***Royals vs. Blue Jays Game Thread - July 12, 2015***

[tk13]

Since no one else will do it. Last game before the break.

Volquez (8-4) vs. Felix Doubront (1-0)

Jays:

J Reyes SS
D Travis 2B
J Bautista DH
E Encarnacion 1B
C Colabello LF
R Martin C
D Valencia 3B
K Pillar CF
E Carrera RF

Royals:

A Escobar SS
M Moustakas 3B
L Cain CF
E Hosmer 1B
K Morales DH
S Perez C
O Infante 2B
A Rios RF
P Orlando LF

Also, the Futures Game starts at 3/2 central on MLB Network.

[petegz28]

whew..nice DP!

[Hootie]

Morales is definitely more valuable than Escobar, too !

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by bsroyals54

I forgot RBI's don't matter, especially for a team that struggled putting runs on the board. Our record has nothing to do with getting run support this year. You're right

RBIs matter in that they're an important counting stat, but they're more a product of your team than an individual effort. The three guys hitting immediately in front of Morales have OBPs over .350. That's why his RBI total is so high.

Side note:
I flipped over to the Futures Game to watch Fuenmayor hit. A few thoughts:

1) He definitely is a 1B/DH type, only, for KC. Big, thick body, thick lower half.

2) He lined a two-strike single to right in his AB, off the minors' top SP prospect, Lucas Giolito. Well-located 96 MPH fastball over the outer half, and he just went with it and drilled it to right.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by petegz28

WTF?? 6 run lead and back-back walks? I understand pitching around Encarnacion.....but come on

Not a video game, Volquez has made a career out of struggling with his command. I can promise you he's not trying to walk anyone in a 6 run game

[Saul Good]

I don't understand how Escobar's WAR isn't higher. The guy is an outstanding player. After Sal, he might be the player we can least afford to lose.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

RBIs matter in that they're an important counting stat, but they're more a product of your team than an individual effort.

Side note:
I flipped over to the Futures Game to watch Fuenmayor hit. A few thoughts:

1) He definitely is a 1B/DH type, only, for KC. Big, thick body, thick lower half.

2) He lined a two-strike single to right in his AB, off the minors' top SP prospect, Lucas Giolito. Well-located 96 MPH fastball over the outer half, and he just went with it and drilled it to right.

Sounds like team MVP material when our current team MVP Morales moves on

[Coach]

Damn.

Nice catch.

[bsroyals54]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

He's getting RBIs because moose and Cain are always on base. Morales has played good baseball this year. He's just not even remotely close to team MVP. Period.

Okay but I'm talking about what is making us win, having a guy in the top 2 highest RBI producers list is what is making your team with already great defense and bullpen win more games. End of story, runs is basically it. You're telling me Cain batting at 5 could of done what Morales has done? Don't get me wrong either I think Cain is a sick player, hes my avatar ffs

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Detroit has been the worst team in the AL since mid-May. Kind of unbelievable considering how much talent that team has on paper.

They should be selling Cespedes and Price and reloading a little bit. It's probably to the Royals' advantage for them to NOT sell, since it's hard to imagine the Tigers and Royals making a deal.

I know our neighbors to the east won't like this but Pittsburgh would be down right dangerous adding those two.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by bsroyals54

Okay but I'm talking about what is making us win, having a guy in the top 2 highest RBI producers list is what is making your team with already great defense and bullpen win more games. End of story, runs is basically it. You're telling me Cain batting at 5 could of done what Morales has done? Don't get me wrong either I think Cain is a sick player, hes my avatar ffs

Cain has an .OPS like 75 points higher and is like 13-14 in situations with a runner on 3rd with less than 2 outs

In short, Cain would be obliterating Morales' RBI production in the 5 hole. This is simple mathematics

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

Not a video game, Volquez has made a career out of struggling with his command. I can promise you he's not trying to walk anyone in a 6 run game

Exactly. The score of the game doesn't change anything. Is he supposed to lob 84 mph fastballs down the heart of the plate because we're up?
Volquez has NEVER had very good command and to expect differently this year is wrong.

Something that always irks me is when people say to a pitcher with struggling command, "THROW STRIKES ZOMG." WTF do some people think he's trying to do.. it's not ****ing easy to throw strikes, and Volquez has never been able to with consistency.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

I don't understand how Escobar's WAR isn't higher. The guy is an outstanding player. After Sal, he might be the player we can least afford to lose.

The defensive metrics for Escobar just never seem to like him as much as it seems they should. Not sure why.

His range and arm are impressive.

[bsroyals54]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

Cain has an .OPS like 75 points higher and is like 13-14 in situations with a runner on 3rd with less than 2 outs

In short, Cain would be obliterating Morales' RBI production in the 5 hole. This is simple mathematics

We will never know, Cain is staying at 3. And Morales rakes at 5. Not a bad thing to have

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by bsroyals54

Okay but I'm talking about what is making us win, having a guy in the top 2 highest RBI producers list is what is making your team with already great defense and bullpen win more games. End of story, runs is basically it. You're telling me Cain batting at 5 could of done what Morales has done? Don't get me wrong either I think Cain is a sick player, hes my avatar ffs

Cain could come closer to doing what Morales has done at the plate than Morales could come to doing what Cain does in the field and on the bases. Cain is our MVP in a landslide.

[C3HIEF3S]

Oh, FWIW, Minnesota is up 5-1.