The Long Awaited Royals Pitching Post

I told you I’d get around to it, maybe, eventually. Once again, Yankees fans can quietly leave and go fuck themselves.

The winter meetings are going on right now in Las Vegas. This is when all the baseball executives get together in a big expensive casino and talk shop, something they could’ve done in a convention center in Milwaukee for less money but felt they needed to do in a place where they can have all-you-can-eat shrimp cocktail at 4 in the morning. Because of the winter meetings, everything I write may become obsolete by the time I publish it.

The Good

The Royals are set at the top of the rotation for the time being. Zack Greinke is good and on the verge of great. Gil(ga) Meche is a workhorse and a great #2. There’s talk of trading Greinke, which I think would be crazy, unless the other team sent back Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and three Waite Hoytes to be named later.

The back end of the bullpen, anchored by Joakim “The Mexicutioner” Soria, is one of the best in baseball. Ron Mahay was a good late innings guy last year. Also, the Royals have no shortage of candidates for bullpen spots, even after trading two of their better relief pitchers this offseason. Jimmy Gobble, Devon Lowery, Neal Musser, Jose Pimentel, Carlos Rosa, Robinson Tejada, and others will compete for five spots this spring.

The Bad

The Royals don’t have great depth or reliability in the rest of the rotation. Right now, Brian Bannister is the #3 pitcher despite coming off a terrible season with a 5.76 ERA. Luke Hochevar struggles with his command and gives up too many homeruns, but is young enough and has good enough “stuff” to merit a chance in the #4 spot. Hiram Kyle Davies is the #5 right now. We’re not sure what we have in Davies; he finished last year strong but at times looks lost. After that, there are no great candidates for the rotation – mostly just minor leaguers who would be rushed into Major League starting roles.

The Ugly

How exactly will the bullpen be used? Last year, lefty Jimmy Gobble struggled to a 8.81(!) ERA in 31+ innings (courtesy baseball-reference.com). That’s a product of his misuse. Righties crushed him to a tune of .382/.517/.676 (AVG/on-base/slugging). Lefties struggled to a .200/.246/.323 line. In other words, all right-handed hitters were Barry Bonds in 2001, all left-handed hitters were Tony Pena, Jr. Given that, Gobble should never pitch to a right-handed batter. However, last year Gobble saw 89 righties and only 69 lefties. No wonder his ERA was 8.81. Particularly, if Gobble ever pitches to White Sox 1B Paul Konerko again, manager Trey Hillman should immediately be fired. Or shot. Gobble has squared off against Konerko nine times. Konerko has two walks, a single, and four homeruns in those nine plate appearances. That’s an insane line of .883/.889/2.833. This included an extra-innings game-winner this past season.

The Royals need to come up with a right-handed set-up man. Maybe that guy is Robinson Tejada, the former Rangers starter who struggled but has never been given a fair chance in relief. The team has ample left-handed candidates, notably Gobble, Mahay, and Musser. They need more righties to use so they never get put in a situation where Gobble faces a right-handed batter. Gobble is a microcosm of the difference between a good game manager and a bad one. Use him correctly, and he is a valuable asset. Use him incorrectly, and he puts up an 8.81 ERA.

 

Update: Courtesy mlbtraderumors.com

This afternoon we have word from a source out in the Dominican Republic, where free agent pitcher Runelvys Hernandez is pitching.  The Orioles are one of several teams to inquire on Hernandez, who is apparently reaching the mid-90s with his heater.  Contrary to previous reports, Hernandez was not suspended.

Bring back Fat Elvis!