Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Teahen, Jacobs continue to rake

If Mark Teahen doesn't earn the starting second base job by impressing with his defensive play, he just may do it by hitting himself into the position. Teahen continues his sick offensive binge since returning from playing for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic by mashing his fifth homer of the spring on Wednesday night in a 9-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

Teahen mashed a no-doubter to straight away center field to give the Royals their first run of the game. More impressive was the fact that Teahen hit the homer off of an established lefty in Jarrod Washburn. Quickly following his antics (and not to be outdone in leading the team in spring homers) Mike Jacobs stepped to the plate and absolutely wasted a Washburn offering that went completely out of the stadium to make the score 4-2. It was also the fifth homer of the spring for Jacobs.

Zack Greinke started the game and took the loss on the hill after getting shelled for six runs in five innings with 11 hits. He basically worked with a watered down approach (fastball, slider and change). He kept his 12-6 hammer curve in his back pocket and never threw one in the game.

Greinke did elevate too many pitches and suffered by giving up a pair of homers (one of which was a two-run shot on a hanging slider to Wladimir Balentien - the other to Mike Wilson). He obviously wasn't in mid-season form, but there is little to be worried about here. He was obviously doing his best not to show off everything he's got before the season starts. Still, his slider looked absolutely sick and his fastball climbed as high as 95 on the radar gun.

Billy Butler also collected a pair of hits as did Teahen.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

You can thank me for Teahen's success. Last year I was pro-Teahen and adament the Royals trade Dejesus.

This year I've been anti-Teahen and look what's happened.

Any particular player you want me to be down on so they can break out?

Levi "Tug" Payton said...

Yeah, like Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, Alberto Callaspo, Kyle Davies, Luke Hochevar, Jose Guillen, and the remainder of the 25-man roster! Many thanks from Royals nation!!