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Gotta hand it to the Monster’s of September… Almost on cue, the Dark Lords from the east, otherwise known as the Boston Red Sox descend on Kauffman and roll up a six run lead. Just as everyone expected. After all, the Royals were something like 3-16 against the top teams in the East - Yankees, Sox and Rays. If there’s one thing the Royals know how to do, it’s lose to quality opponents.
Then something strange happened.
The Royals charged back.
This was the strangest damn game I’ve seen this year. It tops the seagulls in Cleveland - mainly because this one had a happy ending.
Can someone explain:
-- Miguel Olivo seeing 26 pitches in his five plate appearances. The guy walked twice. Twice! Mr. Hacktastic has done that only four times in his career. Four times in 748 games! If you were lucky enough to be at that game last night, I would hold onto that ticket. Frame it maybe.
-- Mike Jacobs crushing a home run off a knuckleball pitcher. He had a pair of walks as well. I’m convinced he’ll be returning next season.
Quick aside… It’s clear the Royals went to the plate last night with a game plan - they were going to make the knuckleballer Wakefield work. Sure you’re going to get some goofy swings, but that comes with the territory when you face a guy like that. However, they displayed a patience at the plate that was simply breathtaking. Eleven walks total? Somehow, that’s the second time this year they’ve done that. And it’s only the 17th time in franchise history they’ve walked at least 11 times in a game. That’s impressive. I never would have guessed this team could have done that - let alone twice.
-- Five steals in a game. Do you think Dayton Moore was overcome with excitement at this? I think he probably passed out from joy. Speed!
-- The Royals comeback from six runs down was their largest of the year. Take that Nation!
-- Jamey Wright throwing a pitch that landed somewhere in the vicinity of the on deck circle. Damn, conditions sucked last night, but that gave me a chuckle.
-- Somehow, this was the third time this year the Royals scored 12 runs.
So now the Royals have 12 wins in September, matching their best win total of any month this season. And we still have 12 games to play. The Monsters of September are rolling.
Enjoy the wins, but keep in mind the costs:
-- As I mentioned earlier, I’m now convinced the Royals will offer Jacobs arbitration and will bring him back as their everyday DH.
-- Wee Willie Bloomquist will continue to play a role on this team that will be described as “too large.” Did you see him faceplant into the post last night making that catch in right? Gritty. And we all know how the Royals love grit.
-- I am also now convinced the Royals will attempt to bring Olivo back as the full time catcher. Olivo has a mutual option at $3.3 million for next year meaning both he and the Royals need to agree. I’m sure the Royals want him, so it’s a matter if Olivo thinks he can’t make more money on the open market.
Another thing on Olivo… He’s now at a point in the year where incentive clauses have kicked in. He was due a bonus of $25,000 for every five games he played starting at game 75 and up to 100. That’s a cool $150,000. Now, he’s making an extra $50,000 for every five games he plays. He’s played in 108, so he’s already made $50,000 and he’ll make another $50,000 in a couple of days.
He’s also making a bonus of $25,000 for every 25 plate appearances beginning at 275. He’s at 393 on the year so he’s collected a cool $125,000 on this bonus. He’ll make another $25,000 when he hits 400 plate appearances. Think about that… It’s likely in two days that you’ll see Olivo at the plate at the very moment the Royals have to cut him a check for $75,000 in bonus money.
That’s sickening, no?
So for the season he was due $2.7 million in base salary and so far has earned $275,000 in bonus money, pushing his total package to $2.975 million.
At least the Royals aren’t paying him by the swing.
One final note. Tune it to SportsRadioKC.com to hear the debut show of Royals Authority radio. Clark and I ponder this September run, the minor leagues and discuss the trade value of Joakim Soria. The show airs Tuesday at 9 AM and is replayed at 2 PM. It should also be archived on the site as well.
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Comments
Victor Martinez: "That guy's crazy."
Olivo: "Yup - I wouldn't dig in there if I were you. I don't know where it's going...swear to God."
(Wright laughs a little crazily)
Olivo chuckles behind the plate.
Awesome.
He's good for his position. Unless there's a long-lost Molina brother somewhere out there, I doubt we can do much better than him going into 2010.
You have to have a catcher and we really don't have a better option than Olivo. Keep him and cut Buck. I'm okay if you want to do it the other way around. Money could decide this issue.
I wonder if GMDM would consider offering Guillen even up for Milton Bradley?? I know the guy has real issues, but he's worn his welcome out in Wrigley. Maybe Hendry would bite on this sucker deal to save M. Bradley could very neatly solve our DH issues. And our non-existent media would leave him alone to contemplate whatever it is that Milton contemplates.
As for this September we stand 13-7 and if ever a man was perfectly equipped to misinterpret what this means it's GMDM. So look for a lot of the mistakes he made last season to be renewed.