I Don't Get It

by royalsreview on Jul 1, 2009 5:52 PM EDT in News Comment 36 comments

Gil Meche, after a week (or month-long depending on your view) saga surrounding his health, soreness, and fatigue, threw 121 pitches today. Why?

Now, I don't think it's necessarily the end of the world or anything like that, but still, what was the point? The Royals trailed 2-0 to start the inning, and considering how early it still was in the game, it wasn't as if another inning from Meche meant the Royals could go straight to Soria, or even Cruz + Soria.

Forget the last inning. What was gained by starting Meche today? Since at least last season's trade deadline (when basically nothing happened) this organization has operated as if they were trying to contend as soon as possible. That mindset continues to harm the long-term prospects of the team. I have no doubt that Hillman looked Gil in the eyes and saw his shining man soul and knew that he could handle anything, but still... what... was... the... point?

We've heard rumblings of pain and discomfort for weeks now. Rumblings that have bubbled to the surface despite Meche's counter-productive machismo.

I guess defeating Cleveland for fourth place is really important.

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I agree in principal

BUT, according to 810, he was still hitting 92+ in the 6th and looked good.

Personally, I think they are showcasing him. If he were in the long-term plans for KC, I doubt he would have pitched today at all.

BOOM! ROASTED!

by GoBabies!! on Jul 1, 2009 5:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

he hit 96 in that inning.

Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.

by 306008 on Jul 1, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your concern over Gil's pitch count is stupid

Gil said so

Still suffering from the greatest robbery of all time: The stealing of the 1994 AL Central title from the Royals

by BHWick on Jul 1, 2009 5:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

lol..

heard that.

Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.

by 306008 on Jul 1, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

since Gil was throwing fast, that means he was pitching good.

Velocity is proportional to quality!

Still suffering from the greatest robbery of all time: The stealing of the 1994 AL Central title from the Royals

by BHWick on Jul 1, 2009 6:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well it is an indicator if something is wrong at least

He did walk a lot of guys today, but his velocity stayed in the 90’s, so I don’t think there is as much concern tonight about him, as there was before his start.

by AxDxMx on Jul 1, 2009 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kyle Davies

didnt see anything wrong with the location of Gilgameche’s location.

Nothing from Nothing leads to... Your 2009 Kansas City Royals

by averagegatsby on Jul 1, 2009 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So every time a pitcher has location issues they are hurt

No wonder Rick Ankiel couldn’t pitch anymore. He was hurt and probably still is!

by AxDxMx on Jul 2, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll vote on the pointless side as well.

Even if he was throwing in the 90’s still, he labored all day long. I couldn’t see the game on tv, was he close on the balls that were missing?

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

http://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?showforum=129

by Warden11 on Jul 1, 2009 6:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i didn't see the game either (at least Meche)

But I heard some of it on the radio. I was disappointed to hear him laboring. Dead arm saga sometimes doesn’t kill your velocity, it kills your location. How many young guys have you heard of that still had their great velocity but were all over the place, then went on the DL 3 starts later with a rotator tear? I’ve heard of a few….

Coffee. The NEW Performance Enhancing drug for Sport's Writers. Just ask Ken Rosenthal.

by 306008 on Jul 1, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's exactly what I'm worried about here.

However, the other side to that is the argument that today was pretty much what we expect from Gil.

We need a few more starts to know anything probably, holding my breath.

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

http://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?showforum=129

by Warden11 on Jul 1, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well I'm not worried

the exceptional training staff of the Royals have…………………oh wait

let’s hope Meche has grit to spare

This could potentially not end well

by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Jul 1, 2009 7:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

so

wonder what the usual fastball % is for Meche? he threw A LOT of fastballs today, which can be seen as a way to avoid arm stress

Still suffering from the greatest robbery of all time: The stealing of the 1994 AL Central title from the Royals

by BHWick on Jul 1, 2009 8:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

x

Nothing from Nothing leads to... Your 2009 Kansas City Royals

by averagegatsby on Jul 1, 2009 9:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

interesting

BOOM! ROASTED!

by GoBabies!! on Jul 1, 2009 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

if you are showcasing him

wouldn’t you stop at about 80 pitches? I don’t get this either.

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Jul 1, 2009 9:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No

Then teams would think that you stopped at 80 pitched because he is hurt and you were fearful that pitched 81+ would get progressively worse since he is a ticking time bomb of injury (IMO)

BOOM! ROASTED!

by GoBabies!! on Jul 2, 2009 8:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

im rewatching the part of the game that i missed earlier.....

and i really want quirk commentating every single game….he’s worlds better than frank. I love it when guys bring actual knowledge of the game to the booth.

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Jul 1, 2009 9:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

as long as he remembers that

James Shields is still pitching

Still suffering from the greatest robbery of all time: The stealing of the 1994 AL Central title from the Royals

by BHWick on Jul 1, 2009 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that was the only thing i heard that wasnt good....

and quirk scouts as well…so he might actually have knowledge of the young guys who come into town….rather then, ‘well, uhh…he hasnt played much, so nobody knows much about him, but hes supposed to be a pretty good young ballplayer’

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Jul 2, 2009 1:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't understand all the Frank hate around here

I think he’s highly entertaining on the broadcast. And that’s his purpose.

by adamASPARI on Jul 2, 2009 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

RR is just mad that we replaced Cookie with Frank

oh wait.. you’re talking about the booth.

Frank White is able to step in for legends and handle snark from internet losers, he handled the 1970s Royals fans just fine. Ha. ;)

Still suffering from the greatest robbery of all time: The stealing of the 1994 AL Central title from the Royals

by BHWick on Jul 2, 2009 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he's entertaining b/c he's an idiot....

im entertained when he tries to read.

i want to hang myself everytime he talks about baseball. Quirk brought knowledge of the game that i hadnt heard on a tv broadcast in a long time, which is not surprising coming from a former catcher. Quirk saw things that others do not, pointed them out and explained them.

Frank talks oldschool baseball nonsense. He fails to grasp (much like our front office) that baseball has moved into the 21st century.

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Jul 2, 2009 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had very low expectations for Frank

And he has done much better than I thought he would. His insight isn’t bad, and he doesn’t talk about the “good ol days” as much as I thought he would." He does need to stop giggling at every Lefebvre joke though. Ryan is not that funny.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 2, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm a firm believer that the giggling is his coping mechanism.

He can’t tell Ryan to shut up or anything on air, so he giggles.

I’m a little too young to remember Frank’s playing days, I’m guessing he wasn’t as jolly then?

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

http://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?showforum=129

by Warden11 on Jul 2, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I'm too young as well, as a baseball fan anyway

Bill James has a great quote about White’s “little smile” that I’ll post later.

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

by devil_fingers on Jul 2, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He just didn't talk much at all, and let his play speak for itself.

He made frequent trips down 71 Highway southwards and always stopped at my uncle’s gas station in Nevada, MO. Was always friendly and handed out tickets like they were candy. Eight seats at a time, Plaza Level Reserve, right across the aisle from Tom Watson’s seat. I sat in them several times.

Even back then, conversing in person, I recall him chuckling frequently. Thinking back, it makes sense that his chuckling, while it makes him sound like an idiot; is more likely his way to appear nice while he’s thinking that he’s in a conversation with a total buffoon. Keep in mind though I was 12, 13, 14, 15, & 16 years old then. It was several years ago and I was a star-struck kid.

It’s only my opinion, but honestly it makes more sense. I don’t think he’s all too comfortable in the broadcaster roll. On the radio though when he tells stories about his childhood days and growing up, he seems to be speaking more like a real person. I’m comparing that to interviews and color commentary where he seems to be repeating “pat” company lines.

Then again he could be a raging wino. Either way he could hang out at my house any time.

Yeah? From what I hear, you couldn't hit water if you fell out of a f@#%ing boat.

by BillyMojo on Jul 2, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But so could Jamie Quirk, but only if he brought his

own woman and bought all the beer.

Yeah? From what I hear, you couldn't hit water if you fell out of a f@#%ing boat.

by BillyMojo on Jul 2, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

too bad his own women slept with tony temple all throughout high school....

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Jul 2, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the more I think about it, the more if I wonder it isn't like DDJ

I’ll post it in a few minutes

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at Driveline Mechanics.

by devil_fingers on Jul 2, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

From I remember

Frank on the field was all smiles, but I remember towards the end of his career he was grumpy a lot at being underpaid, and at the team replacing him with Terry Shumpert.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jul 2, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs