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Royals Overview

Frayed Knot Oct 24 2015 02:36 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 24 2015 08:39 PM

We can talk about individual KC players in the KTE thread that JCL started, but I wanted to discuss the team in general because it's not one that we're used to seeing, or really that anyone is used to seeing in MLB 2015 Starting with the offense: The Royals are kind of a (I normally hate this term) ‘throw back’ team - a nod to a 1960s or ‘70s kind of lineup that doesn’t hit HRs (14th in AL), doesn’t strikeout (fewest BY FAR in AL), has a high BA (2nd) but is dead last in walks, and boasts of a good to excellent defensive player at almost every position. They also like to run (2nd in SBs) and even stick to the pre-Saber-era tradition of having their skinny/slappy/runny SS with the .290 OBP lead-off almost exclusively. All they need to do now is re-install their old carpet, bring back the powder blue unis, exhume Nixon, invite some pet rocks to the game and we'll be good to go. They result of all this was that they were a bit better than average (6th) in the AL in RS/G Partly as a function of having few injuries this season and no long-term ones (must be nice) they’re able to run out pretty much the same lineup every night. But they also made only one in-season change (trading for Ben Zobrist to replace the benched Omar Infante) and don’t have guys with big L/R splits, so not only is there no need to platoon but they rarely even pinch-hit, only 36* times all year!!! (probably most during IL games) and not once in 11 playoff games so far. They’ll pinch-run and they’ll switch in defensive replacements (mostly for Rios in RF) but they don’t pinch-hit. As a result of all this they had six different guys get 500+ ABs this season and five of them got 600+ (vs 4 @ 500+ for the Mets and only Grandy with > 600). What this in turn allows them to do is carry micro-specialists on the post-season roster like pinch-running threat Terrance Gore. Gore is essentially a mediocre AA player who has appeared in 20 reg season and 8 post-season games over the last two seasons yet has just 6 PA (4 ABs + 2 HBP) and no hits. But what he also has is 8 SBs and 6 runs scored. He and/or Jarrod Dyson will be seen PR'ing and maybe staying in the game for late-inning OF defense but we're unlikely to see either with a stick in his hand. * obviously there's less PH'ing in the AL than the NL -- AL avg = 98 PH ABs/yr, vs NL avg of 235 (Mets = 213) But even with that in mind, KC's 36 were barely more than half as compared to the next lowest team and not much more than 1/3 as often as the typical AL squad. Put another way, they PH less than once every four games on average. Of course they will have to play under (real) NL rules at least twice so they may be forced use one or two.

Ashie62 Oct 24 2015 04:07 PM Re: Royals Overview

Some late blossoming talent in Hosmer and Moustakas, sure fire picks that have struggled previously. How about Lorenzo Cain running on Granderson? oye.

Edgy MD Oct 24 2015 06:29 PM Re: Royals Overview

I don't tend to make too much hay over the difference in defense, but the high-average/high-contact character of the Royals could really push that philosophy to the breaking point. It'll be interesting to see what breaks when such a high-strikeout pitching staff as the Mets have runs up against such a low-strikeout offense. If nothing else, I tend to think we've seen the last of Cuddyer starting in left field for this season, with Lagares taking over as Conforto's platoon partner. At least, he'd be taking over if the Royals weren't so stacked with righties. It looks like their only left-handed starter (beardsman Danny Duffy) has been bounced to the pen. So we may be looking at all Conforto, all the time, with the exception of possible double-switches and defensive replacements.

Frayed Knot Oct 24 2015 11:35 PM Re: Royals Overview

KC on the pitching side is a bit like they are on the hitting side. Above average all around (3rd best ERA in AL) without having any Kershaw/Grienke/Arrieta type of ace who are a threat to shut you down completely. Also like the hitting side, they rank low in HRs allowed (partly this is due to their home park), are low in K’s, and kind of average-ish in WHiP. And, as we’ll hear many times over the next week I’m sure, it’s not the starters but the bullpen that’s the real strength of their staff. That league 3rd best ERA comes about despite their starters being above league average in both ERA & WHIP. This was pretty much they way things were a year ago for them when they were on their way to a championship until getting Bumgarner’d along the way. They’ve been forced to change around the pen a bit since last year, but we still shouldn’t count on stealing too many games in the late innings. Early leads would be key.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 25 2015 12:34 AM Re: Royals Overview

The Mets have been really good at jumping out to early leads lately. Naturally, we hope that continues.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Oct 25 2015 01:57 AM Re: Royals Overview

Not to overlook the possibility they could be real good but Volquez, Chris Young and Cueto are just the kind of mediocre-plus pitchers our guys have been killing. Even Yordano Venura. Don't even!

Edgy MD Oct 25 2015 11:15 AM Re: Royals Overview

The Rotation Royale hadn't been announced last I checked, but I'm thinking Young will be appearing out of the pen.

Frayed Knot Oct 26 2015 09:11 PM Re: Royals Overview

Nope. Game 1 - Edinson Volquez Game 2: Johnny Cueto Game 3: Yordano Ventura Game 4: Chris Young

Vic Sage Oct 26 2015 09:31 PM Re: Royals Overview

somehow, that rotation doesn't strike fear in my heart.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 26 2015 11:18 PM Re: Royals Overview

It's not hitting these guys that worries me; it's how quickly the guys behind them will chase said batted balls down.

batmagadanleadoff Oct 27 2015 12:08 AM Re: Royals Overview

Why so little respect for Cueto? He was, pound for pound, one of the NL's best pitchers in 2011, but doesn't show up on most of that season's leaderboards because he pitched just 156 innings that season. He was Cy Young caliber in 2012 in a tight race that could have reasonably gone Cueto or Kershaw's way instead of R.A. Dickey's. He was even better in 2014. And he was lights out this year in the NL right up until the trade that landed him in KC. Not so hot in KC, but why? Injuries? Diminished stuff? Learning a new league?

Zvon Oct 27 2015 12:54 AM Re: Royals Overview

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Why so little respect for Cueto? He was, pound for pound, one of the NL's best pitchers in 2011, but doesn't show up on most of that season's leaderboards because he pitched just 156 innings that season. He was Cy Young caliber in 2012 in a tight race that could have reasonably gone Cueto or Kershaw's way instead of R.A. Dickey's. He was even better in 2014. And he was lights out this year in the NL right up until the trade that landed him in KC. Not so hot in KC, but why? Injuries? Diminished stuff? Learning a new league? I think it's that Royal Blue. Cueto will be key for the Royals and I'm hoping he shits his pants on the mound for some Royal Doo.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 27 2015 02:47 AM Re: Royals Overview

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Why so little respect for Cueto? He was, pound for pound, one of the NL's best pitchers in 2011, but doesn't show up on most of that season's leaderboards because he pitched just 156 innings that season. He was Cy Young caliber in 2012 in a tight race that could have reasonably gone Cueto or Kershaw's way instead of R.A. Dickey's. He was even better in 2014. And he was lights out this year in the NL right up until the trade that landed him in KC. Not so hot in KC, but why? Injuries? Diminished stuff? Learning a new league? Flat changeup? Iffy location? Didn't feel like it?

batmagadanleadoff Oct 27 2015 03:32 AM Re: Royals Overview

Why so little respect for Cueto? He was, pound for pound, one of the NL's best pitchers in 2011, but doesn't show up on most of that season's leaderboards because he pitched just 156 innings that season. He was Cy Young caliber in 2012 in a tight race that could have reasonably gone Cueto or Kershaw's way instead of R.A. Dickey's. He was even better in 2014. And he was lights out this year in the NL right up until the trade that landed him in KC. Not so hot in KC, but why? Injuries? Diminished stuff? Learning a new league? Flat changeup? Iffy location? Didn't feel like it? Here's Grantland's take, from the Mets-Royals WS preview: excerpt: 2. Johnny Cueto Is a Potential Disaster No one has said conclusively what’s wrong with Cueto. He struggled through elbow problems earlier in the season, to the point that some observers wondered if that injury might scuttle a potential deadline deal. Cueto then appeared to shake off whatever was ailing him, pitching well for the Reds into the summer and triggering a trade to K.C. He’s been erratic and at times downright horrible since then, posting a 4.76 ERA and allowing 101 hits in 81.1 innings during the regular season as a Royal, then pitching poorly in two of his three playoff starts, including an eight-run, two-inning debacle in Game 3 of the ALCS. It’s possible Cueto has just hit a random rough patch, the flip side to the insane runs Murphy and Escobar are on. But there are signs something more is going on. There’s the in-season dip in Cueto’s velocity, even as other pitchers (especially the Mets fireballers) continue to throw smoke. There’s the lack of command and bite on his pitches, resulting in offerings like the flat 85 mph cutter to Kevin Pillar that ended Cueto’s outing in that dreadful Game 3. Then there are Cueto’s results themselves: The booming homers, ringing doubles, and frustrating walks point to something more than a few seeing-eye singles doing him in. The Royals have enough bullpen depth to chew up a lot more than two or three innings at the end of the game. But if the Mets lay an early four- or five-spot on Cueto, any relief effort might turn out to be too late. http://grantland.com/the-triangle/2015- ... edictions/

Frayed Knot Oct 27 2015 12:46 PM Re: Royals Overview

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Why so little respect for Cueto? ... he was lights out this year in the NL right up until the trade that landed him in KC. Yeah I think it's the bad recent track record since the trade (pitched well with no pressure then much worse with?) plus some pretty bad post-season outings recently. He was good against the Astros this year but his last outing was a stinker vs the Jays that was even worse than the stinker he tossed in the 2013 WC game at Pittsburgh (combined 12 runs on 16 hits in 5.1 IP over those two games). That Pirate game was the one where the Pitt fans were serenading him with 'Johnny ... Johnny' which may or may not have rattled him which in turn leads to the thought that maybe poor post-season outings aren't just a random thing with him. There's even been some speculation this week that the Royals are running him out there in Game 2 rather than 1 so that any second start he might get would NOT come at CitiField. He seems also to be relying more and more on his shades of Luis Tiant delivery (to the point where he almost seems like a parody of Tiant) as if maybe He thinks he doesn't have the pure stuff to get by hitters as much these days so needs to resort to increased trickery. Hardly scientific proof, and maybe as much wishful thinking as it is real, but perhaps it's a bunch of little stuff that does add up to something.