Games » Toronto Blue Jays
Jul2'He gave us a chance to win'
Lee Judge
The Kansas City Star
“He gave us a chance to win.”
That was Mike Moustakas‘ take on Everett Teaford‘s performance against the Blue Jays. Seven innings, three earned runs — Teaford threw strikes and worked quick. The Royals offense did the rest.
Game notes
First inning: Despite his poor numbers when hitting higher in the order, Alcides Escobar is hitting second. There are at least two reasons for this: his poor numbers are based on a small sample size and Escobar has skills desirable in a No. 2 hitter. He can hit the ball the other way. This allows him to take advantage of a hole on the right side when a runner is being held at first or hit the ball to the right side to move a runner on second base over to third. Escobar is also able to get a bunt down and runs well enough to be a desirable base runner in front of the heart of the order.
Escobar singles to right, but never advances.
Everett Teaford gives up a double, a walk and hits a batter in the bottom of the first — a big inning looms, but Teaford makes the pitches necessary to get out of the inning with only one run scoring.
Second inning: Salvador Perez hits a two-run home run, his third in eight games, and the Royals lead, 2-1.
Third inning: Yuniesky Betancourt continues to drive in runs, doubling and driving in Eric Hosmer from second base. Betancourt comes into second base standing and narrowly avoids the tag. If Betancourt came in standing because the throw was high and he thought he could advance if the ball got away, it’s not bad baseball. If Betancourt didn’t slide because he assumed he’d be safe, it’s a mental mistake.
Bottom of the third and Jose Bautista hits a Teaford changeup out of the yard. A changeup is generally supposed to start in the zone and then dive out. This changeup starts in the zone and stays in the zone. The pitch is down, but not far enough to avoid being hammered.
Fourth inning: Salvador Perez singles and Jason Bourgeois doubles — runners at second and third. Alex Gordon singles, Bourgeois takes a couple steps and freezes. This is an odd base-running move because the single is on the ground; there’s no need to wait to see if the ball will drop.
Apparently, Bourgeois temporarily held his ground because Salvador Perez held his ground and the Royals centerfielder did not want to run up the back of the Royals catcher. Once again, odd since the ball was hit on the ground and up the middle; no way to throw Perez out at the plate.
Bourgeois belatedly gets moving on Gordon’s single and still seems like a lock to score: the Blue Jays centerfielder, Colby Rasmus is moving sideways when he fields the ball which means a weak throw home. In fact, the ball is just leaving Rasmus’ hand as Bourgeois hits third, but Jason is already slowing down after getting a stop sign from Eddie Rodriguez, the third base coach. The throw to the infield is weak and, even though there are no outs — a time to be conservative on the bases — it seems like the Royals have missed a likely scoring opportunity.
Almost immediately Bourgeois makes up for the missed chance by scoring on a wild pitch that is blocked, but rolls to the edge of the grass around home plate. Bourgeois gets a good jump and Blue Jays pitcher Ricky Romero doesn’t, failing to cover home plate when catcher J.P. Arencibia scrambles to retrieve the ball.
Arencibia’s block of a pitch in the dirt — which then bounces away from him — emphasizes the importance of Salvador Perez’ ability to block pitches so effectively that they often end up at his feet.
Later in the inning, Billy Butler lines out to right field and Alex Gordon is doubled off second base. This is not a base-running mistake: Gordon was in motion on a 3-2 count.
Sixth inning: Bourgeois collects his third hit of the game. Jason hit .396 against left-handed pitchers for the Astros last season and has been brought up to face the string of left-handed starters the Royals will face before the All-Star break.
Bourgeois then gets picked off first base by lefty Romero. If Borgeois was going on first movement — a tactic used against left-handed pitchers — the pickoff is a gamble that didn’t work. If Bourgeois was not going on first movement or wasn’t supposed to be going at all, it’s a mistake.
Seventh inning: Eric Hosmer is hitting well and has been moved into the three-hole. He now hits a ball so perfectly it “knuckles.” Bats impart spin to base balls, that’s why they hook or slice as they go down a base line. They can also have top-spin (the ball dives) or back spin (the ball rises).
But when a ball is hit perfectly square, it leaves the bat with no spin at all. The line drive knuckles its way out to centerfielder Colby Rasmus who misses the catch. Hosmer hustles into second with a double. Hosmer is nine for 18 on this road trip.
As well as Hosmer hits the ball, Mike Moustakas hits one better: the Royals first grand slam of the season and Mike’s first grand slam in the major leagues. Everett Teaford now has plenty of breathing room and the Blue Jays don’t.
In the bottom of the inning, on a 1-1 pitch to Brett Lawrie, Salvador Perez shifts inside, pounds his fist into his mitt and then shifts back to the outside part of the plate. Popping the mitt in one location, then shifting to another, is meant to send a false message to the hitter. The hope is that the hitter thinks the pitch will be inside and have a hard time handling something away.
Laurie fouls the pitch off and eventually strikes out.
Eighth inning: Alex Gordon singles on a tough pitch low and away. The point of interest here is the direction the ball took; Gordon hit it to left field. When hitters are going the opposite way — “oppo” in current baseball slang — it’s usually a good sign, especially if they hit the ball hard. It means they’re waiting well and exhibiting good mechanics.
Ninth inning: Ned Yost brings in Tim Collins to finish the game. An easy call — the Jays have two lefties coming to the plate and Jose Mijares pitched Sunday. Collins goes 1-2-3 with the help of a spectacular play by Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer — a strong throw, followed by a pick in the dirt. Royals win, 11-3.
Ned’s decision
Ned Yost has been criticized for his decision to leave Bruce Chen in the game to face Josh Willingham on Sunday. Here’s Ned’s reasoning as related by Rex Hudler: Chen was at 80 pitches and throwing well. Yost did not like the Herrera-Willingham matchup. (Speculation on my part: it may be that Ned did not want a fastball pitcher to face an excellent fastball hitter — some managers like a soft-tosser to go after the guys with big swings.)
Ned thought Bruce could throw a double play ball and Willingham is a double play candidate. Yost also wants the starter to go deeper into games and trusted Chen to get the job done.
As we all know, it didn’t work out.
Those minor league numbers
Chris Getz is hitting for .435 with a .458 on-base percentage and slugging .609 in Triple A. It’s a small sample size, but there’s still a lesson there: what happens in Omaha, stays in Omaha.
Moustakas
Perez
Teaford
Joel Kallem
10 months, 2 weeks agoMark, wasn’t Adcock - was Teaford. Easy enough to confuse as they have both been on the Omaha shuttle a lot this year.
Interesting comment about Getz after all the guff dumped on Yuni this year. Right now he is hot with the bat and played a solid second base tonight.
Best thing about Teaford’s game was that he was throwing strikes and trusting the defense. Low walk amount meant that the two homers were solo shots and not three run shots. Now, if he can get that message to the rest of the starters, we may be on the start of something.
Nice to have a no-brainer on the Royal’s side for a change.
Thayne Griffin
10 months, 2 weeks agoWhat a way for Moose to break his (I think) 0-14 slump he had going. BIG game from him.
Teaford did what the team needed and the offense backed him up, good to see, especially after a poor last three games from the team. I also like how Teaford’s curveball looks, seems to be a plus-pitch and his best pitch to me (but what do I know?).
And as much as I hate Yuni playing for the Royals, I must (regrettably and unfortunately) say he has played well at the plate this past month - RBIs on RBIs on RBIs. Quite an awkward way for him to get in to second base though eh?
Good to see Hosmer try to get going again..I was hoping that liner Rasmus missed would bounce to the wall to try and see and inside-the-park HR, but alas, it didn’t happen. Good job of him keeping the ball close even if he missed it.
Thought Alex had the best at-bats of the team tonight and was rewarded with a few hits.
Salvador Perez has 3 HRs in 8 games. In the other 70 games, Royals catchers have 2 HRs. I firmly believe in a few years he will be the best catcher in baseball and the Royals best player if he can avoid injury. The kid has talent.
Thayne Griffin
10 months, 2 weeks agoJust saw this: Moose’s GS went 467 feet. 6th-longest HR of the year in MLB. WOW.
Daniel Wesley
10 months, 2 weeks agoMoose’s HR was hit far, but no way it was 467 ft… maybe 430. Rasmus’ HR down the line was closer to 467 ft, are you sure you didn’t get the two mixed up?
Thayne Griffin
10 months, 2 weeks ago5th C Rasmus homered to right (448 feet). 7th M Moustakas homered to center (467 feet), E Hosmer, B Butler and Y Betancourt scored.
Is what it says..Moose’s did hit decently high up. No idea how they measure it though..I didn’t think it was that far, but that’s what the numbers say.
Donald Wilson
10 months, 2 weeks agoAm I the only one concerned that maybe - just maybe - someone is going to come up with a sore arm (saying nothing about broken bone) with the arm knocks that seem to be getting out of hand?
Greg Tatro
10 months, 2 weeks agoI’d like to say I was the one who helped Moose break out of his slump. My Moustakas t-shirt arrived in the mail yesterday. I got to represent here in Twins country.
Lee Judge
10 months, 2 weeks agoThayne: I’m not exactly sure how they measure home run distances, but I’m guessing it’s an inexact science.
I’ve heard—no idea if it’s true—that they know how far each seat is from home plate and then estimate where it landed. Which is why they say “estimated’ distance.
I also wonder if it take trajectory into account. (Sounds like I need to ask around and write about this after the All-Star break.)
Lee Judge
10 months, 2 weeks agoDonald: Last year they were celebrating by punching each other in the chest. I let Jeff Francoeur give me one of those punches in the bicep to see how hard they were and it left a Frenchy-fist-sized bruise.
I got to punch him back and I didn’t make a dent.
I’ve wondered if some pitcher will take exception to some of the more over-the-top celebrations and drill someone.
Brian Rose
10 months, 2 weeks agowonder if Sanchez is next for TJ surgery. decreased veolocity on fast ball, lack of command (although that is considered “normal” for him). hate to see someone hurt, but worse to see someone fail. I tend to trust GMDM as he spends far more time evaluating talent that I do. So if he picks a guy I cheer for him, although some i like more than others. Yuni is a surprise haven’t heard much about Gio lately… Perez is just awesome!
John Wilson
10 months, 2 weeks agoPerez - 3 homers in 8 games - Beginner’s luck or did we just get a power hitter back in the lineup?
Joel Kallem
10 months, 2 weeks agoThink Salvy is for real. He has a short quick stroke and is a big guy. When he gets one in the wheelhouse, he can give it a ride. I think he will be a 20-25 a year man.
Larry Tindle
10 months, 2 weeks agoKind of expect a slight decline in Salvy numbers once the league has seen him more. Then will depend how good he is at adjusting to their adjustments.
Curtis Ruder
10 months, 2 weeks agoYes, wildness is normal for Sanchez. But what has happened this season is far beyond what was his career norm. He became a full-time starter in 2008. His first three walks per nine innings averages: 4.27, 4.85, 4.47. Those are not good numbers, but he compensated by striking out a good number per nine (K/BB was always over 2) and by having a low batting average against.
But last year his walk rate soared to 5.86 per nine innings, which is atrocious, while his k/bb ratio was also a poor 1.55. Both were easily the worst in his career, and he was shut down after a little over 100 innings.
But as bad as last year was, this season has been far, far worse. He has walked 7.77 batters per nine innings; he has struck out fewer batters than he has walked, and he is also allowing more hits per nine innings than at any time in his career.
I don’t want him to fail, and if we are going to continue to hand him the ball I hope each night is the night he turns it around and becomes the guy who once through a no-hitter. And I’ll be the first to admit that 46 innings is a small sample size, but if you combine his 2011 and 2012 numbers, you approximate a full season worth of pitching, and his numbers are simply not acceptable. The excuses I have read from Yost in particular just don’t match up with the facts. (At the same time, Yost primary job is not to tell me the facts, but to get his guys playing to the best of their ability, and if a smokescreen gives Sanchez a little breathing room to improve, maybe he is making the right decision.)
It is to the point that I almost hope there is an injury. Not at all because I want him to be hurt, but because if there isn’t, then his baseball career is likely over, and we are all just waiting for everyone to realize it.
Jim Fetterolf
10 months, 2 weeks agoIf we combine Sanchez’ 2011 and 2012 numbers, we have a pitcher who has been on the DL at least twice with various ankle, shoulder, and arm problems and a pitcher who exhibits the symptoms of a bum arm/shoulder in his velocity drop and inability to locate a fastball anywhere close to low in the zone.
One thought on the DL: earlier in the year it was noted that GM Moore seemed to be using the DL as a sort of taxi squad for players without options. I’m wondering if MLB is cracking down on that and demanding a firm diagnosis on Sanchez and the injury is enough to effect his pitching but not yet enough to show on an MRI or other diagnostic tool.
Lee Judge
10 months, 2 weeks agoI saw Gio in a game last week and he made an error on a throw to first base. That opened up a six-run inning.
Al Fitzmorris was one of the announcers for the game and said plays like that help keep Johnny in Triple A.
I’ve been told that the Royals aren’t giving up on Gio, but want to see some improvement on the defensive side of the ball.
John Wilson
10 months, 2 weeks agoJim - interesting you should say that about the DL. My wife and I would joke back in April about how pitchers that did horribly a couple games in a row would be on the DL soon. I didn’t realize it was something that perhaps the league might be squawking about.
Bob Forer
10 months, 2 weeks agoThayne, I agree with you. I think Salvy could end up being the best catcher in baseball in a few years. He started right where he left off last year at the plate. Small sample size, and i doubt he will keep posting those great numbers, at least not until he reaches his playing peak.
I am probably getting ahead of myself, but he could end up almost as good as Johnny Bench. You never know.
But I will say this without reservation: The Royals got a hell of sweet deal in signing him long term.
Curtis Ruder
10 months, 2 weeks agoNobody who has ever had a stretch of 150 innings as bad as Sanchez’s last 150 innings has ever been a productive major league pitcher again. I hope he’s the first. But we should be clear about where we are.
Thayne Griffin
10 months, 2 weeks agoBob, I wasn’t going as far as Johnny Bench good! It’s possible, but too early for me to say that. I agree with you on the contract though - clutch.
Jim Fetterolf
10 months, 2 weeks agoThis is Rany’s quote from his well done piece:
“But if they [Royals] would just take a step back, they would realize two things: 1) Few pitchers have ever been as wild as Jonathan Sanchez has been, and 2) Those few pitchers who have, never got it back. Never.”
Chuck Smith
10 months, 2 weeks agoI read Rany from way back, when it was Rob (Neyer) & Rany on the Royals. I’ve moved away from his site because it, imo, has become fairly negative. His statistical analysis is usually pretty good although rarely without bias.
Betencourt has been good at the plate, I just hope when Getz gets back he brings the bat from the bench when giving someone else the day off.
I know the knock has been on the Pitching this year, but I was looking through team stats and it was interesting to note. In the last 3 years: ERA is at it’s best (4.23). Batting Average is at it’s worst (0.265) and Defensive metrics are below last year but better than 2010.
Hopefully we see a continued improvement on pitching, an uptick in hitting and better defensive play from 2B and CF. (I personally think that all other positions are in the top 3rd for defense in MLB).
I like the way the Royals are looking. I’m completely optimistic at this point. And as always, love the work Lee
Jim Fetterolf
10 months, 2 weeks agoChecked Yuni’s splits for this year and they are odd, .787 v RHP, .629 v LHP, much of the difference in SLG.
Terry Payne
10 months, 2 weeks agoGee, I miss Mark taking cheap shots at Jim.
And Jim’s passive/aggressive responses.
Can this be a blog without egos getting in the way? Let’s hope so.
Esky is the MVP of this team. Hopefully, he can get comfortable with hitting in the 2 hole. If he can, can there be a better 1-2 punch in the league? His avg will go down, but his value to the team will rocket up. And with Hos rounding into shape? And with Billy and Mous next? Then Salvy? The offense of the 2010’s! Just get us SOME pitching Dayton, without breaking this lineup up.
Hate to say it, but go ahead and trade Frenchy. Package him with w/ a prospect if you have to, anyone but you know who. Get us a reliable rotation dude!
Lee Judge
10 months, 2 weeks agoMy editor, Nicole Poell, is quite serious about blocking readers who go after other readers. You can disagree with someone without insulting them.
We’re trying to provide a forum for readers to express themselves, but if some readers are intimidated by the thought that they’ll be attacked for commenting, we’re cutting off debate, not encouraging it.
Jim Fetterolf
10 months, 2 weeks agoLee, as you know I much prefer the board this way, as calm, objective discussion. That is what makes this place unique in the market.
Chuck Smith
10 months, 2 weeks agoIt’s been too many years since i’ve lived in Kansas, but did just come across a nice Kansas brew called Shock Top. Ahh, I miss Kansas.