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Game 39 Open Thread - Tigers (16-23) at Royals (17-21)

Royalsreview_tiny by royalsreview on

Detroit @ Kansas City


Your pitching matchup:

W-L ERA WHIP K BB
2008 - Luke Hochevar 2-2 4.94 1.47 19 11

W-L ERA WHIP K BB
2008 - Justin Verlander 1-6 6.43 1.47 30 21


Remember when Jim Leyland's Old School wisdom and take-no-gruff attitude was so inspirational and perfect?

Oh, and Verlander's ugly ERA? Guess what starting pitcher has had the most tack-on runs charged to him thanks to poor bullpen support? Yea, that'd be Justin Verlander.

 

 

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Gah!!!!

I wish I had been first. /kicks-a-rock

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

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on May 14, 2008 7:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I have a feeling!

This is going to be an EPIC game! Everyone should recommend this thread to get it on the front page of SportsNation!

Support my nomination for the front page!

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

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on May 14, 2008 7:50 PM EDT   0 recs

Another shameless plug:

While waiting for the game, check out the “Greinke and the Brain Theme Song” fanpost and let me know what you think. I might make it into a Youtube video if people like it enough.

by Eppenweb on May 14, 2008 7:51 PM EDT   0 recs

Pena

is he in the lineup?

sign Greinke a Evan Longoria type deal now.

by kcscoliny on May 14, 2008 8:00 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

This is one of the days Pena should be in the lineup

Hochevar so far has been an extreme groundball pitcher—52% GB%.

by Gopherballs on May 14, 2008 8:07 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh, please do make a video!

That would rock.

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

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on May 14, 2008 8:02 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Today's Lineup

Granderson, CF .229
Polanco, 2B .274
Guillen, 3B .294
Ordonez, RF .306
Cabrera, 1B .262
Joyce, LF .333
Thames, DH .260
Renteria, SS .266
Rodriguez, C .278

DDJ, LF .311
Grud, 2B .328
Gordo, 3B .274
Guillen, DH .216
Billy, 1B .279
T-Bag .270
Bucky, C .268
TPJ, SS (ugh) .165
Gator, CF .250

I count pitches.

by royallyblue on May 14, 2008 8:04 PM EDT   0 recs

Nice

No Gload. Now, if only Callaspo was starting at short.

by royaldaddy on May 14, 2008 8:06 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Good thing we got

Gator and his sub-.600 OPS in. The next Spreadsheet baseball article is not going to be for the faint of heart.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on May 14, 2008 8:22 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

huber is starting tonight for the padres

I predict 4-4 with 3 grand slams and an inside the park homer

by royalsreview on May 14, 2008 8:04 PM EDT   0 recs

*Inside the park grand slam

He’ll top it off by making a catch and climbing the outfield wall to steal a kiss from the nearly nude Victoria’s Secret model sitting in the cheap seats.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:08 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Seconded,

and speaking of “terrible unlikely home runs,” damn Jay Payton to hell.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on May 14, 2008 8:20 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Nice work by Hoch there.

He’s fitting right in with this rotation.

by royaldaddy on May 14, 2008 8:15 PM EDT   0 recs

He'll rebound

he’s way too good of a pitcher not to end the the year with an ERA around 4.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on May 14, 2008 8:21 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

If there is a team that can heal him, it's us

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:21 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

over/under?

Gordon seeing 11 pitches tonight.

I count pitches.

by royallyblue on May 14, 2008 8:21 PM EDT   0 recs

I'll take over

I’m still quite optimistic-reasonably, I think-about A-Gord this year. Plus, Verlander can have bouts of wildness where I’m pretty sure I could work a walk off him.

A mind without purpose will walk in dark places.

by NHZ on May 14, 2008 8:23 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

NICE!

I count pitches.

by royallyblue on May 14, 2008 8:24 PM EDT   0 recs

Unforunately Verlander seems to be throwing moderately hard today...

I think I’ve watched every game he’s started this season, and in a lot of them he’s been working 91-93mph. Today it’s 93-95. It also seems like he’s thrown a ridiculous number of offspeed pitches this year, and he’s been getting burned on a lot of them. Really seems to fall in love with his curveball.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:25 PM EDT   0 recs

In case it has not been noted elsewhere

Fangraphs.com has two articles on its front page related to two subjects of interest: (1) Dayton Moore’s white whale, Wladimir Balentien (comparing him to Wily Mo Pena) and (2) Justin Verlander’s struggles this year (scroll down). Verlander has been unlucky, but his fastball is down 1.5 MPH and his K/9 and BB/9 rates are going the wrong direction.

by Gopherballs on May 14, 2008 8:25 PM EDT   0 recs

18 pitch 1st inning

wish we could do that more often.

sign Greinke a Evan Longoria type deal now.

by kcscoliny on May 14, 2008 8:27 PM EDT   0 recs

Where is Hoch's count?

I’d guess good to fair?

I count pitches.

by royallyblue on May 14, 2008 8:33 PM EDT   0 recs

21 pitches in 2 innings.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:34 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I have to say, I've been really impressed with Luke's slider.

Reading the scouting reports on him coming up, I was under the impression that his best pitches are fastball curveball. To date though, in the majors the curveball really hasn’t been there but the slider has been money – it’s a legitimate swing and miss pitch for him. Hopefully it can remain that way – a lot of guys pitch a long time in the big leagues without developing a swing and miss breaking ball.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:33 PM EDT   0 recs

Go Butts!

Swing that stick!

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

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on May 14, 2008 8:35 PM EDT   0 recs

Time for a patented Royals mini rally...

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:37 PM EDT   0 recs

Butler

1st to 3rd. Looked like he was pulling a plow, but nevertheless…

I count pitches.

by royallyblue on May 14, 2008 8:37 PM EDT   0 recs

GODDAMNIT

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 14, 2008 8:39 PM EDT   0 recs

Sigh.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:39 PM EDT   0 recs

hahahahhahahaha!!

I count pitches.

by royallyblue on May 14, 2008 8:40 PM EDT   0 recs

Walking TPJ... just wow

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:41 PM EDT   0 recs

Now TPJ can hit into a 3-0 DP

oh, wait, he WALKED?

“Help, I’m slippin’ into the twilight zo-one…”

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 14, 2008 8:41 PM EDT   0 recs

hey, me and my co-workers could not come up

with who sang that song. Help me out, who was it?

by royaldaddy on May 14, 2008 8:43 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Golden Earring.

“So you will come to knowww… when the bullet hits the bone, whaa-aa-oh, when the bullet hits the bone…”

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 14, 2008 8:44 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Golden Earring

I had to try to decipher the lyrics one time; they’re Dutch, so the phraseology and terminology is nearly impossible to figure out at times.

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

by philofthenorth on May 14, 2008 8:45 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

according to

Denny Mathews Butler made the correct play. Force the 3rd baseman to make the decision.

sign Greinke a Evan Longoria type deal now.

by kcscoliny on May 14, 2008 8:41 PM EDT   0 recs

We have to get a run here...

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:42 PM EDT   0 recs

God joey just put the ball in play

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:43 PM EDT   0 recs

You know what you'd be saying

if he’d “just put the ball in play” on the ground to second base. ;)

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 14, 2008 8:45 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

JOEY G!!

I count pitches.

by royallyblue on May 14, 2008 8:43 PM EDT   0 recs

JOEY G!!

I count pitches.

by royallyblue on May 14, 2008 8:43 PM EDT   0 recs

There we go.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 14, 2008 8:44 PM EDT   0 recs

Wow.... that is definitely how Joey would get a RBI hit

But props to him for putting the ball in play. Execute, good things happen.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:44 PM EDT   0 recs

That is how he had his high OBP/BA success last year

That is why I was a big supporter of him.

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

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on May 14, 2008 8:45 PM EDT   0 recs

I approve of that attempt, actually.

So I’m okay.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 14, 2008 8:46 PM EDT   0 recs

Oh my god what the fuck was that

UGHHHH

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:46 PM EDT   0 recs

How, how how do we give a free out to a struggling pitcher

My brain is exploding

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:46 PM EDT   0 recs

It was a good spot for the attempt

And it would have put them both in scoring position for DDJ. It was an attempt to allow our hottest hitter to drive a stake through the Tigers in the second inning.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 14, 2008 8:48 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

It was a terrible spot

Pena isn’t good at stealing bases, lefty at the plate, Verlander is quick to deliver and Pudge behind the dish. Grudz has killed the Tigers all year, a double steal is not playing for the big inning. Not to mention Verlander was fighting the strike zone. Total waste of an out.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:49 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

double steal with a

lefthander up at the plate

sign Greinke a Evan Longoria type deal now.

by kcscoliny on May 14, 2008 8:47 PM EDT   0 recs

I have a feeling i'm going to be going Denny Green after this game...

WE KNEW EXACTLY WHO THEY WERE…AND WE LET ‘EM OFF THE HOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have many leather bound books...

by juano on May 14, 2008 8:49 PM EDT   0 recs

Man, if Billy can be the regular 1B and Gload the Defensive replacement . . .

That would open a huge hole for another impact bat once Guillen got healthy, and into next year. Dunn, anyone?

by Eppenweb on May 14, 2008 8:53 PM EDT   0 recs

Dunn is hitting .203 right now and

he’s a strikeout monster. How much are you willing to pay?

by royaldaddy on May 14, 2008 8:54 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Dunn has been the free agent big bat of choice around here . . .

but I realize he might not be worth it. Who would you prefer?

by Eppenweb on May 14, 2008 8:58 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm glad he's having a down year

Hopefully that will decrease the interest in him and his price. I wouldn’t overreact to one bad year….ever.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 14, 2008 9:00 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

DOH!

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 14, 2008 8:53 PM EDT   0 recs

Will Guillen be ready

for Interleague play? Or is he limited to DHing?

I count pitches.

by royallyblue on May 14, 2008 8:54 PM EDT   0 recs

I hope

but watching him labor around the bases yesterday makes me wonder.

I count pitches.

by royallyblue on May 14, 2008 8:59 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

He sure didn't look ready to play in the field

Man, our pitching better show up for those interleague games or we are t-o-a-s-t.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 9:01 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't mind playing a LFer with limited range

He can get around. It would limit his range, but I can live with that.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on May 14, 2008 9:02 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Ahhhhh I thought he was going to make that play

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:54 PM EDT   0 recs

Well, he did

to the extent that he kept the lead runner from going to third.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 14, 2008 8:55 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Clutch pitching by young Skywalker

Get ahead in the count, then get the out

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 8:58 PM EDT   0 recs

Good job Luke.

Maybe he’ll actually earn that “Cool Hand” nickname Rany wants to give him.

by Eppenweb on May 14, 2008 8:59 PM EDT   0 recs

Heh, he just needs to have the hot hand for now

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 14, 2008 9:00 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

lets look

at some pitches Verl at 41 entering inning.

sign Greinke a Evan Longoria type deal now.

by kcscoliny on May 14, 2008 9:02 PM EDT   0 recs