Royals Authority

It’s Ugly But Still a Win

By Clark Fosler | May 14th, 2008

The Royals came up with a big win on Tuesday evening, besting the Tigers by the score of 3-2. Generally, when you see a score like that, you think of a tightly played pitcher’s duel. What you got instead was a ragged game in which both teams did their best to keep from scoring. The Tigers and Royals combined to put 27 runners on base and score just five, one of which was unearned.

The bright spot for the Royals was how Zack Greinke battled through his six innings of work. Working without his best stuff, battling his control and faced with a very small strike zone, Zack managed to work around nine hits and two walks to allow just two runs. All that against one of more potent offenses in the league.

Offensively, the Royals were maddeningly inefficient. It started in inning number one when Mark Grudzielanek singled and took second on the first of many ‘less than good’ defensive plays of the night when Magglio Ordonez threw behind him at first base. Alex Gordon then swung at the first pitch he saw for an out and was followed by Jose Guillen who did the exact same thing. Keep in mind, the Royals were facing a pitcher with a plus six earned run average who has battled his control at times with an umpire who would rather do just about anything than call a strike.

In the third inning, the first four Royals hitters forced Robertson to expend just eight pitches, but were bailed out by Jose Guillen’s two out double. In the fourth, Kansas City somehow managed to get two hits and make three outs on just nine Robertson offerings. In the fifth, the Royals put runners on first and second, only to have Gordon line into a double play on the first pitch and Guillen end the inning on another first pitch. In the sixth, Butler, Teahen and Buck all put the second pitch of their at-bats into play with Buck singling but inexplicably getting picked off of first. Frankly, what is John Buck doing ever being more than one step from a base?

The Royals pieced together a nice two out rally to win the game in the bottom of the eight (thanks to Edgar Renteria’s blind toss to no one that allowed Esteban German to score from second on a Mark Teahen infield single.) that won the game and salvaged what was otherwise a really awful night at the plate. Despite amassing 12 hits and a walk, the Royals forced the Tigers’ pitchers to throw only 107 pitches on the night. Had it not been for the hard fought effort by Zack Greinke and the usual lights out performance by the bullpen’s ‘A’ team of Ramirez, Nunez and Soria this could have been one of the most frustrating games of the year.

As it was, however, it turned out to be big win for the Royals. A win is a win, however ugly it might have been.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 at 4:48 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

21 Responses to “It’s Ugly But Still a Win”

JVG says:

May 14th, 2008 at 5:31 am

Does anyone else think the hit and run sign was on when Buck was picked off? If so, isn’t it highly likely the Tigers stole that sign? I think it’s the first time ever I’ve seen anyone throw to first when Buck is there…
kcghost says:

May 14th, 2008 at 5:34 am

Our offense is awful in every respect. We can’t get on base, we can’t advance runners, we get thrown out on dumb base running maneuvers, any extra base hit almost calls for a celebration, two-out hits rarely occur, if a pitcher has control issues we’re hacking away. etc. And it isn’t just two or three of these guys. It’s all of them.

I am not a big one for blaming coaches for the failures of the players, but this failure is so pervasive maybe a serious look at how we are coaching our hitters is called for.
tza says:

May 14th, 2008 at 6:40 am

Let’s not minimize the play in the eigth. Renteria gloved the ball on the second-base side of the bag with his momentum going toward right field. German told Dutton that he had no intention of stopping at third - maybe hindsight-aided revisionist history; but maybe Renteria considered the possibility. If the ball gets thru, the run scores. If Renteria tries to go home, maybe the throw is weak and the run scores. If he gets the flip, the inning is over and no run scores. I saw it as an aggressive attempt to save the inning and it just didn’t work out for the Tiggers. Good for the home team, but I don’t think Renteria should be second-guessed.

Of course, I could be wrong and he was only thinking of the kick-ass Sportcenter highlight; then he’s a moron.
Jonathan says:

May 14th, 2008 at 6:49 am

Every game is a (frustrating) adventure for this team’s offense. Ugh.
Zack Daddy says:

May 14th, 2008 at 7:01 am

Guillen’s average is over the Mendoza line! Sweet! Hitting is contagious so maybe things will start to look up.

Time for Pena to go…still.

Craig and Clark…I was watching Costas NOW! on HBO last night. He had the guy from a blog called deadspin.com, a national sports writer and Braylon Edwards for a panel discussion regarding the content of sports blogs. Comments were read from the deadspin.com blog. They were unbelievable. Low class, low quality. Our “Royals” commentator would be considered a Pulitzer Prize caliber contributor over there. Anyway, my point is that you guys need to know that you have developed an incredible fan site. The content here is unmatched by any sports blog I have seen. Also, the commentators are just as great. Thank you, guys.
Zack Daddy says:

May 14th, 2008 at 7:13 am

Someone was citing that a couple of players shouldn’t have swung at first pitch strikes. Just like to say that is not a problem. The whole idea of working pitch counts is to either got on base via a walk or to wait for the pitch YOU want. If a fat fastball comes down the middle on the first pitch, guys like Guillen SHOULD be swinging.

I remember back when Big Papi hit that homerun off of Jarod Washburn in the playoffs. Washburn just came into the game. I think Ortiz swung at the first pitch and put it over the fence for a walkoff homer. IT WAS THE PITCH HE WAS WAITING FOR.
Gene says:

May 14th, 2008 at 7:32 am

I’d like to second ZackDaddy on the content of this site. I always appreciate the fact that this site has become a happy home to this longtime Royals diehard. I find the content to be engaging and thought provoking, much like baseball. Thanks to all who make this happen.

As for last nite, great win. I don’t care how you win a one run game as long as you win the one run game. And, the Greinkful One was the catalyst for it. As the post read, that was not his best stuff last nite. But, he fought throught it and kept the Royals alive. In past seasons, I think Greinke would’ve imploded faced with all the scenarios that played out last nite. Now though, he fully realizes that the genius talent he has makes his worst stuff better than most guys best. I’m very happy for fans, and for Zack especially, that we get to watch this guy pitch every five days.
JBOPP says:

May 14th, 2008 at 7:34 am

It’s ok to swing on the first pitch if you get on base. It’s not ok to swing on the first pitch if you get out.

Yesterday’s article clearly shows that KC is first in BBIP on first pitch but near last for OBP on first-pitches.

I’m not sure how you can continually justify swinging at the first pitch when it’s fairly obvious they have no clue what pitch they are looking for. It’s simply inexcusable to have two on and no outs and then be sitting on your bench TWO PITCHES later.

That happened twice yesterday, and it’s not because “they liked what they saw.” C’mon zack. I know you’re against PPA as an effective measure of batting ability but this is as clear as day. If we get a hitter like Ortiz, he can swing at what he wants. When we have an entire team slugging less than the number of Spartans that fought at Thermopolae, you tell them to sit the eff down and work the count.

You can’t tell a team of singles hitters to swing on the first pitch, and you can’t keep making excuses for it.
Chris says:

May 14th, 2008 at 7:39 am

ZD: I’ve always thought of Guillen as the cornerstone of the offense. I figured if/when Guillen starts hitting, everyone else will too. I think Alex Gordon is trying to do too much. It seems as if everytime Gordon swings in the past few games, he is trying to take the ball 600 feet. I think, in a sense, that is the way most of the team has been in the past month. Guillen hasn’t done anything, so they try to take up the slack. It hasn’t worked. With Guillen hitting, there is no slack.

The offense isn’t terrible, they just need to get on a roll together. There are some good hitters on the team, Butler, Gordon, Olivo, Guillen, Grudz, Teahen & DeJesus have all proven they can hit. Once they all click at the same time and with the good pitching they are getting, they’ll win some games.
JMGRoyalsFan says:

May 14th, 2008 at 7:47 am

Swinging at the first pitch isn’t so bad….neither is letting 2 strikes go without a swing. The key is having a plan. You look for a pitch or a mistake pitch. Whether or not it comes immediately, you gotta swing when it comes. Are they hitting a well-thrown strike? or mistake pitches over the plate.
Adam says:

May 14th, 2008 at 7:48 am

Zack: I agree with you; you can’t label all first pitch swings bad. Especially on Gordon’s caught liner, that was a rocket, just hit it right to Polanco. Though on the other hand, when you have guys on 1st and 2nd with one out, you kinda want to make the pitcher work for it.
Clark Fosler says:

May 14th, 2008 at 8:06 am

Let me clarify that generally I loathe the idea of taking the first pitch ‘just to take it’. My point was that the Royals were jumping on the first pitch they could reach on a consistent basis all night (Gordon saw a total of 8 pitches in 4 at-bats). Aggression is good and often the first pitch might be the best pitch, but the boys were way over the top on swinging early last night.
Chief says:

May 14th, 2008 at 8:56 am

Has anyone ever done a study of batter’s averages and 1st-pitch tendency? Is there a corelation between a high avg and NOT taking a first pitch?

My man Pena got a hit last night! A .333 average - for one game, anyway. I boldly predict a walk before the All-Star break.

Grudzielanek is a stud! How are we ever going to replace him?

And yes, this is the best site in Royaldom.
steve y says:

May 14th, 2008 at 8:59 am

When you swing should depend on the pitch that you get, I love it when a pitcher is on the ropes throwing BP and everyone is teeing off on him and sending line drives and long flies all over the place. But if we have too many folks swinging early for routine outs, then they and our coaches are not paying attention. John Buck of all people had good at bats last night (until he lost his mind on his final at bat), very good pitch recognition (unlike lots of our boys that watch the easy to hit strike right into the glove, then swing for the fountains at unhittable pitches down in the dirt) took the balls, took good swings on the good pitches to hit and hit them good (he was possibly feeling so amazed by how simple and wonderful it is to do it right, that he fell asleep on his baserunning). Sensing some frustration in the lead and comments even in a win, I always feel better and more optimistic about the many bad things when we win, just wish that we had gotten Zack the victory against their weak pitcher that we bailed out with too many early swings without good results. By the way, take me off the “sign Barry” club, 15 fresh felonies is all I needed to see, one known juicer is enough, though watching these boys hit (and especially with Buck and Teahan just one mysterious half season of power each when their careers were really threatend) makes you wonder, I see they will test the top 100 prospects in the upcoming draft, let’s hope that Moustakas and Gordon were not considered as the best due to artificial means that will not sustain.
Collin says:

May 14th, 2008 at 9:02 am

Coming in to last night Robertson had been struggling. He knew that and the Royals knew that. I suppose they thought he’d be trying to lay pitches over to get ahead.

That being said I wanted to break something after the bottom half of the 1st. I think (hope?) at some point the team will start playing like a team and individuals will start understanding their role. I think MTH has a plan to let these young guys develop at the plate. I think we’ll see the fruits of this terrible labor in the near future.
Zack Daddy says:

May 14th, 2008 at 10:01 am

Clark, that’s the sentiment that I am trying to put out there. As someone said, there has to be a plan. As a hitter, you’re looking for that “perfect” pitch. You’re sitting on the count until you perceive that pitch is more likely to come. It takes a well disciplined hitter. Many Royals have not swung at their pitch, the “perfect” pitch. This isn’t surprising given the youth and inexperience with players like Gordon, Gath, Pena (not defending him) and Butler. However, I think Teahen and Buck should have this better figured out. DDJ seems to. Grudy, too.
Gene says:

May 14th, 2008 at 10:16 am

Chief- Interesting concept. I would guess it would depend, wouldn’t it? I mean, if you swing at the first pitch and get a hit, you’re good. But, if you don’t, what happens?
Thats baseball though, the percentages change with every pitch.

Beat the Tiggers tonite!!
Gene says:

May 14th, 2008 at 10:17 am

Chief- Also, Jeff Keppinger couldve replaced him as we speak.
gbewing says:

May 14th, 2008 at 5:32 pm

Zach man your a broken record so I will be too- no one ever suggested never swing at a first pitch strike. Of course you are selectivel;y aggressive- but Royals hitters have been in bottom 3 of team on base % for years– to ignore that is ignorant-
it’s an issue? John Buck is my example from last night- 1rst at bat (maybe 2nd think it was first) was a great at bat- selective -patient and got the pitch he wanted deep into the count by forcing Robertson to his advantage-hit-last year Buck was constantly down 0-2 1-2 and swung at outside and low to strike out - predictable as rain
last ab vs Cruceta- Cruceta was falling apart after the Teahan hit and resorted to his wildness (which is a known trait- Buck got ahead 2-1 and the 2 balls were not close- 4th pitch in the dirt swing and a miss 5th pitch fouled off way outside- 6th pitch swing and a miss in the dirt- awful at bat- Royals hitter give those at bats away more than most teams-

The issue isn’s swing at first pitches- the issue is low on base % and swinging early is 1 piece of that

Please don’t repeat my points in extremes in the future - it’s a discussion-I have no illusion I will convince you of a different opinion but please respect you also are not the only voice on this
gbewing says:

May 14th, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Lets say the average is .300 on first pitch swinging IF They hit it- sounds good right but it’s also your on base % which isn’t that good at all
and what if they miss or foul then the odds go way down 0-1 and 0-2 is death .180ish

I’ve alwys heard from managers be aggressive in RBI situations and patient to start an ing-

Obviously there have been great hitters who walked rarely- Carew Puckett- Vlad -usually it’s the punch and judy guys like Alou brothers et al Polanco- guys with great vision and hand/eye response- great contact rates 90% and above
Callspro is a guy who may get away hitting like this-Vlad can absolutely becuase he can hit pitches Buck can’t

Most great hitters Boggs-Ted Williams have a more patient approach- great hitters get more balls of course- a better stat is can players tell a strike from a ball- swing at a pitch down the middle is not a bad idea - swing at a pitch in the dirt is bad

The player who took the most pitches per at bat
B Abreu 4.32 good hitter
B Wilkerson bad hitter terrible contact rate but decent on base % so Wilkerson is a bad hitter who becomes useful because he’s patient
C Blake is 3rd
Jermaine Dye 4th
A Dunn 5th

Least pitches per at bat
AJ Pierzinski 3.07
Vlad- great bat control
S Casey good avg decent on base .350+
Biggio- not typical of his carreer as he was done
Tike Redman

so mixed results-

Player who took the 1rst pitch most often
Barry Bond- other in top 5 a mix of good bad hitters
Player who swung 1rst pitch most-Vlad- others in top 5 bad hitters

so let the discussion continue- I just want a higher on base %
Zack Daddy says:

May 14th, 2008 at 6:40 pm

gbewing…for the record, I wasn’t referring to your points nor did I take your points to extreme. Rather, I thought we were on the same page on pitch count strategies. No need to make it personal, my friend.

THE AUTHOR

Clark Fosler

Info | Links

MVN - Most Valuable Network

MLB Headlines