SB Nation User Blog: BrRoyal

I was a little taken aback when I loaded RoyalsReview to find "Got Herpes?" written at the top of...

BrRoyal — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:47:24 -0000

I was a little taken aback when I loaded RoyalsReview to find "Got Herpes?" written at the top of the page. I know SB Nation is in charge of any advertisement, but this just leaves me shaking my head.

The combined two-hitter was the first by the Royals since last July 19, when Gil Meche, Ron Mahay,...

BrRoyal — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:11:43 -0000

The combined two-hitter was the first by the Royals since last July 19, when Gil Meche, Ron Mahay, Ramon Ramirez and Hector Ramirez produced a 9-1 victory at Chicago.

We've forgotten HoRam's name already

Went to Camden Yards (for the second time) yesterday to see the Orioles and Rangers play. I really...

BrRoyal — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:03:00 -0000

Went to Camden Yards (for the second time) yesterday to see the Orioles and Rangers play. I really like their stadium. It has real character with all of the brickwork and arches, not to mention the old warehouse in the back. I don't like the way the bullpen sets up to where there's just a big empty space in Centerfield, but the ivy wall will help once the ivy reaches the top.

Game time temp was 88 degrees and it got higher. We got $15 tickets at the gate that were just in the shade down the leftfield line. Very good view, especially for the price. Food wasn't ridiculous either. Beer was $5.75, pretzel for $3-though I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would serve them without cheese.

We were also treated to an entertaining game. I had a feeling we'd see some runs scored with the TX Rangers in town. It took some time, but - sure enough - the O's figured out Brandon McCarthy and Jason Jennings to put 8 runs on the board and win 8-5. Adam Jones is a stud. I was impressed enough with two doubles in two ABs, but he later hit a three-run homer that took the lead, finishing the game 3 for 4.

Anyway, everyone should check out Camden sometime. The fans are friendly, the prices reasonable, the team is young, and the stadium beautiful. Peace!

A Master of the English Language

BrRoyal — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:19:55 -0000

A Master of the English Language

EA Sports senior product manager Anthony Stevenson called the two Pro Bowlers "exemplary examples of the epic battle between offense and defense in the NFL."

I always prefer my examples to be exemplary.

Notice any problems? Yes, folks, the team in Washington suffered a "Natinal" embarrassment.

BrRoyal — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:26:37 -0000

Notice any problems? Yes, folks, the team in Washington suffered a "Natinal" embarrassment.

An extra Poop Sandwich

BrRoyal — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:26:00 -0000

An extra Poop Sandwich

Trey's words:

"We certainly want to give him another opportunity to start," Hillman said. "But it was a combination of getting Horacio in at the right time and giving everybody an extra day."

The Royals could have avoided using Ramirez — or any fifth starter — until Saturday by keeping everyone on his standard four days of rest between appearances.

Instead, Gil Meche, Zack Greinke and Kyle Davies will each be pushed back one day. Sidney Ponson will get an extra day of rest, because of an open date Monday, before starting the series opener Tuesday in Cleveland.

"We feel it gives everybody a chance to catch their breath a little bit," Hillman said, "and it (lets us) take care of what has been a pretty good rotation so far."

Trey is giving Horacio an extra start on Wednesday to give the other starters an extra rest. . . against a division foe! So now, instead of eating a HoRam Special once in the before May, we'll get him three times! (Assuming he makes it to his next start after that. And, while I can't fault Hillman for the rainout, I can fault him for putting him in the rotation to begin with.)

And this isn't just any division foe, it's the pre-season favorite, the Cleveland club that just hung up 14 runs in one inning against another struggling groundball pitcher. I'm putting the over/under of outs Ramirez gets before being pulled at 5.5 and the ER charged to him at 5.5. So who wants to bet he makes it through 2 innings, and who thinks he'll give up fewer than 6 runs? Oh, and if he bombs and our bullpen is subsequently spent, there isn't another off-day until May 11th.

Recap of problems:
1.) HoRam gets an extra start.
2.) It's against a division foe, so a loss counts as double
3.) If he kills the bullpen, there isn't another off-day for 20 days!

Brilliant!

Baseball without Arabs and Indians

BrRoyal — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:32:06 -0000

As most people are aware, our current numerical system is based on the Arabic numeric system which was more clearly defined by residents of India. Idle curiosity (the monk's enemy) has led me to wonder whether we would all enjoy baseball quite so much without this ingenious system. Forget about sabremetrics for a moment, and imagine simply trying to calculate batting average from Roman numerals.

After all, it works for the Superbowl!

via www.bridalwave.tv

As it turns out, I have found no evidence that Romans wrote fractions in numerals so much as would have had to write out the words ("one eighth, or seven twelths"). This would be quite cumbersome. Of course, I doubt anyone would list batting average as two hundred eighty seven thousandths. I think we can assume that the Statheads (I'm looking at you, Cicero) would have simply given the number without the fractional state as we do today.

So, instead of a .287 hitter, we'd have a 287 hitter. Oh, but I forgot. We don't have those digits. Our hitter has become a CCLXXXVII hitter. Looks pretty talented to me! Especially compared to a CCXCVIII hitter! After all, the first number is bigger. . . or, um, longer? What's that you say? The second one is better? Shoot! I hate this game! How can anyone understand it, much less enjoy it? All Statheads are total geeks!

I guess what this boils down to is, be thankful for what you've got. I'm very thankful to have a brilliant numeric system and can't imagine how Pythagoras got by. I'm also thankful for the insight this site provides about new metrics. At the same time, be patient with those who are learning the new metrics. They're moving from Roman to Arabic numerals, which would be a tough transition. And those who don't appreciate the sport feel like they're looking at Roman numerals because they don't understand what people are looking at.

Oh, and I sure wish Brett had hit CD rather than CCCXC, but that’s still a hell of a season.

Hope everyone enjoyed this simple exercise. And for all of you who want to see what you batted in high school, here’s a handy translator.

Feel free to try doing some sabremetrics in numerals, too.

Cheering against Horacio Ramirez

BrRoyal — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:43:13 -0000

Yesterday Horacio Ramirez was terrible. And Trey Hillman knows it.

I don't like the idea of cheering against a player on my favorite team, but I can't help hoping that HoRam continues his display of ineptitude so as to pitch himself out of the rotation. I think that the Royals have a small shot at the division this year, and that shot decreases with every start Ramirez makes. At the same time, I'm not sure the alternatives are all that great:

(I know, ST stats are useless, but)

Bannister has been BAD this ST

Hochevar looks like the same inconsistent pitcher he was last season. (I think he's #4 in the rotation right now.)

Sidney Ponson has shown very little over the past five years that makes me confident.

Ducky can't make his cameo this early in the season.

Lenny Dinardo seems very hittable.

Heath Phillips only started 7 games last year in AAA and he's never broken through.

Am I missing anyone?

Another factor in this is that Ramirez wasn't the only pitcher who was bad yesterday. The two teams combined for 15 homeruns! So, while Ramirez won't get a full pass on yesterday (Hillman was sure to mention that he got hit HARD.), he might not get ousted for it.

So, two questions:

1.) What are your thoughts on cheering against someone on your favorite team (who isn't a total jerk)?

2.) Who gets that rotation spot? And is it worth cheering against Ramirez?

(I know, that's three questions.)

Royals becoming fascists?

BrRoyal — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:49:22 -0000

Royals becoming fascists?

Star article describes the R's increased K-bility this season. Of course, they also point out that the Rays led the league in Ks two years ago and finished last in ERA. Perhaps it precipitated the jump, though.

Vazquez to the Braves

BrRoyal — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:27:25 -0000

Vazquez to the Braves

I guess we won't be fleecing the Sox for this guy either. I don't know anything about the prospects other than what's listed, but it doesn't look like they gave up much for a high-quality starter. Also, supposedly the Braves are looking to add another starter. This trade, however seems to make it less likely that they'll trade for Grienke.