07/23: The Royals Are No Longer A Joke
Posted by: James
I know they come in 11 games under .500 but don't let that fool you, these guys aren't nearly as bad as they used to be. Yes, they started the season off badly and at the end of April, their record did stand at 8-18. However, things have definitely turned around - just look at their record.
From May 1st until now: 35-36 (.493 winning percentage)
From June 1st until now: 24-19 (.558)
So far in July: 9-7 (.562) and they're coming off series wins against Detroit and Boston and a series loss to Cleveland where the scores were 4-5, 6-5 and 3-5.
Long story short - the team can play and it would be extremely short-sighted for the Yankees (and their fans) to overlook this team.
Still, when you look at the probable pitchers for the series, the Yankees definitely lucked out.
-Clemens vs. Odalis Perez (who has been bombed recently - 7.47 ERA after the ASB)
-Wang vs. Scott Elarton (who is coming off a DL stint and has been bombed in his rehab starts to the tune of 22 ER in 20.6 IP)
-Mussina vs. Gil Meche (I know he's pitched well so far...but sooner or later, he'll have to remember that he's GIL MECHE and looking at his 5.18 ERA in July, I think he has. Also, look at those Home/Away splits.)
-Kei Igawa vs. Jorge De La Rosa, (26 year old lefty had a very good March-April but has been lit up since then, to the tune of a 6.51 ERA in his last 10 games.
The Yankees can hit these pitchers (knock on wood), so it'll come down to the pitching staff (again).
From May 1st until now: 35-36 (.493 winning percentage)
From June 1st until now: 24-19 (.558)
So far in July: 9-7 (.562) and they're coming off series wins against Detroit and Boston and a series loss to Cleveland where the scores were 4-5, 6-5 and 3-5.
Long story short - the team can play and it would be extremely short-sighted for the Yankees (and their fans) to overlook this team.
Still, when you look at the probable pitchers for the series, the Yankees definitely lucked out.
-Clemens vs. Odalis Perez (who has been bombed recently - 7.47 ERA after the ASB)
-Wang vs. Scott Elarton (who is coming off a DL stint and has been bombed in his rehab starts to the tune of 22 ER in 20.6 IP)
-Mussina vs. Gil Meche (I know he's pitched well so far...but sooner or later, he'll have to remember that he's GIL MECHE and looking at his 5.18 ERA in July, I think he has. Also, look at those Home/Away splits.)
-Kei Igawa vs. Jorge De La Rosa, (26 year old lefty had a very good March-April but has been lit up since then, to the tune of a 6.51 ERA in his last 10 games.
The Yankees can hit these pitchers (knock on wood), so it'll come down to the pitching staff (again).
Seamus wrote: