The roster is set. The players who didn’t make it, pack their stuff, move to the other side of the clubhouse and start wearing their baseball pants knee-high. Former teammates shake hands and say good luck. You often hear, “Hey, you’ll be back up here soon” — but nobody really knows for sure. That kid carrying a duffel bag out the door may never walk back through it. A big league ballplayer has a great life, but a precarious one, often defined by good luck, bad luck and twists of fate. Salvador Perez hurts his knee and Humberto Quintero becomes a Royal. Humberto Quintero becomes a Royal and Brayan Pena has to worry about his backup catching job when Salvador Perez returns.
All because a cleat caught in the dirt.
Chris Getz changes his batting stance and Johnny Giavotella goes to Omaha. Jason Bourgeois comes to Kansas City, so Jarrod Dyson leaves. Something tears in Joakim Soria’s elbow and Greg Holland has a shot at closing. Hard work and practice also matter, but no matter how many swings you take, pitches you throw or weights you lift, luck and fate will have their say.
The roster is set.
But not for long:
People around here will tell you people not around here make way too much out of the opening day roster. A baseball team is a fluid thing. Johnny Giavotella is sent down to the minors and some fans go nuts. If Johnny rakes in Omaha and Chris Getz struggles in KC, Gio may be back in a month. Baseball teams do not carve the lineup into a stone tablet. They write it on cardboard and throw it away at the end of the day.
If you can’t change it, don’t think about it:
Ask Mitch Maier about competition for a roster spot and he’ll shrug and say all he can do is go out and play well. Maier says when you’re a big-league baseball player, there’s always someone trying to take your job. Dwelling on it doesn’t help. Same with the media: getting caught up in what’s being said about you doesn’t help and isn’t productive. Worrying about it might even make your performance worse. Maier knows what he needs to do to be successful and concentrates on that. Good advice for young baseball players — and old baseball fans.
The Truth May Not Set You Free:
A long time ago — before I started writing about baseball — I attended a press conference with a manager who was being asked about one of his relief pitchers. Everybody wanted to know if the pitcher was hurt. “Day to day” was all the manager would say. You have to understand that if the media doesn’t like the answer they get, they ask the same question again in a different form. “Day to day” was once again the answer. One reporter would not let it go and kept at it. Finally the manager barked, “DAY TO (BLEEPING) DAY!”
The press conference ended, the manager walked up to me, laughed and said, “He’s hurt.”
Why not say so? Because that information would help the other team. If the other team knows an opposition reliever is hurt, they don’t have to worry about him. It might change who they pinch hit or how they manage the last few innings.
It’s worth noting that the manager did not lie — we’re all day to day. The manager withheld information and that kept his options open. This is a common tactic in baseball and often the right one. For instance: Ned Yost now has a right-handed hitting and a left-handed hitting second baseman. It’s sensible to ask if he’ll platoon them. It’s also sensible for Ned to leave himself some wiggle room. Why should he paint himself into a corner? If Yost says he’s platooning them and then starts Chris Getz against a left-handed pitcher he hits well, then Ned’s created an unnecessary controversy.
Felipe Paulino and Luis Mendoza were competing for a spot in the rotation. The loser would go to the pen as a long reliever. Paulino got hurt, Mendoza went into the rotation and that meant the Royals were short one long reliever. So I asked Ned if that changed Everett Teaford’s chances of making the team — a logical question.
Yost said, “We’ll see” which is the right answer. Why say Teaford’s made the team before you have to? What if something totally unexpected happened in the next 24 hours? Saying “we’ll see” left Ned’s options open. It was smart and I assume Royals fans would like their team to have a smart manager.
So the next time you get frustrated because the manager is facing the microphones and mouthing a bunch of clichés, remember; it’s not always smart to tell the entire truth. Because the truth may not set you free.
Today’s team fundamental:
The Royals worked on cutoffs and relays today. They also practiced scoring from second and the responsibility of the on-deck hitter. If a runner is headed home, the on-deck hitter becomes the third base coach. The runner can’t see the throw if it’s coming from behind him, so the on-deck hitter signals stand up or slide and — if it’s slide — which side of the plate the runner should aim for.
Practice Tip:
This is a simple one, but it might save a kid a broken nose. When professionals play catch as a group, half of them line up on an outfield foul line, the other half stand in the outfield. Amateurs often play catch in front of the dugout, lined up parallel to the foul line. That makes going in and out of the dugout perilous. A missed catch or bad throw can drill someone walking by. We’ve been using a slogan to promote this web site, “Watch like a pro.”
It’s also good to play catch like one.
A big deal:
You’ve probably already heard Alex Gordon signed a multi-year deal. I got a chance to talk to him after his press conference and told him this was also a very big deal for Royals fans. For a long time it’s felt like the Royals develop players for other teams — the good ones leave. Alex said the same thing to me that he said in his press conference: he wanted to stay in Kansas City because of his teammates. “The way this team is, the way this clubhouse is — that’s why I want to be here.”
So if you’ve ever wondered how much team chemistry matters, remember; team chemistry kept Alex Gordon in Kansas City.
Joel Kallem
1 year, 1 month agoSeveral comments. One, as you correctly point out, the opening day roster is just that, and may even not be that if there are injuries between now and then. When looking at the roster, you need to consider the “minor” leagues as well as those guys are just a phone call away. More important than who is on the opening day roster is finding out who we might lose from the organization through trade or because they have no options left. Sullivan comes to mind, especially after his good outing. While he may not fit into the Royals plans, there may be a team willing to take a flier on him since pitching is always a need. Lee, any buzz around on him or the others who don’t “fit” right now?
Second, It is great to see Alex’s contract resolved. He earned it, and it gives reassurance that the Royals are really in it for the long haul. It is also great to see one of our home growns reciprocate the fans love and perhaps sacrifice some money to stay at a place where they are really appreciated.
Lee Judge
1 year, 1 month agoJoel: Roster issues are not my speciality, but after throwing as well as he did against the White Sox A lineup tonight, it wouldn’t surprise me if there’s some interest in O’ Sullivan from other teams.
If you ask a GM about trades they always seem to give some version of “everything’s on the table” as an answer. Which goes back to what I wrote earlier: they like to keep their options open.
I agree that these contracts being signed are a big deal. The Royals are taking some risk, but if they wait and let these guys enter the free agent market, the team will have a hard time winning that competition.
The feeling I get is that Gordon left some money on the table because he truly wanted to be here and play with this group of guys.
Whatever happens with his career, fans should remember his loyalty.
Kevin Flanagan
1 year, 1 month agoO’Sullivan’s performance last night may allow Dayton Moore to get something in return for him when they place him on waivers. If multiple teams are interested maybe one will offer a prospect of some sort.
Either way, I hope he catches on with another team. He’s still a young guy and has a plus changeup. He just doesn’t seem to have much else to set it up.
One of the side benefits of Gordon’s deal is that he won’t have to keep answering questions about it. I’m sure it was becoming a distraction.
If he plays out the option year its a 5 yr/$50M deal. Not quite Sweeney-Meche $$$ but in the same neighborhood. Good for him and good for the Royals. Every position in the lineup except RF and 2B is locked up or under control for at least the next 4 seasons now. And if Gio becomes the 2B later this season that just leaves RF.
Escobar is looking really, really good at the plate right now. Lots of line drives up the middle and to the opposite field. He’s really buying into Seitzer’s teaching. It seems like the batting rotation of Escobar-Gordon-Cain-Hosmer-Butler is scoring every time around.
Sanchez and Mendoza both pitched great yesterday, albeit against minor leaguers. Good to see the starters peaking at the right time.
Lee Judge
1 year, 1 month agoKevin: The knock I’ve heard on O’Sullivan (and I don’t know if it’s true since I just heard it and haven’t asked anyone about it) is that he has no “out” pitch. So even if he gets a hitter set up, he doesn’t have some great pitch to finish the at-bat.
Sean pitched great last night though and whatever happens, I wish him the best. He’s a very friendly, intelligent guy.
Escobar smoked the ball last night and you’re right, he’s bought into what Seitzer teaches. Last season Alcides was doing well going the other way, but then tried taking every pitch the other way, even when it was a pitch he should have pulled or spit on. He got frustrated, went back to pulling the ball, his average dropped and Kevin had to coax him back on board.
The Royals think Esky can be a .270-.280 guy and, with his defense, that’s All-Star material. If he sticks with the plan, that seems possible.
And, yeah, Gordon is relieved to get this over with. He seemed very happy after the press conference (of course for $50 million I’d be in a pretty good mood, too).
Players will talk about how important “security” is to them and fans sometimes think that’s baloney, but in a life where things can change so fast (see the top part of this post) knowing where they will be, knowing where their families will be, for even five years is a big relief to them.
On the other hand, for that kind of money I’d move to the Black Hole of Calcutta.
When these young, talented players started arriving last season I thought it was great, but wondered if the team would spend to keep them. We seem to have our answer.
Greg Tatro
1 year, 1 month agoI think this clubhouse is going to be a fan favorite too. At least from interviews you see a bunch of guys who enjoy being with each other and like to have fun too. There doesn’t seem to be a negative nelly or prima donna in the bunch (and we all knew who that guy was a few years ago).
Lee Judge
1 year, 1 month agoGreg: I don’t have a lot to compare it to, but this clubhouse seems like an extraordinary one. Players rave about it and talk about how much fun it is to be here.
The epicenter of activity is usually Jeff Frnacoeur. When Alex says he wants to stay, Jeff is one of the reasons. Frenchy is relentlessly upbeat and always instigating some activity or poking fun.
Yesterday Jeff and I were talking about “The Godfather”—he’d watched it again the night before—and wondering whether it was the greatest movie of all time. Alex said he liked “True Lies” which sent Jeff off:
“TRUE LIES? TRUE LIES? WE’RE TALKING “GODFATHER” AND YOU DROP A “TRUE LIES ON US?”
For the rest of the day Frenchy walked around imitating Arnold Schwarzenegger, “TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES AND GED ON DE BED.” Alex tried pleading that he meant it is was the greatest action movie of all time, then that it was one of the top five action movies of all time, but Frenchy wouldn’t relent.
Stuff like that may seem small, but when you have 162 games to get through, someone who’s fun to be around helps a lot. That kind of atmosphere spreads and in the end, you have a happy clubhouse.
And a happy clubhouse really does produce a team that plays harder and doesn’t get down when things go badly—and over the course of six months something is going to go wrong. A good clubhouse gets you through the tough times.
Tim Overlin
1 year, 1 month agoThank you Lee for your column. I truly enjoy reading the insights and perspective you bring.
A 515 Royals Fan!
Kurt Vancil
1 year, 1 month agothrilled for Alex, the Royals and all of us fans about his contract! Seems like the front office is going about contract extensions with a plan. First signing Perez and Esky who are solid contributors and have great potential. I think by giving those two players extensions it showed everyone that the Royals are willing to dole out some money to keep players in KC. I’m hoping the Gordon signing is just another extension of more to come and that the clubhouse and other players will influence others (cough, Hosmer, cough) to get a deal done at some point (but no real rush right now).
Hopefully the Royals come out hot which can only make the clubhouse more enjoyable. Nothing seems to bring the best out of everyone like winning games. And yes, hopefully when a bad streak comes through the clubhouse stays positive and helps get them out of a fog. Cannot wait for Friday and Chen to overpower Prince Albert!
Lee Judge
1 year, 1 month agoTim: Thank you, I’m glad you’ve enjoyed what I’ve been doing. It’s been a fascinating two weeks, I’ll be headed home on Monday.
Lee Judge
1 year, 1 month agoKurt: Yeah, I think fans should be encouraged about these signings. Nice to keep the core around for a while.
Opening against the Angels is kind of a tough draw, they loaded up in the off-season.