Tids

Brandx brings up a good point: Gil Meche has been awesome. Buster Olney reported today that in terms of quality starts, Gil Meche has 7, while the WHOLE YANKEES staff has 9 for the season. Plus, Gil is second in the MAJORS for innings pitched. He's been lights out even when he's been average. It seems that it's not his talent (though quite impressive) that Moore saw, but his mental assets.

I was wrong, and will continue to admit it until otherwise proven. De La Rosa has been impressive and deserves his spot in the rotation. And think, his ERA would be even better if Braun hadn't given up some inherited runners in Seattle.

Reggie, who was finally hitting, is surprisingly injured. Or not, surprisingly. He's old, he's injury-prone and we continue to have to see Baird's poor choices in free agent acquisitions.

Buddy hinted on KCRoyals.com that a trade could be imminent (no backup SS or CF (other than Teahen)), so expect some movement there in the next few days.

I have to agree with Rotoworld.com that Costa is an odd-choice to bring up for Sanders unless you take into account that he's the hottest hitter in AAA and/or, Moore and Bell truly believe that Teahen can play CF. Otherwise, I would have thought backup CF Joey Gathright would have made some sense for his defense (really, it's just average) and his speed. But for a hitting-strapped team, maybe Costa makes more sense.

Here's hoping Buddy doesn't give up on John Buck, who hasn't been hitting lately, and shy more towards Larue, even though today Bell said at some point, Larue's bat should come around. Not a ringing endorsement for Buck, who has got to be annoyed that he can't get playing time even though he's better offensively, younger, and blocks balls much better.

Is change good or bad? I'm very concerned for our pitching staff in the next few weeks. I think (and hopefully) we have too much starting pitching. I am not sure I want Dotel closing games with Soria proving so useful. I think Dotel as a setup man should be ok for the year, or at least for a few weeks until we know he's healthy and getting hitters out. I think it would be a poor decision to toss Soria before we know Dotel can get the majors out. John Bale, I'm not sold on this guy, though he is a lefty who "retired all the lefties" in his appearance in AAA. But who do you demote? If it were me, it'd be Wellemeyer (who has been pitching better lately) or Peralta (who really hasn't; see any post by me to gain knowledge on why I dislike Peralta). More change is bad though b/c it cannot be argued that Meche and De La Rosa deserve to be in the rotation. Greinke also deserves it, even though he has struggled for half his starts, but he's young and this is almost like his rookie year again, so he's got to re-figure out how to adjust. Bannister has pitched well for 2 starts and deserves a couple more to prove his worth. Perez is the only guy that shouldn't be in the rotation, and even he is pitching better with his purported "new pitch." Would I take Elarton, if he continues throwing like he did in his last start (7 IP, 4 ER (all in the first though))? Heck yes, over Perez anyday. But Hudson grows less and less useful in my eyes if Bannister or Greinke continue to be average to above. Or trade Elarton and give Huddy Perez's spot. I just don't see how you mess with a rotation that is pitching effectively enough (even with Perez's bloated ERA) to be 4-6th in the American league. Granted, their BP needs help, but Dotel and Bale will soon be here, which probably demotes Musser and ...?

With Butler and Costa to help provide offense to an ineffective offense, this team should start improving.

Bob McClure has impressed me. He has gotten better results from De La Rosa, fixed Meche's delivery and is teaching Jimmy Gobble a side-arm approach which may make him more effective against lefties. This is the mini-Leo Mazzone for the Royals and they would be smart to either sign this guy for awhile or hire Leo Mazzone.

Now, if we could get the Bob McClure of hitting, thereby fixing whatever is wrong with a team that consistently gets on base, but can't produce runs, this team could easily be .500 and go on a winning streak. My optimism is returning!