Meche Pounded in Final Spring Outing

Game Date: March 28, 2007
Padres 7, Royals 6 / Box Score
Royals Spring Training Record: 10-16

In what is sure to be his final appearance of the spring, Gil Meche was hit hard by the Padres today. He gave up seven earned runs on ten hits and two walks in six innings. And he saw his ERA climb to 7.31. Yikes. Doesn’t exactly make one feel comfortable knowing that he’s about to face Curt Schilling on opening day, does it?

Afterward, Buddy Bell said something the he said often last year after Runevlys Hernandez got hit hard. He talked about Meche’s “good stuff.” Here’s the actual quote, “I think he was having trouble getting his fastball down. I think he’s ready to go and that’s the main thing. He has good stuff, but at times he was a little erratic with his command.”

If he has good stuff, then why isn’t he getting people out? Good stuff doesn’t always equate to outs, but it usually does. I really wish Bell would stop using that phrase when it really doesn’t apply.

It was nice to see Mark Grudzielanek back at second base for the first time since his surgery. He was 0-for-3 on the day. Ross Gload was 2-for-2, and apparently has won the right to start in left field on opening day over Emil Brown. Given Brown’s recent tirades, that news is sure to make him happy.