Toronto Series Recap

Series Analysis

Kansas City @ Toronto

Monday April 9 KC 1- 9 TOR

Tuesday, April 10 KC 6- 3 TOR

Wednesday April 11 KC 4- 7 TOR

Toronto was the third series of the year for the Royals and the third series loss. The Royals need to get off this trend of winning one game and losing two. If they keep up that pace whey would only get 52 wins this year. It’s still too early to panic and by no means is this a trend, but the Royals need to do something to get over the games where they have less then stellar starting pitching. The Royals are still leaving to many men on base, but are getting better as the season progresses.

AJ Burnett over matched the Royals on Monday. He was good, Odalis Perez was not good (1 IP 1/3IP 4ER). When Perez can’t find his spots he becomes very hittable as the Jays showed during game 1. Enough said.

Game number 2 was quite the showing by up and coming young Royals. Zack Greinke was outstanding for the second game in a row (6 IP 1ER 5K), Alex Gordon hit his first major league home run and Joakim Soria notched his first major league save (2 IP 3K). Except for a hiccup in the 7^th, a 2-run home run given up by Peralta, the Royals played good solid baseball.

In the final game of the series and another less then stellar pitching outing for the Royals. Jorge De La Rosa (5 1/3 IP 4ER 3K 1BB) is showing better command so far this season, but it still leaving too many pitches up in the strike zone, which were pounded for doubles, the Jays hit 4 doubles off De La Rosa. The other flaw in the Royals game was the defense. The Royals misplayed too many balls allowing the Jays to extend their lead resulting in the 6^th loss of the season.

Other Notes

- DeJesus hit well again this series 5/14 1HR 2RBI and is batting .378 for the season

- Gordon’s strikeout numbers are declining…3 K for this series, so he’s making contact!

- Todd Wellemeyer did poorly again in relief Wed…1 IP 2ER 2K 2BB…

- Mike Sweeney is starting to press and is only batting .200 for the season

- Teahen’s switch to RF might be affecting his bat .192 12K 1HR, although he has 8BB

- John Buck hit his 2^nd homerun of the year on Monday off Burnett

- Tony Pena Jr. hit his 4^th triple of the year

- I heard a disturbing stat on Crunch Time this morning. When Buck catches a game the pitchers are averaging 2.8BB a game and when LaRue is catching pitchers are averaging 3.6BB a game. The host Dave Stewart believes it has to do with LaRue not offering a target with his mit. Keep an eye on that.

Next the Royals are headed to Baltimore for a 4 game set.

Royals Fact: Willie Wilson holds the Royals record for most triples in a season, 21, in 1985.

-b

Royals 2007 Record: 3-6