I'm glad you weren't in charge when Zack went through his stuff. My God, have some patience.

He's so good in Triple-A. Headcase?

No. Still young and still learning how to pitch in the major leagues. Maybe they send him down now after having some positives to build on with this last start. He'll be fine...and so will the Royals.

Did I say that he was?

Is a question now a statement?

But Greinke is a terrible comparison. He had done more at 20 than Hoch, a college/semi-pro pitcher, has shown at 25. It's time for this kid to perform.

Fair enough...let me re-phrase my response.

No, I don't think Hoch is a bust. But if we can parlay him in a trade to buik up our lineup, I'd think about it.

I'd trade him in a second.

Sinkerballers who don't have an "out" pitch typically don't project to top-of-the-rotation guys. He's no better than a #3, assuming he plays to his potential.

If he figures it out, I think he could be a lot like Derek Lowe. But I'll agree with you in that he could be good trade bait in a deal that could net us a guy like Matt Holliday. Maybe we could send DeJesus and Hoch. to the A's along with 2 minor leaguers for Holliday and Cabrera? Wild speculation, obviously.

Hochevar was getting ground balls today. The two walks in the first killed him too. Obviously it's gonna be the typical gnashing as everyone was sure he should be up over Ponson and now everyone's gonna think he's a bust. I think he has stuff to work on, holding runners on being a big one. But it's probably not a good combo to have such a bad infield defense combined with some of our ground ball pitchers.

That's a good point. Just like Zack likes having his own catcher, we might want to use a defensive combination, especially up the middle, when a guy like Hoch. is pitching.

So I guess this is where we begin the gnashing of the teeth... and wondering if it's worthwhile to hang in there.

I can't say I'm sure it is... but I will. A fan's a fan.

They'll bounce back. (right?)

True about the defense. And the timing of the demotion is questionable at best. Today's performance should have earned the kid another start. What it does say to me, however, is that the organization doesn't have much faith in Hochevar's stuff.

I'm calling BS on Moore's public endorsement of Hochevar that appeared in the Star a day or two back.

Right. They'll be fine.

Define fine?

Are they about a .500 team? Yeah, probably. And, yes, this is progress...

But you'll have to forgive my lack of excitement over mediocrity. Yeah, we've been a ****ing joke for 15 years or so and Rome...yada, yada, yada...but whatever.

No, by fine I meant contend for the division title. Yeah, it's probably optimistic in light of the way they're playing right now, but I think they'll get it going again. Getting Soria and Gordon back will, IMHO, give us a big boost. Also, I was encouraged by Davies' last start and believe Gil is going to get it going. If Dayton can make a trade to boost the offense, we'll be in it to win it.

.500 would be an improvement but disappointment to me.

Damn, dude. You're an optimist.

With this defense and offense, I think .500 is about this team's ceiling. Soria will provide much help, assuming he's 100 percent, but Gordon is just another guy.