Judging the Royals

Games » Baltimore Orioles

Lee Judge

None

See? I told you. Even if the Royals aren’t going to the playoffs there are still good reasons to watch them, and this game was one of them. I’ve pointed out that Alex Gordon may have a tendency to lift the ball (if you’re going to get it up, you better get it out) and after lifting two fly ball outs earlier in the game, Alex lifted a ball into the Royals bullpen for a dramatic come-from-behind, walk-off, go-call-your-mom-and-tell-her-what-you-did, check-the-ESPN-highlights-later home run. (Patent pending on that home run call, but I’ll give Ryan Lefebvre permission to use it if the situation comes up again.)

That swing was worth 18 points in our system: 4 points for the home run, 9 for the three RBIs, 1 for the run Alex scored and 4 points for a game winning hit. Probably the most points any single play has registered this season.

Good thing too, because there were some bad plays to make up for:

Jason Kendall tried to throw out a base stealer, the throw tailed to the leftfield side of second and Yuniesky Betancourt made a half-assed (can I say that?) attempt to catch the ball. (If I can say half-assed, I’m guessing I’ll be using it a lot.) Adam Jones, the base stealer, got to third and scored on a sac fly.

Sean O’Sullivan (anybody else see owning an Irish bar in this guy’s future?…“Let’s go to O’Sullivan’s and have a cold one”…sounds great, doesn’t it?) walked two leadoff batters and both scored. (That’s three runs the Royals gift-wrapped for the Orioles if anyone’s counting…and I am.)

Critics say Kyle Farnsworth has trouble in late-inning pressure situations (any at-bat in the 7th inning or later, with the batter’s team trailing be three runs or less, or four runs if the bases are loaded on alternate Tuesdays in months with an ‘R’ in them…OK, I made up that last part, but I’m guessing the guys who have time to come up with stats like this don’t date a lot). Kyle gave his critics ammunition and loaded the gun for them when he gave up the tying and winning runs in the 8th.

Wilson Betemit had another misplay at third and now I see Mike Aviles is going to get a shot at the position. If Mike can’t do it, I’m pretty sure the next shot goes to a clubhouse attendant.

They say speed kills, but Billy Butler showed slow will at least choke you. He lead off with a walk, could only get to second on Rick Ankiel’s hit to right, could only get to third on Betemit’s hit to right and was probably still two more hits away from scoring. A walk and two hits in an inning and the Royals got squat.

(OK, I feel like I’m being more negative than Fox news covering the Obama administration, so I’m going to look for some positive stuff now.)

ON THE OTHER HAND…

Chris Getz is getting a chance to show why the Royals got him: a 13-pitch leadoff at-bat (the Orioles starting pitcher only went 4 1/3 and this at-bat had something to do with it) and great defense in this game.

Jason Kendall came out from behind the plate on a less than stellar bunt attempt and got the lead runner at third.

Sean O’Sullivan, future owner of O’Sullivan’s Bar & Grill, put up a quality start.

Blake Wood was throwing a nasty two-seamer that broke down and away from lefties that I hadn’t noticed before (of course I’m not sure of my kid’s names so maybe I haven’t been paying attention). Wood got his first win and a shot of confidence.

And the Royals, down by one with two outs in the 9th and nobody on, fought back.

I told people there were still good reasons to watch the team and you made me look good. Way to go guys.