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Punchless
Three hits, huh?
– Luke Hochevar should consider this his “Welcome to KC” game. In other words, he pitched a decent game, but got zero support from his offense. He struck out five and walked two, so his K:BB ratio is just a notch below 2:1. Remember, that was always something that was supposedly holding him back in the minors, so it’s a positive stat.
Of course, both of his walks came around to score.
Hochevar ended up throwing 109 pitches and got 11 ground ball outs in his seven innings of work. Nick Markakis hit the big home run, but were you as surprised as I was when it went over the wall? Honestly, I thought the pitch was decent and Markakis hit a harmless fly to center. But it just kept going and going… On the positive, it was nice to see Hochevar bear down and get the next two batters to get out of the inning.
Home run aside, he’s headed in the right direction.
– Watching the postgame show on FSN, Frank White and the other dude (sorry, dude, but that’s what happens when you share a stage with #20) were talking about how the Royals did battle at the plate and ran the count to three balls often. I’m not sure what that means, because while 3-0 and 3-1 is a prime hitters count, if you don’t capitalize on that, who really cares?
By my count, there were four at bats where the Royals had at least three balls. They drew one walk in the game - take a bow, John Buck.
– I give Tony Pena a bunch of crap (most of it deserved) so I have to give him credit for having a great at bat in the fifth to drive in the Royals only run of the night. Down in the count 0-2, Cabrera came back with a 95 mph fastball on the inner half of the plate and Pena got his hands just out in front and was able to dink it down the line in right.
– Alberto Callaspo was in the outfield in place of Jose Guillen who has a sore shoulder. Kind of weird to see Callaspo in left not to mention the fact he hit sixth.
Seriously, what’s the deal with Hillman and his lineups? Just because Guillen hit in the sixth spot the night before, that doesn’t mean the next night’s left fielder has to bat in the exact same spot. I’m probably making too much of this lineup thing, but I’d really like to see Callaspo get some at bats as either the leadoff or number two.
– When Daniel Cabrera wasn’t striking out Billy Butler, the rest of the team was killing worms. Of the 23 balls put in play, 19 were grounders. 19!
– PROGRAMMING ALERT!
If you’ve been following the comments section (and seriously, you should because there’s some really insightful stuff going on), there’s been a debate about why exactly the Royals offense has been… let’s just say lackluster.
On Tuesday, I’ll have a look at the Royals approach at the plate. Be sure to wear your sabermetric tin foil hats.
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17 Responses to “Punchless”
May 9th, 2008 at 8:11 am
It’s time. After last night’s performance I’m ready to sell my soul for Bonds. Clubhouse chemistry be darned! This division is ripe for the picking. How would this line-up strike you?
DeJesus - CF
Grudz - 2B
Gordon - 3B
Bonds - DH
Guillen - LF
Butler - 1B
Teahen - RF
Buck / Olivo - C
Pena - SS
With the addition of Bonds I’d hope you’d trade German for the best you could get (or maybe even Grudz and insert Caillaspo into the starting lineup).
May 9th, 2008 at 8:19 am
I’ve noticed something about a lot of Kansas City pitching: they give up too many home runs. Last night is a good example. Hochevar did a good job overall, but you take away the wild pitch and the homerun…he shuts them out. Bannister’s start in Texas was the same thing, I believe all of the runs he gave up came off home runs.
I know, pitching isn’t the problem…
Was I the only one who wanted Hillman to bring in Olivo to bat for Pena in the fifth? Two on with two outs? You got to do it. Then Callaspo could have played Short, Butler first, Gload Left and Olivo DH.
Surprisingly, Pena came though.
I think I like Frank White better than Paul Splittorff. I’ve never been much of a fan of Splittorff in the booth, as he comes off kinda “I know more than you therefore I am better than you.” Frank White is just fun.
I’m starting to question whether Billy Butler is ready for the Major League yet or if it’s just a typical slump. He looked completely lost last night as he continuously watched the ball go by him.
I found it funny that Cabrera lead the league with walks last year and the entire Royals team managed only one walk. It seems that once they get down, they just start hacking away
Remember in Major League, when Willie Mays Hayes would hit a pop fly, the coach would make him do push ups? Maybe Hillman should start something like that. If the team doesn’t draw at least four walks a game, the entire offense has to run the bases 50 times. It’s called motivation, they would get the hint soon.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Okay, we know we are the most widely read comments section on the blogsphere, and that the entire Royals Nation is depending on us to solve the hitting problems (and other problems while we are at it). I have it on good authority that GMDM and Trey browse our site on an hourly basis during our posting period :). Here we go with our two major needs, the fist achievable, the second maybe not:
1. For future purposes, find out this year as pre-deadline trading priority, if Butler can play first, Callaspo can hold down SS or 2B, Pena can hit, and anyone else can close (so that we can try Soria as a starter in 2009 to be ready for 2010).
2. To find out whether any of the young guys on our team are a respectful major league hitter, sign Bonds to help take off the tremendous pressure that is on our hapless hitters right now, which spills over onto the pitchers (and don’t forget us fans who are still willing to watch this horrible sight). Bat Barry Baggage #3 or #4, take some pressure off the rest of the guys, see what they can do as part of a reasonably productive lineup, as opposed to one where every single one of them feels like the failure that they are as part of the overall worst run scoring lineup in many years. .
2.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:20 am
@Chris: The Royals are at the exact MLB average for home runs given up by pitching (as of whenever ESPN updates their stats). Exclude the batting practice home runs that Nomo threw the Yankees and we’re a couple ahead of the average. Not that average is equivalent to great, but I don’t think that their home run rate is especially troublesome.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Adam: My point was: It seems as if the Royals pitching give up more runs off homeruns that standard singles, double and triples.
Once again, I go back to the Texas game on 4/30 with Bannister/Yabuta/Peralta pitching, they combine for 5 homeruns in that game. You take away all of those homeruns and the Royals win 9-0.
Greinke/Yabuta combine for two homeruns on May 7th. If you take away the homeruns, the Royals win 9-1.
Bannister pitched on May 6th and gave up a three run homerun. Take that away, the Royals win 3-2.
Greinke pitches on 5/1, gives up two solo homeruns. Take those homeruns away and the Royals win 1-0.
You get my point.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Adam, I agree. Pitching is definitely NOT a concern. It’s our saving grace. Also, I don’t think GMDM is surprised about our poor hitting. The off-season found him fighting for another power stroke–Hunter or Kuroda. Imagine our situation if we had landed Hunter.
1. DDJ LF
2. Grudy 2B
3. Guillen RF
4. Hunter CF
5. Butler DH
6. Teahen 1B
7. Gordon 3B
8. Olivo (I like him more than Buck.) C
9. Callaspo (Phuck Pena!) SS
GMDM has seen this problem arise before it even began. It will be addressed. I just hate that we have to wait. However, remember that 40 game benchmark that GMDM referred to last year. He figures that’s enough time to assess what he has. Pena IS ON NOTICE. I have to think that Buck is, too. The end of May should see something give in with the front office. At least, I hope so.
I believe that Aviles will be traded. He’s at a position that is a surplus strength (kinda) at 2B. Also, he is 27, I think, so he could be moved since he is performing well. Callaspo appears to be the heir apparent at 2B. Aviles could net us something solid in return, another “Callaspo-ish” power-hitter. We only had to give up Buckner to get him.
May 9th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Since when is Grudz this streaky? A three for three beauty one night, can barely make contact with air molecules the next. This concerns me because it’s often a matter of “As Grudz goes, so go the Royals.”
I thought maybe we’d see a bunch of pinch hitting in the late innings after it became clear just about everyone in the lineup would have had trouble with t-ball this particular night.
Strike outs looking break my heart. Didn’t Butler take at least two that way?
May 9th, 2008 at 9:48 am
From Jason Stark…
The Royals will have pitching to spare this summer, with guys like Ron Mahay, Jimmy Gobble, and Brett Tomko on the block. Might make sense to shop Gil Meche, too.
KEEP GIL MECHE, PLEASE!
May 9th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Yeah, we lost last night, and the Angels took 2 out of 3 from us. You know what? I don’t care. I look back two years and compare that team to this one, and I am awestruck by how much better we are.
Pitching is night/day better. Defense is much improved. Hitting has…well hitting is worse. But that is primarily because our previous teams were stocked with 1- or 2-tool players (leaning towards offense).
When I look forward two more years, I see:
Teahen being the 4th OF.
An infield of Butler, Callaspo, Moustakas and Gordon.
An OF of DeJesus and two REAL MLB corner outfielders.
A rotation that can match with anybody in MLB, and a bullpen that can hold it’s own.
A true DH (veteran power hitter).
Yeah, we are struggling now, but we are only 2.5 games out of 1st, AND not in last place. Woo-hoo!
With GMDM at the helm, Hillman in the dugout, and Mr. Glass opening his checkbook, the Royals have a bright future indeed.
Now, as Aussie Steve says, “Go Royals!”
May 9th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Why is Buck on notice? It’s obvious that they like him catching more than Olivo. Olivo has only caught 7(!!) games compared to Buck’s 27. Buck, right now, is also one of the more productive and patient bats. Buck has the third most walks behind Gordon and Teahen. His OBP is # 5 on the team, ahead of Grudz, Butler and Olivo. He is also #5 on the team with 12 RBI.
I think they’ll keep Buck around over Olivo.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:23 am
@Chris: Sure, but Bannister is a flyball pitcher, Greinke has always been vulnerable to home runs, and Peralta and Yabuta are fillers, so that’s somewhat to be expected. Only Hochevar is a real ground ball pitcher, and he’s going to hang a few over the plate this year.
Our allowed OBP is low, our allowed walks are second lowest in the league, and we’re tied for 10th in the majors in runs allowed. We’re throwing strikes, and strikes sometimes get hit a long way.
I think even average run support would change your perception. When I’m watching, the home runs always feel like a punch in the stomach, because you know that it’s going to be real tough to win any game where the opponent scores more than 2 runs. The emotional impact of making one bad pitch is pretty bad.
May 9th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Zack — I, too, would hate to see Gil Meche leave, unless it was in exchange for a young, proven power bat. With all of the young arms, I wouldn’t mind an actual long-term upgrade in exchange for a shaky back-end of the rotation.
May 9th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
this would look like an entirely different lineup if Guillen were hitting. guys get on and nothing happens from the four spot. completely unexpected, and now he has a stinger, when it rains it pours.
Given the situation with Guillen possibly we need to have some patience. This seems to me a bit of a test for Moore and Hillman, and will be interesting how they handle it. Hillman has but 1.5 months to institute whatever batting philosphy he’s got, and while we might agree he’s been ineffective to date, I’m willing to sit back and see what he does. Personally I think his solutions are sitting right there in Omaha in Aviles and Costa. Both of those players can hit if anyone ever gives them a consistent shot, and this team needs hitters. Gathright and German down or released–what have we really lost–and those two up. Guillen sits, pinch hits or has off day duties till he shows he can still play. That’s an open question at this point. Aviles is in and out with Grudz alternating at DH, and if Grudz fades you have Aviles. I’d avoid relying on Alberto (Feebles) Callapso to get this team out of tail spin.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
If Buck’s not on notice, why has GMDM brought in a catcher to COMPETE with Buck the last two years instead of someone to be a backup? Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems as if the organization wants more out of Buck. Yes, Buck has maintained his status, but he hasn’t WON the position in my perception. Of course, I admit that I am not a Buck fan. Perhaps his .237 career batting average would be a loss…along with his career .299 OBP. I, for one, certainly enjoy Olivo’s .582 slugging percentage. I’ll take that over the 42 points Buck has over him in OBP this year. Plus, I really enjoyed Olivo nearly picking off the Angels on first base this week.
May 9th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Plus, I think it’s easier for Buck to be patient since pitchers know that they can get to Pena if they walk Buck.
May 10th, 2008 at 5:49 am
This is a little of topic, but the Royals have a guy named Edward Cegarra on the Burlington Bees (Class A Midwest League) with a KK:B ratio of 42:3 (before last nights start)… wow. He’s all of 19 years old.
May 10th, 2008 at 6:46 am
With Guillen we need patience? Um, he’s already earned about $3M from the Royals, I’d say he should produce. Unfortunately, hes a bum who produced and finally got his big contract WITH THE ROYALS. Thus, this is why I’m not 100% on Dayton Moore’s caboose. He signed two losers (Guillen/Tomko) for $15M this year, why??
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