It's a long list

It matters, but there's nothing that could have been done about that. No matter the value that Shields had inside the clubhouse, the Royals giving him a contract like the Padres did just wouldn't have been a good move and would have been an overpay the Royals can't afford. Hopefully we get another veteran presence on the starting staff sooner rather than later.

WTF were you doing there?

Hosmer is going to kick his ass

Just... lol

That's the right play from Ventura, you don't know if Hos recovers from that and gets back in position. Just unlucky.

Guthrie's a clubhouse leader, but it's just not the same.

It's the same thing with Gordon. And it's not exclusive to baseball. If you work in a place and there's someone really good at their job who always sets a good example and works hard everyday, it rubs off on the other employees. They don't want to let the team down and/or be shown up.

momentum kicks in if we can get out of this

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Holy shit. Get his ass out this half inning regardless.

Strikeout, groundout, strikeout. Doesn't seem like he's checked out of this one yet.

The Yin and Yang of Yordano

It's official. Ventura caught whatever Duffy had/has.

He's showing the mental toughness we're asking for. Bizarre and ugly at times, but he is only going to get better if he goes through this.

This is just ridiculous. He's 24 years old. It's not like the Royals spent a first overall draft pick on the guy. For him to be this far is amazing.

Yeah he's not throwing as hard, but his stuff is more than good enough to get major league hitters out. You saw it in that inning, when he threw it effectively. Mid 90's with a changeup and curveball, you don't have any excuses.

Meh. I don't buy it. I never bought into the James Shields leadership crap. If that's the case, what's going on in San Diego? What's up with Cashner? Etc...

I agree. Talk about an over-rated player.

I liked Shields... but WTF.

Anyone else hear how loud the crowd cheered after Ventura's strikeout to end the inning? The stands are packed with blue.

Are the Royals playing a home game on the road?

Baseball is funny. If Hos isn't 6'4", that groundout is suddenly a 2 run single

There is nothing Shields said or coached to Ventura that Eiland can't. I don't buy the Shields bullshit.

Hos has a great opposite field swing. No idea why he lets this shift get in his head

True, but he induced pretty weak contact. All you can really ask for.

That was a pretty ugly at bat for Hosmer.

It's at the K lol

Our "MVP" Morales has been slumping

Whelp... Burnett has his change working. He can probably throw that for the next 2 innings before we make an adjustment.

His opposite field power is just insane. Why he insists on swinging out of his shoes in attempting to drill the ball to right every g.d. pitch is beyond me.

Go home dude....you're drunk.

6 game hitting streak but yeah, not been his normal self

Rios goading us on that ball 4 swing pretty much killed my optimism about a comeback. Burnett has been stellar this year. I'll give us 20% and that's probably optimistic

I've said this 1000x. Most just seem skeptical about it, but my mind is made up. Shields was a major head shrink for the rest of the staff.

San Diego isn't going to be in the playoffs. Any chance we can hire him as a "special advisor" for October?

At this point, if they want to neuter him look Moose and turn him into a .300 opposite field hitter to eliminate the shift, fine by me. I can't remember the last time Hos homered anyways

If I am thinking off of the top of my head, I believe it was the Red Sox series.




Like a month ago.

I've seen on this MB and heard from other folks he thinks his swing is fine and needs no adjustment... until he admits his swing is shit it will continue to be awful.

Yep. The last time our first baseman hit a home run was June 19th vs the Red Sox. Keep doing you, Hos.

It's hard to argue either way ... And I like James Shields. He was a great veteran presence. But so is Guthrie. And Vargas. And hell, Davis/Holland. And Chris Young.

and Rios :evil:

Edit: we're talking pitchers. Disregard.

Don't be naive. There's obviously more to it than that. I have not watched Cashner pitch. I don't know. But his strikeout rate is actually up this year, he's allowing too many HRs, and he is playing in front of a worse defense. He currently has almost as many unearned runs as the entire Royals pitching staff. That's no joke.

It's not like there's some magic wand and only Shields could help them, but my point was that both Duffy and Ventura have appeared to be mentally fragile from the start of this season. A veteran presence probably could have helped them, because their issues are mental. I don't have any problem with letting Shields walk, just making a point. And I do believe having someone who sets a solid example, and is talented, can make a difference. I like Guthrie, but he just can't play that role.

that's the nail

Credit to McCutchen there, that's not a terrible pitch.

Or her....

http://www.pitch.com/imager/kacie-mc...na_staires.jpg

His swing isn't shit, he's just incredibly streaky. It's frustrating to watch as a fan but he's still a fantastic player for many reasons that won't show up on a stat sheet ... You know, kinda like James Shields

Dyson plays too shallow in left ... Cocky son of a Bitch. Gordon gets that ball

Well, I'm not too mad. I'm kinda excited to watch Medlen. They should bring him in to finish this one after this last out

he plays where they line him up....our coaches have had us out of position all night

Well.. that is an outing for Ventura.

Ventura was Jekyll and Hyde tonight. Oh well. No difference in losing 10-1 or 3-1 in 18 innings. A loss is a loss.

Here comes a solo from ****wad. Because, well, you know

wtf was that when we needed it rios?

2 out rally GO

Meh. I was pretty close

SPEED DO

Run into a homer here, Alcides :)

Even as Rios jogs into 2nd, I want to punch him in his face.

LMAO Jesus.

LMAO

ROFL

heads up there guys..way to turn that frown upside down

LOLOLOLOLOL

That's what speed do?

Can't believe that actually worked.

Haha. I was thinking that wasn't a bad idea

Basehit here and we have ourselves a game again

CHIP AWAY

That should be credited as a steal of home.

Now Dyson ... Lmao I couldn't even finish ... I knew he was going there

Dyson's gassed ROFL

Kang should've just given us that run and got Dyson ... Rios had basically already scored by the time he threw it

Sooooo just burn Medlen for the night with some bullpen work?

That pic makes it look like she works at those old school Kinkos.

ventura gonna give the run right back

Jesus -.- Ventura is getting SHELLED

Ned just couldn't give Medlen a clean inning huh? just had to trot ding dong out there for 1 more knock.

I like her to work on Kinko on me!

Welp. Excited to see Mr Medlen

ventura has been not good all season...methinks it's time he visits omaha for an extended period

I hate bringing Medlen in with runners on since he hasn't pitched in over a year, but I guess we'll roll with it.

yeah, i mean ventura was at 91 pitches so how much were you gonna get anyway?

We clearly need rotation help but it's nice to be 20 games over .500 while having a guy like Medlen and a trade deadline to try and solve our 1 weakness