Royals rally from four-run deficit for 8-6 victory against Red Sox

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

BOSTON | Well how about this one? The Royals spotted the Boston Red Sox a four-run lead Thursday night at Fenway Park and, somehow, goosed their production-challenged attack into a rousing comeback for an 8-6 victory.

Royals 8, Red Sox 6 | Thursday, July 9

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:02 CDT

Tigers 3, Royals 1 | Wednesday July 8

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:18 CDT

Tigers 8, Royals 5 | Tuesday, July 7

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:52 CDT

Greinke deserves to start All-Star Game

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Start with this: Zack Greinke absolutely should start the All-Star Game on Tuesday in St. Louis. Year after year, the All-Star Game starters have been those pitchers who had the best first half. Period.

Royals notebook: Meche shows no inclination to waive no-trade clause

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

BOSTON | Toronto ace Roy Halladay’s apparent willingness to waive the no-trade provisions of his contract prompts the question: Is Gil Meche willing to do the same if the Royals field an attractive offer? “When that time comes,” he said, “then I’ll answer that question. But I’m not going to address speculation. Do I want to go somewhere? No. That’s about all I can say.”

How they scored Thursday: Royals 8, Red Sox 6

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

HOW THEY SCORED •RED SOX FIRST: With one out, Pedroia doubled.Youkilis singled, Pedroia scored. D.Ortiz homered to left, Youkilis scored. Red Sox 3, Royals 0.

Royals statistics through Thursday

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Through Thursday

Early slips cost Greinke and Royals in loss to Tigers

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

DETROIT | Zack Greinke got out-pitched Wednesday night by Detroit rookie Luke French and, well, what more do you need to know about the Royals’ 3-1 loss at Comerica Park? Greinke wobbled through the first two innings before finding his form, and by then it was too late. Too late because the Royals, except for Billy Butler and one swing by Alberto Callaspo, couldn’t solve French’s soft-tossing lefty repertoire.

Greinke thinks he could do better

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

DETROIT | Zack Greinke’s hardest pitch Wednesday night might have been his quick rejection to any suggestion that he’s struggling to meet heightened expectations after his terrific start. “It should be better than that,” he said after allowing three runs in six innings in a 3-1 loss to the Tigers. “I should be doing better than that. Ninety percent of my games, I should do that or better.

Kansas City Royals – Detroit Tigers Wednesday box score

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Tigers 3, Royals 1

How the runs scored in the Royals' 3-1 loss to the Tigers

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

•TIGERS FIRST: Granderson led off and walked. Polanco singled, Granderson to third. Polanco to second. With one out, Thames grounded out, Granderson scored. Thomas singled, Polanco scored. Tigers 2, Royals 0. •TIGERS SECOND: J.Anderson led off and doubled. Laird reached on an infield single, J.Anderson to third. Santiago hit a sacrifice fly, J.Anderson scored. Tigers 3, Royals 0.

Royals struggle against lesser-known pitchers

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Since the start of June, the Royals have lost to the likes of Toronto’s Roy Halladay and Chicago’s Mark Buehrle, but they also have failed to produce against a bunch of no-names as well. Here are some of the pitchers who have shut down the Royals.

Royals statistics through Wednesday

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Through Wednesday

(Un)earned struggles

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:46 CDT

Here are some telling numbers about the Royals. Their starting rotation's 4.22 ERA is tied with Detroit's for the third-best in the American League, which, obviously, is pretty good. Their bullpen's 4.43 ERA is 11th in the AL, which, you might notice, is not as good. Overall, it's a 4.29 ERA, tied for 7th in the AL, which certainly isn't good enough for a team built on pitching, but also isn't terrible. read more

Don't Be That Guy series: proposing to your girlfriend at a baseball game

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:46 CDT

It happened again last week at Kauffman Stadium, like it does in ballparks and arenas and stadiums all over the country, another well-meaning but unimaginative twerp turns the woman he loves into a between-innings stadium promotion. Honestly. As a people, we have made much progress since the 1980s. We no longer wear acid-washed jeans, or 23 Swatch watches, or think women with bangs two feet in the air are hot. We now see hair bands as funny, not totally rad, so why can't we move past the video board proposal? read more

Actually, the Royals AREN'T that good when scoring more than four runs

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:55 CDT

It happened again this morning, another reader e-mailing in with the stat that the Royals are 27-13 when they score four or more runs, and 22-9 when the score five or more. Joe Posnanski got into the importance of scoring more than four runs in a column a while back, so I won't rehash that here. But this might surprise you: the Royals' win percentage when scoring five or more runs is actually the third-worst in the American League, and only .003 better than second-worst. It's true. read more

When non-pitchers pitch, a (very) short history

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:34 CDT

You may have seen where the Phillies beat the Reds 22-1 last night, with shortstop Paul Janish coming on to pitch the eighth after the Reds ran out of relievers. Janish had a rough night on the mound, giving up six runs and four hits, including a grand slam to Jayson Werth. This is actually Janish's second time pitching this season, which doesn't speak well for the Reds' staff, and he gave up five runs in one inning two months ago, which doesn't speak well for his future as a big league pitcher. read more

The Royals acquired more than just Ryan Freel -- they got his buddy Farney, too

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:32 CDT

Even if this Ryan Freel acquisition isn't exactly, um, going to put the Royals into the playoffs, it does make them a little more interesting. We pick up this Deadspin post that quotes an article from the Dayton Daily News from a few years ago, where Freel reveals a conversation he had with Farney, his imaginary friend, after making a diving catch on Albert Pujols. read more

Basketball Recruiting Round-up: Part 2

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:55 CDT

High Tech RecruitingYesterday, I spelled out the basis for this study. If you didn’t read it, I would encourage you to do so before you dissect the results. But whether you do or not, this is the most exhaustive analysis I can imagine for determining who had the best recruiting classes in 2009. As you will see, the Big 12 has three of the top 7 classes – not bad for a “football” conference.read more

Royals should be open to trading Teahen

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:44 CDT

This one's for JT.An interesting tidbit popped up in Ken Rosenthal's notes column today regarding Mark Teahen. As it regards trade rumors, you have to take it with a grain of salt and while he quotes a member of the Royals' front office, he doesn't say who it was. With that said, the suggestion is that the Royals aren't particularly willing to part with Teahen and may even be planning to move him to a corner outfield position on a permanent basis.read more

Derrick Thomas' son to be a Tiger

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:33 CDT

MizzouA couple of months ago, The Star's Steve Penn wrote a piece on Derrion Thomas, son of late Chiefs Hall-of-Famer Derrick Thomas and himself a standout, pass-rusher. In Penn's article, Thomas was said to be leaning towards attending Mizzou. Now, according to Bill Althaus of the Independence Examiner, that appears to be a done deal: Derrion is planning to walk on with the Tigers.read more

Basketball Recruiting Round-up: Part 1

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 04:37 CDT

High Tech RecruitingAs promised, I am going to present the top teams by recruiting class for 2009. I waited much longer than I anticipated because Lance Stephenson took forever to make a decision. As it turns out, he’s going to Cincinnati and he’s the only meaningful recruit they have, so it wouldn’t have mattered. Nevertheless, I wanted to make sure all the recruiting was done before I posted this.read more

Moustakas is doing just fine

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:58 CDT

This is a sketch of Henry Miller, which has nothing to do with this post.On the surface, Royals prospect Mike Moustakas isn't having an overwhelming season. However, if you judge his performance in context, he still appears to be on the right developmental track. That's not to ignore the fact that Moustakas has plenty of work to do before he creates a third base controversy at Kauffman Stadium.read more

Kansas City Star: Royals

Royals rally from four-run deficit for 8-6 victory against Red Sox

Royals 8, Red Sox 6 | Thursday, July 9

Tigers 3, Royals 1 | Wednesday July 8

Tigers 8, Royals 5 | Tuesday, July 7

Greinke deserves to start All-Star Game

Royals notebook: Meche shows no inclination to waive no-trade clause

How they scored Thursday: Royals 8, Red Sox 6

Royals statistics through Thursday

Early slips cost Greinke and Royals in loss to Tigers

Greinke thinks he could do better

Kansas City Royals – Detroit Tigers Wednesday box score

How the runs scored in the Royals' 3-1 loss to the Tigers

Royals struggle against lesser-known pitchers

Royals statistics through Wednesday

(Un)earned struggles

Don't Be That Guy series: proposing to your girlfriend at a baseball game

Actually, the Royals AREN'T that good when scoring more than four runs

When non-pitchers pitch, a (very) short history

The Royals acquired more than just Ryan Freel -- they got his buddy Farney, too

Basketball Recruiting Round-up: Part 2

Royals should be open to trading Teahen

Derrick Thomas' son to be a Tiger

Basketball Recruiting Round-up: Part 1

Moustakas is doing just fine