Covering MLB with a focus on the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals
The St. Louis Cardinals won just twice in the opening week of their 2014 spring training exhibition schedule, but wins and losses matter little in spring training, and the Cardinals, with a 2-4-2 record, have excelled in the aspects of camp that truly matter.
Left for dead after a seven-game losing streak, the Royals are still in the playoff hunt.
A recent seven-game losing skid damages their playoff hopes, but the Royals still have an opportunity to finish above .500.
The Royals are winning more games with George Brett as their hitting coach. But how much of it is due to Brett?
The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-1 Friday, but they had to survive another bad performance from reliever Mitchell Boggs while Joe Kelly once again proved he should be used more often.
The St. Louis Cardinals finished second in the National League in hitting last season, but they also had plenty of stretches when the lineup didn’t score more than two runs, even when the pitching staff threw a great game.
Finally, Ned Yost will have an opportunity for the Royals to bunt in game situations. Oh, wait.
Naturals winning at home
On frigid night with penetrating winds that shattered the warmest of layered clothing, the cherry on top had the Wilmington Blue Rocks (8-8) facing a rehabbing big leaguer in Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Since Luke Hochevar got the start yesterday afternoon for the Royals home opener I’m going to use his favorite phrase; “ummm..You know?” to help facilitate this process.
