So What Now?

Well, according to the experts, last night’s start was supposed to result in a shelling and Sidney Ponson’s exit from the Royals rotation.  They were half right.  Last night’s game was a shelling - but it wasn’t Ponson who got shelled.  Ponson, staked to a 6-0 lead by the end of the third inning, never really let the Mariners into the game.  He exited after 7-1/3 innings with two on and one out, and got a well deserved ovation from the Kauffman

Stadium crowd.

Now, ol’ URF feels like he should take some credit for this.  It was my first visit to a game this year (more on that in a moment), and I figure that since I’m about the only writer or blogger who’s given Ponson anything but the back side of my keyboard, he recognized the occasion and decided to commemorate it with his best outing of the year.  Well, maybe not…but I do think I’ve been a bit more fair than most.

Let’s take a step back and analyze Ponson’s performance so far this year.  In six starts, he’s 1-4 with a 5.96 ERA.  Yep, that’s ugly.  But he’s had three quality starts year to date, a 50% ratio.  And frankly, I still believe he got hosed with two of the “earned runs” at the home opener when the fielders did their best Alphonse and Gaston routines.  He’s been shelled twice.  Here’s what I think Royals fans have forgotten - every pitcher is going to get shelled sometimes.  Even Zack Grienke will get shelled at some point this year.

The maddening thing about Ponson is that he has the talent to get it done.  He always has had.  What he has not had is the focus and competitive desire to do it every fifth day.  If Bob McClure can get him in that shape, Ponson might be OK for awhile - or maybe even trade bait.

Now, I also realize that the anti-Ponson feeling is as much pro-Hochevar as anything.  Funny - I don’t remember this kind of love for Luke last year when he was going 6-12 with a 5.51 ERA.  He’s doing great at Triple-A, and I’ve maintained for quite a while that this is a good thing, not a bad thing.  My own personal desire to see Hochevar win 15 games at Omaha will likely go unfulfilled - but hopefully, he can stay down on the farm for a few more wins.  There’s really no question that Hochevar will come up; it’s just how and when, and who he’ll replace.  Looking at the rotation, here’s the status:

Zack is dominant.  Safe.

Gil is battling a stiff back.  DL candidate.

Davies has struggled his last two starts.  Candidate to be sent down.

Ponson has been shelled twice.  Candidate to be released.

Bannister has had two good starts and one lousy one.  Questionable.  May still be relying on good luck with BABIP for success.

In short - get past Zack, and nobody is immune.  We all know that pitchers get shelled from time to time - it’s just a matter of who and when.  Right now, like it or not, it makes sense for the Royals to hang onto Ponson simply because he may end up still being one of their best five starters.

Now, on to other thoughts - the K is spectacular. The best way I can describe the change is to say that the Royals have successfully created a party atmosphere with a ballgame going on within it.  That’s not all bad.  There are many more ways for people to enjoy themselves besides sitting in their seats.  I give it an A+.  If you haven’t been, go.

What is there to say about last night’s attack?  It was a blast to watch, and probably a blast to be on the field, too.  The Royals’ offense is hitting on all cylinders right now.

And of course, there’s the Wacky World of Trey.  Everything that needed to be said about his weird substitutions during the extra-inning game a couple of nights ago has been said, so I’ll leave it alone.  I’ll just say that, when teams have had problems in the past, it’s had more to do with Guillen NOT getting to play.  Pulling him for a pinch runner while on third with no outs didn’t go well with the big guy, and the way he’s hitting, we need to keep him happy.

The most disappointing thing about that game, however, was the Royal fans’ reaction to Jamey Wright in the 9th.  OK, I get it.  Everyone was hoping for Joakim Soria.  However, Wright had pitched a good 8th, was going strong, and keeping him in was the right thing to do.  And if there’s anyone who does not deserve to be booed by this organization’s fans, it’s Jamey Wright.  Get it straight - Jamey Wright is a good Royal and has been one during both of his stints.  He got screwed like a two-dollar hooker by Allard Baird who left him out of one of the most pathetic rotations in Royals history in 2004, promoted Eduardo Villacis over him after Wright had gone 7-0 at Omaha, and then let him go for nothing.  This year, he’s been phenomenal in relief; a sub-2 ERA and a 3-14 walk to strikeout ratio speak to that.  No, he’s not Soria and you don’t get the music and all that stuff.  But hear this - Jamey Wright is one of our guys, a damn good one, and perhaps our second best reliever.

If you were booing him in the 9th, you’re an idiot.  Please quit reading this blog so you can raise the average IQ of my readers.  Hopefully, his three shutout innings in relief shut your mouth.

Now, back to more pleasant topics - our boys are 17-11.  And as food for thought, Mrs. URF asked me last night - jokingly - who I thought our All-Star would be.  Funny, right?  Of course, Zack will start the All Star game.  But you know what?  This year, we actually have multiple players with a legitimate All-Star claim.  That’s a topic for another day.