Veterans Need to Shine

In recent years, when the Royals got off to a bad start, I've been one of those fans who calls for patience. I remind people that it's a long season, we don't need to panic, and our team is better than this. But the game tonight against the White Sox is huge. Tonight we find out if the new roster, composed of many veterans, can stay focused, and put together a good performance after an embarrassing performance.

And at the age of 26, after being bounced around from starter to closer to middle reliever, and after missing a lot of games due to injury, we need Jeremy Affeldt to step up big tonight in his first shot at the rotation in a couple of years. We need his noon to six curve ball. We need his 96 mph fastball. We need him to stay within himself. And this might sound odd, but we need Affeldt to be a little off the plate. His career WHIP is 1.49 and it's not because he walks too many guys (he's walked 136 guys in four season). He gives up too many hits (358 in 329.2 IP). And the hits that he gives up tend to come in bunches. He seems to get so pumped up after giving up a hit that he feels like he's got to go right after the next guy, and when that guy gets a hit, the big inning is on.

Tonight is about minimizing big innings from the mound, playing good defense, being patient against Jon Garland (an 18-game winner in 2005), and not making any boneheaded plays on the bases. Actually, that's what every game should be about, but this one especially. Staring 0-3 with two more games against the World Series Champions this weekend, followed by three games next week in New York against the evil Yankees has doomed season written all over it. But starting 1-2, with a chance to even our record on Saturday sounds a lot better.