Spring Training Weekend Open Thread

by royalsreview on Mar 17, 2007 12:56 PM EDT in News Comment 132 comments

Consider this the Open Thread for the weekend...

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone. I have no doubt that my cyber-greetings and glad tidings will deeply warm your heart, especially on so meaningful a day. Like today's Royals-D'backs game, we will remember this exchange for the rest of our lives.

It's interesting that the holiday has remained St. Patrick's Day, unlike Valentine's Day. Before I waste more space on the subject, let me simply recommend Leigh Eric Schmidt's wonderful book Consumer Rites: The Buying and Selling of American Holidays. Schmidt traces holiday customs in America, but avoids writing yet another "the holidays are too commericalized" screed, arguing that grand wastes of money are part of the very definition of a festival. Yes, commercialization has its problems, but inventions like greeting cards, Easter bonnets and the like also respond to a deep need within us, even if sometimes in humbug. Did you know that until the 1830-40s the big gift-giving day in this country was... New Years? That in the middle of the nineteenth-century joke Valentine's cards were quite popular among men? That Christmas and Easter were virtually uncelebrated in colonial New England? That the founder of Mother's Day later started a crusade against the floral industry for profaning her invention? And on and on. Its a great book.

Anyway, Happy St. Patrick's Day, or something.

Keep your eyes on the ball.

And yes, thats George Brett. Thanks to Chris of Arrowhead Pride for the link on this one. Apparently eye-tracking devices have some interesting things to say about what men see. As evidenced by the shocking success of the movie Wild Hogs, its safe to say homosexual-panic jokes are alive and well. A fact not surprising to anyone who's ever spent 5 seconds on a sports message board. I believe the proper response here is to kinda awkwardly laugh, then say something about Jenn Sterger.

Ohh, the Royals. Its the Diamondbacks today and the Giants tomorrow. Meche takes the mound today, so of course extra attention is merited. Yesterday "nycroyal" posted this thirdhand account:

Meche - Didn't see him throw, but body looks better. Scouts buzzing that his mechanics are more consistent than they ever were with Seattle.

If you haven't read nycroyals diary do so now, its tremendous. Well, unless you're Reggie Sanders or Ryan Shealy.

Lastly, Rany Jazayerli of Baseball Prospectus was kind enough to talk with me about the Royals chapter in the 2007 BP Annual, so look for that on Monday.

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but who would look at a pack of crumb donuts

longer

thats the real question

FIRE BELL

by FireBell on Mar 17, 2007 3:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

big start for Mechey/Gilley

today... the early days of spring and "just getting lose" are over, time to step up and be a man

FIRE BELL

by FireBell on Mar 17, 2007 3:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

the drama is building for Royals-backs

I can hardly wait!

by royalsreview on Mar 17, 2007 3:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

two Ks for Meche in the first

Unstoppable baby!

by LeoBloom on Mar 17, 2007 4:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

1-0 royals

the diamondbacks have NOTHING

by LeoBloom on Mar 17, 2007 4:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

4 Ks for Meche through 2 innings

by LeoBloom on Mar 17, 2007 4:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

alert the authorities

jason larue has stolen a base

3-0 royals

by royalsreview on Mar 17, 2007 4:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

3 scoreless innings from meche

by DyeFan187 on Mar 17, 2007 5:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Now that's more like it

Wondered when we'd see the ball flying out of the park against the Dbacks aa boys.

If it weren't for baseball I'd be working.

by pd on Mar 17, 2007 5:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Strikeout

Would be nice here.

If it weren't for baseball I'd be working.

by pd on Mar 17, 2007 5:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

FUN TIME IS OVER

Meche just got blasted for 4 runs

by DyeFan187 on Mar 17, 2007 5:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

His ERA went from 1.8 to 5.4 in one inning

by chukar on Mar 17, 2007 5:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

you mean...

he went from being an ace to being himself?

by DyeFan187 on Mar 17, 2007 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's known more formally as

mean reversion. He's right at his projection now.

by chukar on Mar 17, 2007 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Character...More Important than the Stats

Now we're talking guys.

If it weren't for baseball I'd be working.

by pd on Mar 17, 2007 5:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cool!

I'll be really interested to here about your talk with Jazayerli, seeing as it seems like the people who have "The Book" so far have some questions about the way the Royals Chapter was written.

Wild Hogs looks like the worst movie ever. Except wait, it came out virtually alongside "Ghostrider." Hmm...

"Your best? Losers always whine about 'giving it their best.' Winners go home and fuck the prom queen."

"Carla was the prom queen."

by NHZ on Mar 17, 2007 5:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who doesn't look at George Brett's crotch?

Everybody check's out George's crotch right? Right? Right?.... I mean...yeah how about them cheerleaders....

by jmcclain19 on Mar 17, 2007 6:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yes, cheerleaders ar so hot

100%... yes, no doubt

FIRE BELL

by FireBell on Mar 17, 2007 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well, it was 4-3 when the scrubs went in

so i guess we lost

hopefully meche was trying something new or something in the 4th, we'll see

FIRE BELL

by FireBell on Mar 17, 2007 6:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is he getting tired after 3 innings

That's not a good sign

royaldaddy-Bob Hamelin's #1 fan

by royaldaddy on Mar 17, 2007 6:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Caution

Let us not read too much into any single outing in ST. ST stats don't reliably tell one much at all. On day's work tells you that much less.

by NYRoyal on Mar 17, 2007 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

More likely

He just messed up his mechanics and then couldn't get back in the strike zone. 2 weeks till opening day - still time to work out the kinks.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on Mar 17, 2007 6:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Denny and Ryan making a big deal about how good

Teahen looks in the outfield. Made a strong throw today. He will be an "above average" outfielder by midseason.

by chukar on Mar 17, 2007 7:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Giants-Royals Today in 4 hours

I can hardly wait!!!

by royalsreview on Mar 18, 2007 12:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Classic Bell...

He's worried about the offense... Bring on the hackfest!

"He got his work in," Bell said. "I'm not worried about him. I'm worried about the offense more than anything. It's awful. It's about as bad ..."

Bell did not finish the sentence, nor did he need to. The Royals' lack of a clutch hit early told the story.

FIRE BELL

by FireBell on Mar 18, 2007 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

talk about missing the point

maybe the prioblem is that too many guys are nothing but singles hitters

still, the offense ISNT the problem

by FlintHillsRoyal on Mar 18, 2007 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

bell misses the point (shocker!)

http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070317&content_id=1847138&vkey=spt20 07news&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc

um, so basically, buddy baseball is saying that the r's are taking too many pitches. does this alarm anyone else??

by Billex Gordler on Mar 18, 2007 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I expect big things from Odie today

by FlintHillsRoyal on Mar 18, 2007 3:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Way to end a rally....

Reggie!!!!!

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kill a rally then blow a fly ball...

Way to go REGGIE....

Good catch Esteban...

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

two down...lets go Odie...

Hey, Berroa made a decent play to first.... Go Blue get some runs....

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gordon, Gordon, Gordon...... yes!!!!

It is good to be a Royal fan.... good guys 1-0

YES!!!!

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

weak grounder by Brownie....

He hasn't hit anything hard this ST.

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Come on Shea... keep the inning going.

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

two down and no one on for Bucky.....

Go Bucky...

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I am ready for the Royal Review FB draft

tonight. Can't wait.....

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Odie is batting this should be good....

a better ground out than Brownie's...

1-0 good guys....

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

we own the giants

by LeoBloom on Mar 18, 2007 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another lead off hit given up by Odie....

a DP would be good here...

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Brown and Sanders are KILLING US

by LeoBloom on Mar 18, 2007 4:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey... who woke up Berroa...

He just turn a good DP to end the inning.

Still 1-0 good guys....

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We have never lost here ....

we will kick there Barry Bonds butts....

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

All right a triple by Esteban....

a guy on third and no outs for Berroa. This should be good... a good play by Feliz and down goes Bull. Come on Teahen brings home with a base hit. YES>>>>>>>

2-0 good guys....

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why is Reggie still on this team?

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A base hit for Reggie....

I am shocked...

Gordon is up lets see two in a row. Drive them home.....

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Got him with a curve.... Gordon down on strikes

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Here's Brownie....

Brown, Berroa, and Sanders in the same lineup...god, thats a killer lineup.

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ground out for Brownie...go figure...

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I thought I should add the Buddy's lineup

Kansas City AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
German, 2B 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .341
Berroa, SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
Teahen, CF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .364
Sanders, RF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .292
Gordon, A, 3B 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .433
Brown, LF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
Shealy, 1B 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .342
Buck, C 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .294
Perez, P 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000

It still looks funny to see Teahen in CF....

by grudz69 on Mar 18, 2007 4:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs