Games: Detroit Tigers, Aug. 28: Judging the Royals with Lee Judge

Games » Detroit Tigers

Aug28

Moose finds something

Tuesday afternoon, Mike Moustakas found something.

When a hitter’s swing goes south, it does so gradually. Bit by bit, day by day, game by game, something goes wrong. And by the time the hitter wakes up and realizes it’s not just good pitching or a run of bad luck, but rather something wrong with his swing, it can take awhile to figure out just what that wrong thing is.

In the search for the culprit, the motion that is being executed improperly and setting off a chain reaction of bad motions, hitters sometimes look at video. They look at video of bad at-bats and compare that with video of good at-bats. What’s different? What was I doing when I was going good that I’m not doing now, or what am I doing now that I wasn’t doing when I was going good?

Tuesday afternoon, with Kevin Seitzer’s help, Mike Moustakas found something.

His front shoulder. Moose was starting his swing by pulling out his front shoulder. His swing is supposed to start with his hands (and if you think that’s an incredibly subtle difference, you’re right — and that what makes fixing it so difficult). Starting the swing with the front shoulder also pulls your head up. If your head comes up, you can’t see the ball. Starting the swing with your front shoulder also makes your hands late. If you’re not seeing the ball and your hands are late, you’ve got a real good chance of making an out.

We talked about Mike’s front shoulder at about 3:45 in the afternoon. He thought he knew how to fix his swing. Approximately six and a half hours later, Mike Moutsakas was at the plate with the game on the line.

The bottom of the eighth

Despite the fact that Justin Verlander started for the Tigers, the score was tied at 8. Aaron Crow, who gave up the game-tying homer to Jhonny Peralta the in the top of the inning, was still the Royals’ pitcher of record. Greg Holland was warming up in the pen, just in case the Royals took the lead. Brayan Villareal, who winds up very slowly and then throws the ball very fast, was on the mound for Detroit.

Villareal struck out Alex Gordon for the first out, then Billy Butler walked to the plate. Villareal had faced six batters at that point, and five of them saw a 98-mph four-seam fastball on the first pitch of their at-bats. The sixth batter, Jeff Francouer, saw a 97-mph four-seam fastball on the first pitch of his at bat. Butler notices things like that. Billy walked to the plate, got the 98-mph four-seam fastball he probably expected and shot it back through the middle.

Lorenzo Cain came out to run for Billy. With Salvador Perez at the plate, Cain stole second. The Royals now would get two shots at driving in the go-ahead run. Perez, who had already doubled twice and hit the ball hard two more times, popped up to first.

Mike Moustakas, who singled in his first two at-bats, was due up. So Tigers manager Jim Leyland went to his pen and brought in lefty Phil Coke to get Moustakas. Coke threw Moose two curveballs, one good, one not so hot, and the hitter who earlier in the day thought he found something proved it in the eighth inning of a tie ballgame.

Mike Moustakas doubled. The Royals won 9-8.

Game notes

• If you watched the game, you know that the top of the ninth had its own drama. With two outs and two runners on, Detroit’s Delmon Young hit a long drive down the right-field line. The ball went barely foul, and that was decided only after the umpires looked at the video. The guy who had the best view of anybody — right fielder Jeff Francoeur — said he saw the ball go past the foul pole on the foul side, but he waited to hear the ball hit the pole. It was that close.

When Frenchy didn’t hear that impact, he knew the ball was foul. He told me later that he was prepared to do a “George Brett” if the umpires came back and ruled the ball fair.

• I’m glad the ball was ruled foul, but I sure would have liked to see Frenchy do a “George Brett.”

• The Royals got to Verlander for seven runs in the first two innings, but Royals starter Luis Mendoza seemed determined to give the lead back. Mendy gave up six runs in the first three, but Ned Yost said he had a feeling that both pitchers would settle down. And that’s what happened.

• Ned also said a manager can’t panic too early. If Yost went to get Mendoza after three innings, that would affect the next two days. Fans can afford to focus on the game they’re attending. They’ve spent their money, and they’d like to see a win. Managers have to think about tomorrow.

• Running for Billy in the eighth might have driven some fans crazy, but Perez had already doubled twice with Billy on first, and Billy wasn’t able to score either time. When you look at a hitter’s RBI totals, think about whom he had hitting in front of him. Did they help or hurt his chances of driving in runs?

• In the second inning with runners at first and third, Alcides Escobar squared around to bunt twice. After the game, I asked Ned if those were safety squeezes, and he said no. That was all Esky. When the count went to 2-0, Ned put Jarrod Dyson in motion. That was not a hit-and-run, but a run-and-hit. The runner was stealing the base, and the hitter had the option of swinging.

• Esky swung away and drove the ball past third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who was playing in for another bunt.

• Detroit first baseman Prince Fielder could not handle a couple short-hop throws — the kind we see Eric Hosmer deal with on a regular basis.

• In the sixth inning, Verlander intentionally walked Butler to get to Perez. Even when it makes sense — and there was a runner in scoring position with first base open — the on-deck hitter sees the intentional walk as an insult. You would rather face me than him?

• Verlander went up and in on Salvy with a 97-mph fastball. Salvy pulled it down the left-field line for a double. Hitters usually try to stay cool about it, but getting a hit after an intentional walk is very satisfying.

Hochevar’s last start

I got a chance to talk to Ned Yost about Luke Hochevar’s start on Monday, and I think Ned’s analysis was better than mine. I said that Hochevar wasn’t horrible, but he wasn’t great and that was disappointing after his outstanding start in Tampa Bay (eight innings of shutout one-hit ball).

Ned thought that expecting that kind of outing on a consistent basis from a pitcher not named Verlander or Price was a bit much. Yost said Luke kept the Royals in the game on Monday, gave them a chance to win and gave the bullpen a much needed rest. Ned had used some relievers three days in a row and knew he had limited options if Luke didn’t pitch deep into the game.

And according to Yost, being down by six in Fenway Park is a lot different than being down by six in Kauffman Stadium. In Boston, get a couple guys on and hit a fly ball to left field and you’re only down by three. In Kansas City, get a couple guys on, hit the same fly ball and you’re probably jogging back to the dugout. In a park where you can score runs in a hurry, Luke pitched a complete game and only gave up four earned runs.

Looking at it from a manager’s point of view, I see what Ned means. OK, I was wrong. Luke pitched better than I thought.

Comments

Terry Payne
8 months, 3 weeks ago

I’d prefer to have Frenchie do a “George Brett” at the plate: keep his head down, follow through, and drive the ball.

Salvy’s 2nd double was an amazing job of hitting. Being able to pull a Verlander fastball in on his hands and double down the left field line? That takes SOME kind of strength and quickness.

Esky must be the quickest guy I’ve ever seen bounce up to his feet after diving to field a grounder.

Nice to see base stealing playing a factor again for the boys in blue.

I guess they’re auditioning both Dyson and Cain for the leadoff spot?
Jeff Frost
8 months, 3 weeks ago

GREAT COMMENT!!! Frenchy- start hitting! I like the Gordon, Dyson, Cain OF right now! 3-35 just doesn’t cut it!
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Thought Mendoza pitched generally terrible, but Verlander was worse. Who could have predicted that!

So glad we have Moose at 3rd and not Cabrera. Cabrera has less range than Yuni and I didn’t know that was possible!

Glad to see 1-6 hitters play how they did. Formidable lineup when they hit like they did last night.
Joel Kallem
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Nice to see the Royals hang on to this one after “beating up” Verlander early in the game. What an emotional roller coaster - can just imagine how the players felt. Hopefully, this will become another piece in the learning process of becoming a winning team.
Matt Ungashick
8 months, 3 weeks ago

I don’t have a problem with Butler being pinch run for there. You’re right, Perez has become a reliable clutch hitter. My question is, why is it automatic to pull Butler for a pinch runner, but you can’t pinch hit for Frenchy? Right now, if the guy could strike out on 2 pitches, he would. The called 3rd strike in the 7th (I think) was a fastball, in the heart of the strike zone. I don’t want to turn this into a Frenchy-bash, but they need to pinch hit for him as though he is this years player, and not last years.
Joel Kallem
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Matt, by using Cain to run for Butler, the Royals did not have another regular outfielder if they pinch hit for Frenchy. Once the roster expands, such a move would become a real possibility.
Chris Campbell
8 months, 3 weeks ago

It looked like NO ONE wanted to wanted to win this game. The Royals certainly did their best to try to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Verlander was unusually bad early on to say the least. Mendoza tried like hell to give the lead back early on, then the bullpen (well, Salvy let a couple of pitches get by him that he generally keeps in front of him) tried to give it up late. Aaron Crow couldn’t have centered that hung slider more perfectly if he tried.

Neither team deserved to win this one, but I’m glad that the Royals did.
Gaines Arnold
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Generally good article, but I have one issue. For the average or casual fan your statement that “the Fans can afford to focus on the game they’re attending. They’ve spent their money, and they’d like to see a win. Managers have to think about tomorrow” may be true, but to the fans that read this and other blogs and are much more involved it is insulting. Lee, this is the problem I have with some of your takes. I believe that KC fans, I mean those of us who pay attention to the team every game and have for the majority of our lives, have a much bigger stake in this team than the current players or manager. I have lived here and loved this team since I was about five years old (that was 41 years ago), and I care deeply about every game. As to fans like me possibly wanting Mendoza taken out, that has everything to do with caring about every game and not just this one that I might have paid to see. I want to see the Royals win every single game, and my problem with Ned Yost is that he does not seem to have the same passion that I, and many other fans, have. I could easily be wrong, but many times it does not seem that way.

As a foot note: I did not believe Mendoza should be taken out because it was the 3rd and I have a lot of faith in an offence that can put that kind of score up against one of the best pitchers in the MLB.
Jim Fetterolf
8 months, 3 weeks ago

“it is insulting.”

Disagree. Most serious fans understand the hazards of burning a bullpen and even of using situations as training for the future, so I doubt they are insulted. Some fans might be distraught over what seems a dumb move, even if it works out well, but I doubt they would feel personally insulted by Lee’s comment.

“I want to see the Royals win every single game, and my problem with Ned Yost is that he does not seem to have the same passion that I, and many other fans, have.”

And that is what Lee pointed out and I agree with, perhaps we could see it as the difference between narrowly focused passion aimed at one game or inning compared to a long-term passion directed at building a stronger team for the length of a series, season, or decade. Simple disagreement arising from a radically different point of view and both views make sense based on where someone is standing. As someone once said, it’s not personal, it’s baseball.
Darral VanGoethem
8 months, 3 weeks ago

It was nice to see Moose take that low and away change-up back up through the box for a single last night that drove in a run b/c pitchers were making a living getting him to chase off-speed stuff low and away for about 2 months now.
Matt Ungashick
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Joel, you’re correct regarding last night. Pinch-running for Butler is very delicate. Such a gamble when to sacrifice your best bat for speed, that may, like last night, be the difference in the run being scored. It does seem like it’s OK to take his bat out, but never Frenchy.
Larry Tindle
8 months, 3 weeks ago

I know of no where else that I can get inside information like what Moose did to corrrect his swing. Keep up the good work Lee. As for being insulted, I look at this way, if it doesn’t apply to my feelings then he is talking about another fan. Lets face it there are as many opinions from fans out there as there types of chewing gum at Quik Trips. A lot of casual fans think they are experts. Don’t believe it just set in the stands and listen to them tell you how big a fan they are, then ask why Kila is not playing.

I think some of Verlander’s trouble is he is getting worn out. Detroit keeps saying he is their horse and they will ride him till he can’t go anymore. Well even the best horse need a rest once in a while. Remember 135 pitches early on against us just so he could get the complete game. Well a lot of extra wear and tear on that arm.
Larry Tindle
8 months, 3 weeks ago

You will notice they don’t pinch run for Billy until there is a good chance he will not get another at bat.
Jim Wilson
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Jim F., best not to tell other people how they feel or should feel. I cringed when I first read the passage that Gaines’ cites in his post.
Devan Shopinski
8 months, 3 weeks ago

I really like Jeff Francouer…thought how he treated Eric and Moose then they came up last year was a real class act. But the guy is not getting it done and hasn’t all year. I thought his comment about working on not wrapping the bat next spring was a bit odd. Why not work on it now if you know that’s the problem? And why why why (I’ve asked this several times this year) does he swing at the first pitch virtually every AB?
Jeff Frost
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Devan- I don’t think anyone dislikes Frenchy. The problem is that this IS major league baseball. The goal is to win! Frenchy is having a horrendous year and in a 3-35 slump. He is not in the lineup tonight, which, good for Ned. We have played our best ball of late when we have had Gordon, Dyson, and Cain in the outfield. Frenchy is not in the future plans- Myers is coming!
Terry Payne
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Frenchie’s days MAY be numbered, but the question is, what trade value does he have? Right now, I’d say only as a 4th outfielder on a contender than can afford his contract and are in desperate need of a RH bat coming off the bench, or filling in for an injury. The Dodgers seem to be unafraid to throw cash around, plus Matt Kemp slammed into the wall pretty hard last night.

He could be a 4th outfielder here, but that’s a very expensive 4th outfielder for a franchise that needs to spend on pitching, more than offense.
Daniel Wesley
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Jim, if Gaines finds it insulting, he finds it insulting. You don’t get to choose what someone else finds insulting.

Judging the Royals