The first half of the 2013 season wasn't exactly the record the Kansas City Royals had in mind. They had a 43-49 record heading into the All-Star Break and wanting answers to questions. Those questions were answered with a Major-League leading 43-27 second half record. The 2014 season can be seen as a mirror situation with a dismal offense producing a 48-46 record for the first half. Although the team was two games above .500, they had 383 RS (runs scored) with 379 RA (runs allowed). Heading into September, the Royals have compiled a 26-16 second half record; not including their September 1st win at home against Texas. That is a winning-percentage of .619, thanks in part to a 19-10 August. Manager Ned Yost said at the beginning of the season that this team, the Royals, were a second half team.
One of the many impressive records the Royals have put together this season has been in Inter-League play. They own a 15-5 record with 99 RS and 56 RA. The two best months for the Royals this season? June (17-10) and August (19-10) for a combined 36-20 record (.642 WP) with 256 RS and 202 RA. The team finished September 2013 with a 17-10 record.
Top 5 Position Players (including offense/defense)
1. Alex Gordon - .280 BA, 75 R, 135 H, 29 2B, 1 3B, 18 HR, 63 RBI, 9 SB, 50 BB, 98 SO, .812 OPS, 5.9 WAR (Wins Above Replacement), 131 G, .993 Fld%, 1161.2 Innings played.
2. Salvador Perez - .269 BA, 51 R, 130 H, 25 2B, 1 3B, 16 HR, 62 RBI, 1 SB, 21 BB, 64 SO, .726 OPS, 3.8 WAR, 125 G, .994 Fld%, 1038.2 Innings played at catcher.
3. Alcides Escobar - .277 BA, 62 R, 133 H, 27 2B, 5 3B, 2 HR, 44 RBI, 27 SB, 20 BB, 73 SO, .676 OPS, 2.5 WAR, 137 G, .977 Fld%, 1221.2 Innings played.
4. Lorenzo Cain - .298 BA, 43 R, 114 H, 25 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 42 RBI, 24 SB, 21 BB, 88 SO, .739 OPS, 3.8 WAR, 109 G, .993 Fld%, 915.2 Innings played.
5. Mike Moustakas - .206 BA, 41 R, 78 H, 17 2B, 1 3B, 15 HR, 50 RBI, 31 BB, 60 SO, .642 OPS, 0.3 WAR, 113 G, .958 Fld%, 952.2 Innings played.
Mike Moustakas and Billy Butler could both be No. 5 position player (offensively/defensively) for the Royals. Moustakas gets it for 6 more home runs (15), 26 fewer strikeouts, and he is flat out better on defense than Butler, who has a -0.2 WAR.
Goals for the remainder of the season: win more one-run games, provide more offense when pitching gets the job done during games, and keep the bullpen rested.
Showing posts with label Mike Moustakas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mike Moustakas. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Monday, June 30, 2014
A Royal Shuffle
The Kansas City Royals have stirred up their roster in the last 48 hours. The recently released Raul Ibanez of the Los Angeles Angels was signed by the Royals to improve their bench. Along with acquiring Ibanez, the Royals recalled utility infielder Christian Colon. Colon is able to man second base, third base, and shortstop. In order for acquisition and recalls to work, some negatives have to occur. Outfielder Justin Maxwell and infielder Pedro Ciriaco were designated for assignment. Both players have cleared waivers once this season.
Someone please explain to me why you'd sign a 42-year old player for the bench and bring up a utility infielder in exchange for designating two guys that already can do the same role. Bringing up Colon doesn't make any sense. You have a second baseman, Omar Infante, whom you just signed to a four-year deal. Granted, if anything were to happen, he would be insurance. But you also have a Gold Glove deserving shortstop and a platoon at third base between Moustakas and Valencia. So where would you put Colon? You already had Ciriaco and Maxwell doing the same thing. They just weren't given enough at-bats to perform to their expectations. What if the Ibanez move doesn't pay off? What if he doesn't deliver off the bench.
2014 Stats
Justin Maxwell - .150 BA (6-for-40), 4 R, 1 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 20 SO, 0 SB, .397 OPS
Pedro Ciriaco - .213 BA (10-for-47), 7 R, 2 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 9 SO, 4 SB, .484 OPS
Christian Colon (AAA) - .296 BA (87-for-294), 48 R, 14 2B, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 28 BB, 25 SO, 14 SB, .744 OPS
Raul Ibanez - .157 BA (26-for-166), 16 R, 5 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 23 BB, 43 SO, 3 SB, .523 OPS
Someone please explain to me why you'd sign a 42-year old player for the bench and bring up a utility infielder in exchange for designating two guys that already can do the same role. Bringing up Colon doesn't make any sense. You have a second baseman, Omar Infante, whom you just signed to a four-year deal. Granted, if anything were to happen, he would be insurance. But you also have a Gold Glove deserving shortstop and a platoon at third base between Moustakas and Valencia. So where would you put Colon? You already had Ciriaco and Maxwell doing the same thing. They just weren't given enough at-bats to perform to their expectations. What if the Ibanez move doesn't pay off? What if he doesn't deliver off the bench.
2014 Stats
Justin Maxwell - .150 BA (6-for-40), 4 R, 1 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 20 SO, 0 SB, .397 OPS
Pedro Ciriaco - .213 BA (10-for-47), 7 R, 2 2B, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 9 SO, 4 SB, .484 OPS
Christian Colon (AAA) - .296 BA (87-for-294), 48 R, 14 2B, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 28 BB, 25 SO, 14 SB, .744 OPS
Raul Ibanez - .157 BA (26-for-166), 16 R, 5 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 23 BB, 43 SO, 3 SB, .523 OPS
Friday, June 20, 2014
A Case of Moose Fever - For Everyone
Moose Fever. Symptoms include winning ball games, smashing home runs, forearm bashes, and having fun. The Kansas City Royals were starting to get national attention with their 10-game winning streak that almost included a 4-game sweep in Detroit. The 10-game streak was ended with a score of 2-1 by the Tigers that was a makeup game from their April 3rd rain-out. Before that loss, the Royals hadn't lost in nearly two weeks; dating back to Friday, June 6th. That game was at Kauffman where the Royals lost 4-2 to the Yankees before going on their incredible run. A 5-2 home stand against the Cardinals and Yankees? A 6-1 road trip against the White Sox (3-game sweep of Chicago) and three out of 4 against the Tigers? Royals fans have to be more than enthralled about their leap from 29-32 (5 games out of first) to 39-33 and a 1/2 game lead for first place in the AL Central. The Royals' streak was the 3rd longest in franchise history.
Even though the Royals lost on Thursday to the Tigers, they still secured their first-place lead heading home for a 9-game home stand against Seattle and both Los Angeles teams. But back to the 10-game winning streak. Everything was clicking the Royals way. Highlight plays on defense, a team actually hitting home runs, and scoring runs to back up excellent pitching. The formula to winning ball games. During the 10-game streak, the Royals outscored their opponents 69-30. With runners in scoring position, the team went 42-for-98 (.429) while hitting 13 home runs in the 10 games. These are the numbers for the Royals offense during their last 10 games, including the 2-1 loss to the Tigers:
1. Nori Aoki - 11-for-37 (.297), 7 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 1 SO
2. Omar Infante - 14-for-41 (.341), 10 R, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 3 BB, 4 SO
3. Eric Hosmer - 10-for-42 (.238), 6 R, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 3 BB, 9 SO, 2 SB; also had a HR on June 7th
4. Billy Butler - 15-for-37 (.405), 7 R, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 4 BB, 6 SO
5. Alex Gordon - 11-for-39 (.282), 8 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 13 SO, 1 SB
6. Salvador Perez - 12-for-39 (.308), 7 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 6 SO
7. Mike Moustakas - 10-for-34 (.294), 7 R, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 BB, 5 SO (hence Moose Fever)
8. Lorenzo Cain - 12-for-40 (.300), 5 R, 7 RBI, 0 BB, 9 SO
9. Alcides Escobar - 14-for-36 (.389), 7 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SO, 2 SB
10. Jarrod Dyson - 8-for-27 (.296), 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 6 SO
Even though the Royals lost on Thursday to the Tigers, they still secured their first-place lead heading home for a 9-game home stand against Seattle and both Los Angeles teams. But back to the 10-game winning streak. Everything was clicking the Royals way. Highlight plays on defense, a team actually hitting home runs, and scoring runs to back up excellent pitching. The formula to winning ball games. During the 10-game streak, the Royals outscored their opponents 69-30. With runners in scoring position, the team went 42-for-98 (.429) while hitting 13 home runs in the 10 games. These are the numbers for the Royals offense during their last 10 games, including the 2-1 loss to the Tigers:
1. Nori Aoki - 11-for-37 (.297), 7 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 1 SO
2. Omar Infante - 14-for-41 (.341), 10 R, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 3 BB, 4 SO
3. Eric Hosmer - 10-for-42 (.238), 6 R, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 3 BB, 9 SO, 2 SB; also had a HR on June 7th
4. Billy Butler - 15-for-37 (.405), 7 R, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 4 BB, 6 SO
5. Alex Gordon - 11-for-39 (.282), 8 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 13 SO, 1 SB
6. Salvador Perez - 12-for-39 (.308), 7 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 6 SO
7. Mike Moustakas - 10-for-34 (.294), 7 R, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 BB, 5 SO (hence Moose Fever)
8. Lorenzo Cain - 12-for-40 (.300), 5 R, 7 RBI, 0 BB, 9 SO
9. Alcides Escobar - 14-for-36 (.389), 7 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SO, 2 SB
10. Jarrod Dyson - 8-for-27 (.296), 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 6 SO
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