August 28, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; MLB umpire Phil Cuzzi (10) gives Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland (10) results of a play review in the ninth inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 9-8. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

Greg Holland was trying to protect a 9-8 lead after a leadoff walk and groundout put Austin Jackson on second. A wild pitch to Miguel Cabrera put Jackson on third with just one out. Holland escaped with a big strikeout on a slider to take a sac fly or RBI ground out away from the Tigers options to tie.

After an intentional walk to Prince Fielder, Holland’s first pitch to Delmon Young was driven deep to the right field corner and ruled foul. The Tigers questioned the ruling and multiple replays showed different looking results. It appeared to land in fair territory, but one replay showed the ball going behind the pole. The umpires upheld the ruling. One the next pitch, Young flew out to Alex Gordon in left.

How does the ball disappear behind the pole from both angles? It’s like David Blaine hit it.

— Kevin Goldstein (@Kevin_Goldstein) August 29, 2012

The win secured the Royals first winning August since 2000 with a current 15-11 record in the month and three games to go.

It’s a good thing too. The Royals almost squandered a rare opportunity against Justin Verlander.

In 21 career starts entering Tuesday night’s game, Verlander had thrown 141 innings against the Royals for a 2.36 ERA and a 134 to 37 K/BB ratio. Earlier this season, Verlander threw a complete game and another eight innings against the Royals and gave up just four runs between both. In the first inning tonight, the Tigers scored three runs off of Luis Mendoza and it seemed like that would probably be enough.

Instead the Royals put up three of their own in the bottom of the inning to tie it, all with two outs. The big hit was a two run single by Mike Moustakas, who had three hits and three RBI on the night, hopefully signs he’s shaking out of a slump. The Royals scored four more in the second on five straight hits. The Tigers scraped back and ended up tying the game in the top of the eight after a Jhonny Peralta homer. In response, Moustakas doubled in Lorenzo Cain after he stole second pinch-running for Billy Butler in the bottom of the eighth to retake the lead.

Then came the Holland save.

It was his eighth save since taking over for Jonathan Broxton and the most dramatic so far.

The Royals racked up 15 hits, including three singles from Butler. Gordon added two more doubles to his league-leading total, and Sal Perez had two as well. The first six hitters had 13 of the hits tonight and Gordon, Butler and Moustakas all drove in multiple runs. It was just enough to get by tonight.

Everything went great, unless your name was Justin Verlander or Matt Harrison.

The Melkman Delivered. Photo Credit: H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports via US PRESSWIRE

The National League used two big innings to roll over the AL 8-0, including a five run first inning off of Verlander that included a bases loaded triple by Pablo Sandoval. Harrison started the fourth inning and got two quick outs, but Rafael Furcal hit a soft liner down the right field line that Jose Bautista wasn’t positioned well enough to get to quickly enough and a Matt Holliday single brought in another run. Then Melky Cabrera put a ball into the left field bullpen (for old time’s sake) and made it 8-0.

The AL had some opportunities. In the bottom of the fifth, David Ortiz and Mike Napoli had consecutive one-out singles and Asdrubal walked to load the bases after a ground out by Curtis Granderson, but Ian Kinsler flew out to left field.

The next inning, Mike Trout singled to lead off against R.A. Dickey and promptly stole second base. Mark Trumbo struck out but Paul Konerko was hit by a pitch to put two on for Miguel Cabrera with Billy Butler stepping into the on deck circle. Cabrera grounded into a double play to end the rally, though and the AL left more runners on.

The AL never threatened again.

Melky Cabrera won the MVP by going 2-3 with two runs scored and two driven in and the game’s only homer. Of course, this was his first game in Kauffman Stadium since being traded away to the Giants last winter. It stings just a bit to see him win the MVP Award, but fans were generally appreciative of his All-Star season to this point.

Billy. Photo Credit: H. Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports via US PRESSWIRE

Billy Butler got the loudest support as Kansas City’s only All-Star player in the game. Royals fans really embraced him, giving a loud ovation and the look on his face was one of appreciation and humility. Chipper Jones, in his only appearance in Kansas City and last All-Star Game, didn’t even get as loud a response from the crowd.

Butler has always been a reluctant vocal leader despite being the most productive hitter on the team over the last few years. When Robinson Cano stepped to the plate, he was met with some leftover boos from Monday’s Home Run Derby, but also with chants of “Bil-ly But-ler”. Butler’s first steps into the on deck circle in the sixth met with an eruption of cheers.

Fans lived and died with each pitch, and in both of his at bats, Butler got to two strikes and fouled a pitch off. The relief felt by the crowd was palpable. Those kind of moments of fandom don’t come along often.

As a game, it really wasn’t much of a contest. Even though MLB says “it counts”, the game is still an exhibition and you’re still looking for moments. Maybe tonight won’t be like Bo Jackson‘s homer in Anaheim or Cal Ripken‘s homer in his last All-Star Game, but for Kansas City, the thought of about 40,000 people rising together to cheer Billy Butler will be a memorable moment.

After Ian Desmond decided to skip the All-Star Game to rest a nagging oblique injury, Michael Bourn was added to the National League roster to represent Atlanta. Then Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins announced that he’d miss the game as well due to “loose bodies” in his knee that may require surgery. Stanton was due to perform in the Home Run Derby on Monday as well but will miss that as well. Bryce Harper was added to fill his spot in the game and Andrew McCutchen will swing for the fences in his place in the Derby.

Both Bourn and Harper finished behind Cardinal David Freese in the fan’s Final Vote after Chipper Jones had been taken off the ballot and added to the NL roster to replace Matt Kemp. Aaron Hill of Arizona is the only player from the Final Vote who hasn’t been added to the team’s roster.

Jake Peavy was added to the American League roster after C.J. Wilson was scratched due to a blister.

Matt Holliday was added to the NL team after a death in the family made Yadier Molina unavailable for the game, as well.

In other news, Justin Verlander is being reported as the American League’s starter on Tuesday. He’s sitting on a 2.58 ERA and 128/30 K/BB ratio in 132.2 innings for Detroit.

July 10, 2011; Phoenix, AZ, USA; USA outfielders Matthew Szczur (4) , Bryce Harper (middle) and Wil Myers (right) celebrate after the 2011 Futures Game at Chase Field. USA won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

In today’s know-everything-first, savior-in-the-making, prospect pleasure land, people tend to over-hype everything. Media allows us access to high school football games (a lot of them), little league games, college sports, and so on. On the Internet, we can get analysis and scouting reports on children—read that line again and let it sink in. Think of Bryce Harper, the phenom of the moment. According to ESPN, Baseball America, the Washington Nationals, and Under Armor (he endorses them), Harper is the second coming of Babe Ruth or Willie Mays. According to Fangraphs, he’s hitting .274/.348/.471, which is exceptional for a 19-year-old.

My point, and I’d say it’s a point of criticism, is that we go to extremes with our perspective on players … especially prospects. Until they reach the majors, they are a relative unknown, which helps create our extreme views. We knew less about Harper the player before he got to the majors so that gave us the license to create the fantasy Bryce Harper in our imagination. And fantasy Bryce Harper is phenomenal, perhaps to an unobtainable degree.

If Harper stays the player he is today and finishes his career with the same slash line as right now, he will have been a relative disappointment. He will not have walked on water, leapt tall buildings, solved the debt crisis, and rolled back prices all while creating sweet catch phrases like “That’s a clown question, bro.” Even though his numbers so far this season would equal a pretty good major league player over the course of 15 seasons, it won’t be good enough.

Harper may live up to his hype. The media loves to help players reach it by exaggerating every small things they do as if no one has ever done it before (Remember when Harper hustled around the bases on a popout and ESPN gushed as if no one had ever ran out a popout? Boy, that was terrific journalism). But it takes a lot to get there. He’ll have to be a superstar, nothing else will suffice because people have already created the player they want him to be.

This all came to my mind while I was watching the Omaha Storm Chasers game this morning on MiLB.tv. I wanted to see Jake Odorizzi pitch; I watch most of his starts. The broadcasters mentioned that he would start the Futures Game, but they also talked about another guy who started in the Futures Game something like a decade ago: Josh Fields. Fields is playing for the Albuquerque Isotopes now so Odorizzi pitched against him on Monday.

As Fields, a guy with great promise in his day and plenty of major league opportunities, dug in, I thought to myself: Look at the contrast here. One guy’s star has faded another’s is shining bright. No one knew that Fields would bust at the big league level, but fewer people back then were paying attention to the minor league level. Fields was coming up just as fans started raising expectations on top prospects.

Today, we pin hopes to players in the minor leagues more so than ever. Many Royals blogs and news outlets reported Bubba Starling’s big day on Monday, hitting the first two homeruns of his professional career. Harper and Mike Trout are two of the biggest names in baseball and have been since they were in the low minors. We see these bits of news on rookie ball players like Starling, or Harper when he was down there, and let it fuel our hopeful frenzy. Oddly, when Bubba went 0-5 the other night, no one said much but when he hit two homeruns in one game, we started clearing a spot on our mantels next to Jesus and John McClain (Doesn’t everyone’s mantle have John McClain from Die Hard on it?).

I’ll admit, it’s fun to be hopeful. I spent all this morning looking up stuff about Bubba and dreaming of he, Wil Myers, and Alex Gordon in the outfield. But to do so without critical thought is not fair to the player, the team, or yourself as a fan. Gordon felt the pressure that comes with people pinning their hopes to him. Everyone knew he’d be the next George Brett. Everyone knew he’d be great. And for a long time, he wasn’t, and fans were mad at him for it. Was our disappointment his fault? No. It was ours. We created the fantasy Alex Gordon, and he folded under the pressure of trying to be that thing.

I notice this more as I think about the All-Star Futures Game. The Royals have three young players in it: Odorizzi, Myers, and Yordano Ventura. I’ve already given my thoughts on Myers (good and bad). I know very little about Ventura. So, I’ll give you my thoughts on Odorizzi, and more importantly, I’ll try to do it in a realistic way.

Feb 29, 2012; Surprise, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi (49) poses for a picture during the Royals photo day at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-US PRESSWIRE

I’ve seen most of his starts this year, and I’m excited like everyone else. To me, his greatest weapon is his fastball. He commands it well, especially up in the zone as an outpitch. If I’m excited about one aspect of his game, it’s that he can use his fastball effectively, something that not too many Royals starters have. He’s poised on the mound and consistent. Sometimes his breaking pitches get a little wild, and they don’t have the type of hard-breaking, late movement associated with aces like Justin Verlander and Felix Hernandez. But they’re pretty good.

Here’s what scares me about Odorizzi: he gives up a lot of hits. He’s given up 52 hits in 47.2 innings at Omaha this season. When I watch him, he’s always pitching with guys on base. He’s always pitching out of jams. He usually gets out of them because he can strike guys out, which makes his ERA look fine. It’s 2.83 in Omaha, but his opponent’s BA is .274. But it’s far from a guarantee that he’ll be able to do that against top-flight talent in the majors.

That’s why I’m excited to see him in the Futures Game. I want to see him get tested against the best hitters in the minors. I want to see him have a few guys on with nobody out and see if he can work out of that jam. In the majors, he’ll face tough hitters like Miguel Cabrera with runners on base, not random Albuquerque Isotopes players … well … like Josh Fields

It’s easy to look at Odorizzi and become unreasonably excited. From that comes unreasonable expectations and unreasonable disappointment. It makes more sense to be realistically optimistic and contextually open-minded than to hang our hopes and dreams on a kid, and then rip the kid for not delivering.

The game that was scheduled versus the Tigers was rained out and postponed until Monday, Sept. 24, officially ruining everyone’s TV watching and Twitter fun for tonight. In doing so, the three-game series turns into a two-game set in which Royals fans can only hope Jim Leyland decides to give his ace Verlander an extra day’s rest. Sadly at this time, Verlander is still scheduled to go for Wednesday.

A positive however is the extra days rest this rainout gives to a struggling rotation, and the flexibility it gives to the team as Mendoza can head back to the bullpen in a long-relief role, in preparation of Felipe Paulino making his season debut on Saturday.

Mendoza already figured to be the odd man out of the rotation when Paulino returned from the DL, but being able to push everyone back a day allows Ned Yost to keep Bruce Chen on his regular rest for Friday’s game, and not have to scramble to find someone to start on Thursday.

Paulino’s return scheduled for Saturday couldn’t have come at a better time. The Royals pitching so far this year has struggled to the tune of a 4.58 ERA (good for fifth worst in all of baseball, an all too familiar trend), and even though Paulino isn’t known for going deep into games, anyone that can give them quality innings by limiting contact at this point is much needed.

What today’s cancellation also does is allow Jonathan Sanchez and Danny Duffy another day’s rest.

Sanchez was already pushed back a day for experiencing flu-like symptoms, so getting him another day to see if he can not only get healthy, but try and find a fix to the control issues that have plagued him so far this year, is much needed. He’s never been a control guy, but he’s never been this bad either. Sanchez will pitch Wednesday.

Duffy’s extra day couldn’t be better timed. Already having been skipped last Friday for experiencing “minor elbow tightness”, allowing Duffy to get as much non-mound throwing in as possible to work through his ailment is just what the doctor ordered.

For his start on Thursday Royals fans should watch closely because “elbow tightness” is never a phrase you want to hear in regards to one of your best pitchers.

You can stay current on all the Kings of Kauffman content and news by following us on Twitter, Facebook, or by way of our RSS feed. Want to be included in the Mailbag? Email us at KoKMailbag@gmail.com. Follow Kevin on Twitter @scobes15.

Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-US PRESSWIRE

I wasn’t supposed to go to the game.  I had many words to write to meet my deadline and had planned on writing a couple thousand words while toggling back and forth watching the game on Gameday—a free but torturously slow way to watch any game.  However, my friend, Mark, burned up the battery on my cell phone texting me throughout the day, hoping to convince me to join him at the stadium.  Finally, at 4:00, I gave in; I could no longer say no.

I pulled into the stadium shortly after 5:00.  There was a small crowd gathering around Gate A, preparing to partake of the Outfield Experience.  I hoped to join them shortly.  I’m not a big tailgater; I’d rather be inside the gates, walking the hallowed ground, listening to stories and meeting friends who share a love of the game and the boys in blue.  While I waited in line to purchase my seven-dollar Hy-Vee ticket I texted Mark to see when he would arrive.  No response.  So, I started visiting with the man standing behind me.  I learned that he is a construction worker for Kenco, the company who recently remodeled various bars throughout the K.  He told me that he was buying tickets for another time, that his company had seats in a suite.  I replied, “Wish I could join you.  I’ve never been in a suite.”  His wife took down my name and number and said that they would call me if they had an extra ticket.  I laughed and said that I’d see them in a couple of innings as I ran off to Gate A.

The Tigers were taking batting practice when I entered the stadium.  Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder were both hitting towering homeruns, distributing batting practice souvenirs all over the stadium.  On the Party Porch, there were a dozen kids screaming for every ball hit remotely close to the warning track.  I quickly tired of their persistent pleas and strolled towards the Royals bullpen.

I love hanging out by the Royals bullpen before a game.  For the last six years, one man has diligently prepped and maintained the mound and bullpen area.  He and I have talked on numerous occasions, though we’ve never exchanged names.  The mound needed an extra bag of crushed clay due to the recent rains and excessive use over the weekend.  Two batting practice homeruns came incredibly close to hitting him; he didn’t even flinch.  Steve Foster, the bullpen coach, entered the pen as we were talking and asked the mound artist to play catch.  When Foster walked near me I inquired, “You breaking in a new glove?”

“A new glove and a new prescription,” he replied.  “Tough combination.”  The mound artist threw knuckleballs and curveballs and the two grown men laughed and conversed while having a catch.  Foster looked and me and motioned that he intended to throw me their ball.  “Will you see it all the way?”

I looked up.  The sun was unblocked, hitting me full face, full force.  “No worries,” I retorted.

Foster threw the ball the length of the pen, only to have it fall a few feet short and clang off the metal bars.  I got lucky.  I completely lost it in the sun.  Couldn’t see it at all.  I saw sun-spots for the next thirty minutes.  Foster jogged over and tossed the ball a second time, this time successfully, and we talked a few more minutes.  I turned to see Humberto Quintero and Danny Duffy warming up in left-field.  Duffy sprinted out to centerfield at the same time Justin Verlander ran out there.  The two men were less than ten feet apart.  They didn’t even exchange glances.  Just like two boxers before a title match.

After a few minutes of throwing on the field, Duffy and Q entered the pen and immediately set to work.  Duffy was intensely focused, until Eiland cracked a joke and made him laugh.  I’m peeking into his glove looking at how he holds his change-up and curveball when the usher asked me to clear the aisle for the game.  I watched one more pitch and started the long walk towards the upper deck.  I called Mark and left a voicemail, beginning to wonder if he’s still coming to the game.

Walking by the left-field foul pole, I spotted a familiar face.  Last season, my friend and I attempted to move into the left-field foul pole seats in the middle of a game.  The game was the week before Easter and the temperature hovered around freezing.  Even though no one else was seated in the entire section, my friend and I boldly and nonchalantly strolled to the front row, close enough to talk to Gordo.  After one pitch, the usher walked down the aisle and asked to see our tickets.  We were busted.  As we left, we were cheered on by some fans seated near the bullpen, “He let you guys stay the longest!  Way to go!”

So, I shared this story with the usher.  He nodded as if he remembered, “Well, a man’s got a job to do.  Hope there’s no hard feelings.”  We both laughed and shook hands.  No hard feelings here.

I continued strolling towards my seat when the call to stop and honor the national anthem came over the speakers.  I took off my hat and started to sing along when I noticed a man standing a few rows in front of me with a custom-made jersey that said, “Hogan—73.”

Hogan is my mom’s maiden name.  After the anthem, I walked down and introduced myself to see if we had any common kin.  We couldn’t make a real connection.  His family is Chicago-based; mine is in Cape Girardeau.  We laughed and parted ways.

I climbed up to my seat in time for the first pitch and texted Mark again to check in.  Nothing.  While I texted, Duffy surrendered a lead-off homerun to Austin Jackson.  Oh boy.  A single and a walk followed and it was hard to hold on to hope.  Prince Fielder stepped up to the plate.  Prince Fielder who splashed homeruns in batting practice.  Except this Prince Fielder promptly grounded out into a double play.  Deep sigh of relief.     

Alex Gordon was hitting lead-off, the place where his name should be written in Sharpie on line-up cards from now until 2016.  He doubled and tied the game a few minutes later and everything was right with the world.

In the bottom of the second inning my cell phone rang.  I figured it to be Mark and answered without looking.  It was the construction guy from the ticket line.  “You still wanna come to the suite?  I’ll meet you at the upper-deck elevator in a minute.”  I ran.

I’ve only seen the suites from the outside.  Crossing over the threshold was like entering Narnia.  The food was abundant and free.  The seats were plush.  There were two large screens with the game on in case I wanted to sit in a recliner and listen to Hudler.

I grabbed a Dr Pepper and a hot dog and sat down outside.  For a few minutes, I visited with the owner of Kenco, who also owns the Sheridan’s Custard in the outfield.  His daughter informed me that custard would be delivered in a few innings.  As I settled into my seat convinced that I was closer to heaven than I have ever been, my phone alerted me to an incoming text.  It was Mark.  “Dude, I’m here, in 241.  These seats are awesome.”

I texted back, “In a suite.”

The only reason I came to the game was because Mark convinced me to go.  In the fourth inning, I said good-bye to my suite friends, grabbed a Dr Pepper to go, and joined Mark and his Tiger-loving nephew, Jake, in the first-base seats.

As soon as I called out his name Mark responded, “What are you doing here?  Why aren’t you still in that suite?!?!”

“Because ball games are supposed to be shared with friends.”

He laughed and shrugged his shoulders.

The rest of the evening is a blur as we watched the brilliance of Verlander and Duffy on the mound.  We shouted at the top of our lungs when Gordo displayed his gold-glove brilliance and high-fived strangers when Frenchy recorded an assist at third.  I saw KC Royalman and introduced myself.  He accepted full responsibility for Inge’s homerun as nature called.  L’il Frenchy bounded by me eating a hotdog and gave me a smile and a high five.

Mark, Jake, and I stood for the entirety of the ninth inning, trying to will the Royals to victory through our applause and shouts.  We watched in awe as Verlander threw half a million pitches in the ninth inning to record the complete game victory.

All in all, it was just another night at the K.

Thanks for visiting Kings of Kauffman. You can stay current on all the Kings of Kauffman content and news by following us on Twitter, Facebook, or by way of our RSS feed.  You can also send your questions to our mailbag at KoKMailbag@gmail.com.

Danny Duffy had his second consecutive solid start. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

After a tough start to the homestand, the Royals got to face Justin Verlander.

Nothing like giving up 32 runs in your first three games at home, then facing last year’s Cy Young winner and MVP.

The results aren’t surprising, as Verlander held the Royals to two runs in a complete game win. The Royals scored on him in the first inning to even the score after Austin Jackson had led off with a homer for the Tigers and the Royals didn’t score again until the ninth inning.

The disappointing 3-2 loss was punctuated by a called third strike with the bases loaded and Alex Gordon at the plate. After Billy Butler ripped a single to left to lead off the inning, Jason Bourgeois pinch ran and moved to third after two groundouts. He scored on a shot to right by Humberto Quintero, then Verlander walked Mitch Maier and hit Alcides Escobar to load the bases for Gordon.

The strikeout was Gordon’s third of the game and second looking. Verlander struck out nine Royals. It took 131 pitches for him to get past the Royals.

The loss spoiled a good start from Danny Duffy, who went 6.2 innings on 105 pitches. For the second straight start, he struck out more batters than innings pitched. Against Oakland, he struck out eight in six innings and struck out seven tonight. Even better, he walked just one, though he made a couple of mistakes, getting the ball up on Jackson on his leadoff homer and later to Brandon Inge who homered to center. Jhonny Peralta had three solid hits against him too, but the rest of the lineup didn’t hit him very well. Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder went a combined 0-5 against Duffy.

One of Duffy’s goals this year was to get deeper into games. He made it through six innings on 103 pitches in his first start and through 6.2 in 106 pitches tonight. The Tigers fouled off numerous pitches against him, prolonging counts and adding to his pitch counts. Duffy had strong stuff late into the start, and his fastball was missing bats, while his curveball improved as the game went on.

Fun fact: by my count, the Royals fouled off five pitches with two strikes off of Verlander. The Tigers, by comparison, fouled off 12 pitches with two strikes against Duffy. My gut suggests that that is a testament to Verlander’s dominance (and he was the best pitcher in the game last year, so it’s not really embarrassing) and the Tigers patience.

Interestingly enough, the only Tiger to reach base after fouling off those pitches was Jhonny Peralta who doubled twice with two strikes after fighting off pitches. Alex Avila was the only other batter to get a hit with two strikes off of Duffy and that was the last batter he faced.

Yeah, this loss is disappointing, but Duffy did what he needed to do. He came out and gave the team quality innings and left the bullpen mostly untouched. After a series where the Royals had to bring Mitch Maier in and call up Louis Coleman to be their eighth reliever, that day off for most of the staff could get the team balanced out. He went pitch for pitch with Verlander and if not for a couple of mistakes could have had a shot at a win.

That, if nothing else, is encouraging.

You can stay current on all the Kings of Kauffman content and news by following us on Twitter, Facebook, or by way of our RSS feed.

In this case, the voting bloggers of the Kansas City Chapter of the BBA agreed with FanSided writers and named Justin Verlander the best pitcher in the American League.

Jered Weaver of Los Angeles and James Shields of Tampa Bay tied for second in the voting, and others receiving votes included C.C. Sabathia, Jose Valverde and Doug Fister. Not a bad showing by the Tigers.

The final voting results will be announced October 20.

Baseball Bloggers Alliance – Kansas City Chapter

Ballpark Thinking | Twitter
Broken Bat Single | Twitter | Facebook
i70 Baseball | Twitter | Facebook
Kings of Kauffman | Twitter | Facebook
Royalscentricity | Twitter | Facebook
Royals Kingdom | Twitter | Facebook
Royals On Radio Etc. | Facebook

Michael Engel is the president of the KC Chapter of the BBA. You can stay current on all the Kings of Kauffman content and news by following us on Twitter, Facebook, or by way of our RSS feed. 

Verlander had a 24-5 record with a 2.40 ERA in 251 innings. He allowed less than one baserunner per inning and added a no-hitter for good measure.

The Royals were particularly aware of Verlander’s dominance. He pitched 22.2 innings over three starts against Kansas City, compiling a 1.59 ERA in the process. He’s the heavy favorite for the Cy Young Award this year.

You can see the full voting results over on Call to the Pen:

Clipped from: calltothepen.com (share this clip)

Kings of Kauffman is a proud member of the Baseball Blogger’s Alliance – a website founded to foster community among baseball blogs.  One of the activities we do every year is formally announce an All-Star lineup, compiled from votes by all blogs within the BBA.

This is that ballot for Kings of Kauffman.  Instead of a full roster, top to bottom, we’ll submit a starting American League lineup as our vote.  My rationale behind the choices wasn’t based much on deep regression models and variable ratios or other big mathematical figures.

I just looked at who’s been the best at each position:

(more…)

This matchup is intriguing for several reasons. First, it will be interesting to see how Greinke will respond after being picked as the best pitcher in the American League last season. Not that the spotlight wasn’t on Zack during last season, but one would have to imagine that the media attention and expectations for his performance this season will only increase after his brilliant 2009 campaign. For a player who does not enjoy the limelight in the slightest, one has to wonder how he will deal with being under a finite microscope.

Secondly, Greinke and Verlander are both coming off of their best seasons as professionals and, ironically enough, according to Jason Beck* of mlb.com, haven’t matched up in a game since the 2007 season, adding another nice twist to Opening Day.

Here is Greinke’s stat line from last year**:

http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/QVA93

And Verlander’s:

http://bbref.com/pi/shareit/hBEkF

**Source: baseball-reference.com

Greinke was damn near un-hittable for a good chunk of the 2009 season. He recorded 242 strikeouts in just under 230 innings, working out to 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings. His 2.16 ERA was best in all of baseball and his 16 wins did not represent his dominance over opposing teams. He could easily have had 21-23 wins if the Royals offense had provided him any sort of support and the defense wasn’t so horrid behind him. Losing to the Angels in Anaheim 1-0 ring a bell? I remember thinking throughout the course of the season that if the offense was somehow able to conjure up two or three runs while Greinke was on the mound, we would walk away with a win. While this happened more times than not, there were definitely too many occasions when Greinke was denied a “W” because of our lackluster offense and defense.

Verlander was also one of the best in the majors last season. He compiled more wins than Greinke, 19 to 16, and also had more strikeouts with 269, averaging 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings. This was very impressive in his own right, considering Verlander has had some very good seasons in years past. In 2006, he went 17-9 with a 3.63 ERA and in 2007, he went 18-6 with a 3.66 ERA. He regressed in 2008, but clearly regained his dominance in 2009.

Perhaps the greatest aspect of this matchup is the similarity between these two pitchers. They are only separated in age by eight months and both are power pitchers who are able to get strikeouts when they need them most. Both have fastballs that touch the mid to high 90s consistently — Verlander occasionally is able to dial-it-up to 100 — and both have an assortment of awesome off-speed pitches. Greinke has an un-hittable slider when he is on and his curveball can make batters look silly. Verlander’s curve ball makes batters’ knees buckle and his changeup is a perfect complement to his fastball. Best of all, they both play in the AL Central and are locked up with their current teams for the next few years — Greinke is signed through 2012 and Verlander recently inked a five-year deal keeping him in Detroit through the 2014 season.

Last, but certainly not least (harnessing my inner GM here), is the fantasy perspective. Both of these guys are fantasy studs, as Greinke finished 2009 as the second ranked player overall, while Verlander ranked 25th in my head-to-head Yahoo league. Unfortunately, I was unable to snag Greinke in my recent fantasy draft (took Ryan Braun with the sixth pick, as Greinke was taken 10th overall), but was able to get Verlander in the 5th round, which I feel, was a steal. Both of these pitchers should be on par with their performances of last year. Greinke has worked the “kinks” out of his seldomly-used changeup, which was more of an experimental pitch for the right hander last season. Adding this to his repertoire only makes me think of how dominant he could be this season. As for Verlander, I believe that he will carry over his performance from last year and continue his flame-throwing ways in 2010. And so does his manager Jim Leyland, saying:

“He’s one of the best, no question about that. I don’t call him a young pitcher anymore. He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball. He’s got as good of stuff as any of them. And the more he matures and learns a little more pitchability, there’s no telling what he can do. … He’s a tremendous, unbelievable talent.” (Here is the link to the rest of Jason Beck’s article on mlb.com)

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100401&content_id=9048552&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

While the baseball season is certainly a marathon, Opening Day will be a sprint for Greinke and Verlander to see who can the give their team the first victory of the season.