Lyles is the workhorse of the rotation


The Kansas City rotation last season ranked 28th entering the early part of the season. While it didn't look good in the rankings, the starting rotation for the most part did what the front office hoped they would do—eat innings. Last offseason, the team was searching for a veteran starter that could go deep into games and would be a good veteran presence in a young clubhouse. Jordan Lyles has remained in the big leagues for those exact reasons and that's a big reason why Kansas City gave him the contract they did. And in Lyles's first year in a Royals uniform, he led the team in innings pitched. The hurler pitched a total of 177.2 innings and threw a complete game against the White Sox on May 9. The Royals’ starter ranked 44th across the league in innings pitched. While he didn't rank that high in innings pitched category across the majors, he did exactly what the Royals signed him to do. Hunter Felt of The Guardian sums up the 32-year old's career to this point: "As far as his bosses are concerned, this is a “quantity over quality” situation and they should be happy with the results." 
Many Royals fans would probably say that the team could have gone out and signed a veteran starter that can go deep into games and win; however, for a team like the Royals who haven't been back to the postseason since 2015, not many top name starting pitchers are probably willing to sign a multiyear deal with a team that isn't going to reach the postseason for quite some time. The Royals are unwilling to hand out big contracts to players that wouldn't see the postseason in a Royals uniform. This has led to the team not being able to sign other important pieces necessary for the future, and the bullpen is a great example. Heading into next season, the Royals will look for Lyles to continue to eat up innings and have quality starts. In my opinion, the 32-year old next season is going to be relied on a bit more with the possibilities of Zack Greinke retiring and not to mention Kris Bubic will be just returning from Tommy John surgery. And not to mention Daniel Lynch who will be trying to have a healthy season after having shoulder issues last season. Regardless of what Lyle's stats are next season, I am hoping he can lead the team in innings pitched and quality starts. It will be important for the 32-year old to be a durable arm in the rotation for the entire season, or just until some of the other starting pitchers fully recover from injuries. Not to mention the team doesn't seem to trust pitchers Brad Keller and Jackson Kowar as much as they once did under Dayton Moore to be a reliable every fifth day starter and give Kansas City the chance to win a game.

Popular posts from this blog

Flashback Royals: Remembering a Murder Victim

Image
The Royals over the years have worn patches on their uniforms to remember tragic periods in American history including 9/11 and more. Kansas City in 2007 was stunned after learning that local teenager Kelsey Smith was abducted and murdered. The Royals wore light blue ribbons on their wrists in remembrance of the 18-year old after former manager Buddy Bell spoke to the Smith family.  Many Kansas Cityians remember the Kelsey Smith case well after the story of her abduction hit the local media and national media. On June 2, Smith was shopping at her local Target in Overland Park, KS looking for a picture frame for her boyfriend John Biersmith. While at Target, Smith's killer followed her throughout the store after noticing her at the jewelry counter. While Smith was in the checkout line, her abductor ran to his vehicle to grab his gun and waited for her to leave the store to grab her. The 18-year old was unable to fight off the kidnapper and was forced into her vehicle and...
Read more

Flashback Royals: The murder at the pool

Image
Self-defense is more important now than ever, and teams like the Royals are promoting it through various events. In 2008, the Royals held a self-defense class called T.A.K.E. to support The Ali Kemp Educational Foundation and honor Ali Kemp's life. Similarly, the Kelsey Smith Foundation, named after a girl abducted at a Target in Kansas in 2007, also focuses on teaching self-defense. The Royals later honored Kelsey Smith's memory as well. Ali Kemp's murder in 2002 had a profound impact on the Kansas City metro area. At 19, Ali was working as a lifeguard in Leawood, Kansas, during the summer. Her father believed it was a safe job: "It was a wonderful job, a neighborhood pool. And you would think the safest place in the world." However, her shift on that fateful day turned tragic. Around 3 p.m., Ali called a friend for company, but the friend missed the call. Shortly after, Laurel Vine, another friend, arrived at the pool and saw a man leaving. Thinking ...
Read more

Royals small connections to US Presidents

Image
The state of Kansas and the Kansas City metro have several connections to US Presidents, such as the 33rd President Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Although both Kansas and Kansas City have connections to the late Presidents, none of Kansas City's professional baseball teams such as the Monarchs, Athletics, or the Royals had the chance to meet either of them. However, former Royals manager Ned Yost has been to the White House more than once. Yost has met five US Presidents during his time in baseball. The former manager's first interaction with a President was with 39th President Jimmy Carter while living just outside of Atlanta. Yost said the 39th President attended games regularly: "Jimmy used to come a lot to the Braves games, and you could walk down the tunnel going to the dugout when Jimmy was there because Secret Service guys were all outside his little room they had for him and I’d waltz right in there and go sit down,” Yost said. “Him and Rosa...
Read more