Kansas City, Get Out Your Broomsticks

Nobody saw this coming.

Fresh off a 69-93 2007 season, the Kansas City Royals were expected to modestly improve with a new manager and some young talent in 2008. But few thought they'd open the season by owning Detroit on the road en route to a three-game sweep.

The Royals received decent to outstanding starts from their top three starters in Gil Meche (6 IP, 3 ER), Brian Bannister (7 IP, 0 ER) and Zach Greinke (7 IP, 1 ER) and had clutch hitting to collect victories of 5-4, 4-0 and 4-1.

While it might seem like a fluke that Kansas City is 3-0 (they likely still will finish no better than fourth in the A.L. Central Division), it's not a fluke that Meche, Bannister and Greinke threw so well against the Tigers. All three guys are good pitchers. Meche was signed a year ago from Seattle and compiled a very productive 2007 campaign, finishing the year 9-13 but with a 3.67 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 0.9 HR/9 IP ratio. He also averaged a respectable 6.0/Ks per nine innings.

Bannister also had a nice 2007, although some analysts question how lucky he was a year ago. Bannister had the lowest BABIP (batting average of balls in play) of any starting pitcher in baseball. The league average is around .300. Bannister finished at .264. That means that many more of his batted balls went for outs than the average MLB starter. The low BABIP contributed to Bannister posting a 1.21 WHIP and 3.87 ERA despite striking out just under four batters per nine innings.

But the low BABIP doesn't explain all the reasons Bannister was effective in 'o7. He had low walk totals (2.1/9 IP), allowed few home runs (0.8 HR/9 IP) and recorded a low peripheral ERA (3.36). Additionally, he spent most of the offseason trying to devise ways to strike more batters out, and ultimately avoid his overall numbers slipping if his BABIP reverts more to the norm in 2008. So far, so good.

And then there's Greinke. The 24-year-old began his career with high expectations as the future ace of the Kansas City staff. But he missed time in 2006 with psychological problems and pitched in just three games. In 2007 Greinke bounced back to throw 122 quality innings, yielding a 1.30 WHIP and 3.69 ERA. Greinke has always had the stuff to be a very good major league pitcher, and now it appears he might have turned the corner with his personal problems. With his ability, it would not be surprising to see him post 13-15 wins in 2008.

It was certainly unlikely that Kansas City took the field in Detroit Monday and proceeded to beat the Tigers in three straight games. But if you look at their starting pitchers in those three games, it makes more sense. All three guys are very capable players who have the potential, based on past performance, to have productive and successful 2008 seasons.

Tribe falls 2-1 to Danks, White Sox

The Indians failed to sweep the White Sox Thursday afternoon, dropping the finale of the three game series 2-1. Chicago's John Danks fired a gem, allowing just two hits and one run over 6 2/3 innings. His counterpart, Jake Westbrook, nearly pitched as well in giving up just two runs in 7 1/3 innings.

Juan Uribe, who seems to strike out or hit a home run every time up, belted a roundtripper to start the 6th inning. After Ryan Garko smashed an RBI double in the bottom of the 7th, Westbrook made his second mistake of the game against Joe Crede, who pounded a home run to lead off the 8th. The Indians bats were silent the rest of the way as Bobby Jenks (who curiously grew a blonde goatee and probably gained 20 pounds this offseason) retired the Tribe hitters 1-2-3 in the ninth.

Cleveland travels to the West Coast tonight before opening up play against Oakland (1-3) tomorrow at 10:05. Paul Byrd will toe the rubber for the Indians while former reliever Justin Duchscherer gets the ball for the Athletics.

Game Wrap and Box Score