Game 58 Open Thread- Royals (21-36) at Devil Rays (23-31)

Gotta take your blessings where you can find them. This franchise doesn't need any no-hitter dirt kicked on its grave this season.

Good catch Dej...

Gordon's ball appears to have been hit to warning track. What did the radio guys have to say - was it a good swing, etc? Should I be encouraged?

(Note - if Bob Davis is doing the radio, forget it - no objectivity possible for that guy. He's a terrible homer)

If so, the HBP would have stayed at 1B on DeJesus error, would have stayed at 2nd on the "sac fly", and would have ended the inning at 1B; therefore, it should be unearned?

DeJesus did drop a flyball or something, didn't he?

Harris a former Cub prospect... I think he got up in the top 10 in the org.  

Another good catch by T.

Okay, close this out Meche....

Hideki Okajima
A J Burnett
Fernando Rodney
Mark Buehrle
Justin Duchscherer
Joe Kennedy
Cliff Lee
James Shields

What do these guys have in common?

That list is more than a league avg representation of pitchers, IMHO - it looks pretty good, doesn't it?

I'd be willing to start hitting Buck 4th or 5th and see what happens. I love Sweeney, but move him down to 6th or 7th; we have had a large vacuum in those spots all year - what do we have to lose?

(Should have made this a diary - but Buck's HR today off a guy the rest of the team has no clue against sorta set me off...)

FIRE THE CLOWN AND HIRE A VET...

(Wiping dripping sarcasm slime off computer screen)

I think one could merge these two ballclubs together and STILL not have a .500 team when completed.

Unfortunately, our Royals are not good at either, and the entire organization has lacked a consistent hitting approach (starting in Rookie ball on up), so much so that nobody can even describe what the hell our philosphy is even SUPPOSSED to be!

That would take too much analysis and insight by Brian.

An alternative would be to take a rip at the Royals hitters, including the batting coach. If McRae doesn't think that's appropriate, in all fairness it should at least be raised as a possible discussion point.

Of course, this would be in a fair world where the announcers are hired by the radio station, not by the team...

Couldn't have said it better - I want Meche around for years 2-5 if he's gonna pitch like this - so occasionally its OK if he goes "only" 97 pitches...

Besides, our bullpen has been doing a pretty damn good job for about a month now...

Kinda depressing, when you think about it...

God Bless You, John Buck

That's a stock you might as well use to wallpaper the bathroom...

I know we need to trade LaRue, but can't Buck DH on days he isn't catching?  WTH?  seriously...

Sweeney could play 1B to keep his bat in the lineup on those games, and bench Shealy.

Seems too simple.

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!

Let's see - Duckworth hasn't pitched in a while, Dotel has gone  one inning three days ago, Riske pitched 1.2 innings two days ago...

Does Bell even understand the concept of leveraging your bullpen appearances?

We're in great shape!

If Buck bats, it will HAVE to be with him representing at LEAST the tying run or better!

Go Royals, you're the best!

Costa needs to hit the trail to nowhere.

And then Gobble.... he must miss his kid or something.  His brain wasn't there today.

I just don't understand Moore... the Clown should be gone by now.

I don't remember where I read it, but somebody once concluded that it made more sense to use a good closer in a game you were behind one run than to just use him for the save with a 3 run lead in the 9th, like all the automatons in baseball do now...

Newsflash, Buddy: We're down TWO.

Then again, we all are rather use to excruciating losses, aren't we?

I should just take a sabbatical until 2009 or thereabouts.

I would dare say pointing out that Bell should find out if playing Buck everyday will help the team IS relevant.

Other teams with good catchers (Piazza, Mauer, I Rodriguez) have been willing to use said catchers at DH on game they don't start, and I dare say with success.

I'm not saying Buck is in the same league as the guys mentioned above, but on THIS TEAM, he is DEFINTELY one of our better hitters this season, and as such Bell should be creative and find SOME WAY for him to play nearly every day.

The Bucsss have it today.

Buc's 4  and John Buck 2.

Meche actually pitched a half ass game.

Meche (L, 3-5) 6.0 4 3 2 1 3 1 3.00

If he had any kind of a team offense behind him we could have backed him up.  

We have to do something fast to upgrade our offense.  Cleveland is looking really scary to me.
Three pitchers with winning records facing our lackluster offense.  Can you spell losing streak coming on.  

FIRE THE CLOWN AND HIRE A VET...

Tupman could sub as well as Lala.  Bring up Butts and stick his ass in LF and leave it there.  Good or bad we need his bat.  Either A. or C. are better than Berroa.   Lastly give Brazell a chance.  Shealy is just not capable of getting it done.

This loss may not be because of the lineup card or use of pinch players.  But Buddo's dogged love of some players over others is getting old fast.  

FIRE THE CLOWN.....

The old line that "you can't make silk purse out of sow's ear" applies to this team.

Well supper is ready and the news is on... So say goodnight Gracie!!!!!!!