The Royals

[bones129]

I mean, we might not even be playing in this game if not for Cueto, but he melted down hard today.

You don't stop pitching him, because him and Ace are the only pitchers we have that could turn in another gem like game 5. Also, if there's any team that can survive a starter performance like this and be fine going forward its these Royals.

Cueto's pregame antics (tipping his cap to the fans during his intro and smiling as they jeered him) and his antics coming off the field when Ned yanked him (smiling at them after getting shelled) reflected little professional response. He should have ignored the crowd, but he didn't. This guy is a head case, pure and simple. Yes, he did a great job versus Houston when it counted, but he's so unreliable and unpredictable now. I don't want to see us have to mount some incredible come from behind win if he crumbles in a possible Game 7.

And the chance that Cueto spins another Game 5-type performance? He didn't do it tonight. We're betting on the come to think he'll do it again. I have no confidence in this guy.

[ksupamplemousse]

At least Cueto was able to fix Ventura with his superior mentoring ability before he turned into a total basket case.

[bones129]

At least Cueto was able to fix Ventura with his superior mentoring ability before he turned into a total basket case.

Yeah, before JC blew up tonight. Thanks for stopping by.

[slobber]

Cueto pitching from the stretch stats:
Game 5 ALDS: 1 pitch, one home run, 2 earned runs.
Game 3 ALCS. 35 pitches. 18 strikes. 2 home runs. 8 earned runs.

I just made if the ALCS stats, but it was pretty bad.


Gonna win 'em all!

[kso_FAN]

Sam on Johnny: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mellinger/article40422909.html

[wetwillie]

I didn't click because I know i can't handle the heat

[Belvis Noland]

That said, we're still in good shape and we'll probably have to rely on Cueto again. I hope he doesn't prove to be the terrible pitcher he was tonight again.

why? 

Young or Medelen.  at least with them you know you're spotting the BJs about 3-4 through 5.  you can manage that.  Cueto - you've got no rough ridin' clue what this dude is gonna do. 

[mocat]

5 or 6 innings of 2 or 3 runs would be so tasty

i'm greedier than that.  2 runs over 6 innings is the worst that would be acceptable.

yost was greedier than i was, too.

at the end of 2, it was a 1-run game. there is no manager in the world who would not bring cueto out for the 3rd. you could take him out after the Tulo home run (6-2 at that point), but at that point the bases are empty so maybe he figures it out. but he walked the next batter. so that is for sure when he gets pulled. however yost let him give up one more run for some reason.

[pissclams]

the saving grace for me in last night's mess is that we will have another shot at stroman, i really hope that ned doesn't give them another shot at j cuets.

[Rage Against the McKee]

I mean, we might not even be playing in this game if not for Cueto, but he melted down hard today.

You don't stop pitching him, because him and Ace are the only pitchers we have that could turn in another gem like game 5. Also, if there's any team that can survive a starter performance like this and be fine going forward its these Royals.

Volquez's game 1 of this series was every bit as good as Cueto's game 5. Hell, Young went 5 innings with no hits and 1 walk less than a month ago. Our pitching staff is too good to have to roll the dice on Cueto having a Game 5 performance. Everyone else is lights out just as often as he has been this season, without getting shelled every time they aren't lights out.

[420seriouscat69]

I understand what a turd Curto laid out there last night, but I don't think any of you fully understand how beautiful he was last Wednesday night. He's had our best and worst performance this postseason. I'm not ready to write him off. Toronto is just a different beast at home. Once Cueto started getting squeezed early on, he started leaving more pitches over the middle, which was his demise. 

[WildcatNkilt]

Medlen saved our bullpen, and tacking on runs at the end may have helped with today's momentum (we will see). 

[Rage Against the McKee]

I understand what a turn Curto laid out there last night, but I don't think any of you fully understand how beautiful he was last Wednesday night. He's had our best and worst performance this postseason. I'm not ready to write him off. Toronto is just a different beast at home. Once Cueto started getting squeezed early on, he started leaving more pitches over the middle, which was his demise.

I liked upper-90s Volquez more than Game 5 Cueto. Both were nearly perfect, although I can't recall Volquez ever giving up 8 runs in 2 innings.

[WildcatNkilt]

Cueto loses his mojo when he pitches from the stretch.  He continues to gain momentum the longer he pitches in the full windup.  For opposing teams, if they can get guys on base early they will mentally defeat Cueto.   

[420seriouscat69]

I could see them pushing Volquez up to game 7, and having Cueto for game 1 in the WS, but then ppl will bitch that he could potentially be seen 3 times in the WS. Oh well, play for today....

[kso_FAN]

Medlen saved our bullpen, and tacking on runs at the end may have helped with today's momentum (we will see). 

He did very well, but it wasted him if Young shows any sign of faltering today, which sucks. I guess we still have Duffy we can go to for multiple innings and hopefully Young can give us 5-6 really good innings.

[420seriouscat69]

Yeah, I'm fine  a rested Duffy being plan B.

[kslim]

i want to punch cuetos fat head, mainly because he was happy in the dugout.

[Rage Against the McKee]

I'm not even worried about it coming to Duffy. I'm confident Young will give us 5 innings and allow 2 runs or less.

[Belvis Noland]

I liked upper-90s Volquez more than Game 5 Cueto. Both were nearly perfect, although I can't recall Volquez ever giving up 8 runs in 2 innings.

likely because no pitcher in the history of the playoffs has given up 8 runs in 2 innings. 

per Mellinger

"Cueto was terrible. Worse than terrible, really. Baseball-Reference's database goes back to 1903, and includes no record of a starting pitcher ever giving up eight or more earned runs while collecting six or fewer outs in a playoff game before Cueto. The man made history here."

[420seriouscat69]

i want to punch cuetos fat head, mainly because he was happy in the dugout.

He wasn't happy, dork. He was laughing off the embarrassment. Is it going to make things better if he pouts in the corner, while his team tries to clean up his mess?

[kso_FAN]

i want to punch cuetos fat head, mainly because he was happy in the dugout.

He wasn't happy, dork. He was laughing off the embarrassment. Is it going to make things better if he pouts in the corner, while his team tries to clean up his mess?

Yeah, I don't care about that stuff.

I do care that he had literally one of the worst playoff starts in the history of baseball.

[420seriouscat69]

Could you imagine all your haters at work being like: "K-SLIMMMMM, K-SLIMMMM, K-SLIMMMMM!" every time you mumped up? No thanks!

[420seriouscat69]

i want to punch cuetos fat head, mainly because he was happy in the dugout.

He wasn't happy, dork. He was laughing off the embarrassment. Is it going to make things better if he pouts in the corner, while his team tries to clean up his mess?

Yeah, I don't care about that stuff.

I do care that he had literally one of the worst playoff starts in the history of baseball.

Yes, that really sucked.

[Belvis Noland]

i want to punch cuetos fat head, mainly because he was happy in the dugout.

He wasn't happy, dork. He was laughing off the embarrassment. Is it going to make things better if he pouts in the corner, while his team tries to clean up his mess?

I have trouble envisioning other "ace" caliber athletes (in any sport) "laughing off embarrassment" in a situation like that.  very weird dude.