Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Royally Flushed
My only real exposure to the forsaken World of the Kansas City Royals, outside of the occasional glance at them via MLB.TV, is via Rob and Rany. That would be Neyer and Jazayerli respectively. These two voices in the wilderness write a semi-weekly column, essentially a running dialogue on the latest folly, miscue or case of mismanagement in Royaland.
Since their column is usually an exercise in venting their frustrations with their favorite team, my overall perception of the Royals is probably even worse than even their horrid record would warrant.
So it is with particular consternation and embarrassment that I'm watching the worst team in baseball trounce all over the New York Yankees. Last night was one thing; tonight is an entirely different level.
Just how bad would this loss be? In my estimation, the worst of the season for the Yanks.
One of the reasons that baseball is my favorite sport is that it offers the richest doses of irony, in comparison to football or basketball. And it does this on an almost nightly basis.
Of course, some doses of irony are more surreal than others, and tonight is as surreal as it gets.
With Randy Johnson (Randy Johnson) on the mound, the Yankees are losing 3-0 to the Royals in the 7th inning. It would be their second loss to the Royals in two nights, and would guarantee a Kansas City series victory.
To put this in further perspective, let me point out just how bad these Royals have been. As Steven Goldman wrote today in his latest installment of The Pinstriped Bible, "They are in a virtual tie for last in on-base percentage, 12th in slugging, 12th in batting average, and second to last in walks. The pitching staff is last in ERA at 5.65.” Looking at the left column on this blog, you can see the Royals were 14 runs worse as far as run differential goes than the next worse team in baseball. Goldman further points out that their .275 winning percentage puts them in the same general area as the infamous Tigers of 2003 (.265) and the Mets of 1962 (.250).
By my count this would be the fourth series win of the season for the Royals. They took 3 out of 4 from the Devil Rays (May 12-15); 2 out of 3 at Cleveland (April 29-May 1); and 2 out of 3 in Anaheim (April 8-10). Although right now the Angels are a better team than the Yankees, no one bats an eyelash about a series the first week of the season. This series against the Yankees would have more than a hint of incredulity. The Royals have been swept eight times coming into June.
It is now the bottom of the 8th, and Johnson is still in the game. Lead-off single by Emil Brown.
Johnson hasn’t been the biggest problem tonight. Although he can’t have guys launching balls into the fountains (by Brown in the 1st), he certainly hasn’t been terrible to this point:
No one on now, two outs.
Base hit for K.C.
The biggest problem has been the Yankees’ offense, which has barely registered a whimper against guys by the names of D.J. Carrasco and Steve Stemle.
They have 5 hits and 3 BB and have been putting the ball in play (only 2 Ks), but they haven’t been able to muster even a semblance of a rally. It’s been a story of one baserunner and done all night long.
Strikeout to end the 9th.
As I’m waiting for the top of the 9th to begin, I will say it’s nice to see Kauffman Stadium packed. It’s a great ballpark (saw one game there in June of ’97), and I have memories of when the Royals were a proud franchise and a formidable opponent. That’s almost 20 years ago now…
MacDougal on in the 9th.
A weak grounder off the bat of Giambi on the first pitch. 1 out.
Ugghhh…
Ruben Sierra, who actually has one hit tonight – his first since coming back from the DL.
Strikeout swinging on a nasty breaking ball. 2 outs.
UGGGHHH…
Bernie.
“These are not exactly household names shutting the Yankees down.” – Ken Singleton, YES broadcaster
2-2.
Home run to right. Bernie’s not the last to go down.
Score: Royals 3, Yankees 1
Robinson Canon – double to center on the first pitch…
Something brewing?
Pitching coach, Guy Hansen, visits the mound to settle MacDougal down.
Up to Jeter.
94 mph, strike 1.
Strike two, swinging.
Missed the corner. Ball 1.
Ball 2 on a breaking pitch in the dirt.
Fouled off at the plate – that one hit 97 according to the YES gun.
3-2, low.
(It’s hard to believe I’m feeling this much tension over a game vs. the Royals on June 1…)
Swing and miss on a breaking ball that stayed in the strike zone.
UGGGGHHHH!
Final: Royals 3, Yankees 1.
Somewhere Rob and Rany are smiling, or at least offering a first-pump.
Meanwhile the rest of the baseball world is having a good laugh tonight.
My only real exposure to the forsaken World of the Kansas City Royals, outside of the occasional glance at them via MLB.TV, is via Rob and Rany. That would be Neyer and Jazayerli respectively. These two voices in the wilderness write a semi-weekly column, essentially a running dialogue on the latest folly, miscue or case of mismanagement in Royaland.
Since their column is usually an exercise in venting their frustrations with their favorite team, my overall perception of the Royals is probably even worse than even their horrid record would warrant.
So it is with particular consternation and embarrassment that I'm watching the worst team in baseball trounce all over the New York Yankees. Last night was one thing; tonight is an entirely different level.
Just how bad would this loss be? In my estimation, the worst of the season for the Yanks.
One of the reasons that baseball is my favorite sport is that it offers the richest doses of irony, in comparison to football or basketball. And it does this on an almost nightly basis.
Of course, some doses of irony are more surreal than others, and tonight is as surreal as it gets.
With Randy Johnson (Randy Johnson) on the mound, the Yankees are losing 3-0 to the Royals in the 7th inning. It would be their second loss to the Royals in two nights, and would guarantee a Kansas City series victory.
To put this in further perspective, let me point out just how bad these Royals have been. As Steven Goldman wrote today in his latest installment of The Pinstriped Bible, "They are in a virtual tie for last in on-base percentage, 12th in slugging, 12th in batting average, and second to last in walks. The pitching staff is last in ERA at 5.65.” Looking at the left column on this blog, you can see the Royals were 14 runs worse as far as run differential goes than the next worse team in baseball. Goldman further points out that their .275 winning percentage puts them in the same general area as the infamous Tigers of 2003 (.265) and the Mets of 1962 (.250).
By my count this would be the fourth series win of the season for the Royals. They took 3 out of 4 from the Devil Rays (May 12-15); 2 out of 3 at Cleveland (April 29-May 1); and 2 out of 3 in Anaheim (April 8-10). Although right now the Angels are a better team than the Yankees, no one bats an eyelash about a series the first week of the season. This series against the Yankees would have more than a hint of incredulity. The Royals have been swept eight times coming into June.
It is now the bottom of the 8th, and Johnson is still in the game. Lead-off single by Emil Brown.
Johnson hasn’t been the biggest problem tonight. Although he can’t have guys launching balls into the fountains (by Brown in the 1st), he certainly hasn’t been terrible to this point:
IP H R ER BB K
7.2 8 3 3 1 6
No one on now, two outs.
Base hit for K.C.
The biggest problem has been the Yankees’ offense, which has barely registered a whimper against guys by the names of D.J. Carrasco and Steve Stemle.
They have 5 hits and 3 BB and have been putting the ball in play (only 2 Ks), but they haven’t been able to muster even a semblance of a rally. It’s been a story of one baserunner and done all night long.
Strikeout to end the 9th.
Johnson’s final stat line:
IP H R ER BB K
8 9 3 3 1 6
As I’m waiting for the top of the 9th to begin, I will say it’s nice to see Kauffman Stadium packed. It’s a great ballpark (saw one game there in June of ’97), and I have memories of when the Royals were a proud franchise and a formidable opponent. That’s almost 20 years ago now…
MacDougal on in the 9th.
A weak grounder off the bat of Giambi on the first pitch. 1 out.
Ugghhh…
Ruben Sierra, who actually has one hit tonight – his first since coming back from the DL.
Strikeout swinging on a nasty breaking ball. 2 outs.
UGGGHHH…
Bernie.
“These are not exactly household names shutting the Yankees down.” – Ken Singleton, YES broadcaster
2-2.
Home run to right. Bernie’s not the last to go down.
Score: Royals 3, Yankees 1
Robinson Canon – double to center on the first pitch…
Something brewing?
Pitching coach, Guy Hansen, visits the mound to settle MacDougal down.
Up to Jeter.
94 mph, strike 1.
Strike two, swinging.
Missed the corner. Ball 1.
Ball 2 on a breaking pitch in the dirt.
Fouled off at the plate – that one hit 97 according to the YES gun.
3-2, low.
(It’s hard to believe I’m feeling this much tension over a game vs. the Royals on June 1…)
Swing and miss on a breaking ball that stayed in the strike zone.
UGGGGHHHH!
Final: Royals 3, Yankees 1.
Somewhere Rob and Rany are smiling, or at least offering a first-pump.
Meanwhile the rest of the baseball world is having a good laugh tonight.
