Wow, things are definitely interesting at the bottom of the AL Central. With the White Sox looking to unload most of their team, the Royals could actually get out of the cellar here soon if they continue this nice stretch. They have two more wins then the White Sox but they have four more losses so the net effect is a one game deficit.
I know, it means jack squat but for Royals fans, this is the kind of stuff you look for. And it’ll be even more interesting because the White Sox and Royals face off for three games this weekend. I can wait to push those guys, just two seasons away from their World Series win, into the cellar.
Alex Gordon has caught first and while he went 0 for 4 today, it was at the tail end of a seven game hitting streak. I know the .235 batting average isn’t worth much discussion, but the fact that he was hitting .210 less then two weeks ago means something. There hasn’t been a power spike though and Gordon sits with just six homeruns still so his OPS is barely on the north side of .700.
What a start today by Jorge De La Rosa. He gave up ten hits and a walk but nobody crossed the plate in six shutout innings. With the nice start, he also saw his ERA get sliced by about a third of a point. Still this is a guy with just 56 strikeouts and 32 walks so I’m not going to get too excited unless he does it a few more times.
Gil Meche continues to be the workhorse on the staff and you have to be impressed with that strikeout to walk ratio (83/29). Dayton Moore is making a believer out of some people with that signing and while the 5-6 record isn’t all that, Meche has definitely given the Royals some chances to win and that’s more then you can ask from Royals’ teams past.
It’ll be Brian Bannister going up against Jose Contreras on Friday. If the Royals win the opener, they’ll be tied with the White Sox and that’s the hope.
