Tag Archives: Kansas City Royals

October 29, 2014

Bottom of the Ninth

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Greg Holland holds the Giants scoreless in the top of the ninth, setting up the bottom of the inning between Madison Bumgarner and the power (if you will) of the Royals lineup. Madison will face Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler, and Alex Gordon with the Giants leading the Royals 3-2. Bumgarner threw 52 pitches in his first four innings of work.

Update: Hosmer gets ahead 2-0. Bumgarner comes back to even the count. Hosmer then swings and misses at a high fastball. One down.

Update: Billy Butler pops up a 1-1 pitch, caught in foul territory by Brandon Belt. Two down.

Update: Alex Gordon hits a line drive to center field that is extremely misplayed. It gets by Gregor Blanco in centerfield and rolls to the wall Juan Perez slips trying to pick it up. I thought Gordon might score, but he gets to third on the single and error. It’s up to Salvador Perez.

Update: Perez falls behing 1-2, swinging at a high fast ball. The Royals keep getting fooled by that pitch.

Update: Perez pops up a 2-2 pitch, Pablo Sandoval catches it in foul territory, and the Giants win the game 3-2 and the World Series 4 games to 3!

October 29, 2014

Bumgarner Continues

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Madison Bumgarner comes out for the eighth inning having thrown 36 pitches so far. I’m not sure how smart this is. Yes, he has all winter to recover, but what if this stresses his arm too much? I understand this move, but I’m also surprised by it.

The Giants still lead the Royals 3-2.

Update: Bumgarner gets through the eighth. Another amazing performance, four innings, one hit, and three strikeouts. He retired nine in a row. The Giants lead the Royals 3-2 going to the ninth inning.

October 29, 2014 October 29, 2014

Bumgarner in Relief

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Madison Bumgarner comes in to pitch the bottom of the fifth inning with the Giants leading the Royals 3-2.

Update: Omar Infante singles to start the inning for the Royals.

Update: Alcides Escobar gets ahead 2-0. He showed bunt on the first two pitches. He lays down a successful sacrifice on the third pitch, advancing Infante to second.

Update: Nori Aoki gets ahead 2-0 as Bumgarner is showing control problems. He lines a 2-1 pitch down the leftfield line, and Juan Perez makes a nice running catch for the second out.

Update: Lorenzo Cain falls behind 0-2, as he chases a high pitch. He strikes out chasing another pitch out of the strike zone. Bumgarner preserves the 3-2 Giants lead.

October 29, 2014

Even Giants

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The first and third innings saw the Giants go down in order, and now the fourth inning starts like the second. Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Pence both reach, Sandoval on an infield single rather than a HBP. We’ll see if the Giants end up as successful.

Update: Brandon Belt flies out to deep left, and Sandoval tags and reaches third. That’s the third time today a runner tagged and reached third.

Jeremy Guthrie is done. The Giants have runners on first and third with one out in a 2-2 tie with the Royals.

Update: Ned Yost wastes no time in a high leverage situation. Kelvin Herrera comes in the game to face Michael Morse.

Update: Morse fights off an inside pitch and dumps a single into shallow rightfield. Sandoval scores from third and the Giants lead the Royals 3-2, and the Giants still have runners at first and third with one out.

Update: Brandon Crawford strikes out looking. Two down.

Update: Juan Perez grounds out to end the inning. The Giants get one run, instead of two like in the second, but take the lead over the Royals 3-2.

October 29, 2014

Panik Doesn’t Panik

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Lorenzo Cain leads off the bottom of the third with a single. Eric Hosmer then hits a hard ground ball up the middle, and Joe Panik makes not only a great diving catch, but flips the ball to the shortstop for the out. Hosmer is called safe at first on a head-first slide, but the play is under review, and he looks out. A great play by Panik. The game is tied at two.

Update: Hosmer is called out on review.

Update: By the way, Joe Panik could be Buster Posey’s brother.

Update: Billy Butler grounds out to end the inning. At the end of three, the Giants and Royals are tied at two.

October 29, 2014 October 29, 2014

Royals Roar Back

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The Royals waste no time getting on the board in the bottom of the second. Billy Butler singles, then Alex Gordon smashes a ball that splits the outfielders between center and right. The slow Butler scores all the way from first, and the Giants lead is down to 2-1.

Hudson hits Salvador Perez just above the knee, and he’s in pain. The Royals will have men on first and second with none out.

Update: Mike Moustakas flies out to deep leftfield, and Alex Gordon tags and makes it to third with one out. Juan Perez, in left for the Giants for his defense. Didn’t think Gordon was going to go and took his time with the throw.

Update: Omar Infante hits a fly ball to center and Gordon scores on the sacrifice fly. Both Gordon and Hunter Pence tagging up from second led to runs for each team.

Alcides Escobar follows with a single to put runners on first and second, and Tim Hudson is done. The Giants and Royals are tied at two.

Update: Jeremy Affeldt get Nori Aoki to ground into a force play to end the inning. The Giants lead does not last long as the Royals get two runs to tie the game at two.

October 29, 2014

Giants Threaten

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Jeremy Guthrie brushes Pablo Sandoval‘s elbow for an HBP, and Hunter Pence singles to left to Giants on first and second with no out to start the visiting half of the second inning.

Update: Brandon Belt lines a ball to the back edge of the infield for a single. That loads the bases, and the Royals are in trouble.

Update: Michael Morse hits a high line drive to rightfield, and that moves up both Sandoval and Pence. The Giants lead the Royals 1-0 on the sacrifice fly.

Update: Brandon Crawford hits a fly ball to center, and Hunter Pence scores from third. The Giants lead 2-0.

Update: Juan Perez strikes out to end the inning. Guthrie needed a ground ball in that inning and couldn’t get it.

October 29, 2014

Game Underway

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Jeremy Guthrie retires the Giants in order in the first. He was hitting the low part of the strike zone, and induced two ground balls on three in plays. If he can keep that up for a few innings, the Royals will be in good shape. No score after a half inning.

Update: Tim Hudson walks a batter in the first, but he doesn’t get past first. No score at the end of one.

October 29, 2014

Playoffs Today

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The final day of the 2014 baseball season is upon us with the Giants and Royals playing a winner take all game for the World Series Championship. Tim Hudson takes the mound for San Francisco against Jeremy Guthrie of Kansas City.

Hudson will set a record as the oldest pitcher to start a World Series game seven.

“This is why you play the game,” he said. “This is why you compete. This is why you work so hard throughout your career, to get this opportunity. I’m going to have some fun. I’ve waited a long time for this. I feel very calm about the task at hand, but I know it’s going to be challenging.”

In his first season getting out of the LDS, Hudson overall posted good numbers. In 19 1/3 innings he walked one and struck out 15, a high K number for someone who made his livelihood inducing ground balls. He has given up runs in the LCS and WS, however, despite opponents going just 3 for 19 against him with runners in scoring position.

Guthrie is up in age as well at 35 years old, and has one of the worst winning percentages of someone to start a game seven. He only lasted five innings in his two starts this post season, but allowed just seven hits and two walks. He also pitched to contact, with just two strikeouts.

I suspect this won’t be a 1-0, extra inning shutout.

Enjoy!

October 29, 2014

The Even Series

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With the World Series tied at three, it’s nice to see that runs scored in the series are pretty even, the Giants scoring 27 to the Royals 25. They are approaching scoring differently. The Giants use a higher OBP, and are very good at starting offensive sequences, as seen in their OBP with none on and none out. With little power so far, the Giants flood the bases, and eventually runners come around to score.

The Royals use more power; they have a lower batting average than the Giants but a higher slugging percentage. While there ability to get the lead-off man on base is poor, they hit much better than the Giants with two out and men in scoring position. They do a better job of finishing off what they started.

In wider measures of situational hitting, however, both teams are good. The Royals are a bit better, however, especially with men in scoring position. The Royals delivered ten of their nineteen extra base hits with men on base, getting those hits when they can do the most damage.

There are many ways offenses can generate runs, and the World Series is providing an example of how that’s done.

October 28, 2014

On to Game Seven

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The Royals score early and often to beat the Giants 10-0 and force a game seven on Wednesday night. The Royals collected 15 hits, seven of them for extra bases. They put the ball in play, only striking out five times in the game.

Yordano Ventura bent but did not break as he walked five in seven innings, but allowed just three hits.

We have a rare game seven, it should be fun.

October 28, 2014

The Game at the Stretch

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The Royals lead the Giants 9-0 at the seventh inning stretch. Yordano Ventura has thrown exactly 100 pitches, but only 58 for strikes. He walked five and struck out four, which isn’t very good, but the Giants only managed three hits off him. The Royals will take the shutout innings, no matter the process.

This is shaping up to be the blow out series. If this score mostly holds up, it will be the fifth game in the series that was decided by five runs or more.

Update: Mike Moustakas homers leading off the bottom of the seventh to increase the Royals lead to 10-0.

Update: Hunter Strickland allowed the home run. That’s six on the season in less than seven innings.

October 28, 2014

More Slippy Ishi

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Travis Ishikawa slips again trying to field a hit in leftfield, and Omar Infante scores from first on the Alcides Escobar double. Ishikawa got away with the slip in the first, but now it costs the Giants a run as the Royals go up 9-0 in the bottom of the fifth. The Royals are out-hitting the Giants 14-2.

October 28, 2014 October 28, 2014

Royals Try to Rally

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Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez single to start the bottom of the second inning. Gordon goes to third on the line drive to right, and the Royal have first and third for the second time in two innings. Neither the Giants nor the Royals have scored yet.

Update: Moustakas pulls a 1-1 pitch just inside first base for a double. The Royals take a 1-0 lead, and they have two runners in scoring position with no one out.

Update: With one out, Alcides Escobar chops a slow grounder to first base. Brandon Belt charges, holding the runners, but Escobar blows by Belt to reach first safely with a hit fielders choice. The bases are loaded with Royals with one out.

Update: Nori Aoki singles to left, driving in one, and the Royals lead the Giants 2-0. Jake Peavy is out of the game early again.

Update: Yusmeiro Petit comes on in relief for the Giants with the bases loaded.

Update: Lorenzo Cain dumps a single into shallow right-center for two RBI. The Royals haven’t really pounded the ball in this inning. They are playing their game, putting the ball in play and finding holes. The only out so far this inning came on a strike out.

Update: A wild pitch puts Lorenzo Cain on second. The ball did not get far enough away from the catcher for Aoki to score. Eric Hosmer hit a single on a called time out pitch, but it didn’t count. He then hits one for real, and the Royals lead 6-0.

Update: Billy Butler hits the ball hard into the right-center gap for a double, and the Royals lead 7-0.

Update: The Giants get the next two batters, but the damage is done. The Royals lead 7-0 at the end of two innings.

October 28, 2014

Game of Inches

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Hunter Pence hits a one out double in the top of the second inning. He hit it off the end of the bat, and the ball just went over the first base bag fair. The Giants have their first hit and first threat of the evening. Pence is not hitting .500 against the Royals.

Update: That’s all the Giants get as a strikeout and fly out end the inning.

October 28, 2014

Offense or Defense

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Travis Ishikawa‘s lack of range in leftfield almost cost the Giants a run in the first. With Lorenzo Cain on first with a two-out walk, Eric Hosmer lined to left. Ishikawa did not have the speed to run in and catch the ball, so it went as a single. He then fell down fielding it. The Royals third base coach was trying to send Cain home, but he signaled too late. Luckily for the Giants, Billy Butler grounded out to end the inning.

We’ll see if Ishikawa makes his place as a stater worthwhile with his bat. The Giants and Royals are scoreless at the end of one inning.

October 28, 2014 October 28, 2014

Playoffs Today

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The 2014 reaches a make or break game as the Giants and Royals move to Kansas City for game six, with the Giants leading the series three games to two. Jake Peavy gets the start as the Giants try to bring home their third World Series title in five years. Yordando Ventura tries to send the Royals to a game seven.

Peavy, however, simply does not go deep in post-season starts. Tuesday night’s start will be the ninth of his career in the post-season, and he never completed six innings in any of them. His only win came this year against Washington, where he was lifted with a shutout intact after 5 2/3 innings. In his regular season career, Peavy posted a strikeout rate of 8.5 per nine innings pitched, and a walk rate of 2.7 per 9 IP. In the post-season, his strikeout rate drops to 4.6 per nine IP, and his walk rate rises to 3.9 per 9 IP. A pitcher with rates that poor likely would not last long in the majors.

Ventura pitches better at home. His three true outcomes are better, and his opposition slash line is much better in all three averages, especially his .298 OBP allowed at home versus .324 on the road. His ERA is slightly higher at home, and his won-loss record is much better on the road. Despite the latter two observations, this is a good park for Ventura, and Ned Yost made the right move getting him two starts in Kansas City.

Enjoy!

October 26, 2014

Giants Win

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Madison Bumgarner retires the side in order in the ninth for a 5-0 shutout. That gives the Giants a 3-2 as the series heads back to Kansas City on Tuesday.

Bumgarner has allowed one run in sixteen inning this World Series. He’s struck out 13 while giving up just seven hits and one walk. It’s an amazing performance, and if the Giants go on to win this series, Bumgarner is the likely MVP.

October 26, 2014

No Davis

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For some unknown reason, Kelvin Herrera starts the bottom of the eighth inning after pitching the seventh. Wade Davis is not even warming, and Davis had to get warm in a hurry after Herrera gives up hits to the first two batters. I thought it was going to be pre-setup, setup, closer tonight. They may not get to the closer, but there is no reason to push Herrera at this point.

The Giants lead the Royals 2-0, but are in a great position to score more.

Update: Davis strikes out Brandon Belt. One down.

Update: Juan Perez, in for defense, just misses a home run as he doubles off the top of the fence to drive in two runs. The Giants lead 4-0. Not sticking with the normal bullpen plan may have cost the Royals this game.

Update: Brandon Crawford drops a single into shallow left, and the Giants lead the Royals 5-0.

It seems to me this series, and parts of the post season in general, have been full of hits on balls that were not squared up well.

Madison Bumgarner is batting and will try to finish the game, it appears.

Update: Davis gets the next to batters to end the inning, but the damage is done. The Royals need a huge ninth inning to tie the game.

October 26, 2014

Pulling the String

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Billy Butler pinch hits to lead off the top of the eighth. Madison Bumgarner gets ahead of Butler with heat, then with the count 0-2, drops a 76 MPH breaking ball on the outer edge of the plate to freeze the hitter. The Fox pitch trax showed the pitch outside, but it looked very good to me. A great sequence by Bumgarner and demonstrates how good he is pitching.

The Giants continue to hold on to their 2-0 lead over the Royals.

Update: Bumgarner retires the side in order in the eighth. He’s thrown 107 pitches, 77 for strikes. The Giants are three outs away from taking a 3-2 series lead to Kansas City.

October 26, 2014 October 26, 2014

End of Six

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James Shields gives up a hit in the bottom of the sixth, but gets through the inning with no more damage. The Giants lead the Royals 2-0, and I expect the Royals bullpen to come into service next inning.

Of course, unless the Royals can get to Madison Bumgarner, the bullpen won’t make a difference. The Giants ace allowed three hits while striking out seven through six innings.

October 26, 2014

Can of Corn for Cain

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The Royals finally flash some leather in the bottom of the fifth. The Giants put two on with one out, but Shields strikes out Pablo Sandoval on a high pitch for the second out. Hunter Pence then drives a ball deep into the right-center alley, but Lorenzo Cain runs it down to make a great catch.

Given that Shields allowed a hit, a walk, and a shot by Pence in the inning, pinch hitter for him in top of the inning looks like an even better idea.

October 26, 2014 October 26, 2014

No Glove Love

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For the second time in game four, a ball goes by Omar Infante that appeared to be within his reach. The Giants have men on first and second with two out in the bottom of the fourth, leading the Royals 1-0. It certainly has been a game of inches for the Kansas City shortstop tonight.

Update: Brandon Crawford dumps a fly ball into shallow center for a single, and Jarrod Dyson fails to field it cleanly. Pablo Sandoval was stopping at third, but starts up again and scores. The Giants lead 2-0 as the Royals defense continues to abandon them.

Update: Madison Bumgarner strikes out to end the inning. James Shields struck out the side, but the three balls in play all fell for hits.

October 26, 2014

Surprise Bunt

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Hunter Pence starts the bottom of the second with a single just past the shortstops glove. Brandon Belt comes up and bunts, and the defense is so surprised that he beats it out for a single. The Giants have a huge threat in the second as the Royals defense fails to shine.

I don’t know if Belt did that on his own, or if Bruce Bochy ordered the bunt.

Update: Travis Ishikawa hits a fly ball to deep center, and both runners advance. In Strat-o-Matic Baseball, that’s the rare fly ball A.

Update: Brandon Crawford grounds to second, driving in a run. The Giants lead 1-0 with a man on third and two out. Shields does not have a strikeout, and the Giants putting the ball in play has hurt him.

Update: Madison Bumgarner grounds out to third to end the inning. The Giants lead 1-0 after two innings.