It was like that. Banny was mostly working fastball as he does when he’s successful, but his s...

It was like that. Banny was mostly working fastball as he does when he’s successful, but his secondary pitches were generally not coming in the red-zone 84-85 mph range. Plus, it looked like Banny had a really good fastball. He got 11 swinging strikes, which is a lot for him, and most of those came on fastballs. He had his command too. I sent him a text after the game, and he wrote back to say: "Just had to let my Babip regress before I started dealing again."

Seriously, how can you not love this guy?

Joe Posnanski

6 months ago raefzilla Comment 9 comments 1 recs |

Read Related

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

"Just had to let my Babip regress before I started dealing again."

That line always gets the ladies.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on May 12, 2008 4:06 PM EDT 0 recs

Bannister may not be a power pitcher, but he is a power geek

Power stat geek, that is. No wonder the internet loves him.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 12, 2008 4:15 PM EDT 0 recs

Hooray!

My first front page contribution! I’m gonna go tell Ma!

by raefzilla on May 12, 2008 6:38 PM EDT 0 recs

the idea of JoePo and Banny texting is kinda funny

actually, the idea of anyone other than a 17 year old girl texting is funny

but hey, that’s reality now

by royalsreview on May 12, 2008 6:47 PM EDT 0 recs

Lots of people in their 30's send dozens of text messages a day

I find it odd and even perplexing that anyone would have the need or desire to send that many text messages. But, for some reason, lots of people love it.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 12, 2008 7:10 PM EDT up 0 recs

I hate it

But find it necessary to keep up with some of the people in my company.

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

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on May 12, 2008 7:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

Nothing says Royals like JoePo and Banny texting...

I love Banny even more…I think texting is wierd myself, but it is so good that many people are adapting…my work situation forces me to text a lot and I have found it useful for a lot of things…mostly just humor…and I think abandoning talking is kind of escaping the exclusiveness/personality/detail of a phone conversation, but thats what phone convos did to the old way of “man to man”...texts are so great to just keep in touch and for me it helps to keep in touch with a ton of people daily and weekly instead of talking to them weekly or monthly or even yearly…plus its they don’t have to answer at the time to get the message…its less personal, but serves a damn good purpose…my Grandma texts now so I can constantly inform her how I’m doing and tell her I love her daily…my wife texts my like 100 times a day so I can have 98 less telephone convos…I can buzz friends and inform them of events without an akward convo…and so…plus a nice feature of texts…you can use them as a feeler…like if you need something from someone, or if your sending a naughty text…once again…I love texting

Don't be lonesome for your heroes. Be your own hero.

by PhattStairs on May 12, 2008 9:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

Gotta love JoePo

But I think the “Soria’s the new Rivera” thing is going to be annoying. Don’t get me wrong, Soria’s a really exciting young pitcher, and, heck, even in an age where closers are still overrated, I think it’s hard to be a fan of baseball and not appreciate Rivera. But it’s annoying because (1) they don’t pitch anything alike (Rivera’s got 1 pitch that no one can hit, Soria works several different pitches; and (2) talk like this is going to make it harder for the Royals to accept moving him to the rotation as the “greatest good.” When Nunez/Ramirez blow a couple saves, and Soria struggles, the whole “he’s going to be our Rivera!!! 111 One !!1 crowd will come out.

Still, if anyone is going to make this comparison, it should be Posnanski. Beats Last Buster of the ESPN Olnesty any day. And his texts to “Banny” are cute. I just hope it isn’t giving Zack a complex (I can only assume that he and Email have a closed satellite two-way.)

Hope is not a strategy. And neither is playing Tony Pena every day. (Rany Jazayerli)

by devil_fingers on May 12, 2008 10:50 PM EDT 0 recs