

Salvy swings at so many bad pitches

How are they not bunting?

Well hell, we played the Stro's tough this year!

That one isn't going to go on the highlight reel.

Does the pitcher not understand the rules of baseball?

Instincts kicked in there.


He wasn't gonna get the runner at home, but you still gotta throw it there.

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Maybe getting the out at first will figure into the ERA calculation.

Technically that extra innings runner is an unearned run, so he actually did lower his ERA on that play.

He wasn't thinking era, it was instincts. His brain knew wasn't getting the runner at home.

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Why? That's the equivalent of tackling somebody after they're already in the end zone.

I provide Whit the fire he needs to compete at this level. He was reading this thread between innings and saw the concern about lack of home runs.

I'm saying you have to throw it home. But his instincts said he wasn't getting the runner so unconsciously threw to first.

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MLB needs to do away with that dumb extra innings rule. It's stupid as ****.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Home run No. 2️⃣7️⃣ on the year for Bobby Witt Jr. was a no-doubter. <a href="https://t.co/wfZBRTEAsm">pic.twitter.com/wfZBRTEAsm</a></p>&mdash; MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline/status/1430681435405434880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 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">Bobby Witt Jr. went 3-for-5 with 2 doubles and a HR tonight. He&#39;s hitting .297/.364/.591 with 27 HR and 21 SB in just 93 games in his first full pro season, as a plus defensive SS who is barely 21, and it&#39;s time we ask: is he, right now, the best Royals prospect ever?</p>&mdash; Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) <a href="https://twitter.com/jazayerli/status/1430725135321939970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He's gotta be up there. Witt certainly has the name recognition too. I'd have to look up the exact stats but Mike Moustakas destroyed AA and AAA. He didn't have the defense or speed of Witt but his offensive numbers were monstrous. Greinke was pretty great too. I don't recall if Alex Gordon quite had the stats of these other guys but he was very good and definitely had Bobby Witt levels of hype.

So next year, we Witt, Lopez, Whit & Rivera as infielders. Who is where? Lopez has earned a spot as a starter. If Whit is producing who plays 3rd base?

We need Witt up here if he is going to swing a productive bat. But I don't know if his fielding is as good as Lopez right now.

Was Witt playing some 3rd base earlier? What if Rivera starts heating up at the plate?

Witt is a gold glove caliber SS and you forgot Mondesi too. I'd say Witt at 3B, Mondesi at SS, Lopez at 2B, and 1B may be Pratto.

If Mondesi is healthy, then he's going to be in the lineup and probably at SS.

What to do with Whit?

Benny in LF
Is Tucker back next year in CF, or Whit?
They will play Dozier in RF, contract!

Alex Gordon MiLB - 1.018 OPS
Mike Moustakas MiLB - .842 OPS
Eric Hosmer MiLB - .887 OPS
Johnny Damon MiLB - .882 OPS
Mike Sweeney .856 OPS
Billy Butler .978 OPS

Whit is probably playing somewhere in the OF, Benny back in the OF and someone in CF.

we still need an impact 3rd baseman

He's not asking if Witt has been the best offensive player, but if he is the best prospect we've ever had due to his age, his plus D at SS, and his bat. I think he is for sure. He's put it all together in the higher classes in only his first full season of pro ball. He's a ****ing stud.

Starting 2022, I would stick Witt at 3B for now. He has the corner power ability and the ability to be a plus 3B with his strong arm. Mondesi at SS (when he's healthy), Lopez at 2B and move Whit back to RF. When Mondi inevitably goes down, you can slide Lopez back over to SS and still have a GG caliber SS and Whit can move back to 2B. Santana will start at 1B next year (2 year deal and all), but if Pratto continues progressing next year like he has this year, he will force the issue at some point and they will have to make a decision on Santana (trade or release). I'd be very surprised if Witt doesn't make the team out of Spring training next year and start from Day 1 (likely at 3B). Unless they decide to try and do something like move Mondi to CF (which they should at least consider, IMO). Especially since they don't really have an answer for CF next year and who's gonna play it.

MJ doesn't likely arrive till 2023, when they start splitting time between him and Salvy in a regular rotation and Salvy doing more DH duty. I suppose they could consider using him in a trade if they could get a haul for him, but a lot of that depends on Salvy's health going forward and his ability to catch and do it at a high level. Biggest problem with MJ for next year is not enough spots for everyone to play regularly when you consider they're gonna try to give Hunter Dozier an opportunity to play as much as possible (partly due to believing in him, but moreso due to the contract they handed out to him). Not sure how Dozier fits in the long term plans and how it's possible, though unlikely, he temporarily blocks Witt at 3B for a while, if they're not willing to open up SS for him due to Mondi.

Lot of dominos to fall this off-season and in spring training. Will be interesting to see what happens.

I would:
play Mondesi in CF. We know he won't last at SS.
Witt at SS
Dozier at 3B, play him every day and leave him there. Last chance. Sink or swim.
Lopez at 2B.
Santana at 1B to start the year until he fails or Pratto forces the issue.
Whit in RF.
I would rotate Salvy and MJ at C and DH. Save their legs, extend Salvy's career.

and a CF

Gordon is our best prospect ever #2 in BB America. You could argue Bo Jackson might have been had he been a trad prospect and not some curiosity who blew up and was in the Majors so rapidly.


Wil Myers was #3 and won player of the year, so he’s a contender.


***Witt isn’t moving off SS so why people continue to put out other possibilities is silly

My plan for 2022 would be as follows:

RF | Merrifield
2B | Lopez
SS | Bobby Witt
C/DH | Perez
1B | Santana
CF | Mondesi
LF | Benintendi
3B/DH | Dozier (I guess? He's pretty bad at 3B defensively but they have to find a spot for him).
DH/RF | Edward Olivares

The best defensive lineup would probably involve playing Witt at 3B instead of shortstop, sliding Lopez over to short, and playing Merrifield at 2B. Then you put Olivares in RF full time and just DH Dozier.

Temporarily, he could.

If Mondi stays healthy (yes, I know, big IF) next year and Witt tears it up in Spring training or starts roasting AAA at beg. of next year, they're not gonna leave him to rot in the minors if SS isn't open. They'll find a spot for him (likely 3B) in the bigs.

Again, assuming they're not willing to move Mondi off SS into CF or something.

As far as Witt, his upside as an offensive player is similar to Alex Gordon's after his first pro season, but he adds a lot more defensive value as someone who can play a plus SS and he brings more value as a base runner, too.

You can make a case for him as the top prospect in baseball, and I'm sure some publications will.

Just giving examples. The best prospect results wise is Gordon BUT he was a college player and older. He was supposed to be good. Witt is all of that, younger, higher ceiling and just scratching the surface. I mean, neither are Vinnie Pasquantino who is the best offensive prospect in beisbol :) ---- or should be god damn it.