[ChiefsCountry]

Lesky's Notes
https://www.royalsreview.com/2022/8/...r-or-for-worse

But, that said, all I hear through various sources is that change is coming. Like you, I’ll believe it when I see it, but I’ve heard the same thing from different people who I don’t think have any knowledge of each other’s existence. Okay, they probably know the other exists, but it’s interesting how the message is the same from multiple people who aren’t associated. What does that change mean? My gut is that it isn’t a full house cleaning, but the only person who I never hear is in trouble is JJ Picollo. I’d love to see him get a chance to show what he can do without Dayton Moore. I, of course, have my questions. I like a lot of the moves he’s made, but part of his job is putting together the big league roster and it gets weird sometimes. Like why is Ryan O’Hearn still a part of it? Some of that is probably Mike Matheny as well, but Picollo deserves to answer that question. But given how he spearheaded the overhaul of the hitting development, I think he deserves a shot to do the same on the pitching side. So I’m skeptical until it happens, but things could get interesting at Kauffman Stadium after the season finale on October 5 in Cleveland.

Of course Bobby to 3rd. Remember arguing with PrisonDouche that 3rd is better position

While there might be some clarity starting to form about where Melendez plays, there is also a question about Bobby Witt Jr.’s future on the diamond. He started the season, as you all know, playing third base as a part of a legitimately fantastic defensive infield. But when Adalberto Mondesi went down, Witt eventually shifted to shortstop full-time. He has shown that he can make some absolutely spectacular plays. He’s quick, has a good arm and has great reflexes. But he also hasn’t been good at all at shortstop. It’s almost crazy that this is even possible, but he’s been worth -16 defensive runs saved in only 540 innings at shortstop this season. And sometimes DRS and outs above average on Statcast disagree, but he’s sitting at -5 OAA. By the numbers, he does nothing well defensively at shortstop. I tend to think some of that might be a bit overstated, but among players with at least 500 innings there, he’s last. By a lot. The second-worst is Brandon Crawford with -7 DRS.

So enter third base. He was solid there before moving to shortstop, and I wonder a little bit if part of the calculus in trading Emmanuel Rivera was that the Royals don’t need to be trying guys out to be their third baseman of the future. No, in fact, their third baseman of the future is the guy who was their shortstop of the present. The numbers peg Witt as average at third in his limited time there, but I think you can see how he could be above average in no time with a little work. I understand the desire to try your best young player out at his natural position, but I think with Nicky Lopez or Maikel Garcia or even…Mondesi…you can see that he’s probably the fourth-best shortstop of the bunch. I remember starting to hear some talk last year around this time that maybe he won’t stick at shortstop for long, but after seeing him in action this season and making so many errors, I’m okay if the Royals tell him he’s a third baseman who will help out at shortstop at times and just to focus on being an offensive force and a great defender at the hot corner.