Royals Roll Right By Rays

by Freneau on Jul 22, 2011 11:24 PM EDT in Royals Game Recaps

This was a game for the hitters tonight, with Luke Hochevar making a bit of noise in the middle of the game. The Royals had 16 hits, to go along with four walks.

The top of the order was especially productive: two hits for Gordon, three for Melky, two for Butler, two for Hosmer, three for Francoeur. There was some drop-off after that (though TREANOR! also reached base three times) but really, it hardly matters when there's that much clustered goodness.

Luke Hochevar was again frustrating, and when he left the game the Royals were clinging to a 5-4 lead with runners on base. The Rays couldn't get the next hit, and the next half inning saw the Royals score three more runs. Oh, and mistake-free Getz nearly ended Escobar's career. Or maybe it was Fuld. I'm not sure. I just want someone to blame.

I can't help thinking how frustrated I would have been tonight if I was a Rays fan... all that talk about how they had survived the tough part of their schedule and now needed to make up ground against weaker teams... and Wade Davis comes out and pitches like a Royal.

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Comments

And the Rays play defense like the Royals circa 2010

Reality is a crutch for people who can’t handle drugs

by where o' where has my underdog gone? on Jul 22, 2011 11:26 PM EDT reply actions

we've already missed a John Lannan HR!!!

Getz is jealous

by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on Jul 22, 2011 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions

dude has the worst posture in baseball

by Freneau on Jul 22, 2011 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions

So how far does this Lannan 1-hitter go?

by hawkinscm87 on Jul 22, 2011 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Not far

by hawkinscm87 on Jul 22, 2011 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions

needs calcium

by kansasjohn on Jul 22, 2011 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Really, why did his parents name him John?

That last name is too similar to Lennon.

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room!

by KeepItCopacetic on Jul 22, 2011 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

you may say he's a dreamer, but he's not

(the only one)

by kansasjohn on Jul 22, 2011 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Baseball needs more working class heroes.

Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room!

by KeepItCopacetic on Jul 22, 2011 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions

John Lannan is bigger than Hosmer

by kansasjohn on Jul 23, 2011 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Blasphemer!

How dare you compare that mop headed hurler to our sacred entity!

I can't forget ... but I can't remember what.

by dustfan on Jul 23, 2011 3:24 AM EDT up reply actions

the random baserunners in the 9th gave me a window

and, i mean, it was like 10 obvious sentences that offer no insight

the typing was the longest part

by Freneau on Jul 22, 2011 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions

OHHHHHH

Ted Lilly and Gorzelanny tomorrow night!! Get set!

by hawkinscm87 on Jul 22, 2011 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Billy on MLBN

They turned the lights off mid-interview for the fireworks show. Really put off by his body language. Trade NOW!

by MoFoDEAN on Jul 22, 2011 11:32 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs

Rany tweet

Tonight was the 3rd time in Hochevar’s last 4 starts that the Royals scored 10+ runs. It’s the first time he held on for the win. (Barely.)

by hawkinscm87 on Jul 22, 2011 11:33 PM EDT reply actions

keep him

by BeauJackson on Jul 22, 2011 11:39 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs

the only thing Luke pulled off in the 6th was

hitting Sam Fuld.. and it took him 2 shots to get that

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bhindepmo
Chairman, The Melky Cabrera Seasoning Sauce. It's great on your outfield!

by BHWick on Jul 22, 2011 11:41 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

Fuld's play was beyond being tough and trying to break up a DP

by kansasjohn on Jul 22, 2011 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions

granted, he made up for it

by blowing multiple defensive plays and he may have lost his spot in the outfield to Desmond Jennings

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bhindepmo
Chairman, The Melky Cabrera Seasoning Sauce. It's great on your outfield!

by BHWick on Jul 22, 2011 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Yost said it was "not [an] exceptionally clean" play.

Montgomery basically said it was bush league.

by kansasjohn on Jul 22, 2011 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Hoch's post-game denial of it being intentional was not very denial-ish.

by Gross(est) on Jul 22, 2011 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm glad it wasn't.

by kansasjohn on Jul 22, 2011 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah - I'm okay with it in this situation.

by Gross(est) on Jul 22, 2011 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Remember that time

The Royals fixed Luke’s big inning problems?

by bas on Jul 22, 2011 11:42 PM EDT reply actions

I'm not dismissing that, at least not because of tonight.

Teaching him that throwing offspeed pitches and moving the ball in and out, up and down was good for him. Hell—I’d care to guess that if we teach all of our pitchers to move the ball around and throw curveballs and sliders and changeups, we might be a lot better in a couple years. FIRE BOB MCCLURE.

by hawkinscm87 on Jul 22, 2011 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions

For what it is worth, and I don't know if it is TRUE, . . .

per one of the KC sports radio stations, Luke has bee told what to do for a while, but wasn’t doing it. I don’t recall if it was 610 or 810, but it was before his previous start.

by kansasjohn on Jul 22, 2011 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Quit pitching like a dipshit?

PARADEBULATE!

by Official Arrowhead Pride Parade on Jul 22, 2011 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly, but it was . . .

“Quit pitching like a lame dipshit.” I’d hate for the story to be wrong.

by kansasjohn on Jul 22, 2011 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions

FIRE BOB MCCLURE.

McClure doesn’t shake off pitches and miss spots. Fire Hoch or move him to the ’pen, maybe as a closer.

by Jim Fetterolf on Jul 23, 2011 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions

That was awesome!

by bas on Jul 23, 2011 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Argh!

by bas on Jul 23, 2011 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Do you remember when you were in the Beatles?

by kansasjohn on Jul 23, 2011 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions

We're just a four good series out of first place /yosted

PARADEBULATE!

by Official Arrowhead Pride Parade on Jul 22, 2011 11:58 PM EDT reply actions

Who the heck is this Nate Adcock player?

Did he just get called up? I’ve never heard of him!

by kansasjohn on Jul 23, 2011 12:03 AM EDT reply actions

he was invented by the mob

to launder money

by PopeSoria on Jul 23, 2011 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Mob?

It doesn’t exist. Just like Nate Adcock doesn’t exist. Were you hit in the head?

by kansasjohn on Jul 23, 2011 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions

He's closely related to

Furbush.

I'm waiting for my wave of talent to arrive.

by mitchfreakingmaier! on Jul 23, 2011 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Just saw the video of the Fuld slide..

Studs up? That kind of shit would have gotten you jacked on a soccer field. I’m a little disappointed that a fan didn’t jump from the stands and tackle his ass.

by dyehardfan on Jul 23, 2011 12:06 AM EDT reply actions

I love the part: ON A SOCCER FIELD.

by kansasjohn on Jul 23, 2011 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

William Ligue Jr. and son style?

I’d rather not have that, but he should get a fine (and scorn). F the legend of Sam Fuld.

by kansasjohn on Jul 23, 2011 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

just watched it too. nice throw by "mistake free" getz.

by BeauJackson on Jul 23, 2011 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Frank White said the throw should have been to the outside of the bag . . .

. . . and not the inside of the bag, but what does Frank White know about playing second base? He’s just a commentator.

by kansasjohn on Jul 23, 2011 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs

At the game tonight

Before everybody realized Escobar was hurt they were booing the throw by Getz.

I'm very much interested in the process of pitching." -Brian Banister

by Hanging Brainister on Jul 23, 2011 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I missed the last part of the game

How’d Aviles look?

by LaFLamme on Jul 23, 2011 12:11 AM EDT reply actions

0-2

by kansasjohn on Jul 23, 2011 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions

the usual

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bhindepmo
Chairman, The Melky Cabrera Seasoning Sauce. It's great on your outfield!

by BHWick on Jul 23, 2011 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions

if by the usual you mean about 180 of his 1200 career ABs you are correct!

by BeauJackson on Jul 23, 2011 3:01 AM EDT up reply actions

well

he hit a flyball to center.. he didn’t do anything too far from his skillset tonight

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bhindepmo
Chairman, The Melky Cabrera Seasoning Sauce. It's great on your outfield!

by BHWick on Jul 23, 2011 3:50 AM EDT up reply actions

At 3 games in a row, do you get to call it a winning streak?

As a Royals fan, 2 in a row feels like a streak…..

by kcdc1 on Jul 23, 2011 12:23 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

one is a streak

of one

by kansasjohn on Jul 23, 2011 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Three is a HUGE winning streak for the Royals.

For a losing streak, it’s barely mentionable.

by Gross(est) on Jul 23, 2011 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

SEA Just Reached

The dreaded baker’s dozen losing streak. Reality bites.

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

by philofthenorth on Jul 23, 2011 1:54 AM EDT up reply actions

The Royals have a winning streak

And Melky has a streak in his shorts.

by OnixConcepcion on Jul 23, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions

What's the longest streak they have this year?

Can’t be much more than three.

by LaFLamme on Jul 23, 2011 1:06 AM EDT reply actions

With the win,

the Royals are no longer the worst team in the A.L.

by Loose Seal on Jul 23, 2011 1:16 AM EDT reply actions

Third worst!

I'm waiting for my wave of talent to arrive.

by mitchfreakingmaier! on Jul 23, 2011 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Scratch that...

I was looking at the NL like a dumbass…

I'm waiting for my wave of talent to arrive.

by mitchfreakingmaier! on Jul 23, 2011 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Three's a streak

Good game all around. If Luke only gives up four runs and the bullpen shuts them down, we ought to win. Bush-league play by Fuld, trying to injure Escobar. Nothing wrong with sliding hard as long as you do it clean, which means straight along the basepath into the base and with your cleats down. Lots of doubles. Nice to see Billy hit a homer; I think this is just a low-power year for him.

Moose probably should stay the rest of the season in MLB to gain experience, even if he doesn’t hit any better. Hosmer is playing quite well for a rookie and looks like a definite non-bust.

Treanor is having a career year. He’s never gotten on base at this rate before. It can’t last. I would seriously pick up Kelly Shoppach to replace him next year. Shoppach has a decent defensive reputation, is still youngish, and pummels left-handed pitching. He cannot hit right-handers at all. Use Peña as the starter—he’s having a pretty decent season—and start Shoppach against lefties when Brayan needs a break. Shoppach, of course, is also your righty bat off the bench.

"From northern New Jersey came Boom Boom Mazzaro
A righthanded starter drafted out of high school
He pitched in the minors at Stockton and Midland
And blew them away with all of the tools" --Not Warren Zevon

by Juancho on Jul 23, 2011 2:34 AM EDT reply actions

Shoppach stats

2011 vs. LHP .243/.361/.386 .340 wOBA 118 wRC+
career vs. LHP .278/.377/.534 .392 wOBA 144 wRC+

2011 vs. RHP .106/.189/.212 .188 wOBA 13 wRC+
career vs. RHP .205/.292/.365 .293 wOBA 76 wRC+

He is so bad against righties that he’s not a candidate to be anyone’s starting catcher, though this year’s total impotence is likely a bit of bad luck. Tampa has a $3.2m club option w/$300K buyout for 2012 and they might not re-sign him. Whatever, we could get him for cheap. Like, say, Getz or Boom Boom, or some guy in rookie ball.

by Juancho on Jul 23, 2011 2:57 AM EDT up reply actions

at least two of those "doubles" were misplays by Tampa's OF

and I can’t remember what happened to the runner on the play where Fuld appeared to catch the ball, yet it was ruled he trapped it. That may make a third “double.”

by Fernando Vina School of Linguistics on Jul 23, 2011 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions

That was Melky.

I thought it was a single.

I'm waiting for my wave of talent to arrive.

by mitchfreakingmaier! on Jul 23, 2011 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Rays might be buyers

This article from the St. Petersburg Times says that Tampa might be looking to add a rental outfield bat and would be willing to deal prospects. Let’s offer them Frenchy and Treanor for a prospect and Shoppach and see what happens.

by Juancho on Jul 23, 2011 3:12 AM EDT reply actions