Secrets of the AL Central

That's a pretty damn good division

Since May 31, every team has woken up except for the moribund Indians.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Aug 4, 2008 12:07 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Best comic book ever

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on Aug 4, 2008 12:08 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

ONE WORD

AVILANCHE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Every fight is a food fight when you’re a cannibal.
-- Demetri Martin

by kcscoliny on Aug 4, 2008 12:16 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Make your predictions for the Boston series

W-L-W. KC shocks the world and Bay goes 1-15 with 0 HR. Boston fans beg for Manny back.

Every fight is a food fight when you’re a cannibal.
-- Demetri Martin

by kcscoliny on Aug 4, 2008 12:18 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Most Boston fans I know

would rather lose and be able to blame Manny than beg to have him back.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on Aug 4, 2008 12:21 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Liriano

I was VERY disappointed to see Liriano tear it up tonight… just makes the Twins SO much better. We’ll have that guy to beat now. I beat we see him a few times before the end of the year.

I wish we’d play the Rays now. Especially since Bartlett went down tonight. He killed us defensively. And had a few hits in there…

Even so, it was great to see that Royals have a little fight in them tonight. Here’s to playing good the rest of the season in a tough division…

Don't forget to send your broken maples to the US Forest Service.

by 306008 on Aug 4, 2008 12:31 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I get to see the Rays on Thurs. Night

Out at Safeco Field. I’m really looking forward to watching them dismantle the Mariners.

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

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on Aug 4, 2008 2:24 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

One mildly interesting tidbit

Bannister said the batter he least likes to face is Manny Ramirez.. He said he never knows what to throw the guy because he hammers everything. At least Banny won’t have to face Manny now.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Aug 4, 2008 12:38 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Manny vs. Banny

2 for 6, 1 HR, 2 K

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Aug 4, 2008 9:25 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

banny doesnt understand stats

TPJ...you're dead to me

by billybeingbilly on Aug 4, 2008 3:00 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

The Ross Gload surge is working.

Surely this helps McCain.

Banny being Banny.

by JobDDT on Aug 4, 2008 1:20 AM EDT reply reply 1 recs

Don't count on it

Upstarts and grassroots players like Aviles an Maier keep the Democratic dream alive!

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

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on Aug 4, 2008 2:25 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

A strong finish with good showings by the young players

should help the Royals mightily in landing a big name FA.

We always did feel the same, We just saw it from a different point of view, Tangled up in blue.
-Bob Dylan

by Royal Kingdom on Aug 4, 2008 8:53 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Gload in left field… GENIUS! That’s why we’re on our way to the top!

by Gload-zilla on Aug 4, 2008 8:57 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

and by "should help"

you mean “helps 1/1,000th as much as tens of millions of dollars”

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Aug 4, 2008 9:01 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Remember how Juan Gone pushed us into the playoffs in 2004 after the

“stepping stone” 2003 season??

We always did feel the same, We just saw it from a different point of view, Tangled up in blue.
-Bob Dylan

by Royal Kingdom on Aug 4, 2008 9:12 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I can't wait

Until we acquire Benito Santiago this winter!

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Aug 4, 2008 9:25 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Meche and Guillen are our two “highest profile” fa signings ever. However, it’s at least a step in the right direction isn’t it? Ya know… from the likes of Santiaog and Mientkiewicz to Meche and Guillen to…. I don’t know.. SOMEONE worth a shit? By the way… Gload had the game winning hit in a game of MLB 2K8 I played on xbox360 last night! How much more proof do you need???? He’s awesome!

by Gload-zilla on Aug 4, 2008 9:30 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I think that is probably as good or better than

the thought process DMGM used when extended Gload this past offseason.

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Aug 4, 2008 9:41 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

"Ever"?

Oh, how soon people forget.

We signed a reigning Cy Young winner once, you know.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on Aug 4, 2008 10:01 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

We signed the other Davis too. Who was a 20 game winner i believe.

David Cone was a FA signing also.

by djk royal on Aug 4, 2008 10:09 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

We should compile a list of our highest profile FA signings ever

Mark Davis
Storm Davis
David Cone
Gil Meche
Jose Guillen
Juan Gonzalez
Greg Gagne
Kirk Gibson
Harmon Killebrew
Orlando Cepeda

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Aug 4, 2008 10:11 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Chuck Knoblauch. Vince Coleman

Gary Gaietti. Dave Henderson (or am I imagining that one). Tim Belcher. Probably should leave out Elarton, Mays and Tomko.

by djk royal on Aug 4, 2008 10:41 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Does anyone remember when we...

had Tom Goodwin and Vince Colemean batting 1 & 2 in the line-up? That would be Trey Hillman’s dream.

by djk royal on Aug 4, 2008 11:30 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

And Bip Roberts hitting third!

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Aug 4, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Don't forget these

(maybe I’m remembering some acquired in trades…)

Jeff King
Ricky Botallico

by Stat Ninja on Aug 4, 2008 12:08 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

King was a trade

Bottalico was a blunder.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Aug 4, 2008 12:38 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I believe when we signed Cone

it was a record deal for a pitcher at the time

by raefzilla on Aug 4, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Mark Davis was also a record deal

For a few weeks, Mark Davis was the highest paid player in baseball. I think Kirby Puckett or Rickey Henderson or both eclipsed him later that winter.

Kinda curious we only signed Cone to a 3 year deal. I guess that was considered a really long deal at the time.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Aug 4, 2008 12:03 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

and we sent him packing

after year 2. after he won the cy young.

sheesh…

by raefzilla on Aug 4, 2008 12:30 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Storm

won 19 one year.

by Stat Ninja on Aug 4, 2008 12:02 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Ahem

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Aug 4, 2008 10:08 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Wow...

ok… maybe not ever! I have to admit I forgot about a few of those guys. Kirk Gibson! Hahaha.. I saw KC play the Royals in Cleveland in 1991. I was about 15 so I still thought it was cool to wait for the players after the game and try for autographs. Kirk Gibson was the biggest douchebag EVER! Told everyone he didn’t have time to sign and got on the bus which sat there for about 40 minutes before pulling away. DICK! Not that it would’ve been awesome to get his autograph anyway… what did he hit?? .220 that year?? Brian McRae on the other hand was the greatest guy ever.

by Gload-zilla on Aug 4, 2008 10:18 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I saw KC play the Royals in Cleveland

haha… what a dipshit I am. You know what i meant.

by Gload-zilla on Aug 4, 2008 10:28 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Brian McRae

I used to sit in Right Field GA as a kid, with my cousin, who was a college student, and would pick me up on the way to the games.

I saw McRae’s big league debut, and he tripled off the fence right in front of my cousin and I, as it rattled away from Sammy Sosa in RF.

That was an interesting game, as well, as Bobby Thigpen recorded his 36th save en route to 57 total for that season.

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

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on Aug 4, 2008 2:31 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Thanks, now my Davis nightmares are going to start up again.

Personaly, I’d be happy with this off-season if we lock up our own guys (Zack and Billy) instead of signing a big FA who could flop – imagine how different this season would be if we had signed Adrew Jones.

"I've seen the future and it's much like the present only longer." - Dan Quisenberry

by Safe@First on Aug 4, 2008 10:52 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Seriously!!!

What a fat loser he is!! Steroids guy or did he just lose it?? Gload is WAY better than Andruw (or however you spell it) Jones.

by Gload-zilla on Aug 4, 2008 11:02 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I don't know about steroids

but the fall off seems WAY too major for that to be the main factor

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Aug 4, 2008 11:50 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

what the hell?

why would you start Gload in MLB 2K8, that’s the one place you can remove him from the lineup, does Pena still start at SS for you too?

by sconieroyal on Aug 4, 2008 2:08 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Even better

you can remove him and add anyone you want!

(Personally, I replaced his ass with Texiera. And Pena with a competely unrealistic version of Me who hit .382 with 43 homers. I’m no dummy.)

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on Aug 4, 2008 2:18 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I know you aren't a prospect

but I think we should call you up.

Every fight is a food fight when you’re a cannibal.
-- Demetri Martin

by kcscoliny on Aug 4, 2008 2:21 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

well.....

I downloaded the new rosters off of xbox live and because the game is quees, Aviles is Miguel Astacio. Players whose names they cannot use always have the same initials. I have to go into the player editor and change his name. By the way… Gordon hit 64 homeruns in the season I just finished. sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

by Gload-zilla on Aug 4, 2008 3:35 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

If we're talking video games

The shadow Royals on my Diamond Mind game were finally surpassed on Sunday by the real Royals for the first time all year.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Aug 4, 2008 4:09 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Juan Gone

It would have been interesting to see what would have happened had he not had a herniated disk in his back. $4M was such a bargain price for him had he been able to play at least 4 months of the season, really. Much cheaper than Guillen (who had an OBP below .300 - worse than Berroa’s career mark - last time I checked), too, but with a cheap buyout in year two.

I also liked Joe Po’s blog entry about Emil vs. Guillen recently.

by Stat Ninja on Aug 4, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Kevin McReynolds??

hahahahaha… maybe I should’ve said FA signings who still actually had careers ahead of them. I know I know… Cone and a couple others… but not many!

by Gload-zilla on Aug 4, 2008 10:21 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

we didn't sign McReynolds, we traded Bret Saberhagen for him

by DarthYoshi on Aug 4, 2008 11:26 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

damn... you guys know everything. I'm the Ross Gload of this message board.

by Gload-zilla on Aug 4, 2008 11:33 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Hey! Your leadership and intangibles are appreciated!

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Aug 4, 2008 11:50 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

but your grit is getting all over my screen

The concept of progress acts as a protective mechanism to shield us from the terrors of the future. - Collected sayings of Muad'Dib

by buddyball on Aug 4, 2008 2:59 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

And Gregg Jefferies!

Man, what a bust.

Sarcasm™. It's the new gravy.

by jonfmorse on Aug 4, 2008 12:07 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Gregg

had a decent career before he was injured, but his one year with the Royals was one of his worst before that.

by Stat Ninja on Aug 4, 2008 12:09 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

the tigers are laying to wait

by Dani Woodward on Aug 4, 2008 12:25 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Chris Hayes alert

Has a 14 shutout inning streak and his ERA in AA is down to 1.48 in 54 2/3 innings.

With the success of Brad Ziegler, maybe the club will begin to see Hayes as a legit bullpen option for the future.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Aug 4, 2008 12:47 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

My arm fractured when I saw this picture

I can hear his tendons straining from here.

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

by RoyalsFanInMarinerTown on Aug 4, 2008 2:32 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I'd sure like to see more strikeouts before I fall in love with this prospect

His 5.26 K/9 isn’t at all impressive, particularly from a reliever.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Aug 4, 2008 3:53 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Closers and K/9

It’s not necessary to strike out batters all the time to be a great closer.

For example:

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/Q/dan-quisenberry.shtml

Submariners aren’t power pitchers. You do not have to be a power pitcher to succeed in the bigs.

by iheartbbq on Aug 4, 2008 4:36 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

You also don't have to be a power pitcher to get a decent number of strikeouts

For instance, Joakim Soria isn’t a power pitcher at all (his average FB velocity is 91 mph), but he gets a ton of K’s. My point is that the lack of strikeouts is a cause for concern for me with regard to Hayes. If he’s getting a ton of groundballs, then that helps a lot and would explain how he keeps his ERA down even though he’s not getting K’s and, more importantly, it would mean that we could expect him to keep his ERA down. But it is hard to get excited about any relief pitching prospect. If he continues to do well in AAA, I’ll start taking him seriously.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Aug 4, 2008 4:41 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

His GB ratio

Is good (1.74), but not that great. Ziegler has a GB/FB ratio over 5!!!!

I’m not saying this guy should be a top ten prospect, just saying let’s keep our eye out. Useful relievers often seem to be guys little regarded in the minors.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Aug 4, 2008 4:44 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Yeah, he wasn't on my radar at all going into the season

But he’s definitely one to keep an eye on now. I wish I had batted ball data on him or at least a detailed scouting report.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Aug 4, 2008 5:12 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Fair enough

I was just responding to the whole idea that you have to get loads of strikeouts to be a good pitcher. From what I read, Hayes has about 16 GIDP this year. His GO/AO is almost double what you might expect from a pitcher (1.74 this season), so he’s definitely inducing grounders.

Also, disclaimer, Chris is a friend of mine, I’ve known him since he was 14. I am probably biased, though I covered minor league baseball in the South Atlantic League for a couple years for a decent-sized newspaper and I tend to be decently objective.

I understand you being skeptical about prospects, though. I think Greinke was forced to the majors too quickly – I don’t think he was mentally ready at all a few years ago. Hochevar was a little rushed, too, but he’s got a good head on his shoulders and he adjusted. Chris has a really good head on his shoulders as well. So we’ll see how things go.

by iheartbbq on Aug 4, 2008 5:01 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

His GO/AO is almost double what you might expect from a pitcher (1.74 this season),

Isn’t the average GOAO higher than 1.0?

Also, disclaimer, Chris is a friend of mine, I’ve known him since he was 14. I am probably biased, though I covered minor league baseball in the South Atlantic League for a couple years for a decent-sized newspaper and I tend to be decently objective.

Cool! What pitches does he throw? Does he rely on sinking movement? Do you know anything about his fastball velocity?

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Aug 4, 2008 5:14 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

=)

He throws a ton of different pitches and he’s got good sinking movement, but he throws a rise ball, too.

This clip on youtube will tell you a lot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su1rcqUD0z0

by iheartbbq on Aug 4, 2008 5:51 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Yeah, there's a lot of good sinking movement

I’m surprised he doesn’t get more groundballs. Hopefully he’s developing in that direction. And I’m surprised he mixes in an overhand fastball (basically a 3/4ths delivery). I don’t think I’ve ever seen a submariner who did that. I wonder how much control he has with that pitch. It doesn’t seem like he throws anything with any velocity at all with his submarine delivery (which he uses the vast majority of the time). That could be a problem, considering that his submarine velocity is likely no more than low-to-mid 80’s (Rowdy Hardy territory).

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Aug 4, 2008 6:11 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

very cool

looks like he could be a very interesting reliever. Pat Neshek comes to mind from the Twins (he’s been very good at times so we could only hope for that) I’m not sure how hard Neshek throws, I feel like it’s in the 90’s, though. How old is Hayes?

He’s definitely someone to keep an eye on.

by I need more Esteban on Aug 4, 2008 7:38 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

hayes is 25

just turned in february

by chrishayesfanclub on Aug 4, 2008 10:55 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Greg Jeffries

Was also in the Saberhagen trade

What about Gaylord Perry?

by labbadabba on Aug 4, 2008 3:08 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Splits

Record: 52-59-0 (.468)
As Favorite: 14-22-0 (.389)
As Underdog:38-37-0 (.507)
At Home: 26-29-0 (.473)
On Road: 26-30-0 (.464)

Has anyone noticed these splits in ESPN? I’ve been watching our ‘As Underdog’ percentage creep up higher and higher and has always been better than our ‘As Favorite’

If we can just win half of the games we’re supposed to then we’re in pretty good shape…

by labbadabba on Aug 4, 2008 3:28 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs