SB Nation Kansas City - Joakim Soria Is Back As Kansas City Royals Closerhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2011-06-06T23:26:13-05:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/19562432011-06-06T23:26:13-05:002011-06-06T23:26:13-05:00Joakim Soria Is Back As Kansas City Royals Closer
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<p>He's baaaaaack (or we hope).</p>
<p>After <a target="_blank" href="http://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-royals/2011/6/6/2210567/eric-hosmer-is-clutch-as-the-royals-defeat-the-blue-jays-3-2-in-extras">Monday's extra inning victory over Toronto</a>, <a href="https://www.royalsreview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Royals</a> manager Ned Yost announced that <span>Joakim Soria</span> was back as Royals closer. In three games since being demoted from the closers role, Soria has pitched five innings of scoreless relief. He still has only struck out one batter in those three games, but he also has not walked anyone, nor has he allowed a hit.</p>
<p>Of the 17 batters faced since his demotion, Soria has gotten nine outs via ground balls, and has lowered his ERA from 6.55 to 5.33, while also picking up the victory against the <a href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Blue Jays</a> to move to 4-3 on the season.</p>
<p><span>Aaron Crow</span> moves back to the set up role in the bullpen, after not having a save opportunity since taking over the closers role on May 30th, after Soria imploded in a 10-8 loss against the <a href="https://www.halosheaven.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Angels</a>.</p>
<p>While this is very interesting that Soria had to do so little to get put back into the closers role, he certainly has looked optimistic over the past week and back to his old form. It will be interesting to see what happens when Soria is back on the mound in a save role.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-royals/2011/6/6/2210679/joakim-soria-is-back-as-kansas-city-royals-closerMatthew Hays2011-05-30T18:56:09-05:002011-05-30T18:56:09-05:00Ladies And Gentlemen Your New Royals Closer: Aaron Crow
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<p>After <a href="http://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-royals/2011/5/30/2197941/sooooo-royals-closer-joakim-soria-blows-another-save-in-10-8-loss" target="_blank">Monday's loss</a>, <a href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> beat writer Bob Dutton <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/Royals_Report" target="_blank">tweeted</a> the following-</p>
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<p>Royals strip closers role from <a href="../../../../../mlb/players/270/joakim-soria">Joakim Soria</a>. Goes to <a href="../../../../../mlb/players/105296/aaron-crow">Aaron Crow</a>.</p>
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<p>It certainly was a step that was needed, albeit a step that shouldn't have taken this long. You can certainly feel bad for Soria in this situation, but if he's not producing then you must do something. After being dominant for the better part of four years, Soria has seemingly hit a wall. While I think the disabled list is still the better move, this certainly is a step in the right direction for Kansas City.</p>
<p>Aaron Crow now assumes the role of closer. The rookie from Mizzou is a 24 year-old right hander that was picked by Kansas City in the first round of the 2009 draft. Crow was previously selected in the first round of the 2008 draft by the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> but did not sign.</p>
<p>After being converted to a reliever by the Royals, Crow has certainly shown he has the talent to take the reigns as closer. In 22 games this season, he has a 2-0 record with a 1.33 ERA. In 27 innings pitches, he has struck out 26 while walking just nine. His WHIP is 1.03.</p>
<p>I'm excited to see Crow finally get the chance, while on the other hand I am still worried about Soria and hope this isn't the beginning of the end for the player we all have grown to love.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-royals/2011/5/30/2198018/ladies-and-gentlemen-your-new-royals-closer-aaron-crowMatthew Hays2011-05-29T18:24:32-05:002011-05-29T18:24:32-05:00Season Woes Continue To Haunt Kansas City's Joakim Soria
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<p><span>Joakim Soria</span> has now made two appearances since the initial article was written on this site examining the pitching issues Soria has struggled with this season for the <a href="https://www.royalsreview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Royals</a>, and it doesn't seem to have gotten any better in recent days.</p>
<p>Soria pitched in <a target="_blank" href="http://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-royals/2011/5/28/2194553/late-power-surge-in-texas-royals-defeat-rangers-12-7-in-14-innings">Friday's night marathon</a>, which saw the Royals score five runs in the 14th inning as they defeated the <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rangers</a>12-7. In that game Soria did look good throwing one inning of shutout baseball. He struck out one, after allowing a leadoff double to begin the inning. However it wasn't a save situation, and the Royals were working with a five run lead against a Rangers club that had probably given up after allowing so many runs late in the game.</p>
<p>Fast forward to Sunday and Soria blows his fourth save in 11 chances this season, which is already a tie for his career high. It sounds worse when you realize in 2007, when Soria was 17-for-21 in saves opportunities, he was a rookie pitching out of middle relief for much of the season as <span>Octavio Dotel</span> was the closer before being traded to the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Braves</a>.</p>
<p>With just 16 strikeouts this season, versus 10 walks it is apparent the command is an issue. On Sunday just 12 of Soria's 24 pitches in the inning were strikes. The break on his pitches haven't been there either. I don't recall seeing a breaking pitch that buckles a hitter's knee like we have seen in the past. Something needs to be done by the Royals, and it definitely should have been done before today.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-royals/2011/5/29/2196619/season-woes-continue-to-haunt-kansas-citys-joakim-soriaMatthew Hays2011-05-26T17:30:29-05:002011-05-26T17:30:29-05:00The Kansas City Royals Are Rolling The Dice With Joakim Soria's Arm
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<p><a href="https://www.royalsreview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Royals</a> closer <span>Joakim Soria</span> may be 3-1 with seven saves, but as you dive deeper into the numbers it makes you begin to wonder if there is an issue. Royals broadcaster Frank White blamed the early start on cold weather. Well now that the weather has warmed up enough, the concern is still there. Manager Ned Yost acknowledges that Soria has struggled, but has been adamant on two issues: 1) Soria will remain the closer 2) Soria is not injured</p>
<p>Yost believes that it's just a phase Soria is going through and he needs to pitch his way out of it. Seemingly that is nothing more than "coach speech" at the moment, as we are now two full months in and the concern is there amongst fans wanting to know answers.</p>
<p>On a team with the recent history of the Royals, the concept of a star closer isn't as valuable as if you are a team regularly contending for the playoffs. Proof of that is last summer there were serious rumors of the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Yankees</a> wanting to acquire Soria. While we may never know what package of players were discussed, or even if a trade was discussed, it's widely speculated that the <a target="_blank" href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/425302-yankees-trade-rumors-royals-turned-down-montero-for-soria">Royals turned down a Soria trade</a> that included <span>Jesus Montero</span> and possibly <span>Joba Chamberlain</span> or <span>Brett Gardner</span> as well. Montero was ranked the third best prospect in baseball before the season began by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/2011/2611316.html">Baseball America</a>. Montero's power may be down so far this season, but the prized catcher is a career .313/.369/.503 hitter in the minor leagues. It may have been a public relations hit, but if you are a building team and are offered the third overall prospect in the game for your closer, you do it.</p>
<p>Now fast forward to the present and while many teams would still love to trade for Soria, his value is currently at an all-time low (since he joined the Royals). His strikes are down from a 9.65 k/9 rate to just 6.05 this season. His walks have increased from 2.62 BB/9 to 4.66 this season. He simply is not getting ahead in the count like in previous seasons. While 19.1 innings pitched this season may be a small sample size, it doesn't seem so small when you realize he only has averaged 63.2 innings pitched over the last four seasons. He's a third of the way into his average season.</p>
<p>Last season 48% of Soria's out were ground balls, while this year he sits at just 40.4%. With more balls being left up the home run to fly ball ratio has increased to currently 9.1%, an all-time high. Coming into this season he was throwing 1.9 strikes for every ball thrown. That number has fallen to 1.57 this season. The proof is there.</p>
<p>What may be the most concerning is the average pitch speed for Soria as decreased between last year and this year on all four pitches he throws. Last year the fastball averaged 91.9 mph, while this season it is down to 90.4. When velocity is decreasing across the board, it becomes a reason to be alarmed.</p>
<p>You can continue to go over the numbers only so much before it becomes frustrating. Again though, the proof is there. That makes the biggest question become them, what is wrong? Yost and Soria himself have said Joakim is healthy and they are not sure why he is struggling. It would be one thing to identify a health issue, as you go to the disabled list and get treatment for what is ailing your All-Star. It is a completely different issue when there are no answers for the production thus far.</p>
<p>The only direction that seems right at the moment is sending Soria to the disabled list, no matter if the trainers have identified a health issue or not. The Royals are not going to be competing for a division title this year, so there is no need to keep running Soria out there for each save opportunity at the moment. Hopefully with rest and the ability to take some time and mentally refocus, Soria would be able to come back as the dynamic pitcher we have grown accustomed to seeing. <span>Aaron Crow</span> has obviously shown the stuff so far this season to fill the closer role, and he actually would be better suited for the role at the moment until the team can figure out how to get Soria's pitching back to where it consistently has been. The unfortunate thing is Yost may not do anything about it, until the time is too late.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2011/5/26/2335760/the-kansas-city-royals-are-rolling-the-dice-with-joakim-sorias-armMatthew Hays