Excitement over the Royal's April
by KHAZAD on Apr 30, 2009 10:12 PM EDT
Email
Print
But we would not have believed they would finish at that record had we known that:
Alex Gordon & Jose Guillen would miss most of the month.
Billy Butler would be hitting .193 on April 28. (God I hope the last 2 days continue)
John Buck would be slugging at a about what Olivo's OPS + his batting average- and Olivo would still be getting more playing time.
Kyle Farnsworth would be a worse gas can than predicted, and would single handedly make a win into a loss in almost half of his appearances.
Horacio Ramirez would already have failed miserably as a starter.
Joakim Soria would make only one appearance in the last 17 days of the month.
Mike Jacobs would only have 4 Home Runs.
Ron Mahay would be ineffective.
Trey would continue to struggle handling the bullpen & at crunch time.
Mike Aviles would fall completely off the table. (He is swinging at high pitches as though he were Angel Berroa)
What would your pre-season prediction for April have been then?
Yeah, mine too.
Of course I left out the fact that Greinke may have borrowed God's right arm, but still, to be 12-10 with so many of the "things that needed to happen for the Royal's to contend" simply not happening,I am practically giddy.
So much so, in fact, that my April updated prediction for wins is now 80. (up from a slightly pessimistic 73) This is the first time I have mentioned a # starting with 8 since 2003.
I hope this does not jinx them!
41 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
One arm tied behind our back
It definitely feels like we’ve done that 12-10 the hard way. The question is, which is more real, the hitting or the pitching. The pitching will have to come back to earth a bit, but I think the offense has a lot more to give.
I feel a lot better once Meche makes his next successful start and Soria comes into and gets his next save.
by Big Guy on Apr 30, 2009 10:43 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Jacobs - Only 4 HR?
4 HR a month is about the pace that I think we all expected him to be on. That would put him at 26-30 for the year.
He’s been about what we expected. A butcher when he’s played 1st, and a streaky hitter that really should get about 70% of his AB’s against RH pitching. I’ve seen MORE than I expected in some areas, he’s shown pretty good patience at the plate (at least compared to what I was expecting, which was basically a big, white, left handed, non fielding, hitting with power TpJ)
BOOM! ROASTED!
Obviously I'm not a math major
But I think subconsciously I was accounting for the cold weather in April slowing down the HR pace
BOOM! ROASTED!
+10
I think 24 HR’s for Jacobs wouldn’t be a big surprise at all.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on Apr 30, 2009 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions
meh
I still expect to see him in that 26-30 range, but +- 2 in either direction from that range wouldn’t surprise me. If he shows this improved plate discipline for the rest of the season, I’d lean toward the high end…though I think there is a chance that when he is healthy, Gordon may return to the lineup @ 1B, leaving Teabag @ 3rd, AC @ 2B & relegating BB to DH w/ Jacobs the occasional platoon v RH/bat off the bench (at least thats what I HOPE happens, I’ve long thought Teahen @ 3rd/AG @ 1st is the best plan for both of ’em)
BOOM! ROASTED!
I still think that Gordon is the superior 3B
But Teahen has done a good job so far
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by Matt Klaassen on May 1, 2009 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions
+1
I don’t know why Royals fans seem to think Teahen > Gordon defensively at 3B, but it seems to be a common sentiment. Everything I’ve seen leads me to believe Gordon is better.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
Gordon = not Evan Longoria or Ryan Braun,
therefore, he sucks at everything
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by Matt Klaassen on May 1, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I like Rany a lot, obviously
but his FRAA-induced hysteria about Gordon’s defense last season didn’t help, either
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by Matt Klaassen on May 1, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I just wanted to chime in with my agreement
Gordon > Teahen both offensively and defensively (at third base).
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on May 1, 2009 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Gordon to 1B/Teahen stays at 3B
is the most likely scenario. At least at first, and barring any other injuries or huge drops in performance. I just think they’ll like the idea of Gordon not having to repeat the sudden lateral movements at 3B that caused/aggravated the hip injury.
Who knows, though. We’re still a long ways from Gordon’s return. Assuming everyone keeps it up (or some even improve) on offense, then it will be a nice problem to have/solve.
"Now…put that in your [BLEEP]ing pipe and smoke it." -Hal McRae
by Sweep_the_Leg on May 1, 2009 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions
I think
that when Gordon comes back and IF Teahen is still hitting well, they need to swallow the bullet and make him starter in RF. Keep Butler on 1B, Jacobs DH, and Callaspo 2B.
Royals baseball. Where .260 would be orgasmic.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
I think AC's numbers will settle down significantly and he won't be a full-time starter when Gordon comes back
Callaspo can still start 3 games a week with Teahen moving to RF or 3B to spell Guillen or Gordon. Pretty much any time there is a LHP starter, it would be easy for Hillman to bench Jacobs and have Guillen DH with Teahen in RF and Callaspo at 2B.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on May 1, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions
The reason I put Jacobs in there
was that many people mentioned that he was going to have to hit 35+ to make up for his other deficiencies.
The Royals haven't missed Gordon so far.
The Royals really haven’t missed anything with Gordon’s absence so far because of Alberto Callaspo. If Gordon were healthy and starting every game, Callaspo would be on the bench most of the time, making only the occasional start at second base. But with Gordon out, Callaspo is starting nearly everyday at second base and hitting like crazy. .375/.414/.531. Wow. I know he won’t hit like that all season, but one could only hope that Gordon will hit like that some day. So Callaspo has stepped in to do a superb job in Gordon’s absence. I like Callaspo’s approach. He swings at strikes and makes good contact. The numbers will come down, but hopefully not too far. I love what I’ve been seeing.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on Apr 30, 2009 11:54 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Yup
AC has made me look a fool for doubting him this Spring (but for gods sake, get your frigging Visa in line & show up on time next year!!!!!)…see above for what I would do to keep him in the lineup after AG’s return…
BOOM! ROASTED!
we don't need to debate that whole thing again
but I still blame the idiot dictator of Venezuela who Pres Carter loves.
Royals baseball. Where .260 would be orgasmic.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
In short, Jimmy Carter is to blame for Callaspo's visa problems
And thus, Carter gets the credit for Callaspo’s excellent hitting. Thank you, Jimmeh.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on May 1, 2009 12:24 AM EDT up reply actions
hey, some people thought Egypt would never recognzie Israel
and I think we all know how that turned out
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by Matt Klaassen on May 1, 2009 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by Matt Klaassen on May 1, 2009 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Teahen & Callaspo
are definitely 2 of the biggest reasons that we overcame the above problems. I did not mention the obvious GOOD things. (Other than Greinke) My point is that many of the things we all felt needed to come together to contend did not happen at all and the team overcame the adversity! If we had to make a decision to keep their bats in the lineup when AG came back, that would be a good problem.
My disorganized thoughts in response to the overall thread...
Buck needs to be the #1 catcher (except when ZG is on the hill) until he starts cooling off. He’s a streaky hitter, and Hillman needs to play the hot hand and ride this streak for as long as possible, because Buck’s hitting will probably become rather frigid (or maybe it’s the Seitzer difference…Buck raves about working with him). Plus, if it weren’t for Professor Tatersworth, Olivo would probably be the most disappointing player on the team right now.
I’m really glad Cruz was brought in to close today’s game, hopefully it means that Hillman has finally had it drilled into his head that after Soria, Cruz is the best relief pitcher he has. The bullpen, sans Farnsworth, has done quite well, and except for during the Professor’s misadventures, I can’t think of a time when I’ve really missed Nunez or RamRam.
On a similar note, I liked the Crisp trade before the season started, I really like it now.
Mike Jacobs has pretty much been everything he was advertised as, both good and bad.
Especially given that Billy Buckner hasn’t amounted to much of anything at Arizona so far, the way Bert has stepped up after Gordon’s injury has made trading for him totally worth it.
Never thought I’d say this, but for the moment, I’m okay with Sir Sidney being in our rotation. I also never thought I’d see Willie Hustle put up an SLG that started with a 4.
This has been an unpredictable April…
Good points
I’d also point out that Mahay has looked like real shit so far this season. And that I loved the Buckner-for-Callaspo trade at the time. It’s looking spectacular now (even when Callaspo’s numbers settle down). Excellent trade of a likely below average MLB pitcher for a pretty good middle IFer. The former category are a dime a dozen. The latter category is comparatively rare. Excellent trade.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on May 1, 2009 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah, I liked the Callaspo trade at the time too
definitely more so now. Has anyone here thought in the last few weeks, “Hey, I miss Grudz?”
(PS: some team out there needs to sign Grudz, like, now, so that we can get our free draft pick…)
I think I heard that he has to sign somewhere by June for the Royals to get their compensation. Is that right?
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on May 1, 2009 1:30 AM EDT up reply actions
I was pretty bullish on the Crisp and Callaso deals
But they are two of my favorite players to watch now.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
Bearish, not bullish
The one that means “I was kinda down on it.”
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
i never know which is which, either
and every time someone explains it, I forget 10 minutes later
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by Matt Klaassen on May 1, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Just think
Bull = good/optimistic
Bear = bad/pessimistic
Works for trades and for the markets. Unless you’re a short seller.
"Now…put that in your [BLEEP]ing pipe and smoke it." -Hal McRae
by Sweep_the_Leg on May 1, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
What if we paid a team $400k to sign him, and they paid him league min. and then cut him?
Would that draft pick be worth it? Or is that collusion? I can’t see Grudz complaining as he would get a free paycheck.
Sounds like collusion to me
And it sounds like a horrible screw job for Grudz (as Grudz is clear that he wants to actually play for a contender, not just rake in a paycheck). And after Grudz refused arbitration in the first place and actually played quite well for the Royals for three years, he doesn’t deserve that kind of screw job from the Royals.
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on May 2, 2009 3:37 AM EDT up reply actions
agreed
he’s getting screwed enough as it is
I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.
by Matt Klaassen on May 2, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
With those dreamy eyes, he's probably getting screwed as often as he wants
(or so my wife says)
The immoderate moderator
by Scott McKinney on May 3, 2009 2:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Callaspo's been great
But I do kind of miss Grudz. A real pro ballplayer, a guy who did what was asked of him. Never great but always competent, and always giving 100%. And he was the only Gold Glove player in recent Royals memory.
Somebody’s going to need a second baseman sometime pretty soon, and they’ll pick up Grudz, who will field competently and hit .280/.330/.400, as usual. Not to mention “providing veteran leadership in the clubhouse.”
It's pronounced Poo-ZHOLS in Catalan.
I'm pretty sure he'd turn down going to the Marlins
Too dangerous playing alongside Gload.
Royals baseball. Where .260 would be orgasmic.
The General Theory of Royaltivity
Who crashes first, Sir Sidney or Banny?
Banny has escaped so many jams, it’s insane, while Sir Sid has actually looked kinda decent. I guess I should specify what I mean by crash: I don’t mean one bad start; Davies has had that. I mean several consistently bad starts.
By the way, Davies is starting to come back to earth. I hope he can still get a quality start on most games, with a few hot streaks like he started the year. That’s still excellent from the third starter. I’m just afraid of wearing out the bullpen if he can’t get through six on a regular basis.
Yeah
I’m starting to worry about Davies, a good line next start could go a long way
by I need more Esteban on May 1, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Photo: Padres fan regrets letting mother capture moment with Trevor Hoffman
- Marlins agree to unretire No. 5 for Logan Morrison, who will honor his father’s favorite player
- Weatherman Derek Holland does Dallas TV
- Ask Alex: Will Julio Teheran or Matt Moore win rookie of the year?
- Ku Klux Klan, umpires and bowling: Why the minor leagues tossed out Jim Evans academy
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
