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Game 37 Open Thread - Orioles at Royals (15-21)

Baltimore @ Kansas City


The hits just keep on coming, don't they?

If internet sensation Brian Bannister (4.46 ERA) can't beat the Orioles this afternoon at the K, then no one can. After posting a 0.86 ERA in his first three starts, Bannister has struggled a bit, to the tune of an 8.02 ERA in his last three starts. That stretch actually includes his 2-0 tough luck loss to the Tribe back in April, which makes the 8.02 particularly stunning. You add it all up, and he looks middle of the road in aggregate, but it hasn't really played out that way. Or maybe it has, and that's what being in the middle is like. I don't know.

Last night during the game thread I randomly decided to check up on Shane Costa, and discovered that he's mashing in Omaha. Costa's always been able to hit .300 in the minors with ease, but what may be different this year is his power: he already has seven homers and is slugging .565. (His line on the year is .313/.357/.565.) He's 26, and in over 1500 minor league PAs he's now the owner of a .314/.370/.483 line. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I don't think it's a given that the Royals wouldn't be better served giving Joey Gathright's at bats to Costa for a few months. I'd be willing to exchange some of Joey's singles for at least the off chance that Costa might be able to drive the ball, at least a little. Given the multiple discussions of Butler and his arb-clock, it also might not be a totally insane idea to switch out Butler and Shane for a month, especially considering that Shane can play the field and that Butler has looked more like Ken Harvey than Manny Ramirez thus far. Finally, I love German, but since he's not playing anyway, we might as well see what Costa has.

Thoughts on Costa?

(Call your mom.)

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at this point

I think either Maier or Costa would be better options than Joey.

by gordonrules on May 11, 2008 1:08 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

How Do You

Send your team leader in singles to Omaha?

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 1:35 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

I really think it only takes a few signatures

:)

I really don't know what to say... Did the post above this signature make sense? Probably not.

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on May 11, 2008 1:35 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Costa

My 8 year old would love that. He is her favorite player, for sure

I really don't know what to say... Did the post above this signature make sense? Probably not.

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on May 11, 2008 1:35 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Oh, I am officially off the Gathright bandwagon for the year

DDJ is impressing me.

I really don't know what to say... Did the post above this signature make sense? Probably not.

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on May 11, 2008 1:36 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Gator's Bandwagon Was

Reprocessed.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 1:37 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

A Ford Festiva

With 22’s.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:29 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

It probably wouldn't hurt the team to call up Costa, but we shouldn't expect anything from him

He had a great AAA season last year too:

.326/.402/.502

And then when he got to the majors:

.223/.257/.301

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 11, 2008 1:50 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Is Hillman Showcasing

Gator in anticipation of the trade deadline?

D. DeJesus lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .317
M. Grudzielanek 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
A. Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J. Guillen dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198
B. Butler 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
M. Teahen rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
M. Olivo c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
A. Callaspo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292
J. Gathright cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256
Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Maybe even Trey has seen enough of the terrible beauty that is TPJ at the plate.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 1:52 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

the farm director

was on xm about a week or 2 ago. Costa was mentioned during the interview and he said that while Costa has had abs in the past at the major league level, his pt has not been consistent. He said he would like to bring him up and have him play 10-15 consecutive games. He also was very displeased with Lumsden.

by gordonrules on May 11, 2008 2:11 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

My Thoughts Exactly

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:25 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

They Just Compared

Him to Moyer.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:26 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Follow The Bouncing

Balls.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:27 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

this is one of those games we just have to win

when it’s tomko, or even meche, you don’t necessarily expect it. but with banny on the mound against baltimore, anything less than a W will be disappointing

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 2:31 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Shhhhhh; Let Him

Sleep….....too late.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:33 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 2:32 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Another Soft Liner

For Guillie.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:35 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

who will be our hero today

I hope it’s Callaspo, since he’s my BOY pick, and he hasn’t picked up a point yet, despite leading the team in OPS

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 2:36 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Scoring opportunity #1: Must get at least 1 run

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 11, 2008 2:37 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

I'm Surprised He's

Not bunting.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:38 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

booyah

poor baserunning, again, by Butler

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 2:39 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

OK, I Think

Trey over-corrected Butters’ baserunning.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:40 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

i'll take it, though

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 2:41 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Station to station my friend

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 11, 2008 2:41 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

4 Hits, 1 Run

That’s the right way to play the game. Suicide squeeze next.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:42 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

make Hillman forget about TPJ, Alberto

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 2:42 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

meh

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 2:42 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

4 singles, 1 run.

Awesome.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 11, 2008 2:42 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

oh, wait, forgot it was the weekend

my work week goes from Sunday – Thursday, so I’m confused a lot

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 2:46 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

2 Forces At

The plate in one inning must tie the record.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:46 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

All we had to do was hit the ball OUT OF THE INFIELD

This team is so bad at the plate.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 11, 2008 2:46 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

let's see if we can break it right here

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 2:47 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

2 Outs Too

Late with the fly ball. Bases loaded, 3 unproductive outs. Hah, they’re still on the air and don’t know it; Denny just said they were lucky to get the one run!

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:49 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Isn't that the truth

When your fundamentals are that poor, yeah, you’re lucky to even get a run there.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 11, 2008 2:50 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

How t he hell do you get 4 hits in a row and only score one run?

My brain is exploding.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 11, 2008 2:47 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Butler's Baserunning Blunder

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:49 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

butler doesn't run well, certainly

but doesn’t the 3rd base coach bear some blame? seems like we’ve had more baserunning errors and runners being picked off than any team in recent memory

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 2:52 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

If He Was

Watching the 3B coach.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:53 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

lot of cheering by the fans there

think they were just excited to see teh ball out of the infield

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 2:47 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

We deserve to lose this game after that

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 11, 2008 2:48 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Hy, Callie Can

Turn the DP!

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:53 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Tony would have done it with more pizzazz

and moxie

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 2:53 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I Sense Grit

In the making.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:54 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

pena is too young to have grit

but he’s certainly untalented enough

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 2:55 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I Forgot About

The “scrappy” phase.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:57 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

nice double play

do we credit Banny’s genius or Jesus for it?

by royalsreview on May 11, 2008 2:53 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

DDJ's Macho

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:54 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

At least bannister seems to be in the groove

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 11, 2008 2:54 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

too bad Callaspo failed to get a hit last inning

that might have cemented his starting spot. On the plus side, this means that Pena will continue to accrue enough at bats to win my bet against NYRoyal.

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 2:56 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

too bad Callaspo failed to get a hit last inning

that might have cemented his starting spot. On the plus side, this means that Pena will continue to accrue enough at bats to win my bet against NYRoyal.

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 2:56 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Teahie Would Have

Had a 2B.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on May 11, 2008 2:59 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

take a walk, Jose

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 3:01 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

or do that

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 3:02 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Great AB from Guillen

even if we all know he strikes out in the end

Blown Save

by BlownSave on May 11, 2008 3:01 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Not this time

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 11, 2008 3:02 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Another RISP stranded

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 11, 2008 3:07 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Why the hell are we so afraid of Nick Markakis?

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 11, 2008 3:13 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

dunno, it's weird

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by marbotty on May 11, 2008 3:13 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

It's begging for disaster

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 11, 2008 3:16 PM EDT