Royals-Sox: Mark ends with a K
First inning, Royals outfielder Mark Teahen struck out for the 84th time in 90 games. He also just came off a team-record 22 game strikeout streak. Now, I’m a big Teahen fan. I like the way he plays the game. He runs the bases well, he plays in an alert way all the time, he's very versatile in the field, he can get into streaks when he pulls inside pitches for doubles down the right field line and smacks outside pitches into the left-center gap for extra bases. When he's right, he's a very, very tough out
This year, though, Teahen's been a disappointment. He's getting on base pretty well, but he's also striking out like mad, and he's having a low-wattage power year (he only has five homers). I think this is fairly natural; he’s adjusting to the pressures and pitching patterns of being the best hitter in the Royals' lineup (heck, one year ago he was in the minor leagues and his career was much in limbo). I think, over the next few years, he becomes a .300 hitter, 15-20 homers, 30-35 doubles, 15-20 stolen bases – you know, solid seasons.
Still, you have to point out that this season, Teahen is on pace to strike out more than 140 times and hit fewer than 10 home runs. That is a rare combination – it has only happened twice berfore in baseball history. Here are the Top 5 (or Bottom 5, however you like it):
1. Benji Gil, 1995, 9 homers, 147 strikeouts
2. Rick Monday, 1968, 9 homers, 143 strikeouts
3. Ron LeFlore, 1975, 8 homers, 139 strikeouts
4. Bobby Knoop, 1967, 9, homers 136 strikeouts
5. Gary Pettis, 1986, 5 homers, 132 strikeouts
Teahen is on pace to hit 9 homers and strike out 149 times.
Here’s the reason Teahen's season stands out: Teahen, unlike those five, has batted in the third spot the whole year. He’s one of the very few stable parts of Buddy Bell's Royals lineup – DeJesus leads off, Mark Grudzielanek (when healthy) bats second, Teahen bats third, and then all hell breaks loose.
So you have a guy who is on pace to hit nine homers (his slugging percentage is .406) and strike out 149 times hitting in the "put-your-best-hitter-here" third spot every day. That really doesn’t seem like a promising sign for the offense, especially when the Royals cleanup hitters this year (all nine of them) are batting .251 with a .304 OBP and .401 slugging percentage. Ugh.
6 comments:
Is there a Whole Paycheck Foods in KC yet? Perhaps I should open one there? Errr...I mean...perhaps that corporation that I am in no way tied to could open one there. Maybe they could make KC barbeque out of tofu and bean sprouts. Eating meat is evil you know.
Watching Teahen and the entire Royals lineup flail away last night was absolutely excruciating. Can anyone just take a pitch? Please?
Gordon looked completely overmatched...Pena was (per usual) just hacking away at pitch after pitch, no matter its location. I could go on and on.
A top priority for this organization (second only to developing some pitchers) just HAS to be drafting and developing hitters with a strong knowledge of the strike zone and the willingness to take a pitch, work the count into their favor, etc. Honestly, they are just making it easy on the opposition these days, swinging at anything, constantly hitting from behind in the count. Some of it can be chalked up to inexperience (Gordon), but this has been an organization-wide problem and major weakness for many years.
No! No! No! Haven't you been listening to Buddy? They're not being aggresive enough at the plate early in the count.
Oops...my bad! Buddy's right; I'm wrong.
In all fairness, Buddy seems intent upon batting the Shane Costas and Ross Gloads and Slow-Starting Emils of the world in the clean-up spot (who shouldn't have registered any at-bats in that slot) while a guy like Butler or Gordon would more than likely provide Teahen with a little more protection (read: pitches to actually hit). Granted Butler has played the past four games batting fourth, but for Bell to take that long to come around is absolutely unforgivable. Teahen shouldn't be striking out like he is, but the power shortage probably has as much to do with Bell's inability to put together a consistently productive batting order than anything else.
I could not believe what you wrote about Mike Moustakas and his family. I have known them for a few years, and had you taken the time to speak with them, I sure you would have cleared up some of your inaccuracies in your article.
First of all, Mike consulted with Mr. Boras in October 2006, well before his accomplishments in the 2006-2007 baseball season, and did so at the high recommendation of his uncle who coached most of the former players who now work for Scott Boras.
Also, had you taken the time to get to know this family you would understand that he is a sincere kid who loves the game of baseball and who has not faultered in his desire to play and to play for the Royals. His only fault, maybe, is that he has been upfront and truthful, however you have made he and is family out to be greedy and liars. I take offense to that. Mike and his parents have opened their home to reporters and more recently to reporters from the Kansas City Star, and to be treated as though they were money hungry, liars and not trustworthy is an outrage. Mike's parents have always put academics first with all of their children and have supported each one of them in their dreams and goals, and being that it is Mike's dream and goal to play major league baseball, then that is what they will help him to achieve. If you think for one minute that he was able to get in to USC on his baseball ability only, then you are sadly mistaken. My suggestion to you is to get your facts straight, and my suggestion to Mike and his family is to stop being open and honest with the Royals and the Kansas City press.
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