Where to begin? And why would we even want to?
With games dwindling and the Wild Card chase remaining a cluster, the Royals can’t afford to lose many more games. It doesn’t matter if they fall by one run or get curb stomped like they did on Monday night, a loss is a loss is a loss. They are equally deleterious to the cause.
This one was over by the fourth inning.
Down With Expanded Rosters
September baseball allows all managers the opportunity to channel their inner Tony LaRussa. For Ned Yost, his chance came in the fourth inning when he burned through four pitchers to get three outs. After a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly broke the deadlock, Yost turned to Brooks Pounders to face Danny Valencia.
Valencia doubled.
Then, Yost summoned Scott Alexander to pitch to Steven Vogt. Alexander threw one pitch.
Single. Two runs.
Enter Chris Young. Young walked a batter, had a double play overturned on replay, walked another batter to load the bases, and finally closed out the inning getting a popup just beyond the infield. I’m not sure how long the inning lasted. I took a couple of naps, mowed the yard, and washed (but didn’t vacuum) the car.
Brutal.
Bullpen Implosion
Chris Young last pitched on September 4. It was his only other appearance this month. He hadn’t thrown more than one inning in an outing since August 26. There’s the end of the bullpen, and then there’s Chris Young. He flirted with danger when he entered the game in the fourth. He dodged a potential jam in the fifth. His luck ran out in the sixth. A double, a poor throw by Cheslor Cuthbert, a single, and a home run put the punctuation mark on his night.
Honestly, it was just a matter of time before Young touched the third rail. Brian Flynn and did his part by allowing another run. At that point, who cares? You can’t tell the players apart. Even with a score card.
Dozier Debut
I’m aware of some angst surrounding Hunter Dozier and when, exactly, would he be unchained from the Royals bench and get an opportunity to play ball!
It’s sound and fury signifying nothing. Dozier had a very nice season following a pair of flops that removed him from the prospect radar. He is on the roster as reward for a fine year and to perhaps get a taste of a pennant race. The Royals value experience, and Dozier is being handed what they certainly consider a learning opportunity. Here’s your locker, young man. Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut. If Dozier was a better option than anyone else already in the lineup, Dozier would have supplanted that player. But he’s not, so he sits. At least while the Royals are in a pennant race. Or in this case, the game.
So he makes his debut in a blowout. He plays a flawless right field and strikes out leading off the ninth inning.
I’m sure we will see more of Dozier in the coming weeks.
A Word About Billy Butler
It was supposed to be a sort of a homecoming this week for the Oakland designated hitter. Make that former Oakland designated hitter. Butler was given his unconditional release on Sunday. An inflated signing at the time looks even worse now. That’s being gentle. The contract was a disaster from day one.
Butler was a massive part of the renaissance of baseball in Kansas City, but the Royals improvement coincided with his decline. The pinnacle Butler moment was probably the All-Star Game in 2012. Still, it’s kind of sad to see a player lose his only baseball skill. With Oakland footing most of the cash, Butler will find an opportunity next spring with an American League team. Hopefully, we’ll see him make a few more appearances in Kansas City before his career wraps.
It really has nothing to do with the game we watched, but a mention of Butler seemed moderately more interesting.
Up Next
The Royals try to get back in the win column in the second game of the four game set against these A’s. Danny Duffy gets the ball for the Royals.