How Getz, Butler & Yost cost us our first chance in decades

[petegz28]

Okay, okay, it was a long shot to begin with but we were making a serious run at making that long shot.

Enter the 3 Amigos: Chris Getz, Billy Butler, Ned Yost...

Backdrop:
It was a Saturday night in Detroit. The Royals had just swept the 1st place Tigers in a double-header the previous day. It was set for the Royals to take at least 3 out 5 from the 1st place team and at worst gain a game on them

It was a very playoff like atmosphere. Detroit took the early lead but Kansas City kept battling back to tie the game. Then it comes down to the last 6 outs of the game with the Royals trailing.

In the top of the 8th the Royals had scratched runs to tie the game at 5. With runners on 2nd and 3rd with 0 outs, David Lough pops out to the infield. Okay, Lough has been an over-achieving 4th outfielder, it's disappointing but acceptable and somewhat expected.

That brings us Eric Hosmer in the same situation with 1 out. The Tigers wisely walk him to load the bases and get to Billy Butler. Yes, that is correct, in a tie game the Tigers loaded the bases intentionally with 1 out to face what is supposed to be the best hitter on the Royals' roster.

Royals fans are thinking "the go ahead run is sealed, Butler will come through with the Sac Fly at least, right?", or were they??? Billy Butler, the DH, the All-Star, the man whose job is to do nothing but hit the ball....lines out to the 3rd baseman making it 2 outs with bases loaded, putting the odd squarely in the favor of Detroit and making them look like geniuses for walking Hosmer. Gordon grounds out, Royals don't score the go ahead run.

Onto the top of the 9th. With 2 outs and the go ahead runner on 3rd and the odds already favoring the defense, Chris Getz, at his direction or otherwise, puts down a bunt. YES! YES! A ****ING BUNT WITH 2 OUTS! Needless to say the runner on 3rd never scored and the Royals head to the bottom of the 9th tied at 5 to face the best hitter in baseball.

Enter Ned Yost. In a 3-1 count, Aaron Crow is somehow not told to pitch around Cabrrera. Instead he grooves a 3-1 fastball only to watch the game end as the ball went over the outfield wall. Royals lose, 6-5.

Game over. Season Over.

While there were no guarantees we would have won that game using more common sense, we would have had a much better chance at doing so.


I know there is plenty of blame to go around but later in life as I look back on this season I will look back to those 2 innings and those series of plays as to what finally broke the back of the Royals miracle run at the playoffs.

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I'll tell you what Butler has been real good at doing this year:


3. hitting a HR in the 8th inning when we are already up 4-2

Classic Billy right here. Game not on the line? We're up 4 runs or down 5? You can count on Billy putting one in the gap or hitting one 400 feet to left. With that, his power numbers go up and we get the standard Fat Billy is angry and pissed off look he's got nailed down to a science.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

vs. a 9% chance that Cabera hits a HR or 36% chance that he even gets a hit.

I don't give a ****ing shit. I'd rather have Miggy at 1st with his sore, broke ass trying to run the bases than I would throw him a 3-1 fastball in the bottom of the 9th of a tie game. Are you on ****ing meth or what?

You never let the other team's best hitter beat you. That's just what we did.

[BlackHelicopters]

Butler may be part of the problem, but he is far down the list of this teams "problems"

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by theelusiveeightrop

Butler may be part of the problem, but he is far down the list of this teams "problems"

Actually he is closer to the top than a lot want to admit. He can't field, he can't run and this year he can't hit that good. WTF is he not a problem?

[Tiger's Fan]

Butler isn't clutch, and a waste as a one dimensional player. At least Gordon can make up for not hitting with his glove.

The problem is that shy of Holland, the pen is Broxton like shaky. The collapse that started with Miami is all on the bullpen. I would dump Crow immediately. Pure bust for his draft spot, and he has ZERO passion for the game.

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by petegz28

When you know a Sac Fly is the least you have to get done, you don't go to the plate looking to pull the ball on a rope. We all know Billy's best swing is when he takes the ball o the opposite field. He has been trying to pull the ball all ****ing year which is why he is nothing more than a stat-padder for SS's at the moment.

He actually tried to do this with his first swing, IIRC. Fly ball down the line in right that ended up foul.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by RockChalk

He actually tried to do this with his first swing, IIRC. Fly ball down the line in right that ended up foul.

Yes, he did. They he went away from it. He has done it all year.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by Tiger's Bitch

Butler isn't clutch, and a waste as a one dimensional player. At least Gordon can make up for not hitting with his glove.

The problem is that shy of Holland, the pen is Broxton like shaky. The collapse that started with Miami is all on the bullpen. I would dump Crow immediately. Pure bust for his draft spot, and he has ZERO passion for the game.

This is an excellent point. While we really, really need Gordon to be hitting better, he has saved countless runs with his arm and glove. Same goes for Escobar. These guys save runs on defense game in and game out so they ultimately provide some good to the bottom line even if it isn't in the ideal way.

When Butler doesn't hit at least a double it is pretty much a wasted AB.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by petegz28

I don't give a ****ing shit.

Exactly. Logic and reason is gone and now you're PMSing. Let your emotions flow guy.

[duncan_idaho]

Including Butler in this list is an insult to logic and reality.

He has an .824 OPS with runners on and an .861 OPS with runners in scoring position. To suggest he isn't "clutch" is not based in fact.

He has not been as good this year as hoped, but he HAS started hitting better in the second half, when the team really needed him to, and he hasn't really been the issue all season.

Ned Yost and Dayton Moore bear the most blame for acquiring and continuing to pay/play shitty players like Chris Getz, Jamey Carroll (who is playing too much now that they have Bonifacio), etc.

From a player standpoint, the early struggles of Moustakas and recent struggles of Alex Gordon are the biggest issues (beyond the general shittiness of Chris Getz).

The hatred Royals fans have for Billy Butler is stupid. No way around it (and it's not unique to this forum). He's not a superstar, but he's a plus offensive player and one of the best at his position.

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by petegz28

Yes, he did. They he went away from it. He has done it all year.

Stop criticizing our sweet Billy boy though. He's great. He was an all-star last year. He's not a problem. He does nothing wrong. All he does is crush the ball. He was born to hit. I have a country breakfast tattoo. Would you just look at his batting average?!?!?! /RoyalsApologists

I've stated I don't hate him...but he is a completely one-dimensional player whose only tool has regressed into hit-for-average, rather than driving the ball.

[Three7s]

People calling me a "Butler Lover".

I think some people are getting me confused with Deez just because of one post, but whatever.

I'm not denying that he's had a bad year. He's hit into way too many DPs, and hasn't driven the ball with as much authority in year's past. That being said, he's one of the only proven threats in our lineup, and that's why his walk numbers are sky high. I'm not gonna explain why Butler isn't the reason the season is over, because everyone has contributed to this team's failure, but like some have said, the problems Butler has given this team are much lower than several others.

Butler hitting a line drive or soft liner doesn't make much of a difference to me. I'll admit, I wasn't watching the game, but what I'd like to know is, why doesn't Gordon get any blame. He's been terribad for over two months. What about the complete lack of power Perez has? There should be far more blame to go around to some players that people continually praise.

[petegz28]

Originally Posted by RockChalk

Stop criticizing our sweet Billy boy though. He's great. He was an all-star last year. He's not a problem. He does nothing wrong. All he does is crush the ball. He was born to hit. I have a country breakfast tattoo. Would you just look at his batting average?!?!?! /RoyalsApologists

I've stated I don't hate him...but he is a completely one-dimensional player whose only tool has regressed into hit-for-average, rather than driving the ball.

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Ned Yost and Dayton Moore bear the most blame for acquiring and continuing to pay/play shitty players like Chris Getz, Jamey Carroll (who is playing too much now that they have Bonifacio), etc.

I don't think we have much choice with Cain out, but I agree with you. If Cain were healthy (yeah, a joke I know), then I really think they'd be rolling with this lineup, at least defensively:

Gordon
Cain
Lough/Maxwell (platoon)
Moose
Esky
Bonifacio
Hoz

[tk13]

The Butler hatred just makes my head explode. He needs to hit for more power but if I read one more post about how a DH hurts the team because he can't run or field... just no.
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