****7/2 Royals @ Jays Game Thread****
 

Trying my luck here -- and I'm only starting this thread today because Frenchy IS NOT batting 5-hole today. So, that has to be a good Omen, right??! RIIIGHT?

Oh well ****!

6:07pm CST first pitch.

Teaford (0-1, 5.06 ERA) vs. Romero (8-2, 4.94 ERA)

Line up:

Gordon
Escobar
Hosmer
Butler
Moose
Frenchy
Perez
Bour-whatever.

Let's hope the team plays to their competition -- LET'S GO BOYS IN BLUE!!!

I am really scared to see Escobar moved in the lineup. He is on a tear though so if there was ever a time to try him in the 2 hole its right now. Even if it goes bad he can go back to the 9 spot after the break.

And I forgot Betancourt.

LMAO

That's a shame.

I hope eventually Alcides becomes the leadoff hitter with Gordon batting second.

Why?

I like the power potential in the lead-off spot, and Gordon seems to get into a mental happy place at the top of the order, so I'm for staying consistent with success. It was asinine that Ned went away from this at the start of the season.

Agreed. Gordon is batting in the .290s from the leadoff spot this season. That is more like what we saw last season. For whatever reason the guy is just more comfortable there. My hypothesis is that he doesn't feel the pressure to drive in runs being in the leadoff spot. Some guys like to assist, some like to score.

Of the four games in this series, the first two are the most winnable based solely on the Blue Jays pitchers. We need to split this series to avoid complete disaster after that horrible twinkies series.

I think it puts him in the mindset to be more patient and more willing to take the ball the other way as opposed to trying to yank (and thus wrap around) everything.

Alcides batting average higher, more stolen bases, lower number of strikeouts. He needs to improve on taking walks. Gordon with a higher slugging percentage, number of home runs and doubles. I know that the 9 hole for Alcides and 1 spot for Gordon seems to fit both at the moment. Eventually I see a better performance with both moved up one spot

So, assuming he can stay healthy where does Zo project in the lineup? 9-hole?

Again, except for Alex's mental inability to succeed anywhere in the lineup except for leadoff.

I'm hoping he can grow out of that mindset. I guess we shall see

OBP is the most important quality for a leadoff hitter, and Gordon's is better and has been insanely high (.430ish) since returning to the top of the order.

And for the record, if this team is ever to have real success, we'll need a damn good #2 hitter. The idea that this is a position for someone who "handles the bat well and can lay down a bunt" is outdated bullshit.

He has proven he can't though. His whole career up until last season, no matter where he was, he did not hit well. Then last season he has a career year at the plate. This season he got off to a slow start and was moved around doing horribly wherever he was, but as soon as he finally got put back in the leadoff spot he has been really good ever since. His BA is .276 which is crazy considering he was fiddling aroung in the .200s earlier this season.

I think they should leave Alex leading off, he seems most comfortable there. I'd also leave Esobar at 8 or 9, he seems more comfortable in the bottom third, and that gives us at least a chance to have somebody on when the order turns over. Since Perez and Cain have been out, our #7 and #9 have been weak -Humberto, Dyson, etc etc etc. Having Esky in the final third gives that part of the lineup some punch. We can move him up to maybe a number two hitter next season. Let's let him continue to learn where he is, he's still young.

I don't mind having Escobar try second in the lineup for a week or so to see how he does. He is hitting well right now so if can't succeed there now then he may never and we will at least then know the answer, which is he is best in the 9th spot. If Cain could ever be healthy he is a more natural 2nd guy anyways so then we wouldn't have to worry about filling that spot nearly as bad as we do right now.

Whoever our 2nd basemen is should be batting 8th because none of them are good enough for the top. And actually a guy like Getz is a good 8th hitter because he can bunt good to set up the top of the order (which includes Escobar after the first time through) and he has decent speed. He basically handles the bat pretty well which is what you need in that spot. You just can't have all the strikeouts and worthless ABs we have been getting from the 8th spot all year from Pena/Q, Dyson, Burgeouis, or Gio.

My ideal lineup:

Gordon
Cain
Hosmer/Moose
Butler
Moose/Hosmer
Myers
Perez
Whoever is at 2nd
Escobar

Anyone, anyone, Bueller..Bueller?

Damn, you guys bring up Myers and get Cain healthy, that lineup doesn't look bad at all.

The game is already lost, we're only sending 8 guys to the plate (and no 2B).

...and I didn't read down!!!

LMAO

I think the team was hoping either Gio or Colon would project at 2B. Looks like we might have to trade for one, because Betancourt has zero range in the middle infield. Thank God Frank White doesn't have to watch him butcher his position night after night.

To me it just doesn't make any sense to put AG at the leadoff spot. Never has.......never will.....he's simply not a true lead off guy...and to be honest we haven't had a true good leadoff guy since Johnny Damon.

The leadoff spot is more suitable for Escobar, and he could do more damage there than AG can because Escobar is faster than snot and can steal bases. If used properly he could be a 40+ base stealer.

People say that AG hits best from the 1 spot, ok that's fine....but then again I doubt his production will slip that much from batting 1 spot lower in the top of the order. If he can only hit out of the 1 spot then he's completely holding this team's lineup hostage for what it could really be.

And here we go.

46 Blue Jays fans in the crowd.

Dumbass just stands there and lets it hit him right in the knee.

glad to see were already in midseason form.

Just call him Teed up Teaford.

You can have tomorrow's game thread privileges.

:)

Seems like every Jays batter has made solid contact on Teaford. Maybe he's tipping his pitches?

good job teaford, suckchez would have given up the grand slam

ROFL I am 2-1 thusfar, so surely there is someone with a better mark than that.

I'm 1-2.

But, Frenchy not in the 5 spot got me feeling a lil' lucky.

i believe i am 3-1 in royals threads and 7-2 all time

DO NOT SAY HIS NAME IN THIS THREAD.

THIS THREAD DOES NOT SUCKCHEZ!!!!

So, does Moose's body language look frustrated to anyone else?

Yunisexy and Moose trying to do their best t-baller impersonations.

That was ridiculous pull power! Liner outta here.

DAMN SAL

I WOULD **** SALVY SO HARD.

Wow we would be at .500 if Salvy was playing all season.

Send the runner, Ned. Damn.

@jazayerli

Salvador Perez, in his eighth game, has hit more homers (3) than the other two catchers the Royals employed have hit all year combined (2).

Chip and dip platter, bitches.

This thread has about much life as a retirement home does on Wii night.

Why does Perez have to inspire so much man love...

That was a ****ing laser.

Because he looks 6 foot when he's behind the plate.

Lawrie looks like a UFC scrub.

nice yuni

if he can continue to swing the bat well im fine with him staying in the game

Yuni! And almost #freeouts!

Is Yuni really that ****ing slow, or was he not hustling at all? Both?

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE

Yuni u mad??!

Need to leave him off the OP more often.

Suck on these Moose jewels, Jays.

Moooooose

MOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEee

Yuni was running faster to home plate when he was going to score easily, rather than his double.

LMAO

well hit ball frenchman, bad placement.

Woof woof. Almost didn't watch tonight but decided to. Glad I have so far!

The young guys on this team are so much fun to watch.

There you go, got the joey bats hr out of the game

The only reason I keep watching! If this was an older team, no way I would continue watching EVERY game.

I am convinced Teaford is tipping his pitches.

Yuni with the RAAAAAAAAANGE.

Me love you long time, Sally.

Does anyone want to Eiffel Tower Salvy??

Bourgeois is playing well since he came back up.

CLUTCH

That ball hung FOREVER.

My asshole is open for Salvador. Anytime he may want it, it's his.

"Exit only, unless you're dreamy Salvador Perez" would make a killer tattoo.

WOOOOOOOOOOSHWAAAAAAAAAAAA

You should probably get that done. Make sure you have a couple (more) drinks before you leave for the tattoo parlour.

How the hell is this Romero guy 8-2?

Come on Billy

I want to see a Gordon/Hosmer double steal to take away the Butler double play threat.