Ventura looks like a stud.

When can Paulino replace Mendoza?

Mendoza will be fine, imo.

Cheslor Cuthbert with the walk off HR tonight for Wilmington

Mendoza had sucked worse than Hoch. He doesn't have goods stuff, I think his weird magic luck is gone
Maybe start Chen until Paulino is back?

Shit, bring Ventura up for the 5 spot. Didn't Ned say something about that in ST?

Mendoza will be fine

Can't wait to come up to KC and go to some games next week. I can't believe it's been 13 years since I've been out to the K.

Jesus .... Do you watch the games????? The stuff he had in Philly was nasty... the curveball was exceptional ... he'll be fine.

This team is really growing on me fast. I love the spirit, self-confidence, etc. And this year's team actually has talent, they could ride for awhile.

This city...all of us...we NEED this.

If the Royals were in other divisions:

http://i.imgur.com/I2aebcl.png

The Royals are the 5th best team in baseball.

Have you noticed the Royals new quirky move they do after they get on base? They are like mini TD dances. LOL. Like they point to something or make a hand gesture.

Anyone noticing these?

Here's a sweet video archive of Royals shit. http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/kc/...roductions.jsp

Well I dunno about that. A lot of people here give him a lot of love when he's nothing special, no more than your average bullpen guy that can eat away some innings. Don't think he should start. I think Crow needs to get the nod to start. Not to mention Duffy and Paulino will come back this season (I think) at which point Mendoza should go back to the pen.

Yeah Franceour does a little John Cena bit......makes everyone in KC ****ing puke.

Great comeback btw - at some point that magic is gonna wear off.

I just can't wait til this team puts it all together. It's either the pitching that wins us the game when our offense sucks ass or it's the bats that rarely wake up late in the game and come back when our pitching hasn't been so great.

I just hope Hosmer and Moose turn the corner and start hitting w/ power. That's the only way this team is gonna be a true and real contender. The corners have to start knockin around multi base hits and drive runners in.

What makes you think Crow should start over Mendoza? What has he shown to be a starter?

Damn, I just got COMO'ed. It's worse than being Penzed because Penz actually knows baseball

Crow doesn't have a reliable third pitch that could get him into the starting rotation. He will not be able to mix up his pitches well enough once he starts seeing batters in their 2nd and 3rd at bats.

Davis and Mendoza both need to pull it together soon, or Yost is going to have some tough decisions to make after the All Star break.

Mendoza has shown what he is. I am not worried about him and in no way should he be replaced by anyone not named Duffy or Paulino. The guy is basically pitching every ten days. Once the rotation goes back to normal I expect Mendoza to look much sharper.

What in the hell?

We seriously won last night?

Wow.

Amazing, isn't it? Even with that masterpice by Medozchevar

I stopped paying attention after Mendoza gave up his sixth run. What a nice surprise this morning!

Can't give up on these guys...

I almost did. If they didn't score the next half inning I planned on turning it off. I got lucky because it was awesome.

I turned it off for a few minutes after Cain grounded into the double play with the bases loaded. I thought we blew our chance right then (especially after he fouled off ball four on a check swing).

Because of this, Crow has HEAVY platoon splits. LHP has traditionally beaten him up quite a bit (needs that changeup to really mess with their bat speed).

It doesn't make sense. I saw him pitch a lot in college, and he flashed a 40/45 changeup consistently there. That's a good enough pitch to project to MLB average, but it just never came.

Same here, but I kept checking At Bat and put it back on at the right time.

As for the rotation...

Mendoza has been victim to a lot of skipping and jerking around, which makes it hard to find a rhythm. I'm sure he'll get a few more starts to try and straighten himself out. But not much more leash than that.

Davis is going to get a Hochevar-esque leash, I think. They need him to succeed as a starter and gave up significant pieces in order to obtain him. His performance has been uneven, but the one positive is that his K rate is up from his previous days as a starter (it's sitting at 7.1 K/9, which is respectable).

I think Ventura needs a little more seasoning before he can be an MLB starter (pitch efficiency seems to be a big issue with him), but all other aspects of his game look great.

I knew it was high.

10 of our 15 wins have come from the 'come from behind' variety.

Royals all-time record through the first 25 games.

This has been our fifth-best start in franchise history.

2013 15-10
2012 8-17
2011 12-13
2010 10-15
2009 14-11
2008 11-14
2007 8-17
2006 5-20
2005 7-18
2004 8-17
2003 17-8
2002 8-17
2001 10-15
2000 12-13
1999 11-14
1998 10-15
1997 12-13
1996 9-16
1995 11-14
1994 13-12
1993 10-15
1992 5-20
1991 9-16
1990 9-16
1989 17-8
1988 14-11
1987 14-11
1986 11-14
1985 12-13
1984 9-16
1983 13-12
1982 14-11
1981 7-18
1980 13-12
1979 14-11
1978 15-10
1977 14-11
1976 16-9
1975 13-12
1974 11-14
1973 16-9
1972 10-15
1971 13-12
1970 8-17
1969 14-11

I heard this morning that before last night the Rays had won 70 straight games in which they led by 5 runs or more, which was the longest current streak in the majors.

We need some momentum heading into may. If we can be 5 games over. 500 on June 1 we will have a good shot at the playoffs.

Hopefully this year doesn't go the way of '03

1989 we had the 3rd best record in baseball but we didn't make the playoffs because of the system back then. A's won the division.

Crazy that we've fallen behind 2-0 in the top of the first only to really with 8 straight runs in each of the last two games.

Jose Lima was our best starting pitcher in 03 and that bullpen sucked. This team is an 80 win team and they are playing par for the course so far.

haha ya, after the first last night I wasn't worried.. In fact I kind of said to myself "well at least we got it out of the way again"

Our pitching in the first inning of has been ridiculously bad, especially compared to how good it has been the rest of the time.

That 2003 team had an offense that was probably better than our team this season. Beltran was a beast, and we also had Sweeney, Ibanez, Berroa (good year), Randa, etc. However, that pitching staff was terrible. Our best starter that season was Darrell May. Enough said.

If I recall correctly, we had a lot of things go perfectly to achieve that start. Runelvys, Affeldt and McDougal all started hot. Brent Mayne was raking (complete anomoly). That team was lucky, while this year's team has some legit staying power based on historical performance of the pitchers and assumptions around improvement of the offense.

Don't forget Ken Harvey. That dude was pretty good for a few years.

edited for accuracy.

He was left as part of "etc." for a reason. More bad memories than good with that guy.

Royals and Cards Baseball! Giveaway by Missouri Tourism. Register to win tickets here, no charge.

http://doubleplaygiveaway.tumblr.com...ntest-courtesy

lol, I had that as my signature for a long time until someone complained on how big it was. I'd love if someone resized it for me.

Yeah, haha.

C: Brent Mayne versus Sal Perez...advantage 2013
1B: Ken Harvey versus Hosmer...advantage 2013
2B: Desi Relaford/Carlos Febles versus Getz/Johnson...push
3B: Joe Randa versus Moose...advantage 2003
SS: Berroa vs Escobar...push
RF: Ibanez vs Frenchy...advantage 2003
CF: Beltran vs Cain...advantage 2003
LF: platoon vs Gordon...advantage 2013
DH: Sweeney vs Butler...push

From a purely offensive standpoint, I give a slight edge to our current team. Defense is much better today.

Escobar is a much better SS then B-Error-A.

On the radio this morning Physioc said that after Shields gave up that two run first inning a few days ago he told the guys to just get him some runs because he was not going to give up any more. I thought that was pretty cool.

A present to myself arrive in my mail today....

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/g...5/P1010185.jpg

What did that cost you? (If you don't mind my asking.) I want one...

$50 shipped. Can get bats for around $100!

Got a site? It'd be much appreciated. Checked the site in the link & only saw an autograph verification site, not actually selling anything from what I saw.

It really sucks that Santana's excellent start got wiped out. It shouldn't be ruining my evening, but it kind of is; I had my broom ready to go.

Player-direct.com. I went from that source but purchased off ebay for less. And even off ebay, it was the owner of player-direct who shipped me the ball.

He was dealing...too bad the game didn't start at noon.

Same token, had the game started at noon who's to say he doesn't get shelled in the first two with the rain ending a 6 inning 5-0 Rays win?

I agree with this...but Mendoza is what he is...your next recently overachieving Royals pitcher whom everyone seems to think he's something he's not. He's a garbage man...someone you need to stick out there a couple few innings a couple times a week to give the pen needed rest. He's not a starter and should be sent to the pen once Paulino and Duffy get back.

Yeah...don't know why I'm so pissed about it, but I really am. I left work early to go watch and everything.

I'd rather see Davis sent to the bullpen if he doesn't show to be any better in about 2 more outings.

I'd leave Davis in the rotation all year. He's part of the future rotation in any circumstance and no options exist outside him. I like Mendoza but he's expendable if Paulino comes back. I'd love to believe in Duffy but maybe next year when Santana is gonzo

How many #5 starters on any team are really all that great?

Hes ok for what he is. Honestly, his starts are the types of nights you really need to lean on your offense to bring you a win.

Mendoza had a 1.6 WAR last year in 25 starts. He earned a shot at the 5th starter spot. That's about what he is, and I don't think anyone here thinks he's anything more than that.

Yep, Mendoza doesn't need defenders. Its not like he's a young player in a sophomore slump getting unfair criticism from impatient fans, he's almost 30, did OK last year, and earned his spot this spring, but he's still a #5 pitcher.

I don't even expect the Royals to win most of the games he starts, if we did better than a 2-wins-in-5 clip on games he starts, I'd be happy.

If Davis is still struggling in late June or early July, then I'd think about demoting him if I had a better option and we were still in contention. He's too important for us to not keep running him out there. People need to understand what it means to demote him. It means he's just a good reliever who we have for just 2 years, same as Shields, because there's no way we'd pick up his 3 options if he's just a reliever. The Wil Myers trade would then hinge on Shields' ability to get us into the playoffs, we win or lose that trade based solely on that.

Awesome picture!

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...60886004_n.jpg

(From NWS of KC)

We may gripe about stopping play, but it looks like the umps were right to call it at ~4:30. That 7pm window didn't make it.

I don't know what you're talking about. Looks playable to me.

Wear longer cleats...

Agree.

The pussification of America and its pastime continues!

we would use a black ball in high school when we played in snow.

For six measly outs? Hell yes.

from National Weather Service
Friday, May 3 at 7pm
Temperature: 39 °F Dewpoint: 32 °F Surface Wind: N 11mph
Sky Cover: 100% Precipitation Potential: 59% Relative Humidity: 76%
Thunder: <10% Rain: Likely (60%-70%)

Phillies Rumors: Stanton, Lee, Papelbon, Utley
By Steve Adams [May 3, 2013 at 9:52am CST]

The Phillies have made multiple inquiries on the availability of Giancarlo Stanton over the past several months, Major League sources tell Jim Sailisbury of CSNPhilly.com, but have received the same answer as every other team in baseball: Stanton isn't available for the time being.

Salisbury notes that while the Phils lack a deep farm system, they do have plenty of near-MLB-ready arms such as Jesse Biddle, Jonathan Pettibone and Adam Morgan that could be used to headline a Stanton package. Of course, as Salisbury notes, if and when the Marlins decide to listen to offers on Stanton, they may not be keen on trading him within the division. That hasn't stopped the Phillies -- and reportedly the Mets -- from showing interest.

Salisbury writes that the very reason that the Phillies have such great need for Stanton's services could lead the team to be sellers come the trade deadline. Philadelphia outfielders are hitting just .215/.285/.330, which has contributed to their 13-16 record. Here are the highlights from his list of potential trade chips...

Cliff Lee could become the prize of the July trade market should the Phillies sell. The Red Sox inquired on Lee before the Winter Meetings but were rebuffed. Given their first-place standing, they could look at Lee as a means to push them toward a World Series run.
Jonathan Papelbon is another expensive piece that the Phils could move, and Salisbury wonders if the Tigers could be interested, given deep-pocketed owner Mike Illitch's desire to win a World Series. Detroit has had bullpen issues all season and recently re-signed Jose Valverde to reprise his role as closer. However, Salisbury reports that the Tigers are one of the team's in Papelbon's no-trade clause.
Jimmy Rollins could be moved but would have to waive his full no-trade clause in order for that to happen.
There's a sentiment that the Phillies would prefer to keep Chase Utley than deal him this summer if he remains healthy. Utley will gain 10-and-5 rights in August, Salisbury notes.
Salisbury also mentions Carlos Ruiz, Roy Halladay, Ryan Howard and Delmon Young as players the Phillies would consider. Halladay's inconsistency and Howard's price tag would be prohibitive factors in any trade talks for that duo.

This may be the saddest picture I've ever seen. Poor Chris.