I'll be posting a proper season review piece sometime in the next week or so (here are the 2005 and 2006 Season Review for the curious or reflective amongst you). 2007 marks the third season we've shared together on RR and it was without a doubt the most successful, both technically and in terms of spirit.
The Royals finish 2007 with a 69-93 record, good for last place (again), in the Al Central. The Royals went 35-46 at home, and 34-47 on the road. The Royals won the season series against seven teams, including playoff qualifiers Los Angeles, Colorado and Philadelphia.
Buddy Bell managed to field 121 different lineups this season, and 141 different batting orders. Thus, 75% of the games this season featured a lineup that would never be repeated again, and 87% of the games gave birth to a batting order that would leave no progeny.
And Emil Brown officially became the new Ken Harvey; passing from OK to below-average, and bizarrely shooting a reporter with a pellet gun.
Offensive Team Leaders
Games: DeJesus (157)
At Bats: DeJesus (605)
Runs: DeJesus (101)
Hits: DeJesus (157)
Doubles: Gordon (36)
Triples: DeJesus (9)
Home Runs: Buck (18)
RsBI: Brown (62)
Total Bases: DeJesus (225)
Walks: DeJesus (64)
SBs: Gordon (14)
OBP: Gathright (.371)
SLG: Butler (.447)
AVG: Gathright (.307)
(Sanders, limited to just 24 games, actually led the team in all three rate stats, hitting .315/.412/.493)
Pitching Leaders
Games: Gobble (74)
Starts: Meche (34)
Innings: Meche (216)
Strikeouts: Meche (156)
ERA (min. 20 IP): Riske (2.45)
WHIP (min. 20 IP): Soria (0.94)
SLG A: Soria (.264)
K/BB: Soria (3.95)
BB/9: Peralta (1.95)
K/9: Dotel (11.35)
Forthcoming Features on Royals Review:
- Posts naming the offensive and pitching MVPs (look for diaries to post nominees)
- Posts naming the winners of the 2007 Mark Quinn Award and the 2007 Andy Sisco Award
- 2007 Season Review
During the playoffs I'll post game threads, but may drop them if they don't generate much interest. From there, we'll shift more fully into off-season mode, which in some ways is the best time of the year to be a baseball fan. From November to March the blogosphere is the place to be if you want to talk baseball, and RR will be commenting on any and all transactions, hosting those all too popular hypothetical discussions, posts "honoring" ex-Royals and on and on. Some of the biggest days in the history of this site were at the Winter Meetings last year, and by golly, I promise to attend the Fan Fest and Caravan this winter. RoyalsRetro's series on the 100 Greatest Royals will continue, as will the Radio Affiliate Profile Series. I haven't talked to NHZ about it yet, but I assume Spreadsheet Baseball will continue as well. Finally, expect the ocassional sports book review, a return of the poem of the week diaries and a few interviews with various wisemen.
Thanks to everyone who lurked, posted and commented this season. This blog isn't about me, its about this community and I sincerely appreciate your insight, humor and dedication. Who knows, we just might not be ending the games after 162 contests in 2008...
-RR