Every year the group known as the United Cardinal Bloggers (UCB) come together to vote for a bevy or year-end awards.  In the interest of transparency  each member posts their ballot live to the masses with explanations for their choices.  What follows is i70baseball’s entry in the 2012 awards voting.

Player Of The Year
Nominated: Allen Craig, Yadier Molina, Matt Holliday

The nod from i70 goes to Yadier Molina.  Not only a presence behind the plate as the field general for the team, but his offense has steadily increased and this year was no exception.  He became a middle of the order hitter that more teams feared while continuing to be the catcher that baserunners refused to steal against.

Pitcher Of The Year
Nominated: Kyle Lohse, Lance Lynn, Jason Motte

I am going with Jason Motte here.  For the first time in years, there was confidence at the end of the game.  With Motte locking down the ninth inning, this team was able to shorten the starters and have clear, defined roles for the bullpen guys.  Motte at the back end of ball games improved the entire pitching staff.

Game Of The Year
Nominated: 6/13 vs. White Sox (1-0 Lynn win), 7/16 vs. Brewers (9th inning rally), 7/21 vs. Cubs (12-run inning)

I’m going with the 7/16 contest with the Brewers.  It’s not that the other games were not impressive, but this team needed a come-from-behind victory against a legitimate foe in a big way.  The team proved that it could win games even when trailing, that it could pick up a pitcher from a loss, and that it could do so against a team that seemed to have their number.

Performance Of The Year
Nominated: Chris Carpenter’s five innings against Chicago, Adam Wainwright’s shutout of San Diego, Shelby Miller’s first start vs. Cincinnati, Carlos Beltran 3-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI vs. Washington

I want to go with Carp, I mean the guy did give a rib for this season.  But, I cannot deny my excitement watching rookie Shelby Miller take a no-no five innings deep in his first start in The Bigs.  The future with this kid looks bright and that game, though utterly meaningless, gave us just a small glimpse.

Surprise Player Of The Year
Nominated: David Freese, Jon Jay, Pete Kozma, Lance Lynn

Personally, I have to go with Jon Jay.  I really felt this guy was destined to continue to be a fourth outfielder and not quite able to grab the opportunity in front of him.  For the first time, Jay solidified himself as a legitimate starter in this lineup.  It was something I didn’t think he was capable of.

Disappointing Player Of The Year
Nominated: Lance Berkman, Daniel Descalso, Rafael Furcal, Marc Rzepczynski

I don’t know that I was really disappointed with any of the Cardinals this year.  Honestly, most of them performed as I anticipated.  If I was forced to choose, and in this case I am, I would have to go with Lance Berkman simply due to his extended injury time this year.  He remained a positive influence on the youth of this team and a refreshingly honest product of the game, but the team would have been much better if he would have remained on the field throughout the season.

Rookie Of The Year
Nominated: Matt Adams, Joe Kelly, Trevor Rosenthal

This is a close race between Joe Kelly and Trevor Rosenthal, but my vote goes to Kelly.  He had a greater impact on the team for a longer period of time.  Otherwise, I don’t think Rosenthal even lost his rookie status this year, so I hold off to include him next year with a full season under his belt.

Acquisition Of The Year
Nominated: Carlos Beltran, Edward Mujica

I was surprised that the team was as quiet as it was this year.  Given his production, his leadership, and the amount of pressure put on him to produce in the wake of Albert Pujols leaving the franchise, Carlos Beltran has to be the acquisition of the year.  If he produces well in the second year of his contract and avoids being the next Berkman, he will quickly become one of the best moves that John Mozeliak has made for this team.

Most Anticipated Cardinal
Nominated: Carlos Martinez, Oscar Taveras, Kolten Wong

The future Cardinals may be one of the most exciting things in Cardinal baseball right now.  The two that jump out at me are Taveras and Wong, both for different reasons.

First of all, Wong is a player that this franchise needs.  The second base position has been a merry go round of sorts that has featured players from all over the diamond in the last few years.  If Wong can become a solid option at second for many years to come, he has a profound impact.

That being said, the most exciting of these options and my pick for Most Anticipated Cardinal is Oscar Taveras.  He projects as a corner outfielder with speed and a middle of the order presence.  He could give the team the flexibility to deal from a core of talent that shows some power to supplement the team in other places.  If he is as good as the hype, St. Louis will have a new star to fall in love with very soon.

The rest of the ballot is devoted to our fellow blogs around the United Cardinal Bloggers, recognizing the hard work that we all put into the sites that you enjoy.  The passion among this group for baseball, for the Cardinals, and for sharing those thoughts is nothing short of extraordinary.  I am proud to share my thoughts on some of my contemporaries.

Best Individual Blog

My vote has to go to The Godfather himself and C70 At The Bat.  While it can easily be brushed off as being an easy choice to pick the leader of our group, it truly is the best choice out there.

Over the last few years, Daniel Shoptaw and I have joined forces on multiple projects and have changed places in the “leadership” chair more than once.  When it comes down to it, the content, the frequency, the passion and the quality of Daniel’s work inspires me on a regular basis to continue doing what I love and to do it to the best of my ability.

Best Team Blog

If Daniel has inspired me individually as a writer, the group of guys at Pitchers Hit Eighth inspired the creation of i70baseball in the first place.  They continue to produce funny, informative, and on-point content on a regular basis utilizing some of the best voices of all of baseball writing.

Best Cardinal Media Blog

The fine work by Derrick Goold at Bird Land for the St. Louis Post Dispatch is funny, personal, and informative.  He finds a way to connect with his audience on a personal level, something very rarely seen in today’s media.

Best Cardinal Rookie Blog

Though I personally don’t delve into the subject matter often, advanced statistics are a big part of the game of baseball.  The guys at StanGraphs have brought advanced statistics and “Sabermetrics” to the Cardinal corner of the internet in a fresh and fun way.

Post Of The Year

I strive to connect with my audience, to let them see into my life and to utilize the bridge of baseball to bring it all together.  When I look for a “post of the year”, I want that special something that jumps out from the normal posts and transcends into life and baseball.  To me, ”We Don’t Get To Write The Endings” from C70 At The Bat was precisely this type of post.

Best UCB Project

It is a mainstay for years now and happens before and after the season, but I personally enjoy the roundtable discussions that circulate through multiple blogs, polling the “pulse” of so many of us on everything from the stadium to the jerseys to the prospects and veterans on the field.

Most Optimistic Cardinal Blog

Throughout the season, as discussions and frustrations reach their highest points, we are consistently reminded of the history of the game and how this franchise has overcome situations of surprising similarity in the past.  Our resident historian is quick to spin a Twitter tale or a quick post and for that, I give the most Optimistic Blog to Bob Netherton at On The Outside Corner.

Best UCB Podcast

It almost comes across as a “cop-out”, but the UCB Radio Hour pulls together a large amount of bloggers from the UCB and puts a high-quality discussion together consistently every week.

Best UCB Twitterer

This was a tough one for me.  What goes into this decision?  Talking great baseball?  Of course.  Humor and being able to back up your arguments is another quality I admire.  Being able to get your point across in the briefest of settings is another.

All things considered, Dennis Lawson, better known as gr33nazn on Twitter is a good follow that has become a good friend over the years.

I learned a new word during a discussion recently.

I would think that the word, among Cardinal fans, would suggest that opposing players were developing a fear of the non-closer, Jason Motte. Who could blame them? The once-catcher-turned-pitcher has a live fastball and a reckless abandon towards the mound. Motte seemed to find his footing throughout 2011 and became a solid addition to the back of the bullpen for the eventual World Champs. A player that manager Tony LaRussa refused to call his closer, Motte was the guy on the mound to end ball games, close or otherwise.

A quick look at Jason Motte’s 2011 statistics:

A look at Motte during the 2011 post-season

The conversation that led me to the discovery of my new favorite word did not, however, center around the bearded man at the back of the Cardinal ball games. The new term came up, as it were, during a discussion about the strange 2011 season of the Cardinal left fielder. Matt Holliday, during a Monday night game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 22, had a moth fly into his ear deeply enough that he had to come out of the game and the trainer had to extract the nuisance from his ear.

Many people are afraid of bugs, spiders, and any other form of insect. I could not blame Matt Holliday if he suddenly had a very unnatural fear of moths for the remainder of his life.

The fear of moths? You guessed it: Mottephobia.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

St. Louis Cardinals fans can already see the writing on the wall, they sit six games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers and their team is playing uninspired ball: Games that should be won are lost, leaving many to scratch their heads.

However, what many Cardinals fans have seemingly forgot about or have chose to forget entirely is that Albert Pujols, the teams best player, is not under contract for next season. It seems so long ago now, but the one they call King Albert made a scene early in Spring Training about wanting a long-term, big-money contract.

Both sides negotiated, but they remained far apart, apparently so far apart that Pujols decided he no longer wished to negotiate with the club until after the season. You may ask how can the Cardinals can even think of not giving Pujols the money he wants?

Well, a $30 million per year asking price is enough to even make thew New York Yankees blush, so how can a mid-market such as St. Louis pay that much money for one player? Added into the mix is Pujols’ desire to have it be a 10-year contract and you really have problems.

The former National League MVP is still producing eye-popping numbers in his Cardinals red, but they are a NL team, meaning they do not have the benefit of the DH. Pujols is currently 31 years of age and even a eight-year contract brings him to almost 40.

Is it possible that Pujols can still be a productive hitter and fielder at that advanced age? Sure. But is it more likely that he will no longer be able to play the field and they are stuck with a very expensive bench option?

One has to only look at the Yankees and their decision to give Alex Rodriguez a shiny new deal and where that leaves them now. Rodriguez is no longer the feared hitter he once was and has to be the DH regularly because of a problem-filled hip. This same scenario could happen to Pujols.

However, lets take money out of the equation for arguments sake. Pujols has already established himself as one of the game’s greatest hitters. Since the moment he has taken the big stage, Pujols has flashed leather, showed a keen batting eye and tremendous power.

In fact, he is the first person ever to have achieved 11-consecutive seasons of 30 or more home runs to start his major league career. That is a stability of greatness. Over those years, the perennial All-Star has accomplished many individual awards, but has only tasted one World Series Championship.

To quote a former football coach, “You play to win the game.” It’s as simple as that, the reason Major League players continue to work on their trade and continually give it their all, day in and day out is to ultimately win a championship.

Pujols has witnessed many years where the Cardinals sat atop the National League Central every year, but now he has seen that stop. He has the seen the building of a young but talented team in the Brewers, one that is set up to contend for years to come.

The Cardinals meanwhile have struggled to find the pieces to match-up with their division foes. Mariano Rivera has made a career out of postseason success and you can be sure Pujols wants to have a chance to experience the same kind of success.

He may not be able to fulfill that dream in St. Louis, so the question is this: Why would King Albert want to stay in St. Louis.

Cardinals management better have a good answer to give Pujols when the question is asked or one of the best players in baseball will leave for a new journey.

Ryan Lazo is a contributing writer for i70 Baseball. He is also a Senior Writer for BaseballDigest.com. He can reached at RMLazo13@gmail.com, followed on Twitter @RMLazo13 and read his blog Artificially Enhanced.

An above .500 this week, including a win Friday night against in-state rivals St. Louis Cardinals, has left a feeling of mixed emotions and expectations for this young team. This team is still trying to find a rhythm, which with two starting pitchers getting ready to come off the DL, is going to be somewhat easier than it has been during the past three or four weeks.

Photo Courtesy of Minda Haas

Joakim Soria has seemed to find his rhythm again and that is good news for one of the youngest bullpens in baseball. With him and consistent efforts out of Aaron Crow, the Royals bullpen could solidify more upon Bruce Chen and Kyle Davies returning to the starting rotation.

The Royals are entering probably the most exciting time of the first half of the season this weekend in St. Louis, inter-league play. With the series this weekend in St. Louis, the Royals begin a two-week stretch of playing teams that they would only see in a potential World Series berth or spring training exhibitions. Every year at this time of the season, the question is raised, who is the better league this year.

The Royals have a chance to show case their young talented lineup to certain fan bases that may have never seen them play nor will again, lest that team and the Royals make it to the World Series. This gives opportunity for the potential All-Star candidates to draw some voters that probably would not consider voting for them otherwise. The only catch is, these players have to perform at the level they have been so far this season.

The defense has been solid and so has the offense. Both are ranked in the top five in the American League. One of the highlights on defense in particular has been Escobar at shortstop. It seems like every game he makes a play that he was not supposed to make. The bats are becoming a little more consistent as the lineup has stabilized in the past few ball games, but with one of the best hitters out of the lineup (arguably the best hitter too, Billy Butler) when playing at National League ballparks it is going to be slightly more difficult to manufacture runs during these away games.

The Royals pitching is again holding this team back in a variety of ways. So far this season I have seen, the starting pitching be solid, then the bullpen gets shaky and then the roles reverse by the end of the week or sometimes the series. The Royals currently rank dead last in the American League in ERA and have given up the third most home runs by any pitching staff this year. The pitchers have to keep the ball in the ballpark consistently in order to give the offense and defense opportunities to help win ball games.

Three phases of this game have to be executed well in order to be in contention in the season. The Royals have begun solidifying two of those phases, but one is still holding them back.

The bullpen has provided a large problem for the Cardinals a month into the 2011 season. Releasing a player that makes over three million dollars does not suggest a wise or welcome business decision. As long as Ryan Franklin does not retire, the Cardinals have him in their bullpen for the remainder of 2011. The farm system is not particularly strong, leaving little to offer in a potential trade. These factors would suggest that the bullpen will not upgrade from outside the organization this season.

That leaves me wondering: Who’s the closer in 2012? The answers are numerous. There are internal options. There are external possibilities.

Internally, it would appear that Mitchell Boggs had the first shot at the job, and could not quite hold it down. He is under team control through 2016 and will turn 28 before Opening Day 2012. He has shown dominant stuff at times and proven to be stable at the back end of the bullpen. Another year of maturity might be what he needs. He may never be cut out for the role. I would have to say that I do not believe he is the solution. Decision: Not The Answer

The free agent crop promises three very interesting names. The one we hear the most about is San Diego closer Heath Bell. Bell has, simply put, been dominant for the last two seasons. His strikeout rates are high, walk rates are low, and has consistently nailed down the end of ball games. He will turn 34 years old prior to next season meaning that his next three to five year deal may be his last. Teams that have closer issues are dreaming of Heath Bell and if he smells free agency, his price will climb quickly. He makes seven and a half million dollars this season and his price will sky rocket if he gets onto the open market. Decision: Out Of The Price Range

Free agent choice number two will send us to Los Angeles to examine the 300 pound right hander, Jonathan Broxton. Broxton will hit the free agent market at the tender young age of 27, which will be his strength and weakness. His youth makes him an answer for a long time for the team willing to put up the years for the contract. His youth will also leave questions as to whether or not he has established himself enough to be crowned the next big thing for a team. He has seen ups and downs and has not been dominant consistently at any point. He will command a decent salary but a higher risk. Decision: Cheaper Options Exist

The final free agent option is that appears to be truly attractive is Mike Gonzalez. He was a solid closer in his days in Pittsburgh, but that dates back to 2006. His years in the Braves organization would see him bounce into and out of the role with mixed results. He has been at the Baltimore bullpen over the last two seasons but he has not been the man to shut the door. Gonzales will be 33 before 2012 arrives, but may be the option that the Cardinals are looking for. A veteran pitcher, looking to reclaim his position as a key pitcher, would be paired up with Dave Duncan for another run (assuming Duncan is back for another year). The combination of a veteran with a few years left to prove coupled with young pitchers poised to take the next steps may be just what the doctor ordered and well within the team’s price range. Decision: Solid Free Agent Answer

If the Cardinals are to bring in a veteran pitcher like Gonzalez, it would be best to have the young pitchers in development get a few chances themselves. Boggs is one option but thus far in 2011, Eduardo Sanchez has started to prove that he is ready, willing, and able to assume the role. Taking the young (he will be 23 in 2012) fire baller and giving him the support of a veteran pitcher that knows the ups and downs of the role could help the young man develop into the closer the team will need him to be in the future. Decision: Best Long Term Option

It appears that a combination of an external veteran leader and the young arms in the system may be the complete solution for the Cardinals in 2012, but the remainder of this season will tell the complete story.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball as well as the Assignment Editor for BaseballDigest.com.
He is the host of I-70 Radio, hosted every week on BlogTalkRadio.com.
Follow him on Twitter here.

Luck.

That is the official explanation from the Cardinals’ manager, pitching coach, and relief pitcher as it pertains to the struggles of Ryan Franklin. More specifically, they are citing “bad luck”.

Now, I remember playing some video games as a kid that would have a statistical category for luck, but I do not recall being able to find this on the back of a baseball card, on baseball-reference, or through any number of Sabermetric type research sites. I find myself confused as to why three professional baseball men, one who is highly regarded for his work with pitchers, cannot pinpoint anything other than luck when it comes to the struggles of a pitcher that is attempting to close down games and provide the team with some reassurance late in the game.

Perhaps, just maybe, the problem is not luck. Those who follow my many exploits on the web, writing or making radio appearances, know that I am far from impressed with Ryan Franklin as a whole. I have always struggled with the concept of a closer being a pitcher that is not dominant, pitches to contact, and is not a ground ball pitcher. It seems to me, on a basic level, that this combination threatens the ability to close ball games.

All of that aside, there is a lot of posturing going on today in defense of the closer. Some discussions about the lack of defense behind the pitcher having a major impact on his ability to close games. Thoughts like this have been coming up on Twitter:

If Rasmus doesn't drop Uribe's "2R Double" which should be an error. Franklin would have a 7.2 ERA vs 11.6 ERA; 1 less blown save. #stlcards

April 20, 2011 11:14 am via webReplyRetweetFavorite

@NLFantasyBB

Mark Kruger

First of all, some perspective here. One less blown save and an earned run average just above seven would not have me screaming support for a pitcher. In addition, before we hang our center fielder out to dry, keep in mind this was far from a routine play. The ball was hit some 370 feet to the warning track in left-center field. This is not to say that the ball was not catchable, but to make it sound like Colby Rasmus dropped a routine fly ball and the reliever should be excused for that is a bit extreme.

In addition, it would be nice to see the Cardinals employ a closer that would see balls hit that distance in a less than routine fashion. A closer that is relying on defense, a commodity the Cardinals felt was expendable during the off-season, is a recipe for disaster. A closer that relies on pitching to contact that results in a more fly balls than ground balls is asking to surrender home runs.

Franklin said after surrendering the walk off home run to Matt Kemp on Sunday that the pitch was exactly where he wanted it and it was not a mistake. The closing pitcher for the team just admitted that he threw the best pitch he had and it was hit over 400 feet. That is not bad luck, that is out played, out performed, and dominated.

John Mozeliak was quoted as saying “Right now we need to do whatever gives us the best chance to win.” It is a shame that it took the recent results for the team to realize that a change at the back end of the bullpen needed fixed. It is equally shameful to hear an executive say now is the time to worry about a win. Should that not be the the team’s objective constantly, not just right now?

Ryan Franklin is a solid person, a great teammate, and well respected as a player in St. Louis. I do not intend to take away from that. However, in the interest of winning, this team needs to make a change. Not a temporary one.

All due respect to Dave Duncan, Tony LaRussa, and Ryan Franklin, this is not “luck”. It is ability. Sadly, Ryan Franklin is lacking in that category.

I must admit I’m thoroughly surprised. Not at the early struggles in Saint Louis, but more so the early struggles of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Their lack of production and will to succeed has led to a winning start in Kansas City and gave the Royals their short-lived time in the sun. Don’t get too over your heads Royals faithful, this success will not last.

I was in attendance during Saturday’s game at Kauffman Stadium and let me tell you, the Royals are still a poor team. They still have no clue what actual role they play. They don’t know what they are capable of. They must be shocked that they are 3-1. But I understand their early success. They should thank the Angels for their lack of competitiveness. Talk about a ball club that has all the talent in the world to whip the Royals, but simply doesn’t have heart to produce a solidified win. Yes, they have aged in the past couple of years, but they had the advantage over the Royals in each of the first four games. Better pitchers, better hitters, and better coaching- all of that combined with way more experience. It was simply a team that wanted it against a team that didn’t. The Angels are better than the Royals. But the Royals wanted it more and the Angels just wanted to go home. The Angels bullpen is showing signs they might be the weakest in the league. If Chris Getz and a no name back up catcher are single handedly winning ball games against you, something is missing. I think it’s a lack of heart. Was it the fan base that gave the Royals the much-needed boost? No.

On opening day Kauffman Stadium was filled to the brim. The Royals lost. In game two the stadium was half full. The Royals won. On Saturday, one-third full- mark another win in the books. On Sunday, barely anyone, Royals win!

There are bright spots from any win in Major League Baseball. For the Royals, it’s easy to figure. The Royals are getting production from every player they DIDN’T expect to get production from. Getz especially, but with Treanor coming through in clutch situations and solid relief pitching, we can say that the Royals are thus far playing on a more “complete” level than we anticipated.

Kyle Davies looked inconsistent at times, but his first appearance was appealing. He gave up a fair amount of hits, but got himself out of some sticky situations. Aaron Crow is on fire and reminds me of McDougal in 2003, loaded with tons of confidence and firepower. Whether those attributes remain steady is all a matter of time.

I love how Yost is giving Kila Ka’aihue the nod at first base. I think it’s a great move for the ball cub to let Billy Butler solely focus on driving in every run he possibly can. It nice to see the Royals do something that I actually agree with.

The Royals are squeaking their way to victory so far and it’s encouraging to see the underdog finish in the win column three straight games. Two of them in walk off fashion. The Angels shouldn’t be too stunned. I think this series gave them just what the doctor ordered and provided them with the perfect indication that they are facing serious problems. With the Orioles controlling the AL East, the Royals clutching up in the first series, and the Rangers dominating the West, the American League (so far) is looking unpredictable in the fullest degree.

I know we are only one series down, but teams like Baltimore, Kansas City, and Texas who are off to a fast start, all have tremendous futures by rumor. It’s nice to see Boston shell out a monsoon of dollar signs, only to find themselves in a 0-3 hole to start 2011. But unfortunately we aren’t talking about a 16 game NFL schedule here. This is baseball and there are 159 games left to play out. Such a decent start in Kansas City is already ticking away, as most expect the team to run out of breath sooner or later. Boston will be fine, New York will be fine, and those Angels (aside from a horrendous bullpen performance) will most likely be fine too. It’s baseball. Money talks. You spend it and you usually reap some type of long-term reward. You don’t spend it, you usually got what you paid for.

Who wouldn’t love to see the Royals take this small run all the way into October? It’s what any good man would want. Witnessing a battered and beaten franchise, command a league while at the same time being the underdog in nearly every game they play. It’s the American Cinderella fairy tale. I just don’t believe the Royals have all the pieces in the right place to make it happen during the course of an entire season. The Angels have problems. The Royals took advantage of those problems. The Royals have problems of their own and most teams they play won’t be as dreary and dumbfounded as the Angels were. The Royals won’t win many series with the way they played this weekend. Better performance is needed to come out on top.

Best of luck, but I can’t see it.

The Royals were nearly swept out of Cleveland and into the cellar over the weekend. None of the losses were close at any given point. This left the Royals and the fans of Cleveland wondering where this offense was hiding all year. The Twins did some tumbling of their own last week, but it will not affect their fate of reaching the post-season again this year. They themselves were swept out of Detroit before landing in Kansas City to start the week.

Game 1: Kevin Slowey (13-6) vs. Kyle Davies (8-11)

Kyle Davies

This is probably going to sound repetitive by the end of this article, but Minnesota’s starter in this game has been dominant against the Royals in his career. He has a 5-1 mark with an ERA of 3.30. (That lone loss came on April 25th of this year) Despite having thirteen wins going into Monday’s start, he is not slotted to be in the starting rotation in the post-season. In his previous eight starts, he has compiled a 5-1 record while taking no decisions at Tampa Bay and versus KC.

Kyle Davies pitched very well in his last outing. He went eight strong innings and walked just one batter. He ended up taking the loss despite his ability to control his pitches. Control has been a problem for Davies in his experiences against the Twins. He is 4-6 with an ERA of 4.88. The good news is that Joe Mauer is still questionable to make an appearance in this series. Mauer is a lifetime .381 against Davies.

Game 2: Nick Blackburn (10-10) vs. Sean O’Sullivan (3-6)

Blackburn, despite being only .500 this year, is still vying for a spot in that post-season rotation. His ability to go deep into ball games consistently is one of the reasons why he is still under consideration. In fact, six out of the last seven starts he has pitched seven or more innings. Despite this fact, he is only 1-2 in his career against the Royals with a lofty ERA of 4.59.

O’Sullivan has another chance to climb out of the ditch he was in for most of his tenure with the Royals. He earned his first win as a Royals’ starter against Cleveland, the only starter to do so by the way. In his only start against Minnesota, he only lasted 4.2 innings and had an ERA of 9.64. He will have to mix pitches well as he did against Cleveland to have a shot at getting win number four.

Game 3: Scott Baker (12-9) vs. Luke Hochevar (6-6)

Scott Baker last year looked like a potential ace for the Twins but with injuries this season he has been in and out of the rotation all year. One of the reasons he looked like an ace was because he was very good against the Royals. He has a career mark of 8-4 with an ERA of 3.44. In addition, Baker has been one of the hottest pitchers since mid-July. His last loss came on July 19th, which makes me question why he is not in consideration for the post-season rotation too.

Luke Hochevar will try again to get his record to above .500 for the season. Fittingly enough, he is also trying to get above the .500 mark in his career against the Twins. He is 2-2 with an ERA of 5.68. His last outing versus the twins was not something he wants to remember. He went three innings and gave up five hits and three runs. Hochevar has also been on the disabled list but has not been able to bounce back as effective as Baker.

Offense:

During the past week, the Royals’ offense has floundered and the Twins have picked up the pace. The Royals had the best team batting average for a good chunk of the season but after recent games, they have now dropped to third in the A.L while the Twins moved up to number two. Neither team has hit many home runs this season, but that is not their style of play. Minnesota does lead the league in triples and is second in the league in doubles.

Defense:

Minnesota has one of the best overall defenses in the American League. They rank second in fielding percentage and sixth in double plays turned. The Royals have the unfortunate honor of leading the A.L. in errors this season, which gives them the worst fielding percentage mark too. This needs to be a point of emphasis for the Royals in the off-season. If you look at the playoff teams, they minimize the mistakes in the field and execute well at all positions.

Pitching:

The Twins will be cutting the number of pitchers in their rotation for the post-season. This means that even though they have a quality pitching staff, the competition for rotation spots are on the line during the final week of the season. When a pitcher who has thirteen wins has to compete for a spot, you know they have one of the best rotations in baseball. Royals manager Ned Yost has said repeatedly that in order for the Royals to secure wins, they must find a way to get the ball to closer Joakim Soria in the ninth with the lead.

X-Factor:

Minnesota has already clinched the division title and a guaranteed spot in the playoffs. What has not been decided is whether they will have home field advantage, which is based on their overall record. This raises one question: does Minnesota consider home field advantage so important that they will not rest any of the regulars before the season ends? It is hard for a manager to justify resting starters more than a couple of games, because baseball is all about timing and rhythm. Given the recent history and the dominance of Minnesota in this divisional series, it would be the ideal time for manager Ron Gardenhire to consider giving his players a refresher.

Prologue:

Good things come in threes or so goes an old adage. Well, in the series against the A’s the Royals magic number was three. If they scored more than three runs, they were good enough to beat the A’s who scored 3 runs in each of the games this week. This weekend will be the first of two consecutive weekend series versus the Indians. This weekend is at home and next weekend will be the Royals last away games of the season. Evaluations of the team’s current talent and/or potential future talent will still be essential. However, trying to win ball games will not be ignored.

Game 1: Carlos Carrasco (0-0) vs. Kyle Davies (8-9)

Carrasco was among the late season call-ups for the Indians but does have previous experience versus the Royals. He has pitched 6 innings and is 0-1 in his short professional career. Since the beginning of September he has pitched well. He doesn’t have a win yet but his ERA of 2.18 would indicate that he probably should have. Among his appearances this month was a 7.1 innings start, where he allowed zero runs against the division leading Twins.

The Royals could jokingly call Kyle Davies Mr. September. In his third September, he has worked himself up to a 9-1 record with an ERA of 1.78. On the other hand, he has struggled against Cleveland. He is 3-4 with an ERA of 5.40. His last start against the Indians resulted in a no decision. He went 7.1 innings, gave up three earned runs on seven hits.

Game 2: Justin Masterson (6-12) vs. Sean O’ Sullivan (1-5)

After being sent to the bullpen for the remainder of the season just a short while ago, Masterson is back in the rotation due to an injury of teammate Mitch Talbot. He is 1-2 lifetime against the Royals with an ERA of 5.19. His last appearance against the boys in blue was a five inning no decision back on May 19th. He gave up 2 earned runs on five hits and four walks.

Sean O’Sullivan has yet to prove to the Royals that he was worth the trade. He is running out of time to prove it too. He still doesn’t have a win as a Royal since he was traded back in July. His ERA since coming to Kansas City has been an atrocious 7.40. This will be his first career start against the Indians. Maybe, just maybe, if he wins his remaining starts he will be invited back next spring.

Game 3: Josh Tomlin (4-3) vs. Luke Hochevar (5-5)

Josh Tomlin has been consistent, if not the most consistent Indians pitcher as of late. He has gone at least five innings in every start since he was called up and has a winning record. In his lone start versus the Royals he was able to notch a victory despite having a gaudy ERA of 5.40.

Luke Hochevar is coming around the way the Royals expected. He probably will be kept on a low pitch count again on Sunday, just to make sure he doesn’t reinjure himself. He will have to do better than he has in the past against Cleveland though. He is 2-4 lifetime versus the Tribe with an ERA of 4.98. Shin Choo-Soo has had Hochevar’s number in nearly every single game they’ve played. Choo-Soo has a lifetime average of .556 with two home runs and four RBIs.

Offense:

The Royals offense clicked during the last two games of the Oakland Series. The Royals will need to continue to do that against a pitching staff that is worse off than Oakland’s. Cleveland’s offense has struggled in September. They have averaged just above 2.5 runs per game since September 1st.

Defense:

Both of these teams’ defensive stats are among the bottom of the American League. If either defense makes an error during any part of the series, the questionable pitching staff on both sides will begin to unravel. Play mistake free defense, and you give your team a chance to win.

Pitching:

Like the defense, both teams’ pitching staff have operated on a roller coaster of highs and lows all season. Some have been good, such as Greinke’s complete game efforts or Soria’s saves. However, there’s been too much poor execution on both teams that now they are left to battle to see who is going to end up in the cellar this year.

X-factor:

Both teams have the desire not to finish in the cellar of the Central division. Cleveland has to travel after playing a late game on Thursday night. Between this series and the series next weekend will determine a lot for each franchise. These seven games will probably determine their placement in next year’s draft as well as their place in the Central division. These games will also help evaluate the talent level going into next season. If you want to be a contender, you have to be able to beat your own divisional opponents consistently.

“It’s unacceptable”

Losing six straight games has become a regular occurrence in recent Royals memory. It has happened twice this season and too many times in the past ten years. I agree with Coach Ned Yost, this is unacceptable of any franchise who wants to contend. As the Royals are looking into getting back on track against Toronto on Monday night, the message is clear from the manager, “win.”

The Royals have given away games in a variety of ways during this streak. There have been errors on defense, digging early holes that are too deep to crawl out of, and/or lack of timely hitting. You cannot win ball games like this.

The Blue Jays are coming in to town after sweeping the Baltimore Orioles, including a 10-1 shelling on Sunday. They Blue Jays are also currently in fourth place in their division like the Royals, however they are above .500.

Game 1: Brett Cecil (8-5) vs. Kyle Davies (4-6)

Brett Cecil is making his first start against the Royals and he is coming off an impressive 7-inning performance that earned him his eighth win. On the other hand, Kyle Davies has not had a win in his past seven starts. His last start against the Mariners, earned him a no decision when the Royals rallied late to win 7-3.

Davies has faced the Blue Jays once, earlier this season. He gave up six hits, two walks, and four runs. He faced them twice last season and they managed a .320 average with three home runs. The upside of this is that the Royals will sleep in their own beds tonight and be better rested than their opponents will be.

Game 2: Jesse Litsch (0-4) vs. Anthony Lerew (1-3)

Both of these pitchers were shelled in their most recent outings. Both of them have atrocious ERAs at this point but one quick and painful outing will do that. On the other side of things, Litsch has had success against the Royals. In his career, he is 2-1 with an ERA of 1.19 against the boys in blue. However, the last time he faced the Royals it was in 2008 and the lineup has changed significantly since then. Like most of his starts this year will be, this will be the first time Lerew has thrown against the Jays.

Game 3: Marc Rzepczynski (0-0) vs. Zack Greinke (5-9)

Last series I made a bold statement about how Greinke needs to make a statement every time he pitches and I am not backing down from it. Instead of leading off the series, he is closing it out. The Royals need some momentum going into New York for their four game series against the Bronx Bombers.

Rzepczynski is slotted to replace Brandon Morrow for this game in order to give Morrow additional rest. This is his first appearance against the Royals. His ERA is currently 5.40. This is thanks largely to the Minnesota Twins, who shelled eight hits and four runs in just over five innings of work. In his three appearances, so far this season he has also given up two homeruns. If the Royals were looking for a mismatch in pitching matchups, they might have found one here.

Offense:
The Royals offense has struggled lately and it has been painfully obvious on the scoreboard and on the division standings. Hitting is a very fickle. You are going to have low points in a 162 game season. However, good hitting teams will never have everyone cold at once. It is the middle of July in Missouri, the Royals need their batting to match the weather, HOT every single day.

The Blue Jays have scored twenty-eight runs in the past five games, dating back to July 10th. This includes the ten-run onslaught that they gave the Orioles on Sunday. This being said, they are still near the bottom of the league in batting average with a team average of .243. If the Royals pitching staff needed to play a poor hitting team, this would be the opportune series to do so. The last time the Royals played a poorer hitting team (Seattle), it was a very productive boost in their confidence.

Defense:

The Royals made errors that cost them at least two of the games against the Athletics. A coach can hit infield until his arms fall off. However, there is something cannot be coached that the Royals defense has been lacking since the Chicago series (Execution). If you make plays behind your pitchers, they will battle for you. If you make an error every game, that is enough to throw the pitcher’s game out of whack enough to make him hittable.

DeJesus has continued his errorless streak and still has a shot of the all-time record for an outfielder, which is currently at 269 games. If he plays everyday, he is set to break the record on August 20 at home against the Chicago White Sox.

The Blue Jays are statistically in the middle of the pack on defense. They do however, rank third in the American League with 98 double plays turned so far this year. While the Royals are in a three way tie with 80.

Pitching:

When their ace left for “greener pastures”, the stats were not going to be as fantastic as they would be with him. Despite the notable departure, the Blue Jays are among the stingiest pitching staff when it comes to the long ball. They have only given up 82, where as the Royals have given up 103.

Based on what I have seen, watched, and/or read about the Royals pitching staff this season their winning combination is this:

Effective Start goes 6-7 innings and leave the game either tied or winning + 1-2 innings of relief + 1 inning of Soria to close the deal.

When the Royals manage to do this, it is lights out. However, getting the starters to go that deep day in and day out has been a struggle all year.

X-factor:

The Royals are playing at home. The Blue Jays have a time zone change and a flight of over a thousand miles. This might be a factor for game one of the series, but fatigue will be even for games two and three. If the Royals defense continues its consecutive games with at least one error, it will be another long and dreadful series for the Royals.