A Solution for the Heartbreak

Game Date: July 29, 2009
Kansas City @ Baltimore
Orioles 7, Royals 3 / Box Score
WP: Albers (2-4), LP: Tejeda (1-1), SV: Johnson (2)
KC Home Runs: Olivo (14), Jacobs (14), Callaspo (7)
Royals Record: 40-60 / Record in July 7-17

I have a possible solution for all this heartbreak and I’m only half joking.

What about starting the game with the bullpen and then bringing in the “starter” in the third inning? If we’re leading after eight innings, Joakim Soria could come in. This way, if the bullpen gives up eight runs in the first two innings the Royals would have time to catch up and if they didn’t do so by the middle innings, we could tune out and do something else. But if by some miracle, the bullpen gives up three runs or less to start the game, well, we’d have a fighting change.

The idea has some major flaws, I know. Our offense is anemic and the chances of catching up are minimal. What if the “starter” gets hit hard and we have to go back to the bullpen? What if the starter has good stuff? He might be limited to six innings of work. And such a cockamamie idea would limit the wins our rotation would get, but aren’t they limited already? And wouldn’t it be nice to minimize the heartbreak? Why watch guys like Zack Greinke leave the game after six innings with a one run lead knowing he’ll never get the win?

Of course, the more sane way to handle it would be to clean the bullpen out, except for Soria, and start over. But Dayton Moore doesn’t seem to be willing to do that. So, we’re left with games like last night.

Ironically, Omaha tossed it's 14th shutout of the season last night. Victor Marte and Doug Waechter were in the mix and neither guy has given up a run for a while. I'm not sure that either guy is the answer, but I'm pretty sure that the current group in the bullpen isn't either.