SB Nation User Blog: slayor

Joakim Soria worked the ninth with his usual Mexicutioner efficiency

slayor — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:56:59 -0000

Joakim Soria worked the ninth with his usual Mexicutioner efficiency

I went to the game tonight: May 28, 10th game

slayor — Thu, 29 May 2008 04:17:13 -0000

in a row.

The game started well enough.

Greinke was super duper nasty. His line did him no justice, I was in the lower level and he was absolutely filthy. The 3 runs were soft, he deserved such a better fate.

Gathright looked good with the bunts, our singles based offense was clicking on every cylinder.

Then the ninth inning happened. Everybody in the ballpark expected a win. When the inning started, my friend asked me why Gload was in RF instead of Teahen. This disturbed me. Then they pulled Ramirez, who wasn't exactly getting pounded for Peralta.

Then the game was over. I have never attended a more crushing defeat in any sporting event, ever. You could literally feel the air being sucked out of the stadium in the ninth inning, you could hear the profanity in the stands. I left the game with a headache and just have to ask myself:

Has anything really changed?

Rumor: German to Dodgers for 2 pitchers?

slayor — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 08:11:37 -0000

Per Bob Dutton, @ kcstar.com:
Through the grapevine

The rumor mill is picking up. One has the Royals discussing a deal to send utilityman Esteban German to the Dodgers for right-handed pitchers Jonathan Meloan and Miguel Pinango.

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/royals/story/542492.html

Meloan stats:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/M/John-Meloan.shtml

Pinango:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/P/Miguel-Pinango.shtml

Meloan looks attractive based on his K-rate alone. I'd be pretty happy if GMDM could pull this trade off, I'm not seeing a negative.

I had a dream last night:

slayor — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:42:49 -0000

I had a dream last night. Admittedly, I'm not one to dream. While most of the populace is in bed subconsciously thinking of the things that they most desire, I'm usually out like a light. Totally passed out. Incapable of any thought whatsoever, on any level.

Not last night. Last night, I had the best dream of all. It was a baseball dream. I was still living in Kansas City, and it was the beginning of February. Spring training had almost arrived. I turned on my laptop, and surfed over to KCRoyals.com. There was a press conference happening that day, a surprise press conference. The picture of a smiling Allard Baird jumped off the screen at me, and on cue, a queasy feeling in my stomach soon followed.

I turned on the radio. Of course, getting good reception was a problem - dreams are always filled with worthless details like this. Then I heard the unconvincing voice of the Royals puppet-master make his blockbuster announcement. "We've made a signing" he proclaimed, "of somebody with excellent pitch-ability, great stuff, and a professional make up. Your newest 2008 Kansas City Royal...Brett Tomko! (exclamation added.)". In my chair, I sat, and he continued to talk. Speech blurred together. Some jive about veteran presence, a proven arm to start on Opening Day, a dependable veteran dripping with grit at the front of our rotation so the "young talent" would have a professional to learn from. Plus, he said, the terms were reasonable - 2 years, 10 million cash dollars. After all, this team was much improved he went on, especially with the addition of Miguel Olivo batting fourth.

We were going to compete. We have a number one starter, a new catcher that can hit for power.I must of listened to him talk for too long. Jimmy Gobble was moving back to the rotation it was decided, to replace the burnt out and missing in action Zack Greinke. Mike Sweeney was resigned for another year to play first until "Billy Butler proves he can hit minor league pitching". Did I mention that we resigned Jeremy Affeldt to a 3 year, 15 million dollar deal to be our closer? Yes, we were going to win in 2008. How could we not. I must of listened to him talk for too long. In my dream, I was sure of it. All of it.

Then I woke up. Then... I realized it wasn't a dream. It was a nightmare. And only at this point, even after years of disappointment, blown leads, and wasted talent did I have my shocking moment of revelation. At this moment, I realized that the last 6 years of Royals baseball - have been a nightmare.

Just in: Guillen signs for 3/36

slayor — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 06:25:39 -0000

So apparently it is official, and Jose Guillen is a Royal.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3140604

That is, if this source is correct.

I will be pretty happy if this goes official. Seems to be a pretty fair deal as long as he can hit 20 HR's and knock in 90+ RBI's. Our lineup is so anemic this is a massive upgrade from last season.

Neal Musser: 0 Clubhouse Chair: 1

slayor — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 23:03:58 -0000

Apparently we aren't the only ones fed up with Neal's love of giving up the go ahead run.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Rookie left-hander Neal Musser will miss the remainder of the season after breaking his right little finger punching a chair in the Kansas City Royals' clubhouse after a poor relief outing.

Musser gave up a go-ahead double to Justin Morneau, the first batter he faced, and retired just one of the four batters in the Royals' 4-2 loss to Minnesota on Monday night.

"I was a little aggravated the way I pitched and took my aggravation out the wrong way, and so I ended up breaking my hand on the back of a chair," Musser said. "You live and learn. I'll never do it again. I did it one time and paid for it."

X-rays following the game detected a break below his knuckle on his right little finger. He was wearing a cast Tuesday.

Musser was 0-1 with a 4.38 ERA in 17 relief appearances for the Royals this season, his first year in the majors.

Huber, Hoch' and Brazell: Welcome to the Bigs

slayor — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 23:49:27 -0000

Some of you are getting your wish...

KANSAS CITY -- The Kansas City Royals made a series of roster moves today and announced several more moves for tomorrow. Prior to tonight's game in Texas, the Royals reinstated outfielder Mark Teahen from the 15-day disabled list, and recalled right-handed pitchers Kyle Davies and Leo Nunez from Wichita (AA). All three players will be in uniform for tonight's game.

In addition to today's moves, tomorrow the Royals will recall 2006 first overall selection Luke Hochevar and first baseman Justin Huber, and purchase the contracts of catcher Paul Phillips and first baseman Craig Brazell. All four players will join Kansas City from the Triple-A Omaha roster.

Wily Mo Pena

slayor — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 22:00:45 -0000

The Red Sox don't have a position for him, and the guy is hugely talented. What would it take for us to get him? I don't know a ton about him, but I think we could find a place for his bat - maybe even at first?

To me, he is the type of guy GMDM needs to be making a play for.

He is having a bad season, (.216 / .289 / .379 with a .668 OPS), but is only 25.

Independence Day attendance?

slayor — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 07:33:14 -0000

Planning on going to the game on the 4th with my family, any idea on how big the crowd is going to be? will getting tickets be a problem (IE should we buy before the game?)

Thoughts are appreciated... don't want to show up and get turned away, then again does that ever happen except Opening day? I kinda sorta doubt it.

What I saw at the game (May 03)

slayor — Thu, 03 May 2007 22:04:27 -0000

Attended the game today, sat in the cushy Dugout Box seats. Very lovely, even had a young lady at the ready to wipe my seat down for me. Excellent!

Things I observed:
Meche was filthy. Strike zone was small, and the foul balls really added to his pitch count. Other than that, his location was excellent.

Butler at the plate, in person, looks like an old pro. He's one of those guys that when he steps in, you think he's going to get a hit, just by looking at him. Pretty sweet swing too.

Soria stumbled through the ninth, but they weren't really getting great swings. He works the corners, and when the strikezone isn't there, he's going to struggle a bit. Fastball topped out at 91 I think? Had a lot of poise though.

Oh! And Gordon. Got the sac bunt done pretty nicely, in his other at bats was fairly meh. Nothing too horrible though. Buck looked pretty bad at the plate again today though.

Good game all around. Duckworth looked really sharp. I had fun.