BBQ Billy and Second Guessing

The 2014 World Series between the Royals and Giants is ready for game 6 in Kansas City tonight. After winning 2 of 3 in San Francisco the Giants hold a 3-2 lead and hope to wrap it up tonight. I wanted to post some thoughts because if I don't get it done it may never get them put down and on record.

Those that know me understand that I am glass half full kind of guy and as much as I have questioned manager Ned Yost in the past, this year I have pretty much had confidence in this post season as almost every string he had pulled seemed to fall in place and just work. I give my brother Steve credit for opening my thoughts on Yost and things like the playing or not playing of Billy Butler.

As the game went along we were texting and discussing moves and lineup changes. After seeing the result of the 3 games in San Fran and listening to the post game discussions by Soren Petro and Rany Jazayerli,  I am fully in the second guessing group. Regardless of what happens tonight in game 6 and hopefully game 7, things could have been different.

2nd Guess #1 - I understand no DH changes things in the NL park for games 3 and 4 and I am sort of ok with that. But why in 3 games in the NL league park did perhaps the best hitter on the team sit on the bench and get only ONE at bat. Jason Nix, a late season add on player with ZERO career hits as a Royal in 2014 actually had 2 at bats in SF and Billy Butler had only ONE at bat in the next to last inning of game 5. Explain this... Butler 0-1 and Nix 0-2??? You pinch hit Butler to leadoff in the 8th down by 2 runs? Did those decisions give the Royals the best chance to win?

BBQ Billy

Butler is one of the few that has had very good results vs Bumgarner. Lefties vs Bumgarner are especially bad against him and for some strange reason the lineup for game 5 had a pitcher batting and only 3 right handed bats. Yost started 5 lefties against this tough pitcher. Another thing.. if Butler gives you a better chance in the 8th leading off down 2, then why does he not give you a better chance in the previous 7 innings? Sure his defense is not Gold Glove like Hosmer, but with Bumgarner, runs are critical. There were also some chances to pinch hit Butler earlier in the game with runners on base. Bottom line is Billy BBQ Butler should have been in the starting lineup for game 5. In his one at bat, he strikes out on a curve ball that was way outside but was called a strike.

Think back to the last week of the season, Royals are chasing the Tigers for the AL West crown and it was a national Fox tv broadcast on the next to last Saturday of the regular season. Yost sat Butler vs a lefty, he didn't even DH in Kansas City! Royals lost and it seemed to stretch the Tigers lead out of reach. The next game Butler was back in and had a couple of RBI's and it seemed to light the fire to clinch the Wild Card for the final week of the season. Again I ASSumed that Yost had learned his lesson with BBQ Billy. I ASSumed incorrectly.

Christian Colon

2nd Guess # 2 -  The 25 man roster for the World Series dropped rookie Christian Colon and added the inept veteran Jayson Nix. Regular season 2014 he had 8 at bats and ZERO hits. When it was announced I assumed it was for defense flixibility in the NL games but after review Christian Colon played the same various positions, but actually hit .333 in 21 games and has speed. Whatever Yost said to justify it before the series started, this was a mistake. A player with zero hits as a Royal vs a player that contributed to your playoff run and hit over .300 in both AAA and the majors this year. This one also in on you Ned.

I do still think Ned has done a great job with this team and really doubt that there have been very many World Series winning teams where the manager moves and decisions were not questioned. It's the fun of the game. Good call Steve... you got this right! And I did not even discuss the botched double switch and playing Dyson in game 5 as he cannot hit lefties at all. This game like no other leads to moments like this to question so who really knows what will happen tonight in game 6. Personally I am confident in a game 6 win and then the famous game 7 will be a thrill. Regardless of the result, it's still a game. Enjoy this friends.... enjoy it!  

From one of my favorite writers, his post after game 5...

From Rany on the Royals...
God willing, I’ll be one of those fans tomorrow night, and (hopefully) Wednesday night as well. The Royals are two wins away from delivering us a championship I honestly never even contemplated as being within the realm of possibility, of delivering me a memory I never dreamed would be a reality. I expect them to do everything in their power to deliver it. It’s only fair that I hold myself to the same standard, and cheer them on from the stands, to give the same 100% I demand from them, until the final out. Until we are defeated. Or until we are delirious.

FINAL Game 2 - Royals Out Slug Giants 7-2 Even Series

Great game for the Royals last night. It looked like one of those long close games as it was tied most of the first 5 innings. The 6th inning is when it got interesting. The rookie Ventura seemed to tire in the 6th and after giving up 2 singles with one out, his day was done. On comes the HDH monster ( Herrera, Davis and Holland ), a little earlier than planned but it's all on the table at this point.  The Royals box summary pretty much lays the basics out.

Top 6

Defensive Substitution: Jarrod Dyson replaces right fielder Nori Aoki, batting 2nd, playing center field.

Defensive switch from center field to right field for Lorenzo Cain.

1.Buster Posey singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Jarrod Dyson.

2.Pablo Sandoval flies out to right fielder Lorenzo Cain.

3.Hunter Pence singles on a ground ball to shortstop Alcides Escobar. Buster Posey to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Kelvin Herrera replaces Yordano Ventura.

Coaching visit to mound.

4.Brandon Belt flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

5.Michael Morse grounds into a force out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to second baseman Omar Infante. Hunter Pence out at 2nd.

Bottom 6

1.Lorenzo Cain singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Gregor Blanco.

2.Eric Hosmer walks. Lorenzo Cain to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Jean Machi replaces Jake Peavy.

Coaching visit to mound.

3.Billy Butler singles on a line drive to left fielder Travis Ishikawa. Lorenzo Cain scores. Eric Hosmer to 2nd.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Terrance Gore replaces Billy Butler.

Pitching Change: Javier Lopez replaces Jean Machi.

4.Alex Gordon flies out to left fielder Travis Ishikawa.

Pitching Change: Hunter Strickland replaces Javier Lopez.

Coaching visit to mound.

With Salvador Perez batting, wild pitch by Hunter Strickland, Eric Hosmer to 3rd. Terrance Gore to 2nd.

5.Salvador Perez doubles (1) on a line drive to center fielder Gregor Blanco. Eric Hosmer scores. Terrance Gore scores.

6.Omar Infante homers (1) on a line drive to left field. Salvador Perez scores.

Pitching Change: Jeremy Affeldt replaces Hunter Strickland.

On-field Delay.

Coaching visit to mound.

7.Mike Moustakas singles on a line drive to center fielder Gregor Blanco.

8.Alcides Escobar grounds into a double play, shortstop Brandon Crawford to second baseman Joe Panik to first baseman Brandon Belt. Mike Moustakas out at 2nd.

Herrera was a little rocky in the top of the 7th but after 1 out he walked 2 and seemed really uncomfortable... but he stepped up, tightened up and got the next two outs and now we are back in the HDH groove... Davis in the 8th and Holland in the 9th. Game Over! Series even at 1 game a piece and heading to San Francisco.

There was a little dust up in the 6th when Strickland was upset and yelling at himself after giving up a double to Perez and the bomb to Infante. He was close to Sal when he was trotting home on the HR and Sal thought he was yelling at him. The Royals bench cleared, bullpen was running in... but the players and umpires did a great job of cooling some heads. I doubt it will have any lingering effects in the next games..

My intent was to write and post as the game progressed but honestly, I wanted to WATCH and ENJOY! I made some notes before the 6th but from the 6th on, I was a fan. And loving it all! Here are my notes as the game progressed early...

Top 1st - why did Ventura throw SO many fastballs to leadoff hitter Blanco? Just missed a fastball with 2 strikes, then they threw hin another and he drilled it into the right field bullpen for a 1-0 Giants lead. Good thing is, the kid learned and instantly began mixing in other pitches and pitched well for 5 innings.. great Start by the 22 year old Yordano Ventura!

Bot 1st - Billy Butler came through with HUGE RBI's, one in the first, Good for Billy, like I always say about Billy. that guy can just flat out hit.

Until the 6th it was fairly quick and well played. I missed the initial dust up after the Infante HR as I was out on the back porch clapping and whooping it up for the neighbors!! What a feeling that was. Kauffman Stadium looked wonderful on TV and the city is well represented after the first 2 games on the 2014 World Series...

Now on to the ballpark by the bay... so let's win a couple and get this back to the Blue Magic KINGdom and take back the CROWN !!

Royal Opportunity Wasted - 8 out of 11

The Royals always have trouble against the Minnesota Twins and we all went in to this short 2 game series with hope. Hope that the team has made steps to take advantage of opportunities to win against a good team. The game Tuesday night had such a situation after the Royals tied the game.

Down 1 run going into the 7th, the Royals get a lead off infield single from Alcides Escobar. Then on an attempted sac bunt by Chris Getz, Twins pitcher Brian Duensing air mails the throw over the first baseman and Escobar goes to 3rd, Getz to 2nd. Excellent, the Twins make an unusual critical error and try to and the Royals the lead on a silver platter. Next up Melky Cabrera lines one off the knee of Duensing, Escobar scores, Getz to 3rd.

1st and 3rd with nobody out, tie game in the 7th inning with Alex Gordon, Billy Butler and Jeff Francoeur due up. 3 tries to get one run across. Then an amazing thing happened. Those 3 men swung at 8 of the next 11 pitches ( all fastballs by the way )... 3 quick outs, game still tied. The last strike was a fastball middle in that Francoeur watches to end the inning. They seriously could not get ONE ball it on the ground, or in the air far enough for a sacrifice? These are the games that good teams win. I know this team technically is not a "good" team.

The best we can hope for is that this inning will be used as a "teaching opportunity" at all levels of the organization. I don't blame the bullpen for this loss, I blame the offense for failure to execute.

It's the little things that great teams do... let's be great.

The Fauxhawks Win in 13 !! Oh and KC is in FIRST PLACE ?

Play Ball !!Windy day in KC with SSW wind... 79 degrees, Beautiful. Thanks Denny, I love the picture you paint with words.

Swing and a miss, 2 out. A Sunday afternoon game in August, forget about it, but Sunday in April, nice. Ground ball with 1 on by Hunter and the inning is over with only 13 pitches. As Denny says, "After half an inning, the Angels nothing, the Royals coming up".


Mike Aviles leads off and is nicked by the pitch and is on first base. After a steal and ground out, Aviles is at 3rd with one out. Critical situation for a good team, score the run from 3rd with less than one out. And Alex Gordon comes through with his first RBI of the season. BALK ? Boy the Angels seems to be struggling. Gordon at 2nd with 1 out. Billy Butler hits it hard but at somebody, runner on 2nd with 2 out. Kila Ka'aihue works a 3-0 count and you can hear the crowd buzz. Ball 4. Jeff Francoeur has a chance to add to the 1-0 lead as $12 million dollar pitcher Scott Kazmir struggles. Base hit! Royals up 2-0.

In the bottom of the first, the Royals are making contact putting the ball in play, being aggressive and Kazmir has thrown 26 pitches, many not even close to a strike. Wilson Betemit hopes to keep it rolling as it looks like the Angels will get into their bullpen early today!! Another stolen base by Frenchy, I like this. Ball Four and the bases are full. Alcides Escobar grounds to first for the 3rd out and Kazmir throws 36 pitches. Nice.

After 1 inning - Angels 0 Royals 2

Now a critical inning for Bruce Chen and the Royals. After a long inning, it will be key for the Royals to shut them down again and get Kazmir back out there as quickly as possible. A lead off walk is not the way to kick that off. A double play right here would be nice, but a little pop up works, 1 out and no runner advance. Double down the line, runners at 2nd and 3rd and Jeff Mathis fouls out. 2 out and close to getting out of it. Swing and a miss, inning over. Well done.

BOMB, Melky Cabrera ! Then Gordon drills one off the wall and he is at 2nd with 2 out and Kazmir is up to 58 pitches on the 2nd inning. Might be a long day. Wind blowing out, we'll need more than 3 to win this one. And like last year, Billy get beaned, again. Think it would be nice to see Kila pound one and he does... Vernon Wells could not hold on to a drive over his head and the Royals are up 5-0. Still probably not enough. But Angels manager Mike Scioscia has seen enough. Pitching change! Holy cow, a BALK before the replacement throws a pitch. Easy pop fly out and the inning is over. Again 5 will not be enough today.

After 2 innings - Angels 0 Royals 5

Ok, 3 batters into the 3rd, it's 5-2 after back to back home runs and a walk. Chen needs a double play very badly, but Tori Hunter is up and this could get ugly fast. After a doubling Bobby Abreu off of first on a pop up, Chen and the Royals are out of the inning......... after losing my internet, it is now 5-4 Royals and Chen seems like a different pitcher than he was in the first 2 innings. Then after a MUCH too quiet inning for KC, the Royals.....scratch that, I spoke too soon as Butler Pounds one out with 2 outs and it's 6-4 Royals. 426 feet.

After 4 innings - Angels 4 Royals 6

And after taking some care of some things at home, the Angels have the lead in the bottom of the 9th 9-7. Lead off walk to Gordon,  Butler at bat and the Angels closer seems to be a little wild and almost blew the save on opening day. Fernando gets some help on a hard line drive that was headed towards the gap that was picked off my the shortstop. 1 on and 1 out, and the tying run standing in the box. Could Kila do it again? Not this time, but he does work a walk to put 2 on with only 1 out.

Here we go kids.... showtime !! Betemit lines one that is almost caught. Key word "almost" but 2 runs score and the game is tied with the winning run at 3rd and one out.

Escobar is up with the chance to be a hero and accepted as part of the future in KC. First pitch ball, then a strike. Then 2-1 count and he squared to bunt and took a strike. 2-2 count, fans on their feet. Angels have 5 infielders hoping to cut off a grounder. Ball 3, this is getting FUN! The 3-2 pitch is fouled off... would be great to be in the ballpark right now! Shock.. another walk and the bases are loaded again. Last minute roster addition Matt Treanor is up now. He grounds into a force out at home after Callaspo bobbles it to lose the chance at an inning ending double play. Next pitch is grounded right at third. 3 outs and after 9, it's even at 9. The Royals missed a golden opportunity to take a gift win and will now rely on the bullpen for the hold.

After 9 innings - Angels 9 Royals 9

Soria gets a ground out on his second pitch thanks to a good play by second baseman Aviles. Tough part of the order for the Angels. A base hit by IzturisIzturis and a walk to Kendrick but then Abreu singles. Angels have 1st and 3rd but Soria makes a great pitch to end the inning, still tied. An uneventful bottom of the 10th and we are on to the 11th.

After 10 innings - Angels 9 Royals 9

Tim Collins comes in for the 11th. And he is throwing strikes, working fast but after getting a strikeout, he gives up a single. Now would be a good time for another couple of strikeouts. A good test for a rookie reliever and he is passing so far. Short foul pop up and he has 2 outs. The bullpen for the Royals has been very good so far this short season. The 2-2 pitch to Mathis is swung on and missed and Collins continues his 1+ strikeout per inning.

This is exhausting... Betemit walk and steals 2nd, then for some unknown reason tries to advance to 3rd on a pitch in the dirt. Then 2 walks and the Royals have 2 on with 2 out. Can we end it here men? Of course not, Aviles strikes out. Painful.

After 11 innings Angels 9 Royals 9

Collins starts off the 12th with a strikeout, what else! A ground out and ANOTHER strikeout and Kendrick and the Angels are done in the 12th. Now that was efficient, hopefully the offense will respond. But nope...

After 12 innings Angels 9 Royals 9

Lead off single is cleaned up with a double play and another strikeout by Collins and time for the bottom of the 13th. This has become one of those games you are stuck following. After about 11 innings you have to stay tuned in to see how it ends. 

Top of 13th uneventful... In the bottom half, Getz  tried to take the game over with a walk, stolen base and boldly advanced on a ground out to 3rd. But we was caught in a run down after a tap to the pitcher. But then, it was WALK OFF time again... Treanor slams a game winning 3 run home run and the Royals are 3-1. Second best story of the game is the performance of Tim Collins...  check this line out.  3 IP, 2 hits, 5 k's and the WIN.

Great job in this first series by the bullpen... or what MLB.com reports, they are called the Fauxhawks !!

photo from MLB.com

2011 New Year - New Project

I had the idea to start a blog and write a little something about each game of the Kansas City Royals 162 game season. I think the 162 is safe as it is very doubtful that they will be playing beyond that in 2011. With no Greinke and no true proven stars (ok Butler might count if he starts hitting with power) and an organization loaded with talent at AAA level and below, the prospects for an "interesting" season is high.

Is interesting good enough? No, but us Royal's fans know the drill... stay tuned as I will be posting before the season begins. If at anytime you would like to become a contributor to this blog, let me know and I give the lineup some thought.

How many days until Spring Training ? Too many...

PLAY BALL !!