This blog was created nine years ago. Here's what happened tonight:
-- Johnny Cueto pitched eight innings of two-run ball, retiring the final 19 straight batters. He was acquired in a midseason trade.
-- Alex Rios and Kendrys Morales, signed in the offseason, were supposedly downgrades from the free agents the Royals lost. Alex Rios hit a two-run double in the 5th to bring the Royals back from a 2-1 deficit. Morales hit a three-run home run in the 8th.
-- Ben Zobrist, who is an all-around fantastic baseball player and made a great grab to begin the 7th, was obtained after Cueto in a trade.
-- Wade Davis, as we know, came to KC with James Shields in The Trade.
All of these players factored into tonight's Game 5 win. How do we like Dayton Moore now?
Let's go Royals. Onward.
p.s. Also see this story by Rany Jazayerli:
Having finally embraced analytics these last few years, Moore’s strengths in other departments that are far harder to teach are now shining through. In a world where every team has a general understanding of analytics, themarginal benefit of being a trailblazer has shrunk, increasing the importance of traditional skills like scouting and player development. That plays into Moore’s strengths perfectly.
...
All of this has made the 2015 season a delightful, delicious, dizzying experience. It’s been difficult coming to terms with the reality that Dayton Moore is an excellent general manager, but no more difficult than coming to terms with the reality that the Royals won the pennant last season, or that this season they really are the best team in the American League.
