Kansas City Royals @ Minnesota Twins Game Thread (9/26)

[alnorth]

Well, someone has to play spoiler, it may as well be us.

<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> <center>H</center> </td><td> E </td></tr>
<tr> <td>KC (74-86)</td> <td> 0 </td> <td> 0 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 2 </td><td> 1 </td><td> 1 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 8 </td><td> <center>16</center> </td><td> 0 </td></tr>
<tr> <td>MIN (87-73)</td> <td> 0 </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> 1 </td><td> <center>6</center> </td><td> 0 </td></tr>
</table>

http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/sp/v/mlb/teams/20080123/80x60/kan.gif

Win, (9-7) Kyle Davies 6IP 1R 1ER 2BB 8K
Leo Nunez 1IP 0R 0ER 0BB 1K
Jimmy Gobble 1IP 0R 0ER 0BB 2K
Yasuhiko Yabuta 1IP 0R 0ER 0BB 2K

VS.

http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/sp/v/mlb/teams/20080123/80x60/min.gif

Loss, (6-4) Francisco Liriano 4.1IP 6R 6ER 1BB 5K
Philip Humber 2IP 2R 2ER 1BB 3K
Eddie Guardado 0.2IP 0R 0ER 0BB 0K
Bobby Korecky 2IP 0R 0ER 1BB 0K

Starting Lineups

KC

1. Mike Aviles, SS/2B
2. Alberto Callaspo, 2B
2. Tony Pena Jr, SS
3. Jose Guillen, RF
3. Joey Gathright, CF
4. Ryan Shealy, 1B
5. Mark Teahen, LF
6. Billy Butler, DH
7. Alex Gordon, 3B
7. Jason Smith, 3B
8. Miguel Olivo, C
9. Mitch Maier, CF/RF

MIN

1. Denard Span, RF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Jason Kubel, DH
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Brian Buscher, 3B
7. Brendan Harris, 3B
8. Nick Punto, SS
9. Carlos Gomez, CF

[eazyb81]

Detroit won today, so we have to win to avoid falling into a tie for the 4th place.

I wonder who has the tiebreaker.

[teedubya]

I was going to create a thread just now. The OFFICIAL KEEP the TWINS out of the Playoffs Series.

[teedubya]

You know, the Royals won early in the year and late in the year... During the months that Tre Hillman had a goatee.

HRrmmmm

[alnorth]

Detroit won today, so we have to win to avoid falling into a tie for the 4th place.

I wonder who has the tiebreaker.

There are no tiebreakers in baseball, its either tie, play extra games to narrow the field, or flip coins if it matters for playoff seeding.

edit: also Detroit is missing a game. We wont tie Detroit unless they are forced to play the rainout game with the White Sox to determine the division winner.

[eazyb81]

There are no tiebreakers in baseball, its either tie, play extra games to narrow the field, or flip coins if it matters for playoff seeding.

So they flip coins for draft position when teams tie? That's odd.

[alnorth]

So they flip coins for draft position when teams tie? That's odd.

I have no clue what they do for the draft. I just know they dont use tiebreakers for the playoff field or seeding.

[eazyb81]

I love wikipedia:

Draft Order

The general draft order is the reverse order of the previous year's standings. If two teams finish with identical records, the previous year's standings of the two teams is the tiebreaker, with the team having a worse record receiving the higher pick.

[eazyb81]

I have no clue what they do for the draft. I just know they dont use tiebreakers for the playoff field or seeding.

I really want to see us beat out Detroit for sole position of 4th place, but I'd also like to see us still end up with a nice draft pick. Right now it's pretty close for the 6th-12th picks:

6. San Fran, .440 –
7. Atlanta, .447 – 1 GB
8. Detroit, .456 – 1.5 GB
9. KC, .459 – 2 GB
10. Cincy, .465 – 3 GB
11. Colo, .465 – 3 GB
12. Oakl, .475 – 4.5 GB

yes, I know I'm a dork for even thinking about that right now.

[alnorth]

Top 1st

Aviles strikes out (swinging)
Callaspo flies out to left
Guillen flies out to center

0 runs, 0 hits

Bottom 1st

Span flies out to left
Casilla flies out to center
Mauer singles to right
Morneau strikes out (swinging)

0 runs, 1 hit

[Delano]

Joe Mauer is done with his slump against the Royals.

[alnorth]

Top 2nd

Shealy flies out to right
Teahen singles to left
Butler singles to right, Teahen to second
Gordon strikes out (swinging)
Olivo hits an infield single to second, Butler to second, Teahen to third
Maier lines out to shortstop

0 runs, 3 hits

Bottom 2nd

Kubel strikes out (swinging)
Young singles to right
Buscher grounds into a 4-6-3 double play, Young out at second

0 runs, 1 hit

[alnorth]

Top 3rd

Aviles doubles to left
Callaspo singles to left, Aviles to third
Guillen singles to left, Callaspo to second, Aviles scores
Guillen to second, Callaspo to third on a Wild Pitch
Shealy singles to center, Guillen and Callaspo scores
Teahen grounds out to second, Shealy to second
Butler flies out to right
Gordon doubles to left, Shealy scores
Gordon to third on a Wild Pitch
Olivo strikes out (swinging)

4 runs, 5 hits

Bottom 3rd

Punto strikes out (looking)
Gomez strikes out (looking)
Span strikes out (swinging)

0 runs, 0 hits

[Captain Obvious]

The Royals are still playing?

[Mr. Laz]

the twinkies are choking

Royals 4-0 in the 3rd

several errors and misplays by the twinks

[Mr. Laz]

is it too much to ask to get a player that doesn't swing at pitches in the dirt ....... seriously.



:banghead:

[alnorth]

Top 4th

Maier singles to right
Aviles flies out to center
Maier picked off 1-3-6-4, out at first
Callaspo walks
Guillen strikes out (swinging)

0 runs, 1 hit

Bottom 4th

Casilla strikes out (looking)
Mauer singles to left
Morneau reaches on a 4-6 fielder's choice, Mauer out at second
Kubel grounds out to second

0 runs, 1 hit

[Frazod]

God how sweet would it be to knock these dome pussy scumbags out of the playoff race.

[Sure-Oz]

Nice job getting picked off there Maier

He shouldve made it to 2nd off that missed tag

[alnorth]

Top 5th

Brendan Harris replaces Buscher at 3B

Shealy strikes out (swinging)
Teahen doubles to right
Butler homers to center, Teahen scores

Philip Humber relieves Liriano

Gordon strikes out (looking)
Olivo strikes out (looking)

2 runs, 2 hits

Bottom 5th

Young walks
Harris walks, Young to second
Punto grounds out to second, Harris to second, Young to third
Punto to second, Harris out at home 2-1 on a Wild Pitch
Gomez strikes out (swinging)

0 runs, 0 hits

[petegz28]

So it's 6-0? I'm watching the boring ass debates.

[alnorth]

Top 6th

Maier grounds out to shortstop
Aviles homers to center
Callaspo grounds out to first 3-1
Guillen singles to left
Shealy strikes out (swinging)

1 run, 2 hits

Bottom 6th

Span triples to center
Casilla grounds out to second, Span scores
Mauer flies out to left
Morneau strikes out (looking)

1 run, 1 hit

[alnorth]

Top 7th

Teahen grounds out to second
Butler hits an infield single to shortstop
Gordon walks
Olivo singles to center, Gordon to second, Butler scores

Eddie Guardado relieves Humber

Maier grounds into a 6-4-3 double play, Olivo out at second

1 run, 2 hits

Bottom 7th

Leo Nunez relieves Davies

Aviles moves to 2B

Tony Pena Jr replaces Callaspo and comes in at SS

Kubel singles to center
Young strikes out (swinging)
Harris singles to center, Kubel to second
Punto grounds out to first, Harris to second, Kubel to third
Gomez grounds out to second

0 runs, 2 hits

[petegz28]

WTF gave up the run? Bench their ass!!!!

[alnorth]

Top 8th

Bobby Korecky relieves Guardado

Aviles grounds out to third
Pena Jr singles to center
Guillen grounds into a 6-4-3 double play, Pena Jr out at second

0 runs, 1 hit

Bottom 8th

Jimmy Gobble relieves Nunez

Maier moves to RF

Joey Gathright replaces Guillen and comes in at CF

Jason Smith replaces Gordon at 3B

Span strikes out (swinging)
Casilla pops out to third
Mauer strikes out (swinging)

0 runs, 0 hits

[Delano]

God how sweet would it be to knock these dome pussy scumbags out of the playoff race.

ROFL

Still pissed about '87?

I guess I've never heard why you hate the Twins so bad. They are the anti-Yankees.

[Simply Red]

nice

[alnorth]

Top 9th

Shealy grounds out to shortstop
Teahen walks
Butler grounds into a 6-4-3 double play, Teahen out at second

0 runs, 0 hits

Bottom 9th

Yasuhiko Yabuta relieves Gobble

Morneau pops out to third
Kubel strikes out (swinging) 2-3
Young strikes out (swinging)

0 runs, 0 hits

Royals win, 8-1

[alnorth]

Well Twins, I'm probably as shocked as you are, but for some reason the Royals arent running out the string and have come to play. If you want this division without counting on an Indians sweep over the White Sox, you have to beat us.

[teedubya]

7 consecutive road victories. LOVE it.

This is a positive rebuild. Unlike that other team we root for.

[petegz28]

7 consecutive road victories. LOVE it.

This is a positive rebuild. Unlike that other team we root for.

But, but, the Chiefs are young....oh wait so are the Royals!

[tk13]

Just need one more win for 75. Funny thing is at the beginning of the year if you gave that number, a lot of people would've considered it progress.

[DeezNutz]

I thought this team had quit on Hillman several weeks ago. Looks like I was very wrong. Glad for it, too.

[tk13]

I just hope they can carry the momentum over for once. Although part of it has to be having Shealy and Aviles in the lineup and hitting so well.

And the pitching hasn't been too bad either, we've had three guys pitching great since the All-Star break.

Meche - 7-2, 3.11 ERA, 88 K in 84 IP

Greinke - 6-5, 3.45 ERA, 79 K in 78 IP

Davies - 6-6, 3.66 ERA

[alnorth]

I am now cautiously optimistic with Davies. He has probably pitched himself into the 2009 starting rotation as probably a solid little #3 or #4. He's struggled in the majors the last few years after dominating the minors, and its only a good month, but maybe he's figured something out.

[tk13]

It's possible he could regress, but at least he's showing something. That's really what you have to do with pitchers sometimes, just keep sending them out there every 5th day and let them figure it out. It's what we must do with Hochevar, I totally think he has the stuff to be as good as any of these guys, he just has to learn how to do it.

[eazyb81]

So, what's the talk in KC about moving Soria to the rotation next year? Is that still an option or will he stay in the closer's role?

[teedubya]

I am now cautiously optimistic with Davies. He has probably pitched himself into the 2009 starting rotation as probably a solid little #3 or #4. He's struggled in the majors the last few years after dominating the minors, and its only a good month, but maybe he's figured something out.

His last four starts have been pretty solid. It is good that he has this positive momentum entering the offseason. Bannister had a couple of good starts to end the season as well.

If we get a dominant left hand starter this offseason and Furcal then I'd say that we have a good chance at being pretty good in 2010.

[irishjayhawk]

So, what's the talk in KC about moving Soria to the rotation next year? Is that still an option or will he stay in the closer's role?

I hope he stays at closer.

[DeezNutz]

I hope he stays at closer.

Yes, please.