On Sunday night, the SF Giants finished off a four-game sweep over the Detroit Tigers to win the 2012 World Series. Without the help of some former KC Royals players, the Giants would not have been successful.

Following the World Series celebration, MLB Network analyst Kevin Millar called lefty reliever Jeremy Affeldt the MVP Game 4.

Why would a reliever be the MVP?

Well, Affeldt entered Game 4 in the 8th inning with the score tied at 3-3. He walked pinch-hitter Avisail Garcia. However, he proceeded to strike out the Tigers 3-4-5 (Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, and Delmon Young) hitters on 12 pitches. Only Fielder was a left-handed hitter.

Affeldt then struck out lefty Andy Dirks (another left-handed hitter) to lead off the 9th inning before giving up a LONG fly ball to Jhonny Peralta that chased him from the game. The ball was caught on the warning track in centerfield only because the park is HUGE and the wind knocked it down. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said after the game that when he came to take Affeldt out he said “You scared me. I have to take you out.”

So how did the Giants get to Game 4 with the help of some former Royals?

» Continue reading “Giants Win Title with Former Royals Help”

Just like the divisional series, the championship series in Major League Baseball have former KC Royals playing integral parts for their new teams. One finished in a short four-game sweep. The other in an exciting seven games.

Raul Ibanez struck again in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. Down 4-2 with two outs in the bottom of the 9^th inning against Detroit Tigers closer Jose Valverde, Ibanez took the second splitter of the at-bat into the right field seats to tie the game up at 4-4 and send the half-empty home crowd into a frenzy. That died off quickly as the Tigers came back and won in the 12^th inning after captain Derek Jeter was lost for the rest of the postseason with a fractured ankle.

In Game 2, Ibanez went 1-for-2 with two walks in the Yankees 3-0 loss. They collected just three hits off Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez (he had one of them).

Ibanez couldn’t be the hero every night and couldn’t awake the sleeping Yankees offense. In Game 3 (the first game in Detroit), he came up with two men on base, two out, and the Yankees down 2-1. Ibanez was facing lefty Phil Coke and worked the count full. However, Coke threw a nasty offspeed pitch and struck him out to end the game. He went 0-for-4 in Game 3. Ibanez went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts in Game 4 and was pinch-hit for by Alex Rodriguez, who of course did nothing.

» Continue reading “Former Royals Help New Teams to World Series”

All four Division Series played win-or-go home Game 5’s, so every series was interesting and down to the wire.

The first team to punch their ticket to the Championship Series was the SF Giants. All four former KC Royals played integral parts to their advancement.

Lefty reliever Jeremy Affeldt pitched in just about every game. In Game 1, he walked one in 2/3 of an inning (12 pitches, five for strikes). In Game 3, he allowed one hit over two scoreless innings of relief (22 pitches, 14 for strikes). In the Game 5 clincher, he pitched another scoreless inning (the seventh). He was pulled after that one inning after a scary incident in the dugout on a foul line drive (he should be okay for the National League Championship Series).

Left fielder Gregor Blanco started every game for the Giants. In Game 1, he went 2-for-3. In Game 2’s blowout loss, he went 0-for-2, but the Giants only collected two hits. He went 0-for-1 with a run scored in Game 3. He showed off his surprise power in Game 4 with a two-run homerun in the 2^nd inning that gave the Giants the lead they would not relinquish. In the Game 5 clincher, he went 1-for-4 with a run scored in their six-run 5^th inning.

Shortstop Joaquin Arias didn’t start, but made an impact off the bench. He pinch-hit in Game 1 and picked up a single and scored a run in the bottom of the 9^th inning of the Giants 5-2 loss. He hit the eventual game-winning ground ball in the 10^th inning of Game 3’s 2-1 victory. Arias went 2-for-3 off the bench in Game 4 with two doubles and two runs scored.

Lefty reliever Jose Mijares had the worst series. In Game 2, he allowed three runs on two hits and a walk, but did not record an out. He rebounded in Game 4 and struck out the only batter he faced (Joey Votto) on five pitches in the 4^th inning.

One former Royal saw his season come to an end with the Cincinnati Reds. That was former closer and Reds setup man Jonathan Broxton. Broxton took the loss in Game 3 when a Ryan Hanigan passed ball moved base runners up in the top of the 10^th inning and Scott Rolen’s error scored the winning run. He pitched in three of the five games and allowed that unearned run on four hits over three innings. Broxton walked one while striking out four.

» Continue reading “Former Royals Help New Teams to Championship Series”

The Major League Baseball Division Series begins tonight after an exciting Wild Card Friday. One former KC Royal, Endy Chavez, moved on to tomorrow’s American League Division Series with the Baltimore Orioles. He entered Friday night’s game as a defensive replacement in right field.

Another former Royal, outfielder Carlos Beltran, moved onto the National League Division Series, as the St. Louis Cardinals controversially defeated the Atlanta Braves on Wild Card Friday. He started in right field, batted second in the order, and went 1-for-4 with a run scored in the win. Beltran and the Cardinals moved on to face the NL East champion Washington Nationals on Sunday.

With the Division Series’ kicking off today, it’s a great time to take a look at the former Royals who will be participating.

The NL West champion SF Giants have quite a few representatives. They begin play tonight at 9:30pm ET on TBS.

» Continue reading “Division Series Begin with Royals Input”

Nine days of rest and on the tenth day, the Chicago White Sox received dominance from their young starter Chris Sale. Sale improved to 13-3 after the extended rest as the White Sox beat the visiting KC Royals, 4-2.

The only bumps in the game for Sale were the two solo homeruns he allowed: one to Jeff Francoeur in the 5th inning and one to Billy Butler in the 7th inning that gave the Royals a 2-1 lead.

Luis Mendoza

Meanwhile, Royals starter Luis Mendoza matched Sale inning for inning. He gave up an AJ Pierzynski RBI double in the 2nd inning and a Paul Konerko solo homerun to lead off the bottom of the 7th inning that tied the game at 2-2.

Then the 8th inning happened. 

The Royals had runners at the corners with nobody out and Alex Gordon lined out. Alcides Escobar then tried the squeeze play, but Sale pounced on it and tagged Tony Abreu out before he even got near the plate to slide. Lorenzo Cain struck out and the threat was over.

Mendoza went back out for the bottom of the 8th inning, but with one out, Gordon Beckham hit a homerun to give the White Sox the lead. Manager Ned Yost stuck with Mendoza and he gave up another run after a walk and an RBI double by Kevin Youkilis. Lefty Tim Collins finally came in and got out of the jam.

The Royals had their chance in the 9th inning against closer Addison Reed. They had runners at first and second base with Eric Hosmer at the plate. Instead, he tried to pull a down and outside pitch, only to ground into the game-ending double play.

The Royals out-hit the White Sox, but went just 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

*Bye, bye Mijares. The Royals said good-bye to lefty reliever Jose Mijares, as he was claimed off waivers by the SF Giants. He will join former outfielder Melky Cabrera in St. Louis. Fellow left reliever Francisley Bueno was recalled to take his place.

**Yost had a closed door team meeting prior to tonight’s opener, but obviously it din’t help. He voiced displeasure on Sunday of the losing culture attitude.

***For more on the White Sox, check out South Side Hit Girl.

For once, Jeremy Guthrie pitched well, but it still didn’t result in a KC Royals victory. They lost the first game of their three-game series against Texas, 5-3.

The Rangers scored single runs off Guthrie in the first and fourth innings before chasing him in the 7th inning. He ended up allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over six innings (plus one batter in the 7th).

The Rangers’ three-run 7th inning did in the Royals. Michael Young singled to chase Guthrie from the game. In came lefty Jose Mijares (remember when the Royals were trying to trade him?). With one out, Mijares walked Geovany Soto (a sub .200 hitter) before giving up a three-run homerun to Mitch Moreland that gave the Rangers a 5-1 lead.

The Royals offense collected more hits than the Rangers (10-7), but only went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position. They also hit into two double plays.

*Mike Moustakas tweaked his knee again while sliding n Thursday, but is expected back in the lineup on Saturday.

**Let’s check in on some of the traded Royals. Jonathan Sanchez started tonight for Colorado (he was swapped for Guthrie). Right now, the Rockies are losing to SF, 16-4. Sanchez lasted just three innings while allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks. He threw 67 pitches, 33 for strikes, while also throwing two wild pitches.

Jonathan Broxton picked up a hold tonight for the Cincinnati Reds, as he entered with two men on base in the 8th inning but escaped unscathed. He threw five pitches, all for strikes (he induced an inning-ending double play). That was his second outing for the team with the best record in baseball.

Despite the fact that the KC Royals came back to tie the Seattle Mariners in the 8th inning, the bullpen gave it right back, as the M’s won 7-6. The Royals were swept in the four-game series.

Will Smith kept the game close, as he started opposite M’s ace Felix Hernandez. He ended up allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings. He struck out four and did not walk a batter. King Felix survived taking a line drive off his hand to pitch seven innings. He allowed two runs on five hits and two walks.

The Royals bullpen gave up two runs in the 7th inning on a Kyle Seager two out, two-run single.

Then the Royals offense came back against three Mariners relievers. Billy Butler drove in the first run with a one out single. Eric Hosmer tied the game with a two out, two-run single. They had the chance to take the lead, as Hosmer advanced to third base on a throwing error, but Yuniesky Betancourt struck out to end the inning.

But the Royals bullpen gave it right back in the bottom of the 8th inning. Lefty Jose Mijares entered and immediately gave up a double to Mike Carp. Carp would score on Trayvon Robinson‘s sac bunt, that Mijares fielded and threw away. Greg Holland then entered, and with one out, allowed an RBI single to Casper Wells to end the M’s scoring.

Even though the Mariners were bad with runners in scoring position, the Royals were worse. They went just 3-for-13 and struck out ten times.

*Mike Moustakas sat out on Sunday and the Royals will see how he feels after the off-day on Monday.

*For more on the Mariners, check out Needle Ball.

Bruce Chen and Kevin Millwood were teammates back in the late 1990′s with the Atlanta Braves. On Saturday, the two faced each other in Seattle. Millwood and the Mariners got the best of Chen and the KC Royals, 4-3.

The Royals got on the board first in the very first inning. Alcides Escobar reached on a bunt single and hustled all the way to third base on the throwing error. With two outs, Billy Butler followed with an RBI single. The Royals did not pick up another hit against Millwood until the 4th inning with one out when Butler singled.

Chen struggled in the 3rd inning and gave up three runs, which ended up costing him the ballgame. With two outs and a runner on base, Jesus Montero homered. Kyle Seager followed with a double and scored on Miguel Olivo‘s RBI single. That was the last base runner Chen would allow.

At one point in the game, the Royals had four hits and Butler had three of them (after the 6th inning). After the first three games of the series, Butler has seven hits. Unfortunately, the rest of the Royals offense has been virtually nonexistent (and they have lost all three games).

The Royals cut the deficit to 3-2 in the 8th inning on an Escobar RBI triple with one out, but they couldn’t score him to tie the game. In the bottom of the inning, reliever Jose Mijares walked the first two batters he faced. After a sac bunt in which the Royals could not record an out (it loaded the bases), Greg Holland came on in relief.

Holland got John Jaso to ground into a force out in which Eric Hosmer threw home and got the first out. Mike Carp followed with a sac fly and the Mariners got their run back.

The Royals had their chance in the 9th inning against Tom Wilhelmsen. With two outs and trailing by two runs, Hosmer singled. Lorenzo Cain followed with an RBI triple and the Royals now had the tying run just 90 feet away. Unfortunately, Alex Gordon grounded out to end the game.

*Third baseman Mike Moustakas made a nice diving stop in the bottom of the first inning on a Casper Wells single. He left with an injured knee. It’s a sprain and he is listed as day-to-day.

**For more on the Mariners, check out Needle Ball.

On a hot and humid Sunday afternoon in Baltimore, KC Royals starter Luke Hochevar didn’t last five innings. He threw 104 pitches. Somehow, the bullpen put together 4.1 shutout innings and the offense did just enough to secure the series win over the Orioles, 4-2.

With the game tied at 2-2 in the top of the 6th inning, the Royals scored two runs off Orioles starter Brian Matusz. Jeff Francoeur led off the inning with a solo homerun (he had two hits). With two outs, Humberto Quintero padded the lead with an RBI double (he had two hits).

Now to the stellar bullpen effort. Lefty Tim Collins entered in the 5th inning with two men on base and got Wilson Betemit to line out on the first pitch to end the inning. Collins then struck out two of the three hitters he faced in the 6th inning.

Next up was Kelvin Herrera, who retired the side in order in the 7th inning. He induced a ground out from Matt Wieters leading off the 8th inning and was replaced by lefty Jose Mijares, who allowed a double to Davis before getting Betemit to ground out. After Steve Tolleson was announced as a pinch-hitter, Aaron Crow came on in relief to strike Tolleson out to end the threat.

Closer Jonathan Broxton got two quick outs in the 9th inning before JJ Hardy reached second base on a fielding error by Francoeur in right field. Broxton didn’t seem fazed, as he struck out Nick Markakas to end the game and complete the series win.

What was so stellar about the bullpen effort today was that they were strike-throwing machines. Collins threw 11 pitches, all for strikes. Herrera threw 20 pitches, 16 for strikes. Crow got a strikeout on just four pitches. All-in-all, the bullpen threw 51 pitches, 41 for strikes.

Billy Butler gave the Royals a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with his 11th homerun of the season (are you voting him into the All-Star Game yet?)

The Royals move on to Cleveland with a winning streak to face the suddenly struggling Indians.

*After collecting three hits on Saturday, I thought Eric Hosmer may have broken out of his season-long slump. Instead, he went 0-for-4 today with three strikeouts.

**For more on the Orioles, check out Charm City Yakyuu.

The KC Royals dropped their seventh in a row, as they were swept for the second consecutive home series (they have yet to win a home game). The Detroit Tigers took the series finale, 4-3 in comeback fashion.

They Royals had their chance in the bottom of the 9th inning against Tigers closer Jose Valverde, who lost the strikezone for a bit. With one out, Humberto Quintero walked. Jason Bourgeois followed with a single, putting the tying run in scoring position. That brought up Alcides Escobar, who hit into a game-ending double play.

Escobar had given the Royals a 2-1 lead in the 3rd inning with a two-run homerun, his first of the season off Tigers starter Max Scherzer.

The 9th inning wasn’t the Royals only chance to put runs on the board:

• In the 4th inning when they scored their third and final run of the game on a Quintero RBI double, they had runners at second and third base, but Mitch Maier struck out.
• In the 5th inning, Alex Gordon was thrown out trying to steal third base with one out and another runner on first base. Eric Hosmer then grounded out.
• In the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings, the Royals had the leadoff batter on base. Only once did that base runner even reach second base.

There was a testy moment in the 7th inning when Scherzer hit Quintero to leadoff the inning. The benches cleared, order was restored, and Scherzer was replaced by lefty Phil Coke. Coke quickly put away the Royals in order.

» Continue reading “Royals Drop 7th in a Row”