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04-06-2003, 11:31 AM | #2 | |
oxymoron
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Re: Team philosophy…I like it.
It's been a great approach so far. I wouldn't agree so much with the comment about how they "didn't pound the ball in three of their first four games". I'm more concerned with total base runners than simple hit totals, and through 5 games, they have averaged at least one baserunner per inning each and every day: 11 in the first game (7 hits/4 BB), 9 in the second ( 6 hits/3 BB), 23 in the third (16 hits/7 BB), 13 in the fourth (8 hits/5 BB) and 16 yesterday (12 hits/4 BB).
One of the most startling numbers IMO is the ratio of walks to strikeouts. Through five, they have walked 23 times against just 17 Ks. As for making pitchers 'squirm,' they've done that and then some. They've faced three elite-level starters so far, and only one has gotten into the 7th inning, that being Sabathia yesterday, and his pitch count was over 100. Buehrle and Colon both approached 100 in just six innings. One of the most impressive things to me is that we've now beaten both Buehrle and Sabathia, pitchers who traditionally give the Royals FITS, with a capital 'F'. Team batting average, according to ESPN, is .308, the team on base percentage is .405 and the team's slugging precentage is .447. Almost unbelievable IMO. (and those numbers pale in comparison to what our pitchers have done through 5 games -- that's the most encouraging thing) Quote:
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04-06-2003, 11:40 AM | #3 | |
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04-06-2003, 12:11 PM | #4 | |
oxymoron
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04-06-2003, 03:03 PM | #5 |
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We no longer seem scared of good lefties; for some reason, they've given us fits in the past...
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04-06-2003, 08:36 PM | #6 |
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By the end of April, we'll know about our young staff. That will be 4 times through the rotation and the scouts will have their strengths/weaknesses pinpointed.
The "deep counts" strategy is something I have screamed about for years (got so tired of 6 pitch innings when the Royals were batting last year). It wears the starter out faster and gets into the pen. In a 4 game series, it sets up the other team for a bullpen meltdown.
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04-07-2003, 02:10 AM | #7 | |
oxymoron
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That's not to say they won't have some rough outtings, they definitely will, but we're not talking about guys coming up from AA or AAA that nobody on the major league level has seen yet. The only real mysteries are in the bullpen, and that's a little different. And with that, MacDougal and Bukvich both have the kind of nasty stuff that can shut down lineups if they're throwing strikes. There aren't a lot of hitters who can regularly hit upper 90s fastballs with movement, and they both have some wicked breaking stuff on top of that. MacDougal, particularly, looks like the real deal, but Bukvich isn't far behind. They could end up being a devastating setup/closer combination, given time. |
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04-07-2003, 01:50 PM | #8 |
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Absolutely.
It appears that the Royals' philosophy of the last decade of draft pitching, pitching, and more pitching is FINALLY working out. I guess it was a matter of the law of averages. The Rosado's and Pittsleys derailed it for awhile, but here we are. These guys have good stuff and throw strikes. As long as they continue to throw strikes, I don't see any reason for a big swoon. Hernandez is 2-0 with a .69 freaking ERA. Macdougal has 3 saves in 3 opps. and throws 99 MPH. That ain't smoke and mirrors. Stay healthy. Throw strikes. That's all they've done and all they have to continue to do. It should also be mentioned that Pena, being a former catcher, appears to be an excellent handler of his pitching staff. He was absolutely the RIGHT guy to hire to oversee this young staff. Kudos there. Chris |
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