Royals Hold On, Win Game Number 61 In 2010

by Freneau on Sep 19, 2010 5:12 PM EDT in Kansas City Royals News

The Royals are 61-87. Proudly, 61-87.

It was nice to see the Royals respond from an early 3-0 deficit to win 6-4 in rousing fashion. And by see, I mean, "it was nice to check the score three times online during the game, after remembering around the 4th inning a Royals game was being played."
Ned Yost, well and Trey Hillman too, really enjoy PRing for Billy Butler. It's like the go to managerial move for 2010. I feel like every third day during March, there must have been an organizational meeting entitled "Billy Butler is slow" with Gibbons delivering an innovative, 15-part, power point, about how slow he is. There are a few things the Royals believe in with more certainty than that Billy Butler is slow. Of course, every second day there was an organizational meeting entitled, "Yuni Bentancourt: more awesome things you didn't know."
Kila has 15 walks, Yuni has 17. This could get interesting.
I go days without noticing that Gregor Blanco is around. Days.
Gil Meche's ERA is under 6.00 now! Glad he's stuck it out!
I guess we should say something about Luke Hochevar. I've already established I missed the game, but his box score numbers look ok-enough. I still really don't know what the future holds for him. At the same time, I think that if he was just a guy, and not "the number one overall pick back in the 2006 draft" we'd probably look at his career, and his potential, much differently. Where are you at on Hochevar?

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Hooch

Is now 27. Does that surprise anyone else? It did me.

I still like him. He’ll be a very solid MLB starter for a good number of years.

by kcbottom9th on Sep 19, 2010 5:56 PM EDT reply actions

stunned me

by Freneau on Sep 19, 2010 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions

You’re really starting to get a Harry Doyle in Major League 2 thing going, aren’t you, Will? I mean like “The Royals have a baserunner. I think I’ll wet my pants” kind of vibe. Not criticizing or anything, just observing.

The significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them. -- Albert Einstein

by The Ol' Perfesser on Sep 19, 2010 6:08 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

He is a bum

I don’t like him

Those were the good ole days... wait I wasn't alive then

by bww51689 on Sep 19, 2010 6:37 PM EDT reply actions

Hoch's numbers look good, even if it seems like his on-field performance has not been great.

tERA/FIP/xFIP
2010: 4.53/3.97/4.32
Career: 4.64/4.51/4.49

First off, get him a good infield, maybe he looks more like a quality pitcher. Second, I guess the question is whether he’s done getting better. Seems like he still has some progressing/learning/seasoning to do, but then again he’s already 27.

The only people who really know where [the edge] is are the ones who have gone over it.

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Sep 19, 2010 9:04 PM EDT reply actions

how many years are we from having a good defensive infield?

by Freneau on Sep 19, 2010 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions

more years than he is from free agency?

then again, maybe the answer is “how many years until Yuni is gone?”

Hosmer
Giavotella
not-Yuni
Moose

Still not a great infield, since Moose and Giavotella are average-at-best, from what I’ve heard.

The only people who really know where [the edge] is are the ones who have gone over it.

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Sep 19, 2010 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions

yea

I dont see a good infield defense on the horizon

colon is probably the best heir-apparent, and all I’ve heard is that he’s “not spectucular but does everything the right way” kinda stuff

by Freneau on Sep 19, 2010 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions

A "Mike Aviles" that the GMDM administration can get behind because they drafted him

The only people who really know where [the edge] is are the ones who have gone over it.

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Sep 20, 2010 2:33 AM EDT up reply actions

I was on the Elkhorn River this afternoon during the game

anything outstanding? Did I see that Yuni walked in a run? That would be awesome if true.

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Sep 19, 2010 9:16 PM EDT reply actions

And he stole home

Messed up play.

Place witty signature here.

by LaFLamme on Sep 19, 2010 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions

i'm hopeful for hooch

but he’s already 27, this may be what he is…but he seems to be making strides…i think a decent #3 is about what we can expect/hope for from him.

by the way, next year is going to be UGLY, i’m afraid

BOOM YOSTED!

by Home Run Tony Cogan on Sep 19, 2010 10:26 PM EDT reply actions

if next year is ugly....

then dayton has learned…i’ll take ugly if it means no more paying pods, ankiel, jogui, etc

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Sep 20, 2010 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions

My ultimate comment on Hochevar

TNSTAAPP.

It does not matter that he was the #1 pick. Developing a tolerable major league starter from a pitching draft pick is always a win, period.

I am now channeling Will McDonald's optimism.

by jonfmorse on Sep 19, 2010 11:19 PM EDT reply actions

definitely....

him being a solid #3 starter is far from a failure

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Sep 20, 2010 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I think most people agree

It’s just hard to always look at it that way.

for when I'm too lazy to come here, http://twitter.com/AtTheWall

by AtTheWall on Sep 20, 2010 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Re: TINSTAAPP

Pitcher development is such a mystery (to me, at least) that I think it’s probably reasonable to hold out hope for Hoch and Crow both (whom I lump together) to be #3/4 types. Since they have good stuff (allegedly), there’s a decent chance that they’ll each be able to develop into really useful parts for the Royals. I’m not really concerned about Hoch’s age—there are loads of pitchers who didn’t “figure it out” until they were in their late 20s, and it’s not as if he has a ton of mileage on his arm. Would love to see him get a full, healthy season in next year and then turn some kind of corner the following year.

by billexgordler on Sep 20, 2010 12:56 AM EDT reply actions

well said

BOOM YOSTED!

by Home Run Tony Cogan on Sep 20, 2010 4:09 AM EDT up reply actions

good post

One thing I’m wondering about is where this recent power surge from the Royals has been all year?

We aren’t winning as many games as we usually do in September, but we’re definitely getting some power!

"Give a man fire, and he is warm for a day.
Teach a man how to make fire, and he is warm for the rest of his life."

by casual_fan on Sep 20, 2010 9:45 AM EDT reply actions

I'm not sure where the power surge is coming from

so I guess the only thing we can conclude is that Ron Gardenhire really is making a difference.

I'm not a sabermetrician, but I do play one at FanGraphs and Beyond the Box Score.

Can't get enough of me? Check out my Twitter feed.

by Matt Klaassen on Sep 20, 2010 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions

is it that we are facing September call up pitchers?

doesn’t seem like it, but still…

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Sep 20, 2010 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

made me look

The Royals have hit 17 HR in September in 622 PAs – which puts us on pace for the best month of the season for HR. Our best months were April and August with 22 HR each (890 PA in Apr – 1053 PA in Aug). Both June and July saw us hit only 14 HR each (1033 PA and 966 PA).

Here’s a list of September victims:
Tommy Hunter (Texas)
Daniel Schlereth (Detroit)
Rick Porcello (Detroit)
Brad Thomas (Detroit)
Francisco Liriano (Minnesota)
Lucas Harrell x2 (Chicago)
Bobby Cramer (Oakland)
Gio Gonzalez (Oakland)
Boof Bonser x2 (Oakland)
Trevor Cahill x2 (Oakland)
Carlos Carrasco x2 (Cleveland)
Justin Germano x2 (Cleveland)

I’d only consider 3 of these guys to be Sept. callups. Lucas Harrell was making his 2nd ML start (4th overall appearance – he did get 2 random appearances prior to September). Bobby Cramer was making his ML debut. Carlos Carrasco has been a Sept. callup for 2 years now.

Tension is the enemy. - Charlie Lau

by aHorseWithNoName on Sep 20, 2010 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I've never bought into the "September numbers mean nothing" myth.

It ain’t like you are facing a AAA team every night. Yes, there are SOME instances where a minor league player is playing when he wouldn’t have earlier in the year, but it’s not like that young player is replacing the best player on the team. Those minor leaguer are either A. good young prospects who are going to be major league regulars soon, B. replacing crappy players anyway or C. both A and B. Hell, just look at our own team. When the Indians come in and see Pena and Ka’aihue and Miller in the lineup…they might be “minor league guys” or young guys who aren’t really major leaguers..but to us, those are BETTER players than what we are already throwing out there….

Killing time until time kills me

by EspeciallyK on Sep 20, 2010 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

Except people bang on about September more, mainly because we have all winter to think about it.

A hot September is no more or less impressive than a hot May, except nobody talks about those, and both suffer from the problems that come from very small samples.

by kcbottom9th on Sep 20, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Also agree

It’s more about the players that we are putting in the lineup now versus earlier. Basically it comes down to this -

replaced:
Kendall (0 HRs on the season)
Callaspo (8 HR in 349 ABs – only 2 since going to LA A of A)
Podsdnik (5 HR in 390 ABs – 1 HR since joining the Dodgers)
Guillen (turned into a singles hitter – 5 HR in his last 200 Royals ABs from June 1 to August 4 – 3 HR in 95 ABs for SF)

with these guys:
Pena (his only HR was hit in Sept. – still more than “Slappy” Kendall)
Betemit (2 HR in Sept. – 12 HR in 242 ABs)
Gordon (2 HR in Sept. – 7 HR in 199 ABs)
Ka’aihue (2 HR in Sept. – 4 HR in his last 20 games/69 ABs)

So, in other words, I’m choosing option C……

Tension is the enemy. - Charlie Lau

by aHorseWithNoName on Sep 20, 2010 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Disagree.

There are more players in the league in September, it has a similar effect to adding an expansion team. The average talent level goes down on the mound, so offense takes a step forward. I’m not saying that’s the Royals case here, but in general, there’s a reason you take September stats with a grain of salt.

How many games did the Royals win last September?

by AxDxMx on Sep 20, 2010 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions

?

But doesn’t the talent level “effect” go both ways? Doesn’t the “playing field” still remain level (relatively speaking)?

Nobody has clinched yet – When we get to the last week of the season to play the Twins and Rays, things might be different if they have clinched playoff spots. If they haven’t, I wouldn’t discount the results (beyond SSS).

And since you brought up 2009 – We went 15-13 last September. Beat Detroit 5 times (the same team that LOST a 1 game playoff to the Twins at the end of the season). Were they not trying very hard/playing minor leaguers? Also, we beat Boston twice when they still thought they had a chance to catch the Yanks. On the other hand, we were 1-5 against the Twins. Still, we were 8-8 (thanks mostly to the aforemetioned Twins) against teams that were giving it their best.

Tension is the enemy. - Charlie Lau

by aHorseWithNoName on Sep 20, 2010 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Hochevar

I hold out hope that he can one day develop into a league average starter. He is closer now than he has been in the past, but still has a ways to go to get there. Of course, a better IF defense would help him immensly – but I don’t see that coming until they dump Yuni.

In the bigger picture – to me, he is probably the only guy not named “Greinke” to be better than a 50% bet to be in the 2011 rotation, and the help from the minors probably won’t be ready to contribute in a significant way until 2012 at the earliest. In other words, next year’s rotation is gonna SUCK.

"We're gonna win with pitching and defense" General Manager Dayton Moore, circa winter 2009

"Where did all these Indians come from?" General George Armstrong Custer, circa summer 1876

by loyal2sdad on Sep 20, 2010 11:34 AM EDT reply actions

He Seems To

Be hurt by bloops and grounders more than most. Choo was the only one who really hit him hard that I remember.

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

by philofthenorth on Sep 20, 2010 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Hochevar

If he can stay healthy….

From a stats perspective, he is another Jon Garland type. High ground ball rate, strikes out a moderate amount of people, could win 20 games at his peak, will post a career ERA somewhere in the mid-4’s.

From a scouting perspective, I say the above with a lot of disappointment, because at least to the naked eye Hochevar’s stuff is much more versatile and nasty than Garland’s. Hoch can touch 96 on his best days with the fastball with sinking action, can spin knee buckling curves, has an average changeup, and has an effective slider when he chooses to throw it.

The whole does not equal the sum of the parts here. So from a scouting perspective, maybe the best he becomes is like a poor man’s AJ Burnett. Great stuff, capable of mound wizardry at least a few times per year that keeps everyone waiting for a breakout season when he puts it all together, but a disappointment in the long run.

I still believe that Hoch will have one outstanding season where it all comes together for him, kind of like Garland’s 2005 season.

If history is any indication that season will not be with the Royals.

Waiting for April.

by DC Royal on Sep 20, 2010 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

You don't think our present regime can coax that out of him?

Scouting the Royals
Royals Prospects

by 306008 on Sep 20, 2010 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions

no

Waiting for April.

by DC Royal on Sep 20, 2010 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

actually, a better answer is there is no way in hell that we coax that out of him with our current infield

and it doesn’t look good for the next year or two, with Butler/Ka’aihue at 1B, Getz/Aviles at 2B, Betancourt at SS, and Betemit/Fields/Moustakas at 3B

god, our infield defense is so bad. how were we able to trade away callaspo without improving our infield defense?

Waiting for April.

by DC Royal on Sep 20, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

We traded Callaspo?

I thought he just changed his name to Wilson Betemit.

by AxDxMx on Sep 20, 2010 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Bert On 'Roids

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

by philofthenorth on Sep 20, 2010 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

OT: I had no idea that Mike Sweeney plays for the phillies now

when did that happen?

Waiting for April.

by DC Royal on Sep 20, 2010 1:32 PM EDT reply actions

At least for 2 weeks now. I went to see the Padres-Phillies and he hit a homer.

I was surprised to see him in the lineup. Had no idea he was playing there.

by play4'ships on Sep 20, 2010 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I didn't get to see the start but one thing I noticed about Hochevar

earlier this year was that he was using his four seam fastball much more and earlier in the count. When he had runners on or needed the GB he went more with is two seamer. I wonder why the shift in philosophy?

Scouting the Royals
Royals Prospects

by 306008 on Sep 20, 2010 1:40 PM EDT reply actions

According to pitch f/x, Hochevar added a cutter this year

It appears that he is also using his changeup more, which has gone from a liability in previous years to decent this year. Hochevar’s biggest problem in the past has been left-handed hitters, but he has done much better this year (small sample size alert). The cutter and more effective changeup would help expain that improvement.

by Gopherballs on Sep 20, 2010 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

Hochevar

You know I still like Hochevar, I thought Bannister has been through for a while. I get sick and tired of all the negative comments on Hochevar in the Star, the guy has been injured this year and still shows flashes of great promise.

The real question mark to me is what to do with Davies. I would like to see him shifted to the bullpen, I think he might benefit from only needing to focus for a couple of innings and let him turn it loose.

by Royals16 on Sep 20, 2010 2:05 PM EDT reply actions