Whilst an analysis 12 months, 2023 has been fairly dang tough for Royals followers. For that motive, it wasn’t notably stunning that a lot of you discovered final week’s roster prediction to be…underwhelming. And positive, if the Royals return all of the gamers that had been indicated as prone to return with out signing some premier free brokers, 2024 will in all probability be one other very lengthy, not-very-fun summer season.
If the Royals are this workforce and pondering they’ve a core nucleus for the subsequent playoff roster, they’re mistaken. There’s no two methods about it. Nevertheless, simply because that’s true doesn’t imply that each one of their gamers ought to be out in search of new day jobs. And that’s the place skewed fan perceptions are available in.
And no, I’m not simply speaking about how unfortunate a few of the gamers seem to have been. I’m additionally not speaking about guys like MJ Melendez, Alec Marsh, or James McArthur who began very poorly however have been a lot better currently; this isn’t a recency-bias factor. I’m speaking about how the Royals, whereas rostering a number of guys who merely don’t have the expertise or numbers to justify their positions, even have a bunch of fellows who’re completely adequate to be within the large leagues.
Michael Massey
There’s no denying that Michael Massey isn’t any Bobby Witt Jr. However as our personal Matthew LaMar identified just a few weeks in the past, it doesn’t take a roster filled with Bobby Baseballs to succeed in the playoffs. Michael Massey, disregarding any potential dangerous luck he might need confronted this 12 months, has been price 0.5 fWAR. Once more, that isn’t nice. But it surely is higher than substitute degree. And, per FanGraphs, he would characterize an improve over the blokes being trotted out each by the Orioles and Brewers at second base, two groups that seem destined to win their divisions. He’s additionally been higher than Omar Infante, who primarily manned the place through the Royals’ most up-to-date playoff runs.
Massey hasn’t hit properly however he’s been a plus each as a defender and as a base runner. The issue for the Royals isn’t that Michael Massey is on the roster, it’s that they’ve so few gamers higher than him that they’ve ended up batting him in the course of the order far too typically. Massey can match on a playoff roster if he’s the eighth or ninth greatest hitter in your lineup and bats in a type of positions. In line with Baseball Reference, he truly has been the ninth-best hitter the Royals have employed this 12 months. However when the workforce places Matt Beaty, Matt Duffy, Nick Pratto, and many others. into the lineup, he has to bat too excessive.
No, the issue isn’t that Michael Massey isn’t Bobby Witt Jr. The issue is that no person else is Bobby Witt Jr., both (besides Bobby himself, in fact.) Even when Michael Massey isn’t batting fourth, MJ Melendez or Nick Pratto are, and so they don’t belong that prime both.
The Royals’ downside is that they’ve a roster filled with nine-hole hitters.
Many individuals wish to say that when there are two sides to a narrative, the reality typically lies within the center. That isn’t at all times the case nevertheless it definitely is, right here. The Royals seem to see Michael Massey as a core participant for his or her franchise going ahead. Somebody to construct round. Followers appear to see him as a bum not price the price of the pine they want for him to experience. The reality is that Michael Massey is a participant who can fairly begin 120 video games or so at second base, batting eighth or ninth, and never be a obvious gap in your lineup. He’s neither trash nor treasure, he’s only a man.
In fact, whenever you’re constructing a 26-man roster you want just a few gamers who’re simply guys. Except you’re taking part in Diamond Dynasty mode in MLB: The Present you may’t fill your complete lineup with superstars. (Shoutout to my 1998-era Sammy Sosa batting ninth!) Even because the Royals have proved {that a} lineup filled with nine-hole hitters can’t compete, the Angels have definitively proven that regardless of how nice your greatest gamers are in case your lineup has a few big holes in it, you’re not going to win persistently sufficient to make the post-season.
So, to that finish, either side are proper, too. It’s fully cheap for the Royals to maintain Michael Massey round as they attempt to construct a profitable workforce. He may completely be part of that. Followers are proper, too, although. A few of these lower-ability hitters have to be changed with upgrades. The Royals may definitely do worse than to exchange Massey, at the same time as he’s extra helpful than two second basemen headed to the post-season he’s nonetheless among the many worst within the league for these at his place with at the least as many at-bats as he has had.
Nonetheless, if the Royals do select to maneuver on from Massey, don’t be stunned if another workforce rapidly snaps him up and offers him common taking part in time. He’s no Bobby Witt Jr. however he’s additionally no Omar Infante.
