2015 MLB Season

[SB Shock]

Not to mention, all the other teams have gotten away with "warnings", while KC has immediately gotten the hook.

I don't understand why Eaton didn't get tossed - he clearly instigated the whole deal.

[RoyalShock]

Here's a really good article on KC's absurdly low strikeout rate with a side note on their improved ISO.

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-bit-outside/story/kansas-city-royals-contact-rate-strikeouts-hitting-042415

[Shock Top]

#StraightOuttaKauffman #PlayersWithAttitude

[RoyalShock]

Here's the segment from MLB Network that breaks down the Ventura/Eaton skirmish as well as the whole issue with KC hitters getting plunked:

http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/7417714/v86806783/mlb-tonight-on-benchesclearing-incident-in-chicago

[Shocker85]

Here's a really good article on KC's absurdly low strikeout rate with a side note on their improved ISO.

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-bit-outside/story/kansas-city-royals-contact-rate-strikeouts-hitting-042415

It Is going to be fun to monitor this throughout the season. If the Royals can remain successful with their aggressive plate approach, this is one of those things that could change hitting approach across MLB.

[RoyalShock]

It Is going to be fun to monitor this throughout the season. If the Royals can remain successful with their aggressive plate approach, this is one of those things that could change hitting approach across MLB.

If you think about it, KC has simultaneously and thoroughly exploited four "market inefficiencies":

Defense
Bullpen
Contact
Speed/baserunning

The argument use to be, does starting pitching or hitting (insinuating with power) win championships? And as such, free agent starting pitchers and power hitters have always cost a premium.

He's on the verge of two more:

Drawing HBP
Basebrawls

Dayton Moore is a fricking genius!

[shockerfanmas]

Yes. Oddly, it looked like Samardzija was the aggressor last night.

RS post does help paint the picture. Cain or Yost (I forget which) was quoted as saying something like, "I don't know what his deal is." regarding Samardzija.

You know, the bottom line is, all this $hit would be short-lived if the pitchers had to bat in the AL. They wouldn't be able to hide in the dugout/bullpen if they had to stand in the batter's box a few times each series. I am now an advocate for eliminating the DH. ;-)

Samardzija is a hippie ass coward who loves to take cheap shots, like he did last night. He thinks the fact that he is an all-American football player from Notre Dame entitles him to do whatever the heck he wants. This isn't the first time he's instigated things when they looked to be over, and probably won't be the last. I hated him when he played for the Cubs and couldn't wait for him to be gone. I know other Cubs fans that feel the same way. I was really hoping Volquez would land that haymaker on him and knock his lights out. He's almost certainly gonna get suspended anyways, might as well make it worth it.

I'm mixed on the idea of pitchers hitting as well. It does add an interesting element to the game, and most pitchers bat in high school and youth leagues. And some pitchers can actually hit, plus there's a lot of strategy that goes into having pitchers bat, especially at the MLB level. On the other hand, getting another hitter in the lineup through the DH, maybe a guy that isn't an incredibly good fielder but can hit the daylights out of the ball, is what I think most fans want to see.

I've been hearing rumors that MLB is thinking about scrapping the DH, and I've also heard rumors that MLB is thinking about implementing it into the NL. Hard to say.

[shockerfanmas]

I think it the old adage of "he who throws the second punch gets caught". Until the league decides to send a message to other teams they are not going to tolerate this - then the royals are going to have to protect each other. They just might need to be a little more selective when they choose to respond, and the best response is to be able to point to the scoreboard.

Not that it would do any good, but I'd still like to write a letter to Rob Manfred and ask him what they were all high on when they chose not to suspend Lawrie, and what the umpiring crew was smoking in the Oakland series last weekend. You will never convince me otherwise that Lawrie and Kazmir both shouldn't have been tossed and at the very least fined. In Lawrie's case, he should have been suspended. And I have no idea how Eaton remained in the game last night. The umpiring in MLB this year so far is painful to watch.

[shockmonster]

The only Royal that hasn't handled these events very well is Yordono. He makes a spectacle out of himself, is too emotional, and talks too much. He needs to just respond at the appropriate times when he is pitching. As Teddy said, "Speak softly and carry a Big Stick. The rest of the team has just stood up for themselves in necessary ways.

[WuDrWu]

I've said it before, baseball is just not my thing (pro, I love college and the Shox) but the Royals are a fun team to watch......oh and this just in....Jarrod Dyson is fast. He makes fast guys look, well, not fast.

[Shock Top]

Not the best day for the Royals, I would say.

[SB Shock]

Not the best day for the Royals, I would say.

well, they need to not let this 2 game streak grow any bigger. Maybe they need to get into a fight - they seem a little flat

[RoyalShock]

This just in: The Royals are still good. Going for the sweep tonight against what was supposed to be an AL Central contender.

Trevor Bauer wearing boxing gloves in the dugout Monday night was classic.

Kendrys Morales doesn't need bat speed. He has biceps. And strong wrists. I wonder what a guy does to get wrists that strong? That's a rhetorical question. I don't really want to know.

[RoyalShock]

That was quite a statement by Duffy and the Royals last night. Hopefully, Chris Young and the offense will be able to get the game to Herrera and Davis tonight.

Now a full month into the season, I'm starting to believe this offense might be for real. Leading the league in almost all the percentage categories - including power - is not something I expected.

[RoyalShock]

Alex Gordon goes "psych!" on Jirschele last night.