Saturday's game is going to be tough. Felix Doubront has only given up 16 ER's in his last 10 Games. That's VERY good. He's a big strong lefty that is hard to hit. His biggest weakness is his control - and it's not a glaring problem at all. We'll need to get to him early to have a good chance in that game. That said, Guthrie has been very good in his last 3 starts. His last game was masterful. Let's hope his mojo continues.

Sunday's match-up with Lester going against Shields.......If we were talking 3 weeks ago, I would have loved our chances. Now? Let's just say that I am hoping for an off day for Lackey. Lackey has owned in day games, where James has definitely struggled more in Day v Night Games.

David Ortiz has returned to form.

And they have 10 batters with an OWAR of 1.0+... 7 guys with 2.0+.... to be honest that's pretty amazing.

Detroit's awesome offense only has 7 players with 1.0+ oWAR... only 3 with 2.0+

KC has 6 players with 1.0 oWAR but only 1 with 2.0+ (Hosmer)

I thought they'd finish last in the East when the year began and that Toronto had a chance to win it. Ortiz has been mashing, and the rest of the lineup is solid pretty much all the way through. Their starting pitching has been serviceable and the relief guys have been pretty good.

Their team ops is 787, Hosmer has our highest ops for our regulars at 785.

Yeah, with Saturday's matchup against the big power lefty at the top of his game and our left handed heavy offense . . . . needless to say, don't like that matchup at all.

And Sunday, just depends on which Shields shows up. Lackey will do his thing (I don't see us getting more than a couple against him), but if we can run up his pitch count and get to their bullpen by the 6th or 7th, I like our chances.

Interesting Side Note: I read somewhere that Shields has 2.35 ERA when he is being caught by Salvy and close to 4 when other guys (Kottreras, Hayes) are behind the plate. Don't know if pitch selection and set up played into Tuesday's debacle at all, but thought it was interesting. Hopefully Salvy will be back and ready to go by Sunday!

Yep, they lead MLB in OPS, OBP, RBI, Runs, 2B's and BB's ; 2nd in BA and SLG%, 3B's and Hits - they also can run the base-path's very well. I'd say, offensively, they can kick serious ass.

I think we have to be concerned with Cleveland as well for a number of reasons.

1. They were as hot as us prior to them playing Detroit
2. They routinely get beat by Detroit, so these last three losses are not a true sign they are cooling off.
3. They have a relatively easy schedule going forward.
4. We struggle against them.

JMHO though.

Did you guys see Ibanez' throw from left in last night's Toronto-Mariners game?

http://i41.tinypic.com/112916s.gif

Maybe this chick is related to Ibanez?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ulg8GScyxH8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

LMAO

I saw Lonnie Smith do that once with the Phillies. Threw the ball straight down on to the hard Astroturf and it bounced about 15 feet in the air.

Gordo's struggling. Trade him for Ibanez, straight up now.

Do it!

So do you guys think the Royals will try to make a post-waiver move with someone?

I actually am fine with what we have at RF/2B, unless we had the chance to get Hunter Pence, who would be a game changer, IMO.

I'd look at SP, but wouldn't overpay for anyone and would gladly walk away if someone wanted to gut our farm system for a rental.

I actually do not think that Pence would be much of a change at all. He's a 2.7 WAR player, and Lough is 2.4 WAR.

What Pence brings offensively, he lacks defensively. And there's no need to pay exponentially more for what we essentially already have.

What we need is moar power from the right side. Billy slugging 404 is ridiculous. I expect him to pick it up and slug over 500 for the remainder of the year.

I love what Lough has meant to our team, but I'm pretty sure he's Mike Aviles.

Probably right. But his coach hasn't turned into a pumpkin yet, and I don't think it will this year. And Pence is a FA in '14.

I'm great with upgrading RF in the off-season, but I don't see a viable option available in '13.

This. End of discussion.

Great! Aviles has averaged 2.1 WAR/162 games in his career. And he's cheap. Alcides by comparison only gets 1.4 WAR/162 games and he cost us our best pitcher in 20 years.


So to recap: Aviles for free, Alcides for a lot. When Aviles is the better player. Awful. Small markets depend on guys like Lough delivering above avg WAR so you don't have to trade for it or pay for it.

It's worth noting that Aviles has only played 85 games while Escobar has played 109.

The Indians DFA'd Mark Reynolds today. Thought that was interesting.

Just throwing Pence out there, as he gives us more power than Lough. But yeah, I'm not freaking out there like I was earlier. Same at 2B since Tejada has grabbed that job by the testicles.

Are we set to make a run, or would you guys do anything?

Calculating Escobar's worth is a little harder because defensive metrics are difficult to quantify and assess, even for the most staunch sabermatricians.

Last night there was a perfect example. Ball up the middle, deflects off Duffy's glove, playing into an incredibly difficult in-between hop to Escobar, who handles the play beautifully.

Aviles, physically, is simply incapable of making that play. But now how do we evaluate the "worth" of these moments, which happen more frequently than we're even aware?

I still don't get this whole idea that we need to upgrade RF. If Lough finishes the season around .290 with his little bit of pop I think that is perfectly acceptable for us to roll with. We don't need to spend money to get a very slight offensive upgrade and likely downgrade on defense.

This is his first season and he is performing pretty well. I would rather take a chance that he could improve beyond this season with the expectation that he will continue to produce like he is now. His BABIP is .333 which isn't crazy for a speedy hitter so I don't think his overall BA will regress too much over a large sample size. I would love to see him learn to take more walks though, but that patience will hopefully come with experience.

He has quickly turned into one of my favorite players. Just because we didn't expect this production doesn't mean it is a fluke. Players adjust, learn, and improve and he has done just that and earned his place on the team so far. Nothing has been given to him a la Frenchy and Getz.

I'm going to remin optimistic that Bulter, Gordo and Escobar will find their bats between now and septmber and our starters will keep us in games.

Pence's slugging percentage is only 0.05 points higher than Lough's this year, and Pence has been sliding for a while now. I think his name is carrying him a bit right now.

What about a starting pitcher? I mean, make the strength even stronger.

At this point, Bruce Chen is pitching very well. But will that last? Do we trust Duffy? Wade Davis is the weakest link. Adding a SP gives us an advantage almost every time we take the field.

Let me just toss 2 names out there from teams who are out:

Jorge DeLaRosa
or....
Tim Lincecum

Maybe Colorado would never trade a pitcher to KC again (even if he used to be our pitcher). And yeah, Lincecum has been up and down. But he's got plus stuff and at the back end of a rotation with a good defense could still be effective. And isn't he a free agent at the end of the year?

Just throwing out crap. I know.

I would take a chance on Tim Lincecum all day long.

Just saw Peter Gammons say the Twins were likely to place Josh Willingham on waivers (MLB Network).

KC should be ALL over that, if that's the case. Willingham is signed through next season ($7 million) and offers big-time RH pop.

The teams Gammons mentioned - Rays, Tigers, Rangers - all would be below KC on the waiver list. So you're not just improving your team... you're blocking one of the teams you're trying to catch from improving, too.

it would be nice to have a guy that can give Esky a break once in awhile


somebody with a decent bat


i would still rather have Tejada as a Utility guy instead of starting

Willingham would be nice. Cuddyer would be great, but COL isn't trading him.

Plus it gives another viable DH option if Billy's struggles linger.

Really I think the team is set for this year and next with the exception of 2B. That's why I wanted Kendrick so badly, too bad it iddin't happen.

Alex Rios has been claimed off waivers, not sure by who yet.

I was disappointed to see the Blue Jays pull DeRosa off waivers last night. One rumor was the Braves claimed him, but KC is above them in the pecking order.

DeRosa would be an upgrade over Johnson. He can play multiple positions, and although he doesn't have Johnson's glove he'd be a much better bat. He's someone who could spell Moose vs. tough lefties and give Tejada a couple of days off a week. He'd cost $230K the rest of this season, and he's signed for $750K next year. The Jays say that's why they're keeping him.

My guess: The Rangers. They talked to the Sox about him earlier this year.

I'm not saying we should trade for a RF. I'm saying we shouldn't count on Lough to keep up this pace in the long term.

His number really declined this year. Age? Discontinue PED use?

He's been hurt all year. Torn meniscus in his knee at one point, which is what he's been on the shelf for most recently. The issue is in his left, or plant leg.

Looks like he's a below average defender, and he would have to take Lough's spot.

I wouldn't be a fan, but I would probably trust your opinion and bite my tongue if it happened.

He's a proven RH power bat who is going to OPS .825+ if healthy. He's a negative with the glove - especially if you're asking him to play RF - but I think what he brings with the bat makes up for that. If you slot him into this lineup behind Butler in the 4 spot, it instantly is better. He also is controlled next year for just $7 million. This is a move not just for this year but also for 2014.

Again, if healthy.

I like Lough a lot, especially his defense and versatility. But I think his offense comes back to earth eventually. I'd feel much better with Lough as the 4th guy than as an everyday starter heading into next season.

Phillies

Whaaaaaaaaaaat?

Reuben Amaro, Jr. might be the only GM more delusional than Dayton Moore. That team has a lot of problems. Alex Rios isn't going to fix them.

:thumb: Good enough for me.

If he returned to 2012 form, that would be a huge upgrade for 2014.

:shake:

Phillies claimed Casper Wells off waivers

Wait a minute: Twitter is saying Rangers claimed Rios.

Weird I read that it was the Phillies.

but now I see conflicting reports...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/tex...uiring-him.ece

I think the initial one must have confused Wells and Rios.

That says the Phillies claimed Wells, and that Rios was claimed by an unknown team.

Evan Grant on Twitter says that team is Texas.

yeah I was sure I saw Rios in a report first but it looks like either I was mistaken or the report was. Now all I am seeing is either Texas or a "mystery team." Not sure I care since I am not a Rios fan and don't think he will help Texas much.

Lineup is out for tonight, but I don't want to start the game thread:

1. Cain CF
2. Hosmer 1B
3. Butler DH
4. Gordon LF
5. Tejada 2B
6. Maxwell RF
7. Moose 3B
8. Hayes C
9. Escobar SS

Pitching: Chen vs. Lester

I would rather have Kottaras in there to take walks and for the power hitting vs Brett Hayes, but we know Ned loves the Righty vs Lefty thing.

Miguel Tejada is our 5 hitter. JFC

I wonder if the lineup when Salvy gets back will push Butler into the five hole.

I think it might push Savly into the 5 hole - Cain, Hos, Billy, Gordon, Salvy. Keeps the RLRLR going.

Most likely it goes back to Gordon, Hos, Billy, Salvy

And here's the lineup for Boston:

1. Ellsbury CF
2. Victorino RF
3. Pedroia 2B
4. Gomes LF
5. Drew SS
6. Napoli DH
7. Nava 1B
8. Saltalamachia C
9. Holt 3B

P. Lester

No papi

Duffy to Omaha, Francisley Bueno up, Adam Moore on waivers to make room on the 40-man roster for Bueno.

You are to the repository thread as that pete guy is to gamethreads.

:deevee: all the time

:clap:

Where the hell is Lewdog to start the game thread???!!?

Did you ever start a thread about getting together at a bar for a game? I might have just missed it. But I am thinking with both the Royals and Chiefs on tomorrow night a sports bar with TVs dedicated to both might be a good time. Of course, thinking usually gets me into trouble so......

Ah shit, two game threads.

I didn't. I forgot to infact, haha. Tomorrow is no bueno for me. I have to work late and likely won't be off work until 6 or later. That would be ideal though. Shit.

That's bad mojo.

It would be ideal, which is why I may have to try and set it up with out you. Though looking at the schedule, both games start at seven.... You could still make it out.

Should have pulled him after 1st guy got on base, IMO

Wrong thread?

Yep

It happens.

I really want to sweep Boston. I think it would make a huge statement. But I'm good with 3 out of 4.

http://schmoesknow.com/wp-content/up...b3-480x279.jpg

Perfect for some photoshopping....

"Every time we win, we peel a section."

i'm good with a split. ****.

NO. Don't ****ing settle. We're going to send these chowder eating, head-numbing dialect speaking mother ****ers back to where they came from with both feet up their asses in the form of a sweep.

Historic city? I don't give a ****. Get outaaaa hea!

What a great way to start the series. Let's keep it going tomorrow.

Division:http://i.imgur.com/uWl3cKA.png


Wildcard:
http://i.imgur.com/FVsYBZr.png

Incredible that we are 16-4 since the All-Star break and lost a half game in the standings to Detroit.

Sickening, really

Didn't GMDM say something about going on a 15 of 20 run a few weeks ago?

Yes, at the all star break.

No way in hell am I good with a split. This series is a measuring stick for the Royals, and BOSox too, to a certain extent. Anything less than 3/4 is unacceptable. Justin Maxwell be damned.

The Yankees have pretty well played themselves out of contention.