The Royals in July

[SubGod22]

Lets just forget this past weekend. It wasn't a good one. Butler staying home for first All-Star Game

"I'm very humbled and very honored, especially at our own ballpark and being able to play in front of the home crowd," Butler said. "My family is going to come out to see me play and do all the activities on the field. I'm just speechless right now."
Although Butler was the only Royals player selected, he said: "There are other guys in that clubhouse that are deserving as well."

Broxton seeks Final Vote to rep Royals in KC - Personally, there are at least 10 others on KC that I'd consider before this guy.

I'll get stats through July 1 up as soon as I can

[SubGod22]

Stats thru July 1.

Salvy (7 games) - .360, 3 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI
Falu (15) - .321, 8 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 5 RBI
SS Jesus - .310, 29 R, 19 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 12 SB
Country Breakfast - .297, 30 R, 13 2B, 16 HR, 48 RBI
Getz - .290, 12 R, 5 2B, 2 3B, 8 RBI
A1 - .273, 46 R, 25 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 24 RBI
Pena - .267, 9 R, 8 2B, 1 HR, 15 RBI
Moose - .264, 37 R, 17 2B, 13 HR, 38 RBI
Frenchy - .256, 28 R, 14 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 24 RBI
Yunigma - .250, 17 R, 8 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 27 RBI
Dyson - .246, 31 R, 3 2B, 3 3B, 7 RBI, 13 SB
Bourgeois - .240, 5 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Hos - .233, 31 R, 13 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, 36 RBI, 8 SB
Q - .232, 7 R, 12 2B, 1 HR, 19 RBI
Gio - .217, 8 R, 3 2B, 6 RBI
Our Mitch - .172, 8 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI


Chen - 7-7, 4.83, 17G/17GS, 95.0 IP, 69/20 K/BB
Hoch - 5-8, 5.23, 16/16, 93.0, 68/29
Mendoza - 3-4, 4.50, 14/9, 68.0, 35/30
Sanchez - 1-4, 6.80, 10/10, 46.1, 32/40 (Yes, more walks than Ks...)
Herrera - 0-1, 3.07, 36/0, 41.0, 37/8 (That's some good stuff)
Tiny Tim - 4-2, 3.35, 34/0, 37.2, 52/17 (That doesn't suck either)
Paulino - 3-1, 1.67, 7/7, 37.2, 39/15 (He's missed)
Crow - 1-1, 3.34, 38/0, 35.0, 34/13
Mijares - 2-1, 1.74, 38/0, 31.0, 28/7
Broxton - 1-1, 2.05, 30/0, 20 SV, 30.2, 23/12
Duff - 2-2, 3.90, 6/6, 27.2, 28/18 (Unfortunate injury)
Holland - 2-2, 4.10, 29/0, 26.1, 39/18
Adcock - 0-3, 3.12, 9/2, 26.0, 13/10
Mazzaro - 3-2, 4.74, 7/5, 24.2, 17/11
Coleman - 0-0, 4.91, 17/0, 22.0, 23/13
Teaford - 0-1, 5.06, 4/2, 16.0, 9/10
Smith - 1-2, 9.00, 3/3, 14.0, 9/5
Colon - 0-0, 6.75, 3/0, 8.0, 3/3
Hottovy - 0-0, 4.05, 6/0, 6.2, 6/3
Bueno - 0-0, 4.50, 2/0, 2.0, 0/0

[SubGod22]

Royals Today: 7/1/12.

My apologies for the long gap between posts, though this time, I have an excuse you’ll actually appreciate: I’ve been writing a review of the 1985 World Series for 810 WHB’s All-Star Program, which I’m told will be available (free!) in various outlets around Kansas City over the next 7-10 days. So pick one up if you get the chance. It was a weird sensation to write about a Royals team in a completely positive manner.

And now back to what I hope will be shorter, and more frequent posts going forward.

- Rooting for this team right now is an incredibly frustrating experience, because they seem determined to maintain a bipolar existence, playing like minor leaguers for a stretch, then like contenders for a stretch, often within the same week. Of their last seven series, four have been sweeps – two each way. After winning four in a row to close to within four games of .500 – their best record since their 12-game losing streak – they’ve lost three in a row to the team with the worst run differential in the majors. And for whatever reason, since June 7th, the Royals are 9-1 between Monday and Thursday, and 3-10 between Friday and Sunday – with the result being that the analysis you hear from me on 810’s The Border Patrol Monday mornings is completely different from the analysis I give on The Program on mid-day Fridays.

The Royals are currently seven games under .500 at 35-42, which is appropriate, because they’ve stayed within a tight band between four and ten games under .500 every single day since their losing streak ended. The random streaks disguise the fact that this is pretty much what they are – a below-average, but not terrible, team. They’re on pace to finish 74-88, which would make them the 8th-worst team* in the majors. If they draft #8 next season, it would be only the second time in the last nine drafts that they didn’t pick in the top five. So…um…progress?

*: Though they currently have a better record than the Philadelphia Phillies, who are suddenly in full-on sell mode. This seems like a good time to link to this. Murky at best, y’all.

- One of the biggest reasons why the Royals are unable to sustain any kind of winning streak is that they insist on trotting Jonathan Sanchez out there every fifth day. Their allegiance to Sanchez long ago passed through “annoying” territory, then “exasperating”, and now is quickly moving through “destructive”. I can’t make this any more clear than to go to all caps:

JONATHAN SANCHEZ IS DONE. HE HAS NOTHING LEFT.

Here's a line I love about Sanchez:

...his performance is so bad that even if he had Jeff Francoeur’s personality and Bruce Chen’s sense of humor, he’d deserve to get cut.

I couldn't agree more with that.

[SubGod22]

Butler doesn't get picked for Home Run Derby. Kind of disappointing but understandable. If he were participating I'd watch it for sure.

Moustakas' slam helps Royals clip Blue Jays

TORONTO -- It was difficult to tell if those were "Mooooooose!" calls for Mike Moustakas or boos for the Toronto pitcher rumbling around the Rogers Centre.

No matter what the sound, Moustakas was enjoying the moment as he rounded the bases with the first grand slam of his career in the Royals' 11-3 romp over the Blue Jays on Monday night. Left-hander Everett Teaford pitched seven innings for the victory, his first this season.

"I think they were booing me," Moustakas said with a smile. "No, I really didn't hear anything, I was just kind of caught up in the moment, just enjoying it. It was cool to hit my first grand slam."

Moose had a hell of a game and nearly got another HR earlier. Nice to see Teaford have a good game as well.

The Monday Rant - Butler Is An All-Star, Gordon Continues To Star, Francoeur Still Struggles

The Royals lost three games over the weekend to the Twins and in all of those losses the glaring deficiencies of the roster shined through and displayed themselves for the reason the Royals lose so many games.

Sure, you could make the argument that losing games – in any sport, at any level – has to do mostly with the deficiencies of the roster and/or the flaws of management strategies, but with the Royals over the past six years (or 25 years) the same story gets written far too often during a loss. It’s just how it is.

What’s started to happen though is while there are fans that are upset with watching the same base running mistakes, the same awful plate discipline, and the same pitch-to-contact bad starting pitching, there are also those that point endlessly to the positives (of which there are many) as a reason for hope.

It’s understandable, and in some ways admirable, but when the rays of hope are continually clouded out by the storms of unoriginal bad baseball, there shouldn’t be much of a reason to fault the many that are still skeptical of progress.

This isn’t about the Royals, it’s about a fan base that has grown tired and weary from all the losing.

Savior Has Arrived

I like to call Salvador Perez “Savior” for a couple reasons. First, his first name translates to “savior.” Second, he just makes me enjoy the team more. And, frankly, he gives the team more than we often get from catchers.

Let’s take a look at this. So far this season, Sal has played in seven games. I’ll repeat that: seven games. In those seven games, he’s hit .360/.360/.720 (as of Monday morning). Now, there are a few things to notice. He hasn’t walked a single time. However, he’s also only struck out once. He’s also hit three doubles and two home runs in nine total hits. Altogether, his fWAR comes out to a nice 0.4 over those seven games.

If you will, think of Humberto Quintero and Brayan Pena for a second. Quintero, though now gone, hit .232/.257/.341 in 43 games. That includes 12 doubles and one home run. Pena, on the other hand, has hit .267/.290/.351 in 42 games, with eight doubles and a home run. Let’s add that up. That’s 20 doubles and 2 home runs in 283 plate appearances. Their total fWAR over that time is…wait for it…0.2.

[newshock1234]

supposedly there is a podcast on 810 radio of Rex Hudler slamming Sanchez

[newshock1234]

here it is btw

http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=26&c=374&f=602131

[SubGod22]

Part of me wants to hear someone involved with the Royals slamming Sanchez, but the other part of me can't stand to listen to Hudler.

[newshock1234]

Part of me wants to hear someone involved with the Royals slamming Sanchez, but the other part of me can't stand to listen to Hudler.

if anything you should listen to the quote he says in the 4:25 mark

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

Hudler is so bad hes good. Ill take him and his twin over bob davis any day.

[SubGod22]

if anything you should listen to the quote he says in the 4:25 mark

I may give it a listen over lunch.

Hudler is so bad hes good. Ill take him and his twin over bob davis any day.

Have we ever had to suffer through Davis on TV? I get that he's painful as well, but I kind of compare Hudler to John Madden in some ways. Both are extremely difficult to listen to and act like they're broadcasting the game to people who have no clue what's going on or how anything works.

I'd honestly be fine if Ryan did the games by himself. He could have a new visitor every inning if need be. Or just let George tell stories when Ryan isn't talking. Hud makes me want to jam sharp objects into my ears repeatedly.

[shockmonster]

Davis was on TV a couple of years ago. Agree that Hudler at the very least is not an upgrade over White and personally, I liked White better.

The youngun's are beginning to all contribute. Teaford has been great and deserves several starting opportunities. Hosmer's coming on. Escobar and Moose have been great all year, both in the field and at bat. Last of all, Perez is a breath of fresh air. He's an excellent hitter for being so young, and he is so enthusiastic. You can see that he loves to play the game and appears to add strong leadership skills to this team even if he is young.

[SubGod22]

White was much more likeable and I think he did a good job of explaining situations that maybe the average fan didn't realize or fully appreciate without going overboard like he was talking to a bunch of 5 year olds. I understand that not everyone understands the games like many of us and I'm ok with explaining that side of things. I though White did a pretty good job of all that.

As far as the young guys, how can you not be excited?

Hosmer will come around and be a star. He's been hitting better but has definitely fallen back more than anyone expected.
Moose has been great. Could argue that he should be on the All-Star team. He could end up around 30 HRs, a decent average and stellar D.
Speaking of stellar D, you could argue that Shortstop Jesus could have been on the All-Star team as well. One of the best defenders in baseball and I think he's leading the team in AVG while racking up a decent number of extra basehits.
Salvy is a difference maker. Still don't know if he can continue to hit like he has, but even if that falls back some, he has great value at the plate and behind the dish. But more importantly, in the clubhouse. This guy is a winner.
Teaford I always felt could be a good number 4 or 5 guy given the chance. I hope he continues to pitch well and get chances.
Country Breakfast is having a solid year as well. Could potentially chase the Royals HR record and is still right around .300. I think he'll fall short of 37, but the power people have been complaining about is now there. They'll ***** about something else now...
A1 is coming around and has been swinging much better and continues to play very good D in left.

That's a pretty good group. And I'm not going into the bullpen and what they've done. Just need to add a couple of arms to the rotation and get Myers up and/or Cain healthy and watch out. It'd be great if Cain came back and performed and someone out there saw value in Frenchy. He's a great guy and decent player with a great arm. Could help somebody I'm sure.

But I'd love to end the season with the following lineup.

LF - Alex Gordon
SS - Alcides Escobar
3B - Mike Moustakas
DH - Billy Butler
1B - Eric Hosmer
RF - Wil Myers
C - Salvador Perez
2B - Anybody but Getz or Yuni
CF - Lorenzo Cain

SP - Chen, Hochevar, Odorizzi, Teaford, Smith/Monty/Davis

Next season the lineup should look about the same but with a rotation of Hochevar, Veteran, Odorizzi, and two of Smith/Monty/Davis/Lamb (hoping Lamb has a good summer. Should pitch today I believe in AZL)

[Mr. Obvious]

I like Hudler. White was way too vanilla for a color commentator. He was the master of the obvious. Please find some pitching!!

[SubGod22]

I like Hudler. White was way too vanilla for a color commentator. He was the master of the obvious. Please find some pitching!!

Seriously? You are the first person I've come across anywhere that has said that they like Hudler. I don't personally know a Royals fan that does. And I hate to say it, but there are times I simply don't tune in because he's calling the game. Or I start watching and have to flip it or mute it. He must have incriminating photos of someone important.

I think there's also been games where if you checked Twitter, you could see a trending topic along the lines of #HudlerSucks or #ShutUpHudler. I'm surprised Ryan hasn't smacked him during a broadcast yet. Or better yet, launched him out of the booth.

I'd much rather have a color commentator be more vanilla but informative than annoying and uninformative.

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

As I said Hudler is so bad he's good.

Anyways, Why on earth would you want Mike Montgomery up to KC next year? The dude barely belongs in AAA let alone a major league roster. And Lamb is coming off TJ surgery and is just not supposed to be throwing and hasnt thrown a pitch above the AA level.

I get that they are supposed to be have this huge upside but at least with Moose and Hosmer there is a track record of success in the minors. Duffy as well. Perez was rushed but his defense was so far advanced they had to take that chance.