Twins take it to the Royals

Game Date: August 12, 2009
Kansas City @ Minnesota
Twins 7, Royals 1 / Box Score
WP: Liriano (5-11), LP: Bannister (7-9)
KC Home Runs: Bloomquist (4)
Royals Record: 44-69 / Record in August 4-7

After the Royals lost to the Rays on July 17, Bob Dutton began the countdown to 100 losses. At the time, I said this about it:

Bob Dutton has begun the countdown, pointing out that the Royals must go 26-47 in their final 73 games to avoid losing 100 games for the fifth time in eight seasons. That means they have to play .356 ball from here on out. They’re playing at a .415 pace right now, so the 100-loss season should be avoidable. But if this team quits, anything is possible.

Since then, the Royals have gone 7-17 (.291) and their overall winning percentage has dropped to .389. They now have to go 19-30 in their final 49 games, which is a .387 pace, which, as you can see, is pretty close to the overall pace they are playing at this year. As of today, they are on pace to go 63-99. Avoiding the 100-loss season no longer looks like the lock it once did.

Enough bad news.

Gil Meche makes his return to the rotation this afternoon in Minnesota after missing a month of action. From what I saw in Omaha last Saturday night, Meche’s main concern will be throwing his fastball for strikes.

Even though things are bad for KC fans at the Major League level and in Omaha (Omaha has the worse record in the PCL), they aren’t so bad in the minor leagues. Bob Dutton reports that Mike Moustakas hit a two-run home run for Wilmington on Tuesday and the Blue Rocks have won 14 of their last 15 games. He also reported the Mike Montgomery has lowered his ERA to 2.16 in 16 starts in Wilmington.

The NW Arkansas Naturals are tied for first place in the Texas North with a 63-52 record. They are 6-4 in the last 10 games and they have an impressive 30-27 road record. Wilmington sits alone in first place in the Carolina Northern Division with a 67-46 record. They have an incredible 32-23 away record.

I’d like to think that some of this talent, especially from NW Arkansas, will find it’s way to Omaha next season, and then on to Kansas City in 2011. But Dayton Moore doesn’t seem to work that way and of course, we don’t know how these players will progress. I’m just looking for hope anywhere I can find it.