Daniel Nava's slam damages Royals
Daniel Nava of the Boston Red Sox handed the Kansas City Royals a major setback to their playoff aspirations Sunday. But did the Royals, who haven't reached the postseason since winning the World Series 29 years ago, have to be so darned helpful to him?
With several better options seemingly available, Royals manager Ned Yost used right-hander Aaron Crow to face Nava, a switch-hitter, with the bases loaded and Kansas City leading by a run in the top of the sixth inning. Nava turned on the first pitch, a 93 mph fastball on the inside corner, and crushed it to right for a grand slam. The Royals lost 8-4 and, with the Detroit Tigers beating the Cleveland Indians, fell 1 1/2 games back in the American League Central.
Why was using Crow a bad idea?
• Nava, who hadn't hit a grand slam since his major league debut some 1,400 or so plate appearances ago, came in batting .210 with a .301 slugging percentage for his career against left-handed pitchers.
• Nava was batting .158 with a .193 slugging against lefties this season.
Daniel Nava told reporters he looked out at the bullpen, expecting a lefty to come into the game. He was surprised to face Crow.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) September 14, 2014
John Farrell on Daniel Nava facing a RHP: "We were fortunate that we got him on the left side of the plate."
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) September 15, 2014
• Crow came in allowing a .447 career slugging percentage to lefties, compared to .329 against righties.
• Crow is not much of a strikeout pitcher, which is what Yost said he was going for:
Ned Yost said he chose Aaron Crow for the sixth because he wanted a strikeout. Crow strikes out 5.0 batters per nine.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) September 14, 2014
• Crow has allowed 10 homers in 57 appearances. Only two other relievers allowed more long balls coming into Sunday.
• Crow has been pitching terribly in the second half:
Aaron Crow 2nd half stats: 7.27 ERA, 1.67 WHIP (18 hits/11 walks in 17 1/3 innings)
— Brandon H. (@BHIndepMO) September 14, 2014
• Even if Yost didn't want to bring in a lefty such as Francisley Bueno, Scott Downs or rookie Brandon Finnegan, any number of the righties in the K.C. pen would have been better than Crow. Jason Frasor is having a better season than Crow by plenty, and Kelvin Herrera or Wade Davis are among the top relief pitchers in MLB. Yost was saving Davis for the ninth inning closer's spot he didn't end up needing, but why not use Herrera?
Asked why he didn’t just use Herrera in that spot then, Yost said: “Aaron Crow’s inning is the sixth inning. Kelvin’s is the seventh.”
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) September 14, 2014
Ned Yost on losing without his best relievers on the mound: "It’s frustrating that we were one out away from getting to Kelvin Herrera."
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) September 14, 2014
Just bang your head to yourself quietly. Say, this conversation with Yost is not unlike this scene from "This Is Spinal Tap":
There comes a time during a promising season when a setback occurs that makes the season look much less promising. That's where the Royals are, especially with the Tigers beating the Indians after a late homer for the second straight game. They still have three games remaining with the Tigers, and two weeks worth of games overall, to make the playoffs happen. They just can't afford any more giveaways.
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David Brown is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rdbrown@yahoo-inc.com and follow him on Twitter!