The All-Star break gave us an opportunity to catch our breath and mirror on this nightmarish season. With the Royals getting again to play tonight, I assumed it might be a great time to take inventory with our writers to attempt to make sense of all this putrid baseball.

What was probably the most disappointing factor concerning the first half?

Greg Walker: The place to begin? Brady Singer can’t strike anyone out, Vinnie Pasquantino went down for the 12 months, and solely considered one of final 12 months’s rookies has actually taken steps ahead. In 12 months six of a rebuild, this squad is on tempo for the worst file in franchise historical past, with little assistance on the way in which within the higher minors.

Preston Farr: The offense. Most particularly, the younger bats. There have been a number of questions earlier than the season concerning the pitching however I believe total many anticipated this offense to be fairly good. That merely hasn’t been the case and it’s fairly regarding if that doesn’t enhance within the second half.

Max Rieper: MJ Melendez. He was the man I assumed mirrored the hitting method one of the best and I noticed a number of potential in him final 12 months. This 12 months he has been one of many worst hitters in baseball. He’s placing out an excessive amount of, however what’s most mystifying is his lack of residence run energy this 12 months. He additionally hasn’t transitioned to the outfield effectively in any respect, so I’m very unsure how he suits into the Royals’ plans going ahead.

Hokius: For me it was the conclusion that the workforce will not be solely unhealthy on the sphere, however unhealthy off the sphere. There simply don’t seem like any redeeming qualities to this franchise proper now, morally, ethically, and even business-wise. It looks like a whole catastrophe.

What was a brilliant spot for the Royals within the first half?

Preston Farr: Pitching developments and Maikel Garcia. Garcia seems like he can develop into a great, on a regular basis participant with actually nice protection. Carlos Hernández, Kris Bubic, Daniel Lynch, and Jonathan Heasley have given us glimpses of hope within the pitching division. If that continues and amplifies, it ought to create a number of hope for the longer term.

Hokius: Maikel Garcia. He’s seemed like a real MLB starter. Solely time will inform if he can stick with it, although.

Greg Walker: Bobby Witt Jr. His defensive turnaround has been exceptional, as he’s tied for tenth amongst 152 certified infielders in Outs Above Common after ending 157^th out of 162 as a rookie. Whereas his batting line is sort of the identical as final 12 months, he has an 87^th percentile xwOBA and he’s underperforming that stat by the sixth largest margin of any hitter in baseball. Look ahead to an enormous second half from him offensively. He’s already eclipsed final 12 months’s fWAR complete and on tempo for a 4+ fWAR season.

Max Rieper: I used to be a bit skeptical of Maikel Garcia going into this season, however now I see what evaluators who had been larger on him than the stats warranted had been speaking about. He brings very easy protection, a affected person eye on the plate, good pace, and he has respectable energy for an infielder. He appears to have a excessive ground at this level as a man that may at the very least be a semi-regular with a ceiling of a really strong starter and leadoff hitter for the longer term. Even have to provide some love for Freddy Fermin, a pleasant feel-good story. I’ll admit I didn’t perceive why they added him to the 40-man roster however the Royals appeared to be proper about him.

What did you consider the draft? How would you grade it or what would you’ve gotten executed in another way?

Preston Farr: It was high quality. The draft was high quality. Kansas Metropolis swung for the fences. They took dangers that they haven’t lately. They drafted like a entrance workplace that is aware of they must determine it out or get changed. It could crash and burn and price some jobs, however drafting secure hasn’t precisely created a successful workforce or high farm system. I give it a strong B as a result of potential. I might’ve taken Matt Shaw at 8 and supplemented that choose with again to again prep arms to steadiness out the chance issue some.

Greg Walker: There are a variety of men I might have most well-liked within the first spherical, however I’m biased in the direction of guys that I’ve watched play quite a bit in faculty. I believe they did a great job in search of upside on day one and going with some safer faculty guys on day two that also provide some ceiling. We gained’t really know for a few years how this draft turned out and we nonetheless don’t even know precisely who will signal, so I charge this draft 4 turkey basters stuffed with oil.

Hokius: I most likely would have tried to play it safer with extra developed, faculty gamers. That stated, I believe I perceive why they didn’t and I can solely hope it can repay.

Max Rieper: I agree with many of the narrative that they took some pointless dangers – there have been some very polished faculty bats obtainable with good upside in spherical one. Taking excessive schoolers in later rounds is sensible, and I do like Blake Wolters and Hiro Wyatt fairly a bit, Hunter Owen, Jared Dickey, and Spencer Nivens could possibly be later spherical steals and I’m a sucker for funky lefties like Jacob Widener. Total I believe Royals followers would have been thrilled with this draft had they not taken such a threat with Blake Mitchell in spherical one.

What are you anticipating on the commerce deadline?

Hokius: I’m anticipating the Royals to make a handful extra offers, particularly one involving Scott Barlow. I count on Royals followers will likely be unimpressed by the returns usually.

Preston Farr: Trades. However not sufficient. I believe the Royals will likely be energetic however I don’t suppose they’ll do what most hope. They need to commerce Scott Barlow and Edward Olivares. Buying and selling somebody like Nick Loftin in a package deal deal to enhance worth is an possibility however not one they doubtless pursue. I believe Kansas Metropolis provides possibly one extra notable prospect at greatest earlier than the deadline.

Max Rieper: I believe Scott Barlow is dealt extra for amount slightly than high quality. Nicky Lopez will get traded for a marginal prospect. I’m skeptical they make any extra strikes past that, however usually newer GMs prefer to make a number of strikes to place their stamp on the membership, so possibly JJ Picollo will shock us.

Greg Walker: I believe there’s a excessive chance Scott Barlow is moved. Past him, I don’t know who else there’s to commerce. Perhaps any individual needs Matt Duffy, or I suppose there’s an out of doors shot Nicky Lopez will get moved. I count on this to be a significantly much less thrilling deadline for Kansas Metropolis than final 12 months’s was.

What are you wanting ahead to within the second half?

Preston Farr: I need to see Cole Ragans, I’d prefer to see Angel Zerpa and I need to see some change. Rolling out Edward Olivares over Tyler Gentry doesn’t make sense. It’s not enjoyable. Deliver up Nick Loftin if he isn’t traded and see what he’s acquired. The Royals ought to make the lineup — save for Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. — open season. If you happen to’re scorching, you get a shot. Journey the recent fingers the remainder of this 12 months and see who actually can play on the main league stage. That’s what a real analysis 12 months wants.

Max Rieper: I’d prefer to see if Nick Pratto can develop into a great starter. There’s quite a bit to love however he does take a number of known as strikes and he hasn’t hit for a lot energy but. I need to see if Brady Singer has turned the nook and may end with a robust second half. I’d prefer to see if Alec Marsh could be a piece going ahead – his stuff seemed fairly good however his outcomes have been very blended. I’m very curious to see how Picollo treats the commerce deadline – does he suppose the workforce is on the fitting path, or does he suppose issues have gone flawed and he must shake issues up?

Hokius: I’m wanting ahead to attempting to dive into the minor leagues extra and get excited concerning the younger gamers down there. My favourite MLB gamers, Pasquantino and Bubic, gained’t be again till subsequent 12 months so I don’t have quite a bit to be enthusiastic about there.

Greg Walker: Hoping that any individual past Witt, Maikel Garcia, and Freddy Fermin (?!) really steps up and contributes one thing offensively.