Your Into the Fountains correspondent was on the scene yesterday at Camden Yards to watch Ragans, Erceg, and the Royals get their second 1-0 victory on a Tuesday in the DC/Baltimore area (really, the Royals should hire me at this point). A few observations:
1. It seemed clear to me that the plan was to attack the Os hitters with heat up (which resulted in a lot of foul balls but nothing else) and off speed everywhere else (although Ragans got away with some off speed up as well).
2. Pham read that ball perfectly and got a great jump.
3. There weren’t many Royals fans there but we made some noise. The Os fan sitting next to me (whose son lives in Leawood and whose daughter in law’s family owns Jasper’s Restaurant) yelled before Bobby’s RBI at bat, “you have to walk this guy”—and he was right.
4. The Os may be pressing and their fans are frustrated with their performance. If the Royals get an early lead today, the internal and fan pressure will help the Royals.
Thanks for the report, Murray! Sounds like a great time was had by all Royals fans representing yesterday. I agree with your fourth point about pressing. That would've been the Royals today had they allowed Baltimore to score. The pressure is fully on that side of the field.
* Raise your hand, honest now, if you foresaw Maikel Garcia being an offensive factor in this game.
* All doubts idiot typist me had about Cole Ragans have been removed. What. A. Stud.
* Tongue about swallowed when MJ made that overrun. Kept thinking THAT would be the Camden Curse factor that would doom the Boys. But Ragans shall overcome. Wow.
* Gotta think that Burnes' ego factored into him pitching to BWJ, wanting to beat the best, etc.
* It helped Ragans' pitch count that O's hitters swung like they were double-parked, especially early in the game.
* Good on Tommy Pham for that catch. Almost makes up for the fact his ridiculous, overly aggressive at bats really stifled the offense during the late September swoon.
* Salvy's wild chase on strike three in the top of the ninth could have cost the game. So predictable.
* "Ducksnort." How do you come up with these marvelous words?
On the Witt/Burnes third confrontation: I would agree a bit. Bobby just didn't look good against those cutters so he probably thought he could set him up with that pitch and then hammer him with something off speed. Dunno. Bobby was ready, though. Just like a great hitter.
Ducksnort has a bit of a, let's say colorful, baseball history. It was also the name of a fantastic San Diego Padres site back in the blog days.
I don't speak spanish, but pretty sure Maikel laughed and said 'this is nothing' when asked to compare playoff crowds to Venezuelan league. If anyone hasnt seen those, I highly recommend tuning into this year, they are wildly electric and you dont have to speak spanish to enjoy.
Clutchiness is a real word and definitely a real thing
Your Into the Fountains correspondent was on the scene yesterday at Camden Yards to watch Ragans, Erceg, and the Royals get their second 1-0 victory on a Tuesday in the DC/Baltimore area (really, the Royals should hire me at this point). A few observations:
1. It seemed clear to me that the plan was to attack the Os hitters with heat up (which resulted in a lot of foul balls but nothing else) and off speed everywhere else (although Ragans got away with some off speed up as well).
2. Pham read that ball perfectly and got a great jump.
3. There weren’t many Royals fans there but we made some noise. The Os fan sitting next to me (whose son lives in Leawood and whose daughter in law’s family owns Jasper’s Restaurant) yelled before Bobby’s RBI at bat, “you have to walk this guy”—and he was right.
4. The Os may be pressing and their fans are frustrated with their performance. If the Royals get an early lead today, the internal and fan pressure will help the Royals.
Thanks for the report, Murray! Sounds like a great time was had by all Royals fans representing yesterday. I agree with your fourth point about pressing. That would've been the Royals today had they allowed Baltimore to score. The pressure is fully on that side of the field.
* Raise your hand, honest now, if you foresaw Maikel Garcia being an offensive factor in this game.
* All doubts idiot typist me had about Cole Ragans have been removed. What. A. Stud.
* Tongue about swallowed when MJ made that overrun. Kept thinking THAT would be the Camden Curse factor that would doom the Boys. But Ragans shall overcome. Wow.
* Gotta think that Burnes' ego factored into him pitching to BWJ, wanting to beat the best, etc.
* It helped Ragans' pitch count that O's hitters swung like they were double-parked, especially early in the game.
* Good on Tommy Pham for that catch. Almost makes up for the fact his ridiculous, overly aggressive at bats really stifled the offense during the late September swoon.
* Salvy's wild chase on strike three in the top of the ninth could have cost the game. So predictable.
* "Ducksnort." How do you come up with these marvelous words?
On the Witt/Burnes third confrontation: I would agree a bit. Bobby just didn't look good against those cutters so he probably thought he could set him up with that pitch and then hammer him with something off speed. Dunno. Bobby was ready, though. Just like a great hitter.
Ducksnort has a bit of a, let's say colorful, baseball history. It was also the name of a fantastic San Diego Padres site back in the blog days.
Id like to think he was a little wary of the Pasquatch showing up
I'd challenge Pasquantino every single AB until he shows he's fully recovered.
Lugo following Ragans is such a different look. A real mind twister for the Os. Nothing they did yesterday is going to help them today against Lugo.
Ragans/Lugo is the perfect one/two combo. I can't wait to see what Lugo does today.
I don't speak spanish, but pretty sure Maikel laughed and said 'this is nothing' when asked to compare playoff crowds to Venezuelan league. If anyone hasnt seen those, I highly recommend tuning into this year, they are wildly electric and you dont have to speak spanish to enjoy.
Clutchiness is a real word and definitely a real thing
Garcia had an amazing run in the Venezuelan Winter League last year. Those games are INTENSE.