Musings from Roy F. Almania: I-70 Series Sans Pujols, Molina

This is "Musings From Roy F. Almania" where, from time to time, I loan my key to the House to my cousin from Joplin. He's a bit rough around the edges, but he can tear apart a John Deere engine and have it greased and back together 'fore supper's ready. And he knows a thing or two about Royals baseball. This year we've afforded Roy a bit more frequency with regards to his postings on the House of Georges, and we've all but agreed to terms on him making a monthly appearance. This month, he may even submit two articles, as this stretch of interleague play pits the Royals against their cross-state rivals twice in 10 days. Being a resident of Missouri his whole life, Roy has an opinion about Los Cardinales de St. Louise, and he's been chomping at the bit for these opportunities.

Cousin Bank's been sending me some Web site tips since my last post on the Georgie abode, and it won't be long 'til I've gained a full understanding of how these links and picture functions work, so I thought I'd attempt to use one or two of 'em. Now I don't aim to make a political stance with my appearances, but this country appears to be full of campaign propaganda these days. I mean, I can't but go for water from the well and find out that Mr. Barack can't slam dunk a basketball, and I don't know much of correlations, but I gather that support via the inventor of the Internets might should balance things out a bit. I did manage to swipe an image or two in the last few weeks. Thought I'd throw one or two of 'em out for the select few that read and appreciate what I got to say.

Last Tuesday, like usual, I headed down to the feed store, and discovered that their business neighbors, the local car wash, had been persuaded to advertise some politics.



I couldn't believe it. What surprised me even more, though, was that there was mini-conventions happening inside the local breakfast eatery. Normally, I don't dine out, but I'd a hankering to sit down for some coffee and a danish.



Just about had to change my order to "to go" when I heard the McCain supporters pining over the idea of stealing the white votes that Hillary'd made eligible by separating the Democrats. But that's enough about that, I reckon. I'm supposed to be talking about baseball, and the Kansas City Royals, while off today, will open up a three-game stand at Busch Stadium tomorrow, and I imagine it's time for Trey Hillman to show Tony LaRussa and company just who is the fastball king of Missouri.

Last year, Royals GM Dayton Moore sent his former employers, the Atlanta Braves, KC's then-closer Octavio Dotel. Now, there was plenty ado in the rumor silos leading up to this trade, and whether or not it'd be wise for the Royals to unload one of their most consistent arms. Moore decided to do so, perhaps noting that Joakim Soria (who was then setting up for Dotel) showed promise in the way of a closer just as solid as Dotel, if not stronger. Moore hung that bait out there, the Braves bit, and Soria has been all but tremendous thus far this season. The other side of the deal was that KC got starter Kyle Davies from the shufflings, who's given the Royals two wins, and an impressive 1.53 ERA. Now, he mussed things up awful good last week against the Rangers in the way of five free passes and seven hits, but he had some help from his teammates; the KC 'pen handed the Arlington ballers 10 runs, another great start squandered. Dotel of course is now with the White Sox, somehow indicative of KC getting the better of the swap.

Tomorrow night, he'll take on Braden Looper of the Cards, who's already won eight contests this young season, a nice contribution to a team that's notched 42 victories, and sits three and-a-half back of the division-leading Cubbies. It should be noted that while St. Louis was taken behind the woodshed by Philly the other night, Looper's last started yielded the red birds a 10-0 shutout, the first of his career.

Game two will feature young Brian Bannister and Cardinal Joel Pineiro. Bannister will enter the contest at a 5-6 record, while Pineiro, fresh off the DL, brings a 2-3 mark to the mound. Game three features the 5-3 Zach Greinke and the 7-2 Todd Wellemeyer. These two will be coming off of polar-opposite starts, as Greinke delivered seven scoreless innings last week against Arizona, while Wellemeyer's last appearance resulted in an eight-run Philly production over three and-a-half innings.

While the pitching arms of these two staffs will be key -- with or without Mariah Carey -- factors, the bats might mean just as much. Or perhaps lack thereof. That wily first baseman Albert Pujols, though currently on the DL, boasts some real generous career numbers against KC: a .394 (54-for-137) average, 10 long balls and 38 runs batted in. What's more is that former Royals catcher Jason LaRue will likely be catching each of these hurlers, as Jadier Molina -- the youngest of the three Molina brothers in the bigs -- suffered some level of concussion in the extra-innings contest against Philadelphia yesterday. And while I'm on the subject of catchers, Royals catcher Miguel Olivo says he'll be the godfather of a new baby by the name of Angeles Maria Berroa.

If that name sounds familiar, it should. The infant girl is the offspring of former-Royal-now-Dodger Angel and his wife Jennifer. But it's even more good-ol-boys than that: Jennifer is the daughter of Royals third-base coach Luis Silverio. And here I found it peculiar when the Royals signed Tony Pena, Jr. after canning his father. Speaking of shortstops though, Mike Aviles should continue to get the nod, as he's hittin' .341 and sluggin' .659 which is a great addition to the recently hot bats of Jose Guillen and David DeJesus. Up there in the mix is former Card' Mark Grudzielanek, whose .305 average and .400 slugging mark ain't too shabby themselves.

St. Louis, though, has brought some good lumber to the diamond in the form of Ryan Ludwick (.310/16/54), and Rick Ankiel (.254/10/30). Should be nice for KC to face this team without the splintery maple of Pujols and Molina, though I imagine the Cards will still assemble an A-game, as teams tend to do when their leaders go down. I'm looking forward to seein' blue in the Busch tomorrow night, as in 10 days, Kauffman Stadium will likely be bleedin' red.