Old man rant: Does Royce Lewis not know how to run?

[nolemmings]

Royce is a stud, but c’mon man! He projects at 47 HR/129 RBI/.303 per 162 games and he hit 4 grand slams in a 20 game span last year, but he friggin cannot stay on the field.

I am at least half serious. Is there something in his physiology that trainers can help him compensate? Some special nutrition or dietary needs? A review of his technique that could aid in an adjustment? I know each of us here is a fan of some team that has frustrating injuries, but between Royce and I-can’t eat-a-bowl-of-cereal-without-getting-hurt-Byron Buxton, the Twins seem specially snakebit, to me anyway.

The man is 25 years old and yet continually gets leg injuries. Opening day, rounding second he pulls a quad and is out for TWO MONTHS. Last night, pulled a groin running to second on a double. He’s 25 years old and has had two non-contact ACLs, the first causing him to miss 186 games and the second 189 games. That’s more than a full season each time for you non-math majors.

I just don’t get it. Make a couple of wild assumptions: you play every day at corner IF or DH, you get 4 ABs per game and never strikeout, walk or hit a pop-up— IOW you have to run hard 4 times a day on ground balls or drives to the gaps. So what is that— 60 seconds a day? Max?You do not have to avoid or make contact other than a stationary base– just run. You’re basically or nearly a world-class athlete with the best advisors, equipment and training available. AND YOU CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT GETTING HURT! They pull you in from the OF so that you don’t have to run out there and YOU STILL GET HURT. Surely the analytics guys can solve this– study his inches per stride or the angle of his knees in relation to each other when he rounds bases. These guys have all the answers, why can’t they give us the formula and metrics to help Royce stay healthy?

Thanks for the rant space. Have a Happy 4th.

[gonefishin]

I don't collect a lot of modern cards, but on occasion I collect cards of outstanding prospects that I think will have a future impact on the game. I then follow them pretty closely. Royce Lewis one of them! In 2017 I started acquiring some rare cards of his and Brent Rooker (they were both Twins' prospects).

I 100% agree with you on Lewis! What is going on with that man? He comes in for a few games and sets the world on fire - then he's out for months at a time. Not saying he doesn't get hurt, but my gosh, really?

My projection is Lewis will go the way of the dinosaur soon if the "injuries" don't stop.

Here are a couple of the cards I have. I should be thankful that I acquired more of Rooker's than Lews'.

[nolemmings]

Kind of funny that the first card you show for Royce carries the caption "Longevity". Uh-huh.
Royce had 10 HR in 24 games, which works out to a 60 HR year in 144 games-- 80% of a season. Alas, it seems as likely that you will see a unicorn before Royce plays in 144 games. I know that's true for Buxton, who only once has cleared the 100 game mark in 9 seasons.
Oh well, fingers crossed. Nice cards by the way.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

I am at least half serious. Is there something in his physiology that trainers can help him compensate? Some special nutrition or dietary needs? A review of his technique that could aid in an adjustment? I know each of us here is a fan of some team that has frustrating injuries, but between Royce and I-can’t eat-a-bowl-of-cereal-without-getting-hurt-Byron Buxton, the Twins seem specially snakebit, to me anyway.

I remember looking forward to seeing Byron Buxton play when he got called up to the Twins AA affiliate in New Britain back in 2014. Nice chance to see one of the highest ranked prospects in the country (if not the highest at the time), on a regular basis, locally (I was living in New Britain at the time).

I had tickets to a game later in the week, but the very 1st game after his call up he suffered a horrific concussion diving after a ball in the outfield. I think he took a team-mates knee right to the head.

He was on the field unconscious for a lengthy period of time. I think he might have left in an ambulance. He was out for the rest of the season and the Twins affiliate moved out of town the next year, so I never got to see him live and up close.

I'm not sure he ever fully recovered from that, but at least the young man was eventually able to secure a couple decent MLB contracts and was able to salvage his career somewhat. Unlike somebody like Clint Frazier, who never was really able to regain his equilibrium after his concussion(s), and is scuffling around in the Independent Leagues nowadays.

[Snapolit1]

On a somewhat related note . . . .

Why do guys run (jog quickly?) to first on an obvious foul ball pop up?

Isn't that just dumb? Just stand in the batters box and see what happens.

I'm all for a nice brisk trip to first on an infield fly, but on a ball in front of the dugout it just seems stooopid.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

On a somewhat related note . . . .

Why do guys run (jog quickly?) to first on an obvious foul ball pop up?

Isn't that just dumb? Just stand in the batters box and see what happens.

I'm all for a nice brisk trip to first on an infield fly, but on a ball in front of the dugout it just seems stooopid.

Because if for some reason they read the wind currents improperly, the fans will call them lazy entitled oafs, an embarrassment to the game, throw batteries at them, blame them on the interwebz for having to pay $37.00 for the beer and popcorn they're pouring down their gullet while sitting on their asses during the 3 hours or so of entertainment they're providing for the fickle public, and possibly get one or two death threats from disgruntled gamblers who just lost an obscure parlay on the event?

That's just my hypothesis however. Not peer reviewed and completely theoretical.

[dgo71]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Unlike somebody like Clint Frazier, who never was really able to regain his equilibrium after his concussion(s), and is scuffling around in the Independent Leagues nowadays.

Frazier actually just announced his retirement. Sad to see any prospect have their potential snuffed out by injuries.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by dgo71

Frazier actually just announced his retirement. Sad to see any prospect have their potential snuffed out by injuries.

Sad to hear that. I know he was a bit of a loud personality and outspoken, but overall seemed like a good kid.

Hopefully he can stay healthy away from the game. I had a few concussions in my younger days, and sometimes I get the sneaky suspicion they never really went away completely.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Sad to hear that. I know he was a bit of a loud personality and outspoken, but overall seemed like a good kid.

Hopefully he can stay healthy away from the game. I had a few concussions in my younger days, and sometimes I get the sneaky suspicion they never really went away completely.

"Loud personality and outspoken". I would have gone with "obnoxious asshole".

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

"Loud personality and outspoken". I would have gone with "obnoxious asshole".

That's often the case. I didn't get that impression from him during his time with the Yanks.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by dgo71

Frazier actually just announced his retirement. Sad to see any prospect have their potential snuffed out by injuries.

Frazier & Austin Meadows were rivals in high school and were drafted 5th and 9th overall in the 2013 Draft. My oldest nephew was a classmate of Meadows, so I got caught up in their possible successes.


Austin Meadows had some success in the Bigs, but developed anxiety from the pressure to continue at that level and is now out of the Game.


Sad to see both fail to reach the heights that were expected of them, but, hopefully, they will be happier away from all that attention and glitter.


Austin's younger brother, Parker, continues playing for Detroit where, for a very short time, he was reunited with his brother.

[Snapolit1]

I hadn't kept abreast of Meadows situation. I have a son who suffers from extreme anxiety so I know how difficult that it is. Good for his manager and organization for supporting him. Sometimes times change for the better. Do you hear any possibility that he might try to play again, or has he officially moved on from baseball? Couldn't find any official looking statement by him.

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Frazier & Austin Meadows were rivals in high school and were drafted 5th and 9th overall in the 2013 Draft. My oldest nephew was a classmate of Meadows, so I got caught up in their possible successes.


Austin Meadows had some success in the Bigs, but developed anxiety from the pressure to continue at that level and is now out of the Game.


Sad to see both fail to reach the heights that were expected of them, but, hopefully, they will be happier away from all that attention and glitter.


Austin's younger brother, Parker, continues playing for Detroit where, for a very short time, he was reunited with his brother.

[Snapolit1]

I hadn't kept abreast of Meadows situation. I have a son who suffers from extreme anxiety so I know how difficult that it is. Good for his manager and organization for supporting him. Sometimes times change for the better. Do you hear any possibility that he might try to play again, or has he officially moved on from baseball? Couldn't find any official looking statement by him.

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Frazier & Austin Meadows were rivals in high school and were drafted 5th and 9th overall in the 2013 Draft. My oldest nephew was a classmate of Meadows, so I got caught up in their possible successes.


Austin Meadows had some success in the Bigs, but developed anxiety from the pressure to continue at that level and is now out of the Game.


Sad to see both fail to reach the heights that were expected of them, but, hopefully, they will be happier away from all that attention and glitter.


Austin's younger brother, Parker, continues playing for Detroit where, for a very short time, he was reunited with his brother.

[clydepepper]

just that Detroit had released him. I imagine it's something he wouldn't want to share about.

I remember Kahlil Greene going through the same.

A good support group is an absolute necessity for younger players...as great as they are at their craft, we tend to forget just how young they are and how inexperienced they are with all the 'trappings' of adult life let alone as a celebrity.

Good Parents & Good Coaches deserve shout-outs every time!

That said, it almost makes me glad I never got there...for I would have been no more prepared than they are.


.

[clydepepper]

from Wikipedia:

On April 4, 2022, Meadows was traded to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Isaac Paredes and a competitive balance round B pick in the 2022 MLB draft.[27] After leaving the Tigers early in the season due to vertigo and later COVID-19, Meadows returned to the team in June only to go on the injured list again with tendinitis in his Achilles. He would not return to the Tigers the rest of the season, adding that he was suffering from mental health issues in addition to his physical ailments.[28] In 36 games with the Tigers in 2022, Meadows batted .250 with no home runs.

On November 25, 2022, the Tigers and Meadows agreed on a one-year, $4.3 million contract for the 2023 season, avoiding salary arbitration.[29] On April 8, 2023, Meadows was placed on the injured list with anxiety issues. The Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris issued a statement supporting Meadows' decision to step away from the game to seek help.[30] On May 1, Meadows was transferred to the 60-day injured list.[31] On September 9, it was announced that Meadows would not return to the Tigers in 2023.[32] On November 17, 2023, it was announced that the Tigers would not tender Meadows a contract for the 2024 season, making him a free agent.[3

[Snapolit1]

I've heard people scoff as this kind of stuff . . . ."Yeah, gee I wish I was under that kind pressure . . . making $2.5 million a year. . . ."

Actually you don't. The pressure and stress these guys are under must eat most of them up. Every time a young pitcher has 3 bad starts in a row or goes 0 for 20, you have to be in serious turmoil that you have lost it and are on the way out. When I have a bad day or week at work it's nobody's business, and not being picked apart on the radio or the newspaper. Some of these guys are one more bad day or week away from being gone. I can't hardly imagine that level of pressure. And, as they say, even the best baseball hitters fail 7 out of 10 at bats. The pressure to perform at this level and to do it consistently . . . immense and has to wear on you. Hence, all the drugs and heavy boozing we see.

[packs]

I wonder if that's a product of their adolescence or a product of their emerging into adulthood. If you're 11 years old and you've got scouts and recruiters bugging you after every game or putting it into your head that you're an MLB superstar in the making, I'm sure it makes it hard to enjoy being a kid. And I wonder if the early pressure is what exacerbates the later pressure they feel.

[Snapolit1]

For most of these guys it all comes really easy. They are the best player in their little league . . . best player in high school . . . .hit .400 and also pitch in college. . .and then all of a sudden you start seeing guys who are amazing.

Last night in the Mets-Pirates game there was a moment where Luis Severino struck out James Woods of the Pirates on some crazy breaking ball. Wood walked away with this confused look on his face like "oh shit. . . .this is not going to be so easy."



QUOTE=packs;2447175]I wonder if that's a product of their adolescence or a product of their emerging into adulthood. If you're 11 years old and you've got scouts and recruiters bugging you after every game or putting it into your head that you're an MLB superstar in the making, I'm sure it makes it hard to enjoy being a kid. And I wonder if the early pressure is what exacerbates the later pressure they feel.[/QUOTE]

[packs]

I think that's what I'm getting at. The coming easy as a kid versus the struggles as an adult.

For myself, if someone is putting the idea in my head that I'm an MLB superstar when I'm 11 years old, and then I'm 25 and still in AA, I'm probably going to have an identity crisis.