Pitching Perspectives (4/27-5/3)

The Royals finished the week with a 5-2 record. They are now 14-11 and stand alone in 1st place in the division.

Kansas City

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

PC

ERA

WHIP

Gil Meche

3.2

7

5

5

5

2

0

85

6.0

7

4

4

2

3

0

116

8.38

2.17

Zack Greinke

7.0

5

2

2

2

8

0

111

2.57

1.00

Kyle Davies

5.2

7

3

3

3

0

1

89

4.76

1.76

Sidney Ponson

4.1

9

7

7

1

1

2

76

14.55

2.31

Brian Bannister

7.0

1

1

1

6

2

0

103

5.1

8

6

3

2

4

1

94

2.92

1.38

Totals:

39.0

44

28

28

21

20

4

6.46

1.67

Rotation Assessment:
Week 1: 3.62 ERA and 1.21 WHIP
Week 2: 1.91 ERA and 1.27 WHIP
Week 3: 4.38 ERA and 1.10 WHIP

Gil Meche left his 1st start of the week with a stiff back but managed to make his next start. His 2nd start was not great but considering the alternatives if he had to miss the start, 4 runs in 6.0 innings of work is certainly acceptable. Hopefully the back issue doesn’t continue to be a problem throughout the season, but it was an issue in spring training and it is an issue now. Zack Greinke had his worst start of the season but was still great. Kyle Davies continues to push the limits, again combining a high WHIP with decent results. He’s not turning it around but he isn’t completely imploding. Speaking of implosions, it is time to call up Hochevar and send Punch-Out Ponson packing. Ponson has no value and no place on a major league roster. Bannister continues to defy the odds this season, but blaming his 6 walks in his 1st start on the fact it was a “damp” day, is a red flag for me. If Greg Maddux gave that excuse after a similar start I would accept it, but coming from a guy who has averaged 3.0 BB/9 in the majors I’m not buying it as a legitimate excuse. No matter the reason, I’ll take him over Ponson or Ho-Ram any day.

The Bullpen:

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA

WHIP

Juan Cruz (R)

2.2

3

1

1

2

1

0

3.37

1.87

Kyle Farnsworth (R)

3.0

3

0

0

1

3

0

0.00

1.33

Ron Mahay (L)

3.0

4

1

1

1

3

0

3.00

1.67

Horacio Ramirez (L)

3.2

5

3

3

0

4

0

7.36

1.36

Joakim Soria (R)

2.2

2

1

0

0

1

0

0.00

0.75

Robinson Tejeda (R)

3.1

3

0

0

3

3

0

0.00

1.80

Jamey Wright (R)

6.2

5

3

2

2

5

1

2.70

1.05

Totals:

25.0

25

9

7

9

20

1

2.52

1.36

Week 1: 2.30 ERA and 0.83 WHIP
Week 2: 5.87 ERA and 1.70 WHIP
Week 3: 3.75 ERA and 1.25 WHIP

Jamey Wright appeared in 5 of the 7 games and pitched 6.2 innings. Trey needs to suppress his urge to call on Wright so frequently or Jamey will be on the DL or ineffective by August. Tejeda may not pitch many clean innings, but he’s effective and doesn’t give up many runs and could help take some of Wright’s workload. As a group the bullpen had a very good week, but it is becoming painfully obvious that Horacio Ramirez doesn’t belong on a major league roster as a starter or as a reliever.