SWEEP.

What parallel universe did I stumble into Tuesday? The Royals' pitchers shut down the Evil Empire for 3 GAMES and the Royals get their first sweep since 2003 and it's of a team with a $200M-plus payroll. It wasn't like it was Greinke, Bautista and Runelvys, either, who are supposed to be the team studs. It was Greinke (going for his first win of the season after two straight shaky starts), D.J. Carrasco and Ryan Jensen. Carrasco and Jensen didn't even make the team out of ST. This is like earlier in the season when they took 2 of 3 with the Angels with Vlad. What the hell happened the other 46 games, or at least the other 36 losses? Tonight, Jensen only got in trouble once after he made a stupid error on a toss from Stairs at first. He's lucky the Yanks didn't make him pay, but they didn't do much of anything the last three games. Jeter woke up to go 2-4 but ARod did squat the whole series. He was 0-4 tonight. Bernie Williams also did nothing tonight for a change. When he came up in the 9th with 2 on and Burgos pitching, I was waiting for the worst. He walked but Burgos got Sierra to ground out to end the game. If Sierra would have stopped swinging maybe Burgos would have walked a run in. It was like once Sierra decided to swing, he was swinging every pitch. At least it got the Royals out of the game. The Yankees did a couple Royal things tonight -- like Bernie trying to tag up and go to second on the flyout to DeJesus and getting nailed. A total Berroa. Something's wrong with them, not that I care. Boo hoo.

It's hard to complain after sweeping the Yankees, but when is Bell going to move Berroa out of the leadoff spot? Isn't it that person's job to get on base and/or make the pitcher work somewhat? Berroa swings at anything and everything. He's got some pop in his bat, which came in handy this series, but he's not a leadoff hitter. Maybe once Costa gets settled he can be a leadoff hitter. He knows how to take a walk and doesn't strike out, which means he can at least make the pitcher work. He did OK in his MLB debut tonight (1-3). Looked pretty good in his last AB with the sharp single to RF after zinging a couple pitches foul. Got his first RBI too by beating out a potential DP ball, even though Cano helped him out with a bad throw to Jeter for the pivot. Sweeney also got a hit when he almost took Pavano's face off -- that was cool to see. That thing was inches from his face. Long also had a nice game in going 2-4 as Emil Brown got the night off. The back-to-back jacks from him and Stairs were awesome in the sixth. Opposite bullpen shots. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Buck was 0-3 to dip below the Mendoza line to .195 -- the only starter without a hit. He's struggling but is fine defensively. Can any team stomach another Jim Sundberg in today's game -- great glove, no bat? You don't see too many around anymore. IRod and Piazza changed that. Now the closest things you've got are Buck and Ausmus, although Buck does have 4 HRs this season. He just can't get a hit to save his life and doesn't draw walks. A .588 OPS isn't gonna cut it. He has 4 Ks for every BB. Looking at the lineup, the only "lock" spots should be 2- DeJesus, 3 - Sweeney, 4 - Stairs (KC needs someone else for the 4 slot on lefties). The rest can be shuffled. It'd be interesting to see how Costa does in the leadoff slot. Anyway, a good week for Royals fans all in all.