Kansas City and the Month of June

[Shocker85]

KC pitching has improved ever so slightly from last year (decrease their runs given up by 0.2 run per game). But the offense took a step back when the hope would be that they would get better than last year. Their offense is scoring 0.6 runs less per game. Royals really need Hosmer to come around and Gordon to show last year wasn't a fluke.

The offense is producing well below most peoples' expectations. I saw a listing of several categories (i.e. BA, Slg%, RPG, etc.) and they're down in the mid- to upper-20's in MLB ranking. Gordon is starting to heat up finally, Frenchy is a bit below last year, Hos is really slumping. The carosel in CF (offsetting very good production from Cabrera) and 2B isn't helping. Moose, Escobar, and Butler are really carrying the load right now - they need some consistent help.

--'85.

[RoyalShock]

Is there a club in the majors who could lose their top 2 starters (off of a weak staff) and closer, absorb less-then-expected production from their offense that was already short their catcher and center-fielder, and still expect to compete?

I firmly believe that filling rotation spots with Sanchez, Mazzaro and Mendoza is finally catching up to KC, the 12-game losing streak notwithstanding. We've watched Hosmer, Frenchy and Gordon take steps back offensively. (At least Gordon and Hoz are coming around). Having Perez back should help, as long as Moose and Escobar don't regress. I'll wait-and-see in regards to Cain.

I just don't see the Royals, even in a weak division, even if Cain, Odirizzi and Myers come up and are successful, staying within striking distance. Chicago just improved their club and Detroit is starting to wake up. Cleveland just keeps on doing well enough to stay near the top. I think Moore should be looking at trades only to bolster the rotation for 2013 and 2014.

[SubGod22]

All things considered, I'm surprised they're where they are. Injuries have been killer. I am looking forward to Myers and Odorizzi this year. And I'm really excited for the return of Lamb in the minors. I'm hopeful that he hits the ground running and gets back to where he needs to be to compete for a rotation spot some time next year.

[SubGod22]

Teaford officially named starter for finale

KANSAS CITY -- The lid is off the worst-kept secret in town: Left-hander Everett Teaford will start Wednesday afternoon's series finale for the Royals against the Rays.

"He's been throwing the ball good and we like the lefty matchup against this club over there," manager Ned Yost said.

Yost also set up the rotation for the next few days -- Luis Mendoza on Friday night at Minnesota; Jonathan Sanchez and Luke Hochevar, in that order, in the day-night doubleheader on Saturday against the Twins and Bruce Chen in the series finale on Sunday.

Saturday could be interesting. Glad I'll be at South Lakes and not watching the Royals.

Pena Or Quintero? (It's Rhetorical The Answer Is Pena)

So, I’m randomly walking through LAX in March, catching a connecting flight to Las Vegas for a friend’s bachelor party. Yes, it was wild. Yes, it was fun. No, it wasn’t like The Hangover. While walking, I do the stupid thing and try to read Royals news on my cellphone, risking a collision in the process. All of a sudden, I hear my brother start yelling.

“Hey, Salvy! It’s Salvy Perez. Hey man, feel better! We’re all hoping for a speedy recovery!”

Rolling through the terminal at LAX was Salvador Perez. He was in a wheelchair after having injured his knee. He was smiling like he always does and waving at us. In my mind, he was happy to see Royals fans way out in the wild west. In my mind, he wanted to grab a drink with us, but he had to catch a plane *delusional*.

Since that injury, Royals fans have waited and waited and waited for Salvy to return. Since that day at LAX, it feels like we’ve had the bachelor party, the wedding, the honeymoon, and three kids. That’s how long this wait for Salvy’s return has felt. And now that he’s back, I’m glowing.

I completely agree with this assessment.

Time To Stop The Pitching Merry-Go-Round

So far this season, the Royals have used 22 different pitchers (including Mr. Terrific, Mitch Maier). They used 23 in all of 2011, 25 in 2010, 23 in 2009, and 25 in 2008. I don’t know that that means too much, except when you look at last season’s roster, a few of those guys didn’t show up in Kansas City until the second half or late in the year. We’ve got a little ways to go and there are always a few guys (Ryan Verdugo, Doug Davis, Brandon Sisk, Mike Montgomery, Jake Odorizzi, etc.) who could arrive and vault that total number toward 30. If things keep moving as they are, I wouldn’t be surprised to see that happen.

Well, we’re down two starters to Tommy John surgery: Danny Duffyand Felipe Paulino. Their replacements, Vin Mazzaroand Luis Mendoza, haven’t been quite as terrible as some would have predicted, but they haven’t helped out the cause lately, either. And that makes you wonder where the starts are going to come from. If the Royals’ bats can’t stack up enough runs to offset the replacement pitchers, what do they do to win?

Honestly, it’s hard to say. One thing I’d like to see them try, however, is to hit the brakes on the pitcher shuffling with Omaha. Stop grabbing relievers at random and bringing them up because the starters aren’t cutting it. If the starters are the issue, try new starters. Try something different. Try Mike Montgomery and Jake Odorizzi.

I understand why they may not want to do this. You lose options on those guys if they come to Kansas City and then implode, necessitating a return to Omaha. They’re both 22, and it’s possible they get slammed and lose confidence a bit. Or, if they have the mental resolve (which I’m in no place to comment on), they rebound and work harder the next time. Montgomery has been laboring at Omaha for a while now, and his starts have been touch-and-go during that time. It’s really difficult to say just how he’d throw with the Royals, but he may need that experience to take a step forward. As for Odorizzi, he hasn’t been in Omaha nearly as long, but he’s pitched well and struck out just over three batters per every walk. Now, he needs to get some more grounders (0.39 groundout/flyout on the season with Omaha), but there’s seemingly little else he needs to do.

And, mainly, the Royals need arms.

Some nice points. I'm not sure what would be the best course of action, but I wouldn't mind seeing Monty, Odorizzi, Davis or Smith get some starts. I'd certainly rather see some of the young guys get some valuable learning experience over watching Sanchez be Sanchez or watching Mazzaro/Mendozza do whatever they do. Neither is a long term solution. I don't know a lot about Davis and if he's a legit end of the rotation guy like Smith could be, but something new wouldn't be bad. And both Monty and Odorizzi need starts this season.

[SubGod22]

Paulino awaiting date for his elbow surgery
Pena showing survival skills behind plate

KANSAS CITY -- Brayan Pena has been a survivor, since the day in 2000 he defected from Cuba while on a baseball trip in Venezuela. Now he's survived again, staying on the Royals' roster as the backup catcher to Salvador Perez while Humberto Quintero was cut loose on Wednesday.

Royals designate Quintero, add Bourgeois

KANSAS CITY -- Catcher Humberto Quintero, when obtained from the Astros late in Spring Training, was viewed as a temporary stand-in for injured Salvador Perez. That's exactly what he turned out to be.

Quintero, 32, was designated for assignment on Wednesday as the Royals juggled their roster on Wednesday morning.

To replace Quintero on the roster, the Royals recalled outfielder Jason Bourgeois from Triple-A Omaha. Bourgeois was obtained with Quintero in a trade that brought them from the Astros in exchange for Minor League reliever Kevin Chapman and outfielder D'Andre Toney.

The Royals also optioned left-handed reliever Francisley Bueno back to Omaha to clear space on the 25-man roster for pitcher Everett Teaford, who was recalled from Omaha to start the afternoon game against the Rays.

Keeping Pena over Q was the right choice. Calling up Bourgeois is mind boggling. He's done nothing at either level he's played at and we have zero need for another guy in the OF. It would have made more sense to call up an infielder or just get on with it and add Myers/Odorizzi.

[SubGod22]

Butler's homer lifts Royals to sweep of Rays

KANSAS CITY -- The next players on the field at Kauffman Stadium will be All-Stars but the Royals must have had some of that all-star feeling on Wednesday -- especially Billy Butler.

Butler's eighth-inning home run snapped a tie to give the Royals a 5-4 victory and a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-2, with 19,228 fans braving the 101-degree temperature. Then they headed off an 11-game trip to clear the way for Major League Baseball to prepare the stadium for the July 10 All-Star Game.

[SubGod22]

I'm Just Not That Into You, Jonathan Broxton

Have you heard the one about the new Jonathan Broxton roller coaster ride at Worlds of Fun? Everyone who rides it gets WHIPlash! Get it? I know, not very funny, possibly because it hits too close to home for most Royals fans.

The Royals bullpen is supposed to be the strength of its pitching staff, and if you review almost any pitching statistic, you’ll find this is true. And who should be the cream of the crop in this group? The closer of course. The closer should dominate opposing batters, intimidating them into submission during the final inning of a game. While Broxton’s ERA has been solid, by almost every other measurement you’ll discover that he is teetering on the brink and in my opinion his luck may run out soon.

Of the Royals five most often used relief pitchers (including Aaron Crow, Jose Mijares, Kelvin Herrera, and Tim Collins) Broxton possesses the highest WHIP, the lowest strikeout ratio, and the most H/9 (hits per 9 innings.) This type of performance will eventually impact his luck-induced ERA performance and will result in runs scored, lots of them. When Broxton waddles to the mound, the only hearts he strikes fear into are in the pounding chests of nervous Royals fans.

Trade Bait: Jeff Francoeur

After a resurgent 2011 season, the Royals signed Jeff Francoeur to a two year contract at a total value of $13.5 million.

Now, Francoeur has a .263/.300/.402 line with seven homers and 24 RBI. He’s been streaky, with a rough April, a very good May and a June where he’s only recently started to drive the ball again. He’s struggled with small ailments that haven’t been problem enough to keep him out of the lineup, but they’ve limited his range in the outfield.

His name is coming up in trade speculation these days, as his veteran leadership could be attractive to a few teams looking for corner outfield help.

Why Teams Want Jeff Francoeur

The qualities that most use to describe Francoeur are often tied to his intangibles. He’s a former phenom who’s flamed out and has worked his way back, playing with the Rangers in their first World Series and having an great 2011. His work ethic is lauded, and he’s credited as being the very model of a “clubhouse guy”. He’s a fan favorite and often goes out of his way to show appreciation of his fans, as evidenced by his Bacon Tuesday antics in Oakland and his penchant for tossing baseballs into the stands with $100 bills wrapped around them.

I love Frenchy as a person and think he's probably great for the youngsters to have in the clubhouse, but if they can get a little something for him and open up a spot for Myers, it has to be done.

[SubGod22]

What Luke Has Changed

This is what Luke and the Royals have done.

Luke is a smart man. But sometimes the enemy of an athlete is his brain. This is especially true in starting pitchers who have 4 days to think about what he did in his last start and what he’s going to do in his next start. As a former pitcher I’ve been through this many times. You can’t dwell on what you did and you can’t allow your brain to run full throttle all the time on things you need to adjust to become better.

Luke is also stubborn. You know that by watching him pitch. He pounded the same spots over and over while opponents crushed those pitches. You know that he loves movement. We learned that shortly after he first came up and when Brian Bannister started talking about movement. At that point, Luke got it into his head that movement was the way to go and I remember his fastball moving so much that he could only throw it on two planes. Thigh high or in the dirt. But when an athlete gets it into his head this is what he want to do, it’s going to take a long time to change his mind.

I think Luke did not have an identity as a pitcher. Luke has gone through phases in his big league career. The classic 4 seam, 12-6, and change profile which he was drafted with. The movement profile with the 2 seam, change that’s almost a screwball, and slider. This spring he has been in the 2 seam, cutter, slider profile. So to see him come out in his last 2 starts with a different profile is interesting. Luke is working to establish a new profile.

I think he takes a very optimistic approach to this article. I understand what he's saying, but we thought the same thing late last season when Luke looked to be dominating. Time will tell and I hope it finally sticks. Luke has the stuff.

Anger Management: Glass, Moore, Or Yost?

Who are you angry at?

Come on Royals fans, you’re supposed to be angry. After getting swept by St. Louis over the weekend, and having the K overrun by red-clad Cardinal fans, and after this team got your hopes up (however modest those hopes were) and dashed them once again, and with the Royals seemingly headed to their 17^th losing season in 18 years, you should be livid (although a sweep of Tampa Bay has probably calmed most of you down somewhat).

So who do you blame?

He makes some good points on all three. I'm still not a fan of Yost.

[Shocker85]

On Broxton: All the baserunners drive me nuts, but that was Soria, to a degree, too. He may be the closer, but he does anything but slam the door shut. I would think most pitchers could put themselves in a mind-set to come in to start an inning and get 3 outs before the opposition scores a run. I think Broxton is pretty average and very lucky.
--'85.

Broxton does his darndest to try to pull defeat from the jaws of victory on Friday. 4-1 lead and winds up with tying runs in scoring position with no outs and the heart of the order coming up for the Twins. Nice play by Shortstop Jesus saves the day and the game for the Royals.

Why can't this guy come in and concentrate from the BEGINNING???

--'85.

[SubGod22]

I'd feel much more comfortable with Crow, Holland, Collins or Herrera in the closer role.

[SubGod22]

When do we get to replace Sanchez with Odorizzi? Or Davis? Or Smith? Or me?