Comments on: True Starting Pitching Improvements? http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/01/17/true-starting-pitching-improvements/ A Kansas City Royals Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More Thu, 29 Nov 2012 02:29:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: You Know, Luke Hochevar, You Know - Kings of Kauffman - A Kansas City Royals Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/01/17/true-starting-pitching-improvements/#comment-5925 You Know, Luke Hochevar, You Know - Kings of Kauffman - A Kansas City Royals Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:05:58 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=11784#comment-5925 [...] about what he might mean to a rotation that is not only turning over very little, but projects to not change significantly from [...] [...] about what he might mean to a rotation that is not only turning over very little, but projects to not change significantly from [...]

]]> By: Gage Matthews http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/01/17/true-starting-pitching-improvements/#comment-2019964 Gage Matthews Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:19:58 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=11784#comment-2019964 You're absolutely right about Davies. He is definitely incredibly bad, especially considering how long the Royals held on to him. So, really, almost anyone would be an improvement over him. I just can't decide on Sanchez and Hoch. I've had a really hard time figuring out what to think about them. Sanchez started the year pretty well, compiling a 3.38 ERA with about two strikeouts per every walk from March to May. During that time, he used his changeup as his second-best pitch and as his "whiff" pitch, leaving his slider to third position. Once he got past May, however (and around his struggle with tendonitis), he used more sliders than changes and his pitches scattered a bit more as his ERA jumped to 5.79 with a walk per strikeout. However, much of that ineffectiveness likely resulted from Sanchez' tendonitis and later ankle sprain rather than any thing he was particularly doing. So, supposing he can rebound and pitch like his early-season self, he could be a considerable asset for the rotation. Even with a 3.75-4 ERA, he would be tremendously useful. I just admittedly haven't seen him pitch or watched enough to know what to expect from him, but we'll see. As for Hoch, well, I think I'm going to write up a whole piece on him, so I'll hold off on that until later. Thanks for reading and for the response! You’re absolutely right about Davies. He is definitely incredibly bad, especially considering how long the Royals held on to him. So, really, almost anyone would be an improvement over him.

I just can’t decide on Sanchez and Hoch. I’ve had a really hard time figuring out what to think about them. Sanchez started the year pretty well, compiling a 3.38 ERA with about two strikeouts per every walk from March to May. During that time, he used his changeup as his second-best pitch and as his “whiff” pitch, leaving his slider to third position. Once he got past May, however (and around his struggle with tendonitis), he used more sliders than changes and his pitches scattered a bit more as his ERA jumped to 5.79 with a walk per strikeout. However, much of that ineffectiveness likely resulted from Sanchez’ tendonitis and later ankle sprain rather than any thing he was particularly doing. So, supposing he can rebound and pitch like his early-season self, he could be a considerable asset for the rotation. Even with a 3.75-4 ERA, he would be tremendously useful. I just admittedly haven’t seen him pitch or watched enough to know what to expect from him, but we’ll see.

As for Hoch, well, I think I’m going to write up a whole piece on him, so I’ll hold off on that until later.

Thanks for reading and for the response!

]]> By: Gage Matthews http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/01/17/true-starting-pitching-improvements/#comment-5897 Gage Matthews Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:19:58 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=11784#comment-5897 You're absolutely right about Davies. He is definitely incredibly bad, especially considering how long the Royals held on to him. So, really, almost anyone would be an improvement over him. I just can't decide on Sanchez and Hoch. I've had a really hard time figuring out what to think about them. Sanchez started the year pretty well, compiling a 3.38 ERA with about two strikeouts per every walk from March to May. During that time, he used his changeup as his second-best pitch and as his "whiff" pitch, leaving his slider to third position. Once he got past May, however (and around his struggle with tendonitis), he used more sliders than changes and his pitches scattered a bit more as his ERA jumped to 5.79 with a walk per strikeout. However, much of that ineffectiveness likely resulted from Sanchez' tendonitis and later ankle sprain rather than any thing he was particularly doing. So, supposing he can rebound and pitch like his early-season self, he could be a considerable asset for the rotation. Even with a 3.75-4 ERA, he would be tremendously useful. I just admittedly haven't seen him pitch or watched enough to know what to expect from him, but we'll see. As for Hoch, well, I think I'm going to write up a whole piece on him, so I'll hold off on that until later. Thanks for reading and for the response! You’re absolutely right about Davies. He is definitely incredibly bad, especially considering how long the Royals held on to him. So, really, almost anyone would be an improvement over him.

I just can’t decide on Sanchez and Hoch. I’ve had a really hard time figuring out what to think about them. Sanchez started the year pretty well, compiling a 3.38 ERA with about two strikeouts per every walk from March to May. During that time, he used his changeup as his second-best pitch and as his “whiff” pitch, leaving his slider to third position. Once he got past May, however (and around his struggle with tendonitis), he used more sliders than changes and his pitches scattered a bit more as his ERA jumped to 5.79 with a walk per strikeout. However, much of that ineffectiveness likely resulted from Sanchez’ tendonitis and later ankle sprain rather than any thing he was particularly doing. So, supposing he can rebound and pitch like his early-season self, he could be a considerable asset for the rotation. Even with a 3.75-4 ERA, he would be tremendously useful. I just admittedly haven’t seen him pitch or watched enough to know what to expect from him, but we’ll see.

As for Hoch, well, I think I’m going to write up a whole piece on him, so I’ll hold off on that until later.

Thanks for reading and for the response!

]]> By: mmeade17 http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/01/17/true-starting-pitching-improvements/#comment-2019958 mmeade17 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:40:37 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=11784#comment-2019958 I have to disagree a little. I'd say the subtraction of Kyle Davies is at least a slight step forward. Replacing him has to be worth 3-4 wins. He is, statistically speaking, the worst pitcher in Major League history, right (or close at least)? I think Duffy takes a step forward (E.R.A in the low 4s). I think Sanchez bounces back a little, not to 2010 numbers, but he wants to make his free agency case (E.R.A in high 3s-low 4s). I agree that Paulino will regress. He can't throw a fastball that flat and expect to miss bats (E.R.A in high 4s). Chen will probably be Chen (E.R.A in high 3s-low 4s. Hoch is the wild card, the true barometer of how well this pitching staff will do. There was a great piece on fangraphs about how his second-half success was predicated on the use of more sliders and slightly fewer fastballs. Surely, the Royals no this and will attempt to build game plans around it. Hoch's slider is killer if he uses it (E.R.A. 3.7-4.3). So, I think they'll take at least a slight step forward. I have to disagree a little. I’d say the subtraction of Kyle Davies is at least a slight step forward. Replacing him has to be worth 3-4 wins. He is, statistically speaking, the worst pitcher in Major League history, right (or close at least)? I think Duffy takes a step forward (E.R.A in the low 4s). I think Sanchez bounces back a little, not to 2010 numbers, but he wants to make his free agency case (E.R.A in high 3s-low 4s). I agree that Paulino will regress. He can’t throw a fastball that flat and expect to miss bats (E.R.A in high 4s). Chen will probably be Chen (E.R.A in high 3s-low 4s. Hoch is the wild card, the true barometer of how well this pitching staff will do. There was a great piece on fangraphs about how his second-half success was predicated on the use of more sliders and slightly fewer fastballs. Surely, the Royals no this and will attempt to build game plans around it. Hoch’s slider is killer if he uses it (E.R.A. 3.7-4.3). So, I think they’ll take at least a slight step forward.

]]> By: mmeade17 http://kingsofkauffman.com/2012/01/17/true-starting-pitching-improvements/#comment-5889 mmeade17 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:40:37 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=11784#comment-5889 I have to disagree a little. I'd say the subtraction of Kyle Davies is at least a slight step forward. Replacing him has to be worth 3-4 wins. He is, statistically speaking, the worst pitcher in Major League history, right (or close at least)? I think Duffy takes a step forward (E.R.A in the low 4s). I think Sanchez bounces back a little, not to 2010 numbers, but he wants to make his free agency case (E.R.A in high 3s-low 4s). I agree that Paulino will regress. He can't throw a fastball that flat and expect to miss bats (E.R.A in high 4s). Chen will probably be Chen (E.R.A in high 3s-low 4s. Hoch is the wild card, the true barometer of how well this pitching staff will do. There was a great piece on fangraphs about how his second-half success was predicated on the use of more sliders and slightly fewer fastballs. Surely, the Royals no this and will attempt to build game plans around it. Hoch's slider is killer if he uses it (E.R.A. 3.7-4.3). So, I think they'll take at least a slight step forward. I have to disagree a little. I’d say the subtraction of Kyle Davies is at least a slight step forward. Replacing him has to be worth 3-4 wins. He is, statistically speaking, the worst pitcher in Major League history, right (or close at least)? I think Duffy takes a step forward (E.R.A in the low 4s). I think Sanchez bounces back a little, not to 2010 numbers, but he wants to make his free agency case (E.R.A in high 3s-low 4s). I agree that Paulino will regress. He can’t throw a fastball that flat and expect to miss bats (E.R.A in high 4s). Chen will probably be Chen (E.R.A in high 3s-low 4s. Hoch is the wild card, the true barometer of how well this pitching staff will do. There was a great piece on fangraphs about how his second-half success was predicated on the use of more sliders and slightly fewer fastballs. Surely, the Royals no this and will attempt to build game plans around it. Hoch’s slider is killer if he uses it (E.R.A. 3.7-4.3). So, I think they’ll take at least a slight step forward.

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