Kansas City Royals @ Oakland Athletics Game Thread (8-17)

[alnorth]

<table border=3 cellpadding = 4>
<tr>
<td>Final</td> <td> 1 </td> <td> 2 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 5 </td><td> 6 </td><td> 7 </td><td> 8 </td><td> 9 </td><td> R </td><td> H </td><td> E </td></tr>
<tr> <td>KC (54-67)</td> <td> 4 </td> <td> 0 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 1 </td><td> 9 </td><td> 12 </td><td> 0 </td></tr>
<tr> <td>OAK (60-63)</td> <td> 1 </td> <td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 1 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 1 </td></tr>
</table>

Brian Bannister throws his 1st Career MLB Complete Game Victory

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/mlb/teams/1/80x60/kan.gif

Win, (9-7) Brian Bannister 9IP 2R 2ER 1BB 4K

VS.

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/mlb/teams/1/80x60/oak.gif

Loss, (0-1) Dan Meyer 4IP 6R 3ER 2BB 0K
1st Career MLB Start
Kiko Calero 2IP 0R 0ER 1BB 0K
Santiago Casilla 2IP 2R 2ER 0BB 1K
Jay Marshall 1IP 1R 1ER 1BB 1K

Starting Lineups

KC

1. Esteban German, 3B/2B
2. Joey Gathright, CF
3. Mark Grudzielanek, 2B
3. Jason Smith, 1B
4. Billy Butler, DH
5. Mark Teahen, RF
6. Emil Brown, LF
7. Alex Gordon, 1B/3B
8. John Buck, C
9. Tony Pena Jr, SS

OAK

1. Travis Buck, CF
1. Jeff DaVanon, pr/CF
2. Shannon Stewart, LF
3. Nick Swisher, 1B
4. Jack Cust, RF
5. Mike Piazza, DH
6. Mark Ellis, 2B
7. Jack Hannahan, 3B
8. Donnie Murphy, SS
9. Kurt Suzuki, C

[DeezNutz]

Alnorth, you seem to be a dedicated Royals fan. Like me, are you at all frustrated that Gordon doesn't hit higher in the order? Like the 3 hole?

I reached the high point of my anger when everyday Gload was hitting third a few games back. I say that if Gordon is mentally tough enough to pee down his leg for the first two months of the season and still be productive, he's mentally tough enough to hit higher in the order, and this would ultimately benefit the team.

[alnorth]

Alnorth, you seem to be a dedicated Royals fan. Like me, are you at all frustrated that Gordon doesn't hit higher in the order? Like the 3 hole?

I reached the high point of my anger when everyday Gload was hitting third a few games back. I say that if Gordon is mentally tough enough to pee down his leg for the first two months of the season and still be productive, he's mentally tough enough to hit higher in the order, and this would ultimately benefit the team.

I've always had a very pragmatic opinion of the batting order. Statistically, you can draw names out of a hat, and in a 162-game season you might cost yourself 1 single game than you would with the perfect batting order. Batting order is overrated.

That said, batting order isnt completely irrelevant, it matters a little bit. If I was filling out the card, I'd either put Teahen or Gordon #3, and the other guy #5. Grud is a solid #2, and the leadoff spot... I dunno if I trust Gathright's numbers yet, he's only had barely over 100 at-bats. I'd start moving Joey up to 6 for now and leave DDJ at #1. The other 3 spots, throw em in a hat and pick whoever for 7-9, I dont care.

Edit: when Gload is starting a game, I may put him at 3, 5, or 6 instead of the above player(s).

[Marlboro_Chief]

Regardless of the outcome, it's good for me. I am still an Athletics fan from their Kansas City days.

[DeezNutz]

I've always had a very pragmatic opinion of the batting order. Statistically, you can draw names out of a hat, and in a 162-game season you might cost yourself 1 single game than you would with the perfect batting order. Batting order is overrated.

That said, batting order isnt completely irrelevant, it matters a little bit. If I was filling out the card, I'd either put Teahen or Gordon #3, and the other guy #5. Grud is a solid #2, and the leadoff spot... I dunno if I trust Gathright's numbers yet, he's only had barely over 100 at-bats. I'd start moving Joey up to 6 for now and leave DDJ at #1. The other 3 spots, throw em in a hat and pick whoever for 7-9, I dont care.

Edit: when Gload is starting a game, I may put him at 3, 5, or 6 instead of the above player(s).

I'd generally agree. My major gripe is that by burying Gordon in the latter third of the order, he gets less at bats per game, and, in our production-starved offense, we need all the power/production hope that we can get.

Therefore, if you're the Yankees, the order doesn't matter much; everyone on the team can mash. For the Royals, it matters much more, and I'd argue affects more than the outcome of a single game. Less than 10 but more than one.

[Kraus]

How does Emil Brown make it higher in the line-up than Gordon?

Must be DeJesus' night off.

[alnorth]

Top 1st

German reaches second on an Error by RF
Gathright sacrifices (bunt) to first, German to third
Grudzielanek triples to right, German scores
Butler doubles to left, Grudzielanek scores
Teahen grounds out to second, Butler to third
Brown homers to center, Butler scores
Gordon fouls out to third

4 runs, 3 hits, 1 error

Bottom 1st

Buck grounds out to second
Stewart grounds out to shortstop
Swisher homers to center
Cust doubles to right
Piazza grounds out to shortstop

1 run, 2 hits

[petegz28]

WTF kind of lineup is this? IS DeJesus hurt?

[petegz28]

Gordon batting 7th, Gathright batting 2nd, Grudz batting 3rd? WTF Bell? Gordon at 1st? Where is Gload?

[alnorth]

German just earned a couple brownie points. Obvious routine fly ball, 99.99999% of the time he's dead in the water, but he doesnt take it for granted and runs it out all the way to second.

[KcMizzou]

Nice hit, Billy. PBJ

[petegz28]

Sheesh we look like a baseball team!

[Kraus]

Careful petegz28, it is only the first inning.

[Kraus]

Homerun Emil Brown!?! Didn't expect that!

[KcMizzou]

Brown with the 2 run homer! nice...

[alnorth]

No matter what else happens, only 1 run in this top half will be earned by Meyer.

[Kraus]

That sucks for Meyer as his first start in the MLB. I bet he's pissed at the RF.

[Kraus]

Ah hell....thought Bannister was off to a good start with two ground-outs, but then a HR and a double. :cuss:

[alnorth]

Top 2nd

Buck flies out to right
Pena Jr fouls out to first
German walks
Gathright grounds out to second

0 runs, 0 hits

Bottom 2nd

Ellis singles to left
Hannahan grounds into a 4-6-3 double play, Ellis out at second
Murphy fouls out to first

0 runs, 0 hits

[alnorth]

We are going to get into the A's bullpen very early tonight

[alnorth]

Top 3rd

Grudzielanek flies out to center
Butler walks
Teahen triples to center, Butler scores
Teahen scores on a Wild Pitch
Brown flies out to center
Gordon singles to center
Buck flies out to center

2 runs, 2 hits

Bottom 3rd

Suzuki walks
Buck fouls out to third
Stewart strikes out (swinging)
Swisher strikes out (looking)

0 runs, 0 hits

[Mr. Laz]

dude tried to take Pena out on that double play ...... even kicked high spikes.

Buddy Bell won't do shit


i hope our next head coach with do a little retailiation and slow this crap down... any wonder why we lead the league in getting hit by pitches.

[Kraus]

Teahen with an RBI triple!!!

[petegz28]

Royals bats are looking good so far tonight

[petegz28]

dude tried to take Pena out on that double play ...... even kicked high spikes.

Buddy Bell won't do shit


i hope our next head coach with do a little retailiation and slow this crap down... any wonder why we lead the league in getting hit by pitches.


I agree I think Bell lacks in that department among others. We have been hit by pitches more than anyone just about and we act like no big deal.

[Sam Hall]

I agree I think Bell lacks in that department among others. We have been hit by pitches more than anyone just about and we act like no big deal.

The Royals could retaliate but they won't earn any respect until they win more games.

[alnorth]

Top 4th

Pena Jr flies out to right
German flies out to center
Gathright flies out to left

0 runs, 0 hits

Bottom 4th

Cust grounds out to second
Piazza grounds out to shortstop
Ellis flies out to center

0 runs, 0 hits

[petegz28]

The Royals could retaliate but they won't earn any respect until they win more games.


A bat or two "slips" when we are at bat ad I bet we get some respect

[alnorth]

Top 5th

Kiko Calero relieves Meyer

Grudzielanek singles to right
Butler reaches on a 6-4 fielder's choice, Grudzielanek out at second
Teahen grounds into a 3-6 double play, Butler tagged out at second

0 runs, 1 hit

Bottom 5th

Hannahan grounds out to first
Murphy grounds out to first
Suzuki strikes out (swinging)

0 runs, 0 hits

[alnorth]

Top 6th

Brown pops out to first
Gordon walks
Buck grounds into a 1-4-3 double play, Gordon out at second

0 runs, 0 hits

Bottom 6th

Buck doubles to left

Jeff DaVanon runs for Buck (Injury)

Stewart grounds out to shortstop, DaVanon to third
Swisher grounds out to first 3-1, DaVanon scores
Cust strikes out (swinging)

1 run, 1 hit

[alnorth]

Top 7th

Santiago Casilla relieves Calero

DaVanon comes in at CF

Pena Jr singles to center
German grounds out to third, Pena Jr to second
Gathright hits an infield single to pitcher, Pena Jr to third
Gathright to third, Pena Jr scores on a Wild Pitch
Grudzielanek reaches on a 1-2 fielder's choice, Gathright safe at home and scores
Butler strikes out (swinging)
Teahen flies out to left

2 runs, 2 hits

Bottom 7th

Piazza grounds out to shortstop
Ellis pops out to first
Hannahan lines out to center

0 runs, 0 hits

[Kraus]

Bannister is having a great outing. I'm glad he could recover after that last game.

[Silock]

Close call there. I like Gath's speed.

[alnorth]

Holy Crap, Gathright is fast. first to third on a Wild Pitch

[Kraus]

...and he beats the throw home.

[alnorth]

Top 8th

Brown flies out to left
Gordon flies out to right
Buck singles to left
Pena Jr fouls out to second

0 runs, 1 hit

Bottom 8th

Murphy fouls out to first
Suzuki grounds out to shortstop
DaVanon grounds out to shortstop

0 runs, 0 hits

[Kraus]

The A's are making this easy on Bannister in the 8th.

[alnorth]

Top 9th

Jay Marshall relieves Casilla

German singles to center
Gathright hits an infield single to pitcher, German to second
Grudzielanek reaches on a 6-4 fielder's choice, Gathright out at second, German to third
Butler singles to center, Grudzielanek to second, German scores
Teahen grounds out to pitcher, Butler to second, Grudzielanek to third
Brown intentionally walked
Gordon strikes out (swinging)

1 run, 3 hits

Bottom 9th

Gordon moves to 3B

German moves to 2B

Jason Smith replaces Grudzielanek and comes in at 1B

Stewart flies out to right
Swisher flies out to right
Cust grounds out to second

0 runs, 0 hits

Royals win, 9-2

[alnorth]

Wow, ANOTHER infield single to the pitcher. We need to get that boy some more at-bats, Gathright's got Playstation speed.

[Kraus]

And we keep pouring it on....

[Kraus]

Intentionally walking Emil Brown?!?! AND he throws it away?!? ROFL

[Kraus]

Bannister going for the complete game.

[Kraus]

Bannister with a complete game victory!!!

[Bob Dole]

Bannister with a complete game victory!!!
Very nice!

[Sure-Oz]

Best DM trade by far...

[Eleazar]

Pretty good return for that Burgos guy.

[tk13]

Seattle just finished off Chicago. We're now tied with the White Sox for 4th place, maybe we can finally pass them tomorrow.

[alnorth]

I wouldnt mind getting out of last place for a few days. That would be kinda nice.

[Hammock Parties]

its good to see bannister panning out this season. Makes that burgos trade look like the trade of the year in the majors

[alnorth]

In other news, the Royals have claimed LHP Paul Mildren off of waivers from the Florida Marlins. He's pitched 6 years as a starter in the minors (never played in the major leagues yet). He will go to Omaha and claim the last opening on the 40-man roster.

He's from Australia and was a top prospect 2 years ago before he fell off and the Marlins gave up on him. 37-44, 4.23 ERA, 1.36 WHIP in 158 games. He's apparently a soft control pitcher who tops out at 89.

As far as DM is concerned, I assume he is just another 23-year old warm body to throw into the 5th starter competition to replace Odalis Perez. If he doesnt do well, we can stick him in the minors or waive him just as easily as Florida did and we havent really lost anything.