Game 50 Open Thread- Mariners (22-22) at Royals (19-30)

by royalsreview on May 26, 2007 5:22 PM EDT in News

This is why we can't have nice things.

Since winning eight out of ten games --an event which precipitated my radio appearance on KFRU-AM in Columbia, MO-- the Royals "responded" with two dismal defeats each featuring ten runs from the bad guys, and resulting in a fallback to 19-30. Thanks to those defeats, the Royals are now 11-12 in May, meaning they'll need to get another win streak going this Pentecost weekend if they want to claim their first winning month since 2003.

Earlier this week I got an email from a "1957 Grass Creek grad" who had seen the April post about Grass Creek, Thermopolis and Hot Springs County, and its location halfway between the Seattle (945 miles from Seattle) and Kansas City (948 miles). According to -----,

"Last count showed that Grass Creek has about ten families. All farmers, ranchers, vagrants or oil field people. Maybe some of the vagrants really care about the rivalry. Doubt that the rest might. All other residents in the area live on ranches or farms. By the way, at a Kiwanis meeting in Thermop one time I ask Clark Mortimer how his business was - he told me it was dead!
It is great being from Grass Creek. Marathon Oil tore down the community where I was raised and moved everyone to Thermop, Cody or Meteetsee. All that is left are the building for the oilfield and the ranchers. Thermop, like any other small town USA endears itself to MLB, NHL and NFL teams - probably the Rockies (yes, the Rockies ), the Avalanche and the Broncos (who wouldn't be a Bronco fan)?"

------ was kind enough to answer a few additional questions about Grass Creek and surrounding areas. Little did I know that Royals-Mariners would almost directly correspond to our, umm, correspondence. Thanks again to the "1957 Grass Creek grad" for his time.

RR: What was Grass Creek like when you were growing up?
Small village. 50 or so families. Mostly ranchers, farmers and oil field workers.

RR:How was it different from Thermopolis and other places in Hot Springs County?
Thermop is and was a town, with city government, schools, shopping, etc. Grass Creek had one store (also the post office with a gas pump out front), a pool hall/bar (burned down about 50 years ago), an elementary Superior Rated school, no law, no crime, close to hunting for rabbits, birds, deer, elk and moose. Trophy fishing is no more than 30 minutes away.

RR: How has Grass Creek changed since then? Is anything left?
Marathon Oil sold all the houses and had the new owners move them out in 1961. A sprinkling of ranchers and famers remain. The store and post office has closed. Most remaining buildings are deteriorating and falling down. Not much fun to go back out there.

RR: Do you think anyone in Hot Springs County ever thinks much about being halfway between Seattle and Kansas City?
Not really!

RR: Which city do you feel is closer to the spirit of Grass Creek?
Kansas City - more of the midwestern bible belt values. Even 20 or 30 or 50 years ago I doubt there would have been a battle for the hearts and souls of Grass Creek. When I was growing up we couldn't even get radio or tv out there. The newspaper was delivered by one of us kids and it was the Grit - not much in there about sports.

By the way, my wife is from an oilfield over the hill from Grass Creek. It is called Hamilton Dome. Its gone as well.

Thanks again (again) to ----- for his insight and glimpses into a vanishing America. I'm one of those types who is prone to pull off the highway, travel down side roads, read historical markers and visit ghost towns, so I certainly appreciated hearing from a Grass Creek native. These small communities in Hot Springs County, Wyoming remind me of some of my own experiences in and around the oil fields of West Texas.

------

Sadly, thanks to last night's 10-2 Mariner win, the best the Royals can do in 2007 is to fight back and earn a 3-3 tie, leaving the Battle for Grass Creek deadlocked for another season.

Baek's courage was questioned by Lookout Landing, but the man dominated the Royals in April.

Tonight's game features the never scared Cha Seung Baek (1-2, 5.50 ERA), who makes his second start of the season against the Royals. Last month in Seattle, Baek took a no-hitter into the 6th against the Royals, coincidentally enough against none other than Brian Bannister (0-2, 4.39 ERA). Bannister's start in Seattle was perhaps his strongest of the season as well, as he held the Mariners to just one run, until a 7th inning meltdown did him in.

It's a Baek-Bannister rematch in KC!

Unfortunately, I'll be here, listening to this, tonight, so ~~y'all~~ you guys will have to handle the Game Thread fun without me. I'll order an Old Fashioned in honor of Buddy, or something like that.

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nice

you should be able to get enough culture for all of us. will they let you in with your bottle of plum wine? looks like a good program, have fun taking the night off. hopefully there will be a bounce-back win by the Boys in Blue.

by buddyball on May 26, 2007 5:51 PM EDT 0 recs

nice memory...

i've got plum wine in the fridge as we speak... but it will be more of a cocktail night ;0

by royalsreview on May 26, 2007 5:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

Greetings from the hospital!

I have a new 8 lb. 5 oz. baby girl. Her name is Camden and she's perfectly healthy. I'm posting from my PDA (even here I have to check fantasy numbers and the goings on at RR). I'll probably be absent for much of the next few days. Go Blue! I'll be with you in spirit.

by royaldaddy on May 26, 2007 6:24 PM EDT 0 recs

wow... thats incredible

congrats

by royalsreview on May 26, 2007 6:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

congratulations man

thats really great

by LeoBloom on May 26, 2007 6:34 PM EDT up 0 recs

another royals fan is born

felicidades!

What hath Bell wrought?

by FireBell on May 26, 2007 6:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

That's the way

to add to the roster!

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 6:42 PM EDT up 0 recs

Awesome news!

Wow, no feeling can approach that one, congrats RD! Camden, very cool name. Watch out, those little girls wrap you around their finger in no time.

Don't forget to get one of those cute little Royals baby outfits. May her days watching the boys in blue be happier than ours have been.

by chukar on May 26, 2007 6:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Congratulations man....

You are a very lucky man. A new Royal fan... we need all of them that we can get. I hope to meet you and your family sometime this summer.

I will buy you several Boules too celebrate. We want pictures..... of the newest Royalkids....

by grudz69 on May 26, 2007 8:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

thank you all very much

It's awesome. We've got a couple of Royals outfits. I can't wait to sleep in my own bed again though. These hospital beds are uncomfortable as hell. She didn't bring a Royal victory, but I feel a 4 game win streak coming on.

by royaldaddy on May 27, 2007 10:26 AM EDT up 0 recs

Congrats! That's wonderful!

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on May 26, 2007 11:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

Congratulations RoyalDaddy

You'll have her down at the ballpark in no time.

Rock Chalk Talk for pretty good KU College Baseball Coverage

by James Quinn on May 27, 2007 9:36 AM EDT up 0 recs

again, thank you much

I know we'll have her down within the next month for sure. Hopefully, we'll be home to see her first televised game on.... Monday (i believe?).

by royaldaddy on May 27, 2007 10:54 AM EDT up 0 recs

on more mundane matters

what exactly does German have to do to get a start?

Shane Costa: OPS .533; 9K, zero BB

Esteban German: OPS .851; 19K, 18 BB---reached base eighteen times in his last thirty-six plate appearances.

I mean, I like defense as much as the next guy but we're talking left field here---the place where Manny frickin' Ramirez makes a living.

I have had it with

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 6:51 PM EDT 0 recs

I think it has something to do

with a priest, a rabbi, and a mormon...with three goats and tiger and Buddo the clown. But, I could be wrong. Some guys just don't get the respect they deserve.

by grudz69 on May 26, 2007 8:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hey

second pitch and we haven't given up a run. We're ahead of last night's pace already.

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 7:11 PM EDT 0 recs

Brian Bannister

staff stopper

awfully awesome alliteration

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 7:16 PM EDT 0 recs

Anybody know

If Johjima has a good throwing arm? Most Asian pitchers are slow to the plate.

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 7:23 PM EDT 0 recs

six of seven

for Bannister.

Hey if one of the first two hitters reach in the third, he'd have 'seven of nine' and we'd have another excuse for a Jeri Ryan pic.

Good times. Good times.

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 7:31 PM EDT 0 recs

Buddy's Plan

Buddy wants his best arm in left. That's why Ichiro plays there.

Being a fan is irrational, but what is the alternative?

by philofthenorth on May 26, 2007 7:32 PM EDT 0 recs

Isn't Ichiro

in center? The pedestrian Ibanez is in left...for offense.

That's the model of Mike Hargrove, who unlike another manager in this game has actually had stretches of managerial success including a World Series appearance.

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 7:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

now that

I read it again, that's probably your point.

Me, meet understated sarcasm...understated sarcasm, me...

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 7:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

Shane Costa

0-1. One put out. Suuure glad we've got him in the lineup. Where would we be without him? Not like we have anyone on the bench who'd be better.

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 7:37 PM EDT 0 recs

mmmmm.....

Indeed, "seven of nine" for Bannister.

mmmmm.....

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 7:43 PM EDT 0 recs

4-6-3

bip, bang boom.

Banny's cruisin'

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 7:44 PM EDT 0 recs

Could It Be

German?

Being a fan is irrational, but what is the alternative?

by philofthenorth on May 26, 2007 7:45 PM EDT 0 recs

Pitch Count

Let's put Berroa in for Teahen; it takes at least three pitches to strike out.

Being a fan is irrational, but what is the alternative?

by philofthenorth on May 26, 2007 7:48 PM EDT 0 recs

Pena!

findin' a way...

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 7:48 PM EDT 0 recs

Wow

what a soft run---bunt single and two infield errors.

We'll take it.

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 7:52 PM EDT 0 recs

Junior

I like Pena, and I think he's one of the best moves GMDM has made. Solid in the field and good at the plate for the nine hole. If he can hit two-fitty he's a keeper.

Being a fan is irrational, but what is the alternative?

by philofthenorth on May 26, 2007 7:52 PM EDT 0 recs

First lead

since Wednesday, yes?

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 7:52 PM EDT 0 recs

Aaand

it doesn't last long...

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 8:05 PM EDT 0 recs

What a

cruel game this can be.

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 8:05 PM EDT 0 recs

Grandma Mustard

I'm just gald I'm not listening to Niehaus.

Being a fan is irrational, but what is the alternative?

by philofthenorth on May 26, 2007 8:12 PM EDT 0 recs

Can anyone explain this to me...

Kansas City AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
DeJesus, CF 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .272
Grudzielanek, 2B 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .267
Teahen, RF 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .297
Sweeney, DH 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .257
Gordon, 3B 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .191
Shealy, 1B 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .209
Costa, LF 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226
LaRue, C 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .102
Pena, SS 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .253

Lala is playing in place of our hottest bat? Costa is playing LF instead of German (another hot bat)? After Teahen we suck as an offense... is Buddo trying to lose on purpose?

ARGHH!!!! It is good that I have the town graduation celebration to attend. Every year ...this huge town of 300 people loyally celebrate their graduates. We have 18 this year from five different school systems.

I will push to hurry back for the 7th or at least the 9th.

Rough 4th for Banns... come on offense..two hits... we can do better than that. Our defense is keeping us in the game. Okay, the second demand was made for me to hurry up. Go Blue ....

by grudz69 on May 26, 2007 8:25 PM EDT 0 recs

Lala over Buck

doesn't drive me insane. Tomorrow is a day game so Buck was probably going to sit one of them. Costa for German is not defensible---not on the basis of age, not on the basis of defense, not on the basis of attitude and certainly on the basis of production.

Left/right fetish? Last gasp for Costa before being sent down?

I dunno, but either they're not paying attention or there's something we don't know.

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 8:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

Lala..versus Phillips...

not even close... Lala should be on the way out of town. I hear Cleveland is nice this time of year.

by grudz69 on May 27, 2007 12:09 AM EDT up 0 recs

Hey Grudz, to offer a different opinion,

tomorrow is a day game after a night game, so Buck would sit either today or tomorrow. If he's not in tomorrow, you would have a beef.

Are you guys proposing that German is now our everyday LF? That might be considered controversial/adventureous. IMO he's horrible at any defensive position at 2B.

Seems to me with Gload out this is a pretty good time to get Costa some ABs. He was as hot as Butler at Omaha. I don't think this unsurprising decision is costing us the game.

Grudz, good of you to get out and support the local kids. Those gestures mean alot though they might never admit it. You're a fine gentlemean, sir.

by chukar on May 26, 2007 8:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

Read the above... not to offer a different

opinion... and not to be negative...

by grudz69 on May 27, 2007 12:10 AM EDT up 0 recs

Shane Costa

offensive force. Man, I'm glad we found a way to get him in the lineup.

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 8:31 PM EDT 0 recs

Come Back, Shane

Just make him the permanent DH, move Sweeney back behind the plate, put Buck in right, Teahen in left, Pena in center and DeJesus at short. German is the new closer. It's so simple.

Being a fan is irrational, but what is the alternative?

by philofthenorth on May 26, 2007 8:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

Two hit

game for Pena.

Rest of the club 1-16

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 8:34 PM EDT 0 recs

omaha update

im bored with the kc game, its just making me depressed so im gamedaying the omaha new orleans game...

matt wright is on the hill with 92 pitches, 64 of them strikes.

its 1-1 in the top of the 7th, butler had a sac fly scoring gator...

by rockchalk on May 26, 2007 8:37 PM EDT 0 recs

of course butlers made 2 errors

at first base! one on a catch and another on a fielded ball...

i hate to say this but its looking more and more like DH is the only position billy can play...

by rockchalk on May 26, 2007 8:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

one more thing

brazell is hitting .386 with 13 HR's. i know he is 27 and a 1B/DH type and we have plenty of those, but we might as well give him a try shouldn't we? he could come up and split time with shealy at 1B and sweeney at DH, if he comes out and hits like he is in AAA we could trade him...

by rockchalk on May 26, 2007 8:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

billy buckner coming in now

for matt wright, lets see what he's made of...

by rockchalk on May 26, 2007 8:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

fernando tatis is new orlean's cleanup hitter

and just drove in a run...

by rockchalk on May 26, 2007 8:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

tell me

Chan Ho Park isn't pitching for Omaha...

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 9:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

or it's

time to trade cappy.

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 8:45 PM EDT up 0 recs

Brazell ain't nothing

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on May 26, 2007 11:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Nothing is better than Brownie....

and or a hurt exploading Gload.

by grudz69 on May 27, 2007 12:07 AM EDT up 0 recs

92 pitches

for Bannister through six.

Man, turn one pitch into a DP for a leadfooted catcher and he's throwing a gem.

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 8:41 PM EDT 0 recs

banny has pitched pretty well in his time in KC

he is looking like a lot more than an AAAA player, he might be a future solution in our rotation.

im probably overshooting though...

by rockchalk on May 26, 2007 8:43 PM EDT 0 recs

So Baek has completely shut us down in 2 starts

our last chance to get him here

by chukar on May 26, 2007 8:57 PM EDT 0 recs

At least Banny got us 7, we needed it

really not a bad job by Banny tonight, the one mistake killed him

by chukar on May 26, 2007 9:05 PM EDT 0 recs

for the record

I hate busses. And I was happy that we were 1-0 about 2 hours ago. And then I checked the score about 20 minutes ago on my phone and died a little on the inside.

A grand slam? To a CATCHER FOR CHRIST'S SAKE! ::hits forehead with palm::

I got bored...sue me

by loyal2theroyals on May 26, 2007 9:08 PM EDT 0 recs

Positive waves

Nice return to the big club for Braun.

You see Soria went on the DL?

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 9:13 PM EDT 0 recs

Soria going on the DL really sucks

hopefully Braun can pick us up, nice to see him effective tonight

by chukar on May 26, 2007 9:14 PM EDT 0 recs

Pena!

Do I hear a three hit game?!

Two that haven't left the infield!

Finding a way, man. Finding a way.

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 9:17 PM EDT 0 recs

Costa up fourth

in the bottom of the ninth.

If we don't pinch hit, I'm gonna scream.

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 9:34 PM EDT 0 recs

My oh my

Thirty-six runs allowed in four games.

That's it for me tonight.

Keep the faith.

by howserfan on May 26, 2007 9:41 PM EDT 0 recs

why is it so hard for the Royals

to play at home? Why???

It's really sad when your road record is better than your home record. Seriously.

I got bored...sue me

by loyal2theroyals on May 26, 2007 9:42 PM EDT 0 recs

Seattle one of those teams that owns us at the K

for some reason. Check the records of M's, A's, and Angels at the K and it's absurd. Really hard to explain when you look at our record in their stadiums. I'm quite sick of seeing it.

by chukar on May 26, 2007 9:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ouch... again..

Banns pitches into the 7th... gives up 4 earned runs and he loses. five hits... Grudz and Pena should have been the only ones batting tonight. Lala went 0-3 with a .098 average. What the hell is he doing here? Answer me that Buddo...what? You benched Buck when he was really hot and you sent Phillips down. Even on a bad day Phillips/Tupman are better than Lala. Can you say past you prime of Lala. Dump him now.

Again, five hits and six men left on base... how can you win games like that. Banns pitched an average game and if we had an offense that didn't suck ROYALLY, we would have been in it. That is until Braun came in. How did he get up here?

I am sorry but something has to change. Because our offense is either hot or cold as ice like tonight. We have lost two games badly to a team that we should at least be equal with. But, the pitching needed to be picked up in the last two games and our offense sucked (plain and simple)

I know I am being negative after only two loses...but it isn't the loses. It is that we haven't been in either of these two games.

Color me frustrated by the lineup of Buddo's, the lack of consistent offense, and that our 3rd through 8th hitters went 0-22 tonight. How in the hell can you expect to win with those numbers? You can blame Banns and Braun...but, it is the offense that sucks. Even small ball would be better than this crap.

With that said ... I will be here tommorrow afternoon just to watch Odie and his comeback. I am praying for a decent lineup and maybe a salvaged win. Go Blue... Go Royals... I will be wearing my stained Royals Review tshirt and my rally underwear. So, if that doesn't do it nothing will....

The towns graduation party was fantastic. Food, Id'd alcohol?, a DJ... and too send them off in style...fireworks. Good time and I am proud of these kids and my town.

by grudz69 on May 26, 2007 10:39 PM EDT 0 recs

all good points

What hath Bell wrought?

by FireBell on May 26, 2007 11:47 PM EDT up 0 recs

RR, I hope the Old Fashions were good.

Listening in alone Cleveland had to be painful. But, you have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to look forward to and your are on that wonderful body of water Lake Erie. Don't drink the water...
I hope you have a great summer teaching at Cleveland State.

Since SB Nation went live with a radio show... WHEN are you going to be on it? We have the "best damn" online pub around...so when???

Seriously... keep up the good work and Iowa will miss you. What is that song... See you in September..."

Anyway.. Go Blue... and Go RR...

by grudz69 on May 26, 2007 11:05 PM EDT 0 recs

Awful... three straight awful loses

What hath Bell wrought?

by FireBell on May 26, 2007 11:47 PM EDT 0 recs

I am on your team...

Bell has to go and the end of the second month of the season is as good of time as any. Keep the pitching and 1st base coach and fire the rest. Bring in White as interim manager and see if he can do the job. Move up the hitting coach from Omaha. If not, then make the change at the end of the season.

FIRE THE CLOWN AND HIRE THE VET!!!

I am sure that I will hear about this comment.

by grudz69 on May 27, 2007 12:18 AM EDT 0 recs