Royals Win Second Straight

by royalsreview on Jul 5, 2009 5:04 PM EDT Comment 23 comments

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brian Bannister throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Sunday, July 5, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

7 months ago: Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brian Bannister throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Sunday, July 5, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

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The Royals roared back for a second straight victory over Chicago, earning an unexpected series split. There was a stretch during the early part of the game where both teams constantly had baserunners. For whatever reason, the Royals emerged out of that stretch well ahead, thanks to a number of well-placed singles. Olivo iced the game, and then suddenly nothing happened for like the next hour.

Maybe the biggest play of the game was a Jermaine Dye homer in the eighth, which allowed Soria to pick up a heroic 3-run save on a Sunday afternoon. You can't underestimate the roto impact this likely had.
Another homer for Miguel Olivo. Trade him now. Now.
St. Willie had a seeing eye 25-hopper to drive in a run with two outs. I'll tell my grandchildren about it.
It was an odd, but effective start for Banny. To this untrained eye, it looked like Bannister was a combination of a tad lucky -- Sox had a lot of hard hit outs -- and effectively wild. For awhile, it seemed as if every third pitch was in the dirt. I don't know if this was a product of throwing so many off-speed pitches, or something else. It worked. He was at 70 pitches in the fourth inning, but he had his best innings late, and put the Royals in a reasonable position to win. Well done, Banny.
Hawk Harrelson, while discussing check swings, made reference to, I think, Carl Furillo. Furillo played from 1946-1960. So all in all, you can say it was a helpful reference... for any eighty year old with perfect memory who happened to be watching.

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first

by KC Masterpiece on Jul 5, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Let's Party, Pigs!

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

by philofthenorth on Jul 5, 2009 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Zack Greinke press conference

he really wants an all-star game AB

Enough is Enough - Fire Trey Hillman

by BHWick on Jul 5, 2009 5:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Grienke declines the Home Run Derby

says he could hit 10 HRs in a round in Arizona

Enough is Enough - Fire Trey Hillman

by BHWick on Jul 5, 2009 5:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I Wish I

Could get that presser.

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

by philofthenorth on Jul 5, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another homer for Miguel Olivo. Trade him now. Now.

Come on. You know that this increases his value to the team in DMs eyes. We won’t get rid of him until he returns to crumminess and his value to valueless – if ever. But, I agree. Why the heck can’t we get rid of him or Buck?

He was at 70 pitches in the fourth inning, but he had his best innings late, and put the Royals in a reasonable position to win.

Pitch count = 169 or so?

Fuck This Team. Period.

The General Theory of Royaltivity

by kabrink on Jul 5, 2009 5:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

99

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

by philofthenorth on Jul 5, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes

we need to stick with the wonderful strategy we had with Grudz

by royalsreview on Jul 5, 2009 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe we can get a compensatory pick for Olivo

just like we di…… oh.

Fuck This Team. Period.

The General Theory of Royaltivity

by kabrink on Jul 5, 2009 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OH YEAH!!!

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

by averagegatsby on Jul 5, 2009 5:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We win!

I’m back from mourning Roddick’s 16-14 fifth set loss. Life can go on now.

"Do they have people that tall in Mexico?"

by NHZ on Jul 5, 2009 5:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Two Wimbledon Finals

In a row=two best matches I’ve seen. I think last year’s was better, but I’m not sure yet.

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

by philofthenorth on Jul 5, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oops

deleted my first post.

I felt badly for Roddick – he played his ass off. At least it looks like he has his game back together after a couple years of frustration.

Props to Federer. Helluva match.

"Do they have people that tall in Mexico?"

by NHZ on Jul 5, 2009 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Really Thought

Federer would win in straight sets. I knew Roddick could serve, but his ground strokes were incredible today, as was Federer’s serve. Not at all what I expected.

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

by philofthenorth on Jul 5, 2009 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Roddick's worked very hard

on getting his fitness back. The last couple years, one of his problems was being way too reliant on that big serve and, as a result, dropping a lot of easy games on the other player’s serve. I was very impressed with Roddick’s backhand, which has never been a strength at all.

"Do they have people that tall in Mexico?"

by NHZ on Jul 5, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You know, I've read a lot of these post-games...

I can’t tell if you think Soria should be a closer or not, RoyalsReview. Could you please clarify this?

Also, what do you think of Miguel Olivo?

- W. Bloomquist homered to deep center
- P. Earth explodes

by JobDDT on Jul 5, 2009 6:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh and this TPJ guy sounds like he has a lot of upside

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

by averagegatsby on Jul 5, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

RR can speak for himself

But, I think the main complaint of everyone on here (since Soria is designated NEVER to be a starter) is that we’d like to see him used WHEN IT MATTERS. Not in silly 9th inning, 3 run save situations ONLY. I didn’t watch today’s game but had Sox not scored in 8th Soria would not have been used. But, since they did, he pitched. That’s not such a huge travesty. The real travesties occur when they adamantly refuse to use him in 7th or 8th when there is real trouble brewing and our BEST reliever is truly needed.

Fuck This Team. Period.

The General Theory of Royaltivity

by kabrink on Jul 5, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blasphemy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111111111111111111

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

by philofthenorth on Jul 5, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will duly wash my mouth out with soap

Fuck This Team. Period.

The General Theory of Royaltivity

by kabrink on Jul 5, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

don't forget about how I feel about St. Willie

sometimes I am less than clear about that

I’ve tried to give Olivo his props, at least partially

I don’t think its a huge slight to hope hegets traded, he’s having his career season and has a good defensive rep and a reasonable contract

by royalsreview on Jul 5, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He had a career month

before that stretch he was pretty awful.

by AxDxMx on Jul 6, 2009 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Furillo played from 1946-1960. So all in all, you can say it was a helpful reference… for any eighty year old with perfect memory who happened to be watching.

And anybody who read The Boys Of Summer.

Here’s Furillo’s obituary in the New York Times, also by Roger Kahn, who writes, “Our turns come and go.” Guess so.

by 2X2L on Jul 6, 2009 12:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs