Pitching Wins Championships

……And crucial series apparently.

I‘m back people…The Prodigal Son has returned. And with that I have dusted off my old rose colored glasses, and optimism abounds. Oh, and taking 2 out of 3 from the Oakland Athletics (Baseball’s best team) at the O.Co Coliseum didn’t hurt!

So let’s talk about that. The Royals are on one of their patented up swings after a huge down swing, and are currently 57-53, sitting 4 games above .500.

Let’s compare that to last year: With two more games played at this point they were also 4 games over .500. However, they were 4.5 games out of the second wildcard spot, where currently we are 1.5 games out.

Parity in the A.L. mixed with some bad A.L. Central teams, has created a perfect Storm (you’re welcome dad) of sorts for our boys in blue.

So what delivered us a win in a place that most people from K.C. would not be caught dead in? PITCHING

With the exception of Jason Vargus being sodomized by the scorekeeper in Oakland, no Royal pitcher gave up more than 2 earned runs for the entire series. And two of those pitchers, Jermey Guthrie and James Shields, flirted with perfection in their starting roles. Friday’s game may have been the best all around pitching performance by the team all season. Ned Yost executed the pitching plan perfectly (alliteration is so fun!)

“BLASPHEMY” you may proclaim. “TAKE OFF THOSE GLASSES” you may herald. But I stand behind it.

He actually did a tremendous job of knowing his players, and executing a game plan. Guthrie pitched 6 of the best innings I have seen him throw in a long time. Allowing only 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 6. But with 107 pitches in the books, Ned decided to turn it over to his new staple in the 7th, Kelvin Herrera. Herrera continued the dominance Guthrie started. And after that the Ambiguously Awesome Duo of Wade Davis and Greg Holland did what they do. Add an Interior Decorator Bomb, and boom 1-0 win!

Then Saturday’s mythical game. Did anyone actually see this game played live? Because I have no idea what time it actually occured, or if it was even on TV. I just saw the line score, and some lowlights on MLB network. But what I saw was a man that was minus an internal organ throwing some good stuff (Minus one terrible inning). Jason Vargas came back and proved he still has some good stuff, even if he doesn’t have an appendix. The lowlights I speak of were a Billy Butler bungling of a pop-up. But hey, that is why he is a professional hitter now, a sure double played practically thrown in the stands by Mike Moustakas, and a rare error by 3 time gold glover Alex Gordon. Which in all lead to 8 runs (But only 7 earned).

Lastly “Big Game” James Shields pitched a gem yesterday. 15 perfect to start the game, and then an oops ball to the “Careless Whisperer” Josh Reddick. That song has to put you in a different mindset as a pitcher…and that might have been what happened on Shield’s only other mistake in the 8th when Reddick whispered another homer over the wall in Right Center. All in all 8 innings, two runs, and a win for the guy many thought the Royals needed to deal.

And that brings me to my Thesis (*my English teacher just rolled over on her high horse! Hi Mrs. McCullough) If the Royals can find themselves in the playoffs, this pitching staff has the ability to take them a long ways. While they may not be considered “Aces” by national standards. Their stats might paint a different picture. The Royals are currently 3rd in team ERA in the A.L. And since the All-Star game have decreased this ERA to 3.06. They have also posted 63 quality starts this season, which is tied for 2nd best. All told if you combine this defense with our pitching, I like our chances in the post season.

Now as for the Trade Deadline, and the lack of movement, or even the reports of what we were moving: First, I wonder if Dayton Moore even thought Yonis Cespedes was an option. If so I have to think he would had made a pretty good offer for the guy. Second, David Price is a difference maker. I don’t care about how solid our rotation is, it can always be improved! You add the Major League Strike-out Leader, and former Cy Young to the mix you automatically become a front runner. To prove my point just look at who added him. There are now 3 recent Cy Young Winners on that staff in Detroit. So if it is true that the deal was agreed to in principle, but the OWNER dissolved it due to salary, I give up. There would have been 20 teams lined up at the Winter Meetings this year to talk trades for Price if you couldn’t afford his salary next season. And if this year really is “The Year” why would you not pull that trigger.

All in all there is a lot of optimism in K.C. I forgot how many people wear Royals hats and shirts (that were probably give aways at a game) or fly Royals Flags outside of their homes. It really is good to be back in Royals Country once again…And if Ned Yost keeps wearing those Aviators at games I think we maybe gearing up for a sunglasses trend this city hasn’t seen since Gunther was patrolling the sidelines!

*My English Teacher obviously does not read this. If she did she may have to quit the profession due to my inability to use write in proper English!

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