Royals How Getz, Butler & Yost cost us our first chance in decades - Page 4

**petegz28** · 08-21-2013, 09:00 AM

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.

**petegz28** · 08-21-2013, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

I think we have addressed Gordon and how his defense helps make up for his lack of hitting. That being said, if Butler was at the plate with 2 outs I wouldn't blame him. A 2 out hit is not a favorable odds position. However, 1 out with bases loaded and you don't get it out of the infield and you're "the man"......weak sauce. That was the moment, that was the time, that was the place/

mr. tegu · 08-21-2013, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.
Posted via Mobile Device

A lot of people don't realize the types of players that are DHing for other teams.

**RockChalk** · 08-21-2013, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Three7s

but what I'd like to know is, why doesn't Gordon get any blame. He's been terribad for over two months.

I think people are coming around to this. I'm not sure what it is.

But it could be that he's not a cleanup hitter. I may be wrong, but I feel like his whole AB approach has changed since being moved down there. He looks more and more like pre-2011 Gordon with his approach lately.

**petegz28** · 08-21-2013, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.
Posted via Mobile Device

When you can't run or field then hitting had better be pretty ****ing good.

FringeNC · 08-21-2013, 10:31 AM

Amazing small-mindedness. It's a 162 game season. We're aren't going to the playoffs because of our .690 team OPS. Obviously, 2nd base has been a disaster, but so has SS.

Our GM is to blame.

By the way, it appears we got nothing for Greinke, and gave away a ton for Shields.

tk13 · 08-21-2013, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petegz28

When you can't run or field then hitting had better be pretty ****ing good.

He won the Silver Slugger at his position just last year.
Posted via Mobile Device

**petegz28** · 08-21-2013, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

He won the Silver Slugger at his position just last year.
Posted via Mobile Device

In a year that we were out of it by May. As it was stated earlier, Billy seems to do real good when the pressure is off. I won't take away from what he did last year as it deserves props but I have to view it in context as well.

**RockChalk** · 08-21-2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.
Posted via Mobile Device

You want to know why he hurts the team being purely a DH? Because we can't give other guys a mental/physical rest from the field, like most good teams do with the DH spot.

Butler can only be a DH, thus the spot is not available to any other player on our roster. I mean wouldn't it be nice to let Sal just bat one game, when he needs a break from behind the plate? Wouldn't it be good to let Moose DH a game when he's coming back from the nagging calf injury? I'm sure Gordon could use a break now and again from Left. Same with Hoz at first.

We can't do any of this stuff, unless you want to take Billy's bat out of the lineup. And unfortunately, we can't do anything like that with the current selection of players we have out there. Even though he's not driving the ball like last year (or like he should be), he still does get on base and at least have the possible threat of doing something with the bat.

BigRock · 08-21-2013, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petegz28

Chris Getz, at his direction or otherwise, puts down a bunt. YES! YES! A ****ING BUNT WITH 2 OUTS!

WHY THAT WOULD NEVER WORK

**petegz28** · 08-21-2013, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRock

WHY THAT WOULD NEVER WORK

I am at work so I can't see his.. I assume these are videos of a 2 out bunt working??

BigRock · 08-21-2013, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petegz28

I am at work so I can't see his.. I assume these are videos of a 2 out bunt working??

2 out bunts by Chris Getz working.

**petegz28** · 08-21-2013, 10:40 AM

So I guess people now thinking bunting with 2 outs and the go ahead run at 3rd is a good thing?????

BigRock · 08-21-2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRock

2 out bunts by Chris Getz working.

2 out bunts by Chris Getz with a runner on 3rd, I should clarify.

tk13 · 08-21-2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockChalk

You want to know why he hurts the team being purely a DH? Because we can't give other guys a mental/physical rest from the field, like most good teams do with the DH spot.

Butler can only be a DH, thus the spot is not available to any other player on our roster. I mean wouldn't it be nice to let Sal just bat one game, when he needs a break from behind the plate? Wouldn't it be good to let Moose DH a game when he's coming back from the nagging calf injury? I'm sure Gordon could use a break now and again from Left. Same with Hoz at first.

We can't do any of this stuff, unless you want to take Billy's bat out of the lineup. And unfortunately, we can't do anything like that with the current selection of players we have out there. Even though he's not driving the ball like last year (or like he should be), he still does get on base and at least have the possible threat of doing something with the bat.

That's the DH position. Subpar fielders that can swing the bat. Ortiz, Edgar Martinez, Victor Martinez, Harold Baines, Jason Giambi...on and on.
Posted via Mobile Device

**petegz28** · 08-21-2013, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRock

2 out bunts by Chris Getz with a runner on 3rd, I should clarify.

Yeehaw....I stand by the opinion that it was beyond boneheaded

08-21-2013, 09:00 AM
petegz28 Supporter Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Olathe, Ks Casino cash: $-1175873	How Getz, Butler & Yost cost us our first chance in decades 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.
Posts: 132,556

08-21-2013, 10:31 AM	#50
FringeNC MVP Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NC Casino cash: $-1813986	Amazing small-mindedness. It's a 162 game season. We're aren't going to the playoffs because of our .690 team OPS. Obviously, 2nd base has been a disaster, but so has SS. Our GM is to blame. By the way, it appears we got nothing for Greinke, and gave away a ton for Shields.
Posts: 10,234

08-21-2013, 10:40 AM	#57
petegz28 Supporter Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Olathe, Ks Casino cash: $-1175873	So I guess people now thinking bunting with 2 outs and the go ahead run at 3rd is a good thing?????
Posts: 132,556