What A Weekend

There is something about the St. Louis Cardinals that I really hate. Partly its because their fans call themselves "the best fans in baseball", a little because they have had success where the Royals have not, and mostly because my crazy psycho ex-girlfriend was a Cardinals fan. Because of all that this weekend was oh sweet as the Royals took 2 out of 3 from the hated red birds in three very entertaining games.

• Vin Mazzaro has been everything we hoped for when we traded for him. With a 3-1 record and a 2.57 E.R.A, he has given the Royals rotation a much needed boost. I'm not ready to say that Mazzaro is as good as these early stats, but I am ready to say that he gets the rest of the season to show that he is. 
• The Royals are only 5 games back as they head to Houston. Another couple series wins and suddenly they might be real players in this division. If they do get into this division and become buyers, they should be looking at trading for a pitcher who they think they can sign a deal to in the offseason. Don't get rid of prospects unless it gets us a piece for the future. 
• Wil Myers went 4-5 yesterday in Omaha. His only out was an 11-pitch fly out. Seriously there is no reason for him to not be in uniform for the Royals tonight. He is an immediate upgrade over Jarrod Dyson, Mitch Maier, and Jeff Francoeur. He would add a needed pop to this lineup as well as give Ned more options off the bench in these NL games. Sadly the Royals will continue to wait for some unexplained reason.
• Salvador Perez will be back next week and that is probably the best news the Royals have gotten all year. Humberto Quintero has been awful. He has bad defense, bead offense, and makes racist gestures on tv. The dude needs to go as soon as Perez is healthy and back. 
• Luis Mendoza has given us back-to-back good starts, and is surprisingly a very valuable piece for this team. However that value is in the bullpen, and not as a starter. He is great for 5 innings, but after that teams, especially AL teams, really start to hit him. As a long reliever/ spot starter he is in his best position to succeed.
  

With a winnable series in Houston followed by a visit from the hated Cardinals, the Royals are in position to make some noise. Until next time Let's Go Royals.