Royals vs. Athletics - July, 7 2013

[TLO]

OAK: Griffin, A.J. (6-6, 3.95)
KC: Mendoza, Luis (2-4, 4.41)


Let's do this.

[stonedstooge]

You excited about this game or something?

[Ceej]

Good Lord.

Hella early.

But...IM IN!

[siberian khatru]

Gotta keep winning series

[Ceej]

We got the good Wade.

It sure would be nice to get the good Dozer.

[siberian khatru]

Gio on the bench again today. That whole "play him to find out what we've got" lasted less than a week.

[AussieChiefsFan]

Get the win!

[DeezNutz]

Gio on the bench again today. That whole "play him to find out what we've got" lasted less than a week.

Yeah, someone might want to explain "sample size" to Dayton Moore and Yost. I realize that the latter sets the lineup, but the former must be able to override stupidity, and is thus ultimately responsible for this nonsense.

[Ceej]

What an ugly fucking lineup.

[petegz28]

Yost fucking with the lineup yet again. No Perez and Hos is back to the #3 spot.

[tk13]

Apparently the Rangers have activated Joakim Soria. He hasn't pitched since 2011. Going to be weird seeing him in another uniform.

[Bowser]

Gio on the bench again today. That whole "play him to find out what we've got" lasted less than a week.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m0yineEyTM1qhjht6o1_400.gif

[petegz28]

Hi, I'm Ned Yost, and if there is one thing I cherish in life it's variety. Change. Gotta love it. Change for the sake of change is the best kind when you get down to it. Something working for ya? Change it! You need the drama in your life. It keeps you young, keeps that anxiety level up, doesn't let you get too far ahead ....well in some cases it doesn't let you get ahead at all. Just look at my record as the Royals Manager! Do you know that in 82 games I have only had the same lineup maybe 5 times. Now that's change we can all get behind. I can't risk my players getting settled into a role and give the time to adjust and understand things. No Sir! That leads to things like consistency and we just can't have that. And we all know, if you can't be consistent at the top, there is no way to be consistent at the bottom.

I'm Ned Yost, your KC Royals Manager!

[cabletech94]

[QUOTE=petegz28;9796503]Hi, I'm Ned Yost, and if there is one thing I cherish in life it's variety. Change. Gotta love it. Change for the sake of change is the best kind when you get down to it. Something working for ya? Change it! You need the drama in your life. It keeps you young, keeps that anxiety level up, doesn't let you get too far ahead ....well in some cases it doesn't let you get ahead at all. Just look at my record as the Royals Manager! Do you know that in 82 games I have only had the same lineup maybe 5 times. Now that's change we can all get behind. I can't risk my players getting settled into a role and give the time to adjust and understand things. No Sir! That leads to things like consistency and we just can't have that. And we all know, if you can't be consistent at the top, there is no way to be consistent at the bottom.

I'm Ned Yost, your KC Royals Manager (for just a few more weeks).

wanted to spice it up a bit, pete.

[lewdog]

Ned continues to reign retarded.

lewdog checking in.

[petegz28]

Fuck, come on, Mendoza

[Coach]

Nice D Hos.

[CaliforniaChief]

Strikes. It's not a hard concept.

[petegz28]

nice break for us

[CaliforniaChief]

Maybe since the Milone disaster we learned some patience????

[Chiefless]

Maybe since the Milone disaster we learned some patience????

Nope.

[CaliforniaChief]

Kottaras is usually good for a couple of walks.

[Coach]

#Dominating!

[petegz28]

another fucking walk.....

[petegz28]

:facepalm:

[petegz28]

fuck

[CaliforniaChief]

God Almighty.

[CaliforniaChief]

Will Smith, anyone?

[petegz28]

This Amish fuck has just owned us all weekend.......

then again, Mendoza is walking fuckers, getting behind in counts, getting stole on and throwing meatballs

[Bowser]

Heard them say on the teevee that this is the same ump that threw Billy and Ned out a week or so ago. We're going to get a strike zone that's the size of a bullseye on a dart board today.

[siberian khatru]

We sure have been playing from behind a lot lately

[petegz28]

Heard them say on the teevee that this is the same ump that threw Billy and Ned out a week or so ago. We're going to get a strike zone that's the size of a bullseye on a dart board today.

Yeah but Mendoza has not been close

[lewdog]

Hud finally being honest. Mendoza definitely looks like shit.

[petegz28]

Hud finally being honest. Mendoza definitely looks like shit.

He's looked like shit his last few games

[ChiefsCountry]

I have a feeling we will see a lot of Bruce Chen or Will Smith today.
Posted via Mobile Device

[LoneWolf]

It's over./ Pete

[Ceej]

It's over./ Pete

With this lineup Nasty Ned trot out today it is a pretty safe prediction.

[Chiefless]

Mendoza only throwing one pitch for strikes.

[TambaBerry]

With the way Mendoza is pitching, I doubt we win.

[WakkaWakka]

JFC, pull him already!!

[CaliforniaChief]

Seriously, get him out. He has NOTHING.

[silver5liter]

Good lord....

[petegz28]

Good thing you left him in, Ned.....that 5th run may not have scored otherwise

[Nightfyre]

Whenever you're ready to conclude BP, there Ned. Take your time. No sense of urgency here.

[siberian khatru]

Pete might be right today

[Ceej]

Good game ya'll.

This game was over once our lineup was announced.

[Coach]

Mendoza should never pitch again. He's just simply not that good.

[Deberg_1990]

Duffy can't get up here soon enough.....

[LoneWolf]

It's over.

[siberian khatru]

Dozer 7 pitches in the first, 40 and counting in the 2nd

[petegz28]

It's over./ Pete

I refrained......I never said it...but at 5-0 now....probably safe to say we dropped this one

[lewdog]

I refrained......I never said it...but at 5-0 now....probably safe to say we dropped this one

Today, you're right.

[CaliforniaChief]

You've gotta have a better sense for a pitcher than that. He should have come out after the Sogard single. You don't wait until the game gets away.

[KcMizzou]

:shake:

pathetic

[Nightfyre]

Throwing Chen out there is as good as throwing in the towel anyway. 4 million dollar junkballer.

[petegz28]

Good game ya'll.

This game was over once our lineup was announced.

I tend to agree with this.....but Yost is a mad scientist....we will lost 7-6 before it's all said and done

[-King-]

Might need to pull Mendoza from the rotation for a while. He's been TERRIBLE the last two starts.

[petegz28]

Today, you're right.

Actually I have refrained from calling game for the last few...ever since we started hitting the long ball more

[siberian khatru]

Duffy can't get up here soon enough.....

He gave up 4 runs in 5 innings last start, but I don't know all the circumstances of that. He didn't walk anybody, which is good. He walked 8 in his first 10 IP, but only 3 in his last 16. And prior to his last start, he given up 0 ER in 10.2 IP.

[DeezNutz]

Mendoza's body language was shit from the second pitch of the game, so no surprise that he took a long pull on the dick sock.

Time for Duffy and Smith to have a crack at things.

[petegz28]

You've gotta have a better sense for a pitcher than that. He should have come out after the Sogard single. You don't wait until the game gets away.

Wait wait wait.....

Did you just say Ned Yost has to have a better sense of pitchers????? ROFL ROFL ROFL

[petegz28]

Mendoza's body language was shit from the second pitch of the game, so no surprise that he took a long pull on the dick sock.

Time for Duffy and Smith to have a crack at things.

The only reason he got away with the 7 pitches the 2 guys on tv keep orgasming about is because someone ripped a hard linedrive right to Hos for a DP

[petegz28]

Well, good thing is it is only the 2nd and not the 7th

[Canofbier]

Why did they take Ryan out of the booth for TV broadcasts? Steve is a boring old man with nothing to contribute.

[petegz28]

I'd love to see this team with a Ron Gardenhier and coach

[petegz28]

Why did they take Ryan out of the booth for TV broadcasts? Steve is a boring old man with nothing to contribute.

Maybe he can't take that much more of Hud?

[lewdog]

I'd love to see this team with a Ron Gardenhier and coach

Twins fans seem to not feel great about ole Gardy these days, for what it's worth.

[DTHOF]

Mendoza is definitely the weak link in the rotation. I never have high hopes for a win when he pitches. I don't understand why Chen doesn't get a spot stat from time to time. I think it would be a good change of pace for the rotation. Crafty lefty as opposed to hard throwers everyday.

[petegz28]

Yeah, Hud, that was a stellar AB.....chopper to 1st...really moidered it even

[petegz28]

Twins fans seem to not feel great about ole Gardy these days, for what it's worth.

Maybe not Gardy, as I really can't stand him, but someone of his stature. Francona, someone who actually understand AL baseball

[Coach]

1 down, 4 to go....

[TambaBerry]

Can Kottaras play RF?

[Bowser]

The A's are just one of those teams that the Royals can't seem to get over the hump with, no matter how we're doing at the time we play them. Them and the Yankees.

[Deberg_1990]

Luv me sum Kottaras

[BWillie]

I miss you Felipe Paulino

[siberian khatru]

The Greek God of Three True Outcomes

[Archie F. Swin]

When I see a show, I wanna see a Kottar Solo!

[Ceej]

Any recent updates about Felipe or Duffy?

Hell, I'd rather have Jiggy Wit it replace Mendoza.

[siberian khatru]

Any recent updates about Felipe or Duffy?

Hell, I'd rather have Jiggy Wit it replace Mendoza.

I posted Duffy info below. Paulino's still out with shoulder soreness.

[Archie F. Swin]

Bruce with a sick move to the bag

[petegz28]

good thing Escobar isn't playing...there's been 2 plays he most likely makes that Johnson can't

[petegz28]

Someone please tell Phys that Mendoza was pulled last inning and Chen is the current pitcher who just gave up a 2 run blast

[Archie F. Swin]

I don't like this Reddick guy

[petegz28]

I don't like this Reddick guy

he has shoved our shit in all weekend

[Archie F. Swin]

Heh...moneyball

[Ceej]

Good thing our guys let Reddick get out of his slump. Throw him MOAR BP!

Awesome.

[siberian khatru]

Well, fuck this game

[TambaBerry]

when detroit wins we win, when they lose we lose.

[stonedstooge]

Welp, back to The Walking Dead marathon

[Canofbier]

Gee, Royals, you're right! I do have things to get done today. Thanks for the reminder!

[siberian khatru]

Welp, back to The Walking Dead marathon

That could also describe the Royals in this game.

[petegz28]

it surprises me that they are hitting bombs on an 85mph fastball pitcher.....

[Archie F. Swin]

That could also describe the Royals in this game.

But.... we don't take walks

[Chiefspants]

Lol, Chen's pitches are registering as "Eephus" on gameday.

[GloryDayz]

Ouch... Just came in from the heat.... Ugh!

[Bowser]

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/27381/oh-no-we-suck-again-o.gif

[GloryDayz]

I'll say it again, in this heat the beards are just dumb...

[lewdog]

A little bit forward on that squat form Tejada. Liked the depth though.

[Mr. Laz]

Hos had to react quicker on those

he should of stepped on 1st himself

[Bambi]

There you go fatass

[lewdog]

Fucking hustle!!!

[Coach]

Oh, a big break.

Bases loaded, 2 outs.... Hos is up....

[Dartgod]

Gift from the ump.

[siberian khatru]

When you're giving up dongs to Eric Sogard ...

[Coach]

When you're giving up dongs to Eric Sogard ...

It ain't your day.

[Coach]

Congratulations on your first Royals game and snatching a foul ball lady. Too bad you had to see the Royals lay a nice shiny turd on the field.....

[gblowfish]

Are we done "saluting" these fuckers yet???

[Prison Bitch]

Are we done "saluting" these ****ers yet???

I've never seen such a fixation like you're having with this

[GloryDayz]

The best part of today's game were the girls in the crowd. Many are very fuckable...

[Dartgod]

I've never seen such a fixation like you're having with this

Almost as bad as your fixation of comparing Eric Hosmer to Ross Gload.

[siberian khatru]

Billy's had a terrible series

[Prison Bitch]

Billy's had a terrible season

FYP

[bsp4444]

FYP

This.

[gblowfish]

I've never seen such a fixation like you're having with this

I'm looking forward next year to "Lets all blow Mariano Rivera Weekend."

[DeezNutz]

FYP

Complete nonsense. Down year by his standards? A bit. But that's it, and much of this can be attributed to the fact that he's had jack and shit hitting behind him.

[petegz28]

I'm looking forward next year to "Lets all blow Mariano Rivera Weekend."

Shit, we got that coming the next 4 days, why wait until next year?

[DeezNutz]

And the "A's" can go fuck themselves. Salute this. /image of Haley giving the bird

[Three7s]

Complete nonsense. Down year by his standards? A bit. But that's it, and much of this can be attributed to the fact that he's had jack and shit hitting behind him.
Don't make excuses for him constantly swinging at shitty pitches.

[gblowfish]

Billy is a great DH. Many AL teams would love to have him. He's not having an all star year, but he's been decent. Didn't he just lose a streak of 30 odd games in a row getting on base? Yeah, he fat. Yeah, he's slow. But dude can rake.

[TambaBerry]

Complete nonsense. Down year by his standards? A bit. But that's it, and much of this can be attributed to the fact that he's had jack and shit hitting behind him.

Um hasn't our all star catcher been hitting behind him?

[petegz28]

Um hasn't our all star catcher been hitting behind him?

Depends on what Ned's Magic 8-ball says that day.

[DeezNutz]

Mike Sweeney was the real problem!!!

[gblowfish]

Mike Sweeney was the real problem!!!

Did you catch him on TV with Hud when we were playing in Anaheim? Brutal, man. Just brutal. Keep him away from a microphone and away from Hudler.

[Prison Bitch]

Complete nonsense. Down year by his standards? A bit. But that's it, and much of this can be attributed to the fact that he's had jack and shit hitting behind him.


Nope. He's not "a bit" off his season last year, he's WAY below it. He's a woeful 109th out of 158 qualifiers in slugging %. Last year? 20th of 143:
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2013&month=0&season1=2013&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=16%2cd


So no, he's not even close to last year's totals. As for the comment about lack of protection, Bill James has already debunked this myth. Even if it was true, it doesn't apply to BIlly as he didn't have any better protection last year anyway.

[gblowfish]

Well, in the case of Billy, yes, his power has been down. But the season isn't quite half over yet. Let's see what he does in the second half. His walks are way up too, because teams have been pitching around him.

[Ace Gunner]

i happened to drive by the stadium around 7th inning so i honked a bunch. pretty sure that did not help tho :(

[DeezNutz]

Well, in the case of Billy, yes, his power has been down. But the season isn't quite half over yet. Let's see what he does in the second half. His walks are way up too, because teams have been pitching around him.

No fucking way. The sample size that you're basing your analysis off of is way too small. He's been a shit hitter for the majority of his career.

And Sweeney was, unfortunately, atrocious in CA. Unicorns and rainbows for all!

[Prison Bitch]

His walks are way up too, because teams have been pitching around him.

Why didn't they do that last year then? Was the league stupid?

[gblowfish]

I think Billy has been more selective at the plate. And after he made the All Star team last year, the AL has pitched to him with more care. Also, since all the guys that got plugged in after him during Ned's lineup juggling -Frenchy, Salvy, Moose, Hos, whoever, they've pitched around him a lot because our number five guy had been a big question mark for most of the first half. Now that Salvy has been left usually at #5, that should help Billy see more hittable pitches. Hosmer's starting to hit in the #3 hole, and that will help too.

I just think that our offense should be better in the second half. I sure hope it will be, because I doubt our pitching will be able to be as good as the dog days wear on.

[stonedstooge]

Mike Sweeney was the real problem!!!

He prefers you call him "The Legendary Mike Sweeney". Now don't forget

[shakesthecat]

I need to quit going to games this season.

I was in Minn. last Sat to see Davis wet the bed, and was there today to see Dozer do the same.

[Brianfo]

Billy's had a terrible year.

Fixed your post. Fat, unathletic Dh, making coin.

[Deberg_1990]

Can't quite put my finger on it....
But I've never really cared for Billy. I honestly would not miss him if he was gone.
Posted via Mobile Device

[ChiTown]

Can't quite put my finger on it....
But I've never really cared for Billy. I honestly would not miss him if he was gone.
Posted via Mobile Device

What would we really be missing? This isn't a playoff caliber team with or without him.

[Brianfo]

Exactly. Voice of reason. If and when we make the playoffs, Billay will be long gone. Royals had to sign him to a contract or fans would have burned down the stadium. They were so sick and tired of seeing our players going to the Yankees or any other legitimate team. Just sucks that the player they decided to "send a message to the fans" is an unathletic DH.

Moar powr

[Deberg_1990]

Yea, I think that's what bugs me about Butler. A guy with no speed and limited athletic ability should be hitting with more power. A base cleaner, instead of a clogger. He needs to sacrifice his average some and swing for the fences more. Looks like Harmon Kilabrew, swings like Rod Carew. It doesn't add up.

[thebrad84]

I will never have respect for Billy Butler. Dude gets paid millions of dollars to play a sport and he can't even put in the extra effort to lean up and build muscle instead of fat. How freaking easy would it be for someone to do that when they have a personal trainer and nutritionist/chef at their disposal. You see actors do it all the time for certain characters they play (i.e. Christian Bale in batman, right after the dude starved himself for The Machinist).