Noticed that Meidroth was staggering the second that ball hit its apex. Gotta wonder if it was because he was unfamiliar with the position. Surely he's seen popups before.
Thx SO much for sharing Denny's calls. I score every game and visuals are a must, so I rarely hear him anymore. Have always wondered why he never did TV regularly. Did he just not want to?
Agree absolutely that Roberts' effort encapsulates the Sox. Why did the eff did he even track it in the first place? Had he forgotten how many outs there were? Would not be surprised.
"You never know when you're making a memory" - Rickie Lee Jones. If this season ends in magic this game might well become an all-time memory, especially if 1 win makes a difference.
Fans should send thank you notes to the poor White Sox saps who contributed to their debacle.
It was well worth that last beer. That’s the most that can be said for that farce. So. Very. Bad. It’s funny how there was really so little drama that last half inning: you just knew the CWS were going to mess it up (although you never know exactly how they’ll do that; so it was sorta fun watching them be creative). The City of Chicago should block their plane from landing.
Don't be too hard on the White Sox, don't forget the Royals have had some pretty putrid teams as well. As an update MJ Melendez is now hitting .177 in Omaha and riding a 3 game hitting streak.
Nah. I’ve been watching this team for fifty-some years. I saw them go thru three managers in 2005 (I think). I’ve never seen a Royals player bounce a ball off his head.
Yeah, I agree with that. I am talking about the ineptness in trying to win. I used to ride to the Kansas City A's games on the bus cost me 10cents to ride it. 50 cents to sit in the bleachers, I have been watching them for a long time as well.
Two of my heroes were A's in 1958, Preston Ward and Bob Cerv. They were two of the friendliest baseball players ever. If I got there during batting practice, Preston Ward would come over and talk to the few kids that were there. He made such an impression on me, I named my son Preston Ward.
It did feel very reminiscent of a Jason Grimsley/Ken Harvey collision. Or watching a ball drop between two outfielders. Bad teams invent new ways to lose. That's entertaining to me. :)
I thought about posting on Bluesky that I was feeling confident going into the ninth inning, but I have a lot of power and didn't want to jinx what was about to happen. Rule number one...don't skeet.
This post made me go and listen to the 9th inning for myself. Denny was hysterical. In a world where we have to respect every team and give everyone participation trophies, it’s refreshing to see Denny still telling it like it is. As for the TV broadcast, I thought it was hilarious how Hud immediately started laughing after the ball conked off of Meidroth’s head. What an ending.
At the end of it all, Denny said that had to have been one of the top five worst ninth innings he's ever seen. Considering all the losing the Royals did for about a 25 year stretch, that's some impressive, bad baseball.
This morning, on BlueSky I was begging for a sound clip or 2. Then as I got on my exercise bike awhile later, I remembered "you can listen to the game archived on the MLB app, you dummy". So I did. Instead of music cranking, it was Denny, cranky.
One that didn't get mentioned, as it was before the meltdown ( but it was where I landed when I zipped the little icon over on the app looking for the 9th ) :
"The play went ( whatever the scoring was ). If you're scoring the game...why?"
The Royals do not ever give up under Matt Quatraro. That was a trait of the teams under Ned Yost, too, at least in 14 and 15.
I'm gonna have to go back and listen to Denny's call of the inning, I watched it on TV and I was honestly on the verge of puking from nerves, excitement, and general anxiety the entire time. I'm so glad they pulled that one out because I was going to be furious if they lost that game to the White Sox even before the 9th inning shenanigans.
Also, I was to say that as soon as I saw Amaya had to dive for that ball I figured the Royals were going to at least tie it. There's no way anyone but the absolute best double play combo in the sport turns one right there, is there? India was going to beat it out, wasn't he?
Yes on the ground ball. I think. It was hit so hard that if Amaya had picked it and been a little smoother on his dive, he could've delivered a better ball to second. And then maybe the turn. One of those plays where it's possible, but the degree of difficulty makes it unlikely.
But not getting an out meant the Royals had the chance to walk it off with a productive out. Moot because of Robert's disinterest, but once the game goes extras and is spoiled by the Manfred Man, who knows what can happen.
Good game and comeback. BUT not as good as the 2016 comeback from the Whitesox May 28, 2016. The Royals were down 7 to 3 in the ninth ending and came all the way back and won it! My son and I were there for that game and it was absolutely incredible. The White Sox just totally fell apart and it was so much fun. I loved the way you wrote about with Denny. He calls a good game! Definitely need to send a thank you note to the White Sox for all of the games that they’ve given the Royals over the years!
They were down 7-1 in the ninth. Two Brett Eibner hits in the inning, including the walk-off! A much more straightforward, seven-run ninth inning rally.
One of your readers mentioned an epic ninth inning comeback against the Sox in 2016. I remember listening to that game at work. It was an all-timer from a core that excelled in late-game heroics, even if that game came one year past their peak. The 24-25 Royals do share some of those characteristics, but this one was something different. It will be equally memorable, maybe even more so, but for very different reasons. However, as a fan who's watched many years of terrible Royals baseball, I'm just glad it wasn't us stacking up derps for a change.
Meidroth also had his eyes closed when he was trying to catch that ball. The look on his face when he realized it had him on his head was hilarious!! I don't know, but does everybody have their eyes closed when catching a pop-up?
Hey, give the White Sox a little credit (first time I've ever said that!): they had someone in position to back up Taylor's wild throw to second. In the moment the ball sailed over the shortstop's head, I thought we would see the most Little League home run possible.
Love that you framed this with the radio broadcast. If I am still kicking thirty years from now and read "the dreaded leadoff walk" i will be hearing Dennys voice as clear as if he was right beside me.
Noticed that Meidroth was staggering the second that ball hit its apex. Gotta wonder if it was because he was unfamiliar with the position. Surely he's seen popups before.
Thx SO much for sharing Denny's calls. I score every game and visuals are a must, so I rarely hear him anymore. Have always wondered why he never did TV regularly. Did he just not want to?
Agree absolutely that Roberts' effort encapsulates the Sox. Why did the eff did he even track it in the first place? Had he forgotten how many outs there were? Would not be surprised.
"You never know when you're making a memory" - Rickie Lee Jones. If this season ends in magic this game might well become an all-time memory, especially if 1 win makes a difference.
Fans should send thank you notes to the poor White Sox saps who contributed to their debacle.
Yep. Meidroth never looked comfortable.
I think Denny loves the medium of radio so much that he's never cared much for doing a game on TV.
Speaking of making a difference...I had the thought about what if Witt wins the batting title by one hit? It could happen!
You mean like what happened in 1976 (Brett over McRae)?
Not quite as controversial. That one has several, let's say, layers.
It was well worth that last beer. That’s the most that can be said for that farce. So. Very. Bad. It’s funny how there was really so little drama that last half inning: you just knew the CWS were going to mess it up (although you never know exactly how they’ll do that; so it was sorta fun watching them be creative). The City of Chicago should block their plane from landing.
Don't be too hard on the White Sox, don't forget the Royals have had some pretty putrid teams as well. As an update MJ Melendez is now hitting .177 in Omaha and riding a 3 game hitting streak.
Nah. I’ve been watching this team for fifty-some years. I saw them go thru three managers in 2005 (I think). I’ve never seen a Royals player bounce a ball off his head.
Yeah, I agree with that. I am talking about the ineptness in trying to win. I used to ride to the Kansas City A's games on the bus cost me 10cents to ride it. 50 cents to sit in the bleachers, I have been watching them for a long time as well.
That’s a wonderful memory, bro. Thanks for sharing that.
You've seen some bad baseball. And some goats in the outfield.
Two of my heroes were A's in 1958, Preston Ward and Bob Cerv. They were two of the friendliest baseball players ever. If I got there during batting practice, Preston Ward would come over and talk to the few kids that were there. He made such an impression on me, I named my son Preston Ward.
I've always heard great things about Cerv. What a fantastic story about Preston Ward.
Your kid's lucky his namesake has a solid name. Could've been something like Humber McGoo.
It did feel very reminiscent of a Jason Grimsley/Ken Harvey collision. Or watching a ball drop between two outfielders. Bad teams invent new ways to lose. That's entertaining to me. :)
"The City of Chicago should block their plane from landing." Thx for the chuckle.
Hahahaha.
I thought about posting on Bluesky that I was feeling confident going into the ninth inning, but I have a lot of power and didn't want to jinx what was about to happen. Rule number one...don't skeet.
This post made me go and listen to the 9th inning for myself. Denny was hysterical. In a world where we have to respect every team and give everyone participation trophies, it’s refreshing to see Denny still telling it like it is. As for the TV broadcast, I thought it was hilarious how Hud immediately started laughing after the ball conked off of Meidroth’s head. What an ending.
At the end of it all, Denny said that had to have been one of the top five worst ninth innings he's ever seen. Considering all the losing the Royals did for about a 25 year stretch, that's some impressive, bad baseball.
This morning, on BlueSky I was begging for a sound clip or 2. Then as I got on my exercise bike awhile later, I remembered "you can listen to the game archived on the MLB app, you dummy". So I did. Instead of music cranking, it was Denny, cranky.
One that didn't get mentioned, as it was before the meltdown ( but it was where I landed when I zipped the little icon over on the app looking for the 9th ) :
"The play went ( whatever the scoring was ). If you're scoring the game...why?"
And then he praised Jake for scoring the game. I really enjoy the dynamic between those two.
The Royals do not ever give up under Matt Quatraro. That was a trait of the teams under Ned Yost, too, at least in 14 and 15.
I'm gonna have to go back and listen to Denny's call of the inning, I watched it on TV and I was honestly on the verge of puking from nerves, excitement, and general anxiety the entire time. I'm so glad they pulled that one out because I was going to be furious if they lost that game to the White Sox even before the 9th inning shenanigans.
Also, I was to say that as soon as I saw Amaya had to dive for that ball I figured the Royals were going to at least tie it. There's no way anyone but the absolute best double play combo in the sport turns one right there, is there? India was going to beat it out, wasn't he?
Yes on the ground ball. I think. It was hit so hard that if Amaya had picked it and been a little smoother on his dive, he could've delivered a better ball to second. And then maybe the turn. One of those plays where it's possible, but the degree of difficulty makes it unlikely.
But not getting an out meant the Royals had the chance to walk it off with a productive out. Moot because of Robert's disinterest, but once the game goes extras and is spoiled by the Manfred Man, who knows what can happen.
Your entire newsletter could have been a one-sentence cliche: Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.
(But I enjoyed the entire newsletter.)
Hahaha...I try to make it worth the price of a subscription. :)
Good game and comeback. BUT not as good as the 2016 comeback from the Whitesox May 28, 2016. The Royals were down 7 to 3 in the ninth ending and came all the way back and won it! My son and I were there for that game and it was absolutely incredible. The White Sox just totally fell apart and it was so much fun. I loved the way you wrote about with Denny. He calls a good game! Definitely need to send a thank you note to the White Sox for all of the games that they’ve given the Royals over the years!
They were down 7-1 in the ninth. Two Brett Eibner hits in the inning, including the walk-off! A much more straightforward, seven-run ninth inning rally.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA201605280.shtml
Every great once in awhile, a Brett Eibner reference comes up & I think "Oh, yeah...that guy". Then I go about my day.
One of your readers mentioned an epic ninth inning comeback against the Sox in 2016. I remember listening to that game at work. It was an all-timer from a core that excelled in late-game heroics, even if that game came one year past their peak. The 24-25 Royals do share some of those characteristics, but this one was something different. It will be equally memorable, maybe even more so, but for very different reasons. However, as a fan who's watched many years of terrible Royals baseball, I'm just glad it wasn't us stacking up derps for a change.
Right? Part of the joy of watching that was it felt so...familiar. Yankee fans could never relate.
Meidroth also had his eyes closed when he was trying to catch that ball. The look on his face when he realized it had him on his head was hilarious!! I don't know, but does everybody have their eyes closed when catching a pop-up?
I do not believe that eyes closed is the recommended method.
Really nice format/flow to this column/post. Will start checking out your blog more often!
Thanks! I'll be here!
Hey, give the White Sox a little credit (first time I've ever said that!): they had someone in position to back up Taylor's wild throw to second. In the moment the ball sailed over the shortstop's head, I thought we would see the most Little League home run possible.
Ohhhhh...Yes. That would have been amazing. And entirely on brand. Now I wish that had happened!
Love that you framed this with the radio broadcast. If I am still kicking thirty years from now and read "the dreaded leadoff walk" i will be hearing Dennys voice as clear as if he was right beside me.
Thanks, Herbie. I think something like that only works with an icon like Denny. We're lucky he's still calling some of these games.
“Leadoff walk. Late innings. Close game. Recipe for disaster.” That quote was burned into my brain at least 2 decades ago. Cynical Denny is the best.