* Kansas City Royals @ Philadelphia Phillies Game Thread (4/6) *

[alnorth]

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
KC (2-3)	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	3	6	0
PHI (2-3)	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	4	3	2

Luis Mendoza 6IP 1R 1ER 3BB 7K
Hold, (2) Aaron Crow 1IP 0R 0ER 0BB 1K
Hold, (2) Kelvin Herrera 1IP 0R 0ER 0BB 2K
Blown Save, (1); Loss, (0-1) Greg Holland ⅔IP 3R 3ER 3BB 2K

VS.



John Lannan 7IP 3R 3ER 0BB 5K
Mike Adams 1IP 0R 0ER 0BB 1K
Win, (1-0) Antonio Bastardo 1IP 0R 0ER 1BB 0K

Home Runs

none

AL Central

Final: SEA 3, CWS 4
Final: NYY 4, DET 8
Final: MIN 6, BAL 5
Final: CLE 0, TB 6

Starting Lineups

KC

1. Alex Gordon, LF
2. Alcides Escobar, SS
3. Billy Butler, 1B
3. Jarrod Dyson, pr
3. Kelvin Herrera, P
3. Greg Holland, P
4. Salvador Perez, C
5. Lorenzo Cain, CF
6. Jeff Francoeur, RF
7. Miguel Tejada, 3B
7. Aaron Crow, P
7. Eric Hosmer, 1B
8. Elliot Johnson, 2B/3B
9. Luis Mendoza, P
9. Chris Getz, ph/2B

PHI

1. Ben Revere, CF
2. Jimmy Rollins, SS
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
4. Ezequiel Carrera, pr
5. Michael Young, 3B
6. Domonic Brown, LF
7. John Mayberry, RF
8. Humberto Quintero, C
8. Kevin Frandsen, ph
9. John Lannan, P
9. Mike Adams, P
9. Laynce Nix, ph
9. Antonio Bastardo, P

[Sure-Oz]

DH should take over the NL, hopefully someday.

[EagleRob]

Originally Posted by alnorth

yes. Yes it is.

A few years ago, I was on that "get rid of the DH" bandwagon, bemoaning the lack of "strategy" etc.

I've changed my mind, I am now a fan of American League baseball, rather than just baseball. If the Royals switched leagues, my interest would decrease.

At the college level and below, the pitcher should hit, because even though he's not as good, he can still put in a credible effort at the plate. At the MLB level, the pitcher is about as effective as some handcuffed guy in a gimp suit. Sure, we have a couple "hitting pitchers" in the NL, but mostly you are hoping for a successful bunt, or if he has to swing, then a miracle.

It is not fun to watch an inning get shut down because with 2 outs they walk the bases loaded in the 2nd inning to get to the pitcher and shut down the threat with a K. I'm also not excited about a double-switch. The "strategy" there is to move that gimp-spot elsewhere in your batting order so you have 8 good hitters in front of him. The bench should be used for defense to hold the lead, speed if a slow tying runner is on, pinch-hitting an all-glove starter late when behind, or to give a guy a day off. You want to play every day, beat the guy in front of you.

If I were emperor of baseball, I'd put the DH in the NL, and tell the NL fans to stuff it when they complain. After 10+ years they'll come around.

Probably the most compelling argument anyone has ever made to me to go against my upbringing. Nicely done.

[RedDread]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

DH should take over the NL, hopefully someday.

It will happen. DH in both leagues means more big contracts. The player's union should be in favor of it.

[EagleRob]

Originally Posted by RedDread

It will happen. DH in both leagues means more big contracts. The player's union should be in favor of it.

Probably can't be done without alienating the purest fan base though.

[tk13]

Ugly scene in Toronto. John Lackey was making his first start of the year for the Red Sox after missing last year due to Tommy John. He just chunked a wild pitch into the dirt and immediately keeled over in pain. Had to come out of the game. Did not look good.

He was pitching okay too... 4 IP, 2 runs allowed, 8 K.

[lewdog]

I want to go on record. I think Mendoza has decent enough stuff to be an effective #5 in this rotation. Nothing spectacular but decent enough to keep us in games and eat up some innings. More than we can say for Hochevar. I hope my feeling is right.

[Archie F. Swin]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

Not to totally divert to a tangent, but National League ball is lame.

Have to admit Ned played a solid NL game yesterday. I was fascinated by the substitutions.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by alnorth

yes. Yes it is.

A few years ago, I was on that "get rid of the DH" bandwagon, bemoaning the lack of "strategy" etc.

I've changed my mind, I am now a fan of American League baseball, rather than just baseball. If the Royals switched leagues, my interest would decrease.

At the college level and below, the pitcher should hit, because even though he's not as good, he can still put in a credible effort at the plate. At the MLB level, the pitcher is about as effective as some handcuffed guy in a gimp suit. Sure, we have a couple "hitting pitchers" in the NL, but mostly you are hoping for a successful bunt, or if he has to swing, then a miracle.

It is not fun to watch an inning get shut down because with 2 outs they walk the bases loaded in the 2nd inning to get to the pitcher and shut down the threat with a K. I'm also not excited about a double-switch. The "strategy" there is to move that gimp-spot elsewhere in your batting order so you have 8 good hitters in front of him. The bench should be used for defense to hold the lead, speed if a slow tying runner is on, pinch-hitting an all-glove starter late when behind, or to give a guy a day off. You want to play every day, beat the guy in front of you.

If I were emperor of baseball, I'd put the DH in the NL, and tell the NL fans to stuff it when they complain. After 10+ years they'll come around.

Brilliantly stated! The DH is not going anywhere. Eventually, NL fans will have to bite the bullet on this.

Stubbornly insisting that "Real" baseball is baseball sans DH is the same as stubbornly insisting that "Real" basketball is basketball sans the 3-point line, the shot clock, and the legal ability to dunk the ball, or football sans the forward pass.

[Ceej]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I want to go on record. I think Mendoza has decent enough stuff to be an effective #5 in this rotation. Nothing spectacular but decent enough to keep us in games and eat up some innings. More than we can say for Hochevar. I hope my feeling is right.

Way to go out on a limb there.

n00b..

[CaliforniaChief]

Hoch proved that he can handle pitching in a tough environment yesterday. /GMDM

Hey, at least we know that 9 run leads are safe with Hoch.

In all reality, this bullpen is fricking nails. We'll have the occasional flame-out, but I haven't felt as good about our pitching situation since 1985.

[Ceej]

I smell three in a row.

[RedDread]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Brilliantly stated! The DH is not going anywhere. Eventually, NL fans will have to bite the bullet on this.

Stubbornly insisting that "Real" baseball is baseball sans DH is the same as stubbornly insisting that "Real" basketball is basketball sans the 3-point line, the shot clock, and the legal ability to dunk the ball, or football sans the forward pass.

Or just to use baseball, interleague and instant replay have made their way in. Baseball is the slowest of the four major sports to adopt rule changes but this will happen.

However the All-Star Game WS home field advantage needs to go away. That is garbage. MLB All-Star game is already the best of all sports, they should just leave it be.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by Dave

Sitting Hos after a 4-hit game?

It's Yost baby!!!

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by CJizzles

Way to go out on a limb there.

n00b..

I wish it wasn't so hard around here to fit in.

[penbrook]

Francouer is 13-25 with 1 hr and 6 rbis against Lannan.