Blind Quarterback Plays Baseball: Week 4

Royals Round Up:

To quote the great Johnny Cash, the Royals “have been everywhere” this past week. They’ve travelled to Chicago, New York and now are in Tampa Bay for the next three days. 

3-Game Series Against the White Sox: 

The bullpen continues to be the thorn in the Royals’ side, as they dropped 2 of the 3 game series to divisional rivals, the Chicago White Sox. Their single win came in a high intensity game last Wednesday. As division rivals, it is safe to say that the Royals and the White Sox are not too friendly with one another and on Wednesday, this was proven true. Tensions boiled over when White Sox shortstop, Tim Anderson hit a homer off Royals’ pitcher Brad Keller. 

The rather exuberant way Anderson decided to celebrate the homer, with flipping his bat into the air, yelling and tossing the bat into one of the dug outs – sent Keller over the edge. Anderson’s next time at bat, he was hit by an “errant pitch”. Like most pitchers in his position, Keller swore that it was just a pitch that got away from him. Regardless, Anderson was suspended for one game and Keller was suspended for 5, which - thanks to the starting rotation for pitchers - is the equivalent of a one game suspension for Keller)

4-Game Series Against the Yankees:

The Royals traveled to the Bronx and shocked the Yankees in the first game of the series. The Royals scored 6 runs and held the Yankees to just one single run. Unfortunately, the other games did not go as smoothly. The Royals lost the next 3 games, including a heartbreaker that went into extra innings finishing at the bottom of the 10^th, Yankees – 7, Royals - 6. Before that, the score was Yankees – 6, Royals - 1 for the longest time.

Yankees pitcher James Paxton throwing lights out and striking out 12 Royals. After Paxton was relieved, the Royals scored 6 runs in a very busy eighth inning, scoring runs off Adalberto Mondesi’s 2-run double, Alex Gordon’s 3-run homer and Hunter Dozier’s single run homer. In addition to the shaky bullpen, a common theme against the Yankees was not moving base runners to score. The Royals left a total of six men on base Sunday and Saturday and eight on Friday.

Up Next:

The Royals have a 3 game series in Tampa Bay against the red hot Rays, before finally returning home to face the $430 million-dollar-man, Mike Trout and the Angels.

Hot Batters:

Austin Meadows

The Royals’ bullpen is preparing for Rays’ batter Austin Meadows. Meadows is hitting .351, with 6 homers and 19 RBI’s. 

Mike Trout

The $430 million dollar man Mike Trout will be a worthy batter against the Royals’ bullpen as well. Trout is proving his worth, hitting .333, with 6 homers, 14 RBI’s and even a stolen base.

Around The League:

Lately, “bench-clearing” brawls are arising in the league and have now occurred at least twice in two different games so far this season.

These “brawls” have started with the exuberant and inappropriately lengthy celebrations of batters after they’ve made gorgeous home runs. Once the batter returns to the plate, the pitcher, seeking his own version of on the diamond justice, throws an errant pitch, beaning the batter in his rear end on both occasions, the pitcher claiming afterward that it was just a pitch that got away. The first was Chris Archer of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The second is the Royals’ own Brad Keller.

Some say that, like with touchdown celebrations in football, we should let the players have fun and celebrate their success, but when it is it celebrating and when is it show boating?  The other argument points out that that amount of celebration is disrespectful to the pitcher and the opposing team and any batter should expect what comes to him his next time up to the plate and not question it.

Tom “Old Dog” Wyrsch has his opinion and he sent me this:

“In the case of Tim Anderson of the White Sox I just think he was showboating. He is having a good year but to flip his bat, to me, is showing disrespect to the game and Royals. Anderson should have expected what Keller did. That’s baseball. And Keller’s pitch was thrown at his rear which is the best place to demonstrate your point. Anderson needs to just play the game and not be such a punk the way I see it.”

When asked about the Reds/Pirates dust up a couple weeks before, the Old Dog added this:

“Well Reds’ Dietrich stood and stared at his home run with the catcher saying something to him. When he came up next he had the pitch thrown behind him and that started both benches to empty? Again, a little showboating. How would it look for a pitcher, like Yankees’ Paxton [on Sunday], to flaunt it every time he struck a batter out. He had 12 strikeouts but didn’t try to intimidate the Royals except with his pitches.”

Ask The Old Dog:

“Royals return to the K Friday after a long and not very successful road trip. Tampa Bay is 14-8 with a two and half game lead over Yankees in the Eastern Division. They have a 7-2 record on the road so they will be tough. Angels come into the K being in last place in the West with 9-13 record and five and a half behind Seattle. Look for Rays to try hard to come back from a sweep by the Yankees. Having Mike Trout at the K will interesting to see if he is worthy of his big contract extension and whether Pujols has anything left in his bat. Royals’ bullpen and offense needs to get on track and get a few wins.”

BONUS BLOG: Chiefs 2019 Schedule Revealed!

It was like opening a brand new toy for Christmas last night when at 7:00 PM, the Chiefs’ 2019 schedule was revealed, but it was a toy that you can only think about and speculate upon for the next 4 and a half months, until you finally get to see it out of its box. 

Let me be the first to offer my hot take on the Chiefs 2019 schedule.

Week 1: Sept. 8 @ Jaguars

BQB Prediction: WIN

An interesting road choice to open the season, but will certainly be a test for the Chiefs with a stout Jags defense and Super Bowl winning QB, Nick Foals, now taking the snaps. A tough road test to start us off, but I put this one in the win column.

Week 2: Sept. 15 @ Raiders

BQB Prediction: WIN

Before the Chiefs return home, they enter into the “Black Hole” for a divisional match up against the Raiders. Raider Nation is never very welcoming to our “Boys in Red.” QB Derrick Carr is now armed with wide receiver, Antonio Brown, who has given the Chiefs fits in the past when Brown was on the Steelers. However, if the defense finds a way to contain Brown, and put Carr on his back when trying to pass to him, then I think you can add this one to the win column.

Week 3: Sept 22. vs Ravens

BQB Prediction: WIN

This marks the home opener for the Chiefs after a tough road trip to start the season, however, Lamar Jackson and his clock gobbling offense will be there to welcome them home. The Chiefs needed an overtime period last season to beat the Ravens, but with a supposedly improved Chiefs defense, I will put this one in the win column.

Week 4: Sept. 29 @ Lions

BQB Prediction: WIN

In my opinion, no offense to the Lions or Lions fans, but I believe this to be the easiest game on the Chiefs schedule. It is a road game, and I believe you should give an automatic 3 points to the home team, but the Lions have always been a very average team. With the issues with their QB, Matt Stafford, I will put this one in the win column.

Week 5: OCT. 6 vs Colts (Sunday Night Football)

BQB Prediction: WIN

Ah yes, the first game under the bright lights of Arrowhead. The Colts are a good team with one of the best QBs in the land, not to mention former Chiefs’ outside linebacker Justin Houston will be on a different side of the ball this time as a Colt. but the Chiefs tore them up in the playoffs last season, so they will be out for revenge. However, I think the crowds and the lights of Arrowhead Stadium will be in the Chiefs favor and I will place this one in the win column.

Week 6: OCT. 13 vs Texans

BQB Prediction: WIN

The Texans boast one of the stingiest defenses in the NFL, which will offer a good test for our rocket ship offense. It will be a great battle between our Patrick Mahomes and Texans’ Deshaun Watson, but in the end, put this one in the win column.

Week 7: OCT. 17 @ Broncos. (Thursday Night Football)

BQB Prediction: WIN

Mile High Stadium is no joke, and when they last visited, the Chiefs needed a come from behind victory to walk out alive. This game will be made even tougher by the short turnaround from the Chiefs previous game, but the Broncos are going through some issues with their QB so I believe this will assist in putting this one in the win column for the Chiefs.

Week 8: OCT. 27 vs Packers (Sunday Night Football)

BQB Prediction: WIN

After a nice ten day break after that vicious game against the Broncos, our Chiefs face the Packers in another game under the lights. Aaron Rodgers is a tough opponent to face, especially in prime time, but it is no secret that the Pack is not what it used to be. Put this one in the Chiefs win column.

Week 9: NOV. 3 vs Vikings

BQB Prediction: WIN

The Vikings roll into Arrowhead in early November but they are not what they once were in their 2017 playoff run. Chalk this one up in the win column for the Chiefs.

Week 10: NOV. 10 at Titans

BQB Prediction: WIN

There are those of you who will glance at this game on the schedule and immediately place it in the win column. But I must remind you of the last two times the Chiefs faced the Titans, they robbed us of what seemed like certain victories, including a come from behind victory which knocked the Chiefs out of the 2017 playoffs. However, the Chiefs should be out for blood to avenge those two terrible losses, so I will also put this one in the win column.

Week 11: NOV. 18 @ Chargers in Mexico City (Monday Night Football) 

BQB Prediction: LOSS

The Mexico City game against the Rams was cancelled last year due to poor field conditions, but it is being made up for this year with a divisional slug fest against the Chargers. Both teams will be highly keyed up for this match up. This is a long road trip for the Chiefs to face against a rough Chargers team that managed to knock the Chiefs off last year. Sadly, I must place this game in the loss column.

Week 12: Bye.

Week 13: DEC. 1 vs Raiders

BQB Prediction: WIN

The Raiders will attempt a plundering of Arrowhead, but the last time they did so, they were decidedly and soundly slayed by Mahomes and the Chiefs. Place this one in the win column.

Week 14: DEC. 8 @ Patriots

BQB Prediction: LOSS

Simply put, Gillette Stadium is THE hardest place to win in the NFL, and it will stay that way as long as it is home to Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Brady may not have Rob “The Gronk” Gronkowski to throw to anymore, but don’t think for one moment that that will slow the 6 time Super Bowl winner down. This game will go down to the last possible second – per usual, but I am afraid you must place it in the loss column. (I deeply hope I am wrong.)

Week 15: DEC. 15 vs Broncos

BQB Prediction: WIN

Having home field advantage, and the above mentioned QB issues with the Broncos, place this one in the win column.

Week 16: DEC. 22 @ Bears (Sunday Night Football)

BQB Prediction: WIN

This game is personal for Andy Reid and the Chiefs, for Bears head coach Matt Naggy, is the former offensive coordinator of the Chiefs and indeed the first OC that Mahomes trained under, giving him definite inside knowledge. Not only that, but one of the biggest stars on the Bears is outside linebacker Khalil Mack. I believe it will take more than Naggy’s inside knowledge and Khalil Mack to beat the Chiefs on this Sunday night. Place this one in the win column.

Week 17: DEC. 29 vs Chargers

BQB Prediction: WIN

The last game of the 2019 regular season is in the chilly but warm embrace of Arrowhead Stadium, and the Chiefs do not plan to allow the Chargers to ruin that event. So they will celebrate their playoff berth with a sound whipping of the Chargers. Place this one in the win column.

Alright, if the math is correct, this means your BQB predicts the Chiefs have a regular season record of 14-2. This will almost assuredly make them AFC West Champions for the fourth year in a row and probably grant them a bye week during Wild Card Weekend and possibly even home field advantage throughout the playoffs, until of course, they depart for Super Bowl 54.

Blind Quarterback Plays Baseball: Week 3

My beautiful daughter and I sporting our Royals' blue

Royal’s Round Up

4 Game Series Against the Mariners
All Royals fans are recovering this morning after the emotional roller coaster that was last week of Royals’ baseball. It started on Monday, when the red hot Seattle Mariners rode into town for a 4 game series at the K. The bullpen struggled and sadly, our Boys in Blue did not claim any of those games as wins, but the series wasn’t devoid of moments of true Royals’ baseball. 

4 Game Series Against the Mariners:

Even during a loss, I listened to Jorge Soler smash a ball at bat, giving Terrence Gore enough time to run from second to third and go ahead and sprint those last 90 feet home. Wednesday night was my highlight in this series in Whit Merrifield’s bunt for an RBI single hit off Mariners’ pitcher Matt Festa. This was Merrifield’s 31^st consecutive hit, breaking the record held previously by Royals’ legend George Brett. Unfortunately, that night, Royals had bases loaded and were down by one run. With Adalberto Mondesi at the plate, needing a hit to tie it and a homer to win. With two outs, Mondesi ended the game with a fly out and Seattle snatched the victory. 

The next day Merrifield’s hitting streaked ended as he went 0-6 for over ten innings. At the top of the ninth, the Royals had 2 outs and 2 men on base. They just needed one more strike to walk away with the victory. Mariners’ outfielder, Mitch Haniger swung his bat, connecting firmly with the ball and knocking it into center field. Center fielder, Billy Hamilton attempted to field it, but the ball bounced from his glove and he fall to the ground with a leg injury. This mishap led to Haniger driving in a triple and catcher, Omar Narvaez, and second baseman, Dee Gordon crossed home plate, scoring two runs to tie the game at 6. Eventually, the Mariners would take home the win in the 10^th inning.

3 Game Series Against the Indians:

The Royals came back with a vengeance to make up for this losing series with the Mariners when divisional rivals, Cleveland Indians visited K starting on Friday for a 3 game series. Royals’ bats were on fire and the bullpen vastly improved as the Royals swept the series, winning all three games. At the end of the last game of the series, the Royals claimed a 9-8 victory, thanks to the single RBI hit off the bat of Hunter Dozier. The hit brought Terrence Gore home, sealing the victory and the series sweep for the Royals over the Indians and allow me to witness my first walk off win.

Up Next:

The Royals have a particularly rough road trip of 10 games before finally returning home to Kauffman Stadium. First they head to Chicago to face off against divisional rivals the White Sox in a 3 game series. Next they head to the Big Apple to face the evil Empire, the New York Yankees in a 4 game series. The Yankees don’t have to be a divisional rival to earn Royals’ fans hatred and scorn. Before they head home, making a pit stop in Tampa Bay, Florida for a 3 game series with the Rays.

Hot Batters:

Tim Anderson
I am paying careful attention this week to White Sox shortstop, Tim Anderson. Anderson has the leading batting average in the American League with .429 as well as 3 homers, 10 RBIs and 5 stolen bases.

Elvis Andrus

Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus has also earned the title “Hot Batter”. In this past week, his batting average has ranked .414, in addition to 2 homers, 7 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.

Around The League:

There are many records held in great esteem in the world of Major League Baseball, but a record that no player wants to hold is longest consecutive streak of at bats without a hit. This rather dubious honor, goes to Baltimore Orioles’ 1^st basemen Chris Davis. Davis went a record 54 at bats without a single hit, 30 of those from this current season and 24 in the previous season. On Saturday, Davis’s streak of futility would end with a bases loaded single liner, not only giving him his first hit in 54 at bats, but his first RBI as well.

On this day in Baseball History, April 15, 1947, was the first day of Jackie Robinson’s major league baseball career with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson was the first African American to play Major League baseball, a feat which he accomplished with dignity, class and grace. In honor of Robinson, the uniform number 42 has been retired in every major league ball park across America. Incidentally, Robinson once played for the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues.

Ask the Old Dog:

"The one word I would use for Royals this week is improvement. At the end of a 10 game losing streak the Royals swept a divisional rival that has dominated the Central the past few years. Royals’ offensive numbers continue. Merrifield broke the hitting streak of George Brett. Gordon continues his offensive numbers. Overall offense looked good against Cleveland. There still is concern in the bullpen but they had a few hiccups but overall did well holding Indians late. Something they couldn’t do against the hot Mariners earlier in week. The starters went at least six innings each had high pitch counts but worked themselves out of trouble for the most part. As Fillmyer takes the mound tonight against the White Sox. The Sox are 5-9 and taking this division series is important. We end the week in the Bronx playing the Yankees. Let’s hope the bullpen continues to improve and our starters stay late in the games.”