****Royals@Tigers Official GDT 8/4/15****

[Rasputin]

Kansas City Royals (62-42) VS Detroit Tigers (51-54)

Scheduled starting pitchers: LHP Danny Duffy (4-5, 4.28 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (1-3, 4.86 ERA).

First pitch 6:08 central time

It's going be motor city mayhem with cat scratch fever beat the Tigers


Go Royals

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by okcchief

It's amazing people will call back a 6 game sample on Rios like it means something and discount since then and his previous garbage season. If the injury is still bothering him he should take more time off perhaps. That supposed great month he had still didn't include any hitting with runners on because he has 17 ****ing RBI in 60 games. He has blown period. Dyson should at least be playing against righties. It's a wonder how Rios gets such a defense. Why aren't we still holding on to Omar getting hit in the face last year? They both had good 2013s and they both are terrible now at the plate. I'm not going to lose sleep with either getting replaced, but Rios has been the worst all around player on the team to this point. If that changes then good.

Did Alex Rios sleep with your mom or something?

I don't know why it's so anathema to you to look at what Rios did in July as a potential positive step forward (that, if he continues to produce at that level, would earn him additional PT). He did not "blow" in July. He was awful for a month after returning from the injury and you won't find anyone arguing that.

I'm not going to go through every single at-bat Rios had in the month of July to see how he performed with men on base, but his numbers with RISP are in line with his overall numbers (.750ish OPS).

He only drove in 5 runs in July, but he also scored 15 runs and posted an above-average OPS for the month overall. He hits behind Salvador Perez, who is a base-clearing hitter (hits well with RISP, hits into a lot of twin killings) and also a low OBP guy.

I say this stuff to point out a reason I don't think you can place much emphasis on Rios' RBI totals in July. What's more important is his overall offensive production (above-average in that month).

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

Against very tough lefties I wouldn't mind having Rios in RF, Infante at 2B, and Zobrist at 3rd.

I'd even like to see us sit Gordon some against lefties when he returns just to ease him back into the lineup and make sure he's ready for the postseason.

[Hootie]

I don't really care who we sit and when ... this division is locked up.

[Great Expectations]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

I'd even like to see us sit Gordon some against lefties when he returns just to ease him back into the lineup and make sure he's ready for the postseason.

Good point, with the huge divisional lead we should be able to rest guys (our bullpen especially) here and there. Zobrist provides so much flexibility that we shouldn't see much of a dropoff in productivity having him give a days rest a week to Moose, Gordon, Cain (w/ Dyson in Center), Infante, and Rios. He could also have one off day thrown in there, too bad he can't catch.

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Did Alex Rios sleep with your mom or something?

I don't know why it's so anathema to you to look at what Rios did in July as a potential positive step forward (that, if he continues to produce at that level, would earn him additional PT). He did not "blow" in July. He was awful for a month after returning from the injury and you won't find anyone arguing that.

I'm not going to go through every single at-bat Rios had in the month of July to see how he performed with men on base, but his numbers with RISP are in line with his overall numbers (.750ish OPS).

He only drove in 5 runs in July, but he also scored 15 runs and posted an above-average OPS for the month overall. He hits behind Salvador Perez, who is a base-clearing hitter (hits well with RISP, hits into a lot of twin killings) and also a low OBP guy.

I say this stuff to point out a reason I don't think you can place much emphasis on Rios' RBI totals in July. What's more important is his overall offensive production (above-average in that month).

If you are happy with his lack of production then I'm happy for you. He's been the worst everyday player on the roster to this point. Do you disagree with that statement?

[Hootie]

No. It's literally a toss up between Rios and Infante. I'd argue Infante has been worse. It's close. I think Rios has more upside with the stick, but again, it doesn't really ****ing matter.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by okcchief

If you are happy with his lack of production then I'm happy for you. He's been the worst everyday player on the roster to this point. Do you disagree with that statement?

He and Infante have both been bad at the plate over the course of the whole season. They've been equally bad, in my mind.

Rios at least is in a spot where you look at his season, look at what he did in July after getting healthy, and can logically reason that "Hey, maybe it took him that long to recover from the injury, get his hand right and get his timing back, and now he's producing."

Infante has been steadily this awful at the plate all season, with no real moves up or down and nothing to give you reason to expect a jump in production.

That's why I keep saying: If Rios hits from now until Gordon's return like he did in July, it makes sense to start him and bench Infante.

If Rios slides back down, then Zobrist in RF makes sense and you play Infante because of his slight addition defensively.

I'm not happy with Rios' production overall, but I'm very happy with the production in July, which would have him on pace for a .750 OPS and an above-average offensive season.

Don't know why you continue to be stubborn about admitting that Rios was a quality contributor in July. The Royals bottom third was really productive in that month, and a big piece of that was Alex Rios' production.

[Hootie]

Zobrist is clearly going to play every day.

And then Ned can do whatever he wants with Infante/Rios/Dyson. Once we get Gore called up, one could argue the Dyson/Infante platoon if Rios doesn't maintain his July pace at the plate.

But if Rios starts .OPS'ing .725 - .800 ... it would be foolish not to just keep Rios in the lineup, use Dyson/Gore off the bench ... and tell old Omar to be ready in case we need him as a bench guy.

He's a professional, he can handle it.

[bricks]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

No. It's literally a toss up between Rios and Infante. I'd argue Infante has been worse. It's close. I think Rios has more upside with the stick, but again, it doesn't really ****ing matter.

Go with Rios. What good is Infante for you guys when You need to compete with top hitting teams like the Bluejays.

Your defense is fine and since he is a better quality hitter, he improves your hitting as a team. You're gonna need as many good hitters as possible.

[Hootie]

bricks man ... go the **** away

[bricks]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

bricks man ... go the **** away

I'm trying to help you guys out

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by bricks

I'm trying to help you guys out

You're trolling and doing it poorly. As soon as the Jays are back below .500 you'll be gone like you were for most of the season.

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by bricks

Go with Rios. What good is Infante for you guys when You need to compete with top hitting teams like the Bluejays.

Your defense is fine and since he is a better quality hitter, he improves your hitting as a team. You're gonna need as many good hitters as possible.

I would think we would need better pitching to compete with a TOP HITTING TEAM like the BLUEJAYS!!

Seriously, get the **** out of here with your constant pimping of the Jays. No one gives a single **** about them until if and when we meet in the playoffs.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

Zobrist is clearly going to play every day.

And then Ned can do whatever he wants with Infante/Rios/Dyson. Once we get Gore called up, one could argue the Dyson/Infante platoon if Rios doesn't maintain his July pace at the plate.

But if Rios starts .OPS'ing .725 - .800 ... it would be foolish not to just keep Rios in the lineup, use Dyson/Gore off the bench ... and tell old Omar to be ready in case we need him as a bench guy.

He's a professional, he can handle it.

Rios hasn't been that great lately.



Infante sucks hard though.

[Hootie]

Rios has made a career out of being a much better hitter than Infante. There is simply no debate.

Again, we're really splitting hairs here. It doesn't really matter. Ned can ride the hot hand, if that's even possible with those 2.