Yankees Ho-Ram the Royals Below .500

by royalsreview on Apr 11, 2009 11:15 PM EDT Comment 55 comments

During our million arguments this off-season about the rotation, a few people would from time to time mention that Tejeda or even Duckworth weren't completely horrible options either, insomuch as we were all acknowledging that we were dealing with stopgaps who essentially don't have the ability to succeed in any legitimate way. Tejeda had a nice game tonight, and kept the Royals on the fringes of striking distance in the middle of the game.
Doug Waechter also had a nice night.
So in sum, the Royals got a passable night from Ponson and a less than passable night from Horacio, and lost both games.
Bloomquist is a true asset because his glove allows you to play his sub-par bat (at any position) anywhere on the diamond. He makes the Royals better, and by better I mean, better at losing.
Boxscore link.
Here's the offensive output thus far: 2 runs, 2 runs, 2 runs, 1 run and 1 run. Its been cold, and the Royals have faced good pitchers, and yesterday it was supposedly impossible to hit. The Royals have also been awful. Mike Aviles leads the team with two runs scored. Billy Butler and Alex Gordon, our erstwhile saviors, have a combined OPS of like .500. They will improve -- we haven't had a 400-run team in awhile -- and may even improve up to mediocre status someday. Right now however, their first five games have been miserable. I seem to recall some decent at bats on Opening Day, when the Royals should have hung a six spot on Mark Buehhereheele, but since then... egad. Sadly, its the formula we've seen before: no walks, no hits, no power.
Unrelated, but Mike Sweeney had three hits tonight, his first three-hit game since September of 2007, against... the Yankees.

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TPJ with an RBI

projected lineup for tomorrow v. Chamberlain

1. Crisp (CF)
2. Aviles (2B)
3. DeJesus (LF)
4. Butler (DH)
5. Teahen (3B)
6. Jacobs (1B)
7. Buck ©
8. Bloomquist (RF)
9. Pena (SS)

by BHWick on Apr 11, 2009 11:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i have this crazy dream where butler hits the ball hard

by royalsreview on Apr 11, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

butler, runners on1st and 2nd, no outs – k on 3 pitches, the last looking on a pitch RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE, then his body languge says it all – slinking back to the dugout, shaking his head like the umpire made a bad call. Kid needs to grow up and play like a man.

gordon, rght after, weak tap up the middle for a double play. then he comes out of the game because his ~~pussy~~ hip hurts.

when it counts – 0-2, k and a GIDP. this team is only going to go as far as these two players take us. their performance thus far has been absolutely miserable.

I hereby resign from this post.

by Home Run Tony Cogan on Apr 11, 2009 11:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

thank god my internet has been extremely spotty

it’s like a sign from God to keep me from watching the royals and wanting to tear my eyes out.

by wildthang on Apr 11, 2009 11:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So Bloomy in RF over Teahen?

Trey fails again. That cost 3 runs tonight. I wonder if he’ll trot him out again tomorrow. Of course it doesn’t really matter when we can’t score more than a run or 2 per game. I thought about going to see Meche vs Joba tomorrow, but after watching 2 punchless games and spending money to do so, I figure an afternoon on the couch with a 30 pack of cheap beer (or I can get 3 at the game) is preferable.

I will say that the concession prices are not terrible, and the food is better than last year, though the Chicken Fingers basket is smaller than last year.

by AxDxMx on Apr 11, 2009 11:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the lineup on Sunday will be....

1. Crisp (CF)
2. Callaspo (3B)
3. DeJesus (LF)
4. Butler (1B)
5. Teahen (RF)
6. Aviles (2B)
7. Jacobs (DH)
8. Buck ©
9. Pena (SS)

BOOM! ROASTED!

by GoBabies!! on Apr 11, 2009 11:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually, scratch that

I think Gordon is in there v. Joba, Aviles sits, and Callaspo is in @ 2B while TPJ, err I mean RBI Machine is in @ SS

BOOM! ROASTED!

by GoBabies!! on Apr 11, 2009 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, it didn't sound like the injury was serious

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by devil_fingers on Apr 12, 2009 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would prefer Aviles

at 3b and Teahen in RF with Callaspo at 2b and TPJ at SS. I was under the impression that Bloomquist could play the outfield, my bad. Also start B. Pena at Catcher although Buck will probably get the spot.

My Lineup
Coco CF Switch
Callaspo 2b Switch
DDJ Left
Teahen RF Left
Jacobs 1b Left
Buck DH RH
B Pena Switch
Aviles RH
TPJ RH

I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.

by kcscoliny on Apr 12, 2009 12:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Aviles has never played 3rd

has he? AC has played there before, but like I said, I think AG is in tomorrow

BOOM! ROASTED!

by GoBabies!! on Apr 12, 2009 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he played third when he came up with Arizona, I believe

by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on Apr 12, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oops..i mean callaspo

by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on Apr 12, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Played 3rd in Omaha

I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.

by kcscoliny on Apr 12, 2009 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At this point

I wouldn’t mind seeing TPJ and BPJ in the batting order, seeing as everyone but Olivo is playing below putrid.

Farny being Farny.

by JobDDT on Apr 12, 2009 12:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

everyone but Olivo is playing below putrid

by royalsreview on Apr 12, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Olivo is fanning the crowd

Apparently without him in the lineup the air doesn’t circulate well in Kauffman.

"Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue."

by lobes on Apr 12, 2009 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

btw, for those of you who asked about tips my dad gets...

$20-30 is about average. $90-100 on commission, but he also has #1 in terms of seniority so he gets the best product which usually equates to better sales.

Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too. ~Greg, age 8

by loyal2theroyals on Apr 12, 2009 12:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

so most people really don't tip ?

by royalsreview on Apr 12, 2009 1:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Considering a beer at the park

costs almost twice what one costs at the bar, I’m pretty sure most people assume their tip is included in the purchase price.

And I mean that sincerely.

This space for rent.

by jonfmorse on Apr 12, 2009 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I tend not to tip the vendors

because I know they get commission.

By the way, Opening Day a beer vendor on the Pepsi Party Porch would have made a killing. NO ONE came through there except for the peanut guy. I can understand that there wasn’t a ton of room to move, but somebody could have sold out of their beer there, several times over.

by AxDxMx on Apr 12, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

beer?

Which is considered the “better” product?

by Trey Hillman's Chin on Apr 12, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Positives from the first five games

1)When used correctly, the bullpen has been pretty amazing.
2)We did win two, and should have won three
3)No White Sox fans assaulted our coaches
4)Fatty didn’t pitch awful
5)Buck threw out his one runner for the year

I had to stretch for these. Please let’s hope for Olivo to ride the bench for a while, and Trey to remove Jacobs from 1B forever, and Bloomquist to never play right again.

And why the fuck are we carrying three catchers?

"Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue."

by lobes on Apr 12, 2009 12:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree

Our bullpen looks rather awesome, and our 1-2-3 pitchers looked rather awesome. We don’t have to play the White Sox and Yankees every week.

Our offense will be bad but not this bad all year.

by hippdoghipp on Apr 12, 2009 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

B Pena is there because

reason #5 and your following Olivo complaint

(not that i am disagreeing with either point, i just empathize with FO looking for some kind of alternative to noodle-arm and starting-catcher-who-fans-stadium)

by benfunke on Apr 12, 2009 2:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can someone tell me why everyone is all over Olivo?

Is the love for Buck that great on this site? Yes he K’s too much but what Buck would have 5 K’s.

I’m disappointed in Butler and he should feel the wrath far greater than Olivo. He was supposed to have an upside and killed lefties last year. So far he has one hit and that hit would’ve been an out if Granderson or Sizemore were playing CF. The guy looks lost at the dish and finally tonight started hitting a few balls to right field. Luckily Hosmer will be pushing him for playing time by next season (A man can dream can’t he).

I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.

by kcscoliny on Apr 12, 2009 12:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i've mentioned butler at least twice in the post game posts

at least he’s still young and learning, olivo is just what he is… at the plate, he’s one of the dumbest players in the game

by royalsreview on Apr 12, 2009 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

any complaint of mine re Olivo

will have NOTHING to do with Buck’s success (apparent or real). they both have a long way to go before getting any “love”, in my eyes

by benfunke on Apr 12, 2009 2:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well maybe if you know Olivo would actually put the ball in play

or swing at strikes (I don’t know how many he’s watched right down the middle this year, while hacking away at pitches outside, but I’ve seen at least 3). Buck’s not necessarily better, they both have their weaknesses.

by AxDxMx on Apr 12, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

its weeks like this that always make me doubt my faith in long-term and stuff

hopefully in a month we’ll remember this when the offense puts up a couple 8 spots and Meche and Greinke have a couple of bad starts in a row

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by devil_fingers on Apr 12, 2009 1:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gordon and Teahen have been hitting the ball hard

But when you hit the ball hard to opposing players, they usually count that as an out. Unless that man is Mike Jacobs, they call that bull fighting.

"Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue."

by lobes on Apr 12, 2009 2:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh and amend that to "hitting the ball hard in non-cluthc situations"

"Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue."

by lobes on Apr 12, 2009 2:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course

nobody hits the ball “to” anyone, or even really “at” or even “toward” them. They hit the ball, and it happens to go wherever it goes.

I guarantee you, if there were a player who could routinely hit the ball anywhere near where he wanted to hit it, that player would hit .500 or better easily. All a player can do is hit the ball hard and hope he finds a hole.

This space for rent.

by jonfmorse on Apr 12, 2009 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or 390 like Tony Gwynn

I’m sure he could control it 100% of the time but had a pretty good idea of what he was doing most the time.

I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.

by kcscoliny on Apr 12, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

could=couldn't

I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.

by kcscoliny on Apr 12, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really haven't seen Gordon or Teahen hit the ball hard since the 2nd game.

Gordon since the 1st game

I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.

by kcscoliny on Apr 12, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd rather use Ho-Ram in a game like this when the bats suck

then waste a good effort by a good pitcher.

Kansas City Royals: your 2006 and 2007 NL Central champions!

by mazoboom on Apr 12, 2009 2:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd rather use Ho-Ram in a game like...

… snype hunting.

by FretFriendly on Apr 12, 2009 2:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm curious, what purpose does TPJ serve over a guy like Shealy?

Especially with Guillen gone, is Shealy that bad?

If you were thinking, you wouldn't have thought that.

by Warden11 on Apr 12, 2009 2:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

look on the bright side?

we win tomorrow and we’ll have the same record as the first place teams in the Central do right now. just saying, things could be worse.

by benfunke on Apr 12, 2009 2:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

in fact...

we’re currently tied for the 8th-best record in the AL, 17th overall. really, what i’m saying is that there’s no need for total despair just yet.

by benfunke on Apr 12, 2009 2:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

WAECHTER?!?!?!

I ’ARDLY KNOW ’ER!!!!

Sorry, I’ve been saving that up forever. Of course I’m on the road when I finally get a chance to say it.

by Porcus on Apr 12, 2009 3:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hereby demand that you

define and conjugate the verb “to waech”. (I am assuming “waech(ed)” is the past tense, naturally.)

This space for rent.

by jonfmorse on Apr 12, 2009 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't even know Sweeney found a 2009 team

just imagine the combined forces of Ichiro and Mike Sweeney.

“Sweeney-san, we do not typically get our helmets so tarry in Japan”
“Yeah, well, have you ever hit .340 in a season?”

by BHWick on Apr 12, 2009 4:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Remember in 2006 when we were counting down the possibility of giving up 1000 runs?

Well, we ended up 21st all-time with 971 runs allowed.

This year, how bad will we be in scoring runs? We are currently on pace to be dead last in MLB history. Certainly we will not be historically bad, because as Will pointed out, there hasn’t been a 400-run team in quite some time (1981 doesn’t count, right? Too bad). Runners left on base will even out a bit, and hitters will start hitting. And Jacobs will add 30 runs just from hitting home runs, right? But the interesting part is:

We are obviously last in run scoring as of today. The Astros are second-to-last. They have twice as many runs as we have. The Reds have played one less game than the Royals, and they have 10 more runs.

(NOTE: I know it’s early! I know it’s a small sample size! I’m not complaining about the team! I just find it interesting! And besides we knew the offense would be horrible, right?)

Kansas City Royals: your 2006 and 2007 NL Central champions!

by mazoboom on Apr 12, 2009 5:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Look

We could score 13 runs tomorrow and all of a sudden our offense is more toward the middle of the pack. I’m not inclined to research, but I would bet that the number of teams who did NOT have a five game stretch last season scoring fewer than 10 runs is in single digits, if not low enough to only require one hand.

This space for rent.

by jonfmorse on Apr 12, 2009 9:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Look

I know. I said all that. I just found it interesting, just like starting off 3-0 was exciting last year even though three-game winning streaks happen all the time to the worst of teams.

Besides if we scored 13 runs today, we’d still be in the bottom third, and that’s if all those other teams hang a 0 on the scoreboard. It’s a fact that we’ve had a horrible start, just mentioning how horrible.

Kansas City Royals: your 2006 and 2007 NL Central champions!

by mazoboom on Apr 12, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

On the bright side

we have Menche going against their 5th starter…. lets see if I get his name right… Jabu Chamberlian, never heard of him!

by RollingWave on Apr 12, 2009 6:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

With such a heavy lefthanded hitting lineup maybe KC

will perform better against Right handed pitchers.

I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.

by kcscoliny on Apr 12, 2009 9:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was hoping that too.

Also, on the bright side, we’ve managed two wins with only 8 runs. If we can keep that up, even if we do only score 400 runs, we’ll win 100 games!

by Trey Hillman's Chin on Apr 12, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

Jabu so far in his career

Right: 207/.273/.280 .553
left: 228/.310/.308

so ummm yeah, Lefty do better against him… sort of.

by RollingWave on Apr 12, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

as I said elsewhere

the Royals splits were so extremely last year they have to regress to normal> They won’t be as good against lefties, and will be better against righties.

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by devil_fingers on Apr 12, 2009 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs