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Game 31 Open Thread - Angels (20-13) at Royals (14-16)

Royalsreview_tiny by royalsreview on in Events

Los Angeles @ Kansas City


After a mini-sweep in Cleveland the Royals are once again positioned to inch closer to the magical .500 mark, but desperately need tonight's game to do so. Win, and it's 15-16, lose, and there's a seemingly larger than warranted fall to 14-17. I don't know, perhaps no one is as interested in this minor details as I am.

At the end of yesterday's game thread, NyRoyal, I believe, pointed out that the AL Central standings are now almost fully upside-down from what many would have predicted: Cleveland and Detroit at the bottom, the Twins and White Sox fighting it out for first, and the Royals somewhere in the middle.

Tonight, Brett Tomko (6.26 ERA) makes his sixth start of the season against the Angels, a squad that he couldn't quite control in a 5-3 loss last month. If Tomko can last two innings tonight, he'll go over 1700 innings pitched on his career (career ERA 4.64). So keep that in mind as you watch the game. Tomko is currently 31st amongst active pitchers in innings pitched, and could very well pass Freddy Garcia tonight for 30th.

The Angels counter with Ervin "Magic" Santana (2.48 ERA).

Expect many Angel-rific baserunning blunders tonight at the K. You know Hillman's gotta represent in front of the cool kids from SoCal.

 

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Dare I say

First?

Sometimes you just gotta roll the potato.

by CentralChamps2009 on May 5, 2008 6:42 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

I almost prefer

Tomko pitching against someone who looks unhittable. At least then, we can always say, “It wasn’t like we were going to win this one anyhow.”

Sometimes you just gotta roll the potato.

by CentralChamps2009 on May 5, 2008 6:43 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Our Turn

Last week when the pitching matchup was decidedly in our favor (Grienke v. Ponson), we lost. That bothered me a great deal, but perhaps it will be our turn tonight to win when we shouldn’t. If so, I’ll call it even.

I don't fight extra players.

by paleblueeyes on May 5, 2008 6:47 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

KCSP Is On

The intertubes!

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

by philofthenorth on May 5, 2008 7:36 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

the excitement is building!

I feel a solid start from Tomko is forthcoming.

by royalsreview on May 5, 2008 7:46 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

let's go royals

the jury is still out as to whether this is actually on TV or not…

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

by loyal2theroyals on May 5, 2008 7:46 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Question

Did we ever give up a guy for Salmon?

I don't fight extra players.

by paleblueeyes on May 5, 2008 8:00 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Some Eastern European

Soccer team traded a guy for meat; sausage, if memory serves.

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

by philofthenorth on May 5, 2008 8:09 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Bold prediction:

Tomko gets hammered before AND after the game.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:05 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

How about During

The game?

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

by philofthenorth on May 5, 2008 8:10 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

That goes without saying

Thanks for setting up the punchline

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:12 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

What's His Poison?

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

by philofthenorth on May 5, 2008 8:13 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Leadoff hitter skies one to the warning track in dead center

This, my friends, is not a good omen.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 5, 2008 8:14 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

I like how Tomko ran the count to 3-2 throwing all fastballs

God bless good control

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:14 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Trey Gives Us

The usual.

D. DeJesus cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
M. Grudzielanek 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
A. Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
J. Guillen lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .171
M. Teahen rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
B. Butler dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
R. Gload 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
J. Buck c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247
T. Pena Jr. ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .163
Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Buck is hot lately.

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

by philofthenorth on May 5, 2008 8:14 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

That...

...was possibly the most comedic play, overall, I have ever seen.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 5, 2008 8:16 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

It's on the list

I’ll take it tho

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:17 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Was It That

Funny? Butler does that well kind of regularly.

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

by philofthenorth on May 5, 2008 8:18 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

It was the combination

Of DDJ booting it, Grudz squatting over second like he was about to take a dump, and Aybar just stopping three feet short of the base like a moron.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 5, 2008 8:19 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Stupid Baserunning Saves

The day.

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

by philofthenorth on May 5, 2008 8:17 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

We deserve to benefit from stupid base running

God knows we’ve given away enough outs

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:18 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Angels beating us to the punch...

On committing stupid outs on the basepaths. I just hope we don’t try to imitate them…

by rockchalk on May 5, 2008 8:18 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Ugh

We’re gonna need a strong offensive showing this evening.

by kansasjhawk044 on May 5, 2008 8:19 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

there we go nice start

I get to actually watch the game today here in socal…

Cool.

Accidentally not thedude925 anymore. I do hate this new name.

by wildthang on May 5, 2008 8:20 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

DDJ is on fire, no doubt

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:20 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Seen 4 pitches, swung at two of them

Nice to see the patient approach

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:21 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

can we make outs on the basepaths?

yes we can!

Accidentally not thedude925 anymore. I do hate this new name.

by wildthang on May 5, 2008 8:23 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

YES! Lets steal with our number 3 hitter up.. Brilliant fucking idea

A lot of you wont like me... by I assure you my opinion will be voiced GO ROYALS!

by focs on May 5, 2008 8:24 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Goddammit just fucking stupid

Why are we running against one of the hottest pitchers in baseball with our best hitter at the plate. SO STUPID

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:24 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

A-Gor Only .238

On the road trip; imagine if he’d done that last year.

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

by philofthenorth on May 5, 2008 8:24 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Send him down

resign Joker

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 5, 2008 8:25 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

third tour of duty

I always felt bad that he went back to the Pirates a second time

by royalsreview on May 5, 2008 8:27 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I find it hard to believe

that Randa’s 8th in games played in franchise history, to be honest.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 5, 2008 8:30 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

NINE pitch inning for Santana

Just giftwrap the damn game

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:24 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

It’s getting old Trey. It’s getting old.

by royalsreview on May 5, 2008 8:25 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Can someone mail Bannister the reams of data showing that guys attempting to steal actually hurts the hitter more than the batter? And that all the hits it supposedly causes are mostly just from the opened hole between first and second?

Hopefully Banny can pass it along to Trey.

by royalsreview on May 5, 2008 8:27 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Fire whoever gave DDJ the green light there

now we get guillen leading off the next inning, and allowed santana to throw so few pitches he might get to pitch an extra inning in the game. brilliant

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:28 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

saw this on yahoo/inside edge
• Los Angeles Angels starter Ervin Santana has seemingly taken care of his road woes this year. After going 1-10 with an 8.38 ERA on the road last year, Santana is 3-0 with a 3.72 ERA away from Anaheim this season. Santana’s average fastball velocity is up to 93.6 mph from 92.2 mph a year ago. The extra zip could help him past a Royals team today that batted .417 and belted 3 homers against him in two starts last season. The Royals currently have the lowest slugging percentage in the AL (.269) on fastballs over 91 mph.

by royalsreview on May 5, 2008 8:30 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Slugging

Why qualify it with “fastballs over 91 mph”? Doesn’t lowest slugging percentage in the AL pretty much cover it?

by KCctrell85 on May 5, 2008 8:35 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Wanna subscription to Grit, Mister?

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 5, 2008 8:31 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

I have no idea what is going on

I got distracted and the game isn’t on TV (thanks, Charter Communications!)

Oh well, there’s always Bob and Denny, right?

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

by loyal2theroyals on May 5, 2008 8:33 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

I'm getting really annoyed with ESPN

Signed up for their free ESPN Insider trial thingy, realized it was total crap and tried to cancel. They want me to call them to cancel, wtf? Pretty sure if I subscribe online I should be able to cancel online.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:34 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

i hate it when companies do that

just tell them no for about five minutes and then you’ll be good to go.

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

by loyal2theroyals on May 5, 2008 8:35 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Guillen looks terrible

That was a gross AB

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:36 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Teahen sucks

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 5, 2008 8:37 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Santana Is Blowing

Gas tonight. Guillie was overmatched.

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

by philofthenorth on May 5, 2008 8:37 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Inflated..

The mph they show on screen are always at least 2-3 mphs too high.

by KCctrell85 on May 5, 2008 8:40 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Santana: 19 pitches in 2 innings

Beautiful guys. Just beautiful.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:39 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

okay, quick opinion poll

Dad is working the games Wednesday through Sunday. Which means that I have a plethora of games to pick from for attending. Because of moving from my dorm to an apartment on campus, I will not be able to go to the Sunday game. I’ll be going to Saturday’s game because chaa, 21 now, I can get a free umbrella and carry it with pride.

So that leaves Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesday is $7 college night, which could be pretty sweet…but then again, I haven’t been to a Friday night game yet this season and if we win, I get to treat myself to super awesome firework fun (thems the rules for L2…if they’re in a deficit of 13+ you are allowed to leave the game, if they win on Friday you get to watch fireworks…otherwise you leave to beat the “crowd”).

What’s everyone’s thoughts? Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday? Discuss.

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

by loyal2theroyals on May 5, 2008 8:40 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

College night

My friends and I went a few times on those last year and they were great

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:41 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

i'll have to see if i can wrangle friends to go with me...

they’re not as much fun by yourself. Which…in all honesty is usually what happens to me at games.

This is finals week, so that might be a bit hard to manage. Hmmm…

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

by loyal2theroyals on May 5, 2008 8:42 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Four words I never thought I'd hear in the same sentence:

Brett, Tomko, Nasty, Curveball.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 5, 2008 8:43 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

here's a way you can put tehm in teh same sentence...

Brett Tomko does not have a nasty curveball.

Oh, wait.

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

by loyal2theroyals on May 5, 2008 8:44 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

i'm in colledge. i type gud.

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

by loyal2theroyals on May 5, 2008 8:44 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

You have no idea how often

I get in an argument with someone on the intarwebz and they can’t express themselves worth a damn and then try the “i have a masters degree in sychology dont tell me i dont know what im talking about ok” maneuver…

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 5, 2008 8:46 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

That's because you're pessimistic

You have to let go of your negative energies and become one with the universe.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 5, 2008 8:48 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Groovy

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

by philofthenorth on May 5, 2008 8:55 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Daisuke Matzusaka is one weird due

4 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1K, 7 BB tonight against the Tigers. Just a really bizarre line.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:49 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

*dude

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:49 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Potential 7 pitch inning for Santana

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:50 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

Did you know

you can have a nine pitch inning without a hitter swinging at all?

True story.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 5, 2008 8:52 PM EDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Bad result for TPJ, but

his swing actually looked… almost… competent.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on May 5, 2008 8:51 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs

29 pitches for Santana through 3

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on May 5, 2008 8:53 PM EDT reply reply   0 recs