Game 9 - 4/10/2008

Yankees 6, Royals 1

The Yankees avoided the sweep on another miserable night at the "K." John Bale still hasn't impressed me much, but I guess somebody needs to be the number 5 starter. If Bale can just eat up some innings until mid-season, then hopefully Hovechar will be ready to come up and fill that slot.

I've heard a lot of people complaining about Pena's bat. When the Royals got him from the Braves last year, they knew they were not getting an offensive player. They needed a good glove man after years of suffering through Angel.

Pena will be fine as long as he continues to make the plays in the field. Let him be. There will come a day when the Royals will have a more offensive short stop ready, but that time has not come yet.

The weather is going to suck again tonight for the series opener with the Twins, and they are even talking about snow tomorrow for game two. I'll be going tomorrow to get my powder blue Butler jersey, but we may not stay for much of the game.

But, just hold on for a few more days. Next week's forecast calls for sunny and 70-80 degrees all week long. The end is near, Mr. Winter!

The Hill Climb
Actual Record 6-3
Expected Record 6-3
Runs Scored 33
Runs Allowed 24
Projected Record 108-54
Pythagorean Record 106-56
Pythagorean Winning% 0.654

Let's go get 'em

Game 8 - 4/9/2008

Yankees 0, Royals 4

Was at the game with my son last night. It was my first peek at the new "K," and let me just say this - that scoreboard is awesome!

It's so big, it almost takes away from the game, but the wealth of information it provides is incredible. And the picture is so clear - I saw more than I wanted of the girl singing the National Anthem (don't tongue piercings hurt???)

Grienke was awesome, even in the crappy weather. It rained steadily from the second inning on, and the infield was pretty muddy. And it was cold with a pretty stiff wind coming in from right field.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi made a strange decision to scratch starter Ian Kennedy just before game time. I guess he was expecting a rain delay, so he started his bullpen, and planned to go with Kennedy after the delay.

The delay never came, so the Royals faced an assortment of Yankees pitchers. Kennedy finally entered the game in the sixth and finished it out. He came in trailing 2-0 and gave up 2 more runs in the sixth. I'm sure Girardi knows what he's doing, but that seemed like a dumb thing to do. Just sayin'.

There was no offense until John Buck took Farnsworth deep in the 5th. He crushed that ball just left of the scoreboard, into the water. I think it was measured at 429 feet. It was a shot.

That homer seemed to loosen everybody up, and the Royals finally started getting some action after that, eventually putting up 4 runs between the 5th and 6th.

Grienke pitched 8 innings, giving up 6 hits and 2 walks with 2 strike outs. His ERA is now a *sick* 0.60.

I know, it's still early, but how can you not feel good about this team? It's all working right now. Great pitching, timely hitting, effective base running, and stellar defense (except, I think Hillman needs to let his outfielders take a few steps back.)

Here's a nice nugget: the Royals have shut out both the Tigers and the Yankees, but haven't been shut out yet. The Royals have faced two of the top three payroll lineups in baseball and have shut both of them out. The Tigers have been shut out twice.

How 'bout little sweep action tonight, eh?



The Hill Climb
Actual Record 6-2
Expected Record 6-2
Runs Scored 32
Runs Allowed 18
Projected Record 122-40
Pythagorean Record 123-39
Pythagorean Winning% 0.759

Let's go get 'em

Game 7 - 4/8/2008

Yankees 2, Royals 5

The Royals won their home opener on a cold, crappy day. Unfortunately, winter in KC is refusing to leave, even as we reach mid-April.

I thought Bannister pitched pretty well today, after really struggling in the second inning. He settled down and pitched well the rest of the way. It wasn't the dominating performance he had last week in Detroit, but it was a gritty performance against one of the best lineups in baseball on a miserable day.

I love the offense. The Royals are making things happen on the base paths, and are getting timely hitting. I love the slap hits combined with the gappers, especially at the "K."

Interesting trend to watch: The Royals are 5-0 in day games, 0-2 in night games.



The Bell Curve
Actual Record 5-2
Expected Record 5-2
Runs Scored 28
Runs Allowed 18
Projected Record 116-46
Pythagorean Record 115-47
Pythagorean Winning% 0.707

Let's go get 'em

Game 142 - 9/9/2007

Yankees 6, Royals 3

The Bell Curve
Actual Record 62-80
Expected Record 67-75
Runs Scored 645
Runs Allowed 682
Projected Record 71-91
Pythagorean Record 77-85
Pythagorean Winning% 0.472

Let's go get 'em

Game 141 - 9/8/2007

Yankees 11, Royals 5

The Bell Curve
Actual Record 62-79
Expected Record 67-74
Runs Scored 642
Runs Allowed 676
Projected Record 72-90
Pythagorean Record 77-85
Pythagorean Winning% 0.474

Let's go get 'em

Game 140 - 9/7/2007

Yankees 3, Royals 2

The Bell Curve
Actual Record 62-78
Expected Record 67-73
Runs Scored 637
Runs Allowed 665
Projected Record 72-90
Pythagorean Record 78-84
Pythagorean Winning% 0.478

Let's go get 'em

Game 110 - 8/5/2007

Royals 5, Yankees 8

The Bell Curve
Actual Record 48-62
Expected Record 51-59
Runs Scored 512
Runs Allowed 551
Projected Record 71-91
Pythagorean Record 76-86
Pythagorean Winning% 0.463

Let's go get 'em

Game 109 - 8/4/2007

Royals 8, Yankees 16

The Bell Curve
Actual Record 48-61
Expected Record 51-58
Runs Scored 507
Runs Allowed 543
Projected Record 72-90
Pythagorean Record 76-86
Pythagorean Winning% 0.465

Let's go get 'em

Game 108 - 8/3/2007

Royals 1, Yankees 7

The Bell Curve
Actual Record 48-60
Expected Record 51-57
Runs Scored 499
Runs Allowed 527
Projected Record 72-90
Pythagorean Record 77-85
Pythagorean Winning% 0.472

Let's go get 'em

Game 101 - 7/26/2007

Yankees 0, Royals 7

The Bell Curve
Actual Record 44-57
Expected Record 47-54
Runs Scored 467
Runs Allowed 503
Projected Record 71-91
Pythagorean Record 75-87
Pythagorean Winning% 0.462

Let's go get 'em

Game 100 - 7/25/2007

Yankees 7, Royals 1

The Bell Curve
Actual Record 43-57
Expected Record 46-54
Runs Scored 460
Runs Allowed 503
Projected Record 70-92
Pythagorean Record 74-88
Pythagorean Winning% 0.455

Let's go get 'em

Game 99 - 7/24/2007

Yankees 9, Royals 4

Seriously... Name me one Royals fan who didn't see this coming. Scott Elarton has looked awful all year. And yet, the Royals still put him on the mound last night, only to see him get rocked while not even getting out of the second inning. It was so obvious!

After seeing Perez and Elarton, hopefully the Yankees will will be a put back tonight when they face a real pitcher - Gil Meche. It should be a good one, and we'll be there!

The Bell Curve
Actual Record 43-56
Expected Record 46-53
Runs Scored 459
Runs Allowed 496
Projected Record 71-91
Pythagorean Record 75-87
Pythagorean Winning% 0.461

Let's go get 'em

Game 98 - 7/23/2007

Yankees 9, Royals 2

The Bell Curve
Actual Record 43-55
Expected Record 46-52
Runs Scored 455
Runs Allowed 487
Projected Record 72-90
Pythagorean Record 76-86
Pythagorean Winning% 0.466

Let's go get 'em