Meet The New Boss, Same As The Old Boss

Game one of the post-Tony Pena era ended like so many others…

Interim manager Bob Schaefer tried to mix things up with some interesting results.

• Mental midget Angel Berroa led off for the first time this season and responded by going 3-4 at the plate. Three hits from the leadoff spot for Berroa? I thought this guy might be an imposter, but after he was caught stealing in the eight, I can confirm that, yes, that was Angel.

Berroa should be fitted with a pair of concrete shoes, if only to keep him from trying to steal a base.

• After starter Denny Bautista had to leave the game with stiffness in his shoulder in the third inning the Schaefer went to Mike MacDougal. I would have thought the first choice would have been the only long reliever in the pen: Kyle Snyder. But I guess after Snyder got slapped around in a brief stint on Monday (.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER) they were a little shy to give him the ball.

The Royals find themselves in this position after the odd decision to promote Leo Nunez after placing Brian Anderson on the DL earlier in the week. As a result, the only reliever not to make an appearance Wednesday was the aforementioned Snyder.

Bullpen pitch counts:
MacDougal……42
Cerda………….45
Sisco…………..41
Burgos………...21
Nunez………….3

Thursday’s starter is Jose Lima. Wanna bet were going to need at least two of those pitchers?

• As great as Ambiorix Burgos was on Sunday, he was awful on Wednesday. He could only get one out in the eighth inning, allowing five hits and five runs. He’s used the pressure baseball in the Dominican, he’s done well in America, it must be Canada.

• Why is it the Royals offense can only score one run for Zack Greinke, but the next day they come up with nine runs on 16 hits and still manage to lose both games?


THE SEARCH
Not much to report in the Royals search for their next manager. Allard Baird, as expected, is very tight-lipped about the process. It makes sense. It’s early in the process and no one wants to look like a fool throwing a name out as a possibility only to have that person have no interest in the job.

Not to shock anyone, but George Brett says he’s not interested.

The Kansas City Star is running a poll online where you can cast your vote. As of midnight Thursday, here are the top five:

Frank White……..33%
Larry Bowa……...18%
Whitey Herzog….14%
Art Howe………...9%
Jim Leyland……...7%

Not surprising at all.

Still no sign of Buttermaker.