Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
When the Yankees last played Kansas City, the Royals were a historically bad ballclub. When the team bus pulled up at Yankee Stadium back in late May, the Royals had a .222 winning percentage. Had they kept up that pace, the Royals would have surpassed the 1916 Philadelphia Althetics as the worst team since the arrival of the twentieth century.
Of course, they weren't really that bad. Their Pythagorean record at the time was .261 and by June 15 they had indeed pulled their actual record up to .262, which would merely have been sixth worst since 1901. Since then, however, Royal baseball has been a whole new ballgame, as the team has played at a comparatively world-beating .466 clip.
So what changed? Well, most obviously, they fired general manager Allard Baird and replaced him with former Atlanta Braves assistant GM Dayton Moore at the end of May. Not that Moore can really be said to have been responsible for having turned the team around on his own. During his first month on the job, Moore reinstated Mark Teahen at third base, acquired Joey Gathright from the Devil Rays, claimed Todd Wellemeyer of waivers from the Marlins, bought Brandon Duckworth from the Pirates, and restored tonight's starter Luke Hudson to the rotation.
Teahen has been a revelation, hitting .318/.390/.568 with 16 homers, 58 RBIs while being a perfect 8 for 8 on the bases and playing outstanding defense, but the other moves have had minimal impact. Gathright has hit just .234/.319/.291 and been caught in five of his eleven steal attempts. Wellemeyer leads the Royals pen with a 3.98 ERA (ouch), but has walked more than he's struck out. Duckworth posted a 6.11 ERA before landing on the DL. In fact, the 29-year-old Hudson has been the second most successful of Moore's initial fixes, going 7-2 since his recall despite a 5.01 ERA.
But then, it's not fair to judge Moore on his short-term results. The Royals are such a bankrupt organization that there's very little anyone could have done with them mid-season. Rather, Moore has been the early beneficiary of a few lucky breaks, such as the 24-year-old Teahen exceeding the expectations he'd previously failed to live up to, and David DeJesus and Mike Sweeney getting healthy. That said, he does deserve credit for bringing in first baseman Ryan Shealy from the Rockies, who has since hit .312/.363/.456. With Shealy and DeJesus replacing injured underperforming vets Doug Mientkiewicz and Reggie Sanders, Sweeney replacing the underutilized Matt Stairs, and Teahen replacing miscast utility man Tony Graffanino, the Royals have shown signs of life on the field, sweeping the Red Sox in early August and going 4-2 over their last six games against Wild Card contenders Chicago and Minnesota. In Kansas City such signs of life are a major accomplishment.
Kansas City Royals
2006 Record: 51-87 (.370)
2006 Pythagorean Record: 52-86 (.375)
Manager: Buddy Bell
General Manager: Dayton Moore
Home Ballpark (2005 Park Factors): Kauffman Stadium (99/99)
Who's Replaced Whom?
Current Roster
1B – Ryan Shealy (R)
2B – Mark Grudzielanek (R)
SS – Angel Berroa (R)
3B – Mark Teahen (L)
C – John Buck (R)
RF – Emil Brown (R)
CF – Joey Gathright (L)
LF – David DeJesus (L)
DH – Mike Sweeney (R)
Bench:
S – Andres Blanco (IF)
R – Esteban German (IF)
R – Jeff Keppinger (IF)
L – Shane Costa (CF)
L – Paul Bako (C)
Rotation:
L – Mark Redman
R – Luke Hudson
L – Jorge De La Rosa
R – Runelvys Hernandez
L – Odalis Perez
Bullpen:
R – Ambiorix Burgos
L – Andy Sisco
R – Joel Peralta
L – Jimmy Gobble
R – Joe Nelson
R – Todd Wellemeyer
R – Scott Dohmann
R – Ryan Braun*
*September call-up
15-day DL: L – Doug Mientkiewicz (1B), R – Mike Wood, R – Brandon Duckworth, R – Adam Bernero
60-day DL: R – Reggie Sanders (LF), R – Scott Elarton, R – Steve Stemle,
Typical Lineup
L – David DeJesus (CF)
R – Mark Grudzielanek (2B)
L – Mark Teahen (3B)
R – Mike Sweeney (DH)
R – Emil Brown (RF)
R – Ryan Shealy (1B)
R – John Buck (C)
R – Angel Berroa (2B)
L – Joey Gathright (CF)
Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Jason Giambi DH
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Melky Cabrera LF
Aaron Guiel 1B
Chien-Ming Wang RHP (16-5, 3.66)
Nice write-up, Cliff. I'd really hate to see us get sucker-punched by these guys, but as you say they are playing well lately.
Keep the pedal to the metal, Yanks!
When Matsui comes back he will be DHing, so Jason will need to play the field. That will require him to be in good physical condition. The Royals shouldn't be able to win the series even with Giambi sitting, so isn't it a good time to give him a few days off? Better now than before the playoffs when you need to be in a good rhythm.
It's a bit like the strategy of bringing in your closer in a very tough spot in the 7th that could spell the game. Getting Giambi his September rest early is more important than getting it late.
runs to dark corner, curls up in fetal position, "Mo's ok. Mo's ok. Mo's ok."
Mo will probably have some lingering effect from the tendonitis going forward, but it shouldn't affect him too much. I'm sure he's pitched with it before....in the playoffs. It's more a matter of dealing with the discomfort than anything else.
And the subtle knocks on the payroll start - with Abreu.
site maintainence
https://fairpole.baseballtoaster.com/
And I'm going to game 3 on Wednesday, should've went tonight to see Chewbacca.
Is something, er, Wrang with Chien-Ming?
jeez...
Now time for Guiel to start the ball rolling and make the fans pine for him.
OK, JD! Let's get it goin', Yanks!
I think this is Farnsworth's job. Although DJ did a pretty good job himself.
Jeters hit almost turned Hudson from a rooster into a chicken.
But Damon does not. Grr.
I like that we're knocking on the door, but it's time to bust in in.
Hudson still has a two hit shutout going.
Call me crazy, but is the only thing worse than losing a series after being up 3-0 losing a division lead up 9 games in September. Stuff like Tavarez pitching like this can make you think crazy thoughts...
(hey, someone had to mention it.)
you CANNOT compare a short series (anything can happen in 4 games) over a full month of baseball.
not happening
Okay, how about that Joey Gathright? Those Rays will kill you (as Irwin might have testified).
Tavares gone, Delcarmen in.
Dayton Moore replaced Allard Baird (staggering incompetence)
Nine pitch at-bat for Crede. 2-1 in favor of the Pale Side.
Melky stranded Jorgie's double, now it's time for redemption.
Now I keep thinking about Matsui.
I'm just kidding, I have no idea where you're from randy!
And Wang looks sharp after the first inning boo boo... now if only someone get a freaken hit.....
Nice play by Teahen, though.
They didn't look like immigrants or students. They looked like tourists.
Yea! Bobby!
just hang around, hit, watch some TV, hit again, shave, hit, eat some pop corn, hit, shower and go home. Oh, and earn some good money in the process...
raised.
Robbie!
Mauer .346
Jeter .344
If he is, and it's a one run game as it is now, he should be there to go for another SportsCenter moment.
Posada is just awesome this year.
But this is the Sawx, the same team who sent a limo for Doug Mirabelli. I won't be shocked to see him hit for Nixon.
The problem with the Royals is that they are idiots. They haven't caught on to Minnesota and Oakland's pattern. They get a lot of money in tax payments from the Yankees to support their payroll, and the Yanks sell out their Stadium everytime they visit. Instead of putting it back in the team they put it in their pockets and cry "poor us".
That's why I always feel like spanking them when we play.
No Ortiz yet...
Liriano is due back soon, so we all want to cheer for the White Sox. We can hit them. Santana and Liriano...not so much.
IBB for 'Tek.
Alex Cora will pinch hit! (For Kapler)
Also, wishing you great success with Baseball Japan! I'm looking forward to reading that on a regular basis.
Out-hitting these guys 9 to 3.
I'm planning a couple of things for Baseball Japan to be posted later this week. It's been crazy with the Yankee stretch run, Matsuzaka talk at a frenzy around the net, and the new blog.
Truth be told, I have those three blogs, plus Darvish Watch....a hoops blog, and a blog about my wife's pregnancy. It gets overwhelming at times with work and life, but it's fun. Keep watching at Baseball Japan and you'll see something soon.
20 years ago, there was a guy in my old neighborhood who had what I thought was a great line, which today applies to how the Yankees should prepare for the Royals:
"If you even have a dream about kickin' my ass, the first thing you better do when you wake up is call me and apologize."
This game stinks.
Sinker didn't sink there.
I thought Chicago had scored. Gameday said so. (I was listening, but couldn't stand to hear any more of Trupiano.)
The ump missed a close call; it happens sometimes. Let the NFL have the always exciting instant replay review.
still plenty of baseball to be played tonight, 3-1, they will come back and win.
Boy the Andy Phillips experiment did not go well.
I wonder if he had MORE playing time if he could do better, but it's tought to ask for that.
Derek Jeter .342
Who is the last Yankee to win a batting title? I'm thinking it was Bernie in a great race with Mo Vaugn down to the wire. Go Derek Sanderson Jeter!
I don't know which is better for the Yankees. I just know I enjoy it when Boston loses. On the other hand, I like the blown save by Jencks.
Come on, Tiger, go get one more for us. Game on the line now...
Nope, Tiger doesn't get the chance.
.346 Mauer
.344 Jeter
Though maybe Joe thinks he can rest all he wants when Hideki comes back...
Okay, kept it close, go get 'im.
But no W for Wang, no matter what. :-(
I think replay in the NFL is mostly a disaster that at best corrects a few plays over the course of season, and at worst simply creates awful delays and ruins the flow of the game.
I don't mind a human component in sports, including unpiring, so long as the error is small. Heck, with replay maybe Jeter's HR against Baltimore doesn't count, or Giambi is called safe on Jeter's flip at home, or Reggie is called out when he stuck his ass out in '77 (or '78?).
They are using it in tennis now, too. I think limiting the number of challenges allowed is key, so you don't have people challenging every little call.
Thankfully we get to face good teams in the playoffs
I guess any system is imperfect, replay or not.
Of course, he'll be scared to run on Jorgie.
I should have skipped this game. It had disaster written on its face.
Villone needs rest, Joe. This is glaringly obvious. Why did you call up half the Clippers' pitching staff if you're not going to use them to rest Villone and Proctor?
Right now, though, he's a house money pitcher.
CRAP, see what I mean?
I'm looking at the bright side here: Proctor, Farnsworth, Mo, all resting resting resting.
Let's hope tomorrow is a better day.
Yeeesh. 10 hits. 1 run...
Last week, Nieves had two nearly identical throwing errors in a row. Tried to gun down a runner at 2B, and sailed the throw into CF instead.
Jorgie for Senator!!
Tying run at the plate now.
At least Scotty still gives you a good outing now and then, even as his arm continue to falls off.
I would have rather seen Bruney had more of a leash...though I still don't trust him for more than two or three batters.
Good work Bernie!
They check Bronx Banter in the dugout on Mattingly's laptop.
Luke : noooooooooooooo!!!!!!!
300 But we're Pedro's daddy. Does that mean Pedro and the Royals are brothers???
Truncated Season MVP
I mean, uh, this one doesn't really matter.
(Too obscure?) ;)
To be fair, I think the Royals bullpen does that with a lot of teams.
Now let's get more runs, because I don't know if our bullpen scraps can hold a two run lead for 2 innings (sad to say).
"David Justice TSMVP Award"
and it's shaped like the Hammer of Justice?
Senator Al just pointed out that that's where low-budget teams are usually the weakest. They may have good hitters and good starting pitchers, but it's very rare that they'll have more than one good reliever in the bullpen.
I love this game.
There have been only two instances in Major League history where players — Carlos Baerga of the Cleveland Indians on April 8, 1993 (off Steve Howe & Steve Farr) and Mark Bellhorn of the Chicago Cubs on August 29, 2002 (off Andrew Lorraine & Jose Cabrera) — hit home runs from both sides of the plate during the same exact inning.
On the other hand, they've just finished winning series from the Twins and the ChiSox. ;-)
Ooooh, hey, good thing Nieves didn't come in last inning, huh?
Avg up to .338 now. I really think he's going to make a run at the batting title. He needs to play in each of the last 26 games and get at least 4 pas in each to get his pa number about the 502 needed to qualify.
Simone, welcome to the celebration.
Beam will get the win if they can hang on, too funny.
Oh...hey all - late post here for me! In the words of Batman (the TV series)...POW! BAM! BOFF!!! What an inning!!!
Joe: "Payback's a bitch Scottie. You left me in the street with tire marks on my back, so I'm taking your right arm."
Scottie: "D'oh."
Crazy.
Jeter's chances of catching Mauer are really rising, as long as he can hit against the KC pen.
Mauer: .346
Jeter: .344
Cano: .338
Just guessing.
Ahhhhh. Mike Myers is the new Mo.
Well, see youse tomorrow.
seriously though, ice Villone for a week, and Proctor too, if possible.
His big double scored two and broke the Royals back. Everybody have a cheesesteak to celebrate!
(Insert your favorite punchline here)
I though the magic number was down to 17.
I don't want to jinx anything, so knock on wood, but . . .
The Sawx play 8 games, and we play 9 before we have that 4 game series in the Bronx later this month.
If the Swax go 3-5 and we go 6-3, we'd have a chance to clinch the East by winning 3 of 4 from the Sawx.
That would be a sweet celebration.
438 I wish in situations like that they could handle it the same way that they do when starters don't go 5.
Baseball needs to keep the integrity of its records intact and therefore keeps Wins and Losses at the front of a pitcher's statistical record. There's a very long precedent for this practice so we probably need to keep it. The thing is, there has to be a good formula to determine who ACTUALLY deserves credit for wins and losses in the complete context of a game. In this case Wang deserves credit for holding the opposition to 3 runs and allowing his offense to score late for the win. The pen didn't really help. The only way one of them should be credited with a win is if Wang had given up 11 runs and they saved his bacon.
The future record of Wins and Losses could actually mean something if we had a good formula. Call it Adjusted Wins and Losses or something to account for past games. Just a thought. Maybe it already exists.
It's one thing to be in a Mo-type rut of 3 or 4 spotty appearances, another to completely crap out for a month. But Gator says Ronnie is just wild, and Joe still loves Villone's "toughness". So we'll keep seeing him.
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