Series Analysis
Kansas City @ Baltimore
Thursday April 12 KC 1-2 BAL
Friday April 13 KC 1-8 BAL
Saturday April 14 KC 4-6 BAL
Sunday April 15 Rainout
Mother Nature is the Royals savior of the week causing the 4th and final game of the series to be rained out. Sunday's rainout surely had to be a good thing for the Royals giving them their first off day of the year and a break from the monotony of losing. Before the rainout the Royals had dropped their last four games in a row. The Royals offense continues to struggle, but showed signs of life for the first time since the first week, scoring 4 runs before thebullpen blew it's second game of the series.
Thursday's game was an overall disappointment. Again the Royals had another excellent quality start to begin the game from Gil Meche(6 IP 0ER 5K) before he left with a tight hamstring and turned the ball over to the bullpen with a 1-0 lead. Jimmy Gobble (2/3 IP 3H 1ER) came in and immediately let the Orioles back into the game ultimately leading to the loss in 10 innings. Granted the Royals offense didn't score enough runs, but is disheartening to waste a good start.
Game two of the series was never even close. Brandon Duckwork( 5IP 4R 2ER 4K 4BB) got the start and struggled with his command most of the game. A 1st inning error by Esteban German led to two runs and the O's never looked back. The low light of the game was in the 8th inning when guess who...Todd Wellemeyer( 1 IP 3H 4ER 1BB) came in and surrendered a Grand Slam to Nick Markakis. Wellemeyer has really struggled so far this year and continues to do so. I only feel comfortable seeing him in mop-up roles until he gets his head on straight.
It seems as though every series has a heart breaker and Saturday's game was it. The Royals bats had finally awoken from their slumber, getting 4 runs in the first 5 innings before the usual bullpen implosion. Granted it wasn't all the bullpens fault. Some fault lies with Buddy Bell for not pulling starter Odalis Perez(5 IP 4ER) before the 6th, another 1/3rd of the fault lies between Reggie Sanders , David DeJesus and Tony Pena Jr., who let a routine fly ball drop between them. The final 1/3rd of fault lies with Joel Peralta who surrendered the go-ahead Grand Slam, second of the series, to put Baltimore up for good.
I really thought that the Royals would come away with at least a series split from Baltimore, but the anemic offense and the shoddy bullpen really did them in this series.
Thursday's game was an overall disappointment. Again the Royals had another excellent quality start to begin the game from Gil Meche(6 IP 0ER 5K) before he left with a tight hamstring and turned the ball over to the bullpen with a 1-0 lead. Jimmy Gobble (2/3 IP 3H 1ER) came in and immediately let the Orioles back into the game ultimately leading to the loss in 10 innings. Granted the Royals offense didn't score enough runs, but is disheartening to waste a good start.
Game two of the series was never even close. Brandon Duckwork( 5IP 4R 2ER 4K 4BB) got the start and struggled with his command most of the game. A 1st inning error by Esteban German led to two runs and the O's never looked back. The low light of the game was in the 8th inning when guess who...Todd Wellemeyer( 1 IP 3H 4ER 1BB) came in and surrendered a Grand Slam to Nick Markakis. Wellemeyer has really struggled so far this year and continues to do so. I only feel comfortable seeing him in mop-up roles until he gets his head on straight.
It seems as though every series has a heart breaker and Saturday's game was it. The Royals bats had finally awoken from their slumber, getting 4 runs in the first 5 innings before the usual bullpen implosion. Granted it wasn't all the bullpens fault. Some fault lies with Buddy Bell for not pulling starter Odalis Perez(5 IP 4ER) before the 6th, another 1/3rd of the fault lies between Reggie Sanders , David DeJesus and Tony Pena Jr., who let a routine fly ball drop between them. The final 1/3rd of fault lies with Joel Peralta who surrendered the go-ahead Grand Slam, second of the series, to put Baltimore up for good.
I really thought that the Royals would come away with at least a series split from Baltimore, but the anemic offense and the shoddy bullpen really did them in this series.
Other Notes
- As a team the Royals only batted .236 for the series in Baltimore
- They also struck out 27 times during the 3 game set
- DeJesus, Sanders, Gload and German are all batting over .300 so far this season
- Todd Wellemeyer's season ERA 15.43
- Teahen showed signs of breaking his slump on Sat going 2/4, but still had 2 K
- Gordon, Teahen and Shealy each have 14K already this season
- They also struck out 27 times during the 3 game set
- DeJesus, Sanders, Gload and German are all batting over .300 so far this season
- Todd Wellemeyer's season ERA 15.43
- Teahen showed signs of breaking his slump on Sat going 2/4, but still had 2 K
- Gordon, Teahen and Shealy each have 14K already this season
Upcoming series is 3 games in Detroit
Royals Fact: In 1969, the Royals inaugural year, the Royals team batting average was .240, the lowest it has ever been.
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Royals 2007 record: 3-9
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Royals 2007 record: 3-9
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