****Official Royals Vs. White Sox Gamethread 4/9****

[SPchief]

Break out the brooms boys. 1st series, 1st chance at the sweep. Volquez on the mound, lets hope the Offense keeps hitting.

[Fairplay]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

So, is the board warming up to volquez?

The jury is still out for me on volquez, around June I should have a verdict on him.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

we saw today exactly what Volquez can be if he stays ahead of guys in counts

dude has nasty stuff, always has had it

now he has a favorable ballpark and the best defense in baseball behind him ... his ceiling is as high as anyone on the Royals staff if his command is there

And this has always been the issue... BUT in his defense, last year he made some significant strides and there is no reason to think that won't carry over.

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

And this has always been the issue... BUT in his defense, last year he made some significant strides and there is no reason to think that won't carry over.

I feel comfortable that Eiland can keep him on the right track.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

I feel comfortable that Eiland can keep him on the right track.

So do I. There'll be some ups and downs of course but I'm confident he'll be more than fine as our #2 or 3 guy

[Pitt Gorilla]

Anyone know why Salvy caught today? I thought for sure he'd get a day off.

[KChiefs1]

My niece who is an aspiring writer did a write up of the game:

http://royalsblue.com/?p=2690

The Royals wrapped up their first series of the year on Thursday afternoon. Edinson Volquez was solid in his debut for the club as the Royals beat John Danks for the first time ever, 4-1.
 

Scoring got started right out of the gate today when Alcides Escobar smacked a leadoff double, and eventually scored on a series of sacrifice hits by Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain. Both offenses then fell silent in innings two through five. The White Sox didn’t even have a baserunner until the 4th inning. As Edinson Volquez navigated his way through the White Sox lineup with ease, his team gave him dazzling defense and four runs of offense to work with. The final three runs of offense came in the sixth inning when Lorenzo Cain lead off with a double to center field  and was scored by Kendrys Morales on a double of his own. Salvador Perez then brought everyone home with a two-run bomb, putting the final two tallies up on the board.

There were two debuts today. One Major League and one team debut. In his Major League debut, Paulo Orlando recorded his first hit in a leadoff triple to center field. In his Royals debut, Edinson Volquez shined. Thanks in part to a phenomenal defense, Volquez allowed only one earned run on four hits while striking out five batters.

Every Royal, except for Mike Moustakas and Alex Rios, recorded a hit today. Mike Moustakas had been hitting the ball well this series, but he looked absolutely lost at the plate. As for Alex Rios, aside from his 3-run homer in the opener, and a few meaningless hits, Rios has done little to impress me. He shows minimal effort in the outfield, and often takes a lackadaisical approach to the ball. Maybe it’ll wear off as the season goes along, but it’s a major turn-off at this point.

Next up is a trip out West for the Boys in Blue to play the Los Angeles Angels. In order to have a successful series, they need to not let this sweep go to their heads. They also need to remember that the Angels have a vendetta against the Royals for making them look silly in last year’s ALDS. Pitching matchups are as follows: Jason Vargas and Hector Santiago, Jeremy Guthrie and Jered Weaver, ending with Yordano Ventura (most likely) and C.J. Wilson.

[KChiefs1]

[Prison Bitch]

1. I was really surprised by Volq' velocity. He was consistently sitting at 94 and touched 96 a fwe times. Wasn't aware he had that kind of heat.

2. Cain really worries me. He ran awkwardly off 1B on game 1 and he crashed into the wall game 3. It really isn't worth making a great play if you're going to get hurt. Love the effort but it's a long season.

3. Good to see us do well vs LH. I figured that would be our problem this year neutralizing Moose-Hoz-Gordon but Rios, Morales, Escobar and Perez were really hitting well this week.

[Saul Good]

Watching the replay...

Rios is going to steal 30 bases.

Sal had back to back 7 pitch plate appearances. I would bet that it's the first time that's ever happened. He homered and walked. His approach and plate discipline have improved immensely.

Hosmer worries me. He's still got every bad habit he's ever had. He will get by on talent, but I don't see how he can be great with his combination of lack of patience and ridiculously long stride, and he's shown no inclination to change.

Sal has been taking an absolute pounding. He's been hit by at least a dozen foul tips already behind the plate, and he's fouled another half a dozen off himself in the box.

I don't know if this is a great team, but they look like a team that thinks they're great. They've got a little but of "we're better than you, and we know it" way about them.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Anyone know why Salvy caught today? I thought for sure he'd get a day off.

Its just the first series. We can run him out there for a week or two, but I'd hope the off days start near the end of the month.

[Hootie]

I bet Rios, Escobar and Cain combine for 100+ SBs

[lewdog]

Been pretty busy so haven't really watched much. Starting the year off like this is fun though!

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Been pretty busy so haven't really watched much. Starting the year off like this is fun though!

I've been relegated to listening on the radio and then watching the replays on mlb.tv due to local blackouts. Glad I can watch live tomorrow

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

1. I was really surprised by Volq' velocity. He was consistently sitting at 94 and touched 96 a fwe times. Wasn't aware he had that kind of heat.

2. Cain really worries me. He ran awkwardly off 1B on game 1 and he crashed into the wall game 3. It really isn't worth making a great play if you're going to get hurt. Love the effort but it's a long season.

3. Good to see us do well vs LH. I figured that would be our problem this year neutralizing Moose-Hoz-Gordon but Rios, Morales, Escobar and Perez were really hitting well this week.

Number two is a big concern. He laid there for long enough after he crashed the wall that I got a bit nervous. Just want all our guys healthy, especially Cain.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Hootie 2.0

I've been relegated to listening on the radio and then watching the replays on mlb.tv due to local blackouts. Glad I can watch live tomorrow

Oh yea, that sucks. Blackouts are so ****ing dumb.