MLB: two weeks into the season and guess who these stats belong to.

[garn91]

1st in team hitting average & hits
fewest strikeouts - 2nd best in MLB
Homeruns - 9th best in MLB
Successful steals - tied for first in MLB
Runs scored - 8th best in MLB and 2nd best in the AL

Yeah, I know this hot hitting isn't going to last as it's a long season and everyone is going to run into a slump. Starting pitching has been decent. The bullpen has at least 3 blown saves. Get the bullpen mess straightened out and this team could be onto something.

Oh, these stats belong to the KC Royals:biggrin:

 

[BryceC]

I was at the Royals/Twins game yesterday. Their bullpen is awful, just awful. They probably don't have the dollars or prospects to get the bullpen figured out unfortunately. I do like their lineup a lot though.

 

[garn91]

I was at the Royals/Twins game yesterday. Their bullpen is awful, just awful. They probably don't have the dollars or prospects to get the bullpen figured out unfortunately. I do like their lineup a lot though.

and that's being nice :arghh:

 

[jtd9046]

Royals fans are starting to sound like Cubs fans. I can remember all the early season threads last year, and then they faded like they always do.

And now when they start 5-7, even with stats like that I'm supposed to believe they'll come along? Other than Greinke, I don't see much coming from this team.

 

[RayShimley]

Royals fans are starting to sound like Cubs fans. I can remember all the early season threads last year, and then they faded like they always do.

And now when they start 5-7, even with stats like that I'm supposed to believe they'll come along? Other than Greinke, I don't see much coming from this team.

Don't see it happening for the Royals this year as the AL Central is looking like one of the most competitive divisions in baseball. Billy Butler is a fine young player and Soria is still one of the best closers if the bullpen could ever hand him a lead in the 9th inning. They'll finally get that horrible Jose Guillen contract off the books after this year, there is hope.

 

[BryceC]

Guillen is doing great right now but that won't last. They should honestly look at trading him if he can keep it up at all.

 

[cycopath25]

1st in team hitting average & hits
fewest strikeouts - 2nd best in MLB
Homeruns - 9th best in MLB
Successful steals - tied for first in MLB
Runs scored - 8th best in MLB and 2nd best in the AL

Yeah, I know this hot hitting isn't going to last as it's a long season and everyone is going to run into a slump. Starting pitching has been decent. The bullpen has at least 3 blown saves. Get the bullpen mess straightened out and this team could be onto something.

Oh, these stats belong to the KC Royals:biggrin:

Wow didn't realize it was the Royals. I was simply going to answer NOT THE CUBS!

 

[mj4cy]

1st in team hitting average & hits
fewest strikeouts - 2nd best in MLB
Homeruns - 9th best in MLB
Successful steals - tied for first in MLB
Runs scored - 8th best in MLB and 2nd best in the AL

Yeah, I know this hot hitting isn't going to last as it's a long season and everyone is going to run into a slump. Starting pitching has been decent. The bullpen has at least 3 blown saves. Get the bullpen mess straightened out and this team could be onto something.

Oh, these stats belong to the KC Royals:biggrin:

Who won the Twins/Royals series? Who is leading the division and tied for most wins in the league? I'll take wins over stats :wink:

 

[Ficklone02]

There bullpen would improve immensely if there pitching coach could just get them to pitch strike one. They give away way to many free passes.

 

[kgreeny]

Guillen is doing great right now but that won't last. They should honestly look at trading him if he can keep it up at all.

I'm sure they would trade him if they could. It doesn't matter how good he does this year. That contract is untradable.

 

[RayShimley]

You're saying nobody would trade for an expiring contract for a guy hitting 300+ with his power numbers so far this year? I think you're nuts.

If he keeps it up till July there will be someone interested. However, if they expect to get any good prospects for him, the Royals will have to agree to take on a significant portion of his remaining salary ($12million in 2010).

They could also just keep him through the year and bank on getting Type A free agent compensation pick in the draft.

 

[3GenClone]

1st in team hitting average & hits
fewest strikeouts - 2nd best in MLB
Homeruns - 9th best in MLB
Successful steals - tied for first in MLB
Runs scored - 8th best in MLB and 2nd best in the AL

Yeah, I know this hot hitting isn't going to last as it's a long season and everyone is going to run into a slump. Starting pitching has been decent. The bullpen has at least 3 blown saves. Get the bullpen mess straightened out and this team could be onto something.

Oh, these stats belong to the KC Royals:biggrin:

So you're telling me that the Royals best players are Carl Pavano and Nick Blackburn?

It is good to see the Royals competing, as long as they beat up the Sox and Tigers. The Twinkies can have the division locked up before the All Star Break.

 

[thatguy]

1) The Royals DO have the prospects to trade to get new bullpen help. You just aren't going to trade future middle of the lineup bats or power arms for bullpen help when you aren't trying to win this year anyway.
2) Podsednick and Kendall were brought in to avoid the "mid June" swoon and to keep the young guys heads straight
3) Greinke hasn't pitched well at all this year and they Royals have lost all 3 of his starts. Still playing decent baseball
4) Nothing else from this team? Look up in Major League History guys that hit over 50 doubles before there 23rd birthday. I think you will be impressed. Only a few and they are the likes of Mays and Mantle and Billy Butler did it last year at 22
5) There are options in AAA and guys are literally fighting for there jobs right now, and have been told of that.
6) The Twins bullpen will catch up with them, and they don't have enough starting pitching.
7) The Royals schedule has been The Tigers, Twins, and Red Sox. Some pretty good teams this early in the year. For example the Indians are 5-1 against the White Sox, while 1-5 against everyone else.

 

[Wesley]

I was at the Royals/Twins game yesterday. Their bullpen is awful, just awful. They probably don't have the dollars or prospects to get the bullpen figured out unfortunately. I do like their lineup a lot though.

They just called up a pitcher from omaha Royals.

Royals are now up to .309 batting.

 

[jtd9046]

6) The Twins bullpen will catch up with them, and they don't have enough starting pitching.
7) The Royals schedule has been The Tigers, Twins, and Red Sox. Some pretty good teams this early in the year. For example the Indians are 5-1 against the White Sox, while 1-5 against everyone else.

6) Why? Their bullpen is thought of very highly around the league. Besides losing Nathan, their setup guys are among the best. And I'm not talking about Crain. Also, their starting pitching if just fine for this type of team. They don't need guys to go out and shut people down, they need to eat up innings and throw strikes... the offense will score more than enough most nights.

7) The Twins played are 5-2 on the road against the Angels and White Sox, and 4-2 at home against the Red Sox and your Royals. 9-4 against some pretty good teams.

 

[3GenClone]

6) The Twins bullpen will catch up with them, and they don't have enough starting pitching.

That's why the twins acquired Hardy, Thome, and Hudson. They're focused more on run production and fielding outs rather than getting strike-out pitchers.

 

[thatguy]

Slow down there Twins fan, I'm not saying they aren't a good squad. But I have every right to defend the Royals like you do the Twins. The Twins are on a good run right now, and are my prediction to win the Central, but they have flaws. They don't have an ace, somebody that can go out and stop a 4 or 5 game losing streak. Just using the past as a guide Rauch will fall off. Neschek is good but recovering from injury and there are good arms in that bullpen but everyone has to deal with injuries at some time.

As far as "getting more runs" Hardy is coming off his worse year ever and there was a reason the Brewers felt like he was expendable, for cheap I might add. He has HUGE holes in his swing. If he can learn to cut it down a little he might be alright, but big leagures don't change habits well. Thome at this point in his career is a part time player. Hudson got benched last year in the playoffs for Ronnie Friggin Belliard.

So yes Twins fan your team is very good, but not perfect.

 

[jtd9046]

As far as "getting more runs" Hardy is coming off his worse year ever and there was a reason the Brewers felt like he was expendable, for cheap I might add. He has HUGE holes in his swing. If he can learn to cut it down a little he might be alright, but big leagures don't change habits well. Thome at this point in his career is a part time player. Hudson got benched last year in the playoffs for Ronnie Friggin Belliard.

And who did they guys replace up the middle? Nick Friggin Punto and Alex fn Cassilla. Even in down years, Hardy and Hudson are far greater assets than the .200 hitting Punto and Cassilla. Add in their defense, the Twins improved greatly.

In fact, even with those two schmucks in the lineup last year, the Twins still finished 5th in MLB in runs scored.

And they got Thome on the cheap and he adds a huge bat off the bench. Say what you want about him and his age, but he adds decent value to a traditionally short Twins bench as far as pinch hitters go.

 

[2020cy]

Oh yeah, well my Dad can beat up your Dad. Just kidding, us Royal fans just haven't seen this much offense and we are kind of excited. That mid relief is worse than gas on a fire though.