Game 100: Detroit @ Kansas City

Game Date: July 21, 2008
Tigers 19, Royals 4 / Box Score
WP: Miner (4-3), LP: Hochevar (6-8)
Royal Home Runs: None
Royals Record: 45-55

You'd think that there wouldn't be much to say after a 19-4 drubbing, but there is plenty.

Let's start with the defense. In the third inning, Alex Gordon bobbled a double-play ball and the Royals weren't able to turn the double-play as a result. The Tigers went on to score five runs that inning. I don't think Gordon is a poor fielding third baseman, but I also don't think he's a good fielding third baseman. You really can't look at errors any more as a deciding factor about a player on defense because it's become nearly impossible to get an error in MLB in recent years. But if you look at Gordon's Zone Rating (.746), it's the worst among all qualifying American League third baseman. He just doesn't get to many balls and when he does, he doesn't seem to make the play.

Next let's talk about Jimmy Gobble. I understand that the Royals were down 9-0 when Gobble entered the game in the eighth inning. And I understand not wanting to burn any more pitchers out of the bullpen in such a lopsided affair, but to allow Gobble to give up ten earned runs in one inning seems insane to me. He's already having a terrible year (he had a 7.99 ERA going into the game and it ballooned to 11.31); why in the world would you leave him in for so long and possibly damage his confidence so much that he's done for the year? And why does Hillman insist upon using him against righties and lefties when he's had so much success out of the pen as a situational lefty?

With the Royals down 19-0, they decided that enough was enough and they gave Tony Pena a shot at pitching. Why not? The dude comes in and throws a 12-pitch, 1-2-3 inning, striking out Ivan Rodriguez and hitting 90 mph on the radar gun. How bizarre is that? And how quickly can we start his transition to the bullpen? It'd be perfect (I say with my tongue firmly implanted in my cheek) because he wouldn't have to hit.

If you are looking for a little positive news from this game, you can point to the four runs the Royals scored in the bottom half of the eighth inning after falling behind 19-0. Pundits will say that it proves that the Royals have a lot of fight in them and it's hard to disagree with that. I don't think they've quit on us. But it also could have just been the result of a bunch of guys who went up there hacking, knowing that the game over. Either way, I guess it's a good thing that we weren't shutout.

Tonight, the Royals will look to even the series. Kyle Davies (3-1, 4.59) will get the start against Kenny Rogers (7-6, 4.62). Davies is 1-1 in his career against the Tigers with a 3.86 ERA in 11.2 IP. Rogers has made a living against the Royals, going 20-18 with a 4.08 ERA in 260.1 IP.