Missing an entire week of ball and Greinke's start.

by powderbluesfor08 on Aug 24, 2007 11:16 AM EDT

I just felt the urge to bitch about how much my job sucks. It should be illegal for employers to require me to work these hours. I'm in sales and have had appointments assigned at:

Mon. - 10,1,5,8
Tues. - 10,1,5,8
Weds. - 10,1,5
Thurs. - 10,1,5,8
Fri. - 10,1,5,8....(My ten cancelled this morning)
Sat. - ??? Won't know till late tonight.

I leave the house at 9-9:30am and get home around 11:30pm every day this week. I can't bitch to my wife because all I'll hear is how much worse she has it at her job...You married guys know how this works...

This is my version of scared straight for those going back to school. Wish I stayed in college.

Anyway, I'm gonna miss not seeing tonights game especially, and will have to settle again for reading all your posts tonight. Maybe I'm just in a foul mood but I expect an Odalis type of performance out of Greinke...4-5 runs in 5 innings. Hope I'm wrong. Any one else want to speculate on how he will do?

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He hasn't been stretched out, so he won't go long

Even if he's dominating, I don't see him going to deep into the game. He hasn't thrown more than 34 pitches since June 14.

So I'm going to say 5 ip, 2 er.

by Scott McKinney on Aug 24, 2007 11:37 AM EDT reply actions

As a Sales Rep./Serv. Rep. I feel your pain.

Your schedule is one of the reasons that I became an independent Rep. Sometimes it feels like I am walking the plank all by myself but the freedom from the boss standing on my head makes up for that.

Now could you do something about the weather we are having in the midwest? Building an Ark has crossed my mind recently.

by grudz69 on Aug 24, 2007 11:40 AM EDT reply actions

So are you "Grudz Almighty"?

by lordbyronk on Aug 24, 2007 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Only, when I set on the toilet.

Students are just clients only younger.

by grudz69 on Aug 24, 2007 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Don't forget the oars.

Too bad you didn't have the boat loaded in time to save all the Dolphins.

Let's Go Blues!

by powderbluesfor08 on Aug 24, 2007 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Greinke

will do all right. I'm going two runs in 4 IP. It'll take a while for him to build up his pitch count. He'll be great again, I have faith.

by lordbyronk on Aug 24, 2007 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

Boy, are your optimistic today.

I say he goes three scoreless innings and then gets bombed because Buddy doesn't bring someone in. 4 innings, six runs on 8 hits, but with 5 k's

by grudz69 on Aug 24, 2007 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

I think it's safe to say he gives up a dinger

The question is how many will be on base when he does.

I'll be optimistic and guess that it's a solo shot. The line is:

6 1/3 innings, 5 hits, 2 walks, 1 ER, 4 k's.

by marbotty on Aug 24, 2007 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions

2 runs allowed is optimistic?

5 ip, 2 er or 4 ip, 2 er is pretty mediocre. I don't see how anyone can say that this is optimism. Sounds like realism to me. He's been lights out as a reliver. And he gave up 1 er or less in 3 of his 7 starts. And we all know he has a lot of talent. I don't think it is optimism to predict that he'll have a short, decent outing.

by Scott McKinney on Aug 24, 2007 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Just, couldn't resist ...could you???

by grudz69 on Aug 24, 2007 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

ah, you know that NYRoyal's the board's favorite

contrarian

by marbotty on Aug 24, 2007 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

and, he has never read a Grudz comment

that he could resist. Ya just got to love him!!!! OR????

by grudz69 on Aug 24, 2007 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Get over yourself

Greinke's start is the topic of discussion. I commented in response to a couple of people who referred to 2-run predictions being "optimistic" or "glass is half full".

That's what happens on these boards. People comment and others frequently respond. It isn't just about you, grudz. I respond to many different comments. My comments and responses are all over this site. Get over yourself.

When people make a comment, it is common for others to respond. And, sometimes they won't agree with you (gasp!). Get used to it.

by Scott McKinney on Aug 24, 2007 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

As compared to his previous starts this season,

in which he had a 5.71 ERA, I would have to agree that giving up only two runs in four or five innings is a touch optimistic (although that's about what I'm expecting/hoping for). Yes, he's been much more successful since his move to the 'pen, but it's tough to completely ignore the difference between his performance in each role (3.54 ERA in relief).

That being said, "two earned runs in four or five innings" isn't half as optimistic as "six runs in four innings" is pessimistic.

Royals, NBA, Golden Hurricane, Hawkeyes, Chiefs, and KU basketball, in that order.

by Rowyal on Aug 24, 2007 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

My point

...is that about half of his starts were excellent and about half of them were bad, so I don't know why assuming he'll have a bad start makes the most sense. Plus, there is reason to believe that he might have figured something out in his bullpen stint. Today in the KC Star he talks about how his pitching philosophy/approach has changed. He says he's succeeded as a reliever because he's throwing as hard as he can and he's not trying to hit every corner. So, he's going to pitch that way as a starter and I think that will work better.

Tonight we'll see which outlook was more realistic.

by Scott McKinney on Aug 24, 2007 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Couple of two run predictions...

This must be the glass half full bunch.

Frankly, anything short of a Baltimorian 30 run result should be deemed a success, no?

Let's Go Blues!

by powderbluesfor08 on Aug 24, 2007 11:55 AM EDT reply actions

My favorite stat from that game

Is that the Rangers struck out 11 TIMES!! Paul Shuey, while giving up 9 earned runs on 7 hits and 3 walks over 2 innings, struck out FIVE--that means all but one of the outs he recorded were by strikeout.

Imagine if the Rangers had made contact on even half of those strikeouts. 47-3?

by CentralChamps2009 on Aug 24, 2007 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes... but, I do hate to see the kid get

beat up.

by grudz69 on Aug 24, 2007 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions

4 ip 1 er 6 K's

solo home run. he will look really good, but walk a couple and give up a HR.

positive outing overall though...

by rockchalk on Aug 24, 2007 1:52 PM EDT reply actions

I agree wtih NYRoyal

for discussion purposes, here are Zack's starts this year:

7 IP - 1 ER vs Bos
6-1 @ Tor
0.2-4 @Det
5-4 Min
7-0 @ Min
5-6 vs LAA
4-6 vs Det

That's three excellent starts, and four varying degrees of poor starts, despite probably using the wrong approach.

I've said it before - the intriguing thing to watch for is if Zack takes his bullpen approach of going all-out, versus his previous starting approach of trying to pace himself.

I'm convinced that Zack has been undermined by his past coaching (mostly the pitching coaches prior to McClure), who have erroneously told him to take something off his fastball and "pitch to contact". I think that "bullpen Zack" is the real Zack that had everybody drooling about his potential from the time he started with the organization. I also think, as NYRoyal suggests, that perhaps Zack has learned this lesson from his success in the bullpen. The only remaining question is can he go "all-out" for 5-6 innings? I don't see why not, for the following reasons:

Other big leaguers can do it
Zack does not appear to be unduly laboring to do so while relieving
He is STILL only 23 and could easily continue to improve his stamina as he matures

by loyal2s dad on Aug 24, 2007 1:53 PM EDT reply actions

Good point about physical development

It is hard to throw 95-98 for 5+ innings. Even when he gets back his SP stamina this season, he may not have the strength and stamina to throw that hard deep into a game. If not, he's still young enough that one should expect he'll improve his strength and stamina over the next few years.

by Scott McKinney on Aug 24, 2007 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, now we know

he can sustain it for 48 pitches, at least.

I skipped working the game Friday and watched it intently with my daughter instead. Greinke was throwing just as aggresively at the end of his night as he was at the beginning. This could be the MOST SIGNIFICANT development of a season full of significant developments...

by loyal2s dad on Aug 27, 2007 12:06 PM EDT reply actions