Games » Cleveland Indians
May28Another short outing
Lee Judge
The Kansas City Star
Sinkerball pitchers make a living by throwing fastballs that lose velocity and dip as they approach the plate. This action means that a great many hitters will hit the top of the ball as it sinks, driving the ball down into the dirt, which then produces easy grounders. Nate Adcock is a sinkerball pitcher.
When home plate umpire Bob Davidson spent most of the first inning calling sinkers down in the zone balls, it seemed like it might be a bad day for Adcock. It was, but Nate probably can’t blame the umpire.
Despite Davidson’s tight zone, Nate kept the ball down for two innings, facing the minimum number of batters, thanks to a nice line-drive double play turned in by Mike Moustakas. But in the third inning, Adcock began to elevate the ball, all on his own. After the game, Ned Yost said Nate was “drifting,” which means Adcock’s front side was getting too far out in front, too soon, his arm couldn’t catch up and hit the proper release point on time, and the ball was staying high in the zone.
On the third pitch of the third inning, Adcock left a change-up up (they need to be around the knees or lower) and Lonnie Chisenhall hit it for a home run. That was the beginning of the end. Nate, who should be getting outs on the ground, got a fly ball to left for the first out of the third and didn’t retire another batter. After the fly ball out, Adcock gave up a single, a walk, a single, a single and a single and forced Ned Yost to go to the pen while the Royals still had a chance.
Enter long reliever Luis Mendoza. Adcock’s short outing means another long reliever used up, and that means more roster moves. Adcock back to Omaha, Vin Mazzaro called up to serve as long reliever.
Game notes
With a runner on first base, the middle infielders will signal each other so they know who is covering second base should the runner attempt to steal. The other infielder stays put and the decision is based on the pitch. If it’s an off-speed pitch, the infielder on the pull side will stay home, vice versa on a fastball. The signal is open mouth (the shape made when you say the word “you” — as in “you” cover the bag) or closed mouth (the shape made when you say the word “me”). The infielders will shield their mouths with their gloves so the hitter can’t see the call, but you can see the signaling going on from the stands.
I was reminded of this when Irving Falu signaled coverage to Alcides Escobar in the first inning.
As mentioned in the opening, Mike Moustakas made an outstanding double play to get Nate Adcock out of the first. Mike has improved his glove work, but without a strong arm, some of these plays wouldn’t be possible.
In his second at-bat the camera focused in tightly on Jason Kipnis and it appeared Kipnis was peeking back at catcher Brayan Pena. This is not cool. The hitter does it to pick up location (one of the reasons catchers move into position late as possible). I don’t know if Kipnis makes a habit of this — the camera never focused that tightly on his face again — but if he does, the opposition isn’t going to like it much.
Later in the game Kipnis laid down a bunt when Pena went into his low catching position with one leg extended. I don’t know if it’s even possible for Kipnis to pick Pena’s position peeking back, but if it is, that would be another reason to bunt: the catcher won’t be quite as fast coming out from behind home plate.
Another great play by Moustakas backfired later in the same inning: the ball was pounded down into the ground and the bounce was so high the Royals third baseman didn’t have much of a chance to get the runner, Jose Lopez, at first. So Mike did a smart thing: he faked the throw, then turned and looked for the runner at second—the shifty-eyed Kipnis. Mr. Peripheral Vision had made the turn, looking to advance on the throw and Mike trapped him off base, tagged him and then looked around to see if there was another play available—but the umpire did not give Mike the call. That cost the Royals another run when Kipnis later scored.
Moustakas, hitting in the 4-hole, had a single (beating a shift by going the other way) and two walks in this game. Entering this game Mike’s batting average when hitting in the 4-hole was an even .100.
But correlation does not imply causation—unless you cover sports. Just because a rooster crows at dawn it does not necessarily mean the rooster made the sun come up. Just because Mike Moustakas has a low batting average since being moved into the 4-hole it does not necessarily mean he’s scuffled because he’s in the 4-hole. A few other factors matter. For example: small sample size, the pitchers he’s faced and how people are hitting around him also make a difference.
Remember that when those of us in the media imply causation: the Royals can’t win at home or a certain player is better during the day than at night. It might be true — if you see correlation you might consider causation, but often there are other factors to be considered.
In the fifth inning Jarrod Dyson tripled down the right field line. The first baseman was playing in to prevent a bunt — which limited his range — another reason to lay down a bunt once in a while.
A couple factors dictated triple. There was one out: with nobody out runners are generally cautious on the bases, with two outs they attempt to score or get to second base where one more hit can score them and with one out, getting to third pays off with the opportunity to score without a hit. The other factor was the ball being in the right field corner — it’s a long throw to third base.
In the bottom of the fifth Alex Gordon made a great play to come up with another outfield assist. The ball was hit high off the left field wall and Alex played the carom to his glove side. This allowed him to turn with the ball, take a couple steps for momentum, and throw in one motion. Play the carom to the throwing side and the awkward pivot will make for a weaker throw.
Irving Falu caught Gordon’s throw and applied the tag, but may have initially missed the runner. When this happens to a fielder, he’s in an awkward position: make another attempt at the tag and the fielder tells the umpire he missed the first time. Lifting the tag off the runner immediately and showing the ball to the umpire helps sell the call — but you risk the umpire calling the runner safe. Falu got the call, Moustakas didn’t.
In the seventh inning Irving Falu muffed a double play ball, which cost the Royals another run. In fact the three errors made by the Royals led to three runs. Better defense and the game might be tied after nine.
Falu’s error brings up one of the most underrated talents a player can have: consistency. When a consistent player makes a routine play everyone thinks the play is — for lack of a better word — routine. Put an inconsistent player out there and suddenly no play looks routine.
Jeff Francoeur’s reputation saved another run in the seventh when the Indians declined to send a runner home on a ball hit to right field.
Eddie’s reasoning
Yesterday we talked about Eddie Rodriguez and the decision to send Alcides Escobar home on Humberto Quintero’s two-out double. Joel Goldberg talked to Eddie and the Royals third-base coach explained his reasoning: two outs, speed on first, ball not coming off the wall cleanly, fielder’s arm strength, lefty on the mound to face on-deck hitter Alex Gordon—so far so good—I was thinking all the same stuff.
Then Eddie left me in the dust.
Part of what went through his mind was that another run would put the Royals up by two and that meant they wouldn’t have to guard the lines in the last three innings every time a hitter came to the plate. That meant better defense during a crucial part of the game.
That may sound unlikely to you, but I know from experience: you run over all that stuff before the pitch is made. You do it again and again, pitch after pitch, inning after inning, game after game and then, bang — the ball’s in play and suddenly you know something without knowing why you know it.
I’ve done it myself, but never at the same level as Eddie Rodriguez.
Royals Doug Sisson explains leadoffs at second with Lee Judge
Kansas City Royals coach Doug Sisson explains how to leadoff second base to the Star's Lee Judge. May 21, 2012 (Video by John Sleezer/The Kansas City Star)
Hosmer
Pena
Dyson
Aaron Bailey
11 months, 3 weeks agoThe slow motion replay of Moose snagging the line drive showed what must’ve been rosin dust puffing out of his glove. Would he put rosin in his glove to ensure his grip on a throw? Do other fielders do this? I’ve never noticed it before.
Joel Kallem
11 months, 3 weeks agoThe rosin probably came off the ball. You sometimes see this on a batted ball too. I conjecture that pitchers may “load” the ball with rosin on one side to change the aerodynamics. Lee, is there anything to my guess?
Bob Wheeler
11 months, 3 weeks agoLee- Does each trip up from Omaha count as an “option”. If so, will the long reliever shuttle between KC and Omaha this year paint us into a corner at some point.
Lee Judge
11 months, 3 weeks agoAaron and Joel: Moustakas likes to put rosin on his throwing hand to keep sweat from interfering with his grip. You can sometimes see him stop by the mound on his way to third to coat his hand.
Lee Judge
11 months, 3 weeks agoBob: Out of my area of supposed expertise, but: the rules on options are complicated (at least to me) having to do with service time and time spent in the minors, but I think the answer to your question is yes—kind of. Depends on the specific situation.
But generally starters leaving early and forcing the team to bring in long relievers is not good.
Jay Hall
11 months, 3 weeks agoI believe options are in years, not trips. In other words, guys can be shuttled back and forth every 10 days all season long and that would count as one option. This shouldn’t be a problem this year because the Royals have so many young guys in the pen that they all have options. However, next year or the year after the Royals may not have enough guys with options to employ this strategy, although by then hopefully there is enough consistent starting pitching at the ML level to mean we don’t have to do that.
Jim Wilson
11 months, 3 weeks agoBob, the basic rule is fairly simple. Once a player is placed on the 40-man roster, he has three options. Each season that such a player spends 20 days or more in the minors uses up an option. So, during a season that such a player spends 20 days in the minors, he may be sent up and down as many times as desired but it all only counts as one “option.” (A player may have a fourth option but it is subject to some more complicated conditions.)
Lee Judge
11 months, 3 weeks agoBob: Jim’s explanation is better than mine.
Shannon Cork-Poell
11 months, 3 weeks agoThe camera showed Moose pounding his glove with the rosin bag in between innings. Also, what do you think the chances are that Kipnis gets thrown at in one of these next couple games if the Royals saw him peeking.
Lee Judge
11 months, 3 weeks agoI’d keep watching closely. If Kipnis gets drilled, we’ll all know why.
Larry Tindle
11 months, 3 weeks agoCould be interesting for Kipnis with the rest of the league, once they hear this.
Lee if you get a chance ask Moose about the rosin. I was always taught to keep the leather moist to make the ball stick and not slide out of the glove.
George Smith
11 months, 3 weeks agoLee,
Thanks for the info on Kipnis. It will be interesting indeed….
So, once Yuni is healthy, how do you see the 2B situation shaking out?
Also, maybe its a fluke, but I find it interesting that when Wil Myers comes to AAA and keeps raking, thats when Francouer actually changes his approach and is starting to drive the ball.
Finally, the Royals are playing .400 ball, good for second last in the American League. The rotation was judged good enough by Dayton Moore to not pursue any Free Agents. This is year SIX. Cleveland has rebuilt twice in the time Dayton Moore says he needs to build a winner here. When does his seat finally start to warm up?
Jim Fetterolf
11 months, 3 weeks agoGeorge, Rany’s idea that the battle is between Gio and Yuni is kind of silly; Frenchy seems the least of our problems in the OF; and GMDM is doing fine with the rotation not being the major problem, instead it being injuries plus under performance of three of our key hitters. Maybe we could trade Hosmer and Moose for Josh Beckett and trade Myers for Pineda, then sign Oswalt to a $20 mil/year contract.
Lee Judge
11 months, 3 weeks agoLarry: Moose says he sweats a lot and the rosin is to keep his throwing hand dry.
I don’t if Kipnis makes a habit of peeking, but I’m guessing people will start watching for that.
Brian Robinson
11 months, 3 weeks agoHow about a win from the Kansas City Royals to celebrate my 40th birthday!?!? According to my 9 1/2 (today is her half birthday since it’s 6 months to the day from her own) I’m an old, old, old man. Oddly enough I don’t feel old. I don’t think I look very old. I sure do love a child’s perspective.
So I need the Royals to help an old, old, old (gotta get the third “old” in there) man out with a win today because I sure do hate me some Clevland Indians and that stupid closer they have with the mangy beard and two left feet who apparently, “can’t be faded,” by the hand gestures he likes to display on the mound. No present would be better than a walk-off against him.
Thayne Griffin
11 months, 3 weeks agoWhen I was listening to the game yesterday on the raio I couldn’t help but think about the movie “the Replacements” when they discuss their fears and Falco brings up quicksand.
Everything is going fine until one thing goes wrong. And then another. And another. Because you’re trying so hard to make up for the mistake it gets worse. Like quicksand. I wonder if that’s how the Royals have felt on defense the last few weeks.
Robert Sailler
11 months, 3 weeks agoThe Royals have lost their catcher, center fielder, second basemen, two starting pitchers, and closer. The adage “you must be strong up the middle” comes to mind. It’s tough to be strong up the middle with so many back-ups. Let’s see how the Royals do once Cain, Perez, and Sanchez return.
Jim Fetterolf
11 months, 3 weeks agoGood points, Robert, and I would remind that we’ve had three SPs on the DL and Hochevar hurt for a couple of starts. Under the circumstances, 7.5 games back at Memorial Day could be considered a pleasant surprise, especially while playing competitively against Texas, Baltimore, New York, Cleveland recently. Even with the injuries this doesn’t look like a team that’s overmatched.
Jay Hall
11 months, 3 weeks agoJim,
I don’t understand how the rotation isn’t a major problem. No team goes the entire year needing only 5 starters. Injuries happen. Failure to prepare for injuries must be laid at the feet of the one constructing the roster, and that’s GMDM.
GMDM signed 1 starter outside the organization during the off season because he said we had enough internal options. The fact that Sanchez (6.75), Teaford (5.73), and Mendoza (5.59) all have ERAs over 5.50 is a problem. Pitchers get hurt. You had better have some options that can keep you in games when that happens.
On another note, I will continue to beat the drum for Gio. Yes, everyone has bad days and Falu had one of those yesterday. That’s not why I bring this up, because everyone will have a rough day like that. But we already know Falu isn’t the long term 2B answer. Every day that Gio doesn’t play is another wasted day of development.
Jim Eicher
11 months, 3 weeks agoAll commenters: great discussion today. I love this site.
Lee: As usual, good work. I just watched the 2nd base video with Sisson. VERY informative. Thank you for that and all the other videos. Any plans to do anything “entertaining” like getting hit by a pitch this year?
Lee Judge
11 months, 3 weeks agoJim: Thanks, the video with Sisson ran long, but I told them not to cut it. Being reminded of how many things there are to keep in mind when standing at second base is good for fans.
We’ve got another video with Sisson talking about leads at third base, more of the same: it’s harder than we think.
As for “entertaining” videos, the players ask me the same thing: what are you going to do this year?
They’ve got no shortage of ideas…we’ll see what we can work out that doesn’t involve me going on the DL.
Jim Fetterolf
11 months, 3 weeks ago“No team goes the entire year needing only 5 starters. Injuries happen.”
Few lose three starters by May, and Royals even lost a replacement starter, Ev Teaford. I think that is well outside of normal. And there is no reason to think that a high-priced FA signee might not have also ended up on the DL.
“I will continue to beat the drum for Gio.”
Many people do. I had hoped that he would show some glove improvement, but we don’t see it yet.
“we already know Falu isn’t the long term 2B answer.”
Haven’t even seen that suggested. Irving Falu is a utility infielder and outfielder. Falu is not Gio’s competition, nor is Yuni. Gio has to beat out Getz and do it before the Royals decide to try Tony Abreu at 2nd or move Christian Colon to Omaha. It’s starting to get crowded for both Gio and Yuni.
Kurt Vancil
11 months, 3 weeks agoPut me on the list of people who do not want to see Yuni take back 2nd when he gets off the DL. Falu is much more versatile in the field and I do not think Yuni’s bat justifies his inability to move left in the field.
Also - I hope everybody read Mellinger’s recent piece on Billy Butler. He hit the nail on the head in my opinion. Billy’s hitting talent is superb and many fans have focused more on his running speed than on his production. Although I think the Polk system is flawed in many ways, just look at the totals this year and you can see how good Billy is. He has only played in the field a couple of times and is still leading in points by a lot. Hopefully we can all appreciate what we have even if Billy hits into a double-play tonight or doesn’t make it from first to third on a single.
Jim Fetterolf
11 months, 3 weeks agoKurt, agree on Falu and agree on Billy. I was thinking that Billy is a little faster this year and has already made it from 1st to 3rd once or twice. When Billy is hitting for power, his speed isn’t an issue, and his defense has looked a little better this year, quicker and more agile.
Phillip Murphy
11 months, 3 weeks agoLee, you should explain to the readers how two umpires (3b and 2b) can miss such an easy call. Kipnis- who is by all accounts a disgrace to baseball- was both out of the baseline and clearly tagged out. He made an awful play trying to advance on a ball hit to the left side, and the umpires decided to reward him for it, and stick Moose with an error for making a great play. Even if Moose had missed the tag YOU CAN’T RUN AROUND A TAG- it’s running out of the baseline. I don’t see how two guys looking right at that play missed what a million viewers saw plainly.