I’m not normally one to criticize coaches.
But I think this year’s all-state teams picked by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association had some serious shortcomings.
I can only speak about our area, but I think some area players should have gotten some recognition for their play this spring.
The coaches did get it right by recognizing a pair of Grain Valley players in David Richards and Payton Bosserman on the Class 3 team. Richards was the area’s most dominant player. His 11 home runs were even more impressive considering how much the wet spring wreaked havoc on the schedule.
The coaches also got it right by naming five players from state runner-up Lee’s Summit North to its Class 4 team. I might have added senior first baseman Gavin Stark to the first team along with pitcher Dylan Jensen and junior shortstop Caleb Cole. Stark deserved it, too, because of his 23 extra-base hits, 39 RBIs and .406 average.
But how can players like Truman’s Kyle Clifton and Fort Osage’s Bret Sutton not even get an honorable mention nod from the coaches?
I have no idea.
Clifton was one of the best sluggers on the western side of the state. Not only was it his .466 average, 1.414 OBS (on-base plus slugging percentage), five home runs and 31 RBIs, but his 21 walks should have been noticed as well. And that’s not even mentioning that he went 6-1 as a pitcher with a 3.47 earned run average and only nine walks in 40 1/3 innings.
And how does Sutton get snubbed? He only hit .493 with an .863 slugging percentage. He had five home runs, 32 RBIs, 31 runs scored and 11 steals in 12 attempts. Hello?
Hopefully we in the Missouri Sportswriters and Sports Broadcasters Association can rectify those wrongs in our all-state teams out next week.
• I’m starting to wonder if it might be time to fire Kevin Seitzer as the Royals hitting coach.
Seitzer probably knows a lot about hitting, but the results aren’t reflecting that. This team may be the worst hitting Royals team I’ve ever seen.
Not only can they not hit overall, they have major trouble with situational hitting as well. I have never seen a team struggle this much getting a runner home from third base with one out or less.
I had high hopes for Seitzer this year. I didn’t think he could be worse than Mike Barnett was, but I’m seriously starting to doubt that.
Not only are the Royals ineffective, they’re just simply boring to watch at the plate. Watching Zack Greinke – and even Gil Meche and Brian Bannister – pitch is a treat. But this may be the first year I’ve ever wanted to go to the concession stand or bathroom at Kauffman when the home team is hitting.
I thought general manager Dayton Moore had assembled what appeared to be a major league batting order this season. Injuries to Coco Crisp and Alex Gordon haven’t helped, but this lineup has seriously underachieved. Billy Butler and Alberto Callaspo are the only ones who look like they’re progressing. Mike Aviles to a serious step back before his arm injury ended his season and the rest look stagnant or worse.
Moore needs to send a message by making a trade or an addition to shake it up. Except for Greinke and maybe Joakim Soria, I would listen to any offer any team makes the Royals, especially if it can improve the defense. If you’re not going to hit, at least you can shore up the fielding.
And right now, I might even think of a drastic measure to provide a boost.
Barry Bonds, anyone?
