Seven Second-Half Questions for the Kansas City Royals

Will Ned screw up Mike Minor?

If you watched the All-Star game, John Smoltz had some very choice words about how super long-relievers (Chris Devinski, Andrew Miller, so forth) have changed the complexion of baseball and given their respective teams a weapon that’s advantageous in a way that simply making them average starters wouldn’t be.

That’s the same thing you could say about Mike Minor, AND YET some of you still want him back in the rotation.

Minor was an average starter for most of four seasons with the Atlanta Braves. He had his A-game once over four starts or so. You can confirm this with any Southerner, I promise.

Must Read: The Kansas City Royals First-Half Recap

So watching him become Andrew Miller Lite (wink) for the Kansas City Royals has been a ton of fun. I thought Minor would be a reclamation project, no different from Kris Medlen or any other oft-injured arm GM’s take a flier on just because they can. To see him not only make the team but thrive in this role has been the season’s most pleasant surprise.

So if Ned tries to shunt him back into the rotation, I’m going to be upset.

Minor has carved out a surprisingly effective niche role, going more than an inning in nearly a third of his 35 appearances. He can’t be touched by any stat (1.87 ERA, 2.22 FIP, .192 average). His stuff works against righties (.226/.282/.333 slash line, .270 wOBA) and lefties (.130/.203/.167, .175).

Sometimes, just let the thing that’s working work.