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Game 6 Open Thread - Royals (3-2) at Twins (3-3)

Royalsreview_tiny by royalsreview on in Events

Kansas City @ Minnesota


Early season baseball is an experience of randomness.Two days ago, life was sweet after a sweep of the mighty Tigers. Trey had the boys [insert cliche]. Now, all that stands between the Royals and a sweep at the hands of the milquetoast Twins  is...

Brett Tomko!

Today's question is:

The Royals have now gone 81 straight at bats without a walk. How high does that total get before the next free pass?

 

Also, be sure to check out this fanpost.

 

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Two losses

I've missed both games against the Twins, first I had the Rockies home-opener on Friday and then I was scouting some hunting land in the mountains yesterday. I apologize for the (purely random) losses and I promise I'll be here today for the Royals 4th victory of the season.

Disclaimer: Comments may not be suitable for young children or women who are pregnant, or women who think they may be pregnant. Side effects could include nausea, dizziness, or yelling at the monitor in disbelief.

by MileHighKCfan on Apr 6, 2008 12:27 PM EDT   0 recs

so it was you!

I'm just glad that it's not my fault that they lost the last two games anymore ;)

Boyfriend of the Year 2008: It's gonna be big!

by loyal2theroyals on Apr 6, 2008 12:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

somehow, i think we'll get one in the first inning

gathright has (or had) pretty decent plate discipline, so he could do it.

maybe the real question is how many do we end up with? i'd put the over/under at three

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by marbotty on Apr 6, 2008 12:44 PM EDT   0 recs

3.5 that is

i clearly don't know how wagers work

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by marbotty on Apr 6, 2008 12:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

i'm ready for the game today

mostly because it means procrasting all of the homework that I have...a lesson plan to write, reading, a test to study for...oi.

Boyfriend of the Year 2008: It's gonna be big!

by loyal2theroyals on Apr 6, 2008 12:47 PM EDT   0 recs

i hope it isn't a spelling class:)

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by marbotty on Apr 6, 2008 12:54 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

boo.

i'm ignoring that.

It's for my music class. We have to teach a core subject using a song of some sort. Joooooy.

Boyfriend of the Year 2008: It's gonna be big!

by loyal2theroyals on Apr 6, 2008 12:56 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I am wondering about that magical curveball

of Mr. Tomko, which everyone seems so excited about and which like a magician, he has hidden for the last 6(?) years

by JSoria on Apr 6, 2008 12:52 PM EDT   0 recs

Hidden?

McClure taught it to him in spring training. It's a new pitch.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Apr 6, 2008 1:16 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

ooops

thought it was something he used early on in his career and then abandoned it and now returned to. dang, looks like mcclure is the real magician.

by JSoria on Apr 6, 2008 1:24 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

here's another fun poll

How many games will it take for Pena to raise his OPS above .150?

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by marbotty on Apr 6, 2008 12:53 PM EDT   0 recs

Let's Not Lose

Sight of the big picture; today marks the official beginning of the Brett Tomko era in KC. This date may be an official holiday someday.

Let's go, boys, to the toppermost of the poppermost!

by philofthenorth on Apr 6, 2008 12:54 PM EDT   0 recs

good point, which reminds me

PRAY FOR TOMKO

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by marbotty on Apr 6, 2008 12:56 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

we are gonna win today...

i have a good feeling about tomko, at least today.

plus, if we got swept by the twins, the sweep of the tiggers would feel a lot worse.

by rockchalk on Apr 6, 2008 12:59 PM EDT   0 recs

you're just feeling that way

because your jayhawks won yesterday...their is a term for that in psychology..hmm

by JSoria on Apr 6, 2008 1:03 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

So They're

Let's go, boys, to the toppermost of the poppermost!

by philofthenorth on Apr 6, 2008 1:31 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Three words

Brett.Tomko.Stopper

:)

Let's have a really crazy knee-jerk reaction to Tomko's outing no matter what happens.

4ip, 6 er - He's horrendous. Just release him now and minimize the damage

6ip, 2 er - He's really good, at least a solid #2 starter. Moore found another hidden gem.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Apr 6, 2008 1:18 PM EDT   0 recs

I'm more interested...

...to see if the Royals can finally score more than four runs in a nine inning game.

Blown Save

by BlownSave on Apr 6, 2008 1:22 PM EDT   0 recs

Royals

havent lost a game brodcasted in HD yet..today they are brodcasted in HD again so that obviously means we win

I love life. Life = Royals

by focs on Apr 6, 2008 1:30 PM EDT   0 recs

How many games are in HD

This year? Do we have a shot at the Mariner's win record?

Finally coming back to the 'K'!!!! I'm going to be there 7/11/08, vs the SEA Mariners, of course!

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on Apr 6, 2008 1:37 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

this is why you go out and get Tomko

he's the stopper
he stops losing streaks and starts winning ones

by royalsreview on Apr 6, 2008 1:50 PM EDT   0 recs

Lineup

Kansas City AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Gathright, CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
Callaspo, 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
Teahen, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
Guillen, RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150
Butler, DH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
Gordon, 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
Gload, 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .389
Buck, C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
Pena, SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .067


Disclaimer: Comments may not be suitable for young children or women who are pregnant, or women who think they may be pregnant. Side effects could include nausea, dizziness, or yelling at the monitor in disbelief.

by MileHighKCfan on Apr 6, 2008 1:58 PM EDT   0 recs

i hate

seeing Gload in our line-up everyday...would Dan Johnson be any better? any thoughts?

by JSoria on Apr 6, 2008 2:00 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Actually

I think Ryan Shealy can offer the same thing as Dan Johnson

Disclaimer: Comments may not be suitable for young children or women who are pregnant, or women who think they may be pregnant. Side effects could include nausea, dizziness, or yelling at the monitor in disbelief.

by MileHighKCfan on Apr 6, 2008 2:01 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Gload is a career .295/.334/ .437 hitter

Johnson is at .249/.344/.419, with probably worse D.

Then again, DJ is coming up on his age 28 season, so he may have room to break out. I don't know.

by royalsreview on Apr 6, 2008 2:02 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

true

but a lot of Gload's playing time has been as a part time player, and apparently that makes a difference.

by JSoria on Apr 6, 2008 2:03 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

If only Moore/Hillman would buck the trend of the 12-man pitching staff

Then Shealy could come up and hopefully share PT with Gload.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Apr 6, 2008 2:02 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Man

Gloadie's hitting .389 and people are still hating on him.

by jonfmorse on Apr 6, 2008 2:02 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I know it's SSS.

But he and Grudz are the only guys on this team with an OBP over .400 right now, at a time when our biggest problem is OBP. He's not coming out of the lineup until he cools off, and he shouldn't.

by jonfmorse on Apr 6, 2008 2:05 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I'd bench him in a second

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Apr 6, 2008 2:06 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Which guy with an OBP 175 points lower

would you like to replace him with, sir?

When he cools off, yeah. Back to part-time duty. Now? No way in hell, not when his OBP is 130 points higher than the team average.

by jonfmorse on Apr 6, 2008 2:09 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Is the performance in the prior 5 games actually predictive of future performance?

I don't think so. He is who he is, regardless of his numbers in 5 games. I would have Shealy share time with him because I think Shealy is probably about as good as he is, and because we need to give Shealy PT to develop and evaluate him (as this is his last option year). I'd play him even if it means losing 1 or 2 more games.

And I'd never make decisions based on 5-game stat samples.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Apr 6, 2008 2:11 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

No, the performance in the prior 5 games is predictive of current performance.

Would you argue that the performance in the first five months of the season isn't predictive of the performance in the sixth?

Nobody's saying "he should start for the next six weeks because he had a hot five games." I'm saying "There's no reason to take him out of the lineup today" etc.

by jonfmorse on Apr 6, 2008 2:14 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Sample size

5 months is a pretty good sample from which to predict the 6th month. 5 games is not a good sample to predict the next 5 days. There's a very good reason to take him out of the lineup (if Shealy is on the roster). At least two good reasons.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Apr 6, 2008 2:16 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Shealy, who has proven so far he can't hit.

And last time I checked, 5:1 is not the same as 5:5. Don't strawman me.

by jonfmorse on Apr 6, 2008 2:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

5 days is 5 days and that is a really tiny sample size

Are you really defending the meaningfulness and reliability of a 5-game sample size? You really can't. 5 games is not predictive of the next game. So there's your 5:1.

And Shealy hasn't proven anything. He is unproven. That's why you play him. You play him because you have a below average first basemen and you want to see if Shealy can be better or even decent. Gload is not good enough to block anyone.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Apr 6, 2008 2:19 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Grudz has hit well, should he not have been benched?

Shouldn't Callaspo be getting PT? Isn't that more valuable to the team than maximizing Grudz's PT even when he has good stats over 5 games?

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Apr 6, 2008 2:21 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

You think Grudz is out to give Callaspo PT?

He's out because Grudz needs a day off every week.

I also don't understand all the wank over Shealy, anyway. He is not a prospect. He's already 28, and I'm pretty well convinced he's a Quadruple-A player anyway. The answer isn't Shealy; the answer isn't in the org.

by jonfmorse on Apr 6, 2008 2:24 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm saying that Grudz SHOULD be benched fairly regularly to give Callaspo PT

Because Callaspo is the future and Grudz is merely the present. And when you are rebuilding, you should be willing to take a minor hit in the present.

There's no reason to give up on Shealy, particularly when the alternative in the present is a below average 1B like Gload. We really don't know what Shealy can do. Very limited PT in the majors. Last season was injury-riddled. There's no reason why he shouldn't be getting significant playing time.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Apr 6, 2008 2:26 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Grudz

He was only playin 2 of the 3, it was already decided and he chose the first 2

Disclaimer: Comments may not be suitable for young children or women who are pregnant, or women who think they may be pregnant. Side effects could include nausea, dizziness, or yelling at the monitor in disbelief.

by MileHighKCfan on Apr 6, 2008 2:24 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

So, you're taking the position

that players do not have hot and cold streaks.

Gload is on a hot streak wherein he is one of the three most productive hitters on this team. You play him until he cools off.

by jonfmorse on Apr 6, 2008 2:21 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I wouldn't say that these stats constitute a particulare hot streaks

And yes I think that the studies that have been done show that virtually all "streaks" fall within the range of what you would expect from a pretty random distribution within the range of a player's typical stats. "Streakiness" isn't so much a genuine phenomenon as a spin that people put on essentially random events.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Apr 6, 2008 2:24 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Alex Gordon

would probably disagree with you.

by jonfmorse on Apr 6, 2008 2:25 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I guess

his April last year was "normal" then.

Guys going 0-23 are not "within normal distribution". This is one point where I will disagree until hell freezes over with the SABR folk; to argue that players performances are static just because numbers show standard deviation to be within tolerance is horsepuckey. Players go into slumps because they're hurt or unfocused or suffering a mechanical problem that needs fixing. Players go into hot streaks because they're feeling good, trying new things that work (for awhile), or they're hyper-focused. Anyone who tries to claim these aren't real factors is off the reservation.

by jonfmorse on Apr 6, 2008 2:30 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Is a bad month being "streaky"?

And if you look at the distributions, you'll see (as many researchers have) that every "streak" throughout the history of baseball has been within what one could and should expect in a normal distribution except for Dimaggio's record streak.

This reminds me a lot of the "everyone knows that clutch hitting exists" malarkey.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Apr 6, 2008 2:33 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Look

I'm trying not to get snippy, 'cause even though you're an argumentative bullhead, I like you.

But even Bill James will tell you flat-out that stats don't prove anything -- and they especially provide zero input into the "people" aspect of the game. Since we know for a fact that players will play hurt and their performance suffers, any study which "proves" players don't get hot and cold is flawed from the outset.

And of course clutch hitting doesn't exist.

And now that Butler's actually gotten a double instead of a single-throwout, I'm going to stop arguing with you. :p

by jonfmorse on Apr 6, 2008 2:36 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I understand that the stats don't prove this

But they give some pretty strong evidence, in my opinion.

We really don't know for sure if clutch hitting exists or not, nor do we know for sure if streaky hitting exists as a meaningful phenomenon or not. On both counts, the available evidence strongly suggests that neither exists.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Apr 6, 2008 2:38 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

One last thing:

Shealy aside (and yes, I DO think he needs a chance, just not *today*), we may see Gload non-stop until DDJ is back (allowing Trey to go with Teahen at 1B, Gathright/DeJesus in LF/CF). There's no other real option at 1B the way the roster is currently constituted.

by jonfmorse on Apr 6, 2008 2:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I want bombs from and high obp from my first baseman, not silly singles

although i guess i should be content with that, considering the rest of the team can't seem to be doing that.

by JSoria on Apr 6, 2008 2:05 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Good idea by Joey

go at the 3B when he is drawn in.

Disclaimer: Comments may not be suitable for young children or women who are pregnant, or women who think they may be pregnant. Side effects could include nausea, dizziness, or yelling at the monitor in disbelief.

by MileHighKCfan on Apr 6, 2008 2:13 PM EDT   0 recs

Why Does KCSP

Have NASCAR on the air?

Let's go, boys, to the toppermost of the poppermost!

by philofthenorth on Apr 6, 2008 2:14 PM EDT   0 recs

KMBZ 980 carries most of the Sunday games.

by 2X2L on Apr 6, 2008 2:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

MLB Gameday audio seemed to have this figured out pretty well during spring training, but now when it counts they're picking up the wrong feed. Excellent.

by 2X2L on Apr 6, 2008 2:18 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

They Have A

Great Spanish feed and the Twinkie guys, so that's what I'm listening to.

Let's go, boys, to the toppermost of the poppermost!

by philofthenorth on Apr 6, 2008 2:21 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

This is the last day of the MLB Extra Innings free preview, and for once the Royals game is on one of the few Sports iNDemand channels carried here, so I've got that. But I wanted to pair that up with the Royals' radio feed -- I don't mind that they've not in sync.

Greedy, I know. I'll try to be satisfied with what I've got.

by 2X2L on Apr 6, 2008 2:24 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

MLB has switched to the correct audio feed now.

by 2X2L on Apr 6, 2008 2:29 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I miss 810

Liked the Petro/Bukaty pre/post game analysis, for the most part. I'm not sure what they have going on pre/post game on KCSP, have only heard the actual games. Today, I was going to check out the pregame, but I heard NASCAR and was befuddled and angry until I could get home and look it up on the computer.

by andrewmiller on Apr 6, 2008 2:25 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Wow... 7 pitches

Way to work ol' Boof.

Finally coming back to the 'K'!!!! I'm going to be there 7/11/08, vs the SEA Mariners, of course!

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on Apr 6, 2008 2:15 PM EDT   0 recs

9

I love life. Life = Royals

by focs on Apr 6, 2008 2:15 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

7

Disclaimer: Comments may not be suitable for young children or women who are pregnant, or women who think they may be pregnant. Side effects could include nausea, dizziness, or yelling at the monitor in disbelief.

by MileHighKCfan on Apr 6, 2008 2:16 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Hmm...

I was going by what the birthday boy Bert Blylevyn said.... He doesn't know how to win anyways.

Finally coming back to the 'K'!!!! I'm going to be there 7/11/08, vs the SEA Mariners, of course!

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on Apr 6, 2008 2:16 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

We swung at good pitches

Disclaimer: Comments may not be suitable for young children or women who are pregnant, or women who think they may be pregnant. Side effects could include nausea, dizziness, or yelling at the monitor in disbelief.

by MileHighKCfan on Apr 6, 2008 2:15 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

To answer your question 20 minutes late

there are 88 Games in HD.. so hopefully we can win that many :D

I love life. Life = Royals

by focs on Apr 6, 2008 2:15 PM EDT   0 recs

indeed

wouldn't that be nice

Finally coming back to the 'K'!!!! I'm going to be there 7/11/08, vs the SEA Mariners, of course!

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on Apr 6, 2008 2:15 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

hackfest marches on

84 ABs without a walk

by royalsreview on Apr 6, 2008 2:16 PM EDT   0 recs

Come on

If you're swinging at bad pitches, then bitch away. But when you take some balls like Gathright and Callaspo did and then swing at good pitches there is nothing wrong with that.

Disclaimer: Comments may not be suitable for young children or women who are pregnant, or women who think they may be pregnant. Side effects could include nausea, dizziness, or yelling at the monitor in disbelief.

by MileHighKCfan on Apr 6, 2008 2:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I stand in front of my internet and applaud Tomko

I've waited for this day.

by royalsreview on Apr 6, 2008 2:17 PM EDT   0 recs

Just so everyone knows

Minnesota has always had a rep of not walking people.. they only walked 1 in a 4 game set against the angels... so they just like to throw strikes and let people put it in play.. i just dont wanna see anymore 1st pitch swings everytime.. that frustrates me more than anything

I love life. Life = Royals

by focs on Apr 6, 2008 2:17 PM EDT   0 recs

AWESOME

Tomko made a nice play, and the only way he could have.

Finally coming back to the 'K'!!!! I'm going to be there 7/11/08, vs the SEA Mariners, of course!

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on Apr 6, 2008 2:17 PM EDT   0 recs

Damn.

Guillen was definately making sure he didnt pull a hamstring going for that ball - good hustle

I love life. Life = Royals

by focs on Apr 6, 2008 2:19 PM EDT   0 recs

Tolbert Is A

Golden God.

Let's go, boys, to the toppermost of the poppermost!

b