Tomko's Revenge: Rangers Sweep Royals

by RoyalsRetro on Apr 24, 2011 6:17 PM EDT in Royals Game Recaps

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 24: Pitcher Bruce Chen #52 of the Kansas City Royals wipes his face as he is relieved against the Texas Rangers in the 6th inning at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on April 24, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Well that got interesting in a hurry.

Many fans may see this sweep as the beginning of the end for the Royals hot start, but just as we should keep a level head with positive small samples, we should also keep a level head with negative small samples. Let's also keep in mind the Rangers are the defending American League champions. And its early. I mean Boston has been swept three times already. At least we're not as bad as those losers.

On the plus side, Frenchy went yard and Aviles homered twice. On the minus side, the wind was pretty much blowing everything out. Even little Andres Blanco, the guy that couldn't start for us because he lacked any kind of power, hit one out. I think Louis Coleman's dad and former First Lady Laura Bush even hit one out.

On windy days, perhaps they should scratch Chen and give Adock an emergency start? Wind is Bruce Chen's only Kryptonite. Well that, and Kryptonite.

Betemit has already buried Aviles. Is he going to bury Kila now?

Remembering Brett Tomko. That was a blast from the past huh? Still looks like a 15 game winner to me.

Well a downer of a weekend, but the ship can be righted in the place where so many other dreams have come true - Cleveland.

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Comments

"Betimit has already buried Aviles. Is he going to bury Kila now?"

What is that even supposed to mean?

WILSON BETEMIT = RATINGS

by JobDDT on Apr 24, 2011 6:34 PM EDT reply actions

Betemit was taking playing time from Aviles

Edgar is a fickle guy, and will now play Aviles more often. Betemit is still hitting well enough, Kila isn’t. Kila is the odd man out. Potentially.

by kcbottom9th on Apr 24, 2011 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I suppose Getz could be the odd man out..

by focs on Apr 24, 2011 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Not Likely Yet

If he continues to regress and Kila heats up in whatever limited playing time he might get, maybe then.

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

by philofthenorth on Apr 24, 2011 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Betemit>Aviles>Getz

leave the Kila Monster alone!

Don't be lonesome for your heroes. Be your own hero.

by PhattStairs on Apr 24, 2011 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, I Agree

Just prognosticating, not making suggestions.

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

by philofthenorth on Apr 24, 2011 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

There's math I can get behind.

by RoyalCreole on Apr 25, 2011 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions

I question the timing of this sweep

"Shot by my own men."

by StonewallPDS on Apr 24, 2011 6:39 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Bruce Chen

Mere mortal? My world is crashing down before my eyes.

by mnash88 on Apr 24, 2011 6:45 PM EDT reply actions

Cleveland; Where Dreams

Go to die.

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

by philofthenorth on Apr 24, 2011 7:36 PM EDT reply actions

Royals

were competitive and even Master Chen has an off day. Jeffress still looks like Farnsworth to me.

by Jim Fetterolf on Apr 24, 2011 7:40 PM EDT reply actions

Jeffress is basically a rookie

Farnsenburger was a well-tread save blowing machine by the time he got to us.

Our concern is that they’re trying to get him to be all crafty early on learning off-speed stuff (prob good for his long term career). But he’s got heat and sometimes they need to just let the bad man be the bad man (ie throw fbs until someone proves they can hit him).

PARADEBULATE!

by Official Arrowhead Pride Parade on Apr 24, 2011 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions

But he can throw 100 mph!

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Apr 24, 2011 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Batters Don't Have

Much luck hitting it, unlike Tatersworth.

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

by philofthenorth on Apr 24, 2011 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I'l admit to having more patience with him

Since he was part of the Greinke trade.

Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life.

by KeepItCopacetic on Apr 25, 2011 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm Cool

with patience for Jeffress, but I just don’t think he’s quite ready for high leverage until he gets a little better command plus another off speed pitch. Compare with Crow who pounds strikes and has a nasty slider, even though he ‘only’ throws 95. Jeffress may be over throwing, lighting up the gun, but losing movement on the fb. That happens quite a bit with power pitchers.

by Jim Fetterolf on Apr 25, 2011 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Good to see Aviles heating up

OBP is still in “miserable” territory, but he’s now slugging .527.

"Do they have people that tall in Mexico?"

by NHZ on Apr 24, 2011 8:21 PM EDT reply actions

Time to bring it to the tribe

.......Just a beer drinking KC Chiefs & KC Royals fan.......
POWDER BLUE BOMBERS!!!!!

by Mas Cervezas on Apr 24, 2011 9:12 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Some Kind Of

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

by philofthenorth on Apr 24, 2011 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I missed most of this one

Who sucked the most? Looks like even Getz and Escobar had decent games.

by LaFLamme on Apr 24, 2011 9:33 PM EDT reply actions

Ahh

Butler a mini-slump; Jeffress, horrible relief; Melky and Gordon (I’m guessing) did shit with runners in scoring position; Chen with an un-Chen-like start.

by LaFLamme on Apr 24, 2011 9:44 PM EDT reply actions

I blame George W. Bush

Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life.

by KeepItCopacetic on Apr 24, 2011 10:19 PM EDT reply actions

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Apr 24, 2011 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Apr 24, 2011 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmmm...don't like either team. I believe I'll vote for a third-party candidate

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Apr 24, 2011 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Ha!!!

by LaFLamme on Apr 24, 2011 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions

So That's Where

Ross Perot went.

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

by philofthenorth on Apr 24, 2011 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions

That's a Rec

Supporting the Kenji Jackson Approach for every day situations.

by MarioVanPeebles Republic of China on Apr 25, 2011 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I blame Obama

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Apr 24, 2011 10:23 PM EDT reply actions

Fuck Andrew Jackson!

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

by philofthenorth on Apr 24, 2011 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't let him hear you say that...

he will crawl out of his grave and whip you with his hickory stick

Your 2010 Royals Review Fantasy Football Keeper League Champion
Since 2006: Royals win% = .4218, Chiefs win% = .3625

by averagegatsby on Apr 24, 2011 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I Have A

Repeating rifle.

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

by philofthenorth on Apr 25, 2011 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Tomko Was Going

From side to side with his pitches in comical fashion. It was literally one outside, one inside, for whole AB’s at times. Somebody’s been listening to his pitching coach and taking the instructions literally.

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

by philofthenorth on Apr 24, 2011 11:00 PM EDT reply actions

Lots of stuff in the news about a Royals wedding next week

Who is it? Chris Getz? Bruce Chen? Why so much international coverage?

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Apr 24, 2011 11:11 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs

Trey Will Return

To marry Kendall once he’s sufficiently rehabbed.

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

by philofthenorth on Apr 24, 2011 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I heard Trey's name this afternoon

is he with the Cubs?

by LaFLamme on Apr 24, 2011 11:48 PM EDT reply actions

I ended up having to go help out a friend with car trouble and missed the last three innings of this one.

I’m glad to see we made it close since it was 8-2 when I left. As much as getting swept sucks, I’m pleased that we kept (or got it) close in two out of three in their place. Those men LOB in game two really hurt, but at least we didn’t get totally massacred, such as the mauling we’re about to inflict on Cleveland.

by RoyalCreole on Apr 25, 2011 8:51 AM EDT reply actions

Aviles/Getz/Betemit/Kila

only 3 of these 4 can start – who should be the odd man out most days? It’s a hard call. To me, even though Getz has seemingly improved this year (I’m judging by his BB and K rates), I sorta think it should be him. Can we live with Aviles’ defense at 2B? I think I would do that.

One other observation: Yost could occasionally boost the offense by giving Escobar a day off and putting Aviles at shortstop. As illogical as this may sound, Aviles may actually be a better defender at shortstop then he is at either 2B or 3B. (Illogical, if you look at the defensive spectrum. Logical, if you consider his career games, minor and major, at all three positions. He simply is more comfortable at shortstop)

One final observation: Billy Butler looks like he could use a mental day off at this point. Yeah, it’s hard to take him out of the lineup for even one day, considering how many holes the lineup already has – but this might be beneficial in the long run.

"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 Apr 25, 2011 11:26 AM EDT reply actions

I don't disagree with anything you wrote.

Yost recently said he feels that a player needs at least two games to truly rest. I don’t really expect him to do this, but it wouldn’t be out of the question for him to give Billy Tuesday off and let Betemit DH. It might not be the worst thing in the world, either.

Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life.

by KeepItCopacetic on Apr 25, 2011 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

And other than resting guys when appropriate as you two mentioned, isn't Yost

platooning them based on the pitcher’s handedness (as he should)?

The whole problem with the world is that fools & fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. ~ Bertrand Russell

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Apr 25, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

He's been doing so a whole lot more than he did last year, it seems.

Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life.

by KeepItCopacetic on Apr 25, 2011 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, he sorta seems to be doing some of that

I wish he would consider platooning either Maier or Dyson with Francouer as well. Sure, Francouer’s overall numbers look good – but his splits are SHOCKING so far. Doesn’t appear to be a major leaguer against RH pitching, and appears to be Babe Ruth against lefties.

As for Cabrera – I agree he is much better batting LH – but there are no easy platoon solutions to bench him against lefties. (well, there is an easy solution – but said solution is stuck in Omaha right now…)

"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 Apr 25, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions