Spring Training Game 3 Open Thread

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 3:11 PM EST in News Comment 84 comments

The Royals battle their hated rival, the Texas Rangers.

Zach/k Grie/einke on the mound for the Royals. This is his fifth season with the team, and I'm still not sure how to spell his name. Well, its Spring Training for bloggers too.

Homer Derby has a preview post up, dedicated to the Royals. There's also a blogger round-table involved. Fans of my trademark pessimism will want to seek out this bonus material.

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First!

Royals Starting Lineup:
Mitch Maier CF
Alex Gordon 3B
Jose Guillen LF
Billy Butler 1B
Miguel Olivo DH
Shane Costa RF
Angel Berroa SS
John Buck C
Mike Aviles 2B

Pitchers:
Zack Greinke
Mike Maroth
Julio Pimentel
Ron Mahay
Carlos Rosa
Yazuhiko Yabuta

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by Royals Nation on Mar 1, 2008 3:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Scratch Guillen

He won't play for another week. Couldn't the Star, Kaegal, Around The Horn or someone have leaked some info. sooner? I find out roughly 10 minutes before the game started.

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by Royals Nation on Mar 1, 2008 3:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yea, but who knows...

maybe guillen didnt tell anyone, or whatever?

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 3:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Greinke struggles through the first

Line out, pop out, walk, line out.

3 ball count on just about every hitter. 1 swing and miss. Knockin' the rust off.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on Mar 1, 2008 3:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

probably one of the worst lineups

possible

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 3:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

who is more tweener-ifiic?

Costa or Maier?

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 3:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I feel dumber

After having read the first 1/2 of that awful Homer Derby article. Talk about your typical outsider ignorance. I think I'm going to wash my hands and/or purge myself.

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by Royals Nation on Mar 1, 2008 3:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

No offense to Will....

But who wrote that article? I haven't read your comments, but I couldn't get past the first 4-5 paragraphs.

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by Royals Nation on Mar 1, 2008 3:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i don't know really, Nick from HR D I assume

Remember, they aren't Royals guys. If I had to write something about, say, the Rockies, it'd probably be a little rough too.

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 3:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sometimes, I loathe discussing Royals with outsiders (casual or noncasual), because every single point and comment always reverts back to that tired old "well, the Royals just suck" mantra. It's just pointless. Analysis here at RR, and on the blogosphere, should and does go far beyond that.

In my humble opinion, Rob Neyer fell into that trap in very recent years. Well, every decision is pointless, because it will ultimately fail. Sign Jose Guillen? We overpaid for an ex-roided #6 hitter. Don't sign Jose Guillen? We'll always be cheap and will never commit to winning. And I like(d) Neyer's analysis on the team, but he began to let perpetual negativity seep into every nook and cranny of his arguments.

Perspective, please. I'm sure NYRoyal could explain further, if he wishes...

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by Royals Nation on Mar 1, 2008 3:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

Will, thanks again for helping out with the round table. Your comments definitely produced the most bang for their buck.

I would agree that this preview is not for the typical Royals fan -- for those that didn't like it, what would you say is the most misunderstood aspect of the Kansas City organization by mainstream media/fans?

(FWIW, the commentary before the round table is different at my blog than at Home Run Derby. We each did our own thing.)

by skyking162 on Mar 1, 2008 7:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, skyking

I meant to post this much, much sooner. My initial reaction was extremely over the top, and for that I apologize.

After reading it in full length one time, it makes much more sense. I guess the devoted Royals fan in me reads one or two 'Royals are bad' references in the first couple paragraphs and get riled up. The reality is, until we actually turn the corner, that's the way it will be.

In addition, I read Royals Authority and, of course, RR often so I originally wasn't trying to offend authors of either site. Obviously, no offense intended to you guys, in addition.

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by Royals Nation on Mar 3, 2008 7:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

if you really want to feel dumber

you should read the crap I just produced

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by marbotty on Mar 1, 2008 3:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

no, that was awesome

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 3:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ah, good to hear

I almost abandoned the whole thing halfway through...

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by marbotty on Mar 1, 2008 3:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Salty looks at strike 3

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on Mar 1, 2008 3:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

take your absurdly long name back to the dugout

how much do you think Dayton pines for Salty?

-ex-brave
-probably seen as gritty (due to well, you know...)

and to top it off, he's :
-actually a good player

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

just curious, RR

How did they conduct that round table? Were you all on a conference call?

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by marbotty on Mar 1, 2008 3:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i got an email about it yesterday

and we just exchanged emails for a few hours... they actually edited out a lot of it, there was a long digression regarding Gload, for example

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hmm

Not to stir the pot, but it looks like the Gload digression would have appeared right before where that guy said he just woke up from a nap.

What was that supposed to mean, Chris from Bugs and Cranks?

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by marbotty on Mar 1, 2008 3:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

he no likey the gload talk

Hillman, you're on notice.

by FireBell on Mar 1, 2008 3:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

More sloppy defense puts another man on

Well, they said it was a tough play, but still.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on Mar 1, 2008 3:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

its a "warm" day in iowa

38 degrees...

i wish i was in arizona

(side note though: like clockwork, the brief uptick in temperature has produced an attendant decline in female clothing)

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 3:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

yes

i remember days in april at KU when it was still cold as hell but people would be tanning

and it would be like, 65 degrees, dropping to 40 in the evening

Hillman, you're on notice.

by FireBell on Mar 1, 2008 3:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

65 Up Here

Is almost too warm to stay in the sun if there's no breeze. It's not just us, either; even the touristas notice it. I sat in the sun wearing a pair of shorts on 10/5, the latest in the year I've ever done it, last fall. It was 60 and I was listening to the Wildcats kicking the Longhorns' asses.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 5:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

3 run bomb, sloppy defense kills again

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on Mar 1, 2008 3:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

what happened?

Gameday's slow, I just happened to catch the score on MLB yahoo.

And I'm trying to listen live to 610 sports, but either my computer's too slow or they have a blackout.

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by marbotty on Mar 1, 2008 3:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hmm, looks like greinke doing okay

but looks like they're giving up runs now?

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by marbotty on Mar 1, 2008 3:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Greinke pitches 2+

Starts getting hit in the 3rd, poor control whole game. Bring in some non roster pitcher, butler drops double play relay, 3 run bomb.

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on Mar 1, 2008 4:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Rosa's in....I wish this game was on mlb.tv

I'd rather be watching baseball.

by Sisquatch Kids on Mar 1, 2008 4:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

somehow it doesn't feel like

this thread's as active today.

Perhaps everyone's overly contented from yesterday's victory.

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by marbotty on Mar 1, 2008 4:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

everyone is still asleep

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Any chance we'll be able to ship Berroa

to the Reds? I'd love to get him out of town this year, even if we had to pay part of his contract...

I'd rather be watching baseball.

by Sisquatch Kids on Mar 1, 2008 4:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'll Pay

The freight.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 5:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Mench takes Rosa yard

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on Mar 1, 2008 4:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

pretty blah game so far

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 4:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, uninspiring offesnse and Rosa

gettin' torched

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on Mar 1, 2008 4:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

just move him to the bullpen

and get it over with already

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 4:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Gordon keeps driving the runs in though

winning records follow good bullpens

by slayor on Mar 1, 2008 4:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

yea

hopefully gordo isn't unbelievably horrible this april

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 4:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Here's a juicy tidbit from the Star

The best chance for outfielder Jose Guillen to get a reduction in his 15-day suspension would be for commissioner Bud Selig to opt not to suspend any of the 89 players cited in the Mitchell Report.
Well, SI.com is reporting Selig is leaning toward doing just that.

BELIEVE!! 162 WINS IN '08!!

by Shooter on Mar 1, 2008 5:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

thats good news i guess

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 5:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just Do

It, Bud!

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 5:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

So

by "do it" do you mean "do it, do it" or "do it, don't do it"

BELIEVE!! 162 WINS IN '08!!

by Shooter on Mar 1, 2008 5:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Unequivocally

Yes.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 5:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

so

now I, but you, oh hell... nevermind

BELIEVE!! 162 WINS IN '08!!

by Shooter on Mar 1, 2008 5:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Smith Popped

Off the bench with a single and scored.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 5:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i just love Smith's pop off the bench

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 5:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Now Smith

Boots a grounder and Gator runs circles around a fly ball for a double, and a single by Edgardo Alfonzo scores 2? Did I hear that right?

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 5:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

the fact that gathright is a poor

or average at best fielder amazes me

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 5:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He just can't read batted balls in the air

He has never been able to do it well. I haven't seen any improvement. If he hasn't been able to figure out how to read balls by now, he's not going to. So he's a 4th OFer with plus OBP skills, plus speed (without base stealing) and mediocre overall defense, which isn't really good enough for CF.

I probably disagree with you.

by NYRoyal on Mar 1, 2008 5:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Looks Like Costa

Read that one about right.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 5:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gathright is baffling

I agree

"I'm tired of all these stupid a$$ questions every day. Why the f**k would I hit Brett for Miller?" The rest is history.

by DC Royal on Mar 1, 2008 5:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Dusty Hughes pitching?

Strange

"I'm tired of all these stupid a$$ questions every day. Why the f**k would I hit Brett for Miller?" The rest is history.

by DC Royal on Mar 1, 2008 5:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i wonder if it might be a vision problem

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 5:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Would That Be

GMDM's vision in question?

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 5:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ha

maybe

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 5:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

German hitting for Costa

"we were kind of rooting for this all game - franklyn german pitching to esteban german. and the second baseman is german duran."

Seriously?

"I'm tired of all these stupid a$$ questions every day. Why the f**k would I hit Brett for Miller?" The rest is history.

by DC Royal on Mar 1, 2008 5:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jason Smith is up

Get ready to catch a souvenir.

"I'm tired of all these stupid a$$ questions every day. Why the f**k would I hit Brett for Miller?" The rest is history.

by DC Royal on Mar 1, 2008 5:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i just love his pop off the bench

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 5:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It Never

Gets old.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 5:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would have loved to see the Royals

trot out an infield consisting of Joe McEwing at 1B, Denny Hocking at 2B, Shane Halter at 3B, and Jason Smith at SS.

It'd be like the inverse of Tinker-Evans-Chance

"I'm tired of all these stupid a$$ questions every day. Why the f**k would I hit Brett for Miller?" The rest is history.

by DC Royal on Mar 1, 2008 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Royals-Rangers

A bitter rivalry developing. they play so much in the spring, and we're both vying for arkansas' loyalty now.

"I'm tired of all these stupid a$$ questions every day. Why the f**k would I hit Brett for Miller?" The rest is history.

by DC Royal on Mar 1, 2008 5:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

no doubt

too bad they have OK too

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 5:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I Lived In

Arkansas, and there's no love lost across that border. The Arkies are ours for the taking, especially with Glass, The Naturals and our stronghold in Conway.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 5:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's Yabuta time

"I'm tired of all these stupid a$$ questions every day. Why the f**k would I hit Brett for Miller?" The rest is history.

by DC Royal on Mar 1, 2008 5:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Shake Yabuta

I stole that from someone here at rr.

BELIEVE!! 162 WINS IN '08!!

by Shooter on Mar 1, 2008 5:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I Like

"Sheik Yabuta" better; better mental image. Zappa had an album titled "Sheik Yerbouti".

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 5:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yabuta is not pitching well thus far

Royals pitchers have issued 7 free passes today. yikes

"I'm tired of all these stupid a$$ questions every day. Why the f**k would I hit Brett for Miller?" The rest is history.

by DC Royal on Mar 1, 2008 5:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

ST Walks

Are meaningless.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 5:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Spring is a meaningless season

Non-relevance wedged b/t winter and summer

"I'm tired of all these stupid a$$ questions every day. Why the f**k would I hit Brett for Miller?" The rest is history.

by DC Royal on Mar 1, 2008 5:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seasons In Kenai, AK

Winter, Almost Winter, and Road Construction/Fishing.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 6:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

was that a

4 pitch walk followed by a 3 pitch K. you don't see that very often

BELIEVE!! 162 WINS IN '08!!

by Shooter on Mar 1, 2008 5:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Almost Sounds

Like Mitch Williams.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 6:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm already a big Damon Hollins fan

for no reason

"I'm tired of all these stupid a$$ questions every day. Why the f**k would I hit Brett for Miller?" The rest is history.

by DC Royal on Mar 1, 2008 5:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe It's His

Japanese connection.......or the pink bat?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damon_Hollins

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 6:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ouch, what happened...

..to Pimentel?

1.2 5 6 5 3 2 1 27.00

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by Royals Nation on Mar 1, 2008 5:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

pimentel cheese

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 6:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Pimentel Stuffed Olive?

Pickle and Pimentel loaf?

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 6:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hooray Hollins!

They just said he was stuck behind Andruw Jones; so am I.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 6:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ya-butta-believe-it

Success is counted sweetest by those who ne'er succeed. - Emily Dickinson

by buddyball on Mar 1, 2008 6:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I Hope

Coach "K" and Eddie Sutton wind up tied at 801 wins apiece......forever.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 6:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

somehow i dont think that will happen

by royalsreview on Mar 1, 2008 6:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I Gotta Have

A dream.

I'm not getting older....oh, wait, yes I am....and slower.... and weaker. God, this is great!

by philofthenorth on Mar 1, 2008 6:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

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