2013 AL Central Catch All thread

[caulfield12]

Royals lose 5-3.

 

Had a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the 8th....Crow and Hochevar managed to give up 4 runs, lol.

 

 

Yost has GOT TO BE FIRED...there's going to be a fan revolt in KC against Yost/Moore/the Glasses.

 

 

Finally, former White Sox Jason Grilli with 22 consecutive saves. Pittsburgh got to Anibal Sanchez in the 7th.

 

Best Pirates' team since 1992...finally, they SHOULD finish above .500.

[LittleHurt05]

Royals blowing another one. After starting 17-10, I'd be real disappointed if I were a Royals fan.

 

A lot of us predicted this disappointment, but were waved off by the "rebuilding" crowd.

[caulfield12]

A lot of us predicted this disappointment, but were waved off by the "rebuilding" crowd.

 

 

I don't think ANYONE predicted they would have a 4-19 stretch and lose 10 consecutive games at home again.

 

 

[LittleHurt05]

I don't think ANYONE predicted they would have a 4-19 stretch and lose 10 consecutive games at home again.

 

But a 21-28 stretch was easily predictable.

[caulfield12]

A lot of us predicted this disappointment, but were waved off by the "rebuilding" crowd.

 

 

Just like you could easily make the case that the Rays would be the best team in baseball if a little luck went their way.

 

They had a scout obsessed with Pujols, but the cross-checkers and scouting director (Jennings) disagreed.

 

We all know the Josh Hamilton story...when it could have been Josh Beckett, or Hamilton would have been the player everyone predicted at age 19-20-21 before the car accident and drug problems.

 

Then there's the mysterious case of Rocco Baldelli...so 4 superstar/All-Star caliber players, in addition to all their good pitching drafts, Crawford, Longoria, David Price, the Zobrist acquisition, etc.

 

Then they got scared off by Boras and Teixeira, so they ended up taking Dewon Brazelton (who the owner actually booed and encouraged the fans to boo as well) who ended up taking $2.5 million in a signing bonus spread out over 5 years. The Rangers were willing to meet his demands, and they parlayed that into one of the best established star for prospect trades in history.

Edited May 30, 2013 by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

Cardinals score four in eighth

May 29

 

ST. LOUIS — Right now, it seems the Royals might never win again. OK, for a while now, but particularly after Wednesday’s numbing 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

 

Daniel Descalso’s two-run pinch single with two outs in the eighth inning capped a four-run hammer blow against Aaron Crow that sent the Royals to their eighth straight loss overall and their 19th in 23 games.

 

It also dropped them into undisputed possession of last place in the American League Central Division. And of all the losses over this wretched streak, none might be harder to swallow than this one.

 

The Royals built a 2-0 lead for Luis Mendoza, who contributed a two-out RBI single to the cause. J.C. Gutierrez protected a 2-1 lead in the seventh, and Crow inherited a 3-1 lead to start the eighth.

 

And, boy, did things go wrong in a hurry.

 

Crow, 0-1, started by serving up a leadoff homer to Carlos Beltran. After Matt Holliday struck out, Allen Craig pulled a single through the left side.

 

It almost seemed possible to see it slipping away at that point.

 

Yadier Molina lined a single to left that moved Craig to second before David Freese lined a game-tying RBI single to left. Craig beat the throw home from Alex Gordon, while the runners moved to second and third.

 

An intentional walk to John Jay loaded the bases for Pete Kozma, who took a third strike.

 

Descalso batted for reliever Randy Choate, 1-0, and punched a two-run single into center...and that was that. Or it was when Edward Mujica closed out the ninth for his third save in three days against the Royals.

 

Absolutely crushing.

 

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/29/42632...l#storylink=cpy

 

 

 

Following Tuesday’s 4-1 loss, Yost snapped at the suggestion that he wasn’t holding players accountable by asking: “What are you asking me to do? Take my belt off and spank them? Yell at them? Scream at them?”

 

Yost offered a calmer follow-up prior to Wednesday’s game.

 

“The most important thing is you can’t go crazy,” he said. “That’s how you lose them — when you start going nuts when times are going bad. You have to stay steady. You have to stay in control. And you have to stay supportive.

 

“If you start yelling and screaming, it makes it worse. I’m trying to stay as steady as I can. There’s nobody panicking. Dayton is doing fine. We’re all staying calm and thinking through every scenario to figure out what we need to do to get out of this.

 

“If we need to make changes, what changes do we need to make? What do we need to do to get back on track to put an end to this slide.”

 

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/29/42629...l#storylink=cpy

Edited May 30, 2013 by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

(Co-hitting coach Jack) Maloof has conceded, like many Royals hitting coaches before him, that hitting in Kauffman Stadium simply isn't conducive to home runs, at least not for the home team.

 

(FYI: There are two co-hitting coaches this season for the Royals, Maloof and Andre David).

 

"There is just no reward here (for us) to try and hit home runs," Maloof said. "We try to stay down on the ball, be more line-drive oriented, and do more situational hitting at least through the first two or three rounds (at home) here. That's why I'm not overly concerned because I think we'll lead the league in fewest home runs again this year. We don't have a 40-homer guy in the middle of the lineup.

 

"We've got kids. Billy Butler is a doubles machine. No one has told me he is a home run hitting guy. If we try to do it too much, we'll get ourselves in trouble. Same thing with Alex (Gordon). They'll hit home runs on the road, and yes, they'll hit some here. They have. But the risk for them to go out and hit a home run in one of 80 at-bats, the reward isn't great enough.

 

"Baltimore? Better reward. I'm not using it as an excuse. But it is a mindset."

 

Of course, the counter argument is obvious: Other teams seem to come into spacious Kauffman Stadium and have no trouble hitting home runs. Yost mentioned as much after letting (hitting coach Kevin) Seitzer go last fall.

 

In fact, opponents have hit nearly three times as many home runs (32-11) this season at Kauffman Stadium as the Royals.

www.foxsportskansascity.com

Edited May 30, 2013 by caulfield12

[High Mileage]

I'm not really sure where to even start, so please, if you take the time to read what I post below, try to understand my rambling.

 

I've been a Royals fan my entire life. I was born in September of 1985. Less than two months later, they won their one and only World Series. They haven't even made the playoffs since. My earliest Royals memories are of George Brett, Bo Jackson, Frank White, David Cone, Bret Saberhagen, etc. My teen years had Carlos Beltran, Jermaine Dye, Mike Sweeney, Johnny Damon, etc.

 

Last off-season, for the first time in my life, the Royals made moves to IMPROVE the team. They went out and got James Shields, a bonafide #1 starter who isn't past his prime. They took on Ervin Santana and his $13 million dollar salary, and although he's no star, he is a legit MLB starter with a pretty good track record. They took a chance on Jeremy Guthrie, who again, is no star, but is a legit MLB starter with a pretty decent track record.

 

The line-up is loaded with former top Draft picks. Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas. Not to mention former top prospects like Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain, and Salvador Perez.

 

This season was legitimately hopeful for the first time since probably 1994. I thought they had a real chance to compete for the Division. Did I expect them to win the Division? No, not really. I did expect some meaningful July/August/September baseball. Boy do I sure feel like an idiot for letting the Royals make me think way, I know better than that.

 

I have supported General Manager Dayton Moore longer than most. Is it time for him to go? Probably. I have never liked Ned Yost. He's an arrogant, flippant, sarcastic bastard who has done nothing to earn the right to be that way. Major changes must be made. The talent is there, and pretty much every baseball "expert" would say the same. The talent is not producing and they're not progressing. They're regressing. You don't "blow up" a team full of 23-27 year olds, so you get rid of the people you can outright fire, the Manager and General Manager, Coaches, Trainers, everybody.

 

I'm pretty diehard, I watch pretty much every game 1 thru 9. That really just makes it worse I guess. It's getting more and more difficult to justify my passion each year, hell, each day.

 

f***.

Edited May 30, 2013 by High Mileage

[caulfield12]

I'm not really sure where to even start, so please, if you take the time to read what I post below, try to understand my rambling.

 

I've been a Royals fan my entire life. I was born in September of 1985. Less than two months later, they won their one and only World Series. They haven't even made the playoffs since. My earliest Royals memories are of George Brett, Bo Jackson, Frank White, David Cone, Bret Saberhagen, etc. My teen years had Carlos Beltran, Jermaine Dye, Mike Sweeney, Johnny Damon, etc.

 

Last off-season, for the first time in my life, the Royals made moves to IMPROVE the team. They went out and got James Shields, a bonafide #1 starter who isn't past his prime. They took on Ervin Santana and his $13 million dollar salary, and although he's no star, he is a legit MLB starter with a pretty good track record. They took a chance on Jeremy Guthrie, who again, is no star, but is a legit MLB starter with a pretty decent track record.

 

The line-up is loaded with former top Draft picks. Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas. Not to mention former top prospects like Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain, and Salvador Perez.

 

This season was legitimately hopeful for the first time since probably 1994. I thought they had a real chance to compete for the Division. Did I expect them to win the Division? No, not really. I did expect some meaningful July/August/September baseball. Boy do I sure feel like an idiot for letting the Royals make me think way, I know better than that.

 

I have supported General Manager Dayton Moore longer than most. Is it time for him to go? Probably. I have never liked Ned Yost. He's an arrogant, flippant, sarcastic bastard who has done nothing to earn the right to be that way. Major changes must be made. The talent is there, and pretty much every baseball "expert" would say the same. The talent is not producing and they're not progressing. They're regressing. You don't "blow up" a team full of 23-27 year olds, so you get rid of the people you can outright fire, the Manager and General Manager, Coaches, Trainers, everybody.

 

I'm pretty diehard, I watch pretty much every game 1 thru 9. That really just makes it worse I guess. It's getting more and more difficult to justify my passion each year, hell, each day.

 

f***.

 

 

I don't have much of a response that will assuage your pain or make it any easier.

 

Only to say this.

 

I was born in November, 1969. From the time I can first remember following the White Sox, they were pretty much terrible, as I missed the 1977 "Southside Hitmen" and all the crazy antics of Bill Veeck as owner because I was too young. (And they didn't even make the playoffs...going back to the 1959 World Series appearance, the only time they were close was the final two weeks in 1967).

 

It was a 40 year period from the Black Sox Scandal of 1919 all the way to 1959...essentially the same amount of time that Kansas City has had a professional baseball franchise.

 

We suffered in a terrible, decrepit stadium (compared to the brand-new Kauffman/Royals Stadium) for much of the 70's and 80's, with the only highlight the 1983 AL West winner that was bounced out of the playoffs in the 1st round. We were haunted by names like Jerry Dybzinski and Tito Landrum, lol.

 

The period of 1985-1989 was about as bad as anything the Royals have gone through in the last twenty years, probably even worse if you look at the attendance numbers back then, which were lucky to reach 1 million.

 

We too had that infusion of talent in the late 80's (Jack McDowell, Frank Thomas, Robin Ventura, Alex Fernandez, Sammy Sosa, Wilson Alvarez, Jason Bere) that finally gave fans a reason to believe and a future to be confident about.

 

Unfortunately, with all that talent, only the 1993 division title (bounced in the first round by Toronto) and then the 1994 baseball strike, which was partially orchestrated by the owner of the Sox....whose core was at its peak in the 1990's and would never have a chance to compete for the post-season or World Series until Frank Thomas when he could barely walk.

 

The Indians blew by us and dominated the rest of the 90's....and then in 2002 came the Twins, with the brief excitement of the 2000 White Sox offense thrown in for good measure (another first round exit from the playoffs, this time swept by the Mariners).

 

If it wasn't for the 2005 World Series title, White Sox fans would feel almost as bad as Cubs' fans, and certainly worse than Royals/Pirates/Mariners/Astros/Rangers/Rays/Rockies/Expos-Nationals fans who haven't seen a World Series or even the playoffs in their lifetimes....but whose teams hadn't gone for EIGHTY SEVEN YEARS without a World Series title.

 

Just remember, it's always darkest before the dawn...I'll even give you a lame quote from the movie Battleship: "Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free from admirers"

 

So just keep hope alive and remember times like this and you can reflect back upon all the insanity (like Jose Lima leading the team to a 7 game lead at the All-Star Break in 2003) when the Royals finally get to another World Series someday...and enjoy the beautiful stadium and cheaper ticket prices there, where it's still possible to bring a family of four to a baseball game once a month in the summertime.

Edited May 30, 2013 by caulfield12

[Harry Chappas]

Hey caulfield did Ned Yost spit at you while walking up the ramp at old shea stadium (Seinfeld joke).

 

In other Al Central news, that Pittsburgh Detroit series has been great.

[Dick Allen]

Just like you could easily make the case that the Rays would be the best team in baseball if a little luck went their way.

 

They had a scout obsessed with Pujols, but the cross-checkers and scouting director (Jennings) disagreed.

 

We all know the Josh Hamilton story...when it could have been Josh Beckett, or Hamilton would have been the player everyone predicted at age 19-20-21 before the car accident and drug problems.

 

Then there's the mysterious case of Rocco Baldelli...so 4 superstar/All-Star caliber players, in addition to all their good pitching drafts, Crawford, Longoria, David Price, the Zobrist acquisition, etc.

 

Then they got scared off by Boras and Teixeira, so they ended up taking Dewon Brazelton (who the owner actually booed and encouraged the fans to boo as well) who ended up taking $2.5 million in a signing bonus spread out over 5 years. The Rangers were willing to meet his demands, and they parlayed that into one of the best established star for prospect trades in history.

There is also the problem as to how they would have been able to pay them.

[flavum]

Royals demoted their hitting coaches, and hired George Brett as interim hitting coach.

 

That's Step 1, Ned.

[caulfield12]

Hey caulfield did Ned Yost spit at you while walking up the ramp at old shea stadium (Seinfeld joke).

 

In other Al Central news, that Pittsburgh Detroit series has been great.

 

 

That darned Keith Hernandez, always stealing Elaine's heart...

 

Roll the Zapruder Film, back, and to the left...

Edited May 30, 2013 by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

Royals demoted their hitting coaches, and hired George Brett as interim hitting coach.

 

That's Step 1, Ned.

 

 

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/30/42640...brett-onto.html

 

Essentially, there's STILL going to be two of them. Big step to give that other role to someone who has been with the Mariners for the last decade, not exactly a hotbed of hitting...maybe they needed someone who was a better communicator with their young Latin players like Escobar and Perez, just a guess, though.

 

 

[Balta1701]

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/30/42640...brett-onto.html

 

Essentially, there's STILL going to be two of them. Big step to give that other role to someone who has been with the Mariners for the last decade, not exactly a hotbed of hitting...maybe they needed someone who was a better communicator with their young Latin players like Escobar and Perez, just a guess, though.

I don't think Escobar and Perez are the young guys who need communicating with.

[LittleHurt05]

I don't think Escobar and Perez are the young guys who need communicating with.

 

Are Hosmer & Moustakas bi-lingual?

[Benchwarmerjim]

Twins take 4 from Milwaukee. Twins now a game back from 3rd in the central...huh.

 

cant say that I have paid attention to the Brewers this year, but how is that team not winning games?

Also, it seems like they fleeced the Angles when they traded Greinke for Segura. wow, what a player!

[flavum]

Francouer with a homer in the 9th to tie it. Miracles.

 

Huge storm about to hit st louis too.

Edited May 31, 2013 by flavum

[fathom]

Francouer with a homer in the 9th to tie it. Miracles.

 

Huge storm about to hit st louis too.

 

Brutal managing by Matheny trying to have Boggs get the save.

[flavum]

Bossard would have had the tarp on the field before the first drop fell.

 

 

[Harry Chappas]

So the pirates won two extra inning 1-0 games v the tigers wow

[caulfield12]

Hosmer came through with the big double, 4-2 Royals leading, bases still loaded, no outs.

 

Everyone in KC can take a deep breath and give credit to George Brett for saving the season...at least for ONE game.

[flavum]

4.5 hour rain delay. Royals beat the Cardinals. Ended at 3:30.

 

Mitchell Boggs must feel small.

[LittleHurt05]

Brutal managing by Matheny trying to have Boggs get the save.

 

I think even the White Sox offense could score a run against Boggs this season. Just gifted KC a comeback win.

[Brian]

Brutal managing by Matheny trying to have Boggs get the save.

 

Rosenthal and Mujica both had pitched 5 days in a row. Should've kept Maness in who toyed with Butler the previous inning.