Kansas City Royals @ Tampa Bay Rays game thread (5/2)

[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 (10-15) </td> <td> 0 </td> <td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 3 </td><td> 0 </td></tr>
<tr> <td> TB (18-7) </td> <td> 0 </td> <td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 1 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> 0 </td><td> X </td><td> 1 </td><td> 4 </td><td> 1 </td></tr>
</table>

Zack Greinke throws the 4th Complete Game Loss of his MLB career.

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

CG, (1); Loss, (0-3) Zack Greinke 8IP 1R 1ER 0BB 6K 1HR

VS.

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

Win, (3-1) Wade Davis 7IP 0R 0ER 3BB 5K
Hold, (3) Randy Choate 0.2IP 0R 0ER 0BB 0K
Hold, (3) Dan Wheeler 0.1IP 0R 0ER 0BB 1K
Save, (6) Rafael Soriano 1IP 0R 0ER 1BB 1K

Home Runs

KC

none

TB

Evan Longoria, (6) - Bottom 4th solo shot to left

AL Central

Final: LAA 1, DET 5
Final: CWS 3, NYY 12
Final: MIN 8, CLE 3

Starting Lineups

KC

1. David DeJesus, RF
2. Scott Podsednik, LF
3. Billy Butler, 1B
4. Jose Guillen, DH
4. Willie Bloomquist, pr/DH
5. Alberto Callaspo, 3B
6. Jason Kendall, C
6. Rick Ankiel, ph
7. Mitch Maier, CF
8. Yuniesky Betancourt, SS
9. Chris Getz, 2B

TB

1. Jason Bartlett, SS
2. Ben Zobrist, RF
3. Evan Longoria, 3B
4. Carlos Pena, 1B
5. Willy Aybar, DH
6. B.J. Upton, CF
7. John Jaso, C
8. Reid Brignac, 2B
8. Carl Crawford, LF
9. Sean Rodriguez, LF/2B

[alnorth]

heh... here's a funny headline to brighten your day.

Royals sold RP Roman Colon's contract to the Kia Tigers, of the Korea Baseball Organization.

message to the bullpen: improve or we'll ship your ass to Asia.

[Bowser]

heh... here's a funny headline to brighten your day.

Royals sold RP Roman Colon's contract to the Kia Tigers, of the Korea Baseball Organization.

message to the bullpen: improve or we'll ship your ass to Asia.

Heh. I guess Hillman knows the shitty teams to invoke over there if the need arises, eh?

[Bowser]

Does Zach continue the excellent pitching (minus Hocheaver's crapping of the shorts) against one of the hottest teams in MLB? He's looked pretty good his last couple of outings.....

[BigChiefFan]

Rupe, ya know?

[DeezNutz]

improve or we'll ship your ass to Asia.

Can we sweeten the deal with an over-hyped GM?

On another note, time to get Greinke a win and take our first series.

[Bowser]

Can we sweeten the deal with an over-hyped GM?

On another note, time to get Greinke a win and take our first series.Crazy, huh? But hey, at least we haven't been swept so far! [/annoying cup-is-half-full-guy]

[alnorth]

Its hard to remember, but we did take the April 12-14 series @ Detroit

[BigChiefFan]

10-14 isn't bad. I know we are 5 games out of first place, but taking this series against the team with the best record, could help build some confidence. I think the team could get a hot streak going.

[KCUnited]

Can't see TB dropping 3 straight.

[BigChiefFan]

Can't see TB dropping 3 straight.Greinke is pitching, so I like our odds, especially if he keep his pitch count down.

[Bowser]

Can't see TB dropping 3 straight.

Logic would say to agree with you, but hopefully Grienke can bring his A game today. He'll need it against a group of hitters like that who are likely pissed at being stymied at the plate by a team like the Royals.

[alnorth]

Top 1st

DeJesus flies out to left
Podsednik strikes out (looking)
Butler flies out to right

0 runs, 0 hits

Bottom 1st

Bartlett flies out to center
Zobrist flies out to left
Longoria singles to center
Pena flies out to right

0 runs, 1 hit

[KCUnited]

Ol boy got a nasty curve

[BigChiefFan]

That's what I'm talking about. 4 pitches, two outs.

[alnorth]

Top 2nd

Guillen singles to center
Callaspo walks, Guillen to second
Kendall bunt pops out to pitcher
Maier strikes out (swinging)
Betancourt grounds into a 6-4 fielder's choice, Callaspo out at second

0 runs, 1 hit

Bottom 2nd

Aybar grounds out to second
Upton flies out to center
Jaso flies out to right

0 runs, 0 hits

[KCUnited]

Nice at bat by Bert.

[AndChiefs]

I don't like bunting in the second inning.

[DeezNutz]

Love the philosophy of bunting in the 2nd inning. Love it.

[SPchief]

sweet, give them a free out

[Bowser]

LMAO

[Jenson71]

You have got to capitalize on that start. Goddamit.

[alnorth]

sweet, 9 pitch inning, 19 through 2.

I guess the Rays would rather play with Greinke than get into our bullpen today.

[alnorth]

Top 3rd

Getz flies out to left
DeJesus doubles to left
Podsednik fouls out to left
Butler strikes out (swinging)

0 runs, 1 hit

Bottom 3rd

Brignac grounds out to first 3-1
Rodriguez flies out to center
Bartlett flies out to center

0 runs, 0 hits

[Bowser]

sweet, 9 pitch inning, 19 through 2.

I guess the Rays would rather play with Greinke than get into our bullpen today.

You think the Rays would be so nice as to give Zach a 92 pitch complete game effort?

[petegz28]

Love the philosophy of bunting in the 2nd inning. Love it.

I could understand it better if it was Getz or Podz. But with Kendall??? WTF?

More barnyard logic.

[Bowser]

Getz, you had best not make an error the entire season, because that's all we're getting from you. Defense.

[Demonpenz]

bunt him over to 3rd with 2 outs hillman

[Demonpenz]

Getz, you had best not make an error the entire season, because that's all we're getting from you. Defense.

if he does get an error I hope it's because he gets to a ball that crappso doesn't get too

[petegz28]

Terrible AB for Billay. Just awful even.

Once again, Zack is pitching well and we can't move baserunners.

[alnorth]

Top 4th

Guillen strikes out (swinging)
Callaspo strikes out (looking)
Kendall flies out to right

0 runs, 0 hits

Bottom 4th

Zobrist grounds out to first
Longoria homers to left
Pena strikes out (swinging)
Aybar grounds out to first

1 run, 1 hit

[alnorth]

another 9-pitch inning, 28 through 3.

At this point, the Rays may have to hit Zack out of the game, he's on pace to either hand the ball to Soria or go the distance. Well, assuming the Royals can score anything.

[SPchief]

That curve is sick

[alnorth]

at least we are making this dude throw a decent number of pitches. We'll have 1 or 2 innings to take a shot at their middle relief.

[AndChiefs]

I just wish we could give Zack a no-doubter for once.

[Priest31kc]

I freaking hate Longoria.

[AndChiefs]

Maybe this will wake up our offense? Please?

[alnorth]

Top 5th

Maier walks
Betancourt flies out to right
Getz reaches on a 5-4 fielder's choice, Maier out at second, Getz to second on an Error by 2B
DeJesus walks
Podsednik fouls out to third

0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error

Bottom 5th

Upton grounds out to shortstop
Jaso grounds out to second
Brignac hit by pitch
Rodriguez singles to left, Brignac to second
Bartlett pops out to second

0 runs, 1 hit

[alnorth]

I think we're about due for a CG 1-run loss out of Greinke. We have a couple of those last year, didn't we?

[SPchief]

I think we're about due for a CG 1-run loss out of Greinke. We have a couple of those last year, didn't we?

yep, and they hurt more because Zack LOWERS his ERA and still loses

[kstater]

Why the hell are the Rays wearing Powder blues?

[SPchief]

Why the hell are the Rays wearing Powder blues?

They thought ours looked spiffy? :shrug:

[kstater]

Way to capitalize there. Grienke's on the mound, no reason to score or anything.

[AndChiefs]

So after both walks....we swing at the first pitch. Way to go guys.

[KCUnited]

Big boy has Pods number.

[alnorth]

Greinke just needs to keep it together. Davis is falling apart, then we get the bullpen. We have 3 good innings to go before the closer.

[SPchief]

ouch

[Demonpenz]

wade boggs is the trivia question

[BigChiefFan]

He was yucking it up in the dugout earlier after the Longoria HR. Karma's a bitch.

[Demonpenz]

that dude is staying in but he needs to put an ice pack on his face between pitches that would just be smart

[SPchief]

bean him again Zack

[alnorth]

If a pitch hits you in the foot and the head, maybe you should be given second base.

[KCUnited]

Dejesus thinks that guys a pussy for the way he went down.

[alnorth]

Top 6th

Butler grounds out to shortstop
Guillen grounds out to shortstop
Callaspo flies out to right

0 runs, 0 hits

Bottom 6th

Zobrist strikes out (looking)
Longoria pops out to second
Pena strikes out (looking)

0 runs, 0 hits

[SPchief]

Anybody else have that feeling that we're gonna lose

[AndChiefs]

Anybody else have that feeling that we're gonna lose

I always have that feeling when Greinke pitches. Our offense seems to never show up when he pitches.

Sad, huh?

[Bowser]

Anybody else have that feeling that we're gonna lose

Every game.....

[petegz28]

Now score some fucking runs, damn it!

[AndChiefs]

65 pitches through six and on the way to another loss.

[ArrowheadHawk]

I always have that feeling when Greinke pitches. Our offense seems to never show up when he pitches.

Sad, huh?

Yeah what the hell is up with that. Its like they don't play as hard because with Greinke pitching they know that they don't have to.

[alnorth]

Top 7th

Kendall doubles to right
Maier flies out to left
Betancourt flies out to left
Getz grounds out to pitcher

0 runs, 1 hit

Bottom 7th

Aybar strikes out (swinging)
Upton strikes out (swinging)
Jaso flies out to left

0 runs, 0 hits

[KCUnited]

Anybody else have that feeling that we're gonna lose

The second they said it was the first time KC had faced this guy.

[AndChiefs]

Way to go Kendall.

[BillSelfsTrophycase]

Nice at bat Mitch :doh!:

[SPchief]

And Maier promptly pops it up on the first pitch

[Bowser]

Yes, leadoff double, then go ahead and swing at the first turd pitch you see, Mitch. Fuck.

[DeezNutz]

Dear Trey:

That's the time when a bunt might be the play.

Love,
Common sense

[beer bacon]

This team sucks so fucking hard.

[petegz28]

no bunt on the 7th? but we will in the 2nd?

[Bowser]

Unbelievable.

[kstater]

Runner on 2nd with 0 outs and 2 pop flies. Most excellent fellas.

[alnorth]

damn it Getz, stay in there and take that pitch for the team. When your batting .184, you don't get to dodge.

[beer bacon]

Greinke should just get a baseball bat and go into our dugout swinging.

[Bowser]

Zach ought to take a bat to the head of every one of these dipshits in the lineup today.

[Blankey]

Absolutely pathetic

[kstater]

LMAO A fucking Little League-er could have fielded that.

[BillSelfsTrophycase]

:facepalm:

Leadoff double and don't advance him at all

[Bowser]

Greinke should just get a baseball bat and go into our dugout swinging.Heh, great minds.....

[AndChiefs]

Just need to take Greinke out...maybe the offense will realize that runs are necessary in a game.

[DeezNutz]

no bunt on the 7th? but we will in the 2nd?

The only reasonable explanation would be if Kendall was bunting on his own, which might be true because it was more of a drag than a sacrifice. Still...Barnyard, wake the fuck up.

[BillSelfsTrophycase]

Zack needs to buy a round of antifreeze for the whole lineup

[SPchief]

Just rub some dirt in it you wuss

[DeezNutz]

Wicked slider.

[kstater]

It's so sad to watch this.

[DeezNutz]

Greinke cruising toward the complete game 1-0 loss.

[alnorth]

Zack firing up the strikeout machine in a futile effort.

[SPchief]

All im asking for is a couple of runs

[AndChiefs]

Just need to get 1 run....Zack has the pitch count to pitch 11.

[kstater]

Realistically, on a great team, Zach could be a 25 game winner no?

[DeezNutz]

Realistically, on a great team, Zach could be a 25 game winner no?

They talked about this on the broadcast not too long ago. I believe if Sabathia were on the Royals ('09), he projected to about 14 wins. If Greinke were on the Yankees, he projected to about 25-27 wins.

[beer bacon]

Now Trey decides it is time to bunt.

[alnorth]

This is it, Choate sucks and he's inexplicably in for the Rays.

[alnorth]

Top 8th

Randy Choate relieves Davis

DeJesus flies out to left
Podsednik grounds out to pitcher

Dan Wheeler relieves Choate

Butler strikes out (swinging)

0 runs, 0 hits

Bottom 8th

Brignac flies out to center
Rodriguez singles to right
Bartlett reaches on a 5-4 fielder's choice, Rodriguez out at second
Zobrist strikes out (looking)

0 runs, 1 hit

[beer bacon]

Zach Greinke first MLB pitcher to go 0-18 with a sub 2.00 ERA.

[DeezNutz]

This is it, Choate sucks and he's inexplicably in for the Rays.

You realize he's pitching against KC, right?

[BillSelfsTrophycase]

Realistically, on a great team, Zach could be a 25 game winner no?

Shit, on a mediocre team he probably could

Dude has a sub 2.50 ERA and has no wins...Pathetic

[kstater]

This is it, Choate sucks and he's inexplicably in for the Rays.

Mowing down the mighty Royals lineup.

[beer bacon]

This is painful to watch. We aren't even close.

[AndChiefs]

I wonder if they need to dry off the batter's box after every half-inning from the piss running off our batter's legs.

[Priest31kc]

Wow, a CG loss for Greinke coming. Unbelievable.

[beer bacon]

The evolution of Royals hitting: weak popup outs to weak grounders back to the pitcher to can't even make contact. Attaboys!

[KCUnited]

You could start Choate against KC and he'd go 8 scoreless on our ass.

[kstater]

That's it, pull him Trey.

[Kraus]

:facepalm:

Greinke deserves better....

[kstater]

Horseshit.

[petegz28]

He was out....should have been a DP

[SPchief]

Zack should be irate at this point

[Demonpenz]

The only reasonable explanation would be if Kendall was bunting on his own, which might be true because it was more of a drag than a sacrifice. Still...Barnyard, wake the **** up.

Kendall bunts on his own ALOT.

[AndChiefs]

At least it's Guillen and Callaspo first and not Getz and Yuni.

[Bowser]

Guillen, Kendall, and Callaspo? Now, we are fucked.

[alnorth]

Top 9th

Carl Crawford replaces Brignac and comes in at LF

Rodriguez moves to 2B

Rafael Soriano relieves Wheeler

Guillen walks

Willie Bloomquist runs for Guillen

Callaspo grounds into a 6-3 double play, Bloomquist out at second

Rick Ankiel bats for Kendall

Ankiel strikes out (swinging)

0 runs, 0 hits

Rays win, 1-0

[beer bacon]

At least it's Guillen and Callaspo first and not Getz and Yuni.

SO, popup, and flyout.

[kstater]

I'm glad Guillen is getting all that money to rest his bat on his shoulder.

[Bowser]

Wait, this Soriano pitched for the Braves? Why didn't Moore sign him??!!223

[Demonpenz]

nice job guillen

[Priest31kc]

Cmon Callaspo, 2-run shot here!!

[kstater]

He tried to swing at that ball that was halfway to China.

[BillSelfsTrophycase]

Okay leadoff walk, let's see what creative way we can figure out to strand him

[kstater]

S/O and throwout coming

[Priest31kc]

Gordon or Ankiel needs to pinch hit for Kendall, if not, Hillman needs to be fired.

[BillSelfsTrophycase]

JFC

:facepalm::facepalm:

[kstater]

ROFL

[SPchief]

sweet

[Bowser]

LMAO

[beer bacon]

Burn the stadium down, and let's start over. FDAKLSKFJ:KSDJF

[Priest31kc]

Shocking

[Kraus]

This team is full of FAIL.

[Bowser]

NEEDS MORE COWBELL!!

[Priest31kc]

Fuck, If I was Greinke, I would seriously request a trade. Fucking pathetic.

[petegz28]

Just a pathetic display of baseball. Fucking pathetic. Zack should go postal on everyone

[Bowser]

This fucking team. Can't wait to hear Hillman talk about how Zach did a good job saving the bullpen.

[BillSelfsTrophycase]

Complete game loss for Zack, dude needs to take a bat and start smashing up the clubhouse

[Bowser]

I hate, hate, HATE the Yankees or Red Sox, but Zach needs to be traded to one of them (or some other contender). It is a damned shame to see him flounder and waste his potential on a team like this.

[beer bacon]

I hate, hate, HATE the Yankees or Red Sox, but Zach needs to be traded to one of them (or some other contender). It is a damned shame to see him flounder and waste his potential on a team like this.

There are plenty of good teams that aren't the Redsox and Yankees. Greinke could have a sub 2.00 ERA and hit .300 in the NL.

[petegz28]

I still go back to not bunting in the 7th with 2 on and no outs.

[Bowser]

There are plenty of good teams that aren't the Redsox and Yankees. Greinke could have a sub 2.00 ERA and hit .300 in the NL.Agreed. Just bail him out of prison already.

[alnorth]

I just looked up baseball reference, this CG Loss is #4 for Zack Greinke

[Bowser]

I just looked up baseball reference, this CG Loss is #4 for Zack GreinkeWhat's the record?

[alnorth]

What's the record?

I'm guessing Cy Young. He had 749 CG, which was over 100 more than the #2 guy. No idea how many of those were losses.

Thats one of those records that you have to split up between "historical" and "modern era", Complete Games happened all the time in the ancient days.

[Bowser]

I'm guessing Cy Young. He had 749 CG, which was over 100 more than the #2 guy. No idea how many of those were losses.

Thats one of those records that you have to split up between "historical" and "modern era", Complete Games happened all the time in the ancient days.

Eh, true. I'll go way out on a limb and say Zach has a good shot at the modern day record if he hangs around with the Royals his entire career.

[Mr. Arrowhead]

Hillman should be fired on the spot, in a 1 run game and a runner on 1st with no outs, its just common sense to bunt him over.

[DeezNutz]

Being a Royals fan today means having selective vision. I'm not in the least bit upset about today's loss. In fact, I feel pretty good b/c I had the opportunity to see a masterful pitching performance.

Sadly, if you expect more than isolated occurrences of competence, you're setting yourself up for guaranteed disappointment.

I'll invest more fully when Dayton Moore is fired. Until then, there's little point.

[alnorth]

Hillman should be fired on the spot, in a 1 run game and a runner on 1st with no outs, its just common sense to bunt him over.

Depends on the situation. If its early, no. If DeJesus is batting, no, not even in the 9th.

Late in the game with Mitch Maier up? Sure.

[BillSelfsTrophycase]

Hillman should be fired on the spot, in a 1 run game and a runner on 1st with no outs, its just common sense to bunt him over.

Nonsense, we only bunt in the first or second inning /Hillman

[Reaper16]

I'm not going to demand that Trey be fired for not bunting. I'd rather never see a bunt, ever. They're not worth it, statistically.

[DeezNutz]

I'm not going to demand that Trey be fired for not bunting. I'd rather never see a bunt, ever. They're not worth it, statistically.

I'm almost always in agreement that an AL team should play for the big inning.

With a slightly more talented Gathright at the plate, however, you owe it to Greinke to move the runners and attempt to tie the game without a base hit.

[alnorth]

I'm not going to demand that Trey be fired for not bunting. I'd rather never see a bunt, ever. They're not worth it, statistically.

pretty much. I will *never* under any circumstances whatsoever be mad about a decision not to bunt. (unless its something silly like pitcher batting, guy with a 0.180 average and no plate discipline, etc) I might disagree somewhat in rare situations like tonight, but I'll get over it if you swing away.

The reverse is not true, deciding to bunt with a good hitter will usually make me mad if it doesnt work out.

[KCrockaholic]

Once again.... I feel so bad for Greinke. Just quit and play golf, man.

[KC_Connection]

Eh, true. I'll go way out on a limb and say Zach has a good shot at the modern day record if he hangs around with the Royals his entire career.

Of Halladay's 52 CGs, 10 are losses.

[AndChiefs]

Of Halladay's 52 CGs, 10 are losses.

What about CG's giving up 1 run? :)

[teedubya]

fuck.

[kstater]

So, uh, this was written a few days ago. Time for a new entry.

http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2010/04/28/the-agony-of-being-greinke/
The Agony of Being Greinke (http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2010/04/28/the-agony-of-being-greinke/)

Posted: April 28th, 2010 | Filed under: Baseball (http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/category/baseball/) | 81 Comments » (http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2010/04/28/the-agony-of-being-greinke/#comments)
On August 16, 2008, the Kansas City Royals were out of things, of course … it being August. But that day they went to Yankee Stadium. And that day a 24-year-old pitcher named Zack Greinke pitched 6 2/3 innings against a lineup that had three certain Hall of Famers (Jeter, A-Rod, Pudge v 2.0) and three more who, at the very least, will get some votes (Damon, Abreu, Giambi) and one who might win a batting title this year (Robinson Cano). Greinke did not give up an earned run.

He did give up two unearned runs, thanks to a satisfying double-error by Royals third baseman Alex Gordon — error on the scoop, then error on the throw to allow the advance — and then Greinke was knocked out of the game after another error, this one by the shortstop and defensive replacement Tony Pena Jr.
Anyway … something clicked for Greinke that day in New York. Well, I don’t know if things in life really “click” or if people slowly blossom and mature and the clicking is just for the observers. Whatever, since that day — August 16, 2008 — Zack has been a great pitcher. Truly great. He finished off the season allowing just nine earned runs in his final 44 innings — a 1.84 ERA, if you’re curious — and he had a 41-9 strikeout-to-walk, and the league hit just .214 against him, and if you watched him pitch in those final weeks, really watched him, you could not help but notice that Zack had become something really special. It wasn’t any great bit of genius that inspired me to pick Greinke to win the Cy Young Award before the season started last year.* If you were watching, you could not miss it.
*It took no great genius to pick Ubaldo Jiminez to win the Cy Young Award this year either — if you watched him pitch last year, you could not miss it. But it’s still gratifying to see my Cy pick at 5-0 with an 0.79 ERA, a no-hitter, and 0.0 home runs allowed so far.
Greinke lived up to everything in 2009, as you know. His 2.16 ERA not only led all of baseball, it was the best mark by an American League pitcher since Pedro Martinez in 2000. We don’t need to go over again Greinke’s many achievements in 2009 — lowest WHIP, fewest home runs allowed per nine, 4.75-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio — you already know how good a year had.
Move into 2010, and it hasn’t been quite as smooth for Zack. Nobody really thought it would be. He got smacked around a little bit against Boston. He was uncharacteristically wild against Minnesota. Still, he has allowed 1, 4, 2, 2, 0 earned runs in his five starts, so it’s not like he fell apart either. He has a 2.56 ERA through his first five starts, a more-than-respectable 27-7 strikeout to walk, and just about the same WHIP that he had last year.
So what’s the point? Well, here’s the point: Since August 16, 2008, Zack Greinke has made 46 starts and he has a 2.11 ERA.
The Royals record in those 46 starts? You betcha: 22-24.
A losing record with the dominant Zack Greinke pitching? The Royals have pulled off a lot of crazy stunts in the last 10 or 15 years. But this just might top them all. How do you have a losing record when the starting pitcher is allowing 2 earned runs every 9 innings?
Well, it hasn’t been easy, that’s for sure. Here is a quick recap of those 24 losses.
August 16, 2008: Greinke left the game with the score 2-2 in 7th. Yankees won in 13th inning.
August 21, 2008: Greinke pitched five innings against Cleveland and only gave up one earned run. Unfortunately Tony Pena dropped a pop-up, Billy Butler threw the ball away, the Indians scored four unearned runs and were leading 5-3 when Greinke came out. The bullpen turned that into a 10-3 loss.
August 26, 2008: Greinke gave up no earned runs to Texas in six innings. But an error by Mike Aviles led to one unearned run. The score was tied 1-1 when Greinke left — the Rangers scored the game-winner in the eighth.
Sept. 7, 2008: Greinke was not at his best — a classic 6-inning, 3-run quality start — and against Cliff Lee that was not nearly good enough. Indians won 3-1.
May 9, 2009: Greinke, with a 6-0 record, allowed one run in a complete game against the Angels. Unfortunately, that was an eight-inning complete game because Joe Saunders threw the only complete game of his career (at least so far).
May 21, 2009: Greinke allowed two runs in six innings and the Royals were actually leading Cleveland 3-2. Then, as a joke, the Royals thought they might use Horacio Ramirez as a reliever. No, wait, they weren’t joking. Cleveland won 8-3.
May 31, 2009: Sloppy start for Greinke — 3 earned runs in 7 innings against Chicago. Yes, others might win when they pitch like that … but that’s for others others. It was 4-4 going into ninth when the deadly combination of John Bale and Juan Cruz finished off the Royals chances. White Sox won 7-4.
June 5, 2009: One of Greinke’s worst starts of the year — 5 earned runs in five innings. Royals defense chipped in with three errors. Blue Jays blew out Royals 9-3.
June 11, 2009: Again, a bland, good start for Greinke — 7 1/3 innings, 3 runs. The Royals were ahead 3-1 when he left, though he did leave two men on. Then the Royals botched a double play grounder, Joakim Soria could not get Jhonny Peralta out (for shame) and the Cleveland won it 4-3 in the 10th inning*.
*Pretty typical Royals finish — Kyle Farnsworth enters, Mark DeRosa singles, Victor Martinez singles, Shin-Soo Choo singles, ball hits seagull, Royals lose, cue Three Stooges music.
June 17, 2009: Greinke wasn’t sharp against Arizona and he allowed four earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. Toss in three more Royals errors, an outstanding 0-inning, three-hit, three-run performance by reliever Roman Colon, and, voila, Royals lost 12-5.
July 3, 2009: The beginning of six consecutive Royals losses when Greinke pitched. Admittedly, he was not especially great in these six games, as exhibited by his worse-than-normal 3.65 ERA, but you know, you can make seven digit salaries in this game with a 3.65 ERA. Six innings, two earned runs in this game. There were two more unearned runs thanks to an Alberto Callaspo error, but it didn’t matter. Royals got shut out by White Sox and lost 5-0.
July 8, 2009: Six innings, three runs against Detroit — not nearly good enough as someone named Luke French and and three relievers held the Royals to one run.
July 18, 2009: How about 7 innings one run against Tampa Bay? Is that good enough, Sam I Am? No. Rays score three in the eighth off the Lethargic Duo of Bale and Cruz. Royals lost 4-2.
July 24, 2009: What about holding Texas to one run in 7 innings? Shouldn’t that be enough? No. Scott Feldman and C.J. Wilson combine on the shutout. Royals lost 2-0.
July 29, 2009: OK, so now he gives up two runs in six innings against Baltimore. BALTIMORE. There’s no way … oh wait, there’s a way. Twenty-one year old Chris Tillman made the start, Matt Albers and Jim Johnson finished the job, Bale and Cruz did what they do best, and Royals lost 7-3.
August 3, 2009: Well, this one’s on Greinke — five innings, six runs against Tampa and, heck, the Royals only made one error. Royals get stomped 10-4.
August 14, 2009: After Greinke finally breaks the losing streak, he goes out and throws seven shutout innings against Detroit. Unfortunately for the Royals, they happened to pick the wrong night to face Jarrod Washburn, who threw eight shutout innings. The right night to face Washburn would have been pretty much any day as the league hit .323 against him the rest of the year.
August 19, 2009: Four runs in seven innings? That’s a no-chancer. White Sox beat Royals 4-2.
Sept. 5, 2009: Eight innings, zero earned runs against the Angels. How did the Royals mess up this one? A Willie Bloomquist error led to the unearned run that sent the game into extra innings. Once there, Yasuhiko Yabuta, the Royals big-time recruit from Japan, ably gave up the game-winner in the 11th.
Oct. 3, 2009: Greinke got beat fair and square on the last Saturday of the season. Scoreless game in the sixth, Greinke and the Royals decided to pitch to Joe Mauer with a runner on third and two outs in the sixth inning. The Tigers, watching from afar, did not like the decision, but I did, it was gutsy, and it gave the fans a thrill. Mauer singled in the run. A slightly rattled Greinke gave up three more runs. Twins eventually won 5-4.
April 5, 2010: Greinke picked up right where he left off … six innings, one earned run on Opening Day. A Willie Bloomquist error allowed an unearned run, but the Royals still led 4-2 when Greinke left. The bullpen collapsed. Royals lost 8-4.
April 10, 2010: Greinke was not sharp but kind of held it together and gave up four runs in 6 2/3 innings against Boston. The bullpen collapsed. Royals lost 8-3.
April 16, 2010: Again, Greinke not sharp — walks five guys. Only gives up two earned runs in five innings. Two more unearned come thanks to an error by, yes, Willie Bloomquist. The bullpen collapsed. Twins won 10-3.
April 27, 2010: Greinke threw seven shutout innings, and Royals led 2-0 when he left the game. No way the Royals could mess up this one. And … the bullpen collapsed. A double play grounder was deflected into right field by reliever Robinson Tejeda. Royals lost to Seattle 3-2. Zack Greinke remains winless for 2010 season.
And that is how a team manages a losing record with a 2.11 ERA.

[KC_Connection]

What about CG's giving up 1 run? :)

Just one like that against Boston a few years ago.

But I remember this game well: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR200608260.shtml

[BigMeatballDave]

Being a Royals fan is like Masturbating with a cheese grater...

[Sure-Oz]

Being a Royals fan today means having selective vision. I'm not in the least bit upset about today's loss. In fact, I feel pretty good b/c I had the opportunity to see a masterful pitching performance.

Sadly, if you expect more than isolated occurrences of competence, you're setting yourself up for guaranteed disappointment.

I'll invest more fully when Dayton Moore is fired. Until then, there's little point.
I am pissed for Zack, the guy battles and is just a master at his craft. He needs to go to a real team and win, this gm and owner are going to waste his years.

[Sure-Oz]

Royals ship disappointing Gordon to Triple-A


Gordon
Royals optioned 3B Alex Gordon to Triple-A Omaha.
The writing was on the wall since Chris Getz was activated from the disabled list and Kansas City shifted Alberto Callaspo to third base, a move that relegated Gordon to the bench. At least give credit to the Royals for having the guts to send down Gordon to find his swing in Triple-A instead of stubbornly keeping him on the bench to atrophy. The second overall in the 2005 amateur draft has been a huge disappointment, batting .194 with one home run and one RBI in 38 plate appearances. He's a .249/.331/.413 career hitter over four seasons. May. 2 - 5:45 pm et

[Sure-Oz]

Snippet from Aaron Gleemans column on rotoworld.com

Aaron Gleeman
Baseball Daily Dose
May 3, 2010
Royals Make Greinke A Loser
There is already an open DataReader associated with this Connection which must be closed first.

Royals baseball was in full effect Sunday, with the lineup providing zero runs of support for Zack Greinke in a 1-0 loss to Wade Davis and the front office sending Alex Gordon back to Triple-A. Greinke held the Rays' league-leading offense to one run in an 87-pitch complete game, lowering his ERA to 2.27, yet dropped to 0-3 because ... well, the Royals stink. In his last 85 starts, Greinke has a 2.87 ERA in 540 innings. And he's just 32-27.

With a supporting cast that consistently dreadful you'd think the Royals could afford to give a 26-year-old former top prospect like Gordon plenty of playing time or at the very least keep him on the roster as a part-time player, but apparently not. Oddly rushed back from a broken thumb just two weeks ago, Gordon struggled in nine starts and is now back in Omaha despite 1,398 career plate appearances as a big leaguer.

While the Royals turn one of the game's elite starters into barely more than a .500 pitcher and jerk Gordon around, here are some other notes from around baseball ...

[Sure-Oz]

Personally I don't care for Gordon being sent down and Aviles sent up...

Both need at bats period. Gordon has nothing to prove in the minors IMO, he has that pitching figured out, but not here.

[BWillie]

Personally I don't care for Gordon being sent down and Aviles sent up...

Both need at bats period. Gordon has nothing to prove in the minors IMO, he has that pitching figured out, but not here.

I agree. If anything, this is going to lower Gordon's confidence. One thing about Gordon, he's the only guy on this team who knows how to walk other than Podsednik. Problem is he strikes out way to much. Yeah, he's batting .194 in 31 ABs. It's 31 ABs. If he's doing it after 200 of them, go get some facts, and come and see me. Even w/ such a bad batting average, he's 6th on the team in OBP and

[DeezNutz]

Royals ship disappointing Gordon to Triple-A


Gordon
Royals optioned 3B Alex Gordon to Triple-A Omaha.
The writing was on the wall since Chris Getz was activated from the disabled list and Kansas City shifted Alberto Callaspo to third base, a move that relegated Gordon to the bench. At least give credit to the Royals for having the guts to send down Gordon to find his swing in Triple-A instead of stubbornly keeping him on the bench to atrophy. The second overall in the 2005 amateur draft has been a huge disappointment, batting .194 with one home run and one RBI in 38 plate appearances. He's a .249/.331/.413 career hitter over four seasons. May. 2 - 5:45 pm et

From Rany's latest update on 4/29:

- Greg Schaum is reporting that the Royals are putting John Parrish on the DL and calling up Victor Marte. Let me be the first to say: Marte is not the answer. If he goes back down in a couple of days when Chris Getz returns, this is no big deal. But if the Royals send down Alex Gordon instead…well, they are the Royals. They have a reputation to live up to.

[Sure-Oz]

I also think grooming Gordon for 1b is stupid as well. We have Hosmer coming up sometime and well Kila deserves to be on the team. The man's OBP is over .400, i really don't understand why the royals keep ignoring him. It's crap...

Gordon's defense has been crap so far but he needs to just play, i really wonder if they are just sick of waiting for him and will try to trade him.