Royals Lose Again, Are Quietly Off To A Bad Start

i don’t think they are that bad, but we shall see. they are actually competing out there and had some chances tonight, but the meche thing is a huge concern…if he is this bad (or hurt) all year, then this team is in trouble.

there are some positives so far this year, outside of the completely unsustainable starts by podz and kendall:

hughes has quietly been effective;
hochevar has been more poised and generally pitching well;
same for davies as a 5th starter;
greinke had a great start last time out;
soria has been soria;
butler has been pretty decent and still has a lot of room to improve this season

i know, not a lot, but i think this team will end up winning around 75 games or so, if meche gets straightened out. the bullpen will improve, and we have already played the twins 4 times. they are on fire right now. we are 3-3 against the tigers who are also playing very well, and we just got done with a 4-5 road trip.

so, while i never put it past the royals to just shit themselves, i think there are at least some reasons to be positive.

but at least one member of the commentariat has decided the Royals were going to be worst in the league this season.

"Gil Meche since “132”: 9.10 ERA, 19.8 pitches per inning, 39 walks, 35 Ks in 57 1/3 IP. 17 HRs given up"

“Before tonight’s game, the last time Gil Meche did not give up a HR in a start was June 16th, 2009 (”132"). So he broke an 11 start streak"

This was not a cheap streak, Meche was yanked in the 4th three times during “the streak”

so Jason Kendall’s hit streak was not the only streak ended tonight.

Meche gave up 2 HRs in 2009 before 132 and 15 HRs in 2009 after 132.
’
Also, if the pitching continues to be terrible, when will people call for Jason Kendall’s gamecalling power to be curtailed?

Can you say bust?

I don’t know how much longer I can legitimately follow the Royals if Moore/Hillman are back next season.

I didn’t even get MLBtv this year…first time since 2006….just don’t want to deal with all the heartburn and stress of this team.

Im just really hoping this regime gets the boot. I need a freaking fan restart. We’ve been crapped all over for too long.

But, the process must go on….

Attendance: 16605, on a Friday Night and that’s with the people who bought tickets ahead of time being counted no matter what. The walkup seems to not have shown up. Which is weird since the ads for the series were so good.

Rick Ankiel hasn’t gotten a single hit since last Saturday.

And when Getz comes off of the DL, I expect this organization to just alternate Callaspo and Gordon. In the scheme of things, I can see why they traded Teahen, but they really gummed up their roster by taking one guy who could play the infield and outfield, and trading him for two guys who can only play the infield on a game with too many infielders and not enough outfielders.

Dayton Moore’s Winchester House Roster Construction is just nutty sometimes and it really hogties the team

Pitching, hitting, fielding, attendance. This team’s attributes are (1) one great starter who can’t get a win because of the bullpen and (2) one great closer who goes days without pitching because the team rarely has the lead late in the game. I usually say that in sports things are never as bad (or, when applicable, as good) as they seem, but holy shit, it’s hard to justify that with this team.

and are on the train to 106…

…..for better or worse, the casual fanbase will begin to show a bitter resentment toward our front office, notably Dayton Moore….

67-95, my original prediction, is beginning to look optimistic. Will, you’re absolutely correct. Things are about to get really ugly.

the Royals should trade Meche while his value is low.

When sports writers start to apply the tag “lowly” every time they mention the Royals. Then those writers will go off to bars and laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaugh as though they were the first ones to use the adjective.

That guy really does suck….maybe we could use him in the bullpen, but theres no freakng way that guy should be starting every game in CF. Dude can’t hit or field….let’s have Pods play CF and start Mitch in LF.

arm began a few games after he got here. See early 2007 right out of spring training pitch counts. in response to posting those concerns at the time, I was getting in reply—pitch counts no matter, he’s a stud, he can go, we’re paying him to do that, and other such absurdity.

additionally, anyone noting from the photos I am seeing in KC Star a reduction in team conditioning since a year ago. D.J. lacks last year’s musculature, ditto Callapso, Butler appears as if he’s back on pizza and faux sit ups, other teams players again look physically larger than Royals in the photos.