Kansas City Royals: Has The Lesson Been Learned

6 of 6

Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost (3) – Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

End Rant

Like I said at the beginning, I’m not so sure this one only counts as one loss. The Kansas City Royals are not in a position to go wasting gems like what Yordano Ventura threw on Sunday. When he’s right, Yordano and Edinson Volquez are looked at as guys who can stop the bleeding.

After wasting his effort yesterday, Ned will now rely on the ineffectiveness of Jeremy Guthrie. If not him, then then Jason Vargas. If not him, then maybe Chris Young or Danny Duffy. The concern is valid.

Every once in a while, Ned gives us a glimpse into why he was fired in the midst of a playoff run in Milwaukee, and why he earned the nickname “Nervous Ned”. You wouldn’t have to look far to find fans from Milwaukee and Kansas City alike, who think Ned is an incompetent manager. I’m not quite there.

Live Feed

A's slug their way past Kansas City, wins 6-4 /

White Cleat Beat

This pitcher could break an unenviable KC Royals record Kings of Kauffman

MLB Playoff Odds vs. Baseball Reference Playoff Odds: Who Has Betting Value? Betsided

Royals vs. Athletics prediction and odds for Monday, Aug. 21 (Battle for last place) Kings of Kauffman

KC Royals fans need to watch this surging prospect Kings of Kauffman

KC Royals News: Fireflies on fire, Brad Keller, and why a sweep would be good Kings of Kauffman

I believe Ned is a solid manager. I think the way he manages the clubhouse, and ushers young players into the big leagues and gets them acclimated to it is his strength. His in-game management, to me, appears to be his weakness. Don’t misconstrue that. I think he knows the game of baseball, and he knows what the right decisions are, but he seemingly over-thinks things, or perhaps second guesses himself to the point a bad decision is made.

The maddening part about the rest situation, the lineup and bullpen, is the unknown.

Many moons ago, when I played college baseball for Coach Jarrod Titus at Ottawa University, there was a quote for these types of situations. Coach Titus would just look at you and calmly say, “We’ll never know”. You watch strike three go by without swinging, “We’ll never know”. You pull up on a ball in the outfield instead of diving for it, “We’ll never know”. You let a ground ball go by you, without even attempting to dive for it, “We’ll never know”.

There are probably a million other things coach wishes I would’ve absorbed into my brain, but “We’ll never know” is one I find myself using in all facets of life, and is a reminder to always put your best foot forward.

So, as a nod to my former coach, and in reference to what has the appearance of a poorly thought out decision to rest Hosmer and Moustakas, an incomprehensible lineup card, and astonishingly bad bullpen management, I leave you with this: “We’ll never know”.

Next: Kansas City Royals: Recent Notable First Round Picks

More from KC Kingdom

Home/Kansas City Royals