Royals Monday Mailbag – Let’s Get Out Of Cleveland

The Royals promptly followed two sweeps and a six-game winning streak by being swept in four games by Cleveland for the first time since 2006.

Mondays seem way better when the Royals haven’t just been swept in four games.

After sweeping consecutive series against the White Sox and Rays, Ned Yost‘s club was dominated by Cleveland in a four game set that saw the Royals move from a 2.5 game lead in the central to a 1.5 game deficit.

The series has all but took the air out of the Royals faithful, specifically game one, which saw the Royals throw away what would have been their seventh consecutive win.

But you guys all knew that. Onto your questions.

It was that kind of series.

If it’s any consolation, the Royals still have 12 more games against the Indians and have yet host them.

So, nine of the remaining 12 games that the Royals play against Cleveland will be in Kansas City, including the final series of the season.

However, thus far in 2016. The Royals are just 1-6 against Cleveland and many believed the Indians would either be the Royals best competition in the Central or even the outright favorites to win the Central.

So who the heck knows.

I would be pretty surprised if he got the call soon. I anticipate he’ll be back at some point, but you gotta think the Royals will look at Kris Medlen, Mike Minor, and even a little longer look at Chris Young before headed back down that road. 

As it has been noted before, I am a bit of a Young homer, so I won’t give plead his case too much. However, I wouldn’t exactly say Gee has been more consistent than Young.

It’s easy to forget that Young was virtually unhittable last season and was probably the Royals best starting pitcher. And he’s throwing harder this season.

Gee, on the other hand, did have two good starts, one against the lowly Braves and the other against a reeling White Sox team. He gave up four runs in 10.1 innings over those two starts.

However, his next two starts were pretty rough, giving up five runs on 10 hits in just four innings against a Twins team that can’t hit, and four runs on nine hits in five innings against an equally thin Rays team.

Obviously, Young hasn’t really been any better, but I’m assuming the Royals will give him the benefit of the doubt, given his track record.

Young also just signed a two-year, $11.75 contract.

Either way, it’s probably a fair assumption that both guys are probably bullpen guys long-term.

UPDATE: I’m an idiot, and it appears that Gee could be up within the next week.

With that being said, I still don’t think he’s the Royals solution at the bottom of the rotation.

Dude, I feel your pain. But Zimmer isn’t about how the Royals draft or develop pitchers. If you want to go down that road, see Mike Montgomery, John Lamb, or even Aaron Crow.

With Zimmer, he has just been decimated with injuries, but you already knew that.

So I guess in an objective sense, yes, Zimmer has been a disappointment. But that’s not really something you can pin on the organization.

To put a positive spin on things, Zimmer is still just 24 and has had major league ready stuff practically since he got here.

More from KC Royals News

• KC Royals Winter Meetings Tracker: Expectations met
• KC Royals Winter Meetings Tracker: Day 3 update
• KC Royals Winter Meetings Tracker: Day 2 update
• Winter Meetings: Any blockbusters for the KC Royals?
• Grading the 2022 KC Royals: The versatile Nate Eaton

So if he can get healthy and stay healthy, his road to Kansas City should be fairly quick.

Add that to the fact that he has virtually dominated at every level and is easily the highest touted player in the Royals system, there is still hope.

It’s easy to overlook just how good Zimmer is because of the injuries, but he has projected out with a 65 grade fastball and curveball, along a 55 changeup and 50+ slider, according to Fangraphs.

He has top shelf stuff. So he’s not a bust. I feel for the kid and hope he gets healthy so we will also no longer see him as a disappointment.

I sense some sarcasm here, but it’s actually not too shabby.

Yes, it got hammered on Sunday, but going into yesterday’s game, hitters are batting just .182 against the pitch. 

His real problem has been his fastball, which is getting hammered to the tune of a .392 opponent batting average.

I’m also going to get more into that some time this week, because there is obviously something wrong with Young, and I want to know what.

I love Drew Butera more than anybody I know, but this won’t happen. And it really, really shouldn’t.

Don’t get me wrong, either. Butera is hammering the ball right now.

But he is also just a .191 career hitter with a .529 career OPS.

And I also understand the frustration with Kendrys, but if we’re being honest, this team isn’t winning anything without Kendrys at least showing some ability to hit.

Next: Royals Coaches Dave Eiland and Dale Sveum Teach Skills To Youth Through App

Thanks everybody for contributing and I hope to hear from you guys again next week! Hopefully, with some better subject matter.