Royals 2009 Kansas City Royals Repository. - Page 16

WilliamTheIrish · 08:21 AM

All Royals All The Time!

After consultation with others who peruse the game threads we decided to create this as a repository for all things Royals. Minor league news, AL (ahem) Central (thanks Vonne) news and anything Royals can be found here.

alnorth will continue the game threads as usual. But if you locate something of interest.. ANYTHING.. deals on apparel, best ways in/out of the stadium, giveaways, great stories from this season or from seasons gone by, rumors, trades, anything.... feel free to post it here.

If a big story breaks, you can still start a thread about it. There is merely an all inclusive thread that will make a easy for us all to keep up with all things Royals.

Welcome! "Grab a Brew... don't cost nuthin"...[spills beer on feet]

Courtesy of ari:

Quote:

Hey William... add this link to the opening post, if you want.

here. Free MLB radio... acts like you are a Holiday Inn customer... then you sign in with your MLB login

.
http://guest.ichotelsgroup.com/in_ro...Language=en-US

CoMoChief · 05-08-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

Nice write up for Matt Palmer, tonight starter for the Angels. Former Missouri State grad.

http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/new...=.jsp&c_id=ana

His two starts have resulted in wins. He's been good and the Angels needed that after the Adenhart ordeal..
12.1 innings 9 hits 5 BB's 5 ER. .196 BAA.

I've met Palmer before. He good friends with my best friend's older brother. Nice guy, though he was hammered when I saw him.

Kraus · 05-08-2009, 02:22 PM

Greinke voted April's Pepsi Clutch winner
Right-hander led Majors in wins, ERA, strikeouts for month

By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
KANSAS CITY -- If ever a team needed a rousing start to a season and a fresh face to inspire it, it was the Kansas City Royals.

They got both this year when they finished the first month in first place with pitcher Zack Greinke providing electrifying heroics.

Greinke powered through April with a 5-0 record, a 0.50 ERA and 44 strikeouts -- all figures that led the Major Leagues. He pitched two shutouts and of the Royals' 12 victories, he was responsible for 42 percent.

Fans worldwide could find no better clutch performer and voted Greinke the Major League Baseball Clutch Performer of the Month Presented by Pepsi.

It is one of two MLB-sanctioned, Pepsi-sponsored awards as part of an ongoing multi-platform marketing campaign involving Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Advanced Media and Pepsi, which is celebrating its 12th anniversary as the Official Soft Drink of Major League Baseball. This is the third year for the Clutch Perfomer award.

Greinke began this season with a solid background of achievement in 2008. He wound up the year with 14 consecutive scoreless innings and he boosted that streak to 34 with his first 20 innings this season.

Warming up slowly, Greinke pitched six shutout innings in a 2-0 victory at Chicago on April 8 and five more scoreless innings in a 4-2 win over Cleveland on April 13.

Suitably loose, he opened all cylinders on April 18 at Texas, going the distance in a 2-0 decision. It was a seven-hitter with no walks and 10 strikeouts.

Now all of baseball was watching closely. Echoes of Orel Hershiser's record scoreless streak of 59 innings in 1988 rang out although, in fact, only Zack's 20 innings this year could apply toward a record.

Next up: Detroit on April 24. Greinke got through four shutout innings but then his magic ran out. Gerald Laird led off the Tigers' fifth with a double. On the second out of the inning, a fly to center field, Laird advanced to third base. Shortstop Mike Aviles' relay throw hit Laird and bounced away.

Greinke, backing up third base, pounced on the ball and threw to home but catcher Miguel Olivo couldn't apply a tag and a run, albeit unearned, was home. Even so, his string of innings without an earned run reached 43 as he posted a 6-1, complete-game victory.

In his last start of the month, April 29 against Toronto, the Blue Jays stopped that streak in the first inning. But Greinke remained dominant and went seven innings for an 11-3 victory.

In winning the April award, Greinke outpolled some strong competition: Jason Bay of the Boston Red Sox, Jason Kubel of Minnesota Twins, Johan Santana of the New York Mets, Alfonso Soriano of the Chicago Cubs, and Michael Young of the Texas Rangers.

Any player at any position can win. All-Star sluggers, slick-fielding shortstops, run-of-the-mill starting pitchers, you name it. This is purely a recognition of the Major Leaguer who carried his team in one form or another, regardless of contract, past accomplishments or shoe endorsements. All that matters here is who performed best when the game was on the line, offensively or defensively.

At the conclusion of the 2009 regular season, fans will have the opportunity to vote on the Major League Baseball Clutch Performer of the Year Presented by Pepsi award winner from among six finalists selected by a special MLB.com editorial panel.

Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

teedubya · 05-08-2009, 03:30 PM

From another thread:::

Quote:

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

http://www.royalsreview.com/2009/5/8...on-fip-tra-tra+

http://www.statcorner.com/blog/2008/...ts-by-tra.html

Royals rotation - FIP, tRA, tRA+

Zack Greinke - 1.39, 1.35, 174 (#1 starter level)
Gil Meche - 2.46, 2.85, 146 (#1 starter level)
Kyle Davies - 5.62, 7.01, 66 (#5 starter level - below replacement level)
Sidney Ponson - 4.70, 5.15, 102 (#3 starter level)
Brian Bannister - 4.05, 3.49, 133 (#1 starter level)

AVERAGES. (based on 2007 and 2008 data)

#1 STARTERS: 130 tRA+
#2 STARTERS: 112 tRA+
#3 STARTERS: 100 tRA+
#4 STARTERS: 91 tRA+
#5 STARTERS: 76 tRA+

MARKERS.

These represent the breakpoints between each slot. For example, between a 95 and a 106 tRA+ would be rated as a #3 starter. Below 86 and you’re a #5, above a 118 and you’re a #1.

1 - 2 BARRIER: 118 tRA+
2 - 3 BARRIER: 106 tRA+
3 - 4 BARRIER: 95 tRA+
4 - 5 BARRIER: 86 tRA+

So, as of today, the Royals have three starters who, so far, have pitched better than an average #1 SP.

KChiefs1 · 05-08-2009, 04:50 PM

http://www.royalsreview.com/2009/5/8...itcher-as-last

Is Soria the Same Pitcher as Last Year?

In a FanShot I stated the Soria was not getting the same amount of break from pitch to pitch. I decided to compare his results so far this year to Spring Training, the WBC and last using Pitch F/X data.

Here are some unrelated points to the on the game on 5/07/09, I found useful/interesting in my work and maybe some else will also:

Soria is not a very consistent pitcher in the amount of break on all of his pitches. I think this is what makes him good. Hitters don't see the same stuff from him twice.
Soria never threw when Pitch F/X system was set up in spring training (4 appearances) or in the WBC (2 appearances) so I can't see if changes happened pre-season..
He rarely uses the slider, curve and change-up compared to the fastball, at times never using one or more of the non-fastball pitches at all.

For the above reasons, I am pretty much only able to look at the average differences in Soria's fastball until he has thrown more non- fastball pitches this season to look at those pitches. With his fastball, there is a major change from this season to previous seasons in that it is breaking ~2 more inches more in the horizontal direction. All of the other factors measured by Pitch F/X remain constant (e.g. speed, release, etc).. Here are his averages for the past 3 seasons:

Season	Horizontal Break
2007	-1.0
2008	-1.3
2009	-3.5

As you can see, his fast is just breaking more, which leads us back to yesterday were Soria just seemed frustrated on the mound. His extra 2 inches of break on his fastball was putting his fastball out of the strike zone on few occasions. Here is a graph of his actual fastball and the location of the same fastball in 2 inches less of break:

Although it might just be a strike or two difference during that in inning, it sure would have help with the way his was struggling. I am going to keep an eye on his pitches and will give an update in the future, especially after he has thrown enough non-fastballs to make some kind of good conclusion considering how variable he is with those pitches.

WilliamTheIrish · 05-08-2009, 05:24 PM

I'm glad you guys posted that stuff from royalsreview.com.

I love that site but wasn't sure anybody else would be as interested in it. Good to know there are at least two other nerds on the board.

(And NO, I don't play fantasy baseball.)

teedubya · 05-08-2009, 06:28 PM

Hey William... add this link to the opening post, if you want.

here. Free MLB radio... acts like you are a Holiday Inn customer... then you sign in with your MLB login.

chiefqueen · 05-08-2009, 06:29 PM

Why can't we create a Royals (or MLB) sub-forum than having this "monster" thread?

VonneMarie · 05-08-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kraus

Greinke voted April's Pepsi Clutch winner
Right-hander led Majors in wins, ERA, strikeouts for month

By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
KANSAS CITY -- If ever a team needed a rousing start to a season and a fresh face to inspire it, it was the Kansas City Royals.

They got both this year when they finished the first month in first place with pitcher Zack Greinke providing electrifying heroics.

Greinke powered through April with a 5-0 record, a 0.50 ERA and 44 strikeouts -- all figures that led the Major Leagues. He pitched two shutouts and of the Royals' 12 victories, he was responsible for 42 percent.

Fans worldwide could find no better clutch performer and voted Greinke the Major League Baseball Clutch Performer of the Month Presented by Pepsi.

It is one of two MLB-sanctioned, Pepsi-sponsored awards as part of an ongoing multi-platform marketing campaign involving Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Advanced Media and Pepsi, which is celebrating its 12th anniversary as the Official Soft Drink of Major League Baseball. This is the third year for the Clutch Perfomer award.

Greinke began this season with a solid background of achievement in 2008. He wound up the year with 14 consecutive scoreless innings and he boosted that streak to 34 with his first 20 innings this season.

Warming up slowly, Greinke pitched six shutout innings in a 2-0 victory at Chicago on April 8 and five more scoreless innings in a 4-2 win over Cleveland on April 13.

Suitably loose, he opened all cylinders on April 18 at Texas, going the distance in a 2-0 decision. It was a seven-hitter with no walks and 10 strikeouts.

Now all of baseball was watching closely. Echoes of Orel Hershiser's record scoreless streak of 59 innings in 1988 rang out although, in fact, only Zack's 20 innings this year could apply toward a record.

Next up: Detroit on April 24. Greinke got through four shutout innings but then his magic ran out. Gerald Laird led off the Tigers' fifth with a double. On the second out of the inning, a fly to center field, Laird advanced to third base. Shortstop Mike Aviles' relay throw hit Laird and bounced away.

Greinke, backing up third base, pounced on the ball and threw to home but catcher Miguel Olivo couldn't apply a tag and a run, albeit unearned, was home. Even so, his string of innings without an earned run reached 43 as he posted a 6-1, complete-game victory.

In his last start of the month, April 29 against Toronto, the Blue Jays stopped that streak in the first inning. But Greinke remained dominant and went seven innings for an 11-3 victory.

In winning the April award, Greinke outpolled some strong competition: Jason Bay of the Boston Red Sox, Jason Kubel of Minnesota Twins, Johan Santana of the New York Mets, Alfonso Soriano of the Chicago Cubs, and Michael Young of the Texas Rangers.

Any player at any position can win. All-Star sluggers, slick-fielding shortstops, run-of-the-mill starting pitchers, you name it. This is purely a recognition of the Major Leaguer who carried his team in one form or another, regardless of contract, past accomplishments or shoe endorsements. All that matters here is who performed best when the game was on the line, offensively or defensively.

At the conclusion of the 2009 regular season, fans will have the opportunity to vote on the Major League Baseball Clutch Performer of the Year Presented by Pepsi award winner from among six finalists selected by a special MLB.com editorial panel.

Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Sweet!

**alnorth** · 05-08-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefqueen

Why can't we create a Royals (or MLB) sub-forum than having this "monster" thread?

no more subforums, please. This works just fine.

Mama Hip Rockets · 05-08-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

Hochevar was stellar in Omaha again last night. Hi line:

He got a no decision because the pen coughed up the lead. The back end of the rotation from davies on down needs to be pitching with Hochevar's picture in their locker.

Cause he's taking somebodys job.

why is he still in AAA? seriously. there is no excuse.

WilliamTheIrish · 05-09-2009, 08:25 AM

Useless stat of the day:

The Royals are 37 -20 since Sept. 1 08.

WilliamTheIrish · 05-09-2009, 08:25 AM

Ari, that link is the shizzzz.

Thanks.

WilliamTheIrish · 05-09-2009, 08:37 AM

I'm pretty sure everybody saw this last night, but in case you didn't Curtis Granderson made an incredible, leaping, over the wall catch to rob Grady Sizemore of a game winning homer. It was probably the best defensive play of the year in the AL.

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/a...=.jsp&c_id=det

And Justin Verlander is rounding into form, which is not good news for the AL Central.

He has been nearly unhittable in his last three starts :

Quote:

23 IP 11 hits 1 ER 5 BB 31 K's

That's the Verlander that can make the Tigers the favorite for the division.

**Dartgod** · 05-09-2009, 09:00 AM

I just picked up two tickets for the May 23 game at Busch Stadium vs. the Cards. Any idea on how the rotation will play out and who the starter might be?

Please let it be Grienke, please let it be Grienke.

WilliamTheIrish · 05-09-2009, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefqueen

Why can't we create a Royals (or MLB) sub-forum than having this "monster" thread?

One Board, One ChiefsPlanet.

05-08-2009, 02:22 PM	#227
Kraus Media Center Guy Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Blue Springs, MO Casino cash: $10005364	Greinke voted April's Pepsi Clutch winner Right-hander led Majors in wins, ERA, strikeouts for month By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com KANSAS CITY -- If ever a team needed a rousing start to a season and a fresh face to inspire it, it was the Kansas City Royals. They got both this year when they finished the first month in first place with pitcher Zack Greinke providing electrifying heroics. Greinke powered through April with a 5-0 record, a 0.50 ERA and 44 strikeouts -- all figures that led the Major Leagues. He pitched two shutouts and of the Royals' 12 victories, he was responsible for 42 percent. Fans worldwide could find no better clutch performer and voted Greinke the Major League Baseball Clutch Performer of the Month Presented by Pepsi. It is one of two MLB-sanctioned, Pepsi-sponsored awards as part of an ongoing multi-platform marketing campaign involving Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Advanced Media and Pepsi, which is celebrating its 12th anniversary as the Official Soft Drink of Major League Baseball. This is the third year for the Clutch Perfomer award. Greinke began this season with a solid background of achievement in 2008. He wound up the year with 14 consecutive scoreless innings and he boosted that streak to 34 with his first 20 innings this season. Warming up slowly, Greinke pitched six shutout innings in a 2-0 victory at Chicago on April 8 and five more scoreless innings in a 4-2 win over Cleveland on April 13. Suitably loose, he opened all cylinders on April 18 at Texas, going the distance in a 2-0 decision. It was a seven-hitter with no walks and 10 strikeouts. Now all of baseball was watching closely. Echoes of Orel Hershiser's record scoreless streak of 59 innings in 1988 rang out although, in fact, only Zack's 20 innings this year could apply toward a record. Next up: Detroit on April 24. Greinke got through four shutout innings but then his magic ran out. Gerald Laird led off the Tigers' fifth with a double. On the second out of the inning, a fly to center field, Laird advanced to third base. Shortstop Mike Aviles' relay throw hit Laird and bounced away. Greinke, backing up third base, pounced on the ball and threw to home but catcher Miguel Olivo couldn't apply a tag and a run, albeit unearned, was home. Even so, his string of innings without an earned run reached 43 as he posted a 6-1, complete-game victory. In his last start of the month, April 29 against Toronto, the Blue Jays stopped that streak in the first inning. But Greinke remained dominant and went seven innings for an 11-3 victory. In winning the April award, Greinke outpolled some strong competition: Jason Bay of the Boston Red Sox, Jason Kubel of Minnesota Twins, Johan Santana of the New York Mets, Alfonso Soriano of the Chicago Cubs, and Michael Young of the Texas Rangers. Any player at any position can win. All-Star sluggers, slick-fielding shortstops, run-of-the-mill starting pitchers, you name it. This is purely a recognition of the Major Leaguer who carried his team in one form or another, regardless of contract, past accomplishments or shoe endorsements. All that matters here is who performed best when the game was on the line, offensively or defensively. At the conclusion of the 2009 regular season, fans will have the opportunity to vote on the Major League Baseball Clutch Performer of the Year Presented by Pepsi award winner from among six finalists selected by a special MLB.com editorial panel. Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. __________________
Posts: 3,322

05-08-2009, 05:24 PM	#230
WilliamTheIrish Champion Golfer Of The Year Join Date: Aug 2001 Casino cash: $5540607	I'm glad you guys posted that stuff from royalsreview.com. I love that site but wasn't sure anybody else would be as interested in it. Good to know there are at least two other nerds on the board. (And NO, I don't play fantasy baseball.)
Posts: 34,703

05-08-2009, 06:28 PM	#231
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9460002	Hey William... add this link to the opening post, if you want. here. Free MLB radio... acts like you are a Holiday Inn customer... then you sign in with your MLB login.
Posts: 36,664

05-08-2009, 06:29 PM	#232
chiefqueen On my throne Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $8152060	Why can't we create a Royals (or MLB) sub-forum than having this "monster" thread?
Posts: 4,179

05-09-2009, 08:25 AM	#236
WilliamTheIrish Champion Golfer Of The Year Join Date: Aug 2001 Casino cash: $5540607	Useless stat of the day: The Royals are 37 -20 since Sept. 1 08.
Posts: 34,703

05-09-2009, 08:25 AM	#237
WilliamTheIrish Champion Golfer Of The Year Join Date: Aug 2001 Casino cash: $5540607	Ari, that link is the shizzzz. Thanks.
Posts: 34,703

05-09-2009, 09:00 AM	#239
Dartgod Wasted away again... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: in Margaritaville Casino cash: $6860000	I just picked up two tickets for the May 23 game at Busch Stadium vs. the Cards. Any idea on how the rotation will play out and who the starter might be? Please let it be Grienke, please let it be Grienke. __________________ If you shed a tear for me, please make it a tear of joy. -Joe Tracy (Nzoner) . .
Posts: 51,239