Not Much Of A Home Run Derby!

When Billy Butler & Mike Avelis hit their 7th HR in early August, I thought it would be fun to track their HR's.

I thought wrong.

Oh, the "race" was tight and both banged their last HR's out in the same game of the last series. But their power surge was more like a flicker.

For what it's worth...

Billy won with 11...

one more than Mike who hit 10.

As a team, the Royals ranked way down in the league with total Home Runs... however... 7 players ended the season in double digits.

Something to build on... that's my spin!

WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR!!!

The Last Home Stand Of 2008

During this last home stand for the Royals, I’ll be out at The K 3 times, at least!

Why?

Well, it’s like this. Being a die-hard Royals fan, I’d go to any game, any time. I’m also a family man. That means two things… games have to meet: family needs, and family budget.

Getting “STUFF” seems to be a driving force in my family’s (read son’s) desire to go to a game.

This home stand is a great example. Tuesday night is “T-shirt Tuesday” (we’ll get a long sleeved T). Also, we got free tickets in a promotion through KCP&L. Actually it WAS 2 tickets in the nosebleeds. We went to the ticket office, before another game, and tried to get one accessible ticket and 2 companions (we pay for the extra ticket). The lady at the ticket window looked all flustered, excused herself and left the window area. When she came back, she had three tickets and said we didn’t have to pay for the third one, either… Deal! Then when we looked at the tickets, we noticed they weren’t in the nosebleeds at all… no… they are Dugout Box Seats… right behind home-plate…section 101, seats 1-3… regularly $37.00, each… for free… Double Deal!! Now I’m a proud man. I don’t ask for stuff I don’t earn. But man, when someone hands me stuff like this. I smile and say, “Thanks!!!” We will even NOT bring our own food and buy their overpriced stuff… we can afford it… this time. We were planning on pre-paying for our parking (but wanted to rush off to get our banners), but they are offering parking for this series for only $5.00, so we are glad we did didn’t pre-pay $8.00 (usually $9.00 at the gate).

Then we heard they’re having $3.00 nosebleeds for this series… halfway to St Patrick’s Day (free KC caps with a shamrock on it)… add my son’s girlfriend’s birthday (next week)… and you have our second day at The K this home stand. Don’t forget the $5.00 parking!

I was thinking about going out on Saturday (take the bus & go out by myself). I casually told my wife that maybe I’d like a KC Stocking Cap. She said that maybe we should all go… cool! I decided to get the tickets when we go out on Tuesday. Now I get an email saying I can get 50% off tickets. Half off already cheap tickets fits my budget!!

Now, the last home game of the season… we’ll see.

OOPS, He Does It Again!

Just when I give up on the Bam Bam vs Smiley - Home Run Race, Bill The Thrill bangs another out! And WHAT a bomb!!
http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200809023407925&c_id=kc

Butler is the sixth Royals player to reach double digits in HR's this season. Buck has 8 and Aviles has 7, so there is a chance of 8 players to get there... MAN... even I have a hard time reaching for positives in this year's Royals team, again. But just as in life, one needs to relish the positives, then go on.

So I am.

OK... Here's The Thing...

On August 2, Billy Butler hit his seventh Home Run of the season, the next day, Mike Aviles did the same. I thought, "Wow... our young guns are finally going to show something!" So I started my tracking of their HR's.

ALL MONTH LONG, they didn't hit another... until Billy hit a couple more the last weekend of August. So I'll end my HR tracking, RIGHT HERE!

... It's A Jungle Out There ...

Mike (Smiley) Aviles vs Billy (Bam Bam) Butler

Mike (Smiley) Aviles & Billy (Bam Bam) Butler, are young guys with similar swings. Both enter the Twins series (starting 8/8/8) with Seven Home Runs each. So I wonder, "Which will hit the most Dingers this year?" So, I'll be updating their slug success, right here.

Mike (Smiley) Aviles

7 HR - 08/03/08
Billy (Bam Bam) Butler
7 HR - 08/02/08

RLBLUE Ride

So here's some pics of my Royal Blue Mini-van (It's not my fault, the lady in the SUV smashed my full-sized van!)... OK... I'm OK... it just sometimes comes out like that. The shrink says it'll stop one day (or not). Surely I'll be OK with being in the mini-van generation someday (or not).

Front View (note the plates)

Rear View (duh)

Show Room Angle

And now for the part that cost more than twice the amount of the vehicle:

So the van pulls into the driveway

The door opens & ramp begins sliding fron below the floor

Meanwhile the back of the van neels

The ramp drops to the ground

And the fat old man gets out of the van... Independence... that's what it's all about, baby!

When's the game?

The Nicest Bunch Of Guys To Push Around!

That’s the attitude teams have had about the Royals for the past decade or more.

At the risk of sounding like a biased, profiling bigot… I say, “Bring On That ‘Dominican Tude’!”

Year, after year, after freaking year the Kansas City Royals have been one of MLB’s doormats. There’s a close call to be made… the other team gets the call. A Royals’ batter gets hit… no retaliation is expected. The team goes on a long loosing streak; they all go out for a rousing night of “Cookies N Milk”. What a nice bunch of guys!

Well… now we’ve got some guys who aren’t afraid of stirring the pot! Young guys make stupid mistakes then bow their head… in the past they got hugs from their Captain… Now They Get Called Babies! A batter gets hit… AGAIN… in the past they take their base (with no repercussions)… Now The Batter Charges The Mound!

This year, pitchers have retaliated by hitting the opponent’s batter… that didn’t happened in the past.

Do I support beanings, brawls and nasty play? No! But at the same rime, rolling over time and again has gotten old. And I like the new fire in this team!

Ultimately, the game comes down to pitching, defense and run production… if doing it with a chip on the shoulder helps that process… BRING IT ON!!!