2008 Royals - Spring Training

[BenWSU]

Cubs 13 - Royals 1

Going to be a long season if Royals let an NL team score 13 points.

[BA2929]

Cubs 13 - Royals 1

Going to be a long season if Royals let an NL team score 13 points.

Runs. Anyway, its pre-season. Usually the Royals win a bunch of games, then stink in the regular season. I'd rather have them take their lumps now instead of in the actual season.

[RoyalShock]

Well, they are making up for yesterday a little bit by beating up on the Giants. 9-2 after five.

Teahan with a solo shot (2).
Shealy with his 3rd solo HR of ST.

I'm really hoping Shealy forces Gload to a bench spot. He and Butler can share 1B/DH duties.

The big question is going to be what happens to Huber. He has no options left.

[RoyalShock]

11-2 after 6. It sounds like SF looks as bad as we did yesterday. They've already racked up 4 errors and walked 5 Royals.

[Awesome Sauce Malone]

[RoyalShock]

Today:

Billy Butler - 2 for 3, HR, 4 RBI, 1 E.
Zack Greinke - 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 3 HR. (That's right. Only 3 hits, all solo HRs. No walks, five strikeouts. He puts up some of the strangest lines I've ever seen for a pitcher.)

Other:

David DeJesus, who just a couple weeks ago learned the importance of OBP for a leadoff hitter (I'm serious, it was in a KC Star or Royals.com article) has an OBP of .615 in 25 PAs. .412 AVG, 8 BBs, 1 K.

Justin Huber is hitting .500, slugging 1.000 and has 5 RBI in 14 PAs. But don't worry, the Royals will not be fooled into thinking he's any good. :roll: The superstar that is Ross Gload will not be denied.

Ryan Shealy seems to have regained his power. 3 HRs in 16 ABs. Though he's only hitting .250 (Yep. 3 HR, 1 single). 0 BBs, 0 Ks.

Billy Butler - 34 PAs, .400 AVG, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. If this continues, he is going to RAKE!


Now the bad news.

Pitching isn't performing well. Meche is doing OK (5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB), but he only has 1 strikeout.

Greinke and Bannister have been shelled, both with ERAs of 9.00 or greater.

Hochevar's official stats look good (0.00 ERA), but was reportely knocked around in a "B" game the other day.

No clear candidates emerging for the 4th and 5th rotation spots.

Let's hope it's just due to Spring Training!

[BA2929]

That new Jumbo-Tron looks
freaking
sweet.

[BA2929]

Let's hope it's just due to Spring Training!

I don't pay attention to stats in Spring Training. Pitchers could be working on new pitches and/or new mechanics and that makes the numbers skewed. I've also seen so many hitters start off on fire in spring training then stink in the regular season, and vice-versa. I do like to see guys like Huber fighting for a spot that they deserve do well though. Too bad he'll probably be waived.

[BenWSU]

That new Jumbo-Tron looks freaking sweet.

Showed the photos to a friend and his reply: They can afford new video screen but no money for players.

[RoyalShock]

That new Jumbo-Tron looks freaking sweet.

Showed the photos to a friend and his reply: They can afford new video screen but no money for players.

Ask your friend if he has any idea who "they" are.

[SubGod22]

The video board is AMAZING!!!!

DeJesus & OBP

[BA2929]

That new Jumbo-Tron looks freaking sweet.

Showed the photos to a friend and his reply: They can afford new video screen but no money for players.

I'd change that comment to "Don't spend money on good players," if I was him. The Royals had a higher payroll than 8 teams last season. Those teams included the Indians, Padres, Rockies and Diamondbacks. 3 of those were playoff teams and the Padres were pretty dang close with 89 wins.

[newshock1234]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=280312103&prov=ap

[RoyalShock]

That new Jumbo-Tron looks freaking sweet.

Showed the photos to a friend and his reply: They can afford new video screen but no money for players.

I'd change that comment to "Don't spend money on good players," if I was him. The Royals had a higher payroll than 8 teams last season. Those teams included the Indians, Padres, Rockies and Diamondbacks. 3 of those were playoff teams and the Padres were pretty dang close with 89 wins.

True, but if you take away the albatross contracts of Sweeney and Sanders ($16 million conbined, I think), where would they have been?

The only real bad contract left from Baird is Berroa's. Dayton has pretty quickly re-invented the ML roster as much as a GM in KC can do.

[BA2929]

While we're on the topic of payroll, here's a nice little graph I found that shows wins in relation to payroll or Payroll Efficiency:



Here is the website with all the information that makes the graph readable:

http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2008/01/payroll_efficie.php