Corriendo beisbol estring numero seis (because 46 pages on No. 5 was enough ...)

Willie learned how to use--maybe misuse?--bullpens.

 

Thank you, BYH, for setting the record straight there.

Gordon is batting .390 over his last 10 games with a home run and four steals. And I know those stats all didn't come in garbage time.

 

So, seven 40-year-olds are starting pitchers in games tonight. Cardiac rescue units will be standing by. Honestly, I had no idea Woody Williams was 40 years old.

 

When has he ever had a clutch situation? He plays for the Reds, and wasn't there in 1999.

 

Good work BYH.

Gordon's glove has rapidly improved (the play he made in St. Louis on Taguchi was unreal and he may have saved the first game against the Angels with a great diving play) and he nearly has 10 stolen bases.

I hate to get to excited about the Royals, but the future is as bright as it has been. In three years, this could be the starting lineup:

1. Joey Gathright, CF
2. David DeJesus, LF
3. Mark Teahen, RF
4. Billy Butler, DH
5. Alex Gordon, 3B
6. John Buck, C
7. Ryan Shealy, 1B
8. Tony Pena Jr., SS
9. Need a second baseman still

SP: Gil Meche, Luke Hochevar, Brian Bannister, two others
Closer: (going out on a limb here) Zack Greinke

 

Still need some serious pitching help there King.

 

Yeah, they need some pitching for sure. But the BP has been OK this year. Guys like Gobble, Riske and Duckworth all have ERAs under 3.00. Few teams have five lights-out starters, but if Bannister and Hochevar continue to develop, along with Meche, that could be a nice 1-2-3 combo. Lumsden could be another up-and-comer, and I still think Greinke could turn into a good starter, but something tells me the Royals are slowly grooming him to give him a shot at closer. His stuff is pretty awesome out of the pen.

 

I saw enough of Bannister in NY to think he's never gonna be more than a back end of the rotation guy... but not bad for a No. 5

 

I think you're probably right, but a year & a half ago, Orioles fans would have said the same thing about Maine.

 

And the Cubs bullpen is back to working its magic.

 

Kelly Johnson is among the NL leaders in OBP, but he's apparently been bumped from second base and the Braves leadoff spot by Yunel Escobar ... Does this mean the Braves are shopping Escobar, or is Johnson the one who is on his way out?

 

Nevermind, the Cubs hung on. Zambrano is suddenly pitching very well.