13 Straight

"It's pretty much the same thing every night." –Buddy Bell, after the Royals blew yet another game yesterday

Hard to argue with him.  

However, I do have a bone to pick with him about Denny Bautista. After the Royals handed Bautista a 6-run lead in the first inning, Omar Infante walked with one out in the second inning. Then Craig Monroe singled. Then Marcus Thames walked (noticing a pattern here?). Then Berroa booted a ball off Brandon Inge's bat (another pattern). Curtis Granderson singled. Then Bautista hit Placido Polanco with a pitch. I know our bullpen is overworked right now. And I know it seems ridiculous to take a starter out in the second inning with that big a lead, but come on. Between all the free passes and hits, didn't Bell have a clue that Bautista wasn't going to be able to get the job done? Maybe he just realized that we don't really have anybody who can get the Tigers out. And if that was his thought process, I'd probably let him off the hook.

Our pitching staff has issued 188 walks this season—sixth worst in baseball. Our WHIP is an embarrassing 1.64—worst in baseball, by far. Our ERA isn't all that hot either—6.11, which is, you guessed it, worst in baseball—by more than a half a run. Teams are hitting .289 against our staff—second worst in baseball. So, obviously, we don't have a good pitching staff. But I can't stand seeing our pitchers walk so many guys. Why not at least give hitters a chance to get themselves out rather than just issuing so many walks?

Back to the game.

The Tigers scored three runs in the second inning to make it 6-3 Royals. But the Tigers got another rally going in the fourth inning and knocked Bautista from the game—scoring two more runs in the process. We picked up another run in the bottom half of the fourth to increase our lead to 7-5. And then we got another insurance run in the sixth inning to make it 8-5. Surely, four home runs (from Graffanino, Berroa, Mientkiewicz, and German), fourteen hits, and eight runs is enough to win any game, right?

Wrong.

The Tigers scored eight runs in the eighth and ninth innings and the Royals lost 13-8, making it their thirteen straight loss. Keppel gave up one. Burgos gave up two (and now has a 7.23 ERA). Dessens got rocked and gave up four. And Sisco gave up another run (to see his ERA climb to 7.50). Our bullpen was once thought to be our one shining asset. Now it's in shambles with no real clear cut closer, and with two set up guys who can't get anybody out. With the exception of our long relief guys, Mike Wood (3-0, 3.64) and Jimmy Gobble (0-1, 4.68), our options are extremely limited during a tight game. Right now, I guess you have to give the ball to Joe Nelson who hasn't given up a run in 5.2 innings.

Well, what I feared has happened. We got swept by Detroit at home and now we are about to embark upon a ten-game road trip. This losing streak could go on for a long, long time. Let's hope that we can figure out a way to win one in New York this weekend.

Tonight, Scott Elarton (0-5, 4.71) goes against Mike Mussina (6-1, 2.57).

Berroa Walk Watch: 1 walk in 43 games.