High Mileage

Well, I'm personally just hoping we don't get no hit in this series. Our offense is even worse than it was last year, and your pitching is even better, so I'm praying at this point. If we can make it through the first three games without getting no-hit, then I'll pray we don't get swept. I'm hoping we can win at least one before Sunday, because I don't like Bruce Chen's chances against Josh Beckett. Anyways, hope it's cool for the Royals fan to start a game thread, I think I did last year but I'm not sure... ROYALS Luke Hochevar (4-3, 5.08): battled to a victory Saturday against the Chicago White Sox, allowing four runs in six innings of a 6-4 win. The former No. 1 overall draft pick has been showing signs of progress lately, going 4-1 with a 3.40 ERA in his last six starts. He faced Boston twice last year, going 0-2 with a 6.94 ERA and 9 walks in 11.2 innings. His only appearance at Fenway Park came in a 7-0 loss opposite Jon Lester's no-hitter on May 19, 2008. The Royals are 7-14 since June 17, and their offense has average 3.2 runs in that span. RED SOX Brad Penny (6-3, 4.67 ERA): has just 1 win in his last 5 starts despite a 2.20 ERA over that span. He has allowed 2 runs and 6 hits in 6 innings in each of his last 2 outings, but is 0-1 in those games. The only time Penny faced the Royals, he allowed 3 runs in 7 innings of the Dodgers' 3-1 loss on June 15, 2005.

Tuesday... Buehrle: W #9, 7 innings, 3 runs (earned), 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, 2 home runs. ERA up to 3.14 Beckett: W #10, 6.2 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs (earned), 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, 1 home run. ERA down to 3.62 Verlander: W #9, 6 innings, 7 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), 0 walks, 11 strikeouts, 1 home run. ERA up to 3.59 Wednesday... Greinke: L #5, 6 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs (earned), 2 walks, 9 strikeouts, 0 home runs. ERA up to 2.12 Wakefield: W #11, 6 innings, 10 hits, 3 runs (earned), 1 walk, 8 strikeouts, 0 home runs. ERA up to 4.31

If you're going to help, at least make it look right.

Monday... Millwood: L #6, 5 innings, 9 hits, 9 runs (earned), 3 walks, 0 strikeouts, 1 home run. ERA up to 3.34 Weaver: W #9, 7 innings, 7 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 1 walk, 9 strikeouts, 1 home run. ERA up to 3.15

DeRosa to the DL... http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4311399

Saturday... Halladay: ND, 7 innings, 9 hits, 5 runs (earned), 3 walks, 3 strikeouts, 3 home runs. ERA up to 2.79 Jackson: 6.1 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs (earned), 4 walks, 9 strikeouts, 2 home runs. ERA up to 2.59 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/KScivic/Royals/alcyw3.jpg

Shot 4 times. Twice in the chest, twice in the head. RIP.

Thursday... Buehrle: W #8, 8.1 innings, 6 hits, 1 run (earned), 0 HR, 0 walks, 1 strikeout. ERA down to 3.09 Friday... Greinke: L #4, 6 innings, 9 hits, 4 runs, 2 earned, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, 1 home run. ERA up to 2.00 Hernandez: ND, 7 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs (earned), 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, 1 home run. ERA up to 2.62 Slowey: ND, 3 innings, 5 hits, 6 runs (earned), 0 walks 4 strikeouts, 1 home run. ERA up to 4.86

Monday... Halladay: L #2, 6 innings, 5 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, 1 home run. ERA up to 2.56 http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/KScivic/Royals/alcyw2.jpg Wednesday... Beckett: ND, 7 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs, 5 earned runs, 2 HR, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts. ERA up to 3.67 Millwood: ND, 6.1 innings, 8 hits, 4 runs, 4 earned runs, 0 HR, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts. ERA up to 2.80 Verlander: L #4, 6 innings, 6 hits, 4 runs, 4 earned runs, 2 HR, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts. ERA up to 3.54 Weaver: ND, 5.1 innings, 8 hits, 7 runs, 7 earned runs, 1 HR, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts. ERA up to 3.10

Morneau's numbers on the road are still above average, Teixeira's are well below...

Not sure. Take a look at Morneau's home/away splits. Home is much better, but his away stats are nowhere near as bad as Teixiera's... http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=morneju01&year=2009&t=b#hmvis

And Morneau has more hits, has scored more runs, a higher average, higher OBP, a higher OPS+, and more total bases. Also, take a look at Tex's numbers when he plays in real ballparks... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/KScivic/Royals/tex.jpg NOT an All-Star. Not by numbers anyways.

How they should be... Starters: [table]Position|AL Player|Team C|J. Mauer|MIN 1B|J. Morneau|MIN 2B|I. Kinsler|TEX 3B|E. Longoria|TB SS|D. Jeter|NYY OF|J. Bay|BOS OF|Ichiro|SEA OF|C. Crawford|TB SP|Z. Greinke|KC[/table]

I'm actually confused as to why DeRosa has been considered as such a great option, yet Teahen has not... Mark DeRosa: 34 years old, right-handed, makes $5.5M, free agent after this year... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/KScivic/Royals/derosa.jpg Mark Teahen: 27 years old, left-handed, makes $3.5M, free agent after 2011... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/KScivic/Royals/teahen.jpg The only clear difference is RBI. You can blame that on the Royals crappy "offense"...

A rain delay cost Greinke another complete game today. He was at 80 pitches. Greinke: W #10, 6.1 innings, 7 hits, 2 earned runs, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts. ERA up to 1.95 Jackson: ND, 7 innings, 5 hits, 3 earned runs, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts. ERA up to 2.49

Friday... Beckett: W #9, 7 innings, 6 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 6 strikeouts. ERA down to 3.48 Millwood: W #8, 6 innings, 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, 1 home run. ERA up to 2.64 Verlander: ND, 5.1 innings, 7 hits, 3 earned runs, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts. ERA up to 3.40 Weaver: W #8, 6 innings, 4 hits, 3 earned runs, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts, 2 home runs. ERA up to 2.65 Saturday... Buehrle: ND, 5.2 innings, 6 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), 3 walks, 3 strikeouts. ERA up to 3.26 Hernandez: W #8, 8 innings, 4 hits, 1 unearned run, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts. ERA down to 2.54 Slowey: L #3, 3 innings, 6 hits, 5 earned runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, 2 home runs. ERA up to 4.41

Teahen>DeRosa

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/KScivic/Royals/alcyw1.jpg

.395 after going 0-5 yesterday...

Tuesday... Greinke: (W), 8 innings, 8 hits, 1 earned runs, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts, ERA down to 1.90 Jackson: (ND), 7 innings, 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts, ERA up to 2.40

Thank you Boston fans, it's good to know there is common sense among you...

He's hanging his argument on the Dice-K in the postseason...

I should also mention that I thought the numbers were a lot closer than they are. I thought Dice-K threw a lot more innings, and I didn't realized he walks so many. I'm not trying to bash the guy, or the Red Sox, I just thought the statement was a little ridiculous when it was made, and after comparing numbers for the last 2.5 seasons, I think it's absolutely stupid.

But...but...but...he's been worth every penny!