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Royals Cruise to Easy Victory Over Rangers in Spring Training Opener

Duffy's eyes were watching the Royals and Rangers. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images)

A harbinger of 2012 glories to come?

The Royals made easy work of the Rangers today establishing firm, must-be-honored bragging rights over all of Surprise, Arizona. The only real lineup note of note was that Giavotella started over Getz and that Gordon started Spring Training leading off. We'll see how both moves develop over the next month.

Things to like so far:

  • Mendoza and Mazzaro combined for four scoreless innings. O'Sullivan, the jewel of the Callaspo trade, allowed a run over two innings, which I guess is good, and Adcock chipped in with two scoreless. Kelvin Herrera shut down the AL Champs for the I'm-calling-it-a save, placing him in line to be traded to the Phillies one day.
  • 14 of Mazarro's 18 pitches were strikes. Is he begging to be traded to the Twins?
  • The offense had a good day, built around a 4-run fifth inning. Cain, Gordon, Gio, Butler, & Moose had hits, and Hosmer reached on an error. Insert obvious "that was a sequence the Royals expect much more over the next five years" here.

Star-divide

  • Butler homered in his first PA of the Spring. He added a single later in the game, before being lifted for Wil Myers.
  • Cain and Giavotella doubled.
  • MITCH appeared in the game.
  • Yuni only got one PA.
  • Comment 63 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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    I'm going to assume "18 out of 14 pitches were strikes"

    Was intentional. Vinsanity throws strikes 129% of the time. He’s JUST. THAT. GOOD.

    by Soria's Unibrow on Mar 4, 2012 4:56 PM EST reply actions  

    he is "pitching backwards"

    "Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

    by buddyball on Mar 4, 2012 5:39 PM EST up reply actions  

    VIN > MITT

    Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

    by RoyalsRetro on Mar 4, 2012 9:13 PM EST up reply actions  

    Soooo excited!

    Listened to the game on my app! Great things are going to happen for our boys in blue

    "Stay Classy Kansas City"

    by Mas Cervezas on Mar 4, 2012 4:57 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

    what? is it free?

    CHIEFS DYNASTY – we’re kind of a big deal

    by kabrink on Mar 4, 2012 7:55 PM EST up reply actions  

    Not the MLB at bat app.

    It’s around $15-16

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

    by mitchfreakingmaier! on Mar 4, 2012 10:03 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions  

    hmm

    and I’d probably have to up my data plan. Probably a better deal to do the mlbtv option and actually see the games.

    CHIEFS DYNASTY – we’re kind of a big deal

    by kabrink on Mar 4, 2012 10:13 PM EST up reply actions  

    I actually do both

    because I’m stupid. The only reason though, is for when I’m traveling, I can actually listen to the games thru my car stereo on the app. I’ve decided that i didn’t need to keep paying for XM that way.

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

    by mitchfreakingmaier! on Mar 5, 2012 9:46 AM EST up reply actions  

    Does anyone know if it’s still the case that MLB charges separate fees for an At Bat computer subscription and a smartphone app?

    by RoyalCreole on Mar 7, 2012 1:07 PM EST up reply actions  

    Vinsanity?

    At least the first day of ChrisGetzmas was delayed.

    by Hibbidyhai on Mar 4, 2012 5:17 PM EST reply actions  

    Mark Teahen is on my television screen.

    My plans have changed.

    Killing time until time kills me

    by EspeciallyK on Mar 4, 2012 5:46 PM EST reply actions  

    What channel?

    "Stay Classy Kansas City"

    by Mas Cervezas on Mar 4, 2012 6:49 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

    Was the replay of the Nationals game on MLB tv. He entered as a pinch-runner for someone.

    I didn’t see how he did though, I stopped watching.

    Killing time until time kills me

    by EspeciallyK on Mar 4, 2012 7:58 PM EST up reply actions  

    MLB Network I mean

    Killing time until time kills me

    by EspeciallyK on Mar 4, 2012 8:00 PM EST up reply actions  

    Maybe

    we could throw the 2011 [PCL] PITCHER OF THE FREAKIN YEAR!!!!
    OH WAIT – We did that TODAY!!! AND we slaughtered the reigning american league champs – LOOOKS LIKE MENDONZA = WORLD SERIES > RANGERS!!!!

    by Loose Seal on Mar 4, 2012 11:40 PM EST up reply actions  

    Infield Doubles Are

    More impressive

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

    by philofthenorth on Mar 4, 2012 7:15 PM EST up reply actions  

    Your argument is invalid

    Unless you cite Ron Polk Points

    Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

    by RoyalsRetro on Mar 4, 2012 9:13 PM EST up reply actions  

    How Many Prospects

    Do we give up to get Sizemore next winter? He'll be the final piece of the puzzle

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

    by philofthenorth on Mar 4, 2012 7:14 PM EST reply actions  

    Damn you Phil!

    WTF?

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

    by mitchfreakingmaier! on Mar 4, 2012 10:04 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions  

    Yea but can he play ....

    Shit.. We don’t have infield issues.. Dayum.. Only pitching issues..

    "Stay Classy Kansas City"

    by Mas Cervezas on Mar 4, 2012 7:35 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

    I'm gonna chalk it up to the high desert.

    Sporadically musing on the Royals at both Royals Review and Royalscentricity, and pontificating on pop culture at Inconsiderate Prick.
    Twit. Old Man Duggan

    by Old Man Duggan on Mar 4, 2012 8:31 PM EST up reply actions  

    I'm gonna chalk it up to being Ned's boy.

    I have a horrible feeling that he’s gonna have a good spring.

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

    by mitchfreakingmaier! on Mar 4, 2012 10:05 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions  

    ROIDS

    Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

    by RoyalsRetro on Mar 4, 2012 9:12 PM EST up reply actions  

    I lol'd at this.

    I need to throw in front of a gun again based on this hypothesis.

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

    by mitchfreakingmaier! on Mar 5, 2012 9:47 AM EST up reply actions  

    I dove a little into it.

    It seems like the radar seems on and if anything, it is reading a bit low, so the numbers are legit. Mendoza did seem to reach these speeds in late 2008:

    His stats over that stretch he had a 11.12 ERA.

    BTW I looked at the rest of the pitchers and all the Royals seem good. Colby Lewis (Rangers) was a little on the low side.

    Doubting Thomas, the patron saint of sabermetrics

    by Jeff Zimmerman on Mar 5, 2012 11:16 AM EST up reply actions  

    I am being 100% completely serious, not snarky here

    But I think Vin Mazzarro will get some starts, and I think he will do well and contribute.

    Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

    by RoyalsRetro on Mar 4, 2012 9:12 PM EST reply actions  

    Let's hope.

    We can still win the DDJ trade!

    by Dadunca on Mar 4, 2012 9:25 PM EST up reply actions  

    He has some talent.

    Certainly more than SOS, and probably more than Mendoza. Doesn’t Mazzaro have pretty good GB rates?

    by hawkinscm87 on Mar 4, 2012 9:50 PM EST up reply actions  

    it is in the mail

    along with TPJ's glasses

    "Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

    by buddyball on Mar 4, 2012 10:10 PM EST up reply actions  

    you're not alone

    i think he’ll end up being a solid 4-5 starter

    Fire Everyone

    by billybeingbilly on Mar 4, 2012 11:29 PM EST up reply actions  

    I said that last year and got attacked mercilessly by that "DaytonSucks" guy.

    Was he a troll that was banned or does he still post here?

    I still think Vinny can have some value too.

    Killing time until time kills me

    by EspeciallyK on Mar 5, 2012 12:47 AM EST up reply actions  

    I think he was banned.

    Sporadically musing on the Royals at both Royals Review and Royalscentricity, and pontificating on pop culture at Inconsiderate Prick.
    Twit. Old Man Duggan

    by Old Man Duggan on Mar 5, 2012 4:00 AM EST up reply actions  

    I think so too.

    I remember that particular bashing, but I actually kind of agree with you. I think Mazzaro could actually stick in the rotation eventually. Too many people keep going back to that game where they just left him in to take his lumps last year. It was horrible, but I don’t really think it’s his true talent level.

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

    by mitchfreakingmaier! on Mar 5, 2012 9:50 AM EST up reply actions  

    the same thing happened around here with gobble when he stayed in the game to take one for the team...

    if most people around here had their way, mazzaro would never see KC again…all because of one outing where he was helping the team out.

    Fire Everyone

    by billybeingbilly on Mar 5, 2012 11:55 PM EST up reply actions  

    I'm decidedly not anti-Vin

    Sporadically musing on the Royals at both Royals Review and Royalscentricity, and pontificating on pop culture at Inconsiderate Prick.
    Twit. Old Man Duggan

    by Old Man Duggan on Mar 6, 2012 4:03 AM EST up reply actions  

    It might only be spring training...

    But it’s SPRING FREAKING TRAINING! 2012 is finally here. After all of the talk, after all of the losing, after all of the hype, we’re finally here. It’s gonna be baseball-baseball-baseball in my life for the next seven (eight???) months, and I couldn’t be happier.

    KU - 1952, 1988, 2008. Royals - 1985. Chiefs - 1970.

    by BlitzAce71 on Mar 4, 2012 11:49 PM EST reply actions  

    Damn straight!

    I was so freaking giddy listening to that first inning on the radio today. This off-season seemed so long.

    by Gross(est) on Mar 5, 2012 12:43 AM EST up reply actions  

    BTW

    I don’t know if this was mentioned elsewhere, but it was an absolutely beautiful day yesterday. Mid 80’s with only a slight breeze…..It felt good to be out there.

    They looked good – for the 1st “official” ST game anyway. Billy’s HR was a blast to left-center over the 379 sign – I could tell he got it. I really don’t know how hard the pitchers were throwing – it kept showing pitches in the 50-60 MPH range on the scoreboard in the early innings so I stopped checking after awhile…

    Tension is the enemy. - Charlie Lau

    by aHorseWithNoName on Mar 5, 2012 11:40 AM EST reply actions  

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