Another extremely disappointing baseball season is now
behind us and I have some post season thoughts I would like to share.
I have always been a Kevin Seitzer fan. I was happy when he was hired and for a
certain kind of team, he is a terrific hitting coach. If you have a young, untalented team with no
power, Seitzer’s philosophy of middle-to-opposite field hitting is a sound
hitting theory. When you have a team of
young, talented guys with very nice power upsides, it’s not that great. Under Seitzer,
Kansas City has been in the top four in the
AL in batting average the last
three years. They have also been in the
top half in doubles the last 3 years (top three in 2011 and 2012). Unfortunately, the Royals have also been
toward the bottom of the AL in runs
scored (except for 2011 when they finished 6th) and home runs. Seitzer had success with guys like Escobar
and Getz, and he deserves some credit for turning Alex Gordon in the right
direction. He had a lot less success
with guys with bigger swings, like Hosmer, Moustakas, and Franceour. I don’t count Billy Butler because I have a
feeling Country Breakfast is pretty much his own hitting instructor. I like Seitzer but I agree the Royals need to
go a different direction with the personnel on this team.
On October 3rd, Rany Jazayerli broke down the
Royals long history of avoiding walks on offense on his excellent blog http://www.ranyontheroyals.com/. I could not agree with him any more that this
is a problem that needs to be fixed organizationally.
Billy Butler should now be considered one of the top right
handed hitters in the AL right
now. His .313/.373/.510 averages slash
line is outstanding and he threw in 29 HR and 107 RBI just for kicks. He is now truly a middle of the line-up
hitter in a potentially potent line-up. Butler
is just 26 years old with a .300 career average, and already has over 3500 AB,
over 100 HR, over 200 doubles, and almost 500 RBI. His best years are quite possibly still ahead
of him.
The Royals are filled with exciting, under-30, budding
stars. None are more exciting to watch
than Salvador Perez and Alcides Escobar.
Both were much better than expected on offense and both are as fun to
watch on defense as any players at their positions in all of baseball. Both are signed long term so I am thrilled at
the prospect of watching them on a daily basis for many years to come.
Speaking of terrific defensive play, Alex Gordon has
solidified himself as maybe the best defensive left fielder in all of
baseball. This link, http://www.royalsreview.com/2012/10/4/3452656/the-most-valuable-royal,
provides some sources if anyone watching didn’t believe what their eyes were
telling you. Also, Mike Moustakas is a
MUCH better defensive player than anyone thought he would be. He has good hands and a rifle for an arm.
If the Royals are going to contend soon, youngsters Hosmer
and Moustakas MUST take big steps forward in 2013. A lot of the immediate future of the Kansas
City Royals is tied up with these two guys.
Do you know what team holds the record for most strikeouts
from a bullpen in a season? Well, it is
the 2012 Kansas City Royals with 535.
What an impressive effort by a very young group of relief pitchers.
I will disbelieve any thought that the Royals are serious
about winning if they do not cut Luke Hochevar.
He is awful and has been for many years now. I cannot bear the thought of him in a Royals
uniform next season.
It will be a very interesting off season this year as we
will see just how hard the Royals pursue starting pitching. Free agent aces will seldom, if ever, sign
with small market teams. Those small
market teams just can’t afford to compete with the big boys in offering big,
long contracts to pitchers. Small market
teams just cannot take the same chances on these contracts as the Yankees, or
Red Sox, or Dodgers can. It is a fact. That doesn’t mean Kansas
City can’t make serious runs at pitchers who would
slot in as number two or three starters.
If they could somehow add two number 2 starters, I would be
ecstatic.
Finally, Royals fans took a bit of grief nationally for
relentlessly riding Robinson Cano during the All-Star festivities. I had absolutely zero problems with the fans
for letting Cano know they were displeased with him for not picking Billy
Butler for the Home Run Derby. Cano
twice stated he would, then didn’t. He
should be accountable for lying to fans.
In a great story, these same fans, on the last day of the season,
robustly cheered rival Miguel Cabrera when he officially won the first Triple
Crown in 45 years. Royals fans cheered
the Detroit Tiger long and loud enough that Miggy gave them a curtain call in
appreciation, also recognizing the tribute the Royals players and staff also
paid him by their applause as well.
Cabrera was sincerely appreciative of the ovation. It was a touching moment all around. Royals’ owner, discount king David Glass,
should need little more proof how hungry local fans are for something to cheer
about. Kansas City
was a great baseball town at one time, before David Glass squeezed out all
hope. These fans deserve better.
An a related topic, I have a hard time listening and reading
to all of the debate around the MVP.
Miguel Cabrera won the first Triple Crown since 1967. There is a reason it hasn’t been done in 45
years. Poo-poo the Triple Crown
categories all you want. It is still an
amazing accomplishment for the offensive leader of a divisional winner and for
there even to be an argument is just plain silly. I love stats as much as anyone; I get in what
ways Trout had a great, historic season, but SO DID MIGUEL CABRERA!!! He has been one of the most consistent run producers
in recent years and was a total team players, switching positions with little
or no complaint (unlike a certain former Marlin), and playing better than
expected. Please put this argument to
bed and just give Miggy the MVP trophy.
Thanks for reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment