SB Nation User Blog: 2X2L

Billy Butler and the best young hitters in baseball

2X2L — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:49:23 -0000

Billy Butler and the best young hitters in baseball

Billy Butler and Pablo Sandoval. The future is here.

ST Game 18 Open Thread - Royals vs Giants

2X2L — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 15:31:46 -0000

Time to adjust your sets, because the Royals are on tellyvision today (albeit on the ever-popular tape delay).

Where: MLB Network. Find out if it's carried in your area by using the channel locator here.

When do they roll the tape: 8:30 PM EDT, 7:30 PM CDT, etc.

Gametime: 4:00 EDT, 3:00 CDT, sometime or other in Arizona, 1:00 PDT.

The set-up: Royals in Scottsdale to face the Giants. Luke Hochevar starts, with Heath Phillips and Jimmy Gobble to follow. Barry Zito for the contractually obligated Giants.

Also available live via MLB.TV and Gameday audio.

MLB.com Gameday link.

ST Game 17 Open Thread - Snakes vs Royals

2X2L — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 14:45:40 -0000

CANCELED

One's the cerebral straight man, the other keeps it close to the ground. A favorite of RR readers, the Banny and Hooch series didn't play in Peoria and has been canceled after just 3 airings, before we get to find out which one turns into a major star and which one is really a dog.

But the show goes on. Banny spins off on his own today to face the Arizona Diamondbacks in Surprise. His supporting cast includes Brandon Duckworth, Juan Cruz, and Yaz Yabuta. Comedy gold? Tune in and find out. Jon Garland is the special guest starter.

Broadcast: MLB.com

MLB.com Gameday: here

ST Games 15 & 16 Open Thread - Split Squad Friday

2X2L — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:30:27 -0000

Zacque Greinke starts against the Brewers in Maryvale while Robinson Tejeda starts against the Rangers in Surprise, as the Royals open up a two-front war on the Cactus League.

Yovani Gallardo and Trevor Hoffman are scheduled to pitch for the Brewers. Vicente Padilla gets the start for the Rangers.

Half, you go this way - half, you go that way!

MLB.com has audio for both games.

Maryvale Gameday. Surprise Gameday.

Comment starter: two-front wars in history, good/bad? Your thoughts.

ST Game 13 Open Thread - Mariners vs Royals

2X2L — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:17:07 -0000

Not only Grass Creek but the entire population of Hot Springs County has been waiting for this one all winter long: Mariners vs. Royals at Surprise, Arizona.

This one's for you, Grass Creek!

Chris Jakubauskas starts for the Mariners. Gil Meche starts for the Royals, with Heath Phillips, Jamey Wright, Ron Mahay, Jimmy Gobble, and Carlos Rosa to follow.

Broadcast: the Royals Radio Network, MLB.com, and XM Radio channel 179.

MLB Gameday: here

ST Game 12 Open Thread - Royals vs Cubs

2X2L — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:41:06 -0000

The Cubs have lost six in a row. What does it mean?

There may be no such thing as a must-win game before St. Patrick's Day, but Monday's game against the Royals may be the next-closest thing for the Cubs.

But, Lou, spring training records are meaningless, right?

"Look, spring training wins and losses don't mean anything," Piniella said. "But you don't want to get in the habit of getting your [butts] kicked every day either. That I can tell you, and that's exactly what's happening here."

And so at HoHoKam Park in Mesa today Lou puts the [butts] of Chad Gaudin and Jeff Samardzija on the line to stave off Cactus League elimination.

Brian Bannister and Luke Hochevar will pitch for the Royals, along with relievers Kyle Farnsworth and Joel Peralta.

Broadcast: the Royals radio network, MLB.com, and XM Radio channel 178.

MLB Gameday: here

Last year: the Cubs won both meetings with the Royals in Arizona. March 9: Brett Tomko and Leo Nunez were both shelled. Cubs, 13-1. March 18: Le Canadien Mark Teahen went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, but Joakim Soria gave up the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the 9th. Cubs, 6-5.

ST Game 11 Open Thread - Brewers vs Royals

2X2L — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:50:54 -0000

The Royals are back in Surprise today to host their long-lost expansion twin, the Seattle Pilots.

Zəḫ Greinke, Robinson Tejeda, Matt Wright and Roman Colon pitch for the Royals.

Yovani Gallardo starts for the visitors, and Jorge Julio relieves, among others.

Broadcast: MLB.com only today

MLB.com Gameday: here.

Remember that the game starts an hour later today at the usual time. It's complicated. Not as complicated as Ryan's and Dean's on-air explanation of baseball's roster rules, maybe, but hard enough to deal with when you're short of sleep.

Fun fact: the Royals haven't won their first Cactus League game against this franchise in any prior season. Revenge is on everyone's mind.

ST Game 10 Open Thread - Royals vs Indians

2X2L — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 14:23:11 -0000

The Royals travel to Goodyear today to kick the tires on a couple of prospective starters, Kyle Davies and Horacio Ramirez. Devon Lowery is also scheduled to pitch.

Aaron Laffey gets the start for the Indians, followed by Zach Jackson, John Meloan, Jack Cassel, Tony Sipp, Juan Salas, Greg Aguino and Ryan Edell.

Broadcast: MLB.com only today

MLB.com Gameday: here

One day it's Andrew Laughter, and the next it's Aaron Laffey. That's the way it goes in March, but March leads to October, and there is only one October.

Comment starter: Cookie Rojas. Tony Sipp. Andrew Laughter. Van Lingle Mungo.

ST Game 9 Open Thread - Rangers vs Royals

2X2L — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:34:53 -0000

The Royals have an organizational book. They're carrying it everywhere they go in Arizona this spring and consulting it frequently. It's called Are You My Lefty Starter?, and today the little birdie asks that eponymous question of Heath Phillips.

Ron Mahay and the Royal Farnsworth are scheduled to relieve.

The other team is apparently called the Wranglers or the Ragers or something like that. I never heard of them. But I did hear that Tommy Hunter gets the start for them on the mound while Omar Vizquel has an audition at second base.

Broadcast: the Royals radio network, MLB.com, XM Radio channel 181.

MLB.com Gameday: here.

This morning the Royals also play those same Riders or Ringos or whoever in a B game at George Brett Field. Gil Meche will pitch a little and Billy Butler will return to action after recovering from a reported contusion in the distal portion of his upper left limb. If you're in Surprise with your 3G phone, why don't you stop by George Brett Field and provide us with the play-by-play right here? Thanks.

ST Game 8 Open Thread - Royals vs Rangers

2X2L — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:55:48 -0000

Brian Bannister is a member of the Secret Brotherhood of Pitchers Who Control Balls In Play. He's very good at it -- so good, in fact, that in an emergency meeting convened before this start in Oakland, in fear of exposure and reprisal the Brotherhood voted to strip him of his rights and privileges until he learned to use his powers more subtly.

In the first inning of that game, Bannister directed a long drive into the glove of Teahen in left and a line drive into the glove of Gordon at third, but when he caught sight of a mysterious figure watching him intently from behind the third base dugout, he capitulated.

This is Bannister's make or break season. He will either practice his art so craftily that no one can detect it, or he won't.

Broadcast: the Royals radio network, MLB.com, XM Radio channel 177.

MLB.com Gameday: here.

Luke Hochevar, not a known member of the Brotherhood, is also scheduled to pitch for the Royals.

Kevin Millwood starts for the Rangers.

Fun fact: in Spring Training, the Rangers and Royals play against each other a lot.